VEE

I run forward and attempt to reach the portal. One of the creatures charges in my direction, yellow teeth bared. I hold my arms forward, ready to stop the demon assailing me, and a dark bolt erupts from my palms. A sound cracks like lightning and, when the bolt hits, the creature stumbles backward with a howl. A black hole grows across his chest. No blood. No wound, just a view into empty darkness. He knocks into the others before slumping into the dirt.

“Whoa. Verity. Are you using my power now? Where’s your shiny light?” Seth’s tone fills with a mix of curiosity and glee. “What are you?”

I ignore him. "Guys, if I shut this I need help clearing the entrance."

Xander rushes forward and slams one in the chest, his strength sending it flying across the ground as far as Seth did Heath. The second one roars and is immediately hit square in the chest by Heath's death bolt. I close my eyes, refocusing on what I did last time, reaching out to grab the torn fabric in space.

The energy buzzes through, my hands sticking to the portal as if I can't let go until it closes. An energy flows through, filling me with the same intense sensation as before. Something smacks me hard in the chest and I come face to face with a green-eyed creature, a smaller version of the demons leading the army. From the corner of my eye, I spot several sprinting from the entrance and into the desert. I'm unable to speak or move, my body charged and connected to the portal.

I hold the portal closed but it won’t stay, as if a spring attempt to hold the doorway open.

Behind, I hear yells from the guys, the crackling sound of magic and bodies thumping to the floor. Demons flood past me, different shapes and sizes, and amongst the cacophony, Seth laughs.

I grit my teeth, pulling as hard as I can and behind, in the distance, I spot a man, walking slowly and purposely to the portal. The creatures in front of him part like waves and he strides to the gap I've almost closed.

My body shakes and I pull tighter, the energy flowing from my fingers to the portal. Suddenly the energy switches focus and attempts to flow the opposite way. The man grins as his hands touch the other side, palms against mine over the strange barrier.

Again, I sense demon, but he’s not the same as the others. He’s average human height and his features remind me of a fae. Not because he shares fae characteristics but because, like them, there’s something not a hundred percent normal in his look. Perhaps the unusual blue green eyes and how large they seem in his face. Or the hands with fingers longer and thinner than any I’ve seen on a man.

But also, the scent of death surrounding him oozing through the splitting barrier.

My head spins, nausea rising, and I force every ounce of energy I have into preventing him reopening the portal. The fight behind continues and Seth stands close by, shielding his hand with his face. The moment I deal with this, I’m going to tear that smug look from his face.

The world beneath my feet trembles, but I can't tell if this is me or the ground. I glance over my shoulder and my heart dives into my mouth. The large creatures bear down on Xander and Heath, who struggle to push them away. Joss and Ewan fare better, with bodies at their feet, but more charge at them.

They're losing.

I pant as my arms tremble with overextension, muscles weakening against my opponent behind.

I close my eyes and bow my head, summoning the light I haven't used for a while. Please push away the dark. The white bursts from me and across the space in front, obscuring the man's face. I pull harder and harder but nothing moves, as if I can only use one power and not the other.

Something touches my shoulder and drags me backwards. My hands lose contact with the portal. I yell and lash out, twisting my body to move away from Seth. I trip over stone and fall heavily.

"It's too late to stop them now."

Not Seth. A tall, slender woman stares down at me for a moment before turning on her heel and approaching the hulking figure pinning Heath down. She yanks back his head, lifts a dagger, and slices. The demon slumps forward onto Heath, who struggles to push the body away.

Xander's prone beneath the other creature, the sight sickening me as I've never seen him fail before. A man whose height matches Xander’s, who I’ve never seen, holds his hand out. He gestures upwards and the creature levitates above Xander's body before he drops his arm and the demon crashes to the ground.

Both bodies become skeletons in seconds.

A sound whooshes behind me, like air escaping from a balloon, and the portal stretches thinner and thinner. The portal dwelling guys steps through and, as the new man rushes at him, he clicks his fingers, nods at Seth, and disappears.

Still on the ground, I stare at the closing portal.

The man and woman turn to Seth and stride over. He straightens and scowls at them, holding his ground. "Fucking angels."

I shield my eyes from the sun.

Angels? To me, they look like a couple in their thirties in smart casual clothing—trousers and shoes unsuitable for a hike through the desert but not business attire. She’s blonde and he’s dark-haired. Mesmerising, but not because if their looks. Because they’re angels.

"You won't succeed," says the woman in a low, harsh voice. "Even if you open them all, you'll fail."

"Uh huh. Know something I don't?" he gestures at me. "Is she your weapon? I should've guessed. Mysterious books, vague prophecies. You guys love that shit."

The woman crosses her arms and her next words shock and piss me off. "Two days’ time. We’ll let you know where and when. We need this issue sorting and quickly. Let's see what happens."

A large smile creeps across Seth's face and his eyes crinkle at the corners. "Finally! Do you know how much it sucks being kept in the dark about all this? Mind you, I never thought an angel would help me out. I might just forgive you for closing that portal."

I suck in ragged breaths, watching the scene through the dancing darkness in front of my eyes. I hear groans from the guys nearby and I want to vomit. Not because this happened, but because they lost. The Four Horsemen were weakened. This is too much for them. And that terrifies me.

"Not now?" Seth asks.

"No. This isn’t the right place. Nothing will end." The man straightens his coat sleeves and turns to address the woman. "What do we do about the leader?"

She shakes her head. "Hopefully he steers clear of all this until we're done. We’ll find him then.”

"Oh? Was the weird guy important?" Seth claps his hands together. "I love the mystery!” He points at the closed portal and asks, “Have you been in there, Feathers? Is this realm important?”

They don’t reply.

“Anyway, on to the next. If you want this over, I’d better finish up my plans.” Seth steps backwards to where the portal stood. “I’ll wait for further instructions.” He mock salutes them. “Or you can wait until I’m ready.”

The world around Seth takes on the familiar black void. I wait for him to vanish, but he pauses. "One thing before I go. Don't trust the angels, Horsemen."

The black engulfs Seth.