Page 54 of Hell’s Weapon

Wings tucking in tight the winged humanoid shape becomes clearer as they plummet to the earth.

They slam into the open concrete in front of the building, but despite their speed there’s barely a sound. Wings spread wide to reveal a lithe body, dropped into a fighting crouch, one leg folded under them, one stretched out to the side. Their fingertips brush the ground beneath them.

Dressed in all black, the tactical gear clearly tailored to fit to perfection, the material absorbing all light. In the shadows, they’d be undetectable. The only part not skintight is the hood which billows over their head, concealing their face.

The horns protruding out of it through tailored holes are not missable. In a red to black ombre they ride up away from the creature’s head curving slightly and pointed on the ends.

They rise in a fluid move, their control over each muscle in their body absolute. From their clothing I cannot tell if the creature is male or female, although they are not overly tall or overly muscled. But they could easily be a lithe male.

And after landing in literal Hell I have no clue what resides out here. After those gremlin things and sprites we met on the mountain, there could be any number of creatures we’re yet to learn about.

One thing I do know about the new arrival, however, is that they’re beautiful. Despite not being able to actually see any of their features, I can’t take my eyes off them as they walk over to where our group is staring.

“Did you have to be so dramatic?” Officer Zephyr says in greeting, his tone not concealing the irritation he clearly feels over the arrival of this stunning creature.

I look away from them for a few seconds to glance at the other guards. Officer Zephyr has stepped forward to greet the arrival, the rest have dropped their gazes but stand to attention. Clearly, whoever this is, holds a powerful position in this land.

No response comes in reply to Officer Zephyr’s greeting. The creature simply sweeps over to him. It’s then that I notice the tail. Long, thin, and tipped in a deadly looking arrowhead it whips back and forth like they’re just as irritated as Zephyr is.

In a blink their wings disappear as they reach the doors of the dorms and they disappear inside, the Head Guard following behind them.

Pushing off the wall behind me, I move until I can see inside the building of my dorm through the open doors. I crane my neck to see if I can catch a glimpse of the creature again. But they must’ve already moved up the hallway as it’s empty as far as I can tell.

Are they here to help with the murdered contestants?

I move closer as the guards standing on the entryway resume their conversation.

“Who was that?” I ask, recognising one of them as one of our professors.

“That,” he replies, “is the Death Bringer. Also known as Hades’s Assassin, or Hell’s Weapon.”

Chapter 19

Tacita

Moving into room thirty-seven, I wait until the door clicks shut and it’s only Garrick and me–and the two dead bodies–before talking.

“Tell me what you know so far.” I move to the first victim. It’s a clean kill. Simple slice across his neck, deep enough to slice the artery, but not deep enough that it risked decapitation. This was professional, calculated, practiced.

“Both died around three hours ago, Charon tried to catch the souls. He managed to contain the first. The second took him by surprise and flew straight over the river.”

“Which was first? Did they see anything?”

“Twenty-Seven died first. Didn’t see a thing, he was sleeping according to Charon.”

I twirl to the second body, the one that died first. This was different. Stab wound straight through the eye. Less messy, more gross but quicker. The lid has been punctured, corroborating the sleeping story. Poor fucker didn’t stand a chance.

“How are they gaining entry to the rooms, Garrick?” I ask. I have to admit, seeing the victims and determining the speed at which this assassin can clearly kill, it's a little unnerving to know I’m sleeping in the same building. Immortal or not, I wouldn’t survive the brain injury, the slit neck is debatable.

My fear is only in part for myself, and the larger part is over the fact that Milo and Wyatt are very much human.

“We can’t determine how they’re getting in. There’s never forced entry. But if these two were asleep then they didn’t let the killer in.”

“Window?”

“Locked from the inside.”

“So, they are using the coded doors?”