Demon from the Dark (Immortals After Dark #10)(70)

He reminded her of the night she’d first seen him, when he’d attacked all those demons. But now she could witness him dealing that carnage.

That night he’d hurt her unintentionally. Now he wanted to.

Wait . . . Malkom’s collar was gone? She stumbled back into the room, sinking against the wall. Ah, gods. Empowered evil?

No. She refused to believe he was evil. Still, she realized any farfetched hope of communicating with him this night had vanished.

Had she given up on him? Of course not. But for right now, she had to focus on getting Ruby out of a collapsing building and a war zone.

“Witch, I need some help with this zipper,” Lanthe called.

Carrow jogged back to her. “We have to hurry.”

The sorceress was awkwardly pressing the man’s gory hand to the back of her collar. “I can’t get his thumb to press flat.”

Fegley remained conscious, watching all with a stupefied expression.

Carrow set Ruby down and motioned for the hand.

Lanthe tossed it. A blur of glinting metal appeared between her and Carrow.

“Ah-ah, not so fast!” Ember said triumphantly, holding up the hand she’d just nabbed.

“Where the hell did you come from?” Carrow snapped. The sorceress had been quick before her torque had come off. Now her speed was mind-boggling.

“I’m fast as flames, witch. And I’ll be keeping this.”

Portia traipsed beside her, donning her own mask and gauntlets. “We like the odds, with all of you powerless. Ember, do immolate the warden.”

Ember aimed a burning palm at Fegley.

Carrow covered Ruby’s eyes just as the man’s went wide. He screamed as the sorceress burned him to cinders.

“Remember what we told you, Ruby.” With a last seeking look at the girl, they disappeared.

“What did they tell you?” Carrow demanded, yanking her away from the smoking pile to the other side of the room.

“That I can be like them.” She rubbed her eyes against the ash. “I only have to kill a sorceress to become one.”

“You’re not killing anybody!” Carrow said irritably. “First of all, you’re too young. And second, no one’s paid you to do a hit. We’ll talk about this when we get home.” She just stopped herself from saying “young lady.”

“There goes our thumb plan.” Lanthe muttered a curse. “Looks like we’re fighting our way out of here.” She rooted through a container of weapons, digging out a sword. “Good thing I’m handy with one of these.”

“I’m not too shabby myself.” Being friends with a legendary swordswoman like Regin had its benefits. Glancing around for a good weapon of her own, Carrow snagged a short sword and sheath, strapping the latter around her waist. Then she stilled. “Wait, Lanthe. Look at the smoke along that back wall. It’s getting blown away.”

“You think it’s another chamber?”

“Could be.” They hurried over, shoving away a shelf to reveal another panel. Carrow worked the tip of her sword along its border, levering it open a crack. Lanthe hooked the edge with her metal claws, and together, they heaved it open.

A gust of fresh wet air rushed over their faces, blowing their hair. A tunnel sloped downward before them.

“It’s got to be an escape route,” Lanthe said. “Probably goes all the way to the shore.”

Carrow scanned the area. “But the ground’s still quaking. Do we risk the tunnel or the melee outside?” Risk Malkom outside?

“I like our chances in the tunnel,” Lanthe said. “And Vrekeners hate anything confined and underground.”

Even though Malkom had threatened her, Carrow found it difficult to leave him behind, was gazing over her shoulder. I’ll find him again. Once she got Ruby to safety. “Then let’s do this. Fast.” She lifted the girl into her arms. “You ready, kid?” When Ruby worried her lip, Carrow pasted on a smile. “It’s a good thing you’ve got Lanthe and me with you, because your posse is never going to believe the adventure you’re having.”

Lanthe added, “They’ll be eaten up with jealousy, of course.”

“So here we go, kiddo.” At the entrance, Carrow squeezed Ruby tight, laying a palm protectively over her head. “On the count of three. One, two, three!” She took off running, with Lanthe just behind them.

Dust showered them at intervals, but Carrow kept her chin down and her legs moving.

“Air’s getting fresher!” she called back. “Almost there!”

Another quake had her stumbling, sidestepping to right herself. “That was a close one—”

Lanthe’s scream echoed down the passageway.

Carrow skidded to a stop, speeding back to the last corner they’d turned. The Vrekener. He had his fist gripped around Lanthe’s ankle, dragging her bodily back into the smoke. The sorceress was kicking wildly, resisting the limping Thronos, her gloved hands digging into the dirt. Her sword lay just beyond her reach.

“Let her go, Thronos!”

His gnarled wings flared menacingly, spanning the width of the tunnel. He wore no collar.

Carrow set Ruby down, shoving her back under a roof support. “Stay right there!” she ordered over her shoulder as she charged back to help Lanthe.