Seizing the moment, I flip my dagger in my hand, the blade gleaming in the dim light. With a swift, practiced motion, I launch it straight at him. But the demon is quicker than I anticipated. He moves just in time, the dagger slicing through the air where he stood a split second ago. A snarl rips from his throat as he rushes at me, his speed and fury magnified by the near miss.
I block his punch and ram my shoulder into his chest, effortlessly flipping him over me and onto his back. Like a phantom, I dissolve into a wisp of black mist and materialize in front of him. Swinging my leg back, I deliver a powerful kick to his face, the impact reverberating through my leg.
“Are you made of fucking cement, old man?” I grit, shaking my leg out.
I don’t react fast enough as he abruptly pounces forward, crawling on all fours and sinking his sharp fangs into my calf. Waves of searing-hot pain shoot through my leg, a scream tearing from my lips. Instinctively, I reach down and clutch his hair, forcefully yanking him off me.
That same creepy smile stretches across his face, accentuated by the blood that coats his lower face and teeth. With a lick of his lips, he rises, seeming to glide effortlessly in his movements.
“Just the boost I needed.” He cackles, his chilling laughter sending a shiver down my spine.
My stomach drops like an anchor, and I’m instantly consumed by panic. Pushing it aside, I launch forward and deliver two rapid jabs to his exposed ribs, aiming for maximum damage. The force of my strikes causes him to wince in pain and momentarily stagger. Recovering quicker than expected, the demon lowers his head, eyes glinting with malice, and he charges. A menacing snarl rips through the air, making my heart ricochet in my chest. The demon’s head collides with my stomach, knocking the wind out of me. I clutch his neck in a headlock as he forcefully slams me into the rough bark of a nearby tree.
Gasping for air, I tighten my grip on the demon’s neck, refusing to let go. Splintered bark digs into my back as I push against the tree, fighting the overwhelming force. Adrenaline surges through my veins, feeding my hopelessness.
With a primal roar, I summon every ounce of strength within me, channeling it into a desperate maneuver. My muscles are straining as I twist my body, using the tree as leverage. The demon’s snarls grow louder, its claws slashing at my arm, but I hold on, unyielding.
With a burst of energy, I propel myself forward, dragging the demon along. Momentum carries us, and we both crash through the underbrush, leaves and twigs swirling in our wake. The forest seems to tremble at our clash, nature itself holding its breath.
Fury and desperation intertwine, squeezing my chest as we struggle.
I despise the intense combat at close quarters, where every move is suffocating. I desperately try to mist and reform, but the demon’s strength overwhelms me. Struggling to break free, I raise my knee, grazing the demon’s leg in a feeble attempt to dislodge him. With my daggers tightly in hand, I plunge them into his back, twisting with all my might. The demon’s agonizing howl pierces the air, and he releases me as he stumbles backward.
Sliding down the rough bark of a tree, I collapse to the ground, my legs unable to support me properly. Sharp pain shoots through my torso, indicating multiple broken ribs.
Chest heaving, I rise to my feet, using the tree as leverage. Where did he go?
Before I can register movement, my back is slammed against the tree again, and with a horrifying crunch, the demon sinks his teeth into my arm.
A scream tears from my throat as waves of agonizing pain lash through me. The demon chuckles, tearing a chunk of flesh away.
Fueled by adrenaline, a feral growl rumbles from my throat, and I deliver a knee to his midsection. He steps back, and I bring my leg up, kicking the demon’s chest and propelling him into the dirt and leaves, his body landing in an awkward sprawl.
Fuck this. I need to heal and regroup.
I quickly turn and sprint into the dense, towering trees, the scent of damp earth and moss filling my senses as I heave in lungfuls of air. I hate running from a fight, but his skill is on par with my own. It’s obvious I’m facing a battle that’s beyond my capabilities to win while injured.
I leap onto a massive fallen tree, propelling myself forward and transforming into my owl form. My wings stretch wide, the cool rush of wind brushing against my feathers as I vigorously flap, desperate to gain altitude. Peering down, my sharp eyes scan the ground, but the demon eludes my sight.
Suddenly, a whistle pierces the air, and I flare my wings, abruptly stopping my forward momentum. A searing pain courses through my entire body as I realize an arrow has struck me. Shock washes over me, and my wings falter as I descend rapidly, my thoughts becoming muddled and hazy.
As I hit the ground with a thud, the shock reverberates through me, but strangely, I barely register any pain. Trembling, I focus intently, willing my body to revert to its human shape. It takes more effort than I care to admit to make the change.
Lying there on the damp ground, panting heavily, I stare up at the towering canopy of trees. A cold sweat covers my skin, causing it to glisten in the moonlight. Hissing through my teeth, I feel for the rough texture of the arrow, then wrap my fingers around it . . . and pull. Intense, scorching agony courses through my chest, igniting every nerve ending. A scream escapes my lips, reverberating through the air as I painstakingly extract the arrow from my subscapularis. The searing pain renders my left arm almost immobile; the arrow’s ruthless trajectory has shredded the muscle.
Suddenly, a looming, dark shadow casts a chilling presence over me, obscuring the gentle glow of the moonlight. I drop the bloody arrow, breathing heavily through clenched teeth as I try to focus on the blurry figure looking down at me. My heart races uncontrollably as the poison from the arrow courses through my veins.
“Running is futile, little pet,” the demon hisses in his chilling native tongue.
“Fuck you, old man,” I grunt, trying to push myself to my feet.
The demon clicks his tongue. “A few feedings from you and I won’t look old for much longer.”
I struggle to regain my footing, the sensation of numbness tingling through my lower limbs. With clenched teeth, I muster the strength to launch a desperate swing toward the demon, my unsteady balance threatening to betray me. A heavy sigh escapes the demon’s lips as a forceful blow connects with the side of my head, sending me spiraling into darkness. In mere seconds, the world around me dissolves into a void, the absence of light engulfing every sense.
Chapter fifteen
Kai
