Page 158 of Psycho Gods

I shivered as the storm picked up. “I wouldn’t bet on it,” I whispered. The twins walked in front of me and formed a protective wall. Darkness shimmered around them.

Malum’s voice was rough like broken glass. “I would.”

I narrowed my eyes at the twins’ darkness. It seemed to form a shape on their heads, but I couldn’t discern the object.

“What would you bet?” I asked mindlessly.

Malum answered immediately, “My soul.”

We walked the rest of the way in silence.

* * *

I unraveled at the seams.

The battle raged.

The world devolved into shades of black and pain.

Smoke.

Screams.

Pleas.

Women and men bellowed as we murdered them.

A bear shifter roared, and the sound reverberated menacingly down the dark corridor.

Demons swung swords made of nightmares.

Crystal wings clattered as the angels hovered along the ceiling and struck from above.

Pincers slashed desperately. Hands grabbed helplessly.

An enchanted blade sliced through an ungodly carapace.

Red poured from flesh.

Green gore splattered.

This settlement was like the last. It was a maze of dark, twisting corridors, false walls, and sprawling rooms where the battles spilled into.

These infected also had enchanted swords. Little good it did them.

We hunted them through the halls.

The Necklace of Death pulsed with energy against my chest bone like a heartbeat.

I tripped as a body slammed against me.

John grabbed my arm and pulled me off the wall that I didn’t remember leaning against.

“Focus, Arabella!” Malum shouted harshly. “Don’t you dare lose us again.”

I fought numbly.

Jinx’s voice garbled in the back of my skull.