Nel took in the tiny bathroom. The nun he had had his hand in lay collapsed against the door. Sister Mable’s lifeless eyes stared out at her. The devil wasn’t in sight.
Hot breath stung the back of her neck.
“Boo.”
The bass voice rumbled the floorboards. Nel could feel it through her hands.
She scrambled forwards, launching lightning behind her as she went.
Her hand moved too close for the shield to activate. Nel cried out as the devil’s hand closed around her extended wrist. The bone might be nothing more than powder.
He let go.
Nel tumbled forward into Sister Mable’s bloody lap.
The clunk of his hoof moving closer sent Nel into a panic. She crawled out of the bathroom on her hand and knees.
Whatever pain there might have been there was drowned out by the source.
His footsteps clunked closer.
Not that it mattered now.
With a thought, the demon leg hovering above the remains of her altar launched itself over her head. It flew like a spear towards the approaching devil.
An augur’s powers weren’t supposed to be used that way. She could be excommunicated.
That didn’t matter either.
The demon leg had to do something.
She turned to look behind her, cutting her connection to preserve her sanity.
Pain coursed through her arm and straight to her brain. Terror was the only thing keeping her from screaming.
The devil laughed. He caught the speeding spear out of the air. Green fire burst from the tips of his fingers. The shiny black leg was reduced to ash in seconds.
Nel was sure she heard a whimper. It probably came from her.
Each arrogant step the devil took left a trail of flame. Each step brought him closer to Nel.
Nel shut her eyes and reactivated her connection. The shield would hold him at bay so long as she didn’t move.
Someone started laughing. A high-pitched, hysterical giggle. Far too high to be the demon.
Her mind flashed to the abomination. No. It couldn’t have been her. Nel had had her under near constant observation. She’d never even seen the abomination with any demon save for the spider.
The footsteps drew closer.
Never before had she wished she could teleport as much as she did now. Why did only chapter leaders train that ability?
A voice whispered in the back of her mind,
Something slammed into her shield. Part of it fractured.
Her shield disappeared.
The shield didn’t shatter. She didn’t turn it off.
Nel opened her eyes in horror. Her connection wasn’t even on. She tried to connect. It cut away the moment she tried.
The devil’s laugh rattled the windows. His mismatched horns shook from side to side as he threw his head back.
He was doing something. She couldn’t connect. Her arm throbbed. The focus was lost somewhere long ago.
Nel cowered against the shattered remains of her altar. She shut her eyes and desperately tried to activate her connection.
It flicked off every time she tried.
“That’s it?” A blast of hot air erupted in her face. “Why is my master so worried about you pathetic nuns?”
He poked a single finger into her shoulder. Pain tore through an eye. Her shoulder must be dislocated.
“Please,” Nel sobbed. She barely realized she opened her mouth.
“Please?” The marble altar rumbled at his mocking voice. “Please what.”
“I–” A hiccup caught the words in her throat.
He laughed again. “You’re a weird one. I thought I could have some fun with you because of that.”
The demon leaned down, hot breath scorching her ear. “You’re
“I-I’m not a fighter. Any sister would be stronger.”
Nel could almost imagine him glancing back to the dead nun in the bathroom the moment the words left her mouth. He glanced back with a quirked eyebrow. There was rumbling laughter as he walked away, leaving her in her pitiful state while he left in search of more worthy targets. Like Sister Cross.
Her imagination was always her strong suit.
Long nailed fingers gripped her throat. Nel clambered to her feet as the hand lifted.
He lifted too high. Her feet left the ground.
With her one good hand, Nel’s fingers dug into the beast’s arm. Her muscles burned as she tried to hold herself up.
She didn’t have to hold on long.
The demon pulled her in close. Close enough for his rough lips to brush against her cheek. An actual kiss.
She wasn’t next to the demon anymore. It took her a moment to comprehend.
