Lost Girl: Hidden Book One (26 page)

I glanced at Brennan, Ada, and Stone, nodded to the group around the two demons. We could remove that threat while Nain had his playtime with Astaroth. They nodded, and we ran, together, into yet another group of nutjobs who wanted to kill us.

Just another day at the office.

As we got closer, I could hear Nain and Astaroth snarling at each other, taunting each other. They were both in pain. I considered ending it right then.

Not yet, Molls. Give me more time,
Nain said in my mind. I was both irritated and pleased that he knew me so well. I watched as he pummeled Astaroth. He seemed to be enjoying it. His rage flooded me, fed me.

Astaroth backed away from Nain, and his eyes landed on me. He smiled. “What are you going to do, little demoness? This is not a fight you can win.”

Nain punched him in the face, hard, and that was the end of Astaroth’s taunts for me. I destroyed a few more of his demons in response. I surveyed his remaining crew: demons, a few more supers with powers I could take. And witches, who he must have been keeping in reserve for something exactly like this. Shit.

Astaroth laughed. “Just die quietly, demon bitch.”

“I don’t do that type of thing. Only one of us is dying today,” I said, making sure that I kept Nain in sight. This was coming to an end, very soon.

I felt confusion from Astaroth. “Doesn’t she know–”

And Nain punched him in the face again, ending whatever he was going to say. At that moment, I felt something beautiful from Astaroth: fear.

I lost track of how long we fought. I threw fire only to have it turned to flame moths by the witches. Stone bashed into the witches, but never quickly enough to save my fire. Nain rampaged against Astaroth, fighting his old friend and worst enemy in a dizzying barrage of hits, kicks, avoiding Astaroth’s attacks as best he could. But he was cut, and weakening. Brennan ran through the crowd of witches and warlocks, gnawing out throats, snapping at tendons. He bled. Ada tried to shield us from the attacks, both magical and physical, coming at us while trying to keep herself alive.

The crew was weakening.

I was the only one gaining strength, just as Nain had planned it. The pain around me, the fear, the amount of power I had consumed filled me. I gritted my teeth against it. I felt like I was about to split. And I knew that Nain knew it, too.

I can’t hold anymore. I’m about to lose it,
I thought desperately at him.

He looked across the factory at me, our eyes meeting for just a moment through the chaos of battle.

I felt determination, anger from him. Resignation.
It’s time.

I turned toward Astaroth. Watched him swing an axe toward Nain. Nain just smiled at him, a feral, terrifying smile. Victorious.

He winked at me, then he looked at Astaroth again. “Check mate, motherfucker.”

Now, Molly.

And I raged. I unleashed everything I had on him. Fire, energy, mental knives, fear. I threw it all at Astaroth and heard him scream.

And then I felt Nain’s anguish flood through me. Pain, terror, loss.

I love you Molly. I’m sorry.

Agony. Burning, searing, ripping pain.

And then I felt him drift away.

I halted my attack on Astaroth, ran to where I’d last seen Nain, just moments before.

All that was left of him, and of Astaroth a few feet away, was ash, still smouldering.

Nothing.

Gone.

I stared at it for a few panicked seconds in disbelief. I bit down hard on my lip, trying to control myself, hold it together. I failed. I screamed into the emptiness of the factory, my anguish reverberating off of the walls, steel girders above. The building shook around me, chunks of concrete falling from the deteriorated ceiling. I felt part of my soul hemorrhaging —  such a physical thing I swore I’d be able to see it if I could just open my eyes.

Emptiness.

My scream lasted for what felt like an eternity, ending only when I’d shredded my vocal chords beyond use. I buried my hands in the pile of ash that had been the man I loved, squeezed it in my hands as if wishing hard enough would bring him back to me. As if I could feel close to him one last time.

Nothing.

When I opened my eyes, I saw the team staring at me, at what was left of Nain, in horror and sadness. Their ears were bleeding.

“Honey,” Ada said, tears streaming down her face. “I saw it, Molly. You didn’t do it. When you hit Astaroth, whatever was happening to him happened to Nain. You didn’t do that. Astaroth did,” she said desperately. “You didn’t do it.” She started crying, gasping.

“I saw it too,” Stone said through a voice choked with emotion. “Oh, Christ.” And then he broke down. Brennan, still in wolf form, howled mournfully into the emptiness.

The Guardians soared into the building, freed Nain and Astaroth from the mortal realm. Eunomia stayed after her sisters left, watching me.

I felt my rage growing. Pure rage, something wild, fatal in its intent. Astaroth’s minions were running out of the warehouse.

They did not make it out alive.

It only took an instant. No effort at all. Instinct. Bodies burned around me.

“Molly!” Ada called. I turned to her, caught a reflection of myself in the remains of a broken window behind her. My eyes glowed white. A snarl on my lips, and fire flowing over my body, part of me and ready to do my bidding.  I turned away.

“Molly, no!”

I looked down at my hands. The hematite ring he’d placed on my finger, the one that signified our unending devotion to each other, was cool against my skin. His ashes stained my palms.

My heart was gone.

Vengeance would be mine. I walked out into the night, my imps and Eunomia following me.

I turned to her. “You will not interfere.”

She shook her head. “I will not. The Nether will be a busy place this night.”

I nodded, stalked out into the night powered by nothing but rage and loss. It was all I had left.

Epilogue: Lost Girl

“We’re receiving reports of a massive fire in the Morningside neighborhood of Detroit, where investigators say they’ve uncovered several bodies of what look at this point to be wild animals…” (Fox 2 News, Detroit)

“Molly. You should eat something, baby girl.”

“I can’t even describe the scene here in East English Village. This house, which neighbors claim was a quiet place, now something out of a nightmare. Police this morning found the bodies of several women, at least a dozen according to latest reports, of various ages. An unidentified Detroit Police Department official tells us that there were several satanic ritual items in the home, and police are considering this the scene of a mass suicide, possibly a cult ceremony….” (Channel 7 Action News, Detroit)

“Mistress must feed. Wifey and I find demon for you. Gotta get strong.”

“It’s really impossible to say what happened here last night. There are fifty-three men in the apartment building behind me. All dead, and, from what investigators are telling us, there is no visible sign of death. One theory is that a gas leak is to blame….” (Channel 4 News, Detroit)

“Molly. Come on kid. You’re needed. He wouldn’t have wanted this for you.”

“I’m telling you: there’s something freaky going on around here. Those fires? Heard some guy saying he swore he saw The Angel leaving the area, she hasn’t been seen since. Where’s she been?” (Caller, WDET’s “The Craig Fahle Show”)

“Molly, we were thinking of having a memorial service. There are so many who want to pay their respects…is that okay? Father Balester thinks it might be good for you.”

“You know what I think? There’s more out there than we realize. I think all sorts of beings walk among us, and maybe we’re just getting our first glimpse of what they can do.”
“All right. Thank you. Very interesting viewpoints from downtown Detroit. Back to Bob and Kelly in the studio.”
“Well, Bob? What do you say? Are we surrounded by supernaturals?”
“Sure. Just today, I saw a witch on Woodward! *laughter*” (WWJ Radio, Detroit)

“I remember when they stopped fighting, all of a sudden, you know? Nain asked me if I could lift the enchantment from him, but I wasn’t able to. I didn’t know what it did. All I knew was that it seemed to end their constant battles. I wasn’t strong enough. I should have tried harder, done more. Damn him.”

“Police chief Jones says today that he will be looking into the possibility of supernatural activity in the city of Detroit.”
“Something’s not right here. I’m going to find out what it is. I swear it to the people of this city. I will find out.” (Fox 2 News, Detroit)

“I know you want to follow him. We need you, Molly. We can’t lose you too.”

“It is not your time yet, demon girl. I am sorry.”

“Be with me always – take any form – drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I can not live without my life! I can not live without my soul!” (Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights)

END OF BOOK ONE

Continue reading for a sneak peek at
Book Two in the Hidden series: Broken

Broken: Chapter One

My name is Molly Brooks.

Vigilante.

Demon.

Mindflayer.

I killed the man I love. Ended the lives of every enemy he’d had, in one fiery, bloody night.

It did not bring him back to me.

My friends, the team of supernaturals who followed the demon they knew as the Nain Rouge, tiptoe around me. They want me to eat. They want me to tell them what to do, where to go, the way my love used to. They want me to feed.