Chapter Twenty (Pt.2)

The quiet that descended on the now-deserted camp was spine-chillingly frightening. Forcing herself to move, Leah walked Free and his precious burden toward Meraud. The camp remained well lit, and she could see him easily enough.

“What have you done?”

His wild, unfocused gaze came to rest on her. Blinking rapidly, he looked as if seeing her for the first time, and smiled. [Ah, I see you have succeeded.]

Having dropped the reins, Leah stepped towards him, part of her repelled by Meraud’s actions... part of her yearning to experience the satisfaction she could sense coursing through him. “Why, Meraud?” Her voice shook. “Why did you do this? They were no threat to you.”

Lowering his head, he shook it, sighing heavily. [I have told you already, my Leah, I cannot deny what I am. These...] He gestured at the bodies lying before him, closing his eyes momentarily as another tremor of pleasure caressed him. [These were to be sacrificed to my lord, but he allowed me to have them instead.]

Her face crumpled as she pulled back. “So you simply take them... because you can?”

He chuckled. [Come now, do not be so quick to denounce. After all, it is so easy to accomplish... and so rewarding, is it not?]

The still-fresh memory of the way she’d misused her power to kill the brigand silenced her. She regretted ever asking him for assistance, yet a small voice deep inside taunted her with the knowledge that she was more like his kind than she cared to admit.

“But see... I ensured your friends remained unharmed.” He’d switched to speaking out loud as he indicated the men.

Conor and Karel, both bloodied but not visibly hurt, stared silently at Meraud.

“Leah,” said Conor, “who is this?”

Looking down, she didn’t reply, for she didn’t know how to explain that this demon lord was her lover, the one she’d tied herself to for eternity.

“Is he... is he a...?”

She lifted her gaze to Conor, suspected that he knew the answer already, but still could not bring herself to reply. At that moment, Leah was aware of a change around her. Even though it had been more than three years since she’d last felt it, she recognised it instantly.

The air before them shimmered and was rent asunder. Rolling his eyes, Free whinnied in terror. Leah grabbed his reins, her hand pinning Evalan to the saddle. Ripping off her already torn tunic, she used it to cover the horse’s eyes.

A giant hooded serpent entered their world. Blood red eyes, as bright as jewels, surveyed them.

Crying out, Karel fell to his knees as Conor instinctively, uselessly, held his sword before him.

[At last, the seed that I planted has come to fruit.]

Meraud executed the smallest of bows. [My lord. Thank you for granting me the mortals.]

Leah, privy to their exchange, clenched her jaw but remained silent.

[A small reward for a plan so well executed, my faithful one.] Belosh turned his attention to Leah, gliding slowly toward her.

“What plan?” Leah took a faltering step backwards.

[Come, Leah. It is time.]

She jerked back as his foul presence filled her. “Stop. Don’t talk to me like that.”

Meraud laughed. [She despises such contact, my lord. When not that long ago, she revelled in the intimacy it brought.]

[You, mortal, are dictating to me?] Belosh’s tone remained conversational. [You forget with whom you are dealing. I am not as giving as your lover. In fact, I believe you will find me more than you ever dreamed.]

Breathing heavily, refusing now to show any sign of weakness, Leah narrowed her eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“What’s going on?” said Conor, edging closer to Free.

“Silence.” Belosh’s tongue darted out as he glared at Conor.

Cowering, it took him a few moments to shakily regain his composure before Leah tossed him Free’s reins.

[Enough talk. I grow impatient. It is time for me to claim my prize.]

“What prize? My deal was not with you, trickster. It was with him. And I’ll go when I’m ready–” A cry of pain burst from her as she doubled over, clutching her head, before falling to her knees.

[Know your place, worm.]

Conor and Karel cried out; Conor reaching for her, yet remaining where he stood, and Karel wrapping his arms around his belly, shaking his head.

[Calm yourself, my lord.] Going to the enraged, swaying serpent, Meraud stroked the scaly skin. “Permit me to enlighten her... and her friends.” He strolled toward Leah and crouched down so he could see her face. “Your deal may have been with me, Leah, but my promise was to my lord. I only said what I said to make you agree to my terms. But when you said ‘yes’ to me, you... what is that word you so like to use? Ah yes, you condemned yourself to Belosh instead.”

“No!” shouted the men, but Belosh and Meraud merely laughed.

Leah’s eyes widened; her mouth kept working but no sound issued from it.

A deep chuckle rumbled from Belosh. [Never humiliate a demon lord. We never forget, and we always exact revenge.]

Blinking rapidly, her mouth slack, she looked at Meraud. “Humiliate you? When did I humiliate you?”

“The first time I attempted to entice you... you rejected me.”

Her breath fell from her mouth. “What were you expecting? You’re a demon lord, I’m a mortal... has any mortal ever reacted differently, willingly opened their arms to you?”

Still crouching before her, he leant closer. Licking his lips, his fingers brushed her hand. “You are the only mortal I have... wanted to seduce,” he said softly.

Leah jerked her head back, her gaze caught by the smouldering intensity in his dark, dark eyes.

[Meraud...] Belosh’s voice intruded.

The demon lord quickly got to his feet and moved with liquid grace back to his master’s side.

Rising to her feet, Leah said to Belosh, “You go to all this trouble simply to have me surrender to you. Why? You have followers.”

He swayed from side to side, his unblinking stare never leaving her face. [Your refusal to succumb to your dark power makes you a most delicious prize. The more you resist, the more appealing you become.]

Mouth turned downward, she shook her head.

[Do not think you can renege on your promise to an immortal.]

“Much as I want to, I won’t.” She lifted her chin. “I’m not like you...” She switched her gaze to Meraud. “Not like your kind. I don’t make a habit of saying misleading things. I suppose it matters little which one of you claims me. There’s no difference between you.”

Meraud flinched and started, his brows furrowed.

[Then come.] Belosh glided towards her.

Stepping back, she said, “No, not yet. First, I will see my brother safely–” Pain lanced through her skull; she fell to her knees.

[No one refuses me.]

Pushed to the limit, Leah no longer cared what her actions might cost her. Dragging herself to her feet, she slammed her fist into the side of Belosh’s hooded, reptilian face.

“Leah, no,” shouted Conor, eyes bulging.

Belosh leant back... then lowered his face to stare, wide-eyed, at Leah. [You dare?]

“I don’t care what you are, I’ve had enough of you. I said I’d honour my promise, but still you refuse to listen. All I want is a little time to see my brother safely home.”

Belosh’s mouth stretched in what looked like a grin. [You think to fight me?]

Breathing heavily, she stared at him, fists clenched against her legs. Her eyes started to widen as she felt the air around her growing hot and dry. Focussing on the energy-streams between them, she thrust her hands out, using all the inner strength she could muster. For a moment, Belosh rocked back. Then Leah flew backwards and landed heavily; gasping, she found herself staring at streaks of cloud against the night sky.

“Leah!”

At Karel’s warning, she forced herself to turn; her eyes widened. An orb was flying towards her. Mere inches away, it stopped... and was exploded into nothingness by another orb.

Turning to Meraud, Belosh bared his fangs.

[My lord...] Meraud had moved to stand by the demon lord. [She is hardly worth your ire, with no right to bear witness to your power. Indulge her. Allow her to deliver her brother to their home, after which I will see she is delivered to you. You will then have her for eternity. What is one more moment?]

Still puffed up with anger, Belosh glared at Leah.

[Those maggots are even less deserving.] He indicated Conor and Karel. [They do not deserve to see my lord and master wield his power... even your own followers do not have that privilege.]

Privy to their mental exchange, Leah sat up, grimacing at the salty taste of blood that trickled from her nose into her mouth.

[You will remain with her?]

Meraud nodded. [To ensure she keeps her promise.]

[So be it.] He turned his gaze to Meraud, stroking his long body against that of his underling. [You are proving to be near-indispensable, my beautiful Meraud.]

Smiling, Meraud went to Leah; she tried to crawl away, but he grabbed her by the arms and hauled her to her feet.

She struggled against him. “Get... off–”

Pulling her close, he whispered in her ear, “I am trying to help you. Stop fighting me.”

Still trying to pull away, she slowly stopped, unable to tear her gaze away... recognising the yearning in his strong eye contact.

“I will think of a way–”

His words were stopped by Conor slamming into him, and wrestling him to the ground. The first to recover, Meraud regained his feet. Cursing, he pounded his fist into his palm then hurled an orb at Conor as Belosh shouted.

Still on his knees, encased in a life-sapping orb, Conor clawed at the air. Desperately struggling to draw breath, his eyes bulged, his face contorted before he fell forward to lie unmoving.

“You fool!” bellowed Belosh.

An invisible force struck Meraud down, leaving him lying still.

Silence surrounded them.

Then Meraud, moaning, attempted to sit up but seemed devoid of strength. Staring at nothing for a long moment, he looked around as if he’d lost something. “My... lord…”

[There is nothing I can do. You know the price for tampering so directly with a mortal.]

Leah wondered at Belosh’s words. “What happened? Why do you seem so... weak?” She had to stop herself going to Meraud’s side, didn’t want Belosh to see her concern. Her breath caught in her throat as he struggled to raise his head to look at her; his eyes seemed so... lifeless.

“I broke the... unbroken rule...”

[Enough. You will come with me now,] said Belosh to Leah.

Planting her feet firmly, squaring her shoulders, she shook her head. “No, Belosh.” She prayed her understanding was correct, and that she’d come to the right conclusion. “And I don’t believe you can force me. You will allow us to leave so I can return my brother to safety. You will also let me explain, and say a proper farewell to my family. I will then return here, to the Grimwood, and then... then it will be over.”

Belosh quivered with ill-concealed rage. [I will not be dictated–]

“I’m not asking much. As Meraud said, you’ve waited this long. And you’ll still be taking me at the end of it.” Leah had to swallow a few times against nausea that followed that thought.

As quick as lightning, Belosh was before her. [Do not attempt to cross or trick me, Leah. Again, I will hold your family against your promise.]

“But you can’t, can you? You can’t take such action against us. That’s why Meraud was struck down. I don’t think you’re allowed to hurt a mortal according to your whims.”

He glared, the skin against his fangs curling back.

“I am right. You’re not denying it.”

[That may be so, but you promised of your own accord. Do not make me wait too long.]

In the next instant, Leah was staring at empty space; both immortals were gone.