Free Acropolis by R.K. Ryals Page A

much to him. Somewhat tall, yes. Meaty, no. But Roach in
gargoyle form, that's another story.
    I point at the French doors as my mother,
Will, and Rachel all crowd into the room. We are a strange bunch at
night, a mix of blue silk, Hello Kitty, and drawstring p.j.'s.
Frightening, definitely not, but we aren't angry yet.
    It doesn't take long to assess the situation.
Mom barely spares a glance in our direction.
    "Take the front of the house," Mom yells at
Will. He doesn't wait for further orders.
    "Take the roof," I yell at Roach. His eyes
narrow. He doesn't like following my orders, but when Mom nods, he
complies.
    Mom looks at me, her eyes meeting mine. We
don't speak in words, our eyes full of an understanding that takes
a lifetime to cultivate. She exits the kitchen. She'll man what no
else can cover. Only Rachel and I remain with Emma. Rachel will be
with me until the end of the mission. What she tells her father
will decide my future.
    "There'll be more," Rachel says.
    I'm well aware of this. Emma hasn't moved ,
and when I look her way, I see her face is ashen. Even so, her gaze
is focused on the creature outside.
    "I think it's hurting," Rachel says in
awe.
    I turn quickly, keeping Emma at my back as my
gaze finds the Demon. He's a large creature with four arms, four
horns, wide lips and pointed teeth. His dark, leather-like face is
contorted. Rachel is right. He's hurting. I look over my shoulder
at Emma. Her eyes are red. She is smiling.
    "She's hurting him," Rachel breathes as she
walks to my side.
    Both of us stare at Emma. She isn't moving,
frozen. Rachel pokes her. No response.
    "Shit," I curse.
    I pick Emma up, cradling her in my arms. She
comes to life, fighting me, her body suddenly active as she twists
in an attempt to see out the door.
    "Jesus, Con! She can control Demons," Rachel
cries out.
    I press Emma to me.
    " Some Demons," I correct as I run for the stairs.
    At the landing, I shout. Mom is already
there. Rachel is behind me. Roach appears at the top of the stairs,
Will is moving my way from the front of the house. Emma is
thrashing violently. The moon has her.
    "We've got to get her to the Acropolis! NOW!"
I yell.
    "Now? Like this?" Rachel scoffs.
    Mom takes one look at Emma and nods. I don't
have the experience Mom and Roach have, but I know Emma isn't safe
here. I have heard of this, but I have never seen it. Emma is
channeling her mother.
    "Go!" Mom orders.
    I take the stairs two at a time. Will and
Rachel pound the stairs behind me. Roach has reverted to his
gargoyle form. He hisses as we join him. The trip will take all of
us. We'll be attacked. There's no doubt. Only my mother will
remain.
    "Conor!" Mom calls. I look down the stairs, a
thrashing Emma beating me incessantly in the chest. Mom's eyes meet
mine. "Be careful. Kill her if you have to." Her words cut through
me. She's afraid.
    I nod, giving her my back as the four of us
begin to run. There is a lever built into a room at the end of the
hall. It opens a large skylight in the ceiling. We run for it, Will
punching it before we all launch ourselves into the sky. There are
three Demons waiting for us.
    I see Roach extend his talons, sinking them
into a dragon-like Demon above my head. It howls. They are evenly
matched. Rachel takes a smaller bull-like Demon with black, curling
horns and two hairy arms. It has hooves for feet. Will stays behind
me. The third Demon has retreated. It is outnumbered, and it knows
it. I wrap myself around Emma. She feels hot against my chest.
    "Dammit, Em! Snap out of it!"
    She doesn't respond, and I grab her by the
chin, forcing her face to mine. I don't know her, but I can't kill
her. I know this. I'd stood behind her while she talked to her
mother, had seen the bloody tears on her cheeks in the hospital,
had watched her shoot a ball of flame, had seen her fight the power
of the moon. She can fight this.
    Her eyes meet mine. They are blood red. She
is a Demon. She is the daughter of Enepsigos. She is Emma.
    She