by Amber Cook
Every word she spoke set the fire in his stomach ablaze. There was nothing warm and inviting about her words. They seemed to bury themself into him and grind down until he wanted to run away. "Fine."
Walking towards Adira, Zen made certain that the Fifth Pillar's Orb was safely by him. The smooth exterior of it pressed against his bare flesh, a weight that felt heavier than before. His fingers fell on the dagger he kept by his side, and he stopped when Adira was a few inches before him. "Show me."
"Can't do."
He gritted his teeth, trying to keep his hand from inching forward and hitting her. A part of him knew already what would happen. Even if he beat her to death, she would not budge. She already looked like this, and yet she would not give him what he desired.
Taking the dagger into his hand, he pressed the tip of it against her neck and fiddled with the shackles. When the first one was released, Adira's arm fell by her side, limp and numb. She felt like a thousand ants were scurrying up her arm, burying themselves deep into her flesh. It took a few moments for her even to be able to lift her finger. The next one followed soon after.
Adira began to test her hands out slowly. It had been days since her hands had not been shackled above her. Blood was starting to return to her hands, and they tingled. The moment her hands had been released, Zen had the dagger at her throat. The side of it was already pressed on top of her flesh. He wasn't taking any chances.
Her crimson eyes immediately found the Fifth Pillar's Orb that was buried in his shirt. How easy it would be to reach forward and grab it, but Adira had to be smart. If her assumptions were true and he came from The Halls, then she had to be careful. There was no telling what had been done to him. For all she knew, he and she might not be so different.
Once she could move her fingers and hands, Adira lifted them to her chest. They still trembled, but she could peel back the fabric that had been covering the Orbs. When Zen saw it, his eyes widened in fascination.
It was a very crude thing to look at, almost as if the five pieces had been smashed together. Although the surface was flawed, the shimmering color it held was the opposite. It was intoxicating and drawing. One could get lost in the swirling pit of midnight blue in its surface. But, Adira pointed not at the Orb but at the flesh surrounding it. It was not unusual for the flesh around the wound to be blackened by rot, but it had expanded. It had taken over Adira's breasts and all the way down her rib cage. The flesh was blackened and discolored; beginning to even crack in some places, and held a putrid smell. He could see liquid beginning to rise from the areas where the flesh had popped.
"With how I am right now, I will not make it to The Halls."
"You don't know how far away it is."
"I may not know that, but I know how much time I have. I would say a day at most."
"Then stop it."
"You can not just simply stop the Orbs. They are hungry. They demand to be satisfied."
"How?"
"How?" She asked, offering him a sharp smile. "They want to consume the life force of someone. That is the only way to stop their hunger. But, if you don't do it, it's fine. My father would prefer it that way. He would rather me die than let his secrets get out."
Zen's fingers clenched down harder on the blade. They were only a few hours away from where his comrades were but did they have enough time? Was she just bluffing and saying that she only had a day left, or was she telling the truth? He didn't know. He didn't know what to believe when that came from a demon.
Even if she was dying, was he willing to kill someone for her to eat? Or, the better question, would it only be one person? He had been designed and trained to save humans from evil creatures, not kill them to keep them alive. But there was no denying her purpose. Having her, as well as the Fifth Pillar's Orb, could be a huge leap for them. If they could figure out how to disconnect the Orb's powers from their hosts, they could stop the war. They could wipe out the demon race. Even someone like Kace, even the Demon King, would no longer hold his sting.
Adira could see the clear conflict on his face. She had given him a time and fate. It would be his choice that would decide what happened next. Adira knew she could live for at least another day, so she wasn't entirely lying. Frankly, she could be kept in this condition for weeks, years even. It all came down to what the Orbs wanted and when they wanted her dead.
Her eyes slid towards the blade, and her fingers curled. She could feel them again. The only way she would be able to heal her body was by consuming souls. She knew what she had to do.
Without wasting another minute, Adira ducked her head low, snatching the dagger between her teeth. The sudden movement caught Zen by surprise, and he thrust the blade forward, but it was too late. The blade was already between her teeth. The tip of the blade tore through the left side of her cheek, but Adira didn't focus on the pain. She bore down, hard enough that the fashioned edge cracked and exploded. She spit out the blood that poured from her cheek and the dagger's bits onto his face.
Darkened blood covered his eyes, and Zen tried to wipe it off. He had not expected her to be able to shatter the dagger between her teeth with such ease. It was like breaking glass. The only thing he could see through the darkened blood was the blur of her crimson eyes before him. Her hands slammed into his chest, shoving him backward and down onto the ground. One moment, he was upright, and the next, his face was buried into the soil.
Zen tried to spin on her, but with no avail. Even though her body was nothing more than rags and bones, she still had an ample amount of strength. Her crimson eyes burned brighter than before, hunger fueling them.
Adira's hot breath pressed against the nape of his neck, and he could feel the feather-light kiss of her tongue. Blood spilled onto his body from her own, thick and hot. "Ah, now this feels good." She purred, and Zen's eyes widened as he felt her teeth sink into his neck.
The moment Adira tasted his blood, her eyes widened. There were many times in her life when she had tasted someone's blood and felt a spark ignite in her, but none of them were like this. The gnawing sensation dissipated instantly, but it was replaced with bloodlust. The warmth of his blood settled on the back of her throat, and she wanted to savor it. If circumstances were different, she would have. It was intoxicating, filling every sense until all she could see was his blood.
With his brows creased and blood spilling from his neck, Zen reached into his shirt. His fingers fumbled with the Fifth Pillar's Orb, and it flared at his touch. "Is this what you want?" He gritted out, but Adira was too dazed to hear it. "Remember our promise."
Light exploded as those words slipped from his lips. Adira was thrown backward, slamming into the base of a tree. Her back arched, and blood spewed from her lips. She hissed in pain as a sharp sensation ran up her spine. Zen reached up to his neck, noticing that a chunk was actually missing. The she-witch had actually been trying to eat him. He took his shirt off quickly, pressing it against his neck as he held onto the Fifth Pillar's Orb.
✽✽✽
Adira blinked groggily before she snapped back into reality. The last thing she could remember was the dagger, and then her mind became muddled. She could feel someone's blood rolling down her chin, as well as chunks of flesh wedged between her teeth. The taste was bitter and reeked of that human. Her eyes fell onto Zen, who was clutching his neck as blood rolled down his front. The Fifth Pillar's Orb was in his hand.
Adira lurched forward but halted. She wanted to grab the Orb, but she couldn't move her feet. It was like there was an invisible force pressing down on her, stopping her from moving. Every thought she had screamed for her to go forward and grab the Orb, but she couldn't.
In his hand, the Fifth Pillar's Orb flared. She desperately looked into the glassy surface, but there was no one reaching out to her. All she could see was herself. The Fifth Pillar's Orb would not help her. It had been the one to save Zen. She couldn't believe that to be possible, even with the evidence in front of her. Why would a demonic orb save a human? What did
she not understand?
She gritted her teeth, trying to push forward, but her toes dug into the soil. Small cracks began to race along the packed ground beneath her heel, but she could not budge. The Fifth Pillar's Orb came into view; its golden eyes were pinning her down. Its nimble fingers were latched onto her shoulder blades, not allowing her to take another step towards Zen.
"What are you doing? Why!" She shouted in frustration. None of this made sense. It was not supposed to be like this. The Orbs were supposed to fight with her against the humans, not for them.
"Give up, Adira."
"Give up? I would rather die than give up! Why did you stop me? Don't you want to eat? Don't you want to consume someone's life? Why stop me from fulfilling the very thing you want?!"
"Not this one," It muttered, but Adira knew it would not disclose why. "Things are happening that you do not understand."
"Then tell me! Help me understand." She cried out, gritting her teeth as she dug her fingers into the frame of the Fifth Pillar's Orb. "You always say that I don't understand, but nobody tells me why. Why are you helping this human? Why are you turning against me?"
Its set face did not change, "Adira-"
"If you won't tell me, then what is my purpose? Why was I created to serve you? What are you hiding from me?"
Startled by her intrusion, it took the Fifth Pillar's Orb a few moments to speak. "I cannot say."
"Then do you want me to die? Do you want me to be used by humans? Was this your plan all along? If my life is destined to be in the hands of humans, then I'll kill myself. I'll cut my own head off. I'll force somebody to consume my soul. And, if you keep me alive, then I will do it every waking minute of the day. Until finally, just finally, you let me die."
The hatred and anger were clear as day in her words. The Fifth Pillar's Orb had never felt anything like it before. Its fingers loosened on her shoulders blades, and it dissipated into the air. Adira would never be able to get answers from it.
She collapsed onto her knees, grimacing in pain as the exposed bone hit the ground. The limited amount of blood she had received would barely heal her body. With how it was, she needed to devour at least three humans to begin recovering. She knew that it would be impossible.
That sinking feeling settled in her gut, but she had no time to waste. She needed to try and get away from here as soon as possible. Kace would be mad at her, but she would have to explain. The Fifth Pillar's Orb was not their ally; it was their enemy. That single thought only made her chest become tighter. The very thing she devoted herself to had deceived her.
Adira sprung up, spinning on her heel, but something slammed into her face the moment she got onto her feet. She collapsed but rolled over immediately. Zen was towering above her, and Adira could very faintly feel the marks of his fingers across her cheek. Her eyes widened as he slammed his fist down, and she rolled over to miss it.
"What are you doing now? Can't I catch a goddamn break!" She hissed, rolling again to miss his fist.
That smile played on his lips. It was the same one she had seen every time he had harmed her. "Why are you moving around? Just. Stay. Still." He pounced forward, slamming down onto her abdomen.
Adira grimaced, her body curling as the full weight of his body pressed down onto her torn abdomen. She could see stars dancing in front of her vision, but she fought to stay awake. Before she could strike out at his face with her hands, he snatched her wrists and pinned them to the forest floor. Adira's crimson eyes stared up at his face, and the only thing she could see in her vision was him. It was a horrible sight that caused her stomach to clench in agony. She wanted to be as far away as possible from him, and yet she could feel his thick breath against her lips.
"What are you going to do to me?"
"Nothing, at least not yet."
"If that is the case, then let me go. It would be in everyone's interest."
"That's not happening."
Adira's brows furrowed, "You don't seem to realize what you are dealing with."
"But I do. Or, at least, I think I understand better than before."
Adira watched as Zen grabbed one of the shards of his dagger from her hair. He lifted his hand in the air and quickly sliced his palm against it. Bright, crimson red blood seeped from the wound instantly, and Adira's eyes widened. Her pupils dilated, and she was trained on the blood that rolled down the sides of his palm.
"To survive, you need to eat. For my kind to survive, I need you to live. Let's make a deal."
"Why would I make a deal with a human?"
The moment those words slipped from her lips, Zen slashed her face with the piece of the dagger. Adira's eyes widened in disbelief. The strike had been so quick. She almost didn't see it.
"You don't ask the questions. The only way you'll live is by consuming my blood."
Adira did not retort back this time. She didn't want to say that she could kill other humans and feast on them. She knew if she spoke, he would cut her again.
"The only way to get you to understand and comply is by treating you exactly like what you are. You are a demon, a parasite to this world. I had been stupid to think that I could simply talk to you. It makes sense why your father did what he did to you. It's the only way scum like you understand your place. Do as I say, and I'll let you live. I'll give you enough of my blood."
"And if I don't?" She asked.
"Then you'll see what exactly I learned at The Hall."
Adira could not stop the gnawing hunger in the pit of her stomach, not when she could see the droplets of blood rolling from his hands. She knew she should say no, but she couldn't. She wanted to consume him. She wanted to eat him alive.
She nodded her head, her crimson eyes consuming him. "I agree."
"Then be a good girl and eat."
Chapter 8
It had been four days since she had arrived in the Human Realm, or at least that's what she thought. Time had gone by in a blur. Half the time, she had not even been conscious.
The sun overhead now reared its ugly head, and Adira could feel the heat of the day coming on. The air was sticky against her skin, something she had never experienced in the Demon Realm. Only a few hours had passed since Zen had allowed her to devour his blood, and she was already feeling better. Thin strands of muscle had begun to form around her grounded bones, and flesh had started to bubble up.
She had never experienced such dramatic effects from a human's blood. Usually, it would take multiple souls to begin to heal her wounds. She had not even touched his soul, just his life force, and her body was starting to regenerate. Adira could only assume that it was because of The Halls. Something must have happened to him there. When she had asked, she had been rewarded another slice across her face, silencing her. She would have to be careful when she spoke to him and how often. Now, he held her life in his hands. It was a horrible thought, but it wasn't like she could do anything. Her only option was to accept his proposal.
In three days, Ravana would come, or at least she hoped he would. After everything that had happened, he could not show. Her father might have disowned her for all she knew. If that were the case, Ravana would not be allowed to come. If he showed his face, it could be considered a direct threat to the Demon King.
She looked up to the sky, staring at the sun. Three more sunrises and he would be here. He had to come. Before, she had never thought of Ravana in such a way. Back then, his name would cause her to feel sick in her stomach. He was a rather prideful demon, except for that night. She wasn't even entirely sure if it had been him, but now she wished it was true. She hoped he would come here and take her home. No, she wished he would take her somewhere where she could be alone, away from these petty humans and demonic power-wars.
Adira shook her head, getting rid of those thoughts. She shouldn't have been thinking about such things, especially with him. There were more pressing things, like getting out of here and away from this man. The Halls must have changed something in him. His blood was like a dr
ug to her. It was too sweet, too rich in flavor. It was as if someone had genetically made him be such a way. She could feel herself beginning to crave him, addicted to its unique taste. That was the last thing she needed. She couldn't become tied down to him.
Her legs swayed against the mare's side. Adira had complied this time, earning the spot before him. She could feel his thick, muscle-lined thighs on either side of her, as well as his hot breath against the nape of her neck. It was revolting, to say the least. All she wanted was to put as much space as possible between him and her, but she could not move. There was that part of her, the part that the Orbs commanded, that did not want to leave his blood. She could only assume that was why the Fifth Pillar's Orb did not want to leave. It wanted something from him that it could not get elsewhere.
Zen's fingers curled around the leather reins, and the mare came back and halted. Adira's eyelids had been half closed most of the ride, trying to get some sleep and avoid the blaring sun. Now that he had stopped, she gradually began to open them.
Puffs of smoke climbed high into the sky from the buildings filling the roads. The houses were made from packed clay and stone. More expensive ones had actual slabs of wood. It was similar to the town she had seen earlier, except it had a more worn-down look. Children ran throughout the street, cheering to one another as they saw Zen. Adira instinctively pulled the hood she had on tighter. Luckily, even this dimwitted human realized it would be in his best interest to cloak her and not carry around with her nearly naked. The cloak was nothing like what she had at home, but she could not be picky. It was much better than allowing herself to be bare to the scrutinizing eyes around her.
"Zen! Zen!" One of the children shouted, waving at him. Adira watched him in the corner of her eye as he offered the child a faint wave. There was a hint of warmth to his cold exterior. "Where are you going? Who do you have? Will you be here long?'