Read Homecoming (A Finn McCoy Paranormal Thriller #1) Page 33

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  McCoy realized he was in a tight spot. If he could put some distance between him and the demon and get a little breathing room, he would be able to banish the fiend with little trouble. As it was, locked in hand-to-hand combat with the entity, it would be nearly impossible to do. He was constantly having to dodge the demon’s teeth and claws, and more than once he had narrowly escaped being disemboweled by the thinnest of margins.

  Physically, they were pretty evenly matched. The demon was drastically weakened from its fight with the Sluagh, while McCoy was fairly fresh and rested. Had the entity’s strength not been drained, it would have been able to easily overpower McCoy. The outcome of this battle hinged on which one would tire first. McCoy knew that his age and lack of exercise put him at a disadvantage, but he fought on determinedly, hoping for an opening that would allow him to escape the demon’s clutches and escape.

  Something came swishing through the air and caught the demon squarely in the face. It howled, spun around to see what had attacked it, and caught another blow to the head for its trouble. There stood Amanda, her feet set wide apart, swinging McCoy’s walking stick like the Queen of the Home Run Derby. Her blue eyes were wild, and the look of manic ferocity on her face struck fear into both the demon and McCoy.

  Rolling away from the demon’s clutches, McCoy sprang to his feet, ready to work the banishing spell and put an end to this nonsense. The entity, however, had refocused its attention on Amanda. She was still swinging wildly with the cane, but her blows were bouncing harmlessly off the demon’s muscled shoulders and torso.

  “Amanda!” McCoy shouted. “Get back! Get out of there!”

  Whether she didn’t hear or chose to ignore him, Amanda wound up for another mighty swing.

  The demon, however, had recovered for its initial surprise. It easily dodged Amanda’s strike and backhanded her with enough force to send her flying. She crumpled to the ground and lay unmoving.

  “No!” screamed McCoy. The banishing spell forgotten, he rushed in, meaning to put himself between the fiend and the fallen Amanda. But the demon was ready for him. It spun and launched itself at McCoy, hitting him low and buckling his legs. He felt the left one break with a sickening snap.

  McCoy hit the ground in a blinding flash of pain. Large, black orbs danced before his eyes and obstructed his field of vision. He tried to rise to one elbow but the demon pushed him back, its wicked claws piercing his skin and drawing blood.

  “It seems the day is mine, after all,” the entity cackled. “I told you your time was done!”

  With a shrill laugh, the demon reared back and prepared to deliver the death blow.