Demon Flames

by M. J. Haag

  “You can’t leave them up there. We have to go back, now, to find them and to find my parents.”

  “No, Mya. It is too dangerous.”

  “It’s too dangerous for every uninfected human if those two stay up there.”

  “Mya.”

  “No,” I said, stepping away from him. “We came to your city and shared the information like you said. Now, you keep your promise. You said we would decide together. Telling me it’s too dangerous sounds a hell of a lot like you’re trying to decide for me, not with me.”

  “Mya...” He stalked me, backing me to a wall.

  My gaze snapped to his, and I saw the worry there.

  “Molev has commanded everyone to return below. Ghua is heading out now to share the news.”

  “What? Why didn’t you say that sooner? He could have taken me with him.” I looked at the door, wondering if I could catch Ghua.

  “I said I would not share,” Drav said with a growl.

  “Going with Ghua isn’t sharing. He could have taken me back home. Like I want. Like I’ve been begging you to do since the moment you tossed me over your back, you ass.”

  “No.”

  “What do you mean no? You don’t get to decide, Drav. I’m not one of you. Molev can’t keep me here, and neither can you.”

  I slapped my hands to his chest, trying to push him away. Instead, he caught my hands and leaned in, his expression fierce.

  “Don’t forget, Mya. Your people are destroying the surface to kill the infected. To kill anything that is not human. They do not care if they kill healthy humans while doing so.”

  I scowled at him, hating he was right about that.

  “Fine, my people are assholes. But so are yours. Just because your people can die on the surface, your leader is leaving the criminals and having the rest return without cleaning up the mess that you all created.” A sudden thought stopped me cold, and I stared up at Drav in shock.

  “Did you know that would happen? That once Molev found out you guys could die up there, he would command everyone to stay underground? Is it one of the reasons you brought me here? To trap me?”

  “No. I said I would keep you safe. With the bombs up there, it is safer to wait down here. If the source would have given you a crystal and Phusty would have returned…” He sighed. “Please stay until it is safe for you to go home.”

  Like I had a choice without his help. We’d nearly died twice trying to reach the city.

  A grunt sounded from behind Drav, a reminder we weren’t alone. Drav released me and stepped to the side to face Molev. Molev studied me and spoke. Drav translated.

  “He wishes to learn more of your words,” Drav said. “You could give him the device you allowed me to use to learn your words.”

  I tightened my hold on my bag, which hung over my shoulder.

  “Oh, that’s not a good idea. Definitely no.”

  “Mya.”

  “No.”

  “He only wishes to be able to communicate with you in your language.”

  “I’m good with using you as a translator.”

  “It would be much easier for him to learn with the device.”

  There was no way I was going to give them the iPod with my mom’s more scandalous reads on it. Perhaps I could delete them off. I would have to check later to see if that function existed. Until then, though...

  “No,” I repeated, more firmly.

  Molev chimed in again, the look on his face thoughtful. Drav listened and nodded.

  “We will discuss this later. Since we have travelled so far, Molev suggests we rest. Afterwards, there will be a feast so he can share the news about the surface.”

  Molev left the burl mid-explanation. Resting sounded amazing, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Molev’s decision.

  “You mean about abandoning the surface?” I said as Drav led me out. “Drav, my family is still out there. I need to find them.”

  Drav remained quiet for a moment before halting me.

  “I promise, Mya, when it is safe, we will return for them.”

  His words didn’t reassure me. Who would determine when it became safe? I doubted the bombs would kill every infected or hellhound, and with them still present, Drav would want to keep me down here forever.

  “When, Drav? Up top may never be safe again,” I said. “And that’s exactly why I need to go back. My family needs me, and you, if they’re going to have any hope of surviving. I’m willing to compromise and give the bombing a few more days to settle down, but that’s it. With or without you, I’ll leave.” Or at least I would try to. I really hoped it didn’t come to that.

  “Agreed.” He said the word quickly and firmly, leaving me no doubt that he meant it. A few days was more than I wanted to give, but Ryan said they were in a safe zone, and they’d survived the first week. They would survive a few more days. They had to.

  When Drav threaded his fingers through mine and gently tugged me in the direction of the massive tree trunk, I begrudgingly followed.

  “Are we going back down?”

  “No. Up. We’ll find an open home to rest.”

  “Open home? Don’t you live here?”

  “My home is in one of the outer villages. I only come to the city when called.”

  “You know, when you said city, I thought you meant something…more.”

  He glanced at me.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Are there any shops here? Or anything else besides homes?”

  “No. We don’t need anything more than somewhere to sleep.”

  “So all you do is farm and sleep?”

  “No. We hunt and train, too.”

  When we reached the steps, he stopped.

  “Do you want me to carry you up?”

  I didn’t bother to look up or down, just nodded.

  Safely in his arms, I closed my eyes and concentrated on the wind on my face until he stopped again.

  “It’s quieter up here and not often used,” he said.

  I opened my eyes and found we stood on another wide branch. Wide by surface standards, but not as broad as the one Molev called home. Thankfully, no wind disturbed the branch or caused any swaying when Drav eased me to my feet.

  “You may choose for us,” he said, gesturing to the line of four burls.

  “The one closest to the tree might be best.” I moved toward the entrance, glad I didn’t catch a view over the edge of the branch. I never had a fear of heights. To be fair, though, I’d never needed to be up so high without guardrails before.

  The inside of the burl looked the same as Molev’s. A natural bench curved from the wall and widened near the back. A depression near the door looked like a large empty basin, but other than that, the place was bare.

  “There’s not much here. Do you really do nothing else but sleep here?” I set my bag on the part of the bench near the door.

  “Just sleep.”

  “The bed doesn’t look very comfy.”

  He glanced at the wooden platform at the back and frowned.

  “Your beds are softer,” he agreed.

  “Yeah. By a lot.”

  “You can sleep on me.”

  I glanced at him and saw he looked entirely serious. Warmth started in my face and spread in tingling waves throughout my body. We were alone and safe for the first time in days. My gaze drifted to his lips, and I couldn’t deny I was tempted by his offer. Too tempted. If I gave in, he’d never want to take me home.

  “Sleeping on you might not be a good idea.”

  “Why?”

  Crap.

  “If all you do is sleep in this room,” I said, changing the subject,“where do you eat, bathe, go to the bathroom, and all the other stuff?”

  “We do all of that on the ground. Why don’t you want to sleep on me, Mya?”

  “You’re annoyingly persistent sometimes.”

  “I only want to understand.” He stepped closer to me, crowding into my space. Lifting a hand, he trailed his
fingers down my cheek.

  “I want to understand why touching you like this makes me hurt right here.” He captured my hand and laid it on his chest. At the contact, he closed his eyes. “I want to know if you like being touched by me as much as I like being touched by you.” He opened his eyes to look at me. “I want to understand why it is not special to you when it means everything to me.”

  I swallowed with difficultly, trying hard to stifle the wave of heat that washed through me.

  “It is special, now, when I’m awake. I only meant you shouldn’t do stuff when I’m asleep.”

  “I won’t touch your breasts or pussy. I will just hold you.”

  What the hell was I supposed to say to that?

  “Uh, thanks. I’ll think about it.”

  “Good.” His fingers brushed over my skin once more then stilled as he continued to stare down at me. Several long moments passed.

  “I didn’t mean I’m going to think about it right now. I need some time to decide.”

  Disappointment clouded his expression before he exhaled heavily. He really wanted me sleeping on top of him. The idea of just how badly he wanted that had my insides dancing.

  “Maybe you can show me around on the ground so I know where everything is. That feast Molev mentioned sounds interesting. Will there be something other than raw meat?”

  “Yes. Are you hungry?”

  “Maybe. It all depends on the food.”

  “Come. I will carry you below.”

  A few minutes later, I had my feet firmly planted on solid terrain, and we walked side by side under the giant trees. Rich dark soil covered the paths that wove through the random vegetation. Unlike the fields, everything in the forest felt naturally placed, like seeds in the wind. However, the longer we walked, the more I noticed subtle patterns.

  “These weren’t randomly planted, were they?”

  “No. Plants for healing are grouped together. Plants for weaving are spread throughout, so the harvest doesn’t empty one place. Plants to sweeten the air are used around bathroom areas as are the soft plants for cleansing. And, plants for washing are closer to the water.”

  “Wow. I guess you’ll need to teach me a lot of plants. Especially the soft ones for cleansing. I don’t want to mess that up with something else…you know, just in the few days we’re going to be here.”

  He nodded and began to point out the different types. Their unique leaf patterns and the way the plants grew made them easily distinguishable from their neighbors, once I knew what to look for.

  Before long, we stood at the edge of a large clearing. Stumps, like campfire seats, were scattered in an almost haphazard way around a huge central piece at least ten feet in diameter. About half the number of men from the earlier meeting walked about in the clearing. Some of them conversed in small groups, and some set down leaves covered with bits of something onto the communal table.

  My stomach growled, and Drav nudged me forward. The murmur of male voices quieted as we approached, and it felt like every man present stared at me.

  “Hello,” I said, clearly. “My name is Mya. I’m not a male, like you, but a female from the surface. I don’t like to be grabbed or touched or smelled. It makes me uncomfortable.”

  A low murmur spread throughout the gathered crowd. A few of the men approached us right away. They spoke to Drav but stared at me the entire time.

  Drav repeated the story of finding me in a truck, accidently grabbing me, and discovering I had different parts. While I listened, I glanced around, mostly trying to see what kinds of food the newcomers were adding to what already waited on their table. The can of beans was just a distant memory, and my stomach made sure to let me know that with a steady stream of cramps and growls.

  One man carried something past that looked like a stuffed cabbage roll. My mouth watered, and my feet decided we needed to follow. Drav didn’t say anything when I stepped away. I could feel him watch me, though. However, everyone seemed to respect my little don’t-touch-me message.

  The man set his leaf on the table then walked away after giving me a once over. Stepping closer, I looked over the food already waiting. Most of it looked like raw meat, but a few things appeared to be some kind of fruit or vegetable. I even saw one of those flowers that had made me laugh. The best-looking dish, in my opinion, remained that cabbage roll looking thing.

  My brain took a backseat as my stomach made the decision we needed to eat right then. Snatching up a roll, I had half of it in my mouth before anyone could stop me. The mouthwatering flavors burst upon my tongue as I chewed. The outside of the roll was some kind of leaf, and the inside seemed stuffed with a blend of meat and soft grain. Although probably uncooked, it still tasted like heaven.

  Yelling exploded somewhere behind me, but I kept eating, not bothering to turn and look. Not even when I heard my name. My thoughts remained focused on the next roll I grabbed. The second roll caused more people to yell. I knew I should have felt bad that I’d started eating before the feast officially began, but I couldn’t manage it. Instead, I chewed and groaned in bliss.

  The arguing quieted, and it took a moment for it to click that everyone stared at me again. I swallowed and lifted the half-eaten roll.

  “This is so good. I was starving.”

  Drav stepped away from the three men glaring at him and came to me. His tender expression swept over my face. When he reached me, he cupped the back of my head and touched his forehead to mine.

  My stomach did a tiny flip that had nothing to do with food and everything to do with the man smoothing his thumb over the skin near the corner of my mouth.

  “Eat as much as you want,” he said softly.

  Grumbles and angry shouts erupted after that statement. Drav pulled away to face the crowd.

  “Enough,” he roared. The men quieted, some glaring at him. Some glaring at me. Most just watching everything.

  “Mya’s world is not like ours. They do not have the same customs. She is hungry, and I want her to eat.”

  I picked up another roll and took a bite to show I agreed. One of the glarers took offense and said something to Drav in angry tones.

  “She does not have a life crystal. She isn’t one of us to be challenged.”

  Whoa…what?

  “What’s going on?” I asked after swallowing my mouthful.

  “Groi, Vair, and Limar are angry you ate before them. They believe they have the right to challenge you. However, it is not our way to challenge someone without a life crystal.” He looked at the men when he spoke his next words. “I will accept challenges on Mya’s behalf.”

  That didn’t sound good. Worried, I glanced at the angry men, hunger forgotten. Two of them said something, continuing to look fierce. The third waved his hand and stepped back.

  “Is anyone else offended?” Drav asked. No one came forward. “Good. We will go now.”

  The two men nodded and strode through the crowd in the direction opposite from where we’d arrived. Drav nudged me to follow.

  “What exactly does a challenge mean?” I asked, nervously.

  Drav threaded his fingers through mine as we walked the path out of the clearing.

  “It means that I will fight Grio and Limar. May I carry you? We will get there faster.”

  “Yeah, sure, but—”

  I was up in his arms then robbed of air as the sudden wind hit my face. Instead of trying to finish my thought, I turned my head into Drav’s shoulder.

  What the hell had happened? I’d eaten three dumb rolls out of a ton of food set out for everyone. It shouldn’t have been a big deal, but apparently here, it was. I’d managed to offend them by eating first. I hadn’t even considered it might be something more than just rude. I’d been so hungry I hadn’t thought of anything else.

  Drav stopped and put me down. Before looking around, I apologized.

  “I should have asked. I wasn’t thinking. I was just hungry.”

  Drav tenderly stroked my cheek.

  “You d
id nothing wrong.”

  “Apparently I did, or we wouldn’t be here.”

  Here turned out to be a large area of packed, barren ground at the edge of the forest. A faint rumble caught my attention, and I turned my head to see water cascading from the craggy face of the far cavern’s wall. A subterranean waterfall. Droplets of mist rose in the air, sparkling dimly from the few scattered crystals near the water’s source.

  “That’s amazing,” I said quietly.

  “We will go there when I’m done with these two.”

  That drew my attention to the two men standing in the center of the clearing. Both waited, shirtless and facing us.

  “You’re fighting both of them?”

  “Yes.”

  “Like how you and Ghua fought, right?”

  “No, Mya.”

  My stomach dropped as I remembered Drav’s fight with Phusty. The intense struggle between the two of them would have upset me more had I known someone would end up without a head.

  The idea of Drav fighting like that now terrified me. Yes, I understood that Drav thought the crystal would keep him safe, but I’d seen what had happened to the deer they’d taken outside in the vision. It hadn’t come back. What if, when he’d gone up to the surface, he’d weakened whatever connection he had with his crystal? What if going to the surface had broken it?

  I couldn’t think like that. Drav had overcome Phusty. He would win this challenge, too. No problem. I glanced over his shoulder at his opponents. Both men looked fierce and strong, and they each closely matched Drav in size.

  “You’re facing them one at a time, right?”

  “No.”

  Panic bubbled up inside me.

  “That’s not fair.”

  “It is how we settle arguments.” He pulled off his shirt and tossed it to one of the men behind us.

  Two fey wanted to fight him at the same time because of a dumb cabbage roll? How could he be so casual about this?

  “Kerr, stay with Mya.”

  With that, Drav started to walk away.

  “Wait.” I grabbed his hand, and he turned back to me.

  Standing on my toes, I wrapped my arms around his neck. He leaned in and set his forehead against mine. His steady green gaze swept over my features as I shook with fear for him. I couldn’t survive in this new world alone. I needed him. He needed to win this.