Her Darkling

Chapter 8.

After an ostensibly emotional reassurance from Neoma, promising us that she was going to make the best out of her time, distracting herself with work and other activities, we left the cottage.

Eldrion and I trudged down the hill in silence and I reveled in the critters of night animals, the sound of crickets scraping their wings against their abdomen and the kiss of peaceful night air against my skin. Who would have believed that we had gotten into a gruesome battle about an hour ago?

As we walked along the banks, I looked around for signs of a bloody battle but there was none. Just calmness and unmoving water, the light of the moon shimmering against the surface of the lake, enhancing slight waves.

"We should go through the bush path. It's faster."

"That's the appian way?" I asked with a scoff. "Heard it's dangerous at night."

Eldrion laughed. "You still believe the old fables fabricated to keep children out of the path once it was dusk?"

I shrugged. "Giant sloths, living trees, and all of that. Maybe."

"I'm not going to explain how much of a lie that is. Let's just go."

I nodded and we walked towards the bush path that led us into town.

It had rained yesterday and the grounds were still wet. Our boots sank into the grimy humus, releasing squishy sounds in our wake. Looking down, the imprints of horses' hooves covered the whole area. One of the reasons why the road was so bad.

As we walked through the path, leaves crunched under our feet before sinking into the wet ground. Something flew between the trees, causing leaves to rustle and branches to screech as it threatened to tear off its hinges. I exchanged looks with Eldrion who laughed. He wasn't afraid. Not one bit.

We were soon out of the bush path, walking through the plains that finally led us to the plateau, where the perimeter was located.

Trees were scattered around the area and not even the borrowed light from the moon helped. But my eyes caught a flicker.

I saw smoke first then a shade of fiery orange, lighting the wind up and making tiny particles visible. There was a tinge of blue.

Fire.

As we drew close to the plateau, we realized it was a bonfire. It was very much alight and fire leeked up the woods with alacrity. I could make out two figures seated before the fire. I couldn't tell who they were or what they were doing but I knew they were warriors.

Eldrion was the first to climb the rocks. It wasn't so steep so I joined him and soon, we were standing before Eamon.

He had a tall cup of rum in his hand and was drinking from it. From what I could tell, he and this said person whom I found hard to identify were sitting in absolute silence.

Eldrion cleared his throat and Eamon turned to see us standing a few meters away from the log they were seated on. At first, there was nothing, and the next second, he raised his brows and an amused look crept into his handsome face.

He waved us over. "Over here."

I exchanged looks with Eldrion before walking over to where they were seated.

"Hey, General. Nice evening, ay?" Eldrion greeted before taking a seat. But I stood there, fingers hooked around the straps of my satchel that was slung around my shoulders.

"Eldrion," He began in his deep baritone voice. It sent tremors running down my body but I didn't flinch. "Who thought I was going to see you both here tonight? It is a surprise."

His eyes flickered over to me for a second and I was made aware of how intense his eyes were, even under the fire that made his irises translucent.

"Even you." He spluttered a laugh before taking a gulp from the cup he was holding.

My fists curled but they weren't clenched. All I wanted right now was to shut his mouth with a comeback.

"You don't want us here?"

"Not at all," He shrugged. "It was up to you both anyway. I don't remember forcing anything down your throats. I just knew you were going to come around eventually. It was why I left the offer open for this long. Well, here you are."

"Of course. Here we are, right in your trap so you can stylishly check if we are humans or not."

If he heard me, he didn't react. Not even a twitch of his eyes. He leaned over and grabbed two more cups, filling them up with more rum before gesturing toward I and Eldrion.

"Would you both like to have drinks with me?"

"Of course," Eldrion replied, his voice laced with enthusiasm. He took the cup from Eamon's hand and smiled. I rolled my eyes.

"And you?" Eamon asked, pushing the cup towards me. "Not a fan of alcohol?"

"I did not come here for that."

"She is lightweight. Don't expect her to throw her hard persona away for a cup of rum." Eldrion said and both men burst into laughter.

Huffing, I walked over to Eamon and grabbed the cup from him, trying to steady myself as the alcohol sloshed over the cup, threatening to spill over the brim. I squished myself between Eldrion and Eamon, ignoring them both as they continued to laugh. There was nothing to laugh about.

Just as I took a seat, the person seated by Eldrion stood. I frowned slightly—intensely aware of the fact that this person was extremely good-looking. With boyish features. A shock of dark hair fell over one side of his face, outlining a perfect jawline and frail-chiseled rhinoplasty.

A young man. Beautiful.

Though his expression was hard and emotionless, I was slightly intrigued by his mysterious aura.

He walked away, leaving just, Eldrion, and Eamon seated around the fire.

I focused on my drink and gulped down a generous amount before turning to both of them.

"Was this cured properly?" I asked. "Heard poorly brewed rum is toxic."

Eamon laughed. "We'd have all been dead by now if that bullcrap was actually true."

I looked into the cup and realized I was halfway finished. It didn't taste bad anyway. I gulped the rest down and requested another, much to Eamon's surprise and Eldrion's point being proven right.

Three cups later, I was starting to feel all sweaty and light-headed. I didn't let it show though. I listened to Eamon and Eldrion as they conversed about the art of war.

It was a very interesting topic but that wasn't my point of focus right now. This drink seemed to have stirred a great sense of awareness and the ability to pick out minute details within me.

I watched as the ever-blazing fire from the bon burnished against Eamon’s skin, turning it into a beautiful shade of brazen gold. It was an odd mixture in my head but it made sense. It turned him into some godlike being with beautiful hair and entrancing eyes. A razor-sharp jaw that could cut through a diamond. It was probably an exaggeration but it felt right.

I watched as his lips moved, taking in the outline and the bow of his upper lip. The lushness of his lower lip and how soft they looked.

How could a man this heavenly be capable of slaying demons with such prowess? It was definitely illegal and he had to be locked up in chains for it. No man had it all but Eamon seemed to have it all. It wasn't fair.

A tress of his hair escaped and brushed his chin before covering a part of his face and all I wanted to do was reach my hand to him, run my fingers through its silky lushness before pushing it behind his ear and probably kissing...

I shook my head to clear off the fog in my head and turned to Eldrion instead and yet again, I was plunged into the same tunnel of awareness.

His hair had turned flaxen, all thanks to the fire and his eyes, I couldn't tell what color they were but they looked mesmerizing. As he spoke, he blinked, then gulped his drink down his throat. I watched his Adam's apple bobbed up and down with every swallow he took and when a drop of rum escaped his lips and slipped down his throat, all I wanted to do was catch it with my tongue.

Like a pair of earmuffs were taken out of my ear, I could suddenly hear them speaking. It was clearer now and the fog had dissipated.

"No. They were not. But they are also able to take the shape of anything."

"I guess they choose scary to seem menacing."

"They are menacing." Eamon laughed. "You've not got your mind messed with. It feels like hell, like walking through a bush filled with metal spikes. It is a mental torment, one you never want to experience."

Grabbing the really small barrel, Eamon filled his cup again and took a few gulps, stretching the silence by seconds before he spoke again.

"You know, we've been killing demons in the past. For a very long time. But not as much as they are now. They used to come in twos and threes, at long intervals. Most of the time, one attack stretched for a fortnight being another appearance. It wasn't until recently that they began to attack in droves, in legions. It's scary."

He sure didn't look scared when he was vanquishing demons like he was drinking water.

But Eldrion was no longer listening to him. He suddenly went still and his back straightened as he slightly twitched his head to the side. A sense of awareness crept into his face before he turned to look at us with wide eyes.