Chapter 17 #2
I could laugh. Because It didn’t even react. If anything, its grip tightened as its mouth opened, revealing a row of thin, sharp teeth like needles.
“Die. Die. Die...”
My head spun...I was drowning in air...my throat hurt...my limbs were numb...I was losing myself...I—
A blur sliced through the rain, a thing in the shape of a knife embedding itself into the creature’s skull with a sickening thwack.
Its grip around my throat faltered, claws twitching as a high-pitched whine burst from its throat. That wasn’t a scream or a hiss, but something between agony and anger.
Strength found me, rushing through my limbs as I grabbed a bigger stone and slammed it on the hilt of the knife—dagger—pushing it deeper into its head. But before I could kick it off my body, another force came crashing in.
A hand, human and powerful, shot out, seizing the creature by its long, tangled hair. The motion was violent and filled with fury. It yanked the monster back so hard I heard something crack in its neck.
Then, like it was weightless, it was hurled off my body, the dagger tearing free from the creature’s skull as it was thrown across the rocky terrain, hands flailing mid-air before it crashed against the wet stone with a shriek.
Air flooded my lungs.
I coughed heavily, choking on breath, on rain, on pain.
My hands brushed my neck, my fingers massaging bruised skin.
My ears were still ringing, and my body trembled from the cold and my near death experience.
The light from my fallen phone tilted upward, illuminating the figure now standing between me and the creature that was starting to regain its balance.
He was tall, a man ripped out from my nightmare.
Long black coat clung to his form like second skin, soaked through and dripping.
Leather gloves wrapped around his fingers, one still holding the dagger.
Rain slid down his face, dripping from the ends of his long, dark hair that was pushed back to reveal sharp cheekbones, a jaw carved like stone, and eyes that blazed nefariously.
Thrax.
“Guess I wasn’t too late,” he muttered, spinning the dagger between his fingers with an ease that made the motion look deadly. Then he turned, sprinting towards the creature again before I could speak.
I forced myself upright, groaning as pain flared through my back. I reached for my phone, blinking against the rain as I pushed wet hair off my face.
I followed the sound of the creature’s screeches. Its voice had shifted again. It was warping, shrieking high enough to make my skull ache. Blood. My ears were still bleeding. I touched my lobe, bringing my fingers in front of my face to see the crimson for a second before the rain washed it off.
Oh gods, my back.
The pain returned with full vengeance, radiating from my spine like fire, every step grinding rocks into my nerves. I gasped, reaching for anything to support myself, but there was nothing.
The screeches stopped, and a few seconds later, he came into sight.
His energy had hit me first, electric and uncontrollable.
The type that makes the hairs on your neck rise and your chest tighten.
I raised my phone’s light as he strode towards me with murderous grace, flipping the blade into his coat.
Rain fell between us like a veil, but his glare tore straight through it.
His eyes were unhinged.
The kind of look that could freeze time. Rage licked beneath his skin, and it was all pointed at me. I swallowed, more afraid of him than the creature that had just tried to kill me.
Would he believe me? Would he believe that I’d been tricked into coming back here?
He stopped in front of me, and I instinctively shifted back.
But he was faster. His gloved hand slid behind my head, and he tugged me forward.
My breath hitched as our faces stopped inches apart.
His warmth flooded through me like fire against the cold rain, drops sliding from his brow onto my cheek.
“Do your ears hurt?”
My eyes widened a fraction, surprised that he’d chosen to ask something like that first of all the questions he could ask me.
He didn’t wait for my answer. His other hand brushed my hair aside and touched my right ear, bringing the finger to his face. His jaw tightened.
Without a word, he bent and swept me off the ground. I gasped. “You can’t—the path is too slippery—”
But he didn’t stop nor pay me any attention. His body was heat and muscle and unwavering focus, the world tilting as he carried me effortlessly over jagged and uneven stones.
He figured he didn’t need a light with the way he walked like he knew every inch of this place. So I sighed, my body surrendering to the safety of his arms, exhaustion pressing down hard. At least he was safer than any creature residing within these rocks. My head rested against his chest.
His heartbeat was surprisingly slow, beating so faintly I could hardly feel it pulse against my cheek
Dum…dum…dum…dum…
Far too slow.
But he was warm.
So damn warm.