Cheers and encouragement call through the room then. It’s a riot of noise that demands my heart race faster as I watch with wide eyes.
A roar of anger and pain shakes through the room from Demon Monster’s blackened mouth. Ryke lifts his foot and kicks the beast off of him, buying him space and time. He stands while the other demon continues to breathe through the agony of the deep wound across his colossal chest.
Ryke’s boot comes up and thrusts down on the demon, planting him beneath his foot. “The harder they fall,” Ryke whispers as he stares down at him.
It really does seem like it’ll end fast and easy.
As Ryke’s mossy green eyes glare down at the bloody man. And my sweet demon’s features start to melt. His body twists and molds into a thin, curving figure that I don’t understand. Scales ripple over his flesh. His eyes narrow into emerald slits. A slithering tongue hisses out from his mouth.
Ryke morphed into a snake... while also keeping the two-legged shape of a man.
Demon Monster shoves back against the slick flooring, putting space between him and the creature Ryke’s magic has deemed the thing most feared.
Even if Demon Monster is the only one who recognizes that fear.
“Reptrilen,” the demon says on a shuddering whisper.
Does Ryke even know who Reptrillen is? I have no idea how his magic works. But it’s terrifying. The things of nightmares.
Ryke tilts his scaly head slowly to the side. In the blink of an eye, the snake lashes out. And his fangs sink deeply into the demon’s throat.
It’s a quick strike. A fatal one.
When Ryke pulls back, his jawbone returns, his beard rapidly grows dark over the thin scars lining his features. And then, he’s entirely himself again.
But he continues to keep his attention fixed hard on the man who now lies poisoned and bleeding out at his feet.
Demon Monster’s big body shakes just slightly. It’s an odd sight. I don’t understand it. Until... laughter slips from his tattered lips.
“You fool,” the demon says on an accented growl of words. “You know what I am?” His head tips back, and he lies there as if he’s preparing for a nap. “Bet you never been to the Torch or the Ash Empire.” The demon settles Ryke with a look of cruelty. His lip curls even more. “Our Ash is a poison, you stupid fuck.” He lifts his clawed gray hand, and it clicks for me at the same time as it clicks for Ryke.
Ryke’s knees wobble beneath him, and he stumbles back. Gray bruises cover his upper arms around the dark claw marks branding his skin.
“No,” I whisper once more, but there’s no breath in my lungs to carry the sentiment.
Veins turn gray beneath the surface of Ryke’s scarred skin. They shatter up his arms, across his throat and kiss along his lips. Still he stands tall, wavering just slightly as he faces his opponent head on.
Demon Monster shakes his head at him as he shoves to his feet and slowly circles Ryke. It’s a drawn-out taunting as though he’s waiting for the man to just drop dead where he stands.
But that’s not Ryke’s style.
He storms forward with deadly intent. With only a few feet separating them, his wings lash out from his back, and he swoops down on the demon from a high striking point. His elbow crashes hard against a cracking nose, and the slice of flesh follows the blow as his blade cuts across the demon’s cheek, spraying blood from the wound onto the fine gowns of women standing too close.
His fist slaps over the wet blood on the man’s face, and they both go tumbling down in a heap of violence and anger. Demon Monster flips them the moment they hit the floor, and his blood showers down on Ryke as they fumble against one another with lashing claws and striking blades. Gray nails sink into Ryke’s throat. He growls a gargling sound and never slows his slamming fists against the man. Claws sink in. One at a time. Slow. Torturously slow. A smile carves across the monster’s mouth.
He truly is a monster.
Air chokes along Ryke’s lips. They turn blue among the gray. He looks ashen and dying. It’s a nightmare I can’t look away from.
Ryke’s lips part wider for a breath that he can’t have. His eyes grow big. Life fades from his eyes little by little.
He’s so strong, he continues to fight even as his motions slow. He kicks. Punches. Everything he can do, he does.
It’s just not enough.
And I know he knows it.
His jaw clamps shut, grinding hard with determination. He thrusts his arm straight up between them until his own fist is held near his throat. Then he slams his forearm into the demon’s chest. A crack like bone snapping in two sounds through the room. Blood sprays down Ryke’s arm around his black blade. He’s shoved it in deep, and I can see the surprise on Demon Monster’s face. That iron-like mouth opens with only a rattling gasp. That look only intensifies as Ryke brings his blade down hard, gutting the man from sternum to navel.
