House Of Legions (The Angel Descendants book 1) novel Chapter 19

Her mother was so quiet, body blazing. Not able to see her mother's face as Franchesca was mid-air between Clare, separating the three of them from Barbatos. Clare yelled at her mother to get her attention but she didn't acknowledge Clare.

About to yell again, she caught the movement from the corner of her eye as a man from the back of Barbatos flew straight up in the air screaming something. Lifting her head toward the man attacking the Tempter. Everything moved so fast, her eyes barely able to keep steady to see what was happening. With the same flaming eyes as her mother, the unknown man plunged a thin sword from the top of the Tempters head down his middle section, swift and elegant.

Mouth opened wide, a huff left Clare at feeling instant relief of this unsightly occurrence and uttered disbelief of her own eyes. Ignoring the persistent urgings from her brother to leave, she looked closer and saw the demon's body knit together, healing fast.

A brisk and steadied movement later Barbatos bolted straight for Franchesca, plunging his hand into her body.

Everything slowed as Clare and the others watched Franchesca’s body fall lifelessly to the cold hard cemented floor, leaving her dripping heart in Barbatos's hands. Clare bared witness to the entire thing, she broke free of her brother’s grasp and ran to Franchesca’s side screaming,

“Mom, talk to me, mom, MOM, mom,” she lifted her mother’s head onto her hand, holding it screaming,

“You can’t be dead mom, please, don’t leave, MOM, mom.” She slapped her mother, once, twice.

She looked up at the Tempter, holding her mother’s heart like a trophy to be discarded, Barbatos, duke of hell. And in that time Clare's body burned with the heat of rage.

No tears shed her eyes, no thought deluded her mind as Clare gently put her mother’s head on the ground. Her challenging gaze never left Barbatos as she got up. A taunt, he tightened his fingers around her mother’s heart. Clare charged him and for once she wasn't thinking, she was doing.

Her brother screamed behind her, “Clare. NO.” Nathan went to grab her, missing her body by millimeters. Barbatos taking his position gleefully to defend himself, making his answer to battle obvious.

Thick fingers dug into Clare's nape torching her skin like a skillet burns to stop her in her tracks. Turning to punch the person, she came face to face with a pissed-off Kalbreal. Teeth grinding as the burn worsened but he didn't let go, she growled, “Lemme go.” He pushed her slightly but it was enough that she fell down, hard.