by A C Wilds
It thrashes about, trying to get both off. Namir’s claws sink in, but Anima has trouble staying on. Her feet slip off the back of the torgrot, and she lands in the mud beside it.
I move to help her, not caring about letting my mount go, when Uriel holds up his hand. “You can’t save her from everything. She doesn’t need your help.”
He’s right. She jumps up quickly, covered in sludge, and pulls her daggers from the sheaths on her thighs. Using them as leverage, she climbs her way back up the torgrot.
“Fuck you, you big, gross wormy asshole.” Her voice rocks the trees as she pulls her sword from its back and stabs down again, tearing further into its skin.
Namir’s hold is slipping, and she only has a few seconds before the cat needs to let go and regain his purchase.
Their mental connection makes this easier, and she rushes beside Namir and stabs her sword down into one of the holes his fangs made moments ago. A death cry comes out of the torgrot as it twists and thrashes more to try to get her off, but this time she pushes even harder, grunting to plunge the blade deeper.
“Push your smoke into the sword,” Uriel yells, pride in his voice.
She listens, and her smoke consumes the sword in an instant. The torgrot goes still, heaving one last time before crashing to the ground with Anima on top of it like the warrior princess she is.
“I told you she’s stronger than you thought,” Uriel says, walking the nuckelavee over to where she stands.
“I know how strong she is, Uriel. Don’t chastise me for wanting to help. She’s… she’s become important to me.”
He raises his eyebrows, searching my face for something more. I give him nothing. He doesn’t need to see my true feelings. If the angel knew what I wanted to do to her, he wouldn’t be too happy.
“Can someone bring that damn nuckelavee over here? I need to get all this shit off me.”
Turning my attention back to her, I see what she means. She’s covered from head to toe in sludge and torgrot guts. If she didn’t smell so bad, I’d be tempted to laugh.
“Let me take care of that for you,” Uriel says, snapping his fingers.
Anima stands before us again cleaner than she was before we met the torgrot. She sighs in contentment, offering a small smile in thanks.
“That was amazing,” I say, coming around the side of my mount to stand beside her.
“It was all Namir. I wouldn’t have been able to do it by myself. That fucker was slippery. And gross, really, really gross.”
“Team effort. That’s what a familiar is for,” Uriel says, making us move once more.
I can’t wait to be free of this place.
27
Anima
It takes us another day to make it out of the valley. I’m exhausted and filthy, even with Uriel’s magic to clean off the muck. I want a bath, hot food, and a glass of wine, in that order.
After the fight with the torgrot, Uriel has wanted to talk more. It’s strange to look at him and think I came from his soul. A part of him is inside of me more than any DNA. I may have witch DNA, but my soul is made up of angel and demon. Am I even my own person or just a version of them? It hurts my head and breaks my heart at the same time.
“We should be entering the Darklands in another few hours. I want you all to prepare for what we will face there. Nox’s isolation has caused the land to react dangerously. I’m afraid of what will happen to you, Anima,” Uriel says, trotting his mount up to mine.
Once we made it out of the swamp, it was necessary to get back on the nuckelavees to keep on schedule. The need to make it back to the mortal world keeps pressing on me. I’m sure Rahna is cooking up a plan, and it’s irritating me that I’m not there to stop it.
“The lands might not accept her?” Torque asks, watching Uriel for any signs of a lie. I can read him so well now. After that kiss, it’s like he’s an open book. All his feelings flood into me, something I didn’t want. No attachments, rule number one of being an assassin, yet the Fates seem to have other plans.
“It’s possible, but I don’t think it will happen. I’m more concerned with the lands recognizing her and the creatures becoming curious to see the daughter of their king.”
“How can it recognize me if Nox doesn’t even know I exist? I’m sure there isn’t a long-lost daughter clause. Besides, I don’t want a title. I belong in the Mortal Realm.” I’m not going to take on another responsibility. The Mortal Realm is my home.
“Your magic. It holds a part of us. And you may not get a choice to ignore it. The Darklands function differently than Earth.” Uriel gives me a tight smile. I can imagine the angel must want Nox to retire or abdicate, but they have the wrong offspring. I’m a witch regardless of what my soul says. I can’t rule demons.
“Let’s not speculate. Uriel’s being overprotective. The Darklands hold their own set of problems like the Bloodlands. Not everything is how it seems, and most of the creatures want to eat you instead of being your friend. We have to be on alert.”
I’m already on high alert, afraid for my life and the life of the humans I’ve left behind. My one friend in the world is trapped in the Mortal Realm while Rahna does whatever she wants. I can’t fail Shelley.
“How far is the cabin from the border? I’m getting sick of sitting on this nuckelavee.”
“It should take us another day to reach there, providing we don’t run into trouble.” Torque’s gaze meets mine, his like burning coals penetrating my soul.
I don’t turn away. Instead, I allow myself this chance to see him. After this is over, he’ll be lost to me forever.
“Let’s make camp for the night. I can sense a storm, and I’d rather find shelter than be outside,” Uriel suggests, breaking my concentration.
“There is a mountain off the road with a cavern we can use,” Torque says, leading his mount off the path.
The grounds here are soft and grassy, but not as swampy as the Valley. There are tall trees and thick brush. No sounds come from around us. For the first time since we’ve been here, a chill of trepidation rolls through me.
All is well.
Namir can feel my uncertainty through the bond.
My magic is anxious, and it’s making me paranoid. All this power didn’t come with an instruction manual.
In time, you won’t feel the weight of it all. You must find a way to filter it through our bond. When you’re mated to him, you can share your power. It will balance you.
I didn’t tell Namir about the mating, but I should have guessed he’d know right away. A part of him resides in me.
No mating. I can’t afford to let Torque become a part of my future. There is too much to do on Earth, and I don’t need the distraction.
You may not get the choice.
What is it with everyone trying to take away my free will! I’d love to see someone try.
I growl at him as I quicken my nuckelavee’s trot. His laugh echoes in my ear as I push past the guys, making my way to our makeshift shelter. The need to be alone drives me.
It’s one thing to find out I’m a demon/angel/witch tri-bred, but it’s another to think I will no longer be my own person. This is all too much, too soon.
The mountain crop comes into view, and I slow the nuckelavee down. Jumping off, I tie him to a tree. I have to punch something—get it out.
A nearby tree resembling an oak is the perfect sparring partner. I remove my sword, gun, and jacket, leaving it at my feet. Not ideal if we get attacked, but there is nowhere to hang it.
My knives are next, but they stay in my palms. Breathing in the surrounding air stills my mind. I can hear Torque and Uriel talking in the distance, but it reaches me in a whisper.
The scent of the surrounding woods comforts me, reminding me of home. I use the training yard in the woods behind the citadel for early morning practice when the rest of the world is sleeping. It’s my favorite time of the day.
The ground here is harder under my feet, crumbles of stone crunching. I brus
h them away, flattening the earth and steadying my stance. Shoulders pulled back and head held high, I let the first dagger fly.
The rush of hitting my mark makes me smile. This is exactly what I needed. Too bad the trees don’t bleed.
The other dagger quickly follows, landing directly next to its predecessor. A twinge of the metals rubbing up against one another is music to my ears. I miss training. With a smile, I walk to retrieve my knives.
A rustle of the trees has me pausing my steps before I reach my blades. My sword and gun lay halfway between me and the tree. I strain to hear what’s around me, but it’s too quiet. I can’t even make out Uriel and Torque anymore.
Something isn’t right. I begin to run in the direction of my gun since it will do the most damage, but I’m caught from behind. My arms are pinned in an arrested position, squeezed so tight the blood is cut off from my hands. I kick out at my attacker and hear an oomph, but he doesn’t lessen his hold.
“Stupid bitch,” he growls, causing me to buck against him, trying to get free, but there’s no way I can break his hold without breaking both my arms in the process. He’s too strong.
A demon steps through the brush toward us. A cold chill runs up my spine at his menacing stare. His eyes are black and ringed with red. A flare of magic has me leaning back slightly. The power leaks off him, causing the air in my lungs to thicken. Another king.
“General,” I manage to say without sounding like a wounded animal.
“Interesting how you know who I am since I’m only recently learning about you.”
He’s been watching us. The whole time we pretended we were safe, he was waiting for the right moment, and I walked right into it.
“What do you want?” I ask, struggling once more. The asshole behind me kicks out my knees, making me stumble forward. His hold tightens, and a pain shoots up both my arms before he jerks me back up. He chuckles.
“Motherfucker. Why don’t you let go, and we can battle properly? This way, I can wipe that smile off your ugly face with my blade.”
The general walks up to me, his body even bigger this close. Looming over me, his face twists into anger. “You smell like him.”
He bends his nose, touching my neck and inhaling my scent. When he pulls back, his eyes are wide with anger. I don’t give him a chance to speak again. Instead, I head-butt him. Blood spurts from his nose, the spatter hitting me in the face. Hot droplets run down my cheeks, and I smile. His nose is now at an odd angle, broken from the force of my blow.
His laugh is deep as he pulls out a cloth from his pocket. “You’re going to be a fun one to break.”
I growl, pulling on my arms once more, trying to break free. The demon behind me crushes me closer to him, stilling my movements. “I hear that damn cat trying to break through the barrier,” he says, pausing to listen.
I instantly try to connect to Namir, except there is nothing inside me where he was. Immediately, I panic, thrashing about, dragging my body down, so the asshole behind me tumbles too.
He’s too strong to fall with me. He picks me up like a butterfly caught at the wings, pushing my arms further up my back. I yelp out in pain. My shoulder is definitely dislocated.
“Easy, Nazareth. She’s mine to take apart.”
The demon pushes me forward. Knowing I won’t be able to get away from them, I start trying to think of a plan to get away.
The forest melds into the scorched ground where a carriage sits. It’s high off the ground with giant wheels spoked with spikes the size of my arms. A demon holds the door open as he waits with a straight face for his king.
Four nuckelavees are attached to the front of the carriage, smoke billowing out of their hooves, flames alight in their eyes.
Another demon sits at the top, reins in hand, waiting for a command. He’s dressed in a long duster with a wide-brimmed hat. His face is a mask of indifference.
I don’t say anything, assessing the situation, trying to find a way out of this. If I get into the carriage, I’ll be at his mercy unless I jump out. It’s probably not the best course of action knowing how fast they travel.
I halt my forward motion. The demon behind me stubbles into my back, loosening his grip a bit. Stomping on his foot, I pull my hands free. I spin, using my leg to kick out as I connect with his thigh. A crunch follows as his leg snaps.
I back up, putting both men and the carriage in front of me. I’m preparing for hand-to-hand combat when the general’s eyes begin to glow. The red color is so similar to Torque that I almost think it’s him.
My body freezes a moment later. I realize he can stop my blood, just as Torque can. A sense of fear rushes up through me, but then I think about my new powers. All the energy I have bursting inside of me.
I try to get my power to come to my aid, a spark, or even my smoke, but I’m paralyzed. The doubt creeps into me, taking over.
My eyes are the only part of my body I can move as he squeezes, slowing down my heart. My blood is thickening in my body. I feel lightheaded and weak.
A white blur comes from the tree line. Namir’s connection comes online as he charges toward us, but I know it’s no use. The general is too skilled to have not taken this into account. His hand goes to his side, and he lifts a gun.
It’s as if the world stops, and I only can think in moments of time. The blast goes off, and Namir roars in agony as he hits the floor from his giant leap.
I try to scream out, pull myself from this frozen state, but I can’t. I’m trapped.
Tears flow down my face. I’ve only just found him, and now he’s been ripped from me like everything else in my life. A hollow pit forms inside of me as I pull in my grief. How could a regular bullet kill the white tyger? A demon cat who was supposed to be the most powerful of all?
A screech sounds above us as my wet cheeks begin to burn with fury. I’m going to fucking kill this bastard if it’s the last thing I do.
“That’s our queue to leave, Princess.” He gets to me in three huge strides, then picks me up like a sack of flour. Even carrying my weight, he jumps into the carriage with ease. My body is trembling and turning cold. No blood is circulating, and it seems it’s starting to shut down.
He rights me in a seat as the carriage jerks forward. Placing silver cuffs on my wrist, he releases his magical hold on my body. A scream rips at my throat as the sudden onslaught of blood is filtered through my system again.
I feel like I’m on fire. A pins-and-needles sensation covers me, making the pain too intense. I’m going to end him.
His attention isn’t on me any longer. He gazes out the window as the scenery flies past us at a speed I didn’t think capable. I don’t bother trying to talk. I already know what kind of monster he is. Now I just have to try to survive.
28
Anima
“Get up!” The shout pulls me from the sleep I must have drifted into. My body is stiff and in pain from sitting in one position for too long. I stretch, reality coming back to me as I see the back of the general’s head as he gets out of the carriage.
A cool breeze flutters on my face as I place my foot on the first step. I duck, pulling my whole body out, and get my first look at the general’s camp.
Soldiers are everywhere, wearing the Imperial seal on their armor. Tents of blood red are erected throughout on the rust-colored earth, and the scents of cooked meat reach me, making my stomach growl.
Nazareth is by my side a moment later, grabbing my arm and throwing me down the stairs. I fumble, hitting the dirt, a sharp pain piercing my cheek as it smacks the ground.
“On your feet,” he says, yanking me upright and pushing me forward.
I growl, kicking out, but he dodges my blow and counters with a smack to the back of my head.
“You’ll do well to mind yourself. Things can get extremely hard for you here.”
Some soldiers chuckle, staring me down. I’m already the enemy in their eyes. There must be thousands here with the number of tents that are put up. Flags wave
in the wind, causing me to search the sky.
He drags me to a nearby tent, then places me into a waiting chair. A chain materializes from under my feet, and he hooks it to the silver cuffs at my wrists.
Once he’s done, he surveys his work and leaves. I’m finally alone. I push out some of my powers and try to get a read on where I am, but it’s no use. The cuffs glow with weird symbols, the sigils similar to the ones on my skin, snuffing out any chance that my magic is getting me out. I’ll have to depend on brute force then.
The tent is sparse, only my chair and a table in the corner. The scent of dried blood and urine assault my nose. The chill from outside remains in here, and I sink deeper into the chair. A sense of foreboding comes over me as I try to assess my situation.
The pain of no longer having my connection with Namir is pushing painfully on my chest. I won’t believe that he’s dead. He’s a mystical demon cat. Surely it would take more than one bullet to stop him.
Right?
Scuffling comes from outside the tent. I must have dozed off because the sun is setting, giving the canvas a red glow.
A soldier comes in, one I haven’t seen before, with food and water. He’s dressed in the issued armor. I shift in my seat, ready for anything he’s about to do.
He places the food on my lap. “I’m going to release one hand so you can eat. If you try anything, I will knock you out and take the food. Understood?”
I nod, watching as he takes a large key from his pocket. He walks around me as I try to balance the tray and not make it fall to the ground. I didn’t know how hungry I was until the stew was set before me.
A clink sounds, and my right hand is released. I roll it a few times to get the blood flowing. A pain like fire flows through my digits as the blood comes rushing back. I wish I could massage it with the other hand.
Picking up the spoon is a challenge, but when I can grab it firmly, I shove the stew in my mouth as fast as I can, not caring what’s in it. It’s probably better that I don’t know.