The Sweetest Burn (Broken Destiny #2)(39)

"Minions. Easy to kill," he muttered. Then he slumped over the cop's body, which was starting to disintegrate into ashes.

I rolled Adrian over, sucking in an anguished breath as I saw the bloody hole in his stomach. He'd been shot, and we'd used up all the manna we'd carried with us!

"Help me carry him over to the couch," I told the father, who was staring in shock at the ashes that, moments ago, had been a police officer. "Help me," I repeated. "Grab his legs, I'll get his shoulders."

After another dazed look at the ashes, the father complied. We got Adrian onto the couch, and I pulled out my cell phone, letting out a relieved sound when I saw that it still worked.

"What happened to him? What's going on?" the mother pleaded as she clutched her two sobbing children.

"He wasn't human," I replied, dialing Costa's number. "Adrian knew a minion would probably respond to a hysterical call about people being transported from a dark, icy version of this world. That's why he told you not to call the police... Costa!" I said when he answered. "Where are you?"



       
         
       
        

"Where are you?" was Costa's instant reply. "Are you out?"

"Yes. We're at Scotty's Castle and Adrian's really hurt." My voice cracked on the last word, but I refused to break down. Adrian's life depended on me keeping it together. "We need manna and a way out of here. Right away."

"Got it. We're about forty minutes east of Scotty's on 276, so we'll be there soon."

"Forty minutes?" I glanced at a window, which showed that night had already fallen. "That's too long."

In the dark, Demetrius could walk around freely on this side on the realm. I started stuffing every sturdy, decorative knickknack I came across into my jacket. They weren't as durable as rocks, but they were the best I could come up with at the moment. Adrian had said that they wouldn't do any good if Demetrius were that close, but I'd rather have a bad chance than no chance at all. Demetrius could show up any second. The minion cop had gotten here lightning fast despite how it had only been minutes since Adrian had pulled the family through the gateway...or had it been longer?

"How long have you been here?" I asked the father. At his confused look, I elaborated. "How long has it been since Adrian brought you through the fireplace? Ten minutes? Twenty?"

"About an hour," the father answered, and his wife gave a frightened nod of agreement.

I almost whooped with relief. That's right, time moved differently in the realms, sometimes faster, sometimes slower. Adrian had said that it might take Demetrius a few minutes to decide to call his bluff. With minutes there equating to about an hour on this side, we might have enough time to get away.

And the minion cop hadn't arrived here by gateway, so that meant there was a car here that I could steal.

"Get going," I told Costa, formulating my plan. "I'll meet you on the way."





  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

ALL THE TOURISTS' cars had been pulled into the realm along with their owners, but as it turned out, the cop's car wasn't the only one in the parking lot. A gleaming black Ferrari was parked right outside the entrance to Scotty's Castle.

"Demetrius," I muttered. It had to be his. Only he and Oblivion had come through the gateway, and Oblivion turned everything he touched to ice, so he couldn't have driven this or any other vehicle. 

Out of curiosity, I tried the door. It was unlocked, with the keys resting on the passenger seat, no less. My lips curled into a nasty smile. Demetrius's arrogance knew no bounds, but in this case, that was a good thing.

I smashed the side mirrors and the rearview mirror, then turned to the father, who waited at the doorway with Adrian stretched out on a sheet behind him.

"Change of plans," I announced. "You're not coming with me. You and your family are taking the cop's car instead. Head for the nearest city, and then ditch the car once you get there."

"B-but-" he stammered.

"You're safer alone. Demons are coming for us," I snapped. "Plus, Adrian told you not to call the police, yet you did, and that nearly got him killed. You're going to make it up to him by doing exactly what I say. Now, help me get him in the car."

The two parents grabbed one end of the sheet and I took the other. Together, we used it like a stretcher to carry Adrian over to the car. It helped that Demetrius had been rude enough to park in a handicap spot right by the entrance. It also helped that he'd chosen to ride with the Ferrari's convertible top down. Because of that, we were able to get him in the passenger seat much easier than if we'd been maneuvering around a roof.