Through the anguish, somehow, Errshek sobbed while the charge sank into his bones.
Saer released his metaphysical hold.
39
Saer’ssparkofunmakingdissipated from Errshek’s body.The demon fell from the tree stump to his knees.
On the opposite side of the fire pit, Saer prowled.
Errshek’s thin arms wrapped around his middle while he gasped for air.“Saer—” A nasal, but not quite grating quality wove through Errshek’s voice.Just like the rest of him, forgettable.In that moment, however, it rose breathless and terrified.
“Errsheken.”Saer held one fist in the palm of his other, rubbing his knuckles.He cracked them one at a time, a snapping emphasis to echo the persistent thunder.Errshek twitched with each acute pop and the younger demon tried to maneuver his graceless feet under him.Envy made it to the clearing’s edge, then wept again when Saer’s true-name command held him.
Helpless.Crippled.Trapped.
“You know why I’m here.”Saer strode to him just as Errshek’s knees collapsed in terror.Away from the canopy’s protection, the demons soaked up the continuous rain.Errshek’s dark blonde hair dampened away to a dirty brown, moisture evaporating off his body.
Shivering, Envy stared at the ground, arms wrapping tighter around his middle.“I don’t want to fight you, Saer,” he uttered through chattering teeth.
“It doesn’t matter what you want.”A sneer pulled Saer’s lips back, and he curled his fingers into the collar of Errshek’s shirt.Twisting it to the point of near-choking, he lifted.“Scream, Errsheken.”Saer’s icy declaration could have frozen molten lava.Forced to stand or be suffocated, the younger demon flailed and kicked.
“She deserved better than you!”The acidic words erupted from Errshek’s lips, hysterical.
Saer didn’t know what he’d been expecting when he found Errshek.Delightfully tortuous scenes had come into his mind, Envy begging Pride for a reprieve, lamentations alongside screams of horror and anguish.In every scenario he pictured, he’d never considered Errshek challenging him with such bravado, even in a fit of fight-or-flight.The impassioned declaration unsettled him before he squeezed tighter and, with an enraged roar, slammed Errshek to the ground and on his back.
Errshek coughed as Saer shouted over him, crushing his chest under his palm.“She deserved tolive!”He pulled back and thrust his other fist into Envy’s nose.Bones crunched.He struck again.
Again.
He saw red.
Again, another jab.Again.
Errshek struggled, crying out with each subsequent blow.His arms raised to shield his face as much as he could amidst the onslaught.“She did!”he wailed.
With a barked growl, Saer pressed harder, reveling in the way Errshek’s ribs creaked and crunched under his weight.He used his bloodied hand to pry away one of Errshek’s arms to glare at his broken, bruised face.“Thenwhy,Errsheken?”
Errshek batted at Saer’s wrist and forearm, unintelligible sounds breaking past his lips.
Saer punched again, knuckles cutting on Errshek’s teeth.
Envy’s lip split.Scarlet fluid poured into his mouth, and he coughed.Crimson droplets splattered, painting Saer’s neck and arm.
Errshek shot a hand up and clipped the bottom of Saer’s chin.He bit his own tongue, tasting iron.
Bloodlust.
Vengeance.
Not enough.
Let him speak.
Two warring voices howled inside Saer’s mind.
He unleashed a wordless cry and stood.The moment Saer eased up, Errshek rolled to his side and hacked on the ground, spitting ruby ichor.
“You’re going to have to be more specific,” Envy rasped—indignant, even when faced with his own mortality.
