Demon's Rage Read online

  Demon’s

  Rage

  A Clutch Mistress Book

  Janelle Peel

  Amazon Kindle Edition

  Copyright 2018 Janelle Peel

  Illustrated by Elaine Newsome

  To be notified when Janelle Peel’s next book is released, follow her online at https://m.facebook.com/clutchmistress/.

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  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission in writing from the author, except for brief quotations used for promotion or in reviews.

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any persons, businesses, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

  For everyone who has stuck by my side on this journey.

  ~Janelle

  Table of Contents

  Summary

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Glossary

  Summary

  The Sundering has begun and Hell on Earth is now a reality.

  Devastated by Lila’s loss, Sora tries to save as many survivors as possible and erects a barrier around San Diego to keep the Demons at bay.

  Hardened by Kai’s abandonment, Bex pushes herself to dangerous levels.

  Rowe finds a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

  A new Elemental rises.

  As the world burns, can the Clutch band together to save humanity?

  Chapter 1

  Alec

  Knowing it was a dream didn’t help. It played on repeat every time he closed his eyes.

  Beep! Beep!

  Rolling over, he groaned, “Ugh.”

  What day was it? The last thing he remembered was dinner… taco Tuesday. Crap! He had an English paper due!

  Mom’s voice rang out from the kitchen. “Alec! If you hit snooze one more time I’m sending Jared up to get you!”

  Wide awake, fear skittered down his spine. Tossing the blankets aside, he stormed to the bathroom. Having his older brother come get him would not make the day any easier. It was bad enough Jared had to drive him to school. Ever since dad died last year Jared had been struggling to fill his role. Brotherly love quickly turned to resentment and disdain. It was all Alec could do to stay out of his way.

  Grabbing his toothbrush, he popped it into his mouth. Heaving a sigh, he perused his reflection above the vanity. Would he ever fill out? He was the skinniest person in his class. Constantly mocked for his gangly height and ill-fitting clothes, he was practically a leper.

  Highschool sucked.

  “Four more years,” he whispered to himself.

  Finished with his morning ritual, he dressed in yesterday’s jeans and a black hoodie. Shoving his homework into his backpack, he took the stairs two at a time.

  Why was it so quiet? Normally mom would be making a racket in her haste to get to the office.

  Rounding the corner to the living room, he froze.

  Shaking her head, mom stared at the TV in shock.

  Jared turned up the volume from his perch on the sofa.

  Confused, he asked, “Hey, what’s going on?”

  Jared’s face pinched in anger. “Shh!”

  Shrugging off his attitude, Alec focused on the newscast.

  Bedraggled came to mind. The female anchor, normally professional and coifed to perfection, looked into the camera with glassy eyes. Mascara tinted tears dripped down her reddened cheeks. Clearing her throat, she croaked, “Again, this is not a drill. We’ve lost all contact with Mexico. Texas followed shortly after.” Sniffling, she continued, “We will now take you live to Father Vince.”

  The screen brightened before settling on an aging man with a clerical collar snug tight against his throat. “Thank you, Amy. As I said before, Armageddon is upon us. I have received reports from the Vatican. God has already begun recalling his flock. Any who follow Him will be taken to Heaven.”

  Alec’s thoughts rolled. Was this some kind of sick joke?

  The display flipped; showing the Father on one side and a live image on the other.

  Suspended by large scarlet wings, an Angel hovered above the Sistine Chapel. Flapping once, she dropped to the concrete.

  The gathered crowd gasped. One by one, they fell to their knees in supplication.

  Her breastplate winked as multiple camera flashes lit its shiny surface. Grim determination lined her rosy lips. Tipping her chin, her blue eyes shown with sadness. Reaching behind her back, she gripped a silver pommel over her shoulder. The metal sang as she slid the blade from its sheath. Nearly five feet in length, it lit in a golden light.

  Instantly, the gathering erupted into chaos.

  “Save us!”

  “Lord have mercy!”

  “Praise God!”

  Father Vince reverently made the sign of the cross.

  Sweeping the edge in one wide arc, the TV screen flashed white.

  Alec blinked the spots from his eyes. What the hell was that?

  Of what must have been hundreds if not thousands of people, only a handful remained. Shocked, they screamed in outrage and rushed forward to where the Angel had been.

  But she was gone.

  Somberly, Father Vince shook his head. “Only those who follow the Lord’s path have earned a place at His table.”

  The side image flipped to the news anchor. Lifting one dainty hand, she tugged at the ends of her blond hair. “And those who don’t?”

  Father Vince swallowed audibly. “I’m sorry, Amy. They must face the antichrist.”

  One moment the Father was there, the next he too, disappeared.

  Amy screeched, “Father? Father! Please don’t leave us! Father!” Standing, she scored deep lines down either side of her cheeks with her fingernails. Blood poured down the front of her dress as she wailed in agony. “I’m an atheist! Oh God. No!”

  Two men rushed on stage to restrain her.

  Jared changed the channel.

  Trash littered the vacant news desk. Beyond the overturned chairs, a live cast played on a massive screen.

  Great horned beasts flew through the sky. Insects skittered along the ground with dizzying speed.

  The camera tipped precariously. With a loud crack, the lens split down the center as it connected with something hard.

  Slightly segmented by the fractured glass, a woman ran down the street screaming.

  Opening and closing his mouth, Alec could only watch as a truck sized creature closed the distance behind her. Grasping her waist in what appeared to be pinchers, it caught her.

  Beating at the appendage with her fists, the woman let out a desperate gurgle.

  Snapping met Alec’s ears as the Demon opened its wide maw and bit down on her head. Rivulets of ruby dampened the front of her pink pantsuit as he
r body convulsed.

  Mom shuddered. “Turn it off, Jared.”

  “No. We need to know what else is out there.”

  Turning on her heel, she glared. “Now!”

  Jared muted the volume. “If you don’t want to watch, that’s fine. Go get Dad’s guns from the safe.”

  Indecision flashed across her face. Jerking a nod, she rushed upstairs.

  Alec sank to the couch as Jared flipped through different stations. Each channel revealed similar levels of mayhem. A few were out completely.

  This couldn’t be happening. What were they going to do? He’d stopped going to church after dad’s death. Mom went regularly and was actively involved.

  A startled cry drew him back to his feet.

  Jared beat him to the stairs.

  Mom’s voice echoed throughout the house. “I can’t leave them! Where will they go? My children have no one! Please!”

  Frantically, he followed his brother’s wide girth to her room.

  Kneeling on the floor with a shotgun clutched inside her hands, she begged, “Please!”

  Standing atop her queen size bed, the Angel shook his head. Gripping his sword, he rumbled, “Claire, it is not my decision.” Flipping the blade, they both disappeared in a flash of golden light.

  Opening his eyes, he stared at the buckled ceiling. It’d been 14 years since he’d seen his mother.

  Jared shifted beside him. “Grab your knives, Alec. There’s movement outside.”

  Instantly alert, he checked each sheath. Ammunition was scarce. They learned early on that gunshots only drew more Demons to their location and were to be used as a last resort.

  Rising to a crouch, he awaited his brother’s instructions.

  Twitching two fingers, Jared motioned to the barricaded door.

  Adrenaline lit his veins as he took his post.

  Scratching sounded.

  Holding his breath, he waited.

  A soft whisper met his ears.

  “Shh, we don’t know if it’s safe. Be quiet.”

  Looking to Jared, he widened his eyes in silent question. The last group of people they’d joined with had robbed them blind.

  Jared shook his head. They couldn’t afford to make the same mistake twice.

  A gleeful screech rent the air followed by a hiss. “I’ve found you…”

  “God, no! Just leave us alone!”

  Footsteps pounded closer to their location.

  Fuck, they were coming toward them! Stepping away from the door, he lifted his twin Ka-Bar’s in preparation.

  Jared joined his side.

  The ground trembled as a beast gave chase.

  Thumping past their position, a hideous scream rang out.

  Instantly, it was silenced.

  “No,” the creature growled. “Mine! Get the other one!”

  Wet crunches punctuated the other abominations indignant grumbles.

  Sweat beaded on Alec’s brow in anticipation. There were at least two. Was this it?

  Hot sniffles blasted through the cracks of their door.

  Backing up a step, his foot connected with a discarded can of baked beans. It clanged across the tile before coming to rest against an office chair.

  Before Alec could blink the barricade burst apart. Green scales littered the creature’s tall frame as it reared up on its hind legs. Bellowing in satisfaction, it hooked its sharp claws. “Mine!”

  Without hesitation, Jared knocked Alec back and rushed forward. Flipping his blade, he dropped to one knee and pierced the Demon’s underbelly. Jerking upright, he gutted the abomination in a hot spray of tar. Jared screamed in pain as the acidic blood connected with his skin.

  Dead, the lesser fell back with a thud.

  Falling heavily to the ground, Jared wheezed, “Go, Alec!”

  No way was Alec leaving his brother. Rushing to his side, he ignored the black substance eating away at his ear. Wisps of smoke rose as his skull began to disintegrate.

  This couldn’t be happening!

  “Go, baby bro…”

  His heart broke. “I can’t leave you!”

  Jared bared his teeth. “Have to… it’s too late for me.” Faster than he could track, Jared snatched the gun from his hip. “Get to San Diego, Alec!”

  The shot deafened him as Jared’s blood splattered across his face.

  His mind screamed, MOVE!

  Left with no other choice, he numbly followed the voice.

  Bex

  Bracing my arms on the pool table, I grunted, “Rowe, I need new patrols for the perimeter.”

  Jerking a nod, she leaned closer to the map. “Got it. Nat and Kane can take the northern line. They’ve been off rotation for the last two days so they should be good to go. We taking a run?”

  “Yeah. Have you seen Sora?”

  She shrugged. “Check the roof. She’s been going up there regularly to check the sphere. Honestly, I don’t know how she does it. I can’t even look at it.”

  “Okay, we’ll move out in ten. Make sure you fill Jackson in on the changes. We don’t need a fuck up like last time.”

  Snorting, she grinned. “Right?”

  Rolling my eyes, I chuckled. Taking in the humans had proven difficult. A few were still leery of Shifters. Unfortunately, their terrified screams only drew more lessers to our borders.

  Leaving her side, I bounded up the stairs to the roof. Pushing open the steel door, the glow of her magic greeted me.

  Standing at the railing, she stared unseeingly at the sky.

  My heart pinched. Ever since Lila had been taken she always looked up.

  Joining her, I bumped her shoulder with mine. “Hey.”

  She sighed. “Is it ever going to end, Bex?”

  Hooking an arm around her thin waist, I murmured, “I don’t know, Babe.”

  Tucking her chin, her star flecked irises perused my face. “I miss her so much.”

  Holding her tighter, I kissed her brow. “I know. We all do. She’ll come back… someday.”

  Thunder rolled at my response. Thank the Goddess she received her power back when the Sundering began, but it made the weather incredibly volatile.

  “Shh,” I soothed. “Rowe and I are going on a run. You’re going to scare off any animals we might find. The herd the humans maintain is barely enough to support us.”

  Instantly, the crackle ended.

  Clenching her lids closed, she nodded. “Sorry.”

  “Nothing to be sorry for.” Releasing my grip, I looked past the sphere. Her magic saved most of San Diego, but everything beyond had fallen. The Demons scorched the landscape as far as the eye could see.

  Softly, she asked, “Do you think Daisy and Cooper are still in Seattle?”

  “I do. She’s much too stubborn to let the Stronghold fall.”

  She chuckled. “I suppose you’re right. It’s just we haven’t heard from them in so long…”

  Intuiting her thoughts, I answered, “Let me do this hunt and I’ll go. Is the port still secure?”

  The corners of her lips lifted. “Yes. The Lessers haven’t bothered with it. Lillin says they hate water.”

  “All right. I’ll take Rowe. Lillin and Mel, too. Make a list of anything you might need. I’ll check the ships while I’m out.”

  “Okay. A sailing yacht should do. I can keep a light wind up for the journey but I’ll have no way to get you back. You shouldn’t have a problem, though. The currents will be against you for part of your return, but with your power over Water, it shouldn’t be an issue.”

  “Sounds like a plan. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

  “We need to hit any stores we see for seed. Nat wants to experiment with something citrus.”

  Playing with the string of the bow strung across her back, Rowe nodded. “Sounds good.”

  Skirting a pile of rubble, a noise drew my attention to the barrier.

  A man ran full speed toward the sphere.

  Glancing past him, I gasped. “He’s not going to make it.�
��

  Three lessers rushed after him. Like overgrown kimono dragons, their black hides undulated across the uneven terrain. While they normally left us alone, pickings were becoming more and more scarce.

  Without hesitation, Rowe stepped outside the bubble. Shrugging off her bow, she nocked two arrows in quick succession.

  The first hit the closest Demon as it reached for the frantic male. It fell with a startled cry.

  Growling in anger, its brethren picked up their pace.

  While Rowe kept them busy, I called for my power. Magic lit my arms in a cerulean hue. Pulling moisture from the air, I formed it into two ice shaped boomerangs. Directing the frozen blades, I decapitated the remaining beasts.

  Wheezing, the man sailed past us and through the barrier.

  Tossing each other a queer look, we followed.

  Down on all fours, he gulped in greedy breaths. After a moment, he croaked, “Thank you.”

  Lifting a brow, I took in his large form. His full beard obscured much of his face but I guessed him to be somewhere in his mid to late 20s.

  Fingering a blade at her hip, Rowe snorted. “You’re welcome. What’s your name?”

  Sitting back, he gazed up at the sphere in awe. “Alec. I thought it was a dream.”

  The sound of fighting met my ears. Wrinkling my nose in disgust, I watched four insect like Demons fight over the headless corpses. Gross.

  Alec shuddered. “We heard of your location years ago. Hope is the only thing that’s kept us going.”

  My thoughts ground to a halt. “Us?”

  The corners of his eyes tightened. “My, uh, Brother. He didn’t make it. I lost him last night.”

  Shaking my head, I sighed. “Sorry for your loss, Alec. I’m Bex and this is Rowe. Where did you come from?”

  He barked an unhappy laugh. “Florida, originally. At least that’s what it was called when the world went to Hell.”

  Rowe dropped into a crouch. “Have you seen others? Is anyone left?”

  His lips thinned. “We learned early on to steer clear of people. Groups attract too much attention from them. It’s that, or the ones you try to help rob you in your sleep.”