Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
DEMITRIA
A rush of air whooshed past her cheek and suddenly, Reim was toppling over. Hands grasping at its throat as an arrow protruded from it. Scurrying into the shadows, he disappeared. Another flew, embedding itself into the forehead of another demon. She could just make out the small metal ring around each arrow, a crest carved into the center. Marking each one for who it belonged to.
A running horse.
Horsemen.
Her vision was starting to narrow, blurring more and more at the edges. Darkness seeped in. She willed it to come. Reveling in the feeling as it began to sweep over her.
A cloak. Red . Like a single flower blooming in the dead of night.
His cloak .
Demitria honed in on it, trying to keep her focus as the haze of color spun toward her. Blinking as if it’d help. Red. It was all she saw. Nothing more than a blur as it danced gracefully around the shadows, closer and closer before it was nearly in reach.
“Are you alright?” Kellan. The burning had stopped and she’d grown numb. His large body loomed over her as a gurgled scream echoed off the walls from somewhere in the cavern.
A new wave of tears swept over her. Kellan. She didn’t care if he saw her cry. Not after this.
Demitria lifted heavy arms toward him, begging, reaching like a child needing to be coddled. She didn’t care. Weak and shaking, her limbs looked pale white, inky veins snaking along her skin. His sword clattered to the ground in a heavy thud, and she slowly flinched at its intensity, the movement feeling dragged out. Shoving the hood of the cloak from his head, he picked up her bloodied body in his arms.
Kellan.
“I’m sorry we didn’t get here sooner.” Something woodsy and sweet wafted through her senses, triggering memories of a time long gone, but she grabbed onto it like a lifeline.
More tears. Like a gushing river. Instinctively fastening her fingers into the material at his chest, unwilling to let go
“You came.” Demitria tightened her grip around him. She wanted to be held by him, something to anchor her. “There was nothing I could do.” Weak. She was so weak, and her voice was no different.
“I found Atlas and knew something wasn’t right.” He said, “You should have never left without me.” Atlas was safe? A new wave of relief rushed through her at the news. Atlas had been found safe… unharmed. Her lips tugged up in a pathetic excuse for a smile, and her body shuddered with the effort it took.
“Kellan!” A voice thundered from behind them, followed by a grunt. “You’ll want to hear this.”
Demitria didn’t recognize the voice.
Kellan ignored them. “Why did you run? Why did you leave?” He was angry with her, and rightfully so. She had disobeyed his order and fled the community.
“I couldn’t put them in danger.” She strained against his hold as another wave of pain surged through her, squeezing her eyes shut as each breath burned. “I-I wanted answers, and I thought leaving was the only...”
“KELLAN!” That same voice shouted, louder, breaking her from the conversation. She couldn’t see the beings over his large frame. Was too weak to try as her arms fell limp at her sides. Each breath throbbing, carving down her throat as if she swallowed a mouthful of glass.
“What the hell is the matter with him?” They scoffed. Female this time. “He took us in here, Gabriel. Now he’s abandoned his post—again. The demon's fate falls in your hands.”
Demon? Had Reim not gotten away? Gods, she hoped they were able to catch him. Hoped they would slaughter him where he stood, and get revenge for everything the creature had done. For every person he’d harmed and killed. Demitria was never one for needless violence, but she hoped he suffered endlessly. She tried to utter his name. To tell him the creature that had maimed her, but nothing moved past her lips save for another shallow breath that burned her throat. Sharp and excruciating as it moved.
“The Four Horsemen.” The demon lord spat, laughing as he did so, despite the strain in his voice. Like he’d been talking through a hold. “To what do I owe the honor of your presence?”