class keep flashing through my mind, and I can’t help the bubble of panic that rises up in my throat.
This isn’t anything like that though.
It’s worse.
There’s an active malevolence to these demons, like they’re starving for us, like they’d eat our souls if they could—and I know nobody’s going to swoop in and save me with one threatening gesture the way Roman did.
My tall, imposing professor is actually nearly back-to-back with me now, gritting his teeth as he shouts out spells, trying to control the demons. Dmitri’s more of a physical fighter, not as accomplished in his magic, but his power works well in conjunction with his combat skills. He phases his fists into the doppelgängers’ chests as he punches, dealing even more damage.
Both guys are doing as much as they can, and normally, they’d be wiping the floor with these asshats… but not tonight. These demons are insanely strong and seem almost impervious.
I have to do something. We have to stop them.
How though?
I can’t leave to get help—what if Roman and Dmitri die while I’m gone? I can’t risk that happening. And I know neither of them will leave me or each other either. None of us are the most touchy-feely people in the world, but we’re all fiercely protective of the people we care about. Plus, we’re all stubborn as hell.
But we’re being backed into a corner at this point, and even though I keep lobbing magic at the Cam doppelgänger and the others—shit that would kill a normal person; I’m way past holding back—they keep coming. They’re so much more resilient than humans, and I want to scream in frustration. Well, frustration and fear, if I’m being honest. How are we supposed to hold up against these guys? It’s three against six here, and that’s not even counting the damn bi—
Wait.
The bird.
I dodge as the giant bird tries to strike at us with its razor-sharp beak—it keeps doing that, the fucker, although mostly it’s just letting its children have at us.
The children it created. Children that are made up of stolen magic.
As crazy as it sounds, this bird must have stolen the magic from each of the affected students to make each doppelgänger. So that’s its ability.
It’s not a person with magic, it’s a magical creature, but surely my power can still work in this situation. I mean, it still has a magical ability, right?
The bird lets out another cry, and the Cam doppelgänger teleports from across the roof, popping into existence just feet from me. I desperately hurl a sonic boom to blast him—it—away, my heart pounding. I hate that this stupid thing looks like my boyfriend, my real boyfriend who’s still downstairs passed out from pain.
“Guys!” I scream as an insane idea takes shape in my mind. God, I wish Asher were here; his mind reading would come in very handy right now. “Get me more to the left!”
I don’t want to say anything more out loud. I don’t know how smart this bird or its creepy demon babies are, but the guy controlling the creature has to be smart enough to figure out what I’m planning—unless he doesn’t know about my mirror abilities.
Maybe he doesn’t though. They’re brand new. How much has he been able to spy on me? On the school? How much does he know?
I’ve been trying to use my mirror abilities in the fight, but they’re coming on in bursts. Still, he’s probably noticed my attempts by now if he can see through the bird’s eyes.
Tandy’s doppelgänger comes after me as Cam’s copy hauls himself to his feet on a lower section of the roof. I levitate instinctively, mirroring her power, neutralizing her before she can gun for Dmitri like she was planning to.
We’re running out of time and strength. How much longer can the three of us last against all of these demons? How much longer before one of us slips up, or we just collapse from exhaustion? Nobody but Asher knows we’re up here, and he’s taking care of Cam in the infirmary. He’ll come looking for us eventually, but by then, it’ll likely be too late.
I grit my teeth. “Get me a clear shot at the bird,” I whisper to Dmitri.
He trusts me enough—or maybe he’s just desperate enough—not to question me. Instead, he nods and hockey checks the Preston doppelgänger out of the way, shoving him and taking the brunt of the fight from me so I can rush forward.
The bird strikes at me again with its