The Devil's Apprentice Patrick Stewart (suggested reading TXT) 📖

“Alex…” Victoria said softly.

He looked up to see her pointing behind him. He turned to see Mark. He’d climbed out of the basin. There was a nasty gash on his head. But it didn’t put him off from running at Alex with sword in hand.

Alex wasn’t sure if it were his own instincts, or those of the voice in his head. It didn’t matter, really. He pushed Melissa away from him, then pulled his sword out. As Mark came within reach, he sidestepped. Mark slashed at thin air. Alex didn’t give him another chance. He buried his longsword into Mark’s chest.

It happened so quickly, but at the same time, seemed to happen in slow motion. He felt the sword slide in, felt it pass the flesh, then hit the bone. They presented little resistance. The sword came out through Mark’s back.

Mark’s body sagged. He dropped his own sword, then clung onto Alex for support. He opened his mouth to speak, but it was filled with blood and no words came out.

He’d killed a Demon Hunter.

This whole thing began because of the death of a Demon Hunter, and now Alex had killed another.

Mark wasn’t dead yet, but he would be soon. There was no surviving a sword through the chest. No healing from that. Not even for Demon Hunters. Alex dropped to his knees, and with him, he took Mark’s limp body, letting it rest on the ground. His eyes dimmed, the life leaving him, he turned to stare up at the sky before his body became still.

“We have to go,” Victoria said urgently. “Killing a Demon Hunter is against the law and punishable by death. We need to get out of here before anyone notices.”

Mark was dead.

It wasn’t the first time Alex had killed. But still… staring down at the dead body, having watched as the life left his eyes… it was uncomfortable. He placed a hand over Mark’s eyes and closed the lids. With reluctance, he grabbed his sword and pulled it out. Cold already, little blood flowed out. Alex climbed to his feet and glanced around.

There were no other Demon Hunters in the square. And the few demons that remained were busy with the casualties of their own kind. It seemed his crime had gone unnoticed. With Melissa on one side and Victoria the other, Alex quietly slipped away into the dark shadows of Ignis Estate.

Chapter 31

Alex’s primary concern was about getting Melissa home. She was in a state. The girl needed the comfort of her home. That meant staying in Ignis State. What with having killed a Demon Hunter, Victoria thought that a terrible idea. When Mark’s body would be discovered, Ignis Estate would not be safe for anyone.

As Victoria led the way, Alex felt guilt. He’d come here to save the demons. Instead, he’d placed them in more danger. Victoria seemed able to read his mood, and surprisingly, gave a decent pep talk.

He’d done good, she said. He’d defeated Mark in front of everyone and followed that up by defeating the challenger that came after. If the Demon Hunters came back to Ignis Estate to cause trouble, he could return and stop them.

It was a fair point. There was only one problem remaining.

Victoria.

Why was she helping him? It made no sense to Alex. She was part of Mark’s crew, his little gang. If she switched sides so quickly, how much loyalty did she have towards him? And it was Victoria that led the way. Despite suggesting they leave the estate, Alex knew the area just about well enough to know they were not heading foe the exit. Just as he was about to grab hold of her and ask questions, they turned the corner.

They’d arrived at the marketplace.

It was completely deserted. The stalls were covered in striped tarpaulins. The shutters were drawn on the shops. Rubbish piled in the corners. A single white plastic bag floated in the wind. And amongst the dirt and poverty, a white Mercedes GLC was parked beside a stall covered in a black tarpaulin.

She’d taken them to her car.

They climbed in and Alex gave his address. Veronica set off, driving like an experienced racer. She drove really fast and turned corners at speed, but did it silently, the tires not screeching even once.

They left the estate behind and whizzed through the streets of London. Alex sat back and stared out the window. His arm was wrapped around Melissa and she rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes. Poor girl was exhausted, both physically and mentally.

He’d killed a Demon Hunter. That was against the law. So was fighting with angels. Alex had done both. When the law came down on him, he imagined it would be hard. He let out a mirthless laugh. The law of demons. Scarlett would be pleased.

Veronica parked in the street beside his block of apartments. Melissa had fallen asleep on him. He did not want to wake her, so he picked her up and carried her out. In his large frame and with his strength, her body felt both small and light.

Innocent and fragile...

Alex’s mood hardened as he climbed up the stairs to his apartment. Eventually, the Demon Hunters and angels would come for him. And when they did, he would not go easy. He would fight them with every bit of strength he had inside him.

* * *

Alex woke the next morning to find Melissa lying beside him in bed. Her neck rested on his arm and her nose pressed against his chest. He kissed her on the lips. Her lips spread into a small smile, but she remained asleep. Melissa was so damned innocent. She didn’t deserve to be caught up in whatever was to come.

Something was coming, he was