Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(86)

Pain still lacing through her body, Lucy reached for Squeaky’s foot. Her head in a fog, she dug her nails into his furry toe. Slamming his heel down on her hand, Squeaky let out a loud cackle that almost burst her eardrum. “Give it up, you stupid bitch.”

Rafe’s body formed from the ice and mists. Flinging the shards from his body, he stepped forward.

Serah stepped from the shadows, the new katana in her hand. Red eyes flashing predatory gleams, she gripped the sword tightly. She turned her gaze to Lucy briefly, a maniacal grin spread across her face.

Lucy needed to act fast.

Rafe’s silver eyes focused on her, his face draining of color. “Oh my God… Lucy!”

“Rafe!” she managed to gasp. “Behind you!”

“Too late, Deleon.” Serah’s double clucked her tongue. “This makes up for Monday night.” With that, she thrust the sword into Rafe’s back.

Rafe spun to face Serah, blood pouring from his wound. Wielding his own sword, he flailed it in the air, missing Serah’s neck by a mere centimeter. Serah countered his attack, by spinning around and slicing a long gouge into his stomach. Slumping to the ground, he grabbed his middle, a river of dark crimson pooling around him. Never had she seen blood so dark.

Blood. Her mind spun. Rafe’s blood. Her stomach twisted and her head spun, spots flashing in front of her eyes. Bile rose into her throat and her breath caught. Tears, thick and salty, dripped down her cheeks as despair clawed its way into her chest.

“Oh, Rafe. I’m so sorry.” Hands and knees of mush, she scrambled her way across the floor. She had to save him.

“Lucy,” he gurgled out, coughing out a thin trail of blood. “I’m the one who’s sorry… never… should have… left you alone.” His eyes flickered, the silver fading. He let out a ragged gasp.

“Sorry is, as sorry does,” Squeaky said, his voice laced with sarcasm. With a quick kick and stomp to Rafe’s lifeless body, he grinned. Another flash of silver flickered as he raised his hand in the air. Gripping her prized silver candlestick high in the air, he brought it crashing into her skull. A bright flash of pain followed by empty darkness. She had failed Rafe. She had failed the world.





Chapter 24


Bam! Slam! Bump!

“Ouch,” Lucy muttered, struggling to open her eyes. Reaching up to rub her achy head, her hands smacked against cold glass. Leave to those two demonic wenches to handcuff her. Silver too, no doubt. Legs folded in ways that would make a contortionist jealous, she lugged herself up.

Cramped in the back of her own car like a sardine, she wriggled herself around. Head careening against the back door, she let out a muffled oof. Were these bitches deliberately looking for every pothole in the blasted state? And where were they taking her anyway? To Hell, probably. It sure felt like it.

“Thank the Dark Master I can finally be rid of that disguise,” Larissa—who had since discarded her chimp suit—said, rustling her fingers through her always immaculate golden tresses. “The stench was horrible. I can still smell him on me.”

There’s the Larissa she remembered. Always immaculate, always perfect. How wrong she was. Lounging the seat back, not caring that it was crushing Lucy’s knees, Larissa heaved a sigh. “How much longer?”

“Quit with your incessant chatter, woman. We’ll get there when we get there.” Lamia, hands on her steering wheel, threw back her blood-red curls.

Blood. Rafe. Oh God. Was he… dead?

And it was all her fault. With a frustrated grunt, Lucy fidgeted with the cuffs binding her wrists. These bitches would pay. Adrenaline pumping in her system, she lunged toward the front seat. A slicing pain laced its way from her stomach to her brain. A deep growl of agony wrenched from her mouth. What had they done?

“Where’s Rafe?” she managed to growl.

Lamia adjusted her rearview mirror to gaze at her reflection. “Oh, look. The princess hath woken. Your f*ck buddy isn’t dead. Belial isn’t quite done with him. Unfortunately, we had to leave him for now. So hard to clean upholstery, you know.”

“Oh, so kind of you.” She clenched her fists and the cuffs jangled. “I’m going to love kicking your ass. Upholstery stains and all.”

“Should I put her back to sleep?” Larissa asked, her singsong sweet voice grating on Lucy’s eardrum.

“No, let her stay awake for this.” Lamia turned to face her directly, the red rims of her obsidian eyes glimmering. “Comfortable?”

She could only manage a slight roll of her eyes. “Like you care.”

“Oh, I care, all right. Belial is paying me rather well for your safe capture.” She snaked her hand out, allowing a scaly finger to creep along Lucy’s cheek. Clenching her teeth, Lucy fought the nausea that churned within. She should’ve stabbed the bitch when she had the chance.

“Yeah, right. You care.” The only thing the bitch cared about was sucking the blood from innocent children. Lucy’s stomach lurched. Lamia needed to be sent back to Hell, and, given the chance, she wouldn’t hesitate to do it. But that time wouldn’t come now. The danged silver handcuffs made sure of that.

Tugging at the handcuffs, she prayed she could channel some superhuman powers to free her wrists.

“Won’t work. You haven’t been accepted as a Paladin.” Larissa smirked from cheek to cheek. “And after tonight, you won’t ever.”