Thanks a lot, assholes.
In the white stands, the angels form an ad hoc group around Verus’s balcony, but it’s unclear if they want to protect her or look for escape. Either way, these aren’t warriors. The demon fighters close in with military precision, slaughtering their way through the angel spectators to reach Verus and her entourage.
My body shivers with icy shock. I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
Spreading her wings, Verus takes to flight. Some of her guard fight the demons in hand-to-hand combat, others take to the air and surround their Queen. A pack of demons pump their bat-like wings and rise into the air as well. The two sides claw, swoop, and stab each other in a dog-fight above my head.
The sight is surreal, overwhelming. The world moves by in super-slow motion. My heartbeat booms in my ears. I inspect the Arena floor, looking for the archway where Lincoln was waiting. He’s no longer there.
Walker touches my shoulder, snapping me back to attention. “I’ve used Group Think to call my brothers and sisters in the Aquilinea. They’ll transport as many angels as they can.” He scans the crowd. “We need to get you out of here.” He frowns. “There are too many people around to easily open a portal, but I’ll have to try.”
“What about Lincoln?” I scan the nearby crowd, seeing little past the close press of bodies.
Walker closes his eyes. “He’s on the Arena floor.” He grabs my hand. “I’ll come back for him right after I move you.”
“Got it.” Bracing myself, I wait for the familiar buzz of a portal opening.
Nothing happens.
Around us, the stadium breaks out into full-bore pandemonium. Screams echo through the air. Demons, angels, and quasis scramble about, their bodies a jumble of bloody, hand-to-hand combat. Lincoln’s caught somewhere in that tangle of war. My chest tightens. We all have to escape, now.
I search Walker’s face, panic swirling through me. “What’s wrong?”
His features contort. “Give it a moment, there are so many—”
But Walker’s interrupted. Two dark and nasty Crini demons step in front of us, making for sixteen giant octopus legs to fend off at once.
Unholy moley.
The first Crini grabs Walker around the belly and squeezes. Now, Walker can barely breathe, let alone open a portal.
I round on the first Crini, my eyes blazing with fury. How dare you lay a tentacle on my Walker?! I dig in my heels, ready to leap up and kick in its face, when the second Crini takes a swipe at my back.
Dammit! Walker will have to wait.
I duck low while my tail goes to work, slicing through two of my attacker’s arms. I quickly shoot a glance at Walker; his arms and legs are braced between the creature’s long black beak and huge red eyes. It’s taking all his strength not to get stuffed into the Crini’s mouth.
That gives me an idea.
My Crini lunges at me again; this time I hold stock-still. The creature’s arm wraps about me, pulling me toward its snapping jaws. I play possum until I’m inches away from its beak, then stab my tail through its eye and brain. The demon howls, then falls over dead. Hah!
I’m dropped in a heartbeat, only to get scooped up by Walker’s monster. Fresh rage blasts through me. This slimy monster picked the wrong girl. The Crini wraps two massive arms wrap about my body; a third holds my tail firmly in place.
Dammit, this one’s clever.
Panic zooms through me. I can’t move my arms, legs, or tail. The Crini’s great eyes flip between me and Walker, debating the better meal. Its gaze locks on me. Not good. With a curl of its tentacle, the demon moves Walker away from its mouth. After that, he pulls my head toward its jaws instead.
I writhe and struggle, but it’s no use. The Crini opens its long beak. Green razor-sharp teeth line its mouth. Saliva drips from its huge pink tongue. Everything takes on a dreamlike quality. I seem to float outside myself as the monster drags my head deep within its jaws.
This is it. I’m about to get killed. Somehow I feel numbed instead of terrified.
I wince, my hands balling into fists. I struggle to break loose from the monster’s grip, but it’s no use. All I can do is wait for a CRACK as its teeth sink into my skull.
Instead of biting down, the creature’s jaws loosen. Its tentacle-arms fall slack, allowing me to twist out of its grip. I gain solid footing and scan the Arena.
Holy crap, what happened there? I scope out the Arena’s floor. Lincoln stands nearby, his baculum sword blazing. The Crini lies in two neat halves by his feet. I exhale a long breath, relief filling every cell in my body.
“I owe you one.” I smile.
He grins, wagging his eyebrows suggestively. “I know.”
I chuckle, more than thankful for the smile.