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When I woke, my head pounded in rhythm with my heart. The world was a blur of color when I tried to open my eyes and I winced away from its brightness.
“Wh-what happened?”
“You lost your temper.”
I turned my head toward Samriel's voice. He sounded strangely tired and there was more growl than before.
“You've got quite a Spark in there, Kindred. I'm lucky you aren't trained in how to properly use it.” He let out a single gruff laugh.
I painfully pushed myself up to a sitting position against a cool rock. I winced and placed a hand on the fresh bandages on my right side, still damp with my blood. The spike of pain sent the world into a whirlwind of colors again.
“Sorry about that. I had to subdue you and I'm only trained in a few ways to do that. They all involve damage being dealt. You're lucky to have as much health as you do. I was afraid for a moment I had dealt too much damage. You're tough for someone your size.”
I laughed weakly. “You'd be surprised how often I've heard that.”
“Very little surprises me these days.”
“I didn't hurt you, did I?” He didn't respond and my vision hadn't cleared enough to see the expression on his face. “Samriel?” The world abruptly came into sharp focus. I gasped at the being sitting before me. It was clearly still Samriel but his Human disguise had been thrown off, revealing his full Demon features.
It was as if all the color had been stripped from his flesh. Pale would be an understatement. The only color that remained was the deep amber of his magical vessels within deep fissures of Corruption that covered his arms. Only Demons were capable of merging their magic and their Corruption. A dangerous combination in the hands of a novice. Magical vessels that deeply embedded within his Corruption made Samriel's control over both dangerous in a very different way.
“It's rude to stare.”
My bewildered eyes raised to look at his face. His eyes were like Cres’ with inky blackness instead of whites. I was thankful his pupils had remained. At least he had mortal eyes. The horns protruding from near his temples had lengthened.
I lowered my gaze when I couldn't stop staring. “Sorry. I've never seen a Demon without a disguise up. I'd been told...but to see it…”
“Horrifying, isn't it?”
“I would go with imposing more than horrifying. You're not a Monster.”
His laugh was bitter “No. I'm worse. Monsters are only acting on their nature. They are driven to destroy. Me? Well, I didn't get this way by chance. I chose to walk this path. It was that or be Consumed.”
I slowly raised my eyes once the shock had died down. He hadn't moved from his crouched position. He was looking down at his cracked arms with contempt.
“That isn't the face of someone that truly chose his path.”
His haunting eyes rose to meet mine. “We all walk the path the Fated One has created for us.”
“I'm going to make my own path.”
His laugh was tired. “With that kind of determination, maybe. You're awful confident for someone with so little control.”
I shrugged painfully. “Confidence is all I have some days.”
“Fake it til you make it, huh?”
“Something like that.”
I tried to use the rock I leaned on as a brace to stand but my legs couldn't hold me.
“I would rest if I were you. Neither of us is in any condition to go far. Besides, night approaches. We should be fairly safe here. I'll throw a couple of wards up to hide us from the local Monsters. I will be strong enough to travel tomorrow. I don't know how your Healing Factor is but I can carry you if you haven't recovered enough by morning. As long as you still want my company.”
I considered my options silently as the sky began darkening above the trees. “It would be unwise of me to continue without you.”
“What about making your own path? Our continued association is undoubtedly on the path that Fate has placed you on.”
“I get to decide who and what are along my path. You're too useful to send away. My lack of control is going to be a hindrance no matter what path I walk. You can get me started before I find the person I'm looking for in the mountains.”
He raised a spiked eyebrow at me. “Thought you wanted someone who wasn't Corrupted to teach you.”
I shrugged, glad the pain in my side had subsided for the most part. “Beggars can't be choosers. Besides, it looks like you have a good hold on your Corruption.”
“Most of the time. Are you sure you want this? I can't promise I will not lead you down a path to darkness.”
“You can't lead me anywhere I don't want to go. Darkness cannot make me fall. So, do we have a deal?”
He slowly stood from his crouched position. He was even taller without his disguise. I blinked and he had crossed the distance between us. The heat that resonated from him reminded me of a bonfire in the middle of a summer evening. He extended a clawed hand to me. “If you are sure you want me to teach you, we have a Deal.”
As I took hold of his hand, a spike of hot pain shot through my entire arm. It was gone as quickly as it had occurred. Just like the first time, Samriel didn't react to the pain.
Probably imagined it.
“Stay here. I'm going to catch something to eat.” As he turned, I gasped at the tattered, bloody membrane of his left wing. “Don't worry about that. It will heal in a day or two. I will have to keep some of my disguise down. I need that power for healing. You're staring again.”
I felt my cheeks heat as I lowered my eyes. “Sorry. Your features are intriguing to study.” I glanced up at him again.
He stared at me this time. “You are an odd individual, Kindred. Rest and I'll be back before the sun sets.” He disappeared into the woods without a sound.