On My Way - Eve Langlais Page 0,57

have to somehow kill it, but how? Get to its root and stab it? Set it on fire?

Maybe not fire. It originated from under the sink, which meant stepping on its squishiness as my house groaned.

The cupboards gaped open, and I could see the mass of the plant pulsing under the sink.

A gargoyle attacked, and I blindly swung, making it yell. I had to move faster.

I dove for the garbage can. “Get off of there!” I huffed and pulled at the container my Seymour-ish plant used as a pot. I only managed to spill it onto the floor.

Which might have been bad if I’d not seen the heart of it. Red instead of green, a strobing, glowing ball inside the oozing plant. It appeared to have no interest in me. It kept stretching out to my house, and where it touched, things turned gray.

I hacked into the green with my cleaver and got a reaction. An inaudible scream and a gargoyle on my back, yanking on my hair. I lost my grip on the cleaver as I panicked at the newest attack.

“Get off!” I shrieked. Instinct guided me as I dropped and slammed my back into the island.

Something cracked on the creature, and it loosened its grip. But I had no time to admire my bravery. I dove for the red heart. I could see it clearly. Snatching it from the oozing flesh, I bounced to my feet and reached for a new knife, which I used to slash. Flesh parted at my stroke, smooth as warm butter. The thing shrieked and spat.

I ran for the back door and heaved it open. My grip on the heart tight, I threw it outside. It dropped almost immediately to the ground. Something dove from the sky toward it.

Oh no you don’t.

I reached it first and stamped down. My foot slid off the plant’s heart. I dropped to a knee and drove the point of my dagger into it.

Crack!

The impact tossed me backwards into the doorway of the cottage. I had just enough time to throw myself back as a gargoyle flew past. Before it could wheel around, I turned and scrabbled inside.

Weaponless. I’d lost my knife. I ran for the front door. I had to reach Betsy.

The window spilled a body and another. They spread out to cover my escape. I whirled. Behind me more approached.

The house had stopped shivering, but the situation seemed worse than ever. A creature bigger than the rest entered through the back door I’d left open.

Imagine a demon from hell, grossly muscled, its limbs exaggerated in size, and somewhat animal like, which truly made its almost human facial characteristics the more frightening. It had long black nubs projecting above its shoulders, possibly indicating wings. Horns on its head. Its skin was pure black. Eyes, too.

I was so screwed. The only good thing was I’d yet to pee myself. Were the Kegels I’d started doing finally having an effect?

The demon took its time coming toward me. Its minions crowded behind.

I needed a weapon.

The house shuddered.

The demon flicked its dark gaze at the ceiling. Only a second before fixing on me again.

“Get thee gone, foul creature, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” I channeled the tiny bit of religion I’d learned from movies and books.

It didn’t even pause, but rather smiled. Frightening considering all of its jagged teeth.

The demon paused at the edge of the circle. Eyed me. The eyes shifted from dark to a malevolent, glowing orange.

Definitely from Hell. But of more interest, it hesitated at the edge of the circle. Its minions crowded around it, staying outside of the line. Holy moly it was stopping them!

For a moment, I thought myself safe.

Until the demon poked a claw at the invisible line.

Poked over and over, then I swear it smiled before putting a foot inside.

17

Apparently, being terrified does a weird thing to the brain. For instance, mine began humming a song.

It puts its left foot in, it puts its left foot out, it puts its left foot in and shakes all about. It does the scary jerky, and it turns me inside out, because I’m about to be its lunch.

Hysterical laughter almost bubbled out of me as the demon placed both feet into the circle with me.

So screwed. Maybe if I ran for the poker?

No time. The demon moved fast enough I never saw it coming. Before I could even think of peeing myself, the demon gripped me by the upper arms