Dark Souls Academy: The Sacrifice (Hell Dimension #4)

Chapter 37

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

M y head ducked under another swing of Lucifer’s mighty fist. The fucker hit like a wrecking ball. My moves prevented him from pulling his arm back too far to keep the power from rising in his fists. It wasn’t as bad if magic didn’t amplify his hits. My constant defensive moves weren’t good enough. He move too quickly to go on the attack.

Someone yelled my name, distracting me. I glanced their way to see Maxie the Brownie fall to the ground. A sword slicing for her chest. I flung my air magic at her attacker, but a fist knocked me to the ground, so I didn’t know if the hit of my magic was strong enough to help. I didn’t hear her cries, so I told myself she was fine. I couldn’t be distracted.

Blood and dirt were caked over my body. My lungs had been punctured with a flying dagger, but my demon had it mostly healed. This wasn’t going well.

As I scrambled to my feet, my eyes and senses searched for my mates. Lucifer was just toying with me at this point, so he wouldn’t kill me while I was distracted.

Dex had bodies around him on their knees, but the bond was screaming that he was pushing his limit. The exhaustion seeping into his bones was a familiar sensation. His determination was stronger though. Even now, he watched me like a hawk, ready to throw himself in front of me if Lucifer went for a killing blow. My beautiful protector would never give up. I pulled on some of the lust in the air from his magic and sent it back to him, but our enemies were blocking it somehow. So, I couldn’t get much.

Bones fought gallantly as Lucifer’s army threw themselves at him. They knew him too well and attacked in waves to slowly exhaust him. The blood that dripped off him hurt my soul. I didn’t like the pain radiating off him through the bond. I sent more strength through our connection, hoping it'd be enough to keep him going and heal those nasty wounds.

Trigger and Alaric teamed up. Trigger’s knives reappeared back in his hand every time he threw one, while spelling anyone that got too close. Alaric finished his victims by ripping out their throats or shredding their hearts, depending on the demon’s power level. The smile and praises Trigger gave Alaric’s wolf when he made the kill extra bloody gave me some hope, but only a little. They were both getting tired as well.

I wished Kain was here.

The looming presence in front of me had my mind snapping back to my surroundings. Lucifer's smug, pretty face was full of satisfaction. The magic gleam in his eyes had me clenching my jaw. Asshole!

I stood tall, but he was taller, so I had to lift my chin to glare at him. Even if he did win this, the asshole wasn’t getting my fear. I'd go down kicking and screaming, cursing the day he fell from heaven.

“Did you really think you could take out the king? I didn’t become the ruler of Hell by chance,” he taunted.

My glare didn’t waver. I wished I could spit venom at him or shoot lasers from my eyes. “You are a shit king, it's time you retired.” I shrugged, trying my hardest to show no emotions. “Or better yet, died.”

My soul weapon appeared in my grip, and I struck, hoping to catch him by surprise. My blade sunk into his flesh, at the same time, a wave of magic hit me before the sharp tip could do any real damage. My soul weapon and my jeweled blade that I shared with my mates, had morphed into the perfect weapon. It didn’t matter, though, if I couldn’t hit my target.

Rage boiled up inside of me as I was flung through the air. I crashed to the ground with a painful crunch that had me crying out. My rag doll impression wouldn’t have impressed anyone, so much for being Queen. I couldn’t even stab one fallen angel.

My instincts took over, making my eyes snap to my Incubus. I sucked in a sharp breath. Focus, Dex! I shouted through the bond. My magic shot out of me, flinging a guy behind Dex across the field. He had dropped his guard to run to me. He couldn’t fucking do that.

Then stop getting thrown around like a sack of potatoes, my Queen. The clear worry in his tone didn’t stop my anger. He needed to keep himself alive to protect me. My pride took a hit at the truth in his words, though. This fight wasn’t going well.

That's the plan. Now, kill the person running up on you. I dropped the conversation after that, needing to focus on my own fight. I had to have faith that they could take care of themselves.

I got up with a sneer on my lips even as pain radiated through my broken arm. My magic slowly healed me, but I was spent. Sending magic and strength to my mates would be my downfall, but I didn’t care. Even if I didn’t make it out of this, they would. I refused to let them perish.

“That was cute. You really are my perfect Queen. The fight is beautiful in you.” Lucifer’s voice was like sandpaper on my skin. The fact that he stood in front of me, before I was fully on my feet irked me. Every muscle and bone in me screamed in protest as I moved.

One for the money. Two for the show. Now get up Ivy and go, go, go! Trigger cheering in my head oddly gave me the strength to stand and push the pain down enough to fight. It was still there screaming at me like a child throwing a tantrum, but I could ignore it.

Thanks.

Nothing else was needed to be said.

“I'll never be anything of yours. Not a slave. Not a lover. Not a fucking Queen,” I spat out with some blood. Lovely.

He chuckled. “Such a spirit. I will enjoy ripping it to shreds like I did with your mother.”

My heart stopped at his words. Panic and adrenaline slammed into me, making me stumble back. He knew. Fuck a duck, I was in trouble.

As if he could read my thoughts his manic grin grew wider. It stretched further than any human smile could. He tilted his head before speaking. “Did you know she gave up her powers to spite me? I let her keep her mates to keep her compliant. I can be reasonable when I want to be, and she had her Fae mate take away her demon magic!” The sneer on his face sharpened his features as they morphed into something truly ugly. At least the smile was gone. I could deal with being repulsed by him since, even in his pretty form, I felt the same way.

Pride for my mother must have shown in my eyes because his features darkened even more. Despite everything, I was glad she got to choose how she would die. Because I know he killed her. Without her demon power there was no need to keep her alive. The grief that threatened to rise was smothered by the recognition of my own future. I would do the same. Death was better than servitude to someone like him.

“I thought I had lost her and my chances at a Queen, but a seer had been given the gift of your mother's life story. I had to wait, but when I read the book my hopes of finding her daughter had renewed. Even if I never got to finish the book. The seer led me here. It is kind of ironic that you are mated to my sons.”

I spit in his face as my body finished healing. “I’m going to enjoy watching the light leave your eyes you fucking bastard.”

The cackle did more to bring me down than his hits because it showed me how much shit I was in. He was the predator in this cat and mouse game. It fueled my anger, but I doubted it’d be enough. I couldn’t get that amulet off him either, and my Fae side wasn’t enough.

My spine straightened. I wouldn’t give up. I didn’t have a choice.

I called on my magic to try one last thing. All of his damn people had some sort of blocker to my lust magic, so I couldn’t feed off them. I refused to feed off my own people and weaken them even more. The hunger twisting my insides was persistent, though. I needed fuel, but I could try one more time before I was too drained.

Pushing away the gnawing need inside of me, I created an almost presence-like form with my air magic behind Lucifer. Not too close or he would sense it yet but close enough that I could feel it. I focused on Lucifer to not give myself away.

The air was saturated with my energy, so hopefully, he wouldn’t notice my magic. I focused on making my fake person as real as it could be because this would be my last attempt. Without feeding, I was no match for the Devil.

Lucifer rambled about the disgusting things he'd do to me, but I ignored him. Tuning him out the best I could without appearing distracted anyway. I must be a fantastic actress because he didn’t stop and even stepped closer with a winner’s gleam brightening his eyes.

When my distraction was finished, I pulled on Kain’s energy through the bond to make it feel like he was behind him. It would be a trick, but Lucifer would think the Gods had granted my wish to wake him from his coma. If Lucifer truly feared Kain’s shadow, it would work as a distraction. If he didn’t, we were screwed because another wave of Lucifer's army had just arrived.

Damn it. Please Goddess Nyx let this work.