She watched on, haunted. Lephas – her handsome, wonderful demon – slumped heavily into the snow. It was no longer white; saturated a sickening crimson.
How much of it was from the bear? She didn't know.
His large body shook with tremors he couldn't fight. He was silent, no yelling out or roaring in pain... Silent.
“Lori?” he called to her, his voice hoarse.
The invisible chains of terror holding her in place shattered and the faerie ran headlong into the carnage before her. Her boots slipped and she fell. The princess scrambled forwards on her hands and knees.
Up close, Lori felt hot panicked tears spill down her cheeks. There was nothing left of Lephas's forearm. It was shredded beyond recognition and blood pumped freely into the snow. She fought back the urge to vomit.
“Lori? I can't... I can't see.”
“I'm here!” Her hands flew to him. “Please, tell me what to do!”
“Nothing... to do,” he gasped, spitting a mouthful of blood into the snow. She heard the sickening rattle of fluid filling his lungs and the demon fought for breath.
“No-no-no-no!” she cried and tugged at him, trying to get him up out of the snow. “No, there must be something!”
He allowed her to shove him roughly on to his back. The demon hissed in pain, flashing blood-stained teeth.
“Listen to me...” he gasped. The wind whipped at them, stealing his voice. Lori leant in closer, her hands shaking violently and more tears spilling.
“Please...Please don't die.”
“Get... Get out of here,” he rasped at her. The demon fixed her with a cold, vacant stare. His eyes were glazed and unseeing.
“No, I can't–”
“You must!” With a show of real effort, Lephas brought his uninjured arm up and placed his hand on her face. “Remember what I’ve taught you. Get... safe.”
Lori held his palm against her with both hands, desperately clinging to him.
“No... No, please...” she sobbed.
“Lori! Get thefuckout of here!Go!” he roared angrily, baring his bloodied fangs at her.
The princess scrambled to her feet in the deep snow, blinded by tears, and ran headlong into the forest. Snow and ice pelted her, biting at her skin. Pain reverberated throughout her body.
Still onwards she ran. She couldn't breathe and violent sobs suffocated her. Tears froze on her cheeks, so cold they felt like they would burn right through her flesh.
A loud, agonised roar echoed through the forest behind her. It pierced her consciousness, even over the howling winds and the blood pumping in her ears.
Lori fell forwards into the snow. She didn't fight to keep herself on her feet. Her body hit the ground with force, knocking the air from her lungs.
She coughed and spluttered, heaving violently - her body’s futile attempt to rid her of her grief. As if it were that easy.
“What am I doing?!” she screeched desperately and hurled herself to her feet once more. The faerie turned and began sprinting back towards the demon as quickly as she could manage. Her arms pumped at her side and she leapt through the deep snow.
Lori skidded onto her knees beside Lephas once more. He was still and his body had ceased it's violent shaking.
She reached out and grasped his hand, squeezing it tightly. There was no response. A dark void opened up in her chest.
“Lephas...”she whispered, clambering closer and holding his face in her hands. “No... Lephas...”
His beautiful dark eyes stared ahead, vacant and lifeless.
“Please...” she begged. “Don't leave me...”
