“That was uncalled for.” Fear looked to the hand in pity.
“Should have kept its hand to itself,” I said staring at the hand.
I caught Fear's smile from the corner of my eye. I didn't like the way he was looking at me. I glanced up at him. “I believe we keep getting off on the wrong start.” He smiled gently and my skin tingled in discomfort.
My smile was not so sweet. “I believe that's an understatement.”
“It doesn't have to be this way.” Was he trying to play a trick on me? I wouldn't fall for anything he said.
“You made it this way.”
“Stay here as a guest until the Vessel is mine and you have my word that I won't harm you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I'm not stupid enough to believe anything you say. The truth is, you can't hurt me, right? You already tried to kill me and failed.” His eyes crystallized and I knew I should stop talking, but I couldn't will myself to. “I don't need to fear you anymore, Fear. You can't hurt me,” I mocked.
He took a sip of the green colored stuff in the wine glass before sneering at me. “That's where you are very, very wrong.” My lips curled out. “You see, I'll admit I don't believe I can harm you. But that doesn't mean there aren't other ways.” I went still at his words. What did he mean? Was I wrong?
“You see... I can't kill you myself, but what's to say you won't die of natural causes. Such as... drowning from liquid going down the wrong pipe.” He pointed to the glass of the green liquid inside. “Drink,” he ordered me.
I didn't. I wouldn't. I shook my head. “Don't make me angry,” he added bitterly. I eyed the green liquid with suspicion before I grabbed it and took a drink. It was bitter and warm—nasty in my mouth. I spat it back out immediately. He laughed as he took another drink of his. He was messing with me.
“No worries, you're nothing but a human. You won't live forever. You will eventually die and once you do your soul will come to me.” He pointed at the mark on my chest and I grabbed it instinctively. The mark fired to life and danced its pain onto my skin. He grinned. “The Vessel will be mine because you belong to me Melanie. Whether you die tonight or sixty years from now. Your soul will come to me and it will be here, where you will be trapped for all eternity.” I couldn't shake off the dread I felt at his words.
Something exploded behind me.
Chapter Seventeen
“I see our guest has finally arrived,” Fear spoke aloud
I whipped my head around to see Killian standing—shoulders tensed, looking lethal and frightening. He stood next to the crumbled cave entrance he made himself. Shattered rocks scattered at his feet as more continued to tumble off the destroyed cave wall. Relief spread through my chest at the sight of him. He came for me, my heart thumped. He came for the Vessel, the bitter part of me whispered. Still, I moved from the chair, but the armrest shot out around my arms turning into hands that held me to the chair. The arms snaked themselves around my abdomen and back, wrapping themselves around and around the back of the chair where they traveled to my legs and did the same thing. My arms were trapped in the process and I couldn't even wiggle. I had no room to move whatsoever.
“You didn't have to destroy my cave. I do have a door,” Fear added nonchalantly, clasping his hands together on the table before smiling.
I tried to turn my head around to see what Killian was doing, but the chair held me exactly how Fear wanted me. As if the chair could read my mind—it twisted around so that I could see him. His eyes found mine immediately—softening, just knowing that I was okay before darkening as his gaze swept over my trapped body. His shoulders went taut. He looked even scarier than he did when he entered. Killian neck made a sickening pop as tilted it to the side. He looked crazy—delirious even—as he looked at me. The sound caused me to flinch. The chair decided to move again and I was being pulled backward with the chair and slid to the side before coming to a stop next to Fear. Killian’s fury seemed to heat the entire room but Fear only smiled. He was playing with him. Killian was too upset to take notice.
“Are you okay?” Killian voice came out harsh and cold but I knew it wasn’t directly toward me. I gave him a quick nod. His attention shifted back to Fear. “Don't worry, I came to take you home.” Only he wasn't looking at me when he spoke. His eyes were challenging Fear.
Fear dropped his hands and leaned back into his chair. The chair’s grip on me tightened. I hissed in pain trying to suck air in and out like I was supposed to, but my ribs felt like they were going to shatter. I sucked in trying to lessen the pain. I felt my eyebrows bunch together and I squeezed my eyes shut trying hard not to focus on the pain.
“Stop!” Killian roared.
“But, I'm having so much fun.”
The chair loosened its grip on me. My face fell over in my lap as I sagged in relief regaining some of the oxygen I had lost. “You're no match for me, Marcus. Do you really wish for us to fight?” Killian’s deep voice crackled in the cave.
I raised my head tilting it slightly so that I could see Fear. His expression soured. “Marcus.” He laughed. “You haven't called me that in a long time.”
“How did you become this way?” Killian asked.
“It comes with the name.” Fear shrugged his shoulders.
“You have no need for her.”
“I do,” Fear replied quickly. “As you just reminded me, I need the Vessel. I am meant to be more than you.” He truly hated Killian. The way he looked at him worried me.
Killian shook his head. “So that's what this is all about.” Killian looked to him disappointed. Fear's face burned with resentment. “Foolish demon.” I felt like this wasn't about me anymore. There was something between them that I didn't know about. What exactly happened between them?
Killian began to shimmer—fading in and out until Grim finally took his place. Grim's hand stretched before him where his scythe appeared. Fear rose from his chair—stretching his arms out wide. A dark smile crept over his lips. “Finally who I've been waiting for.” Fear kicked the table, it slid toward Grim. Grim jumped onto the table as it moved, walking toward us as it continued moving in the opposite direction. Once he was at the other end, he jumped off. He was going to Fear.
Fear slipped off his kimono. I was glad to see he had dark silk pants on underneath. His white skin glowed in the dark as he bared his chest. His body began to change shape and form—like the way Killian did before becoming Grim. The beauty of his face was the first to leave him, stripping away, exposing the monster he truly was. His teeth lengthened becoming sharp and pointed at its tips. His eyes turned a crimson shade of red as his blond hair turned jet black. His ears disappeared dissolving into his skin, blending in as if he didn't have any. Two horns grew out of his hair that curved backwards. His long nails darkened turning into something that looked more like weapons.
I trembled. The last to appear was his long tail that slipped out of the back of his pants. It was as long as his body—maybe longer and thick and black like his hair. My heart was pounding against my rib cage as I stared at him. Only I wasn't staring at him any longer. I was back in the classroom. In that dark place, alone and afraid as he pinned me down to the ground and marked me, causing me to hate my life after that.
I was in a nightmare. A horrible nightmare. I never saw him that day, but now I was right next to him. The very thing I was most afraid of. And I was afraid. Really, truly, afraid. I watched as he whipped his tail around to his side. I was no different than the nine-year-old stuck in the classroom. I felt clammy and sick, out of motion, like I wasn't even in time. I was just stuck somewhere in between.
His attention was directed at Grim. I stared at the pale nightmare with beautiful hair and terrifying eyes. Grim's scythe transformed into a double-bladed sword momentarily taking my thoughts from Fear. Then they were jumping in the air simultaneously. One blade held over his head as the other aimed at Fear. He met him in the air. Before he was even close enough to use his blade, Fear's tail whipped out from behind him
grabbing Grim's ankle and slamming him to the ground.
Grim was back on his feet already going after him again. He moved quicker this time. Fear stood on the ground—anticipating his move—right before Grim's sword struck, but a sword materialized in Fear's hand.
So, I guess it wasn’t that big a deal that Grim could change his weapon when all the other demons could do similar tricks as well. They clashed swords over and over causing the cave to echo with a thundering response. Neither was making any direct hits; it was as if they were just bouncing around one another.
“Really? Sword fighting again? Aren't you the Grim Reaper, can't you do something cooler?” I found myself yelling across the room at Grim. I wanted to sound motivational, but somehow ended up sounding rude. He snapped his head around quickly, so did Fear. His blue essence around him seemed to brighten and grow out before darkening. I stumbled back, did I really just say that? What if he got mad and decided to leave me here? No, he did still want something from me... I thought miserably.
Something began to rumble beneath my feet. I stared down at my feet—still stuck in the chair. The ground rumbled again, shaking the entire cave. I looked around at the cave walls, its strength buckled under the pressure. Oh, God. What was happening? What if the cave collapsed? That would be a horrible way to die. I looked up at the ceiling warily, hoping it would stay right where it was. But the ground several feet in front of me began to fall into a small hole, that continued to expand—rippling further out. The hole was enormous now and almost at my feet, I would fall in! I pushed my feet to the ground trying to create leverage against the chair, but I had none. My body never budged underneath the chair’s hold. “Stupid chair!” I hissed. My hair was falling in my face, but I couldn't even move it out of the way.
A weird sound poured out of the opening in the ground. I stopped fighting against the chair and froze. It sounded like some sort of animal. A roar... I hoped not. Some sort of mating call? Whatever it was… I prayed it stayed down below. Then I heard movement inside the hole like maybe whatever was down there was coming up. The hole was dark and I couldn't see anything that was inside, but maybe that was a good thing. Giant claws snaked out. Or was that talons? Its claw was as big as me. Then the rest of it glided out. The creature was massive and long. When the full body came into view I knew exactly what it was.
Dragon.
Its skin looked leathery from its scales, but also shiny and brown colored—almost slimy looking. Its face came into view when it twisted its body around to face me. The face was bigger than me and wider—red hair spiked the top of his head and on its chin. Jutting sharp points framed the dragon's face making the beast even scarier looking. Yellow eyes locked on mine and a tiny tongue slithered out. The dragon had no wings, but I was sure it was still a dragon. I meant, not all of them had to have wings, right? When the last of its tail came out of the massive hole in the ground it began to close back up.
With the hole gone, the dragon paced toward me. I looked to Grim who was locked in swords with Fear bouncing all over the cave walls. I had never seen a fight anything like the way these demons do. But I didn't have time for thoughts like that. Grim should have realized the dragon. The dragon only grew nearer so I screamed. “Grim!” He jumped away from Fear, swiveling his head around to look at me. Fear jumped him and I was sure my distraction was going to get him hurt, but he blocked Fear's attack right before he could slice his shoulder. I sighed in relief, but the dragon was already in front of me. The dragon blocked my view of Killian. The dragon scooped me up in its claw—still in the chair—and moved me to its face. Its breath blew out of its nostrils blowing my hair back. I blinked—the stench burnt my eyes. Its talons curled around the chair, squeezing tight. Grim appeared out of the air and attacked its neck. The sword only bounced off the dragon’s scales causing Grim to fall back. He caught himself on the ground, stumbling back a few steps before he steadied himself.
“You don't even know what it truly means to be Grim.” Fear barked from somewhere in the cave before jumping in to attack Grim from behind. Grim swiveled his body around in time and blocked the sword. The dragon whipped its body around, sliding his tail across the floor catching Grim off guard. His feet flew out from under him, flipping him on his back.
“Grim,” I yelled with worry. His eyeless face gave me the briefest glance before hurrying back to his feet. Grim was outnumbered… how was he supposed to handle attacks from both of them? The dragon still gripped me in the chair, but for now its focus was on Grim. I wiggled in the chair feeling completely useless. I couldn't even help myself.
“You never deserved to be Grim,” Fear hissed. I studied the demon as his eyes grew redder. The way he spoke made me think he was talking to Killian—not Grim.
Grim gripped his sword, taking his time walking toward him. “You don't deserve to live,” his voice rumbled through the cave. His anger with Fear was growing with every word that came out of Fear's mouth.
Swords collided again as they went head on. The dragon drew its head back, taking in a deep breath as it faced Grim. I had a feeling I knew what it was about to do. “Grim, watch out!” I said right before the fire shot from its mouth. My words didn't reach him in time. He wasn't quick enough to dodge the dragon’s flames. The force of the hit threw him against the cave wall. He fell to the ground in a mass of flames.
I screamed his name as I stared at his crumbled body. The chair’s grip on me suddenly went slack, loosening around me. In a frenzied rushed I got my arms out. I began to shimmy my body up out of the chair’s hold as well as the dragon’s grip. I was afraid of cutting myself on the dragon’s talons, but I tried to ignore that part and concentrated on getting away from the beast. Once my body was out of the chair, I stared down at the ground. The drop to the ground would be dangerous, but I had no other choice. Holding my arms out from my sides—I jumped. The impact on my feet was too strong—I grunted. My knees buckled against my weight. Pain darted up my legs and arms. I winced and hurried to my feet. The dragon realized I escaped from the chair and with a roar—the chair crumbled. I gasped knowing that could have been me. I ran from the dragon. I heard its steps behind me. The cave jarred underneath its weight. I eyed the wooden door that led to the bedroom. It wouldn't be able to reach me in there. I hurried in the direction of the door and stopped when I remembered Grim.
I turned around to see that he was still laying on the ground covered in giant flames. He was rising off the ground, but the flames weren't fading. I didn't even notice that I was running toward him. The dragon was closer to me now that I changed direction. I could hear the wind off the dragon’s tail as it moved after me. I looked back to see the tail was moving toward me. If that thing hit me, I wasn't sure I would live through the impact. I stopped running and braced myself for the impact.
Grim appeared and scooped me up in his arms. He jumped up into the air with me just in time. I blinked several times to make sure I was really in his arms. Once I knew, I hooked my arms around his neck as he jumped us around in the room dodging the dragon as he brought us next to the throne. He placed me down and I just looked at him. The flames coated his clothes as if it was never going to burn out. His chest moved with his breath—deeply—in and out. He was tired. I could still see the blue glow leaking out from his wound on his chest that Vengeance caused. It wasn't healed completely yet.
I grabbed his shoulders “You're hurt,” I stated the obvious.
He grabbed my hands. There was a gentleness about it that left me confused before he pushed them aside. “I'm fine.” I could tell by the strain in his voice that he was lying.
“You're not. Just get us out of here,” I told him. The dragon stomped toward us, shaking the ground as he moved. Grim shifted back into Killian. He grabbed his chest and hunched over from the pain. The fact that he was Killian again was worrisome.
“It's not that simple. He has a barrier spread around the place. Why do you think it took me so long to get to you? No one can use any sort of power to get in
or out of this place except him.” I nodded to let him know I understood. Remembering Fear, I looked around the cave for him. Where was he? “Besides, he isn't going to stop coming after you, Melanie. I have to stop him,” his voice was clouded with anger despite the pain he must be in. His pupils dilated and he gave the dragon a murderous look.
I placed my hand on his chest gently, remembering that he was injured. “What do you plan to do? You're hurt, but you won't admit it.”
His hardened features softened when he looked away from the dragon and to me. His hand cupped my left cheek. His eyes found something in mine. I held my breath, the chaos around us seemed to blur in the background. He eyed my lips before his jaw set, his eyes molding—burning itself into my memory. Something about this moment with him had me thinking of words like Forever. Which was completely insane. Finally, he said, “I'll be fine. And I'll take you home afterwards and help you fall sleep if you need me to.” His touch left my cheek, coldness replaced his warmth. He shifted back into Grim. The blue light around him intensified as he glanced at me once more before moving toward the dragon.
The scythe was already in his hand. He jumped above the dragon’s head; I was always stunned at how easily him and every other demon could jump around as if gravity never existed. The dragon tilted his head to look at him. It braced its body, its mouth growing wide as its nostrils flared. The dragon inhaled causing the hair on its chin to move. Grim reared back and roared at the dragon. Grim's scythe lengthened and turned to a shade of blue. The same color as his essence around him. He lunged for the dragon. The dragon was extremely slow when it came to its body movement because it was so big. It couldn't stop Grim as he pierced its neck. Unlike the first time he attacked the dragon he went through the scaly skin. The dragon screamed in agony as Grim moved the tip of the scythe on down his chest, tearing it open. Black blood fell around them and poured from its chest. The dragon grabbed its chest, roaring one last battle cry before crumbling to the ground.
'Til Fear Do Us Part (A Grim Awakening Book 1) Page 18
