Shepherd had slipped over my brother, shielding his body within his reaping form.
“What the fuck is Payne thinking?” August muttered before fading with Shepherd.
It was too late. Payne disappeared inside the flames raging around the creature.
“August can lose his flesh and become a skeletal monster. Why did he need the soul reaper to shield him from the flames?” Derrick asked as his brows furrowed. Then his lips curved up. “It’s not just Joy, is it? You’re all losing your powers here and there. That’s why he needed the soul reaper. To protect him in case his powers went away while he was inside the flames.”
I glowered, disliking Derrick even more for pointing out the reality. And the way he clenched his fists watching August made my skin crawl. Still, he kept Joy safe when her powers vanished. Dad wouldn’t have requested Derrick’s help if the proxy couldn’t be fully trusted.
“Thanks for keeping Joy safe earlier. It could have been bad for her if you weren’t there.”
“It’s what Grim brought me here to do,” said Derrick. “Did you notice?”
“Notice what?”
“Payne. He never screamed. A normal demon would have died screaming and burning. What is he?”
That was the million dollar question. But why did it seem like Derrick stood back analyzing us. Was I overthinking?
Instead of blazing up in the air and spreading out, the flames on the creature suddenly withdrew. The orange and red embers swirled and formed a funnel. It shrank until there was only the monster and Payne.
“Did Payne...” I drifted off as I gawked at him. He glowed red, lines of orange raced across his skin.
“He absorbed the flames,” Derrick finished for me.
The beast had no protection, which allowed me to study the poorly stitched patchwork on his body. Heads, limbs, and other demon parts held him together.
With a battle cry, August, no longer shielded by Shepherd, launched into the sky toward the creature. One giant arm swooshed through the air. August faded before it hit him. Shepherd jumped in from the left and cut into the creature’s limb. The monster wailed and went to swing his other hand. Payne jumped into his palm. What? I gasped as the fingers closed with him inside.
“Payne!” Joy screamed, and Derrick rushed toward her.
Materializing my scythe, I transformed it into a bow and created a pink arrow. I pulled the string back, looking for a spot of weakness. A bright glow of orange burning over the creature’s hand caught my attention. Steam rose. A second later, it exploded, and Payne burst out with a roar.
August reappeared above the giant; blade raised. My brother swung forward, straight down the beast’s chest. Body parts fell from the gaping wound. The ground shook, buckling my knees, as the abomination howled. I focused on the opening and let go of the arrow. It whizzed through the air, whistling as my pink essence expanded. The tip touched the monster’s flesh and then detonated. Yes! There was a thunderous boom then pink sparkles of my power lit up the night sky. Body parts fell around me. An arm landed on me, and I gagged. So many limbs belonging to wolves, the legs and torsos of rat demons, ogre heads littered the ground. The stench of smoke and burning flesh watered my eyes.
Shepherd greeted me in his reaping form the second I reappeared. He shifted into his human form and pressed me against his chest.
“One down,” he told me.
“Two to go,” August finished Shepherd’s words. Turning to Payne with a scowl on his face, August said, “Mind telling me what the fuck you were thinking? None of us could have gotten to your ass in time to save you. And you’re glowing like a human flame.” When Payne didn’t say a word, August gritted his teeth. “You’re not even listening.”
Payne stalked away. I looked toward what held his focus. Joy. Derrick pulled her closer as he walked like he was trying to lead her somewhere and she shoved him away. What was Derrick doing? When Joy turned toward us, Derrick caught her jaw, preventing her from seeing Payne coming.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” August faded in front of Payne, blocking his path. “You’re going to do whatever you just did two more times. Grim is with Barron and Sebastian now, dealing with the same monster.”
“Move,” Payne told him.
“Soul Reaper, you’re coming too, in case Payne can’t do his little trick again,” August muttered. “Prudence—”
“Don’t order me around,” I cut him off. “I’ll stay here and tend to the humans