Brand New Moon (Crescent Deveyne Chronicles Book 1)

FIFTY-NINE

FIFTY-NINE

“What the fuck is happening?”

Apollo was suddenly at my side. Blood was smeared across his face and he clutched his side. But his eyes were alive and focussed on the altar.

“They sacrificed their own instead of me,” I told him hurriedly. “The demon’s on its way. We have to do something!”

I rushed forward.

Just as a jagged tear ripped through the earth beneath my feet.

“Look out!” Apollo called, grabbing my arm and pulling me to safety.

We landed in a heap. I tried to stand, but it was impossible. Apollo and I clung onto each other, desperate to keep our footing. It was like standing on a fault line right as an earthquake struck. Only this was not caused by the shifting of tectonic plates. The world was cracking up, tearing apart like paper to make way for something from underneath.

At the epicentre was the altar. Liam and Miguel had jumped back and, like us, fought to keep their balance whilst gazing proudly over what they had accomplished. Shockwaves seemed to emanate from where Sequista lay – bright flashes of light and roars of thunder. Despite this, I could still see her moving. Her screams ripped through me. Whatever was coming, it was draining her alive.

A cry from behind made me turn, just in time to see Mom cast the last of the lackey demons down into the nearest crack. His fingers clung to the edge for a moment before gravity sucked him down into the abyss. My eyes met hers. Other than a few scratches she looked fine. And her smile showed she was actually enjoying this.

“Mom!” I screamed. “How do we stop it?”

“You can’t!” she yelled back, shaking her head. “It’s too late. The demon will rise. We’ll just have to send it back to Hell again.”

Another tremor knocked me to my knees. A crack split the ground between Apollo and I, forcing us apart. I scanned the area. Ethan and Samara were still together by the exit, but I knew they wouldn’t flee. I still couldn’t see Orion, but my senses told me she was OK.

Something began to bubble up between the cracks, hot and red like lava. I swallowed and gripped my sword tightly. The demon was almost here.

“CRESCENT! HELP!”

Somehow, above all the cacophony, I heard Darrow’s screams. My eyes swung to the cage. The ground within his tiny prison was practically gone, replaced by a lava filled crack. Darrow clung to the bars, his feet on the small patch of earth that remained. He looked so small and insignificant – a mere human playing a game with gods. I knew if he was still here when Ulkaan arose he had zero chance of survival.

“DARROW!” I screamed, searching for a path across to him. But I was too far away.

Ethan and Samara were closer. I called to them, but the turbulence was growing louder. They couldn’t hear me. 

Watching my footing, I edged closer to them, arms outstretched like a tightrope walker. I jumped over cracks, constantly calling to them. A sudden blast from the altar sent me sprawling.

The ground beneath Sequista was being sucked downwards, taking her screaming body and the bench with it. I watched in horror as the entire contents of the pentagram succumbed to the pressure beneath and folded in on itself like a pack of cards. 

I shuffled backwards and turned to my cousins. They were looking at me now, eyes wide with horror.

“DARROW!” I shouted, pointing towards the cage. “GET HIM OUT OF HERE!”