Free Dark City (The Order of Shadows Book 1) by Kit Hallows

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    Both rounds found their mark. One penetrated the leather armor, right where its heart should be. The other cracked the creature's gold mask, smack in the center. I caught a glimpse of a blackening wound and silver scales as it reached up with a long finger and slipped it into the hole. Its claws dripped with ichor as it pulled out the crumpled bullet and grimaced, its teeth gnashing in fury.
    I raised my weapon to take another shot.
    The demon glared at the gun, as if trying to work out what it was. As I fired, it flitted away, the bullet barely clipping its shoulder. It stormed past me in a blur of teeth, claws and silver scales.
    I flinched, expecting to feel its claws tearing at my throat, but the creature made for the hallway. It was unarmed and shaken. I rushed in pursuit. It reached the front door and yanked at it. It was locked. The demon smashed its fists against the wooden panels.
    I fired again, the bullet ripped a hole in its back and the demon whirled round. As it thundered towards me I fired again. The shot went wide and the creature hurtled past me, vanishing into the living room.
    Smashing glass rang out and I ran down the hall to see the demon stepping through the broken window, out onto the fire escape. It gave me a final, hate-filled glare before it leapt and vanished from view.
    Muffled screams and shouts echoed along the alley and startled faces gazed from windows across the street.
    "Shit" The cops would be here any minute.
    I grabbed a book from the floor and smashed the jagged shards of glass away from the frame before climbing out onto the fire escape.
    The creature was sprawled on the ground below, its body twitching. It rolled onto its back, its piercing eyes staring up at me. Then it leapt to its feet and took off down the alley, with one hand clenched to its chest.
    I flew down the fire escape, ignoring the creaks and squeals as it shook, and slid down the ladder. By the time I dropped to the ground the demon was gone. I winced at the sharp pain snapping at my ankles and hobbled on, grabbing a chunk of crystal from my bag and willing its magic to numb my pain.
    When I reached the street, there was no sign of the damned creature. I grabbed a vial of Nightsight from my bag and took a swig of the acrid infusion of herbs and roots. It smelled like sewage and I was pretty sure it tasted even worse.
    A tingle flickered across my eyelids and the world grew several shades darker. Soon I could see the white-hot footprints that had scorched the ground and the side of a parked car, searing its roof and the asphalt street beyond. The burning trail led over a set of iron railings and vanished beneath the wild scrub in the parkland across the street.
    I winced, half blinded by the street lights as I ran across the road. The railings were hot where the creature had grabbed them so I shielded my hands as I hoisted myself up over the rusty spikes.
    A jarring pain shot up my legs as I landed, and I limped along the flaming trail to where it vanished.
    "Bastard."
    The demon had cloaked himself.
    I pulled the silver compass from my bag and its face gleamed in the moonlight as I flipped it open. Behind the glass crystal was a scattered mound of iron filings. They were drawn by the demon's dark, eldritch power and formed a rough arrow to point the way. I followed its trail through the park towards a circle of ramshackle buildings. The remains of a small rundown amusement park. Yet another place where happiness and hope had gone to seed. What better place for a demon?
    I passed a boarded-up carousel, the hoardings spray-painted with threats, promises, and territorial messages of fury, bravado and hate.
    Something creaked in the darkness. I slowed as I walked past a derelict shooting gallery and raised my gun, for all the good it would do.
    The filings shifted and pointed behind me...
    I spun round just as the demon dropped from the gallery roof. It thudded to the ground, its heavy boots creating fissures in the