CHAPTER 37
Frankie
I watch life slip through the demon’s eyes as Zarreth gathers me in his arms. “Are you okay?”
I shake my head. “What are we going to do? We can’t let Dante win.”
“I know, baby.” Zarreth removes something from his pocket. “This may be our only hope. We’re better off dead than being captured again.”
I reach for the small white container when a hellhound attacks him from behind. “Zarreth!” I scream.
The K4 flies from his hands, skidding across the ground as he falls. Zarreth fights the hound off while I chase the K4, trying to grab it before it tumbles into a small, tight space. No!
I sink to my knees, reaching my hand into the dark crevice. Shit! I can’t reach it. I know if I lay on my stomach, I can shimmy my way through, but fear takes over. You can do this, Frankie.
I close my eyes, taking shallow breaths as I work my way into the tight space. My throat tightens, but I fight through the panic. I hear a roar, followed by silence. Praying Zarreth won the fight with the hellhound, I feel around until I finally get the tips of my fingers on the container.
As I back out of the tunnel, a sharp pain rips through my skull as darkness spreads through my body. Coherent thoughts escape me. I feel like I’m in a fog. What’s happening to me?
“I’m so proud of you, Melita !” Zarreth leaps over the hound, landing in front of me.
I drop the K4, wrapping my hands around Zarreth’s neck. My palms tingle as power courses through them. His expression turns from joy to shock as blood pours from his eyes.
“No! No! Why am I doing this?” Panicking, I grit my teeth, desperately fighting against my power, but I can’t stop it from pouring out of me. “What’s happening? Please make me stop! Zarreth, please fight me. Make me stop!”
“Isn’t this a sight to behold?” A giant demon enters the cave. His eerie laugh sends a chill up my spine. “I feel like Lucifer, himself, having this much control in my hands.”
Zarreth steps on the K4, blocking it from the demon’s sight. “Leave her be, Aradon,” Zarreth coughs out while I squeeze his throat. “Take me instead.”
I finally let go of Zarreth, but when I try moving away, I’m frozen in place. Aradon gives me an evil smile, and it finally clicks.
I’m under his control.
“Oh, Zarreth. Why would I want a lowly maggot when I can have the Realm Eater?” Aradon turns to look at me. “With you by my side, I will be unstoppable.”
“Stop this! I’ll do anything you ask,” I plead.
Hellhounds gather around him, snarling and snapping their fangs, waiting for his command to attack.
“I know you will, Frankie. I just want to have some fun first.” Aradon nods at the blade. “Now grab that knife, and stab Zarreth in his ribs.”
“No! I won’t do it,” I yell as I step toward the knife, picking it up. “Please stop! You don’t have to do this. I’ll cooperate.” I’m still begging Aradon to stop when I reach Zarreth.
“It’s okay baby.” Zarreth gently caresses my face as he bends down, brushing his lips against mine. “This isn’t the first time I’ve been stabbed. I’ll be okay.” He tries to reassure me with a bittersweet smile.
Gritting my teeth, I fight against Aradon’s control, my head throbbing in pain. I watch in terror, bringing the blade closer to Zarreth’s side, choking on every sob as panic claws at my throat. I desperately try stopping myself, but it’s no use.
My vision blurs as tears stream down my face, mixing with the snot dripping from my nose. I try telling myself it’s just a nightmare as I sink the blade into Zarreth’s flesh.
I feel the resistance of muscle giving way as the blade hits a bone. Slick with blood, my hands slip away from the knife, leaving the blade stuck in his rib.
This can’t be happening. This can’t be real.
Zarreth sinks to the ground, holding his stomach.
“I’m s-so s-sorry,” I sob incoherently as I grip the knife with both hands pulling it free only to stab him twice more.
My fingers open, releasing the knife, but relief is only temporary as Aradon forces me to place my hands on Zarreth’s cheeks, pushing darkness into him. Blood pours from his eyes and nose.
Zarreth rests his forehead on mine. “I love you, Frankie. I’m sorry I failed you,” he whispers through labored breaths before shoving a yellow strip into my mouth.
The strip dissolves but I barely notice it. I’m too focused on Zarreth’s eyes as they roll to the back of his head, his body going limp. Blood drips down my wrists until his head slips out of my grasp. I try catching him, but my arms won’t move.
His head bounces off the ground.
“No!” My ears ring loudly, drowning out my own sobs.
I use every fiber of my being to touch Zarreth, to hold him in my arms, bringing life back to his body, but Aradon’s hold on me is too strong. My throat feels like I swallowed shards of glass as each sob tears through me, my soul screaming for him to live.
I want to rip my fucking heart out and lie down next to him as my blood soaks into the ground, mixing with his. I want to die in his arms never to feel again.
But instead, my body radiates with an energy I’ve never felt before as the K4 enters my bloodstream. I try to fight it, but it’s useless. Power surges through my veins as something awakens inside me. Something that has been dormant for far too long.
Agony rips through my body as my muscles tighten, becoming stronger. My mouth stretches to accommodate sharp fangs as my fingernails twist into razor-sharp claws. The emptiness within twists into something darker, something hotter until fury ignites inside of me. My sobs turn into a battle cry as I do my best to push Aradon from my mind.
I am stronger than my struggles.
“Noctar Zhul,” I scream, feeling his powers slither away, leaving only fury in its wake. I slowly rise, turning my head to face Aradon. His eyes widen in fear when he discovers he can no longer control me.
“What did you do, you stupid cunt?” he yells, walking backwards to escape me.
I stalk toward him, reveling in his fear. “Don’t worry about what I did. Worry about what I’m about to do.” I scream as a burst of white light leaves my body, killing every hellhound in the cave.
Blood pours from Aradon’s eyes and nose, his mouth trembling as he drops to his knees. With his forehead pressed to the ground he whispers, “ Desfara .”
I want to slide my sword down his fucking throat, holding him in place while I slowly peel his skin from his flesh, little by little. But I need to get to Zarreth, and this worthless piece of shit doesn’t deserve to take another breath.
I raise my sword before slicing through Aradon’s neck, watching his head roll toward Zarreth’s body. Blood rains around us before Aradon’s body bursts into flames.