Page 2 of Malice

“No, and until the witch trap above us is gone, my magic is useless,” I rush out.

“Can we kill it, uh, a second time?” Zeke asks, pulling his lips back to show off his fangs.

“It’ll just jump into another body, and…and…” I cut myself off, not wanting to say it out loud. Vampires can be possessed. If the demon gets inside Xavier and I’m not prepared this time, it’ll end in bloodshed for everyone.

Himself included.

Dizziness crashes down on me. I don’t know if I could cast a spell even if my magic wasn’t blocked.

“We’re leaving. Now,” Xavier says as the demon unsteadily rises. The body it’s possessing has a broken leg, and the demon stumbles as it tries to walk over. Theo leaps over the portal and shoves the demon back. It hits the wall with a sickening thud, leaving a streak of blood and brain matter on the cinderblocks behind it. The body twitches but the pain does nothing to slow it down. Another demon rises from hell, possessing another body.

Vivian lets out a manic laugh as she pulls out a pendant hanging on a silver chain from Marcus Henry’s pocket. Marco grabs her arm and I’m standing there, feeling like I’m going to pass out, watching this all happen.

She didn’t go to her son’s side.

She isn’t looking for Gia.

Her eyes meet mine and it’s like I’m staring right into the eyes of a demon. There is no emotion, no remorse. The hatred she’s staring back at me with is almost more terrifying than anything that can crawl out of hell. Because only a truly evil person can turn off their emotions when it comes to their own children.

My brows furrow and my lips part. There is so much I want to say to her—that I’ve wanted to say for years. But no words come out of my mouth. She turns, taking Marco’s hand, and together, they make a run for the large garage door the Malus vampires tore from the hinges so they could rescue me.

“I’m getting you out of here,” Xavier tells me and goes to pick me up again.

“I’m not leaving Toni,” I tell him, not having accepted what he told me. My brother isn’t dead. He’s going to be fine because he has to be. “And Gia is still in here. I heard her voice.”

The sprinklers go off right as the second demon rises. This one is faster than the first, and without thinking, I throw out my hand, forgetting about the witch trap until the last second. I almost lower my hand, but the demon goes flying back. I look up; the paint is being washed away by the sprinklers.

“Go back to hell,” I say through gritted teeth and pull my hand forward, bringing the demon toward us, and right into the portal. I have no idea what’s going to happen if he’s shoved back inside, but I guess we’re about to find out.

The demon stumbles forward, trying to fight against my telekinetic hold. He lands face first on the cracked ground. It’s not big enough for a body to fit through, but he starts to burn instantly. Fire spreads from his hands to the rest of him, incinerating him in seconds. The water raining down on us does nothing to the hellfire.

Xavier pulls me back, and this time he doesn’t relent. He’s going to take me out of here before this place goes up in flames.

Florence.

I jerk my head to the side, staring into the pit. Flames flick against the opening, and I can hear a heart beating, slow, steady, and loud. Is it my own? I blink and feel something pulling me forward.

Florence. I can help you.

“What?” I say out loud. Maybe the drugs are affecting me more than I know.

He doesn’t have to die.

My eyes fall shut in a heavy blink and I see everything playing out before me. Two hunters bring Antonio into the warehouse and lay him down on the floor. Marcus Henry comes over, bending down and picking up one of Antonio’s arms. He slits his wrist and puts a bowl underneath, collecting his blood.

That’s what he used to draw this sigil.

Sharply inhaling, I blink and I’m back here, holding onto Xavier for support.

Florence. We’re running out of time.

Holy shit.

It’s the demon, and my heart speeds up, hammering against my ribcage. Tears burn my eyes, blurring my vision. I look across the room at my brother, lying lifeless on the floor. I’m not losing him.

Knowing if I wait just one more second, logic might take over, I reach out toward the portal. A black, shadowy hand emerges and with no hesitation, I take it.

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