Chapter 9 #3
And yet, perhaps I was a fool for staying here awaiting Vaelor. I was only waiting for him to possess me. Currently, the spirits had assembled elsewhere on his property, and I found myself without company. For the first time, not a soul watched me.
I could run, disappear and hide where nobody, not even Vaelor, knew where I was, and then I’d go and find Gerand.
When else would I have such an opportunity?
I had to poison an entire camp in order to escape with Mira.
Something told me that once Vaelor came, opportunities to get away would become close to nonexistent.
I grit my teeth. But I had already tried running once and almost died and soon this entire forest might be filled with spirits.
A rustling from the brush made me look up.
I squinted through the vegetation. Could a spirit demon make a sound like that?
Only if it was disturbing the forest in some way.
I stood motionless, scarcely daring to inhale, willing it to be the breeze teasing the foliage or some small creature scurrying through the undergrowth.
The rustling grew louder. From the way it disturbed the vegetation, it didn’t sound small.
Whatever it was, it was coming closer.
The sound got louder and I shut my eyes, praying that whatever it was would simply go away. But it didn’t. I looked again through the foliage and saw…
A skeletal horse. The creature consisted entirely of bone, except for the bat-like wings extending from its back. Someone had attached a saddle and placed a bit in its mouth. Its eyes were made of flame. Maybe it was lost?
My heart sank when I realized that the eyes had a distinct orange tint.
Shit. A demon spirit possessed it.
And the horse was looking straight at me through the cracks in the foliage.
It took another step toward me. No. I wouldn’t stay here to be attacked and torn apart. I flung the bag over my shoulder and lunged up out of my hiding spot. And ran.
The trees blurred past. I came to a stream and angled away from it. Even as my brain knew running was futile. Demons had a fantastic sense of smell, so I’d be easy to track. They also had excellent hearing—even my heart beating in my chest could give me away.
The trees fell away, and I came to a ledge.
Glancing down, I gaped at how far it went. A low fog obscured the bottom. I hadn’t realized I had ascended so high.
I hurried along the cliff’s edge, hoping to find a hiding spot.
Maybe a place along the cliff face where I could slip down and hide among the crags and holes of the rock.
It was desperate. My only hope would be that maybe the trickling of the nearby stream might drown out my heart.
The creature’s hooves galloped after me, coming closer.
I gripped the handle of the sword at my waist but just as quickly discarded the option.
I knew nothing about using a blade. Running was my only option.
My pants were much easier to maneuver in than any dress.
I raced ahead, my bag and sword both banging against my side, desperately searching for a hiding place that might suit.
The cliff made a sharp turn, and an enormous stone wall blocked my path. I was trapped. I spun around, my heart pounding, and found the skeleton horse standing there looking at me.
A mist lifted from the creature and coalesced. Into Vaelor.
I blinked. It had been him all along?
He glared at me, enraged as usual. “You were supposed to wait for me at the designated spot. And the second I come, you run up onto this cliff, exposing yourself to everyone.”
I leaned against the wall and let out a manic laugh. Of course it was him. “You never said you’d show up possessing a… that.” I gestured to the skeleton horse.
“It will make travel easier. And if I have to possess you, we can still fly away,” Vaelor said, his eyes narrowed. “I shouldn’t have to explain myself. You need to do as I say.”
Anger sparked inside me at his words. “Why should I submit myself to you or anyone? All I want is to be away from you, from them, from everything. I want to find my brother.”
The horse made of bones waited calmly and docile behind him as Vaelor took a threatening step forward.
“And you think you can do that on your own?” he snarled, his eyes flaring, the mist at his feet spreading.
“That if it’s not me using you, it won’t be some other demon that will find you and do whatever the hell he wants with you?
You are in demon lands, Denara. You are food, an object of torture, or both for any you come across. ”
“And what am I to you?”
He stilled, his spine straight, shoulders square. “You know what you are. My tool.”
“I’m a pretty pathetic one. I’m small and weak. I don’t know how to fight.” A stinging started behind my eyes, and I blinked to keep the tears contained. I gestured at the skeletal creature he’d brought with him. “That horse is a more suitable subject for your possession.”
The surrounding mist grew and spread. His gleaming eyes stood out against the grayness. “You’re right, maybe I should take it and leave. It is fast and obedient. At least it knows better than to run off and put itself in danger.”
“Maybe you should.” I let my head fall back against the cold stone.
Useless. I couldn’t protect anyone. I couldn’t even find Gerand.
What made me think I had the ability to journey through demon lands, find him, and manage to get him to safety?
Safety was a fairy tale. The human lands were two demon kingdoms away.
He marched up to me. I tensed, turning my face to the side, ready for his blow.
“Get. On. The. Damn. Horse.” He spoke through clenched teeth. He loomed over me, breathing hard, but his fists remained at his sides.
I blinked and pressed a hand to my cool, unstruck cheek. That was what he wanted? Erlinen’s parting words played through my head. Remember, human, there are those who terrorize and those who protect.
He growled when I didn’t move and scooped me up, marching over to the skeleton creature and plopping me into the saddle. I steadied myself by touching the horse’s bony body but looked at Vaelor.
“Why?” I whispered.
He opened his mouth to answer, but then turned away to face the forest, his wings spread, shoulders tense. Only then did I realize the mist had grown, gathering along the ground, wrapping around the trees. Far more than I’d ever seen with Vaelor.
Five spirits faded in from the gloom. Tricken and his violent smile, Raxus and his deadly glare, the minotaur that had taken Gerand and two more demons with wings. They came forward, dark vengeance in their every move.
Vaelor didn’t wait. He turned and met my gaze.
Fear prickled beneath my skin. I knew what was coming.
His body faded into mine in an instant.
He eased into me, but my body fought it. This feeling of not being myself—of someone inside me—was more than I could handle. I had to trust Vaelor, but I didn’t. I couldn’t.
Raxus emitted a cruel chuckle. “She’s feisty, isn’t she, Vaelor?” He motioned, and the other spirits moved in, surrounding us. Trapping us against the cliff side.
The mist spun, increasing and turning the sun cold. The death glare of the demons were lights in the grayness, their thirsty smiles appearing crooked and even more sinister as my visibility dimmed. However, the only thing I sensed was the blackness inside—the demon within me striving for control.
Denara! Vaelor shouted in my mind.
Either I submitted or I died. That was the choice. No alternative existed. Thirty seconds wasn’t long, but it was long enough to kill someone who was vulnerable. Not to mention they could spread out my death among the five demons present. Vaelor tried to move my hand.
I could allow him that much. My fingers curled around the reins.
More Denara. Now.
Only for a moment. I released everything, and my arm jerked, and the horse bolted toward the cliff’s drop-off. Raxus appeared in front of us on the edge between us and the sky, but we blew right through him as the skeleton horse spread its wings and soared upward.
We rose with each wingbeat. The two demon spirits with wings took to the sky after us. I guess being a spirit didn’t stop one from flying if they so wished.
That’s it, Denara , Vaelor’s voice touched my mind like a caress. Give me control and I‘ll get you to safety.
A part of me wanted to give everything to him, even while a deep fear tugged at the back of my consciousness, screaming a warning. It was frightening how easily he silenced the second part. You’ll release me when we are free? I asked .
I will.
The beast beneath me jolted. Vaelor put my hand down to steady my position. The horse reared up and then dove wildly.
“Shit.” The word was more Vaelor than me.
We held on tight, wrapping my arms around the horse’s neck while it bucked and rolled.
What is happening? I thought.
Raxus must be possessing the horse.
The other demons flying after me caught up, and their claws dug into my arms as they lifted me off the flying steed.
Vaelor! I thought frantically.
A snarl ripped from my throat, and my body twisted, kicking one in the chest. Grabbing the arm of the other, Vaelor made me shove him away. They both released me.
And I fell.
The ground rushed toward us at an alarming speed. The air flowed past me, stealing my breath. We had moved past the canyon, situated above the woods, and the treetops surged closer with deadly precision.
Vaelor! Shit, Vaelor, do something!
At the last moment, he left me. Terror seized me as my weak body neared the canopy. Strong arms wrapped around me and pulled me up, lifting me against a large chest.
I glanced up, a scream caught in my throat. Lord Vaelor flapped his wings, carrying me into the air.
“Tuck your head and make yourself as small as possible,” he said.
I didn’t argue. Either he saved me, or I was dead. I pressed my face into his chest and curled into him. His body seemed to wrap around mine like a warm cocoon.
And then he dove into the trees.