Page 59 of Claiming Demons
ANAIS
The only planI could come up with was to get Erini and Fen away from the building and out into the park.
Somehow.
The damage they’d done to the hotel — whether inadvertent or not — was catastrophic. I couldn’t let them do any more, and I didn’t want to put any other buildings at risk.
I stopped my forward march toward the battle and mentally reached out to Fen.How are you, my love? Do you think you can lure Erini out to the park?
Fen’s voice, when he answered within me, was ragged.I’ve tried several times to lure her away. But she seems fixated on you. It’s all I can do to keep her away from you and others. I’m…I felt and heard his pained hesitation.She’s too powerful. I’m struggling. I’m sorry, Ana.
Don’t be, my love. I’m here now and ready. Let me take the fight from you.
He didn’t respond in words, but the relief I felt flooding through him was confirmation enough that he needed help. Fen was strong, but Erini, it seemed, was stronger.
“Erini!” I shouted. “If you want me, come and get me! I’ll be in the park waiting for you.”
“I’ll kill you, bitch!” she screeched from somewhere ahead of me, her cry bellowed out from the chaos and darkness.
Quickly, I shifted into my dove form and flew out from the hotel toward Central Park. There was still a risk of inadvertent casualties outside, but the destruction level should decrease significantly in that more natural setting.
Still, I hoped and prayed I could keep this goddess contained as much as possible.
As I landed in a thicket at the edge of the park and returned to my human form, I summoned all my aspects.
War reinforced me, strengthening my armor, giving me my sword and bringing forth some minions to aid me. Love bolstered me, feeling my guys all alive and striving. Peace calmed me. Sex and fertility… weren’t so useful… but they were there just in case. And law, I used my sense of justice to make sure the battle I was about to fight would be a righteous one.
Last, my healing surged through me, strengthening and reinforcing me, making sure I was at peak health for the fight to come.
Erini, like a fireball — blazing with a blood-red aura — blasted out of the hotel and hurtled toward me.
“Come at me, bitch,” I whispered, thinking I was ready for whatever she might throw at me.
I was wrong.
With a horrid shriek, she unleashed not one but dozens of bolts of raw fury down on me.
My minions were blasted to nothingness in the blink of an eye. I tried to dance out of the way, avoiding her attack, but there were too many bolts and as fast as I was, I wasn’t fast enough.
One crushing blast hit me, then another, tearing at my armor and my very essence. Relentless anger and jealous rage pounded through my soul as vengeful destruction pummeled me physically.
My armor protected me, preventing major damage, but I felt like I was bouncing around inside it, bruised and disoriented. My mind spun, trying to catch up and anticipate, but she was just too much all at once.
Erini laughed. “How’d you like that, little bug?”
Ana!I heard the twin cries within my soul almost at the same time before Erini’s barrage suddenly lessened in intensity.
I dodged the few remaining bolts coming my way, catching a glimpse — through trees and the constant rain of dirt and debris around me — of Ramsey, sheathed in swirling chaos, attacking Erini.
Fen was limping toward me as well, adding his own all-consuming blasts.
That’s my guys!
Keep her occupied for a moment, I have an idea,I sent to them.
Will do, Silverlocks,came Ramsey’s reassuring bass.
I’ll do what I can,Fen replied, sounding rough. He needed healing.