Page 103 of Beauty At Stake
“People tried to use them to conquer the world, so I had to destroy them with God's Light. Did Rue tell you what Anu's Light can do?”
“He said it could incinerate anything.”
I nodded. “That sums up one of its facets. But it can do a lot more than that.”
Sarai stared at me, then she shook herself and headed for a big desk pressed against the wall. There was a book there—big and black. Had to be the one we'd been looking for. She opened it, using a velvet bookmark to go straight to the page she needed. The sorceress was prepared.
As she gathered her ingredients and muttered to herself, I sent my senses out . . . and felt nothing. Right—I was cut off from my magic. But I had a feeling my team was out there playing hakhil hopscotch—Star kept breaking them while Sarai's enslaved Demon replaced them. Even if that enslaved Demon was successful, he'd tire soon. And my rescuers would doubtless gain ground with every broken shield. I just had to survive until they made it to me.
Sarai started to chant.
I started to sing “There's a Hole in My Bucket”—the most annoying song I knew. I knew it and its powers of annoyance because I have children.
The chanting stopped. The sorceress glared at me. I kept singing. The song makes it impossible to concentrate on anything else. Bwahahaha! Mommy power!
Sarai fetched something, stepped over to me, and wrestled with me until she got it in place—a gag. I made soundsthrough it, but they weren't enough to distract her. She restarted her chanting. Dang it.
I watched as Sarai mixed her potions and powders, my eyes widening when the mixture created colored smoke or sparked. It was a great show, but I could also feel power building in the air. Not with my psychic senses, mind you, but with normal human senses. It both tickled and laid heavy upon my skin. Whatever Sarai was doing, it was working.
What else could I do? How could I thwart her? I had run out of tricks. And then Sarai turned toward me with a glowing dagger in her hand.
Time was up, and no one was there to save me.
Maybe I was wrong. Maybe Anu really would let this happen. Not interfere, as asked. He could always find himself a new champion. Shit. I was going to die. I'd never see my babies again. I’d never hold my husbands. My father would have to mourn me. Parents should never have to bury their children.
My eyes filled with tears.
It was for the best. Full of tears, I couldn't see Sarai clearly. I knew she was crossing the room, coming to kill me. I saw her blurry form get closer. Then I closed my eyes and felt the tears slide down my cheeks. Steeling myself, I cut off the flow. I'd be damned if I let that murdering sorceress see me cry.
Through my closed lids, light burst. My eyes shot open to see a ring of fire circle the altar. And this was no ordinary Johnny Cash ring. Within the flames stood several Demons. And they weren't ordinary Demons either. All of them were in the torture forms, ready to lay the pain.
Oh, how I loved monsters!
The flames died down, revealing the soldiers from Hell. Cloven hooves clicked on the cement, barbed tails lashed at the air, and claw-tipped wings rustled as they closed. The King of Demons stepped forward and grabbed the sorceress by her throat. No hesitation. Just blammo! Claws to flesh. Honey, I'm home. Time to pay the Devil his due.
Massive and magnificent, Astaroth shone in the dark room. Even without my psychic abilities, his sovereignty was apparent. Crown? He don't need no stinkin' crown. Star glanced at me, green eyes glowing like supernatural acid, then focused on the woman he held several feet above the ground.
“Sacrifice accepted,” the Devil said. He brought Sarai closer to say, “And I don't mean Seren.”
Sarai started to scream and claw at Star. He let her struggle, cocking his head to enjoy the show.
“How many people have you murdered in this room, sorceress?” He lifted his horned head and sniffed the air. “That many? Oh, you will have a lot to look forward to on Hell. And I do mean on, not in. Hell is a planet and the torture fields are vast. But I have a special place reserved for you.”
Sarai went still, her eyes wide, and the sound of dripping liquid came. I cranked my neck to see a puddle of piss forming below her.
“Every scream, every ounce of torment, every plea for mercy will be paid for with pain,” Star went on. “God does not keep a tally, but I do, Sarai Morgan. I see your every sin, and I will personally ensure that your debt is paid tenfold.” Then he squeezed.
Blood gushed as razor-sharp claws sliced through human flesh. Sarai's head fell into an unnatural angle, and somewhere nearby, a wolf howled—a lone wolf.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Star tossed the body onto the floor. “Someone get that trash out of my sight. Take it outside and burn it. In front of the wolf.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Sal grinned and winked at me as she went for the body.
“The rest of you, help the others clear the house.” Star waved them away even as he turned to face me, his big, devil body condensing into the form I was more familiar with. His clothes went from skin-tight to baggy.
“Are those your eating pants?” I grinned.
