Chapter 6
Avoiding cat-astrophe
They were several streets away from the inn when they heard the jingle of armour and were forced to hide from guards mounted on weird moose-like creatures.
The Shadow Blades must have expanded their search from the inn and into the surrounding streets.
They crouched down behind a waste pile, and Drew recoiled as his hand landed in something disturbingly moist and squishy.
The Shadow Blades were conducting a thorough search, and they came closer and closer to their hiding spot.
Drew held his breath, trying to make himself as small as possible without crushing his familiar as he held her securely.
He shifted just a little, but it was enough to displace something behind him, sending the unknown object clattering to the ground.
“There!” one of the Shadow Blades cried, pointing in their direction before quickly dismounting. The other two with them also got off their steeds.
“Shit,” Drew hissed, wondering how they were gonna get out of this without a fight.
“Leave it to me,” Zach whispered against his ear.
The atmospheric pressure dropped, and where Zach had been was now a brown and white cat with horn-like tufts of fur on his head. Noodle butted his head once against Drew’s arm and then darted out from their hiding spot and directly at the advancing Shadow Blades.
“What the fuck is that?” one of them barked, as Noodle circled around their feet, his tail flicking against the hem of their cloak.
“Some sort of small mammal,” one of the others said. “It looks a little like the felines you get on Earth.”
“Probably brought back with one of the Summoned for dinner and it escaped,” the third mused.
“Not much of a meal,” the first said, toeing at Noodle with their boot.
Noodle hissed and darted backwards, watching them warily.
“Must be a delicacy,” the second Shadow Blade said. “Not that we have time to try it. Come on, let’s check the next quadrant.”
They mounted their steeds and a moment later were gone, the click of hooves on cobblestones fading as they moved away.
I’ll scout ahead, Zach said in Drew’s mind. Wait here.
“Where’s he going?” Andras demanded as Noodle headed down an alleyway in the opposite direction to where the Shadow Blades had gone.
“He’s checking to see if that way is clear,” Drew explained.
“You can speak mind to mind?” Andras asked, shocked.
“Um, yeah?” Drew replied, unsure why that seemed like a big deal when Andras hadn’t batted an eye at the other magic they’d performed in front of him.
Andras cast an inquisitive eye over Drew. “Your bond must be deeper than I assumed. The ability to communicate telepathically is usually only seen in partners who have been together for many years.”
Drew scoffed. “I don’t think that’s quite accurate.”
His eyes narrowed. “You question my knowledge?” Andras asked in a dangerous tone.
“I think you’re mistaken, yes,” Drew admitted. “Because Zach and I had known each other for less than twelve hours when he first spoke inside my mind.”
“That’s impossible. You’re lying,” Andras declared.
Sighing, Drew only shrugged. “Whatever, dude.”
There was a streak of movement in the alleyway, and then Noodle was back. He sat on his haunches in front of Drew, staring at Leila, who was still cradled in Drew’s arms.
Drew crouched down and tilted his head towards his torso. “There’s room on my shoulder if you want to be carried,” he said aloud.
Noodle didn’t look impressed. She’s been hogging you all day. Surely she can sit on your shoulder and I can sit in your arms.
“Seriously?” he asked. “You’re grumpy that I’m already carrying Leila?”
So what if I am? Zach’s voice was definitely offended.
“How the fuck is this my life?” Drew muttered. He transferred Leila to his shoulder and then held out his arms, catching Noodle as he jumped up at him.
Noodle immediately purred, even whilst giving the familiar a smug look.
Leila retaliated by pecking at his ear, which caused Zach to hiss at her, reaching out a paw with claws extended.
Leila growled, that low rumble that was more menacing than anything Drew had ever expected to hear from a chicken.
“That’s enough!” he snapped, pushing Noodle’s paw away and then giving Leila a stern look. “I don’t understand why the two of you can’t get along.”
She started it, Zach grumbled.
Leila bokked indignantly.
“I don’t mean to break up whatever the hell this is,” Andras interjected. “But if we could maybe continue escaping from the people who want to torture me, that would be great.”
“Fine by me,” Drew said. He looked down at Noodle. “Was that way clear?”
Zach didn’t reply, simply nodded, clearly put out and sulking.
Resigned to being surrounded by children, Drew turned towards the alleyway and began walking.
The landscape beyond the village was eerie.
It was dark, with the dense atmosphere hiding any stars in the sky, though there was possibly a moon present, as there was a dull purple hue in the sky, which caused long shadows to paint the ground and obscure their steps.
There was little vegetation, just a boundless plain before them that was broken by the occasional rocky outcrop.
To their left, far off in the distance, was a red glow, which Zach explained was a lava lake.
Breaking the silence, there came the lonely cry of some sort of animal.
It had been relatively warm when they’d arrived in Hell, but it had grown cold now, and Drew rubbed at his bare arms to chase away the chill.
Zach had transformed back into his human form once they’d left the village, and they walked three abreast. Drew was in the middle, and Andras stuck close to them, casting worried looks back towards the settlement every few moments.
He’d hardly spoken over the past couple of hours as they’d put distance between themselves and the Shadow Blades, and the quiet unnerved Drew.
Andras had been so cocky and even annoying since they’d met, so the sudden fearful silence from him spoke louder than any of his outlandish pronouncements ever could.
Drew couldn’t help but wonder what sort of horrible punishments the Shadow Blades doled out to instill this sort of terror in a higher demon.
Even Zach had been wary of them, and his angelic magic was powerful.
If their pursuers caught them, would the three of them be strong enough to fight them off?
Drew wasn’t trained in combat and was still a magical novice.
Would he be any help whatsoever? Or more of a burden? A crutch?
The mournful howl from before repeated, but sounded closer.
Leila, who was still perched on Drew’s shoulder, growled again.
She ruffled her feathers, the silky touch of them tickling Drew’s throat.
They slowed to a stop, and he looked over at Zach only to find that he was looking at Andras.
Drew swiveled his head and saw that Andras was even more pale than he had been, and his eyes were wide.
“What is it?” Drew asked, turning back to Zach. “What is that thing?”
“An urco,” Zach said, all business and his voice sharp with tension as his eyes scanned their surroundings.
Drew understood that Zach was preoccupied with keeping them safe, but he still found himself feeling annoyed that his response had been a bit of a non-answer. He decided to ask Andras for clarification. “And an urco would be what, exactly? Are they dangerous?”
“Have you heard the saying ‘up shit creek without a paddle?’” Andras asked.
“Yeah.”
“Well, if our boat had also sprung a leak and shit creek was infested with piranhas, the urco would be the very hungry piranhas, excited that their meal was being served. Because urco are massive hound-like creatures who feast on flesh, and that sound we can hear is the sound of the hunt.”
“Oh.” Drew swallowed thickly. “Any chance there’s something else out here it’s hunting?”
Andras shook his head, his white-blond curls bouncing around his face. “Everyone avoids being on the plains at night.”
“Which is why we were staying at the inn,” Zach said pointedly.
“Well, excuse me. I’m sorry for putting a spoke in your wheel,” Andras snapped.
“So you should be!” Zach snapped right back. “You’ve put Drew in even more danger!”
“Next time, I’ll just ask the Shadow Blades to keep their pursuit to daylight hours, shall I?”
“Save your sarcasm for someone else.” Zach’s voice had taken on a dangerous tone, and Drew couldn’t help but shiver.
He wasn’t a violent person, but he was the first one to admit that Zach was sexy as fuck when he was in protective mode.
“You’re the one who involved us in your problems. You’re the one who has put us in the path of the Shadow Blades.
You’re the reason we’re on the plains in the first place. This is your doing, Andras.”
Andras had gone very still. A long moment passed before he said in a quiet voice, “Well, I apologize for involving you in my business. I thought that perhaps our history together meant you harboured a little goodwill towards me, but obviously I was mistaken. Return to the inn and keep Drew safe. I’ve always done everything alone, so I don’t know why I even thought I wouldn’t have to face this alone as well.
” He let out a shaky breath and then turned away.
“Farewell, Zachariel. It was a pleasure to meet you, Drew.” Then he walked away.
Drew stayed silent, even as all the complicated feelings Zach was experiencing played out across his expression. It wasn’t long before he swore and started after the demon. “Andras!” he called. “Get back here. We’re not letting you go alone.”
Andras stopped, but didn’t turn back. “You know what I’m facing,” he said.
“Intimately,” Zach confirmed.
“Then you know how dangerous it is.”
“I’m not a fucking moron.”
“There’s no need to be rude,” Andras sniffed, turning and slowly making his way back to them.
“Don’t push it,” Zach warned him.
“You used to love it when I pushed you.”