Surge after surge of power flowed through me, each one headier than the last. I glared at the swarm of supernaturals pitted against me. They backed up as I stood, some lifting their hands threateningly and others tightening their grips on their weapons.
Spells continued to smash into me, and I braced myself against the force of each. My body greedily sucked up the pain, fueling my power. They were strengthening me. I didn’t understand how or why I could now do this, but I did know that this was decidedly bad for my enemies.
I steadied my breathing and focused on the silence inside myself. All those faces staring back at me, twisted with hate and fear. And beyond them, the faces of students who peered through their dorm windows, watching with horror and curiosity. I wanted to end each and every one of their lives.
I dug deeper within myself, beyond the seductive power that whispered into my ear.
Remember who you are. Hate would never end hate.
My power continued to build inside my veins, and it felt like I was sinking deeper and deeper, the pressure pushing me in from all sides.
Break the cycle.
Closing my eyes, I listened to the air moving in and out of my lungs. I didn’t want them to die. I just wanted to end this.
Inhale.
The power was going to crush me.
Exhale.
Like a damn breaking, it flowed out of me. That howling wind that consumed me back in hell now blew past me, knocking supernaturals over like dominos.
“You will not harm me,” I commanded. My voice projected over the wind, and guns and bare hands lowered. “Now, you will sleep, and you will not wake up for another hour. And once you do, you will realize that I didn’t harm you when I could’ve.”
One by one, their bodies swayed as their eyes closed. Knees crumpled and bodies collapsed onto the soft grass of Peel Academy’s lawn.
I sauntered past them, making a point not to rush. Deep inside the buildings, I could hear students running down the halls, descending down stairs. Probably eager to avenge the adults that protected them.
I waved my hand and barred the doors and windows. I hadn’t put dozens of supernaturals to sleep only to face another wave of them.
Behind me, I heard the flap of wings. I’d forgotten all about cutting myself. While I’d been distracted, another demon had taken form.
I turned in time to see it rocket into the sky and head straight for one of the prone supernaturals.
“No,” I commanded, my skin flaring. “They are not to be harmed.”
He hovered in the air. “Everyone not with us is to be harmed,” the creature said, speaking in Demonic.
“If you lay a hand on them, I will kill you and send you back to hell.”
“I take my orders from the Boss,” the demon said, his voice unnaturally low and gravelly. He resumed flying towards the sleeping supernaturals.
Now I did allow myself to relish my fury.
I threw a short burst of energy out. It slammed into him, knocking him off course. Bending down to the nearest officer, I picked up the man’s gun, belatedly noticing the blond hair. I caught sight of the smooth expanse of cheek peeking out beneath the familiar mop of hair.
Oh, Caleb …
We both made our beds, and now we had to lie in them.
The gun that Caleb had trained on me I now trained on the demon. “Last chance,” I warned.
“Fuck off,” the creature said, not scared in the slightest.
He should be.
I aimed and pulled the trigger, and I didn’t stop firing until I’d emptied the entire clip into him.
He screeched, stumbling first to his knees and then to his stomach. I headed over to him, picking up an abandoned knife along the way.
I stood over him, watching him choke on his own fluids.
His spit black blood at my feet. “The Boss won’t be pleased that you stopped me,” he said.
“He won’t be pleased that you didn’t listen to my order.”
The demon gave a thick, choked laugh. “You’re just his consort. Once he gets what he wants from you, he’ll cast you aside. Then you will be at our mercy.”
My tenuous hold on my anger slipped. Quick as lightning, I stepped behind him, grabbed his head, and dragged the knife across his neck.
I released him and stood up, a grimace on my face. His body turned to smoke and ash, the black blood evaporating away.
“You have made enemies of the minor demons.” Decima’s voice came from far behind me. She stood outside the door the library. “It was kind of you to spare the supernaturals. Kind, and telling. The demons know you are rebelling against your nature. I fear this does not bode well. Not at all.”
Chapter 14
Gabrielle
I left Peel Academy, unnerved by Decima’s final warning.
It shouldn’t have surprised me that a taxi idled a little ways outside the school grounds. Leanne had likely coordinated this too. I walked up to it, and sure enough, the window rolled down and the taxi driver asked, “You the girl that called for a ride to Douglas?”
I nodded.
He eyed my dress and bare feet. He shook his head and said, “Get in.”