"But you can't take me. That's what matters, isn't it? I'm afraid I'm stronger than all of you."
"Not me," Kai said, stepping forward. She closed her eyes, her anger rushing to the surface. An unearthly glow illuminated the room, emanating from her skin. Her beast reared up, attempting to morph. Dark magick seized the creature. It whined in agony, cowering, thwarted from transforming. Kai collapsed to the ground, and her eyes flashed to Kasdeya, who laughed wildly in response. "What did you do? She did something."
"You gave me your blood." The demon mistress sucked another finger into her mouth, releasing it with a pop. "A spell. I used it to stop your beast from disrupting my sanctuary. You're powerless in here. It's a beautiful thing." She gave an eerie smile and glared at Quintus. "And you? Once upon a time you may have been able to kill me. That was before the merge. Not anymore."
"You mean when you murdered Dominique's children?" Quintus asked.
"The human souls were a minor cost for my transformation. I don't normally kill children." She looked to Cassandra, and grinned. "Only every now and then. Life gets mundane."
"Innocents," Jake growled.
"Exactly." Kasdeya set her eyes on Jake, cocking a hip and jutting her breasts forward. With a flirtatious smile, she flipped her hair and licked her lips.
"Sorry bitch … not happenin'," he told her.
"Stop stalling," Quintus said, his voice terse.
"Where's her sister?" Jake pressed.
"I'm going to kill you," Kai screamed, boiling with rage.
"I gotta tell you, Kasdeya. I know you're all demoned out right now, but this isn't going to end well for you. You see Quint back there. He's going to take out every last one of these vampires." Jake smiled at her. "Then I'm going to shift and take you out. You're not the first demon I've helped send back to hell."
"The only one here who could have touched me is Kai … but the great pixiu has lost her wings. It is I who will make you a deal. Give me the Kris."
Kai sucked a breath at the mention of it. She glanced at Jake but he remained focused on Kasdeya.
"The Kris belongs to me," Kai said, her voice shaken but firm.
"Give me the Kris and I will tell you where your sister is," Kasdeya told her.
"Take this." Jake removed his backpack and slid it to Kai, preparing to shift.
"Poor Cassie. I'd hate to see her suffer any more." Kasdeya snapped her fingers and two women approached. They dropped to their knees, bared their fangs, and sank them deep into Cassandra's thighs. A loud scream echoed throughout the cathedral.
"Stop it!" Kai yelled as she fumbled to open the bag. She glanced to Jake, who shifted before her eyes. Her breath caught at the sight of his spectacular black wolf.
"So in love with the Alpha. It would be a shame to kill you both," Kasdeya sang. "But I do what I must." Kasdeya released a hideous cackle as she ordered her minions to attack. "Kill them!"
Kai clutched the backpack as vampires rushed at her from all directions. Quintus shoved her into a corner, and systematically began killing them, ripping into their flesh with his fangs. Blood sprayed over Kai as, one by one, he shredded their bodies. The black wolf leapt onto the stage, growling, attacking the two vampires who drank from Cassandra. Separating them from their victim, he tore open their necks, their blood draining onto the stage.
Reaching inside Jake's bag, Kai untied the leather knife roll. She wrapped her hand around its hilt, and lifted the Kris into the air. She slung the pack over her arm, determined to keep the book safe.
Blood splattered in slow motion as Quintus continued his assault, but Kai focused on the blade. The symbols danced, and she recalled the Elder's words, Sacrifice must come from you.
Kai looked to Kasdeya, whose face appeared to shift from vampire to demon, horns protruding from her head. The spell they'd undertaken, killing Dominique's children, had created the demon. A triad, she was three beings in one. It made her strong. Invincible. If Kai could somehow reverse it, if she could separate them, she reasoned they'd be vulnerable.
Kai's thoughts drifted to her book, and the picture of the Kris. Look within for sacrifice. Cleave open your fear. Kasdeya wanted the Kris. She wanted it to protect her. Maybe Dominique knew the truth? She knew that one day the Kris could be used to destroy Kasdeya. Maybe she'd gone looking for a pixiu to destroy her?
It belongs to me. The sacrifice must be mine. Killing Kasdeya with the Kris was no sacrifice, she knew. It had to mean something else. Sacrifice. Self-sacrifice. Blood must be spilled and it shall be mine. Kai's heart pounded in her chest at the realization of what she needed to do, but there was no other choice.