by A C Wilds
“Now do you believe you’re a demon?” His tone is smug.
“I want to disagree with you. It goes against everything I believe. Everything I believed I was at my core. I fought for so long to eradicate the evil from the Mortal Realm, and now I have to live with the fact I was that evil.”
“You’re not evil, Anima. You’re the victim of a witch who wanted power above all else.”
He steps toward me again. This time, Namir stays still. They watch each other curiously. When Torque gets to me, he reaches out a hand.
Namir chuffs, butting his head against Torque’s hand. Torque laughs, a pure sound I didn’t think he was capable of. “He’s beautiful. The power surge that coursed through you called one of the strongest creatures in the Demon Realm. Cherish him always.”
“Do you have a familiar?” Torque’s magic is stronger than I could have imagined in the Mortal Realm, but is it just as strong in the Demon one?
“I do. Her name is Ari. She’ll come when my full power is restored.”
“What type of creature is she?” I ask as we begin to walk the path again.
“She looks like a golden eagle, except she’s much bigger. I’ve missed her presence.”
Glancing over at Namir, I can’t imagine what being separated from him would be like. I gave him a part of me when we did the transference. He lives inside of me. It would be like taking a limb.
“She wasn’t able to come with you.” It’s not a question. I know he had to give her up.
“I’ll do anything for my people, even if it means losing a part of me.” His jaw sets in anger.
We continue for what seems like forever. The forest thickens, becoming something sinister and evil. Namir pushes closer to me, his presence giving me the strength to go on.
Trees part up ahead, and a small village appears in a valley. It looks so normal—a scene from a history book. Places like this are rare in the Mortal Realm now, but I’ve seen pictures.
“This is Gresa. It’s an outpost of sorts. Demons used to visit when the veil was open. I don’t know what’s become of it since I sealed it.”
“Let’s go find out. We’ll face it together.” Embarrassment creeps up my face as soon as the sentence slips out.
His lips turn up at the corners before he continues down the path to lead to the town. I lay my head on Namir before I follow him.
Real smooth, Anima.
Torque
Gresa hasn’t changed much since the last time I was here. The town is small, with one road in and out. Houses are located in the fields around the valley, but there are only a few demons.
The market is closed, but the inn appears to have a few demons soliciting out front. My power hasn’t begun to refill, so these demons shouldn’t detect who I am. However, we’ll need to be careful.
“Are we going in there?” she asks, gesturing to the inn.
“We need to secure somewhere to sleep for the night. I can’t go much further into the Realm without my powers at full strength. Demons will be hunting me as soon as my power activates, and I have to be able to protect us.”
Anger makes her face flush. “You could have fucking told me we’d be targets before we came here,” she grits out. Namir growls at her side, noticing her irritation.
“You wouldn’t have come,” I state simply. I haven’t known the witch long, but I do know she weighs what the outcome will be. In that respect, coming to the Demon Realm wasn’t a smart move for either of us.
“You don’t know that. The threat from Rahna is real. I’d do anything to help the Mortal Realm, but not knowing the whole situation will hinder our progress. We may not even be able to get to Nox because you have a bounty on your head.”
“What’s the matter, little witch? Afraid of some mercenaries taking me out?” Her lip raises in a snarl while she moves to stare into my eyes.
“I’m a Tenebris witch, and I’m never afraid. And if they come for you…” Her voice trails off. “We deal with it.”
Namir bumps into her. She places her hand in his fur, seeking comfort. I’ve never been so jealous of a demon cat.
19
Anima
The inn doesn’t look like much from the outside—a building on the corner of an intersection, its tall frame looming over the existing structures. What appears to be wooden planks form the exterior of the building, and an impressive porch frames the front. If this were a different time and place, I could see myself sitting in one of those chairs with a drink.
Noise filters through the air toward us, patrons talking and laughing. A crowd is inside, and I don’t know how we’re going to take them all on if there’s trouble.
“Let me do the talking. Namir will have to stay outside,” Torque instructs. Namir growls in his direction, but trots off into the shadows. I’ll call for him if we get into trouble.
“Tell me what I’m walking into. I want to survive the night.” I’m still pissed at the demon for not giving me the full story, but I can’t dwell on the past. We need to survive. The lives of everyone on the Mortal Realm rests on us.
“There will be about twenty to forty demons inside—all Blood as this is in my territory. Some may still be loyal, but it’s impossible to tell. My glamor should stop most of them from detecting me.”
The thrill of a fight rushes through me. I have all this energy bouncing inside me that would love to stretch its wings.
“Lead the way, Princep.” I unsheathe my knives and place them in my palms, pointing up to rest them along my wrists. There may not be any room to use my sword, and I’m not sure if my SIG will work in this Realm.
The door creaks as Torque pulls it open. The smell of sweat and stale alcohol hit my nose. My nostrils flare in disgust, but I make no move to show it on my face.
Ten men to the right, all drunk by the looks of it, four in the corner hidden by a loft above, and three servers passing around food and drink. The bartender is washing glasses in the sink, something I’m surprised to see considering the stink of this place.
Torque wastes no time and approaches the bar. “We need a room and food for the night.”
The bartender’s face is impassive, but there’s a hint of suspicion as he glances between the two of us. Neither Torque nor I blend in with the others. We’re outsiders, and he knows it.
“Fifty quarks each,” he barks. This must be a lot of money because Torque’s teeth clench in anger, but he digs in his pocket anyway.
“Here.” He slams the money on the bar, and a couple of men in the shadows turn to us. They seem interested.
I shift my stance in case they decide to come over to investigate. One pushes his chair back with a screech, and his face comes into view of the light overhead.
He’s bigger than I originally assessed him to be. Greasy dark hair falls to his shoulders, his eyes burning through me. Smirking, I start to twirl the knife in my right hand.
“Tonight is improving,” he shouts, his buddies now watch the exchange with amusement.
Torque grabs the key the bartender placed on the counter, then puts it in his pocket before addressing the four men. “We want no trouble. Enjoy a round on me.” He pulls out two more coins, then places them on the bar.
Frowning, I scowl. I wanted this fight. Meeting my eyes, he glares in return. He’s decided it’s too much trouble.
Sighing, I put away my dagger and give them my back. The wooden floor moans under our feet as the noise in the bar suddenly stops. I grin, whirling around, blocking the blade that had been thrown at my back with my knife, cutting it from the air.
“For fuck’s sake, Anima. You just had to start,” Torque scolds, putting his pack on a nearby chair. The servers retreat into the back, and the ten men sitting at the table rise. It’s fourteen against the two of us.
“We needed to let out a little tension. Besides, there are only a few we’ll have to take down before the rest scurry away like mice.”
“What is that smell?” one of the men hiss out. He comes into the li
ght, standing with his friend. He’s smaller, but no less dirty. A patchwork cloak made out of questionable material hangs over his shoulders, a double-bladed axe hanging loosely in his left hand.
“It’s her,” the bartender accuses from behind the protection of his wooden barricade.
“She smells like smoke, death, and magic. It’s intoxicating. Why don’t you come over here and show me how good that scent would smell all over my dick?” the first demon says, grabbing a handful of his half-hard junk.
“That’s not very nice,” I scold. Both daggers come out this time, and smoke starts to swirl from my hands. The exhilaration of the fight courses through me and bounce in excitement.
Torque takes off his jacket and places it over his pack. He growls at the demons and cracks his neck. The ruby in his eyes begins to glow, and all four men take a step back.
“No one talks to her like that,” he rages. Torque raises his hands, and the first man crumbles in half, hands outstretched. Blood oozes from his mouth, nose, and ears before a crack sounds through the silence.
Sightless eyes stare at his companions. They all pull out their weapons at the same time. Patchwork-Cloak blurs out of sight, then whirls on me with a downward thrust of his axe. I parry the attack in one fluid motion, pulling my sword from its sheath. His eyes widen at my swiftness, and I let out an evil chuckle.
“Lesson one. Never judge strength on appearances,” I snarl, pushing him off my sword.
“I’m going to cleave you in half. Use your skin for my cloak.” Spit flies out of his mouth, landing at my feet. I grimace at his disgusting behavior.
“I’m going to have to kill you now instead of playing. I don’t want you to get any of your grossness on my shirt. It’s new.”
“Fuck you, bitch.”
“Ah, the exact words I was waiting for.” Leaping in the air, I bring my sword down in an arc, cleaving off his head in one blow. Blood splatters my face as we both land on the ground, me in a crouch waiting for the next attack, him torn in two.
Pulling my shirt out, I examine it. He did get blood on it. Fucking asshole.
Wild and filled with the fight, I charge into the crowd, finding Torque battling the ten men behind me. He’s bled some, and I can tell his energy is wavering.
“Need help?” I ask, thrusting my sword into the back of a man who was about to land a blow.
“No. I’m the princep of the Blood. I can take care of ten stragglers.” His voice sounds tired. Rolling my eyes, I block another blow.
He picks up a dead man’s sword. Letting out a roar, he throws himself at a sandy-blond figure.
Concentrating on my opponent, I dispatch him quickly. These men aren’t trained to fight. Why would they join in?
A screech blasts through the small room, causing everyone to stop. The wind blows the doors open, and the biggest eagle I have ever seen in my life flies in. A chill runs down my body when I see death in its eyes. I hope this is Ari.
Torque laughs, blood covering almost every inch of him. He releases his sword with a clang, smiling at the raptor, and gestures to the remaining men.
“Come, Anima. Ari will see to the rest.” His voice is joyful and carefree, like we weren’t just killing people.
“Torque…” I don’t manage to finish the sentence before Ari leaps from her perch with a shriek. I clasp my ears, almost dropping my sword. The vibrations of her power going through me is too much. I’m going to die if she doesn’t stop.
So much pain wraps around my head until Torque grabs me and runs out the door, putting distance between Ari and me. Screams and horrifying shrieks come from inside the inn.
Namir stalks from the shadows, barreling into me. His nose brushes against my face as soon as Torque rights me on my feet.
“Sorry, I forgot you weren’t immune. I’ll correct that when she’s finished.” He places his hand on my shoulder. His touch rushes through parts of me I’d rather not name.
“What was that?” I shake my head, jiggling my finger in my ears.
“Ari’s call can emit sound waves so powerful that tiny bubbles form inside the object, then explode in a shockwave. All that will be left of those men will be blood and flesh. The bartender is going to have a hell of a time cleaning it up.”
Speechless. He’s stolen my ability to speak. Namir bumps into my side, bringing me back from my stupor, but nothing comes out of my lips.
The golden eagle swoops through the doors once more to land directly in front of us. Namir pushes me back and tries to stand in front of me, but I shove him, curious about the death bird.
“Ari…” Torque sighs, leaning his head into her neck feathers. She squawks excitedly, but I still flinch in fear. Her wings open and flutter, causing a breeze to rush over us. She wraps her feathers around Torque, closing them off from the world.
20
Torque
My soul is complete. Ari has found her way back to me. Shielded from the world in her wings, a piece of me clicks back into place. I didn’t know what would happen to her when I left, but I’m grateful she survived.
“What’s our next move?” Anima questions, breaking our little reunion.
“We sleep. It’ll be safe for the night with Ari and Namir patrolling. In the morning, we’ll walk the market and see if we can find a guide. I want it to appear as if we are tourists. It won’t last long, but if it gives us a head start, we’ll be better off.”
“I don’t like this plan. We should be moving on as fast as we can. Forgo the guide and find the way ourselves.”
She grabs onto Namir for comfort. If only I could tell her everything. All of my failures and monsters that claw at me daily.
“Rest is important for us both. Opening the portal drained me. I need to feed and sleep. Awakening your demon powers was something your aura wasn’t prepared for. It changed who you are inside, your magic, and you must learn how to settle the balance inside of you.”
Ari shifts her stance to stare up at the sky. I can sense her need to fly, to hunt. I run my fingers through her feathers once more and send her off. She pushes off the ground with a force that blows us back a step. I can’t help but smile.
Namir pushes against Anima, asking for the same as Ari. “He wants you to release him so he can hunt.”
She turns to Namir. “Go, we’ll be fine.”
I lead her toward the side of the building, where the entrance to the boarding rooms are. It’s a rickety set of stairs with worn wooden planks and a railing with chipped paint. There are three doors on the first landing, each worse than the last.
I pull the key from my pocket, glancing at the number—room 2. Stepping over to the assigned door, I put the key in the lock and hold my breath. Anima pulls her knives out, prepared for a fight.
With the last of my magic, I push a burst of wind to knock the door open. Darkness and quiet greet us, but it doesn’t mean we are alone.
“You want to go first, or should I?” she questions with a smirk.
“I’ll allow you to do the honors. Your power is practically bouncing around, looking for another fight.”
Grinning, she charges into the room. I’m close behind her, and I can’t help but laugh when a disappointed huff comes out of her. There is no one with us. I flick on the light near the bed, illuminating the rat’s nest of a room.
Two beds rest side by side, a blanket thrown over each. Stains cover the walls and floors, the substances questionable. A chair and table are in the corner, and a door beyond them looks like the bathroom.
“This is um…” Her words catch in her throat, but there’s no need to voice the rest. It’s disgusting, and there are probably a dozen diseases we could catch in here.
“It’s not ideal, but as I mentioned earlier, we need the rest. It’s only one night. I’m sure you can muster up enough courage to stand it.”
My taunting words have her straightening her shoulders. “I’m not some princess. I’ve slept in worse conditions. I’m an assassin. It doesn’t always call for a c
ushy bed.”
“I imagine you’ve had a rough life.” The disdain in my voice is clear. Tenebris witches have the best of everything, and I’m sure their top assassins are well compensated for.
“Says the Princep of Blood, His Royal Majesty Torque Sanguis, who sits upon a throne bathed in the blood of humans.”
I take a step closer to her. “I’ve never killed a human for their blood. They always give it to me… willingly.”
A snarl rips through her mouth as she stalks off to the bathroom. I shouldn’t torment her, but I can’t help myself. She’s beautiful when she’s angry—a ball of flame that shines with emotions. She’ll either be my salvation or my death.
Anima
Stupid freaking demon. The way he makes my skin tingle with anticipation and my core heat up. I need to focus on the mission. Not on hot men.
The Mortal Realm hangs in the balance. Rahna could tip the scale at any moment. The only way we can stop her is by finding Nox and hoping he will join us in this fight.
Turning on the water to the faucet, I thank the gods it runs clear. Taking off my gear, I strip down to my underwear, using the rag I have in my pack to wash off most of the blood and gore on my skin. I wish this place had a shower.
The water turns pink as I assess the injuries I have. The gash on my thigh isn’t too bad. Apparently, my new powers came with extra healing. The high I’ve been feeling since the transference is slowly wearing off.
My limbs feel like I’m moving through quicksand as my body starts to shut down. Torque was right. I need to eat and sleep. But I hadn’t packed any food. It had been a horrible choice, but I hadn’t exactly been thinking about what I’d be eating when I jumped through that portal.
There’s a knock on the door, and it snaps me out of my thoughts. “Yes?” I ask, my voice ringing out into the silence.
“I’ve prepared some food if you’re hungry. I doubt the bartender will bring any up after the mess we made.” His voice sounds tender.
