On wobbly legs, she looked for something to hide behind. The drapes were no good. She’d be charcoal if the fire came to this side. The chairs wouldn’t keep a blind man from finding her. There was no safe place. She shook Dawn awake enough to do an assisted stagger while she pulled the unconscious woman to a tiny alcove. The demons seemed to be focused on the action around the doors—avoiding attacks by Rhyse and others while still being free to abuse beings as they tried to flee.
Addison turned the woman over to check if she was still breathing and recognized the seer she’d spoken to earlier. “Parker.” Addison helped Dawn scoot as close to the wall as they could get and then propped Parker against it, tucking her legs underneath her so they wouldn’t be sticking out. Then, she crouched down in between the two seers and prayed.
She wanted to close her eyes, pretend none of this was happening, but she didn’t dare. She had to be prepared to move all three of them if the fire got any closer. But if she did that, they’d be visible, exposed. Then the fire and everything else wouldn’t be problems anymore because the demons would kill them.
The room was overwhelmed by fear and death. Bodies—either trampled or burned—were everywhere, except around the star-shaped section in the middle of the floor. Even in outright panic, no one dared go near the pentagram. Blue and white flame consumed everything it touched, its creators only careful where they aimed because burning everything at the same time wouldn’t be as fun.
But what brought tears to her eyes, made her whimper and her breath hiccup, wasn’t the carnage or fear. It was the small group in the middle—Rhyse, Logan, Micah, Graham, and a few she didn’t know—who didn’t give up or back down and who fought for more than just their own lives.
Thirty-nine
Despite the chaos around him, Rhyse’s gaze was drawn to one of his own kind—the vampire champion. Having known Lamere since his turning, Rhyse knew all that Lamere was capable of. A mistake too long neglected. The younger vampire acknowledged Rhyse, nodding respectfully, and then looked pointedly towards Addison, all while holding a female seer by the throat. It was enough for Rhyse to understand his proposition. One life for many, far more than Lamere knew.
The vampire champion could have seen what happened to the werewolf after he bit Addison. If he’d witnessed the were’s midair transformation when Rhyse threw him into the wall to knock him out, Lamere knew what she was. But he would stay silent as long as Rhyse allowed him certain…liberties.
Although he had no proof, Rhyse suspected this wasn’t Lamere’s first time breaking the law, nor would it be his last unless Rhyse stopped him. But there was a reason the vampire had been chosen as champion this year; the same reason he had won the contest a century ago. He was strong and smart and brutal. And psychotic.
Rhyse looked into the wide eyes of the seer, saw the unbridled fear Lamere should have removed from her mind but had chosen not to. Disgustedly, he agreed to the deal, knowing how many would die if he tried to save that one being. But he held Lamere’s gaze, making his promise clear: the next time they saw each other would be the last time Lamere ever saw anything again. A moment later, the vampire and the seer were gone.
Rhyse refocused on saving the lives he’d just traded the seer’s for. He phased to the enormous chandelier two demons of different breeds were using as a refueling station. The demons were all from the lower levels of hell; therefore, they had very little to lose by creating chaos, damage, and death. For the most part, demons could control the heat they expended, but these wouldn’t bother. Instead they became corporeal to increase their immeasurable body temperature and use it as a weapon. The only way to defeat them was to strike while they were concentrating on condensing that heat. If they saw Rhyse, they would simply change into their incorporeal form as a defense. But at least they could do no direct physical damage as such.
Because there were two, he waited, hanging from the chain above them, knowing demons rarely had the courage to look up. The two eventually neared each other, probably because those they chose to victimize began to congregate on one side of the ballroom. As soon as the demons were a few feet apart, Rhyse dove, grabbing one by the neck and the other by a hooked appendage. He brought his hands together, effectively clapping them into each other, knocking them senseless.
But this wasn’t a long term solution, nor could he stay above while so many were burning below. Of those beings still alive, most didn’t have the means to flee or the ability to fight. Fortunately, a few were surprisingly skilled and strong, including Addison’s seer friend.
“Do not let them touch you, Seer,” Rhyse called as soon as he phased in. “They will turn you to dust.”
“Then how the fuck am I supposed to stop them?” the seer yelled back.
“You are not.” He moved just as a demon swooped down to snatch Logan. Rhyse tackled the seer, feeling the intense burn hit his back before phasing himself and Logan to another area.
Tempest was trying to fight a demon without touching him, but she was far too young to stand a chance against one from the lower levels. Rhyse caught her by the collar and yanked her backwards, a ball of fire striking the space she’d just vacated.
“Get the other beings out. One by one, Tempest. Start with the seers.” They were the most defenseless.
“Did you say the seers?” she asked doubtfully.
“Yes. Take them.”
She glanced at Logan, who stood behind Rhyse. “The seers?”
“Tempest, stop repeating yourself and do as I say.” When this ended, he would have to come up with a diplomatic reason for the change in his behavior.
Logan backed up when Tempest moved towards him. “The other seers.”
“Your loss.” A moment later, Rhyse saw her hook another male by his belt.
“The females, Tempest,” Rhyse called, angry at himself for not thinking of it earlier. “Keep the females away from the demons.”
She nodded, disappearing with the male and then, a moment later, she was fifty feet away, her arm around a female. “Relax. I’m going to get you out.”
Without an area to confine the demons, all Rhyse and the others could do was keep them from more murder and destruction. Most of the house’s wards had been lowered for the evening for the convenience of the multitude of guests. While it would take a bit of time for the demons to escape, the remaining wards couldn’t hold them back indefinitely, and the ramifications of this many lower-levels escaping into his zone might be worse than having a dat vitae in his zone.
Salt was scattered everywhere, spread by the numerous feet of panicking beings. “Repair the line,” he said to Logan. The seer didn’t hesitate, even though he’d just accepted the most dangerous job in the room. As soon as the demons understood what he was doing, they focused their attacks on him.
“Summon the demon,” Rhyse called to Addison’s angel.
“I think we got more than we need already!” Logan yelled.
“Davyn?” the angel said, flinching when a fireball grazed the tip of his wing. He was using himself as a shield for Logan to work behind, but it was taking a toll.
“Tell him to find other level-ones who can help.” Demons didn’t ‘help’ anyone. But even if Logan repaired the line and they somehow trapped every demon inside it, the only way to send this many back to hell was to call in another demon. One that had worked very hard for his position at the surface and didn’t have patience with those who jumped the line.
“I’m already here, Vamp,” came a grumbly voice from across the room. The bastard sat in a chair, long legs stretched out in front of him, watching the fight as if he were at a boxing match.
“Davyn, so nice to see you again.” He phased between words, snapping the long neck of a horned demon before it was able to spit fire. Unfortunately, the break would only slow the immortal down. “Now help us.”
“Why? You’re doing fine.” And this was another reason Rhyse hated demons, although the level of arrogance seemed to belong exclusively to this one.
Unfortunately, it also came with incredible skill, high intelligence, and as much integrity as was possible in his kind.
“You find it acceptable for lower-levels to freely explore above the crust, then?” Rhyse tossed a demon into a grouping of chairs, his hands now completely numbed by demon burn.
“Fuck no! They’re a bunch of cheaters, and I’m pretty sure cheating is a sin.” He looked at the angel, smirking. “Right, M?” Davyn stood up casually, his gaze moving from one of his race to another. “Fine. I’ll help, but you’re going to owe me a new suit. And this one wasn’t cheap.” He pointed to a winged demon shooting small balls of fire at a group of three terrified seers, laughing each time they were forced to run the other direction. “Can I take this one or did you already call him?”
“You are a guest in my home, so by all means, help yourself to whatever you would like.” Rhyse turned as soon as he saw Davyn grab the being. He heard a squawk and a few moments later Davyn appeared again, wiping his hands on his pants.
“Was that too much to ask?” Rhyse grumbled.
“It’s not Disneyland down there, you know.”
After knowing Davyn for three tours topside, Rhyse understood who he was at the beginning of a tour and who he was near the end of one. He also knew it was impossible for the demon to pass up a deal—even more so if negotiation was involved. “I will give you three thousand for every one you take back.”
“Ten. And the new suit.”
“There are quite a few demons, Davyn. If I give you four apiece, you can buy your own suit.”
“Well, of course I can buy my own suit, but I don’t want to. Seven and the suit, or you get nothing. Well, you can have this jacket if you want. It’s got a few scorch marks but otherwise it’s—” He snagged a demon out of the air just before it hit Logan. As soon as he realized what the seer was working on, he shot backwards without losing his grip on the very nervous-looking demon.
“Done,” Rhyse shouted. “Just take them back to hell.”
“Don’t take me back. Not yet.” The demon’s mouth was nothing but teeth that corrupted his speaking skills.
“Did you say something, asshole?” Davyn asked, smiling. “I couldn’t quite make that out. I think it’s because of all the screaming. Don’t worry about it—I’ll be able to understand you better down under.”
“No!” Then both of them were gone.
Cleaning up wasn’t a short process, but eventually a system developed wherein members of each race used their particular skills and attributes to gather, contain, and remove the demons who had escaped. Those who didn’t dispose of the demons aided in putting out fires and bringing the injured to human hospitals or the Highworld clinics, depending on the severity of their wounds and the physiology of their race.
Throughout all of it, Rhyse had stayed aware of where Addison was, ready to kill any who dared touch her. She was exhausted—physically and emotionally—but her strength during the fiasco surprised him greatly. The vitae hadn’t stepped away from the two women she seemed to have claimed as her own, despite the increased danger they put her in. He sensed she would’ve fought a demon before leaving them behind. Of course, he never would have let it go that far. Because Addison was his.
Once things were settling, he went to her and picked her up off the ground. “Your wards need medical care, Addison. Someone will take them to the hospital.”
She wiped her large eyes, her tears seeming to be more from smoke than sadness. “Can you take them?”
He tightened his lips to contain his amused grin. The Prime caring for a seer? “I will send them with someone I trust. Graham and Tempest will—”
“Can’t you?” she asked again quietly. Unfortunately, she had now put him in a position he didn’t want to be in. If anyone had overheard…
“I cannot be seen accommodating a seer’s needs.”
“I know. It’s just that everyone else looks so incredibly exhausted, but you’re still amazingly strong. Maybe it would be better for all your people if you did it. Take one, or two, for the team.”
He bowed his head to her astute manipulation of their situation.
“It might also remind them of what a stud you are,” she whispered.
“I grow more and more impressed with you, Addison.” His gaze swept around the room, stopping on those beings strong enough to continue. There were very few stops. “Very well, but I will not leave you here alone any longer than necessary. I will be quick and you will speak to no one. Do you understand?”
“Be careful with them—they’re friends.” She watched as he lifted the women, one limp in his arms and the other able to stand on her own feet…for a few seconds. “Thank you, Rhyse. For saving me.”
After looking at her for a moment, he nodded. “I am glad you are not dead.”
The fight had invigorated Rhyse enough to regain any confidence in his power and strength that may have been lost after his injury. But it also left an echo of the screams that filled the hall and the anxiety he’d felt at seeing Addison so close to death.
Everything was different now. Everything was more dangerous.
Forty
Addison stood in the middle of the empty pentagram, unable to focus on the damage because it was everywhere—burnt or murdered or trampled or broken. She shivered despite the heat from random patches of demon fire the angels had yet to put out.
She didn’t envy the disposal tech who had this route. Without even counting the bodies completely cremated by demon fire, it would take at least three vials of dusting powder for this many. And the cleaning crew would have to be huge—most of the bodies were seers. She was both disgusted and thankful—none of them were people she knew. Was that terrible to admit? Even to herself?
“So much for the bravery of champions,” she mumbled. Micah and Logan were the only ones who’d stuck around to help. Although that could also have meant the others were smarter. Logan was bruised and bloody but had an odd, almost triumphant look on his face. Maybe because he hadn’t died on a night he expected to.
She squinted when she saw a lump of gray, wondering what it was. Making sure to step over the line carefully, she went to go see.
“A dog.” Sure, a dog. Because this evening hadn’t been weird enough. Confused by why it was here and where it came from, Addison knelt next to it to check for signs of life. The poor thing was breathing and didn’t seem to have burns anywhere, but it looked battered.
“Hey, fella.” Did vampire blood work on animals? When it opened its eyes, she groaned. Not a dog. Some of the blood on his muzzle was hers. Stupid werewolf got what he deserved, but Addison felt guilty anyway.
“You tried to kill me.” She stood. “Bad boy. Bad, bad boy.” He must have hit the wall when Rhyse pulled him off her. If he hadn’t, the wolf would’ve come back to finish the job. He was panting, but nothing looked broken, so Addison moved on, walking backwards just in case the were was feeling vengeful. Not that he could have figured out the whole dat vitae thing…or too much else anymore.
She wandered back to the middle of the room because she had absolutely nothing better to do or anywhere to go. Holy shit, was that pathetic.
“The female seers were left with a few others in front of the hospital, as you requested,” Rhyse said, bowing dramatically. Yeah, Addison got it—he did her a favor, and it would never happen again. Hopefully it would never need to happen again. And Parker and Dawn would be fine.
She bowed back with equal mockery. “Thank you, my lord. Your greatness humbles me with its…humbleness.”
Micah glanced at her and then shot Rhyse a knowing look. “Get her out of here before someone…”
Rhyse hissed a warning. “While I appreciate your advice, Angel, it is both unnecessary and obvious.” He looked at her from head to toe. “Take off your dress.”
“What?”
She glanced at Micah, at Graham, and then at the few beings still milling around dazedly. Because they didn’t have a vampire who forced them to suck on his w
rist and almost have an orgasm in the middle of a catastrophe like she did. Lucky girl.
“The dress is covered with your blood, Addison,” Micah said in her mind. “It may be too old to hold any power, but we cannot take that chance. You must take off your dress.” He knew. Shit. But Rhyse didn’t seem too freaked out about it, so she probably didn’t have to be. She had plenty of other things to freak out about, anyway.
“So sweet—different races bonding over making me do shit,” she grumbled, reaching ineffectively for the ties at her back. The dress wasn’t coming off without help. “Can one of you please get me out of it?”
“The back is covered too,” Micah said.
“Great.” She tried reaching the ties again, which didn’t work again, and then she tried spinning the entire dress which also didn’t work. “I guess I have to walk home.”
Logan stepped forward, looking more angry than confused, while Graham’s expression was the reverse. “She doesn’t have to take off her dress.” Bless his big, protective, misunderstanding heart.
“It’s not like that, Loge. They’re—”
“She’s hyperventilating,” Micah said with a hint in his eyes. Angels were nothing like she’d imagined, but she went along with the ruse, knowing his intention was to protect Logan from potentially dangerous information.
“Then why are you all just standing there?” Logan grabbed the dress’s tie and yanked before Addison could stop him.
“No!” She spun as the dress loosened.
“Okay.” He backed off with his hands raised. “I was just trying to help.”
Micah watched him, Rhyse glared at him, Graham didn’t know where to look, and Addison felt terrible. If she’d just nullified Logan’s ability to see, he wouldn’t be able to avoid supers. Not that he could now. Was it better to see the pain coming?
“Can you see me?” Micah asked him, extending his gorgeous wings out.