Her Darkling

Chapter 2.

“Humph!”

The sound of hardwood splitting permeated through the ring in my ears as my back came in contact with the wood.

I bit back the sharp pain that shot up my head, pushing to my feet immediately and waving off wood dust. The demon had succeeded in lifting me off the ground. I was hit by the stench of burning sulfur as the demon growled, baring its yellowed canines at me, advancing precariously toward me in a quest to rip me apart.

I was reeling from the shock of a demon’s sudden appearance after the nightmare of an encounter several years ago across lands, where snow breaths. This was a different breed, advanced, dangling on a thin thread likely to break and bring doom to me.

My eyes darted over to the knife that lay by its feet and it was kicked away by hooved feet. Swiftly, my fingers found the second knife hidden underneath the waistline of my leather pants and I drew it out, searching scrutinizingly for any fleshy area of its body. There were none.

Its arms were covered in strong chitinous scales, gleaming under the crack of light that seeped through the broken stall. It was pretty much over its body, protecting it from any sort of harm; flames, spearheads, and even sabers. This was my first time encountering this demon so I had no idea where its weak point was located.

But I willed myself to keep fighting. Wiping the bead of sweat that formed on my brow, I whipped out another knife and moved out of the way immediately the demon lunged at me, moving behind it, climbing up its scaly back, and avoiding its jutted-out spines. It growled and straightened and with the help of the tip of my boots, I was able to stand without swaying. I tried again, making a dig on its upper back but my knife bounced back and I swayed nearly toppling down its back and to the ground.

I hadn't caught the tail coming for me and just as I was about to try another spot—I felt a sharp pain on my side as it pierced me with its end.

My cry rang out and I toppled to the floor, feeling the adrenaline rush that had somehow kept me pain-free fade away. The pain was blinding, like I had been stung by a giant scorpion.

I caught both of my knives and slipped one back into my sheath, crawling through dirt; wooden splinters, broken crates, and squashed fruits. My eyes darted behind me and I noticed everywhere was quiet. I became worried about Eldrion.

But I had to fight. I had to subdue this demon standing before me so I pushed my back against the wall, groaning as another wave of pain shot up my head. I pulled my hand off to see it was just a scratch. But a deep one.

I pushed to my feet, staggering from side to side as a wave of dizziness overcame me.

The demon had waited for me to stand to my feet. I spluttered a dizzy laugh.

How noble.

Wood flew into the air as the demon began advancing at me. This was my cue to search for a weak spot but there was none apart from its...

Eyes!

My fingers tightened around the wooden handle of my dagger and I crouched, hoping that this was enough to make me leap high up in the air. The tip of my toes pressed into the earth and when it was three steps away from me, I heaved myself up, hit my second leg against the wall, and pushed myself up again, feeling my body temporarily levitate. Tossing my knife into the air, I hit the wall with my booted foot again, this time, aiming at the butt of the knife with the tip of my boot.

It broke through the dust-filled air and pierced through the eyes of the demon and the last thing I heard before the demon went berserk was an ear-splitting growl.

I hit the ground, breathing heavily as the demon moved about in confusion. I knew it was searching for me and I had to be smart about this.

I dug out another knife, feeling bad that I was going to lose the other one.

I broke into a slow run, hitting the demon in the guts. It staggered slightly, regained its composure before flailing its arms into the air. I crouched immediately and hit the tip of my dagger around its waistline but all I heard was a scraping sound before my knife bounced back, causing me to tip over.

Another growl came from afar and I heard the sound of a male grunt. Eldrion.

I turned to get a brief look at him. That was my mistake because as soon as I turned, I felt long, clawed fingers wrap tightly around my throat as it brought me into the air and crashed me against the wall.

I let out a painful cough, feeling tears burn behind my eyes. My hand slipped into my chest to take out a knife but I came out with none. I was f*****g empty. s**t!

Pulling me off the wall, the demon lifted me high into the air and growled before it tossed me over to the other side of the stall. I toppled over crates and fruits, feeling their dirty juices drench my skin.

I quickly pushed to my feet, looking around wildly as I searched for my knife, then caught one lying on the floor and jumped toward it just as the demon lunged at me.

My fingers wrapped around the knife and I looked up just in time to catch a beat, close to its jugulars. As it lifted me off the ground again, my eyes remained on it, my brain running mach five as I made a decision in a split second.

I dug the knife through its neck, feeling a wave of triumph wash over me when I didn't hear a scrape or feel my knife bounce back.

Fingers tightened around my neck and I felt it dig into my skin but I didn't stop. I kept pushing with all my might till all that was left was the butt of the knife, burning off as flames leaked through its jugulars.

I twisted, grating my teeth and I twisted again, closing my eyes as an ear-splitting growl broke into the air. Its knees bucked and the demon crumpled to its knees, spasming as blood and a lava-like liquid spurted out of its neck.

Giving my already melted knife a sorry look, I stared down at the demon, taking a close look at it before I got distracted by another growl.

I zipped out of the stall, running till I got to where Eldrion stood with chains wrapped around the knees of the demon.

"Help! Over here!" Eldrion cried out and I quickened my pace, stopping for a brief moment to pick up the chain that dragged against the dusty ground.

Expertly, I lassoed the chain around its neck, pulling as my muscles strained. The demon fell to the ground with a heavy thud and we quickly tied it up.

"Thank you!" Eldrion said, breathing heavily. His shirt was torn all the way down and my eyes caught his gleaming abdomen. I looked away immediately and coughed. "This one was really tough to take down."

We both stared down at the demon, watching as it struggled against the chain it had been bound with. We laughed, knowing fully well that we had tied this in the most complicated way ever. Not even a breakage.

"Owww!" Eldrion cried and fell to his knees. Eyes widening in shock, I rushed over to him, falling along with him as I caught him with my arm. "I got a deep cut."

"Where?!" I cried, feeling panic flourish within me. He pulled his shirt apart and there it was, a deep gash, running along his abdomen with blood clots surrounding it as fresh blood trickled out.

"Stay put!" I cried, my heart thumping against my ribcage as it threatened to tear through my thoracic region. I hated the sight of blood when it was from someone I cared about.

Eldrion was the only person I had right now and I couldn't bear losing him.

Pulling my shawl off my head, I ripped it apart from the hem and tossed it to the side before pushing him up and tying it around his back. He grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly.

"You're panicking. I'm okay, Nariel. It's just a gash that will heal. I know you love—"

I swatted his arm, glaring at him. "This should be enough to hold you till we return."

"There's a third demon to fight."

"What?"

"Three hundred meters away from us, Nariel. Help me up. We will fight it together."

I shook my head wildly. "No! I'll do it myself. You're wounded."

But Eldrion was stubborn. Probably far more stubborn than I was. He pushed to his feet, his face contorting in pain as he staggered from side to side. It was getting dark and I could feel the night wind against my hair. It was going to rain tonight. I could smell it.

"Fine. Just don't get killed because I won't be crying over your grave."

We moved through the dirt road, rounding the corner, and just as we burst out into the other road, there was nothing but a cloud of smoke and dust.

Eldrion leaned against the wall. "It's gone."

We walked back in the direction we came from and as my body relaxed, I noticed how quiet everywhere was. It was eerie, dare I say. The clouds had cleared, exposing the full moon, sitting against the ultramarine skies, glistening with stars like a dash of silver glitters had been poured against it.

But our surroundings told tales of desolation. Dead bodies, the stench of smoke, Sulphur, blood, and death lacing together into a horrible stench that sent ripples of disgust and fear through me.

As we rounded the corner again, we heard the sound of thundering hooves coming in our direction. Eldrion and I stood to the side, watching and waiting as a cloud of dust was raised against. This time, there was a glow as the horses drew near. The soldiers.

Eldrion and I materialized out of the dark as they stopped before us.

A man seated on a dark horse stepped forward. He looked to be in his middle twenties but from his demeanor, I knew he was a man of strength.

His hair was tied to the back of his head, almost similar to that of Eldrion but his was blond and longer.

Jumping down his horse, he marched towards us. From where I stood, I could tell that his eyes were intense. It was dark so I couldn't tell the shade of his eyes but when a fire was brought close to him, I noticed he had gunmetal gray eyes.

"Who are you people?" He asked.

"We put down our lives, fighting these demons and saving your people while you lots went over the hill to have several tanks of rum," I hissed, feeling a wave of anger overcome me. Eldrion was hurt. "How could you all be absent while your people walked to their deaths?"

Eldrion pushed me to the side. "That is not what she means. All she's trying to say is that we are the people who fought the demons."

"I do not know either of you," he replied. Eldrion squeezed my hand.

"We come from the hilltop."

I noticed the look of recognition in his eyes and he nodded. "We were after the demon, too. We only chose to chase from the east side of town. By the time we realized it was a lost cause, it was too late."

"We already took care of it," Eldrion said with a nervous laugh. I hated that he was doing this for mere approval.

"My name is General Eamon Oakhart, commander of the Twinecrest army."

"And all they did was die while we fought to the last," I laughed. "You really are leading a great army. Makes me wonder where the strength is."

His lips thinned but he said nothing in reply. He turned to Eldrion. "Can you lead us to the demons?"

Nodding, Eldrion stepped forward and grabbed my wrist, holding me in a vice grip. "We were only able to take down two demons. One dead, one alive."

The General raised his brow in surprise but it was gone as soon as it came. We led the way, moving over to one of the stalls that had been terribly destroyed.

"What?" Eldrion muttered under his breath. "What the hell?"

Bound to the fetters was a man, probably in his late forties, chest bare with only a piece of clothing to cover his pubic area. He had long locks of dark hair with white strands, a sign of aging.

"This isn't the demon," I said. "This is..."

"Leave it to us," Eamon said, pushing past me. He went over to the man and crouched before him, brushing strands of wet hair that were plastered on his face.

"H-help me, good sir." The man whimpered helplessly. "Get me out of these chains."

"Don't!" I cried, moving towards the General who turned to look at me.

"I know. Step aside."

My fingers curled into fists and I stepped aside, watching as the guards surrounded the man and pulled him off his feet. His body was filled with gashes and red marks and one of his eyes was swollen. He looked like a man that had been rid of his sanity but I didn't feel an ounce of pity for him.

As the guards pulled the man, we all followed. People began to step out of the dark, their homes and their hiding places, and when we finally got to the town square, he was dropped to the floor.

A wooden structure was immediately erected by a few guards and jute ropes were employed as the man got pulled off his feet again. Leaning him against the thick wood, they tied him up.

"The Spear and the Furnace!" The General called out and gasps filled the air.