13. Seth
Chapter thirteen
Seth
My head was pounding like I had the worst hangover of my life. I blinked my eyes open and squinted as my vision cleared. Confusion hit. “Leave them the hell alone,” a woman growled. The sound ransacking the frozen pain that had a vice grip on my chest.
Erin.
My eyes frantically darted around what looked like a medieval throne room. A whip sounded, catching my attention and bringing it directly to where Erin half hung-half stood at the front of the room. Her wrists bound in rope, spread above her head. Her ankles chained to the stone floor. The shirt she wore was shredded, exposing her stomach, shoulders, and chest, with barely a scrap of fabric covering her breasts. The black leggings she had worn were in pieces on the ground next to her. There were lacerations up and down her arms, whip marks across her abdomen and thighs. A single large gash sliced above her breasts. Her steel blue eyes were lit with fire, determined. The Demon, one of Erebus’s lackeys, pulled their whip back once more. It cracked, biting her in her side. She bit down, clenching her jaw shut, her eyes locked with mine. I attempted to catapult myself toward her, only to be yanked back by chains anchoring me to where I knelt. Sweat coated her forehead, mingling with the dried blood stuck to her skin. Fury filled my body.
What did he do to you?
The Demon looped the whip around itself, resting it under his arm, and stepped back. Allowing Erebus to make his appearance. He sauntered into the throne room, arms resting behind his back, chest puffed, flaming hair swept back, and wings tucked in. He swept his yellow gaze between myself and Erin. Erebus chuckled, moving in and positioning himself behind where Erin hung. My gut twisted. “Get the fuck away from her, you piece of shit,” I growled.
An eerie smile spread across his face, flashing his pointed teeth. His tongue jutted out, he slowly leaned forward sliding it up and down the side of her neck. Then, the son of a bitch snaked his way upward and along her jaw to the opposite side, caressing her chin with the ashen purple-hued organ, his pupils laughing as he taunted me.
“Lovely, isn’t she?” Erebus flicked his tongue. “And she tastes just as delicious as she looks.” His tongue began to slip lower and fire erupted, engulfing Erin’s body. Erebus jolted back, hissing as one of his wings caught fire. I peered closer. Her eyes turned a burning red, matching the flames…emanating from her body.
“How. Dare. You.” Erebus snarled as he gathered himself, snatched the whip from the other Demon and struck Erin smack dab in the center of her throat, the whip wrapping itself around it. He yanked the handle back, snapping Erin’s head to the side and her flames extinguished. Her eyes glazed over, returning to their slate blue before closing as her head flopped forward. Her body went limp.
My chest heaved.
No.
My lungs burned as her name fell from my lips.
“Rin.”