Another tongue snapped out, and again, they dodged. They hit the side again and then dropped halfway down before Mist could find another handhold.
Again, he pushed off, pumping his mangled wings. Again, another tongue snapped out, and he swooped hard to avoid it.
And then they cleared the mouth of the Pit.
Unable to stop properly, Mist simply curled his body around hers, wings and all, and braced for impact.
They hit the ground and slid across the floor, crashing into the far wall.
Silence fell.
Still tangled together, Lily rolled off him and turned to assess his condition, unwrapping his limp wings from around them.
“Mist?” He didn’t move, and her heart seized in panic. “Mist!” She rolled him over, pushing his hair off his face.
“Lily!” It was Iris’s voice, and she twisted to see her sister scrambling towards her. There was blood running down Iris’s cheek from a wound at her temple, but she appeared otherwise unharmed.
She pulled Lily into a hug. “Thank fucking god. I was ready to throw myself into that pit after you, but I saw Mist, and I knew you’d be okay.”
“H-he— I—” Lily couldn’t speak through the tremors suddenly wracking her body.
Iris tightened her grip. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”
Shewasokay. That fall should have killed her, but she didn’t have a scratch on her. “Y-you?”
“Fine. Well, I might have a concussion and some bruised ribs, but I’m fine.”
“Lily.”
She jerked out of Iris’s arms at the sound of Mist’s voice. His eyes were open, and she had never seen a more beautiful sight. Wary of his many injuries, she barely held back from throwing herself into his arms.
“You’re okay.” Tears blurred her sight.
He didn’t seem to have the same care for himself, shoving onto his hands and forcing himself upright. His eyes were unfocused, his whole body battered and broken, but with incredible fortitude, he started to stand.
“Have to… go now. Not safe.”
They rushed to help, taking his arms to pull him upright. It was then she noticed the cuffs were gone from his wrists, and she remembered he had turned to mist right before he rescued her. The cuffs must have disappeared when Paimon was eaten.
“We have to get back to the hellgate in your cave,” Iris said, hauling one of Mist’s heavy arms over her shoulder. “Murmur said he can activate it if you can’t.”
Lily did the same, and the three of them shuffled towards the door. She didn’t even consider the tunnel. The primary threat was eliminated, and Mist was in no state for spelunking.
“Murmur?”
“Belial made a bargain with him to help rescue you,” she explained. She left out the part where she and Iris had been in dire need of rescue themselves.
“Bel… was right. Shouldn’t have left.”
“Which way?” Iris asked. They had made it to the door and faced a long hall lined with torches.
Mist pointed left, so they steered him that way. Sounds of battle were faintly audible in the distance, along with unholy screams that sent shivers down the spine.
Get to the hellgate. Get home.They were so close.
At the end of the hall, just as they rounded the corner, Murmur stepped out from a hidden door in the wall.
Black smoke swirled about his feet, writhing like it had a mind of its own. There were vague outlines of something within it… but that wasn’t what caught Lily’s eye.
