Demonbound

6

The demon lunged.

No warning.

No roar.

Just motion.

Corvin reacted instantly.

“Move.”

He slammed his shoulder into Lumi, shoving him aside as the demon’s fist tore through the space where they’d been standing.

The ground exploded.

Stone shattered outward as the punch cratered the road, cracks spider-webbing across the tarred surface.

Lumi hit the ground hard, rolling.

His ears rang.

By the time he looked up, Corvin was already moving.

Twin daggers flashed into his hands, metal singing softly as they cleared their sheaths.

“Enough playing around,” Corvin said, eyes sharp. “Let’s end this.”

He sprinted.

The demon met him head-on.

A massive arm swung down.

Corvin sidestepped effortlessly, the blow smashing the ground where he’d been a heartbeat earlier. He leapt, flipped, landed behind it.

Another punch.

Another miss.

Corvin laughed.

“You’re slow.”

The demon roared and came again, fists pounding like piledrivers. Corvin flowed between the attacks—ducking, vaulting, springing off walls, his movements fluid and precise.

He slashed as he moved.

Steel bit into flesh.

Dark blood sprayed.

The demon howled.

Corvin twisted, blades flashing in quick arcs as he carved shallow but deliberate cuts across its arms and torso.

“See?” he called over his shoulder. “All muscle. No skill.”

The demon swung again.

This time Corvin blocked.

Steel met flesh with a shockwave.

Corvin’s sigil flared.

He drove his foot forward, power rippling through the kick as it connected with the demon’s chest.

The impact sent the creature flying.

It crashed into a streetlight with a metallic shriek, the pole bending almost in half.

Corvin rolled his shoulders and grinned.

“Nothing to worry about,” he said, glancing at Lumi.

Lumi stared.

Maybe Corvin was right.

The demon pushed itself upright.

Blood spilled from its mouth.

Its eyes burned brighter.

It lunged again.

Corvin’s grin widened.

“Come on then.”

This time was different.

The demon didn’t charge blindly.

It waited.

Anticipated.

Corvin struck—and the demon moved first.

A fist slammed into Corvin’s ribs.

He flew.

His body hit the wall hard enough to crack stone.

Corvin coughed, blood splattering the ground.

He staggered up anyway.

“That actually hurt,” Corvin groaned. “Now you’re asking for it.”

He attacked again—faster, sharper, vicious.

The demon countered.

Another blow.

Then another.

Corvin was slammed into the wall again, stone fracturing beneath the impact.

He rolled away, ribs screaming, blood streaking his face. Then the demon seized him by the throat and swung.

Corvin hit the wall hard enough to fracture stone.

“Lumi,” he rasped. “Run.”

“I’m not leaving you to die,” Lumi shouted back.

Corvin barked a laugh through blood. “Who said anything about dying? I want to end this bastard. Run, you moron.”

Lumi didn’t listen though. He ran forward then grabbed a stone and hurled it.

It bounced harmlessly off the demon’s shoulder.

He threw another.

Then another.

The demon snarled and turned.

It lunged for Lumi.

Corvin grabbed its leg.

The demon looked down.

Then kicked.

The impact crushed Corvin into the ground, blood bursting from his mouth as he skidded across the road.

Lumi ran around but his speed was no match for the demon’s.

The demon reached Lumi and cornered him in no time.

Nowhere left to go. As Lumi looked at the demon’s monstrous face, his heart thundered in his ears.

Its claws slid free with a wet sound. It rose its hand to strike.

Lumi shut his eyes, bracing himself for impact but it never came.

Darkness wrapped around the demon’s arm.

Solid.

Tangible.

The claws froze inches from his face.

Lumi opened his eyes.

Shadows stretched from the street behind them—dozens of them—binding the demon in place.

Blackwell hunters emerged from the dark.

The demon looked at them and immediately tore free with a snarl and fled.

Three hunters chased after it without hesitation.

Scott walked forward.

Corvin was sitting up now, bruised and bleeding.

Scott raised his phone.

Click.

“Are you insane?!” Corvin snapped.

“What?” Scott said cheerfully. “I needed proof. It’s been years since anyone managed to knock you down this bad.”

“Shut up and help me up.”

Scott did, still grinning.

“How did you find me?” Corvin asked.

“Oh I didn’t,” Scott replied. “The commander did.”

Corvin froze.

“…Oh shit.”

A figure stepped into the light.

“Corvin Blackwell.”

The voice was calm.

Cold.

Corvin looked up.

“I cannot adequately express how reckless what you did tonight was. Engaging a demon alone. Ignoring protocol. Failing to report.”

Corvin said nothing. His head bowed.

Lumi stared.

He’d never seen Corvin speechless.

“And you,” the commander said, turning.

Lumi stiffened. Partly not expecting himself to be noticed.

“You will face punishment. Only hunters are permitted in operations. You are not one.”

The hunters returned not long after.

“Status report.”

“The demon escaped,” one said.

A pause.

“We’ll track it later,” the commander said. “For now—we return to the estate. The patriarch will decide the consequences.”