Betrayed by Ednah Walters

landing was as graceful as a hippo doing a pirouette. But the utter silence of the twenty-fourth floor was odd and eerie for a demon’s den. The sulphur scent of the Lazari in smoke form was barely there, yet the jadeite core of my amulet lit up like a Christmas tree, indicating the presence of demons. The Kris Dagger vibrated in its sheath, eager for action. I assumed a fighting stance and braced myself. Clasping the hilt, I pul ed it out.
    Intense and exhilarating power surged through me. Pain fol owed as inky ancient scripts appeared under my skin, starting from the hand with the dagger and spreading throughout my body. I ground my teeth and bit back a sharp cry. The writings faded as the connection between me and the dagger solidified. The pain disappeared a little faster than our last blending. I shook my head to clear it and looked up.
    The others had arrived and were watching The others had arrived and were watching me. I hated it when they did that.
    “You okay?” Remy asked.
    I nodded. The blending of my energy and the dagger’s wasn’t as painful as the first time I held it.
    Then I thought the pain would kil me. Ignoring the others, I started searching for Bran’s psi energy.
    “Am I the only one bothered by the silence?” Remy added.
    “Glamour, dude,” Sykes said.
    “I don’t care how powerful Llyr is. He can’t cast glamour this strong. I mean, despite the glowing jadeite,” he extended his arm to indicate the six-pointed amulets he and Sykes wore around their wrists, “we can’t hear a thing from upstairs.
    Something isn’t right.”
    I ignored the banter between the two and zeroed in on Bran’s location. Found him. I send a smal burst of energy to his psi. No response. No biggie. I increased the magnitude of the ping.
    Nothing. I closed my eyes and searched for his energy. It was invisible, which meant his shield just went up.
    “Locate them, Lil,” Remy said in a near-whisper.
    “I just did. They’re somewhere upstairs. Bran is unharmed, but Gavyn…I can’t tel .”
    “Tel him we’re here,” Remy added.
    “His shield is up.”
    “That’s not good,” Sykes mumbled. “But then again, we didn’t expect him to welcome a rescue with open arms.”
    Remy pointed at the doorway. “Let’s go.” Hands gripping weapons, bodies coiled and eyes alert, we headed along a short hal way; one at a time. The mandatory five seconds between us in case of an ambush. The clear glass windows had no blinds and light poured into the empty rooms and hal ways. It was a perfect day for walking bare feet on the beach, not sneaking into a demon’s lair to save someone who obviously didn’t want to be saved.
    I couldn’t believe Bran hid from me. He’d never done that before. On the other hand, we’d never faced Lazarus demons together either.
    On the next floor, lights blazed on. The acrid scent grew as did my gag reflex. A door to our right ha d Damien Technologies written in bold letters and a lightning insignia above it. Through the glass, computer desks separated by partitions stretched between corner offices. Black blinds covered tinted windows, stopping light from seeping inside.
    No Lazari. No Bran or Gavyn either.
    Dread curled my stomach into a tight knot as we continued up the next set of stairs.
    Communication between us was limited to hand and head gestures, which was just as wel . The pungent stench made it impossible to breathe, let alone speak.
    At the next landing I froze, my eyes widening.
    There was a huge melted hole in the middle of the glass door. A woman’s lifeless body jammed between the door and the frame, propping it open.
    Remy hurried forward, pressed his finger to her throat then lifted her eyelids. “Human. She’s barely alive.”
    “She might make it if I teleport her to safety and take care of her wounds,” Izzy added.
    “There are more. Look.” Kim indicated the inside of the office.
    More bodies slumped over desks and glass partitions like rag dol s. Glass wal