She turned toward the others, feeling helpless and lost. Liam and Annabelle had moved over to join Devon and Julian; they conferred in soft whispers by the doorway. Luther was staring at the still half open window, his expression thoughtful and distant. Dani had retreated back into the shadows, terror evident on her features.
Chris and Melissa stared silently back at her. They were her best friends, her rocks, the two people she had relied on the most, until Devon walked into her life. But even they looked just as confused and frightened as she felt.
CHAPTER 12
Cassie stood silently, frozen by the window. Immobile with terror. Devon moved swiftly toward the center of the road. The timed streetlights spilled across the street, creating shadows on the hard pavement. The skeletal trees moved and swayed with the breeze that shook them. Cassie shuddered, foreboding filtered through her.
She was barely able to take her gaze away from Devon to look at Julian. He stood by the door, his hand resting upon the handle, his powerful body hard and unmoving as he waited for the attack to come. “You know I won’t stay in here once you go out,” she told him.
His gaze darted to her, his eyes skimmed swiftly over her. “I know you will try to go out there.”
Cassie licked her lips as she glanced at Liam and Annabelle. They were standing by Julian, their arms folded over their chests as they stared at her. They would also try and stop her, she knew that, but when it came to Devon she knew that she would be capable of doing anything. Even if it meant plowing through Liam and Annabelle, which she was apparently going to have to do.
“Cassie.” Her attention was drawn back to Julian. “I will tie you down if I have to, but you are not going out there.”
Indignation flared through her. “I am one of the strongest fighters you have, you will need me!” she retorted sharply.
Julian’s eyes narrowed, his hand fisted harder around the handle. “And Devon is the strongest fighter that we have, and if you keep pushing him he is going to snap.”
Cassie shook her head forcefully. “No…”
“Yes!” Julian interrupted harshly. “Open your damn eyes Cassie! He’s unraveling right before you, and if you keep throwing yourself in danger, and if you keep pushing him he is going to lose it. He will change you, whether it’s for the best or not, he will do it, and he’ll hate himself for it. Is that what you want?” Cassie could only manage a small shake of her head in response to his angry, heartfelt words. “And if something were to happen to you, there will be no stopping him. Ever. Do you understand that?”
Cassie opened and closed her mouth, no words would come out. Her throat was clogged, her eyes burned. “He’ll kill us all Cassie, so for once, please just do as he asks.”
Liam remained immobile, his face a hard mask. Annabelle’s sea colored eyes were heavy with sadness and fear. Cassie buried her frustration and heartache as she turned away from them, focusing her attention fully on Devon again. He had reached the center of the street, where he stopped. Her heart was heavy as it labored to push blood through her veins; her chest was tight from lack of air.
“He can’t fight it anymore?” she whispered, finally beginning to understand the distance and hardness that now encased Devon.
“Not as well as he could, and not for much longer,” Julian said flatly. Cassie swallowed heavily, trying hard not to let her panic get the best of her. “If it wasn’t for his concern about what would happen to you, it would have happened by now.”
Cassie hastily wiped away the tears that slipped down her face. She ached for Devon, for the struggle nearly consuming him. Ached for the man that she loved and needed more than anything. Ached for the man who was slowly losing control to the demon inside of him, and it was all because of her.
She shuddered; her hand clenched the curtain she had pulled slightly back. “You will stay inside,” Julian said softly. “Because there is no way of knowing how he will react if you don’t.”
She nodded slowly. Though she hated it and rebelled against it, she would do anything for Devon, even if it meant leaving him out there alone. “They’re coming,” Chris said softly.
He walked over to stand beside Cassie, his hand rested upon her shoulder. He squeezed her gently, bending forward to stare out the window. “Where?” Julian growled.
Chris shook his head; his shaggy hair fell around his handsome face. “I don’t know yet, but I can feel the confusion and hunger that usually precedes their arrival.” They all remained unmoving; barely breathing as they waited for the creature’s to emerge.
“How many?” Cassie whispered.
“I don’t know,” Chris breathed. “It’s impossible to differentiate one from another; they’re too far gone for that.”
Terror filled her. They were too far gone to tell anything about them, and they were heading straight for Devon. Panic slammed into her like a locomotive, helplessness swamped her. She glanced wildly at Julian, fighting against the urge to bolt out the door, tear across the street, and join Devon. She would rather die with him then live without him.
“Stay!” Julian hissed softly.
A soft sob escaped her; she pressed her fist to her mouth, biting down to stop the scream that wanted to rip from her. Devon turned; his shoulders stiff, and his eyes blood red. He knew that they were coming, he was ready for them. Please, she prayed fervently, please let him be ok.
The creatures burst out of the woods behind Devon. Horror filled her; she grasped hold of the curtain, pulling herself closer as the three monsters hurtled across the street at him. “No,” she breathed.
Devon braced himself as the first one launched itself forward leaping a good ten feet off the ground at him. Its face was distorted, its fangs extended as its face twisted into an animalistic snarl. Devon seized it by its throat, flinging it over his head as another one came at him. He grabbed the second one, but the third slammed into him, spilling blood as it clawed at his back. Chris slammed his hand over her mouth as a scream escaped her. Cassie struggled against him; fright pummeled her as she fought to contain the terror threatening to suffuse her. Chris wrapped his arm around her waist, trying to pull her back, but she refused to release the curtain, refused to be torn away.
“Stay quiet!” he hissed in her ear.
Cassie managed a small nod. Tears streamed down her face. She did not realize that Julian had left until he emerged on the street, pounding across the concrete in a blur that would have been nearly indiscernible to the human eye. He grabbed the first one that Devon had tossed aside, slamming it hard into the concrete. The creatures skull caved as it bounced off the ground, but its arms and legs still flailed wildly about.