Chapter 30
Chapter
Thirty
Leda
When I came to, I was struck with a blinding headache and nausea roiling in my gut.
I managed to roll over to my hands and knees before I puked. The motion turned my vision white, and the pain in my skull became nearly unbearable. I heaved twice more before my stomach was empty. I crawled away from the sick and sat back on my ass, blinking to try and clear my vision.
“Disgusting.”
At the sneered word, I turned my head to my right. The movement set my stomach roiling again, but I managed to control it. It was then that I realized I was outside, surrounded by thick undergrowth and tall trees, looking at two daemons.
Venna and Talus stood shoulder to shoulder, watching me. Venna’s look was one of contempt. Talus appeared excited. Too excited considering I’d just thrown up everywhere.
Venna gestured behind me. “Go clean yourself up in the stream.”
I wanted to tell her to fuck herself, but the idea of washing the nasty taste out of my mouth and rinsing my hands and face was too tempting.
I tried to get up, but my legs were trembling too violently to support me.
Fuck it, I was going to crawl if I had to.
I dragged myself to the small stream and rinsed the dirt off my hands.
The water was clear and cold. I took the risk of rinsing my face and swishing some in my mouth.
I didn’t know if bacteria and parasites were an issue here, but it was a possibility I would have to face.
I drank a little bit too. It tasted as fresh as it smelled.
Fingers crossed it wouldn’t make me sick later.
The pain in my head faded slightly after splashing cool water on my face and my mouth was no longer bone dry and tasting horrible. I didn’t want to give away that my energy was slowly returning, so I remained on my rump and turned toward the two daemons still watching me.
“I’m guessing the two of you have a plan for what happens next,” I said, resting my elbows on my knees.
Venna smirked at me. “You are much smarter than you appear, little human.”
I managed not to roll my eyes, but I really wanted to.
I looked over at Talus, noting that the dagger I’d stolen off him my first day here was now back in his boot.
The exact same boot. He wasn’t smirking the way Venna was, but he was definitely amped up.
His muscles were bulging and flexing as though he was holding himself back.
A cold line of fear dragged up my spine, but I refused to react outwardly. I would never let either of them see it. I refused.
If I were going to die, I was going out fighting. I might scream and cry while I did it, but I was going to do my damnedest to take one of them with me.
Venna stepped forward and crouched down. Her broken horn caught my eye. The once ragged edge had been filed down. I wanted to taunt her about it, but I was weak from whatever they’d drugged me with, and I needed time to gather my wits.
Even from her squatted position, she looked down her nose at me. “Talus is going to hunt you. I am not sure why he is so enamored with your pathetic human form, but he will probably find some enjoyment in your screams when his cock rips you in half.”
I narrowed my eyes and glared at her, then Talus. Venna laughed as Talus reached down to adjust his cock.
“Oh, he likes that idea a lot,” she murmured, rising to her feet. “I know I shall enjoy listening to your screams before he kills you.”
I shifted to my knees, my fingers digging into the ground so I could pick up a handful of dirt, small rocks, and leaves. I put my other hand on my thigh and felt that the bottles I’d stuffed in my pockets were gone. So was the extra knife I carried there.
I shifted slightly and felt the bottles between my breasts.
Whoever had disarmed me hadn’t found those.
The small knife I kept tucked inside was still there as well.
It wouldn’t do much damage unless I aimed for his throat or eyes, but it was better than nothing.
I had no idea what color the potions I’d grabbed were, but I would be able to use them for something.
The knowledge that I wasn’t completely helpless was enough to calm my thunderous pulse.
I had a fighting chance against the two of them.
I had to remember that. Yes, I was weak and shaky right now.
I was outnumbered by opponents that were two or three times my size, but that didn’t mean I’d already lost.
The sound of footsteps through the brush had all three of us turning our heads. A daemon appeared out of the dense undergrowth. I didn’t recognize him, but his attention went straight to Venna.
“My lady, General Bokkan’s commander is here. He wishes to speak to you.” His eyes flicked to me. “He said something about a runaway human.”
Venna’s expression morphed from a smirk into a smug smile. “Oh, they believe she ran away? How convenient.” She sighed. “Please tell him I will keep my eye out for her, but I am busy at the moment.”
“I tried, My Lady, but he is quite… insistent. He is asking to check the corners of your estate that butt up against the general’s. He thinks the human might have crossed into them.” The daemon gestured to the area to my left. I assumed that was where Bokkan’s property was located.
Venna sighed. “I see.”
The two male daemons were both looking at her, and Talus seemed quite intent as he said, “My lady, if you do not speak with him, they will send men here anyway.”
I tuned out their words when I realized none of them were paying me the least bit of attention.
I released the dirt in my hand and slowly backed away.
There were two trees close together behind me, and the undergrowth was far enough apart that I could fit my smaller body between the bushes without making a sound.
My foot scraped the dirt, but none of them seemed to hear as they continued to discuss what they should say to Guldan and whether or not Venna should speak with Guldan herself.
It probably took ten or fifteen seconds for me to make my way between the bushes, but once I was there, I got silently to my feet.
Dizziness swamped me for a moment, but I focused on my breathing until it passed.
My legs trembled as I began to pick my way through the trees, keeping behind the heavy undergrowth so they couldn’t see me.
Within a few steps, some of the strength returned to my limbs.
The fog in my brain began to dissipate so I could think clearly.
I headed in the direction the unfamiliar daemon had pointed. I could barely hear their quiet conversation anymore before they suddenly went quiet.
“The human is gone!” Venna’s voice carried through the trees, harsh and shrill.
Their voices were much louder as they talked over each other. I tried to remain quiet and hear what they were saying, but my heart was pounding in my ears.
“She went this way,” Talus said.
His statement worked like a gunshot at a track race.
I picked my feet up and sprinted away from the group.
Adrenaline hit my system hard, and I pumped my legs and arms as fast as I could manage.
I dodged around the thicker brush and trees.
I leaped over a smaller bush, jumping higher than I expected.
It seemed Guldan was correct—I was absorbing magic from the realm. I was stronger and faster after just a few days.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t quite fast enough to outrun Talus. His footsteps were a rampant, loud thud behind me, and he was gaining ground.
I needed to do something to slow him down.
I dipped my fingers into the neckline of my shirt and pulled one of the bottles from between my breasts. It was black.
Shit. That wouldn’t work. It was meant to be used at night. I fished the second bottle out. Yellow.
Okay, it released a huge flash of light when it was broken. That could be useful.
I tucked the black bottle back into my bra. I might not be able to use it now, but if I managed to evade Talus, I might need it later.
Bokkan had explained that I had to remove the cork to break the spell that kept the bottle from breaking. I used my thumb to pry at it, but it didn’t move. Grimacing, I risked using my teeth. Strangely, the cork popped out easily, but the liquid stayed inside.
Damn, daemon magic was awesome.
The ground seemed to shake as Talus drew closer. I waited until I could hear his rough breathing before risking a glance over my shoulder.
The daemon was ten or twelve feet away. Almost close enough to leap for me. I needed more space between us.
I juked around a tree. Being smaller and lighter, I was able to change directions faster than Talus. As I moved, I lifed my arm and whirled. As soon as Talus appeared around the trunk, I threw the potion bottle in his direction. It arced through the air, tumbling end over end.
I wanted to watch it land, but I wasn’t sure how bright the flash of light would be, so I turned my back and started running again.
I’d taken two steps when a brilliant flare enveloped the trees around me.
Not only was the light bright, it was hot.
It was as if I were standing in front of an open oven.
A strangled male scream came from behind me, but I didn’t look back. I hoped it burned his eyes out. The fucker deserved it.
I couldn’t maintain the speed for much longer. I knew Bokkan had a large estate. I could only hope I was close.
The air burned in my chest, sharp and thin as a blade as I tried to suck in as much as possible. The pain in my head grew with each step, bringing a black haze to the edges of my vision. I could not pass out. I had to stay conscious in order to fight off Talus when he caught up with me.