This one is slower than the others. A rest before we launch into the second act of Descending Into Power.
Hope you enjoy the show!
~Chance
CW: Claustrophobic situation
Tree photo created by wirestock - www.freepik.com
“Are you going to put me down at some point?” I half-glared at the Demon who had saved me from certain death as we soared over the edge of a forest full of more trees than I had ever seen.
Samuel raised an eyebrow at me. “If you want me to put you down right now, I can, but it’s quite a fall from up here. It would be a shame to kill the person I just rescued.” He laughed at my fearful gaze. “I’m joking Kindred. Poorly, it seems. We’ll be at my safe house soon. I can patch you up a bit and get you a hot meal before I send you on your way, kiddo.”
I took a deep breath and spoke slowly to hold my temper. “I. Am not. A child.”
He grimaced and furrowed his brow. “My apologies. I honestly believed you were a kid. It won’t happen again. Just hit me if it does.”
“Oh, I promise you, I will.” I struggled with the bindings around my wrists to no avail. “You’re going to take these off, right?”
He gave the question consideration. “No, I was thinking I would leave you like that and release you into the wilds.” He sighed when I stared at him. “I’m joking again, Kindred. You’re not very good with sarcasm are you?”
Sam touched down on the ground, placing me on my feet in front of him. He took my hands in his and focused on the wire around my wrists, the veins of his right arm glowing amber. The wire slowly heated under his touch and I winced to prepare myself for the burn. “You can open your eyes, Kindred.” He released my now unbound wrists, the amber glow fading.
I rubbed the divots the wire had left in my skin. “Um, thanks. I thought that would hurt far worse than that. How did you get it off?” I raised an eyebrow when Samuel snickered. “Why are you laughing?”
He waved a hand as he composed himself. “Nothing, nothing. Just another bad joke you wouldn’t appreciate. How about we get you that food I mentioned before?” He gestured for me to follow him into the forest, frowning when I didn’t move. “You coming or what, Kindred?”
It took me a moment to realize he’d spoken to me. “Hm? Oh, yes.” I stood frozen in place, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. “Maybe.”
Samuel shook his head. “It’s just some woods. This one doesn’t even have that many monsters. Most of them aren’t fool enough to attack a Demon on his own land.” He attempted to pull me toward the tree line, but I dug my heels into the ground and resisted him. “Kindred, why are you being difficult? I’m trying to help you.”
My breathing sped up and I shook my head. “No, I don’t wanna go in there.”
He relaxed his hold with a puzzled look. “Why? I told you it’s safe as it can be. You’re not in danger if you stick with me.”
I closed my eyes and calmed my breathing. “I...I don’t like how enclosed it looks. The city was bad enough.” I looked up at the sky. “How can you live in a place where you can’t see the sky?”
Samuel frowned again and scratched his head. “My safe house is in a clearing that gives a view. It’s the middlely bits that are covered by the leaves. We won’t be in there for long. Besides, the forest isn’t crowded with trees. There is plenty of space to walk.”
I looked down, embarrassed by my extreme reaction. “I just don’t like enclosed spaces. I’m used to living in the open desert. I’ve never been in a place so congested with plants and unknown creatures. I can’t walk in there.” I yelped when he lifted me into his arms.
He smiled with exposed fangs. “Then I’ll just have to carry you.”
I crossed my arms and turned my face toward his chest so I didn’t have to look at how crowded our surroundings were. “Your fangs aren’t comforting.”
We soon reached the clearing and he put me on my feet. I looked up and let out a relieved sigh when I could see the sky above us. “Much better.” I looked around at the clearing as we approached the shabby looking cabin, still unnerved by the surrounding trees.
Samuel’s eyes glowed and his wings faded from existence before he brought me inside. He retrieved a Healer’s case and made quick work of the injuries my captors had given me. “You’ll have to excuse my lack of innate ability to use these tools. Healing has never been my strong suit.”
I sat on a worn couch and rubbed the bandages wrapped around my wrists. “You did as well as I would have with the same tools. Thank you. Sorry about being troublesome.”
He shook his head as he replaced the case and went to a set of cabinets, pulling out a sealed stone container. He held it in his right hand and his amber veins burned bright again, the seal loosening around the edges and letting out steam. He peeled the wax seal from the bowl and handed me a spoon and a hot bowl of meat and potatoes stew. “Eat up. You look like you could use a solid meal.”
I sniffed the bowl’s contents, checking it for any form of poison before taking a bite. “This is better than I thought it would be.”
He retrieved his own bowl and heated it before sitting in an armchair that had seen better days. “I think that was supposed to be a compliment, so thank you? You’re an odd dugler, Kindred.”
We sat in silence while we ate, the quite a welcome retreat from the overwhelming experiences I’d had over that last multi-cycle. I glanced at the Demon every so often and I was comforted when I never caught him staring at me. I took the opportunity to really look at his features; pierced double-pointed ears, scarred horns, a patch of hair on his chin under his lips, black and amber eyes, black hair with red tips.
“It’s rude to stare.” He smirked as my face heated.
I lowered my eyes to my now empty bowl. “I wasn’t staring. I was just trying to remember your face. I try to remember people who have helped or harmed me.”
He tilted his head. “What will you do with all those faces?”
I raised my sickly green eyes to him. “I will repay the kindness or I will take my revenge.” I could feel my Magic shine in my eyes as I recalled my recent run-ins.
He placed his bowl on a roughly carved table with a serious look. “Wait, you’re a Scorpid. How did you make your eyes glow?” Realization spread across his features. “You’re one of the rare ones, aren’t you? You have an intact Spark. This is why the Angel wanted you dead.”
I nodded and sighed. “That and the Corruption.” I held up my black-streaked hand.
He sat back and crossed one leg over the other. “They are the same to him and people like him. It is a widely accepted fact that Scorpids cannot access their Magic anymore. That your people are no longer a threat to the world like they once were. You spit in the face of that belief and that breaks this artificial order the Angels and their allies are controlling. They can’t have that. Even if you didn’t have those marks, he would have executed you anyway.”
I put my head in my hands, holding back tears. “I just want to rid myself of this curse. I need to find a Breaker so this can be over and done. I’ve hurt enough people already.”
He stared at me in shocked silence. “You want to Break your Spark? Why? Kindred, this is a gift, not a curse. You can be so much more if you find a Mentor. From the color of your glow, the kind of Magic you wield is unruly and near impossible to tame alone.”
I pulled my knees up to my chest. “I don’t want to tame it. I want it to go away. I don’t want to be great. I want to live a normal life. I didn’t ask for this but I have to suffer from it.”
He sighed and stood, placing a light hand on my shoulder. “I don’t think you understand what you’re doing by going to the Breaker. Let me help you find a Mentor. We’ll get some rest and head out in the morning. You don’t have to do this alone.” He took the bowls away and returned with a blanket and pillow. “Sleep well, Kindred.”
I laid down and covered myself. “Good night, Samuel.”
He laughed and shook his head. “It’s just Sam. I’ll see you in the morning.”