Page 39 of Blood and War
No supplies, no water, no food, no weapons, and held hostage by the creature that had killed her family.
There was no coming back from this. Not this time.
The tunnels were scarily quiet the further they went, the only sound their feet crunching on the loose rock beneath them as the floor dipped in a slight decline. The smell inside the cavern was stagnant. Musty. What she wouldn’t give for the crisp night air to fill her lungs as she gazed up at a sea of stars.
The demon pushed further down into the tunnels. They must have been at least a hundred feet below ground, she was sure of it. After what seemed like hours, they came upon a large gap before them, lit up by the glow of flames from beyond the opening. Thick claw marks dug deep gouges into the wall as if the demons had broken through themselves.How long had they been down here?
The cavern opened up into another large room, the red-orange blaze of the fire causing a ripple of shadows that danced along the walls. Demitria didn’t want to think about how they might truly be alive as they writhed around the outskirts of the room.
“We’ve found her, my lord.” Behind her, the demon spoke. “He will be pleased.”
From the shadows, another figure emerged. The being looked disturbingly human, but she knew better. Ever since the war started, things had not been as they seemed.
He wore no helm, but the dark metal of his armor reflected the luminescent glow of the flames, like a raging fire in the night. Large hands held a massive sword that curved into a perfect, lethal point. She knew he wasn’t truly human at all.
“Demitria Collins.” His voice held a deadly edge, a shiver working its way through her body at the mention of her name. She hated how they knew her when she knew nothing about them. The skin along her neck itched, and she squirmed uncomfortably at the feeling. “We’ve been looking for you.” Something told her that he wasn’t the Dark King that she’d been told about, and another shiver coursed through her at the thought. But with the armor and the blade, she knew he must be important. The demon lord’s inky eyes watched, roving up and down, giving her a once over, making sure she was truly who they were looking for. His gaze held no color, and it was like looking into deep pools of the abyss. Empty. Black. Void ofanything.
Using up whatever courage she had left, Demitria’s body straightened. “Why does he want me?” She said, unsure if she was ready for the answer that awaited her.
“Many want you dead.” The demon took a step closer.
Demitria instinctively stepped back. She became painfully aware of the others as those dancing shadows closed in around them. She’d been right about them. Her fingers itched to grab the sword she didn’t have. The sword Evan had so expertly crafted. Demitria felt that emptiness hollow her. The blade had become like an extension of her own arm. Her safety, and she’d give just about anything for the weapon right about now. Would pray to whatever gods she could to get it back.
“You’ve killed for both sides. Maybe you’re here to exterminate both races?” Another step.
With each foot forward she took another one backward until the cool brush of taloned claws caressed along her back. She truly didn’t know what this demon spoke of. Her only goal had been to survive the fucking onslaught of the planet.
She didn’t want to be here. She needed to get out. She just didn’t know how.
“I’m sure you’re aware of the powers of a human soul.”
Demitria wasn’t. She had no idea what any of it meant. The demon circled in a taunting manner.
“He wants to break you, then take your soul. Eliminate you from this world.”
Kill her. She’d figured that much.
“Who is he?”
“You’ll find out in due time.” The being waved her off with a toothy grin, each one ended in a pointed tip. “We have been prisoners for far too long. For over a millennia! It is time for a king to reign.” At his words, the cavern exploded with sounds. Cheering, as the demons around her roared in agreement. The sound haunting.
Gods, there were so many of them. “He is coming for you. For all of you. Then this forsaken planet will be ours!” The being—demon lord, whatever the fuck he was, threw his hands in the air for effect. More cheering. Eerie voices chanted something she couldn’t make out.
She shook her head. “I am worthless. I am nothing.” The words weren’t a lie. She’d felt them time and time again and knew them to be true. “There is nothing that I can give to help whoever your king is.”
“On the contrary, Demitria. Your soul is powerful, and it is the key to setting us free.”
“They’ll stop you.” She blurted out. Kellan and his siblings. They had to. It was their job. Balance. They needed balance.
“Who, my dear girl, is going to stop us?” He was in front of her again, dragging a sharp nail down her neck. The bile rose in her throat as he trailed it down her chest where it stopped, resting just below the collar of her shirt. “That little friend back at your home?” The demon gave her another wicked, toothy smile. Jace…they knew about Jace.
“Get your hands off me.” She spat. That spark coming to life as a fire awakened. She’d been complacent long enough.
“And if I don’t? Your Horseman isn’t here to hear you scream.” Demitria’s eyes darted around the cavern at the shadowed beings surrounding her. Dozens of eyes in varying shades of crimson staring. Waiting. The one who’d captured her was smiling again, the amusement clear on its face. Even among more of his kind she’d been able to pick him out in an instant. His very being engrained in her mind, no matter how many times she’d tried to forget it.
Kellan wasn’t coming, she knew that. Had accepted it when she’d been kicked awake.
“I said get off me.” She made a grab for his throat, but he was faster. Much faster. Her back bit into the stone wall feet away as the breath caught in her throat. Darkness exploded around her, vision fading as what little light had been in the cavern slowly dimmed.
