Page 126 of Legion
“We need to back up some,” announced Tobe loudly.“We don’t want to be too close to the last of these clerics when Naomi’s demon and Lou target them.We could get caught in the crossfire.”
“He’s right,” said Jolene.“Start retreating.”
They all did exactly that, watching as father and daughter—both looking like walking flaming torches—stalked after the remaining clerics.Some Eliouds hid, some tried fleeing, and the rest fought back.
None managed to escape the creatures of fire.
They were whipped.Chopped in half.Set alight.Thrown through the portal.
Voices screamed.Begged.Chanted.Swore.Yelled out in anger.
One by one, the number of clerics went down ...and down ...and down.Until, finally, none were left.
Naomi’s entity then turned its attention to Luka and the other demons, no hint of recognition in its expression.
Luka reached out psychically.You did good.It’s over now.The threats to you and Naomi are gone.Let her come back to me.
The entity regarded him through narrowed eyes for long moments, then it subsided.Naomi’s gray-green gaze met his, a slight daze there.And then his girl collapsed.
A telepathic voice broke into Naomi’s sleep, the words muffled and rhythmic.She couldn’t make them out, her thoughts too slow and cottony.
Exhaustion pooled in her mind, her limbs, her extremities, everything.
Her senses seemed dull.She was aware of low voices, of soft bedsheets, of a dark, spicy cologne, of a hand holding hers, of a thumb pressed to her pulse.But she felt somehow disconnected from it all.As if the outside world was so very far away.
She felt wiped.Drained.Psychically burned out.
It would be easy to let herself doze back off, but that telepathic voice kept moving through the fog in her brain, the words ...No, they weren’t mere words, they werelyrics.
The person was singing.And that voice was one she recognized well.
Why are you singing?she asked.
A pause.Because you wouldn’t wake up, and it annoyed me, clipped Lou.I want to hear that you’re fine.
I’m fine, she assured him.Totally out of it, but fine.
Good.Now sleep.You need your rest.
Then why did you wake me?
Because ...Oh, forget it.His psyche gently bumped hers, and then he was gone.That was right when all sorts of images poured into her mind.Memories of fleeing clerics, of blazing fire, of ...Ah, shit, her demon had opened a freaking portal to hell.
The entity shrugged, unapologetic.Like Naomi, it was feeling lethargic and mentally numb right now.That display of power had zapped them both of psychic strength.
“Put that down,” Tia barked.“Tobe, I swear to God if you steal anything from this house ...”
“I said I wouldn’t,” he reminded her.
Tia huffed.“You’re an imp.Forgive me if I don’t trust your word on that.”
“I wouldn’t steal from Naomi’s mate; it would be like stealing from her.But yeah, I’d otherwise totally pocket this watch,” he unashamedly admitted.
“Why?Do you not like your fingers?”
“Belinsky wouldn’treallycut them off.Would you?”
“Yes.”A flat response from Luka—the sound of his voice seemed to bat away the rest of the fog in Naomi’s brain.
