Chapter Four
Realization
Nollix
My spine stiffens the closer we come to the Shadow Hills. The elements are stronger here closer to the Core. The ground here’s a haven of water. The dirt beneath my boots is no longer dry and dusty. The clay of the earth cakes to my soles with every step I take, and I know the creatures that linger here are not the playful kind.
This world is made up entirely of shit that can fucking kill you. Survival of the fittest is the very essence of this place. I’ve stopped trying to fill Link in on what to look out for. I’ve fallen back a little, and now I’m just walking slowly behind Violence. She peeks back at me from time to time, her fingers still held loosely in Cameron’s. My jaw grinds together every time my eyes wander down to their hands.
Every fucking day he becomes a more permanent part of our life.
Of her life.
There’s something within him that sets her at ease though. As much as I want to throw him in his place, I’m starting to think thisishis place.
I’m half Demon, but I’m also half Fae, and Fae have this weird and amazing connection with the world; with nature, with humans, and with the very existence of time itself. There’s a tingling feeling deep inside me that knows he’s supposed to be here. All of this is as it should be.
Every terrible, shitty part of our surroundings is right on track.
And I can’t do a thing to stop us from progressing forward.
The dark soil of the hills ahead shakes, trembling from the inside out.
“That’s not a good sign.” Cameron halts but I nudge him forward.
That’s definitely not a good fucking sign, but we don’t show weakness or astonishment here. My sword is held tightly in my right hand as I walk with careful and calculating steps.
“Those are the Carcass Creatures,” Tantra whispers with manic excitement in her melodious voice.
Another crawling shake of the hills has Cameron’s fingers on his right hand arching toward his palm. A spark of red snaps through his hand, but he seems to contain his itching magic. The land ahead is my focus, but I can’t help but deter my gaze to check on Violence every three steps I take.
She’s always pulling at my attention. She’s distracting me and putting me in danger just because I can’t seem to concentrate on any fucking thing other than the beautiful Huntress lately.
Fuck.
For an instant, my breath halts. The trembling land and the terrible world falls away as realization hits me right in the face. I stop then, my gaze held on her back as they follow after the Demons.
She hesitates, her spine straightening to her full but petite height. It’s like she feels me the way I feel her presence without even trying to think about it. Whiskey colored eyes slowly look back at me, shining with confusion as I stand glued to my spot with more fear than I’ve felt the entire time we’ve been here.
Because I think I’m fucking in love with her.
