Chapter 16 Dianna
DIANNA
Three days later
My hand puppeteered the enormous beast’s jaws, the twin tusks clicking against its elongated canines. “If only Samkiel had listened to his wife and realized a dead Otherworld creature would not help us find the actual entrance,” I said in a mocking, high-pitched voice,
Samkiel narrowed his eyes at me as he flung the gore off his sword. “Ha, ha, very funny. You’re hilarious.”
I moved the beast’s mouth again and, in the same sing-song voice, said, “I think she is hilarious.”
“Give me that!” Samkiel said, stomping over. I lowered the head and pulled it out of his reach, not ready to stop teasing him yet. Its body was a few feet away, the serrated tail still flopping.
“So what’s the plan now, handsome?”
We were both covered in dirt, slime, and grime from the intense battle. Samkiel summoned a silver rope and took the head from me with embarrassing ease. He set to work, trying to wrap the head so it would be easier to carry.
Samkiel sighed. “First, we can at least tell the town they are safe. This thing has been plaguing them for a few days. Second, let’s see if word has spread about any other Otherworld creatures and find someone that might wish to talk.”
I nodded and reached out to help him secure the head. “Maybe I should do the talking this time? They see you, and it’s all fangs and hissing snarls.”
He frowned, placing his hands on his hips. “Need I remind you that I did try a softer approach? I was called every foul name he could think of, and I still maintained my calm. The only reason his head is no longer connected to his body is that he tried to attack you.”
I rolled my eyes and prepared to make a snarky comment.
A shiver ran up my spine, freezing the words in my throat.
It was so vicious that my body shook from it.
I turned, expecting to see someone behind me, but I saw nothing in the dim light of the torch we’d stuck into the ground other than the forest and the battle-trampled ground.
“What’s wrong?” Samkiel asked.
I gave a slight shake of my head and turned back to him. “I thought I felt … something.”
“Something?” he asked, scanning the area carefully.
I nodded. “Do you remember Camilla’s island? That feeling?”
Insects sang from the canopy. There was no moon here, and the stars were too far away to offer us any help in illuminating the darkness of the forest.
“Yes?”
“It’s like that, but … I don’t know. Different.”
Samkiel stared into the spaces between the trees. The silver of his eyes blazed from inside his helmet, searching for any threat as if his incandescent gaze alone could cut them down. “How long?” he asked, his voice a low growl.
I shrugged and took a moment to think about it before answering.
“Just now, but if I’m being honest? I don’t know, for a while?
Back at the house, I thought maybe I was going insane, and then I chalked it up to the fact that I was near Cameron, and he and I are from the same Ig’Morruthen bloodline, but he’s not here.
Maybe I’m sensing the remaining energy from the beast we killed. ”
He studied me. “Does it feel like it did back at Camilla’s? As if you’re being followed?”
“No, not a sense of being followed. I just feel …” I shook my head. “Like something is on me, but not on me? I don’t know how to make that make sense. Let’s just get this back and rest. Maybe I’m just tired.”
Samkiel watched me for a few seconds before scanning the forest around us again.
I knew if something even moved in my direction, he’d chop it in half.
I knew I had a tendency to be protective and territorial, but sometimes I think he had me beat in that department.
After a few more seconds, he finally nodded and slung the twisted creature’s head over his shoulder as if it weighed nothing, even though it was triple his size.
“Perhaps it’s your dream man attempting to make contact because I don’t sense anything of significant power in the vicinity. At least nothing that would alert either one of us.”
I snorted at his hint of jealousy and started back toward town. “I only have one dream man, and he currently reeks of intestines.”
He looked down at his blood-caked armor as I passed, the silver coated in a patina of rust brown. He casually flicked what looked like a piece of entrails to the forest floor. His chuckle was deep as he fell into step beside me. “I honestly did not expect to be swallowed whole.”
“If you’re nice to me, I promise to swallow you whole tonight,” I teased, tossing him a wicked grin.
I could see the smile and bright flare of lust in his eyes, but he wasn’t ready to be distracted. “About your dreams, though,” he started. “Have they gotten worse since the last episode? You seemed fine the last two nights we’ve slept.”
Samkiel lifted a low-hanging branch high, allowing me to slip underneath. Dried leaves crunched beneath our armored feet as we slowly walked down a slight slope.
“No,” I said. “He hasn’t been in them since the possession, but you’ve also not left my side.”
Samkiel nodded, but I knew those wheels in his head were working overtime. I knew what he was contemplating and was sure he would come to the same conclusion I had.
“To be honest, and not to stroke your ego too hard here, but I think Reggie may be right. Whether it is your power or that he is an Ig’Morruthen and straddling the line of life and death, I think he fears you.”
It was the truth. Something about Samkiel or our bond deterred Gathrriel. We came over a rise, and the city flickered into view below us, lights snaking between the thick foliage.
“I had the same theory,” Samkiel said.
“Yeah?”
“I do not feel like testing it, though.”
He had made that very clear. I doubted he would allow me to even go to the bathroom by myself at this point.
“I don’t want to either,” I agreed. “Especially not here. If he takes over and gets even a drop of blood, he will be sealed with my body. I don’t know how to break that or if we even could.”
Samkiel stepped in front of me, stopping just at the edge of the city.
“After we drop this off, I have an idea,” he said, his blood-smeared gauntlet still holding the silver rope strapped around his chest. “I want us to visit a friend of mine.”
My brow rose. “A friend? Who?”
A short laugh left Samkiel at my tone. “His name is Killium. He and his wife are actually the ones who made the ring for you. I’ve known them since before the fall of Rashearim.
They fled to escape Nismera’s reign, and now they have more underground connections than I do.
Maybe they know where I can find more information on Gathrriel and what he wants without us even having to go to the Otherworld.
Or perhaps they know of an ancient book or text with some information on him or possession in general. ”
I nodded, mulling it over, and finally said. “Okay. How far away is he from here?”
“Maybe two days,” Samkiel said. “I can try to get us there as quickly and quietly as possible.”
Two days. It wouldn’t alter our plans much, considering we’d planned to be gone for a week, but I had a feeling that the two days might turn into more.
“Okay,” I said, patting his chest before stepping around him. “But first, let’s go make this town a little less stressed. We will get our answers, one heroic adventure at a time, big guy.”
Samkiel popped my ass as I walked in front of him, and I snickered.
“WE GATHERED AS much as we could.” The man was down on one knee before Samkiel, hands that were calloused and far too overworked outstretched before him, offering Samkiel a heavy bag of coins.
The people of the town, wearing worn and tattered clothes, stood beyond him, watching and waiting with wide, weary eyes.
Had they grown so accustomed to strong hands and sharper weapons that they assumed we would return and demand blood for our labor?
“Our stock is lower since we are so far from her empire.”
I snorted, rolling my eyes. Unfucking believable. Samkiel looked at me. “She calls it an empire? It’s like she wants to be an evil superpower,” I said, my voice rife with disgust.
Samkiel shook his head and turned back to the man kneeling before him. He pulled on the rope, unstrapping the creature’s head from his back and dropping it at his feet with a thud. It landed between them, its tongue lolling in death.
“Stand,” Samkiel said, and the man did, one trembling knee at a time.
He held out the money, assuming Samkiel would take it. Instead, Samkiel offered him a kind smile and said, “Keep it. I don’t need your coin or anything for that matter.”
“But,” the man started, and the crowd gathered behind him began to mutter.
“But,” I cut in, and everyone held their breath in anticipation, “can we get something to eat or drink? Maybe both?”
The silence was oppressive, and the old man blinked at us as if I’d asked for the impossible. Had she stripped them so bare that they didn’t even have food here?
Samkiel looked at me, and I shrugged. “What? The monster that has been terrorizing the town is dead. No more slaughtered livestock or missing people. I say we party.”
“Pa-party?” the man echoed, his face scrunching in confusion as he looked at Samkiel.
“Yeah,” I said. “You know, music and dancing? Celebration? That usually happens after a stressful event is resolved.” I tossed a look at Samkiel. “Do they not party? Is that the wrong word?”
I had been learning many languages since Jade City, and I’d even progressed enough to know the different dialects within some of the realms, but I still slipped up from time to time.
Everyone shifted uncomfortably and began to whisper in urgent tones.
“What? What am I missing?” I asked Samkiel.
The man swallowed, sweat beading his brow. “We cannot do that,” he said, his voice choked with trepidation.
“Cannot do what? Have fun?” My head swiveled to Samkiel. “Did your bitch sister outlaw fun?”