After he placed her down, his claws extended as short fur, much like the kind from an antelope, grew over his forearms. Then it became thicker and longer, like wolf fur, over the top of his biceps and shoulders.
His legs took on a new shape, dog-like, but she could see a long, deer-like tail swaying between his legs, pushed down by the black cloak he wore. Fish-like fins hung from the back of his elbows and the heels of his dog-shaped legs. Rib bones protruded outside his chest like the cage was resting over the top of flesh rather than beneath it. They also covered the knuckles of hands and feet.
And with his eyes glowing such a blood red colour, Reia realised nightmares were real, and it had just been cradling her!
The arrow continued to jut from his shoulder, and her mouth fell open. Humans? Her heart soared at being rescued.
He leapt for one of the Demonslayers, his human hands and wolven legs working in unison to ensure he was fast. More arrows loosed, but he dodged around them and continued to sprint forward. The humans drew their swords as they prepared themselves for the attack.
Both were tall and appeared strong, like they spent every waking moment training to fight against monsters. They wore black clothing so they could hide in the dark of night while they hunted Demons. They were covered from head to toe, even their noses and mouths were covered. They had cloaks that hid the rest of their heads, and all she could see was a slip of human where their eyes were.
Orpheus’ companions were nowhere to be seen, as if they’d disappeared.
Reia shuffled back as she watched his right arm raise behind him, planning to strike one of the humans with his large claws.
The other human was running towards her as though he trusted his companion to take care of the Duskwalker while he came to her rescue. I can run away. They will help me.
She got to her feet and started walking towards the Demonslayer.
“Thank you,” she wheezed, a torrent of emotions swirling inside her heart. Relief, fear, fuck, just everything all at once. Reia didn’t know how to feel. The snow wasn’t cold around her feet as adrenaline coursed throughout her body and filled her with warmth. “Thank you so much.”
She’d been planning to seek out Demonslayers if she ever managed to get away from Orpheus. Reia knew she had never been much of a frightened person, and she’d been hoping she could train with them one day.
She’d wanted to become one of them. Demons had killed her family, had ruined her life, and she wanted to get revenge for them, for herself. She’d been hoping to turn the fear that did grow inside her into something fierce, into anger and determination.
The Demonslayer grabbed her wrist and spun her so he could press her back against his chest. A choke cut through her when the edge of his sword was placed against her throat.
“Stop or I’ll kill her!” he shouted next to her head.
“What are you doing?”
She kicked her legs, immediately squirming to get away from the weapon poised at her.
“Shut up, and be a good piece of bait,” he bit at her. “We’ve been planning this since the last time he left the Veil.”
The Duskwalker didn’t seem to be interested in anything other than the human he was attacking. She couldn’t see what he was doing past the back of his cloak, shielding his actions and the human, but nothing would be able to stop her from hearing the nauseating sounds he was making.
She heard growls, snarls, and that strange clicking and clacking noise the Demons made. It made her blood curl and caused ice to form in her lungs.
“Shit, he isn’t listening. At this rate, he’ll kill Hector.”
Reia tried to stamp on his foot to get him to release her. He only grunted in response.
“Why use me as bait? I’m pretty sure he was going to eat me when he took me to the Veil!”
“We don’t know why he takes you brides. The others could still be alive.”
At the same time a cry left her when he grabbed her hair tight enough to pain her, an arm was tossed limply to the side in a spray of blood. A human arm. The Demonslayer’s high-pitched scream pierced the air.
Her cry seemed to capture his attention long enough that his bony head turned towards her. He gave a sharp, pained roar and turned back to the Demonslayer he was attacking.
“Scream again,” he demanded while shaking her head by her hair. She winced in response. “Loud. Make him hear you or I’ll cut your throat.”
When the sword was thrown to the side by his teeth, the Duskwalker raised his claws to give a final strike.
“Now!”
When the blade pressed tighter, and she worried it might actually be cutting into her, Reia screamed, “Orpheus!”
It was too late. They both heard the choking gargle of the Demonslayer dying when he was hit. However, Orpheus turned his head sharply to them, and a roar sounded. He immediately spun around and began to sprint for them on his hands and wolven feet.
“Oh, shit!” the Demonslayer exclaimed.
Reia didn’t want to be in the middle of this collision!
She elbowed the man in the gut, and he loosened his hold on her. Both of them separated on purpose. Reia to run the hell away, and the Demonslayer so he could prepare himself for the Duskwalker that was about to barrel into him.
Nope. Nope. Nope. Lifting the skirt of her stupid wedding dress, she immediately started sprinting up the sharp incline of a hill to get away. I need to run.
She didn’t look back as she tried not to listen to the fight. She didn’t know how hurt the Duskwalker was, but she hoped it was enough that the other one killed him.
When she reached the top of the incline, she steadily sprinted across the mostly flat ground. The air felt colder as it cut into her skin like razorblades.
One thing she was certain of was that her hope had been misplaced. A howling roar sounded before the thumping of heavy steps followed as he gave chase.
I’m dead! I’m so, so dead.
She knew she’d gained a good distance, but he was fast, so damn fast. She imagined him running on all fours made him even quicker.
The snorting huffs he made were growing closer. They reverberated against the snow and trees, making him seem like he was coming from everywhere. Running was pointless, she knew it, but her legs wouldn’t stop moving.
I like the hunt. Those words he’d said to her the day before echoed in her memory. But it makes me hungry.
What should she do if he was going to catch her regardless? He’s already hunting me, though!
A thought struck her. What if I stop? What if he didn’t find her running, but rather standing there still?
Her steps slowed. It didn’t matter what she did, she was going to be caught. If he liked the hunt, then she wouldn’t continue it. It was her only chance.
Reia stopped and turned around to stand there with her hands clenched next to the sides of her thighs. I should have just stayed there. I could have grabbed the Demonslayer’s sword. She could have had the honour of going out fighting rather than whatever the hell she was doing now.
A sacrifice? I’m a bloody offering, through and through.
She gritted her teeth. I refuse to die afraid.