Landry! Caden cried.
His friend’s face still called to him. Like it had in the street before when they’d overwhelmed him, he couldn’t help the anguish mixed with hope he felt when he saw her. But in her eyes was not the soul of his friend, but the evil of the Behemoth.
We can’t kill her, Iolaire! The only chance Landry has of coming back is for her body to still function, Caden said.
Iolaire twittered. It knew. It understood. But it also gently pointed out to him that the death of innocents might be the cost to bring Landry back. Caden’s heart sank. He loved Landry. He would kill to protect her. But not innocents. She had made a choice. It had been such a powerful choice that the Behemoth didn’t need most of the Horde to transition in this world but just the four of them.
Oh, gods, Iolaire, I… I don’t know what to do! Caden cried.
Love is what drew me to you, Iolaire whispered.
But… but love isn’t just for a single person. It’s for all people, isn’t it? Caden asked.
Yes.
Such a simple answer. But Caden felt like a hypocrite. If it were Valerius there he would let the humans die. He would mourn them. He would hate the choice. But he would do it. The difference was that there had been a choice for Landry that had led her here.
Let’s find a way… Caden stopped. We can’t… can’t let people die for her. Landry would understand… even if I don’t.
They lowered until their eyes were even with Landry’s. She was smiling. The Behemoth was smiling.
This is over, Behemoth, Caden said again. You are prolonging the inevitable.
I am death. I cannot die, the Behemoth said though Landry’s lips did not move.
That was an interesting thought. The Dragons had “destroyed” the Behemoth before. But it had come back. Maybe it always would. That wasn’t comforting. Not exactly. But that also meant the other Dragons would always come back too. The ones that they had battled and won against.
Maybe you can’t be destroyed, not forever, but this time is done, Caden said. Your little plan is over.
Landry cocked her head to the side as if amused by this. It was almost a look she’d give. But her hair wasn’t covering her eyes. So it wasn’t her.
Maybe you’re right. But I want to make you feel my failure and make it yours, the Behemoth said.
The Behemoth released both of the humans. Screams came from their throats. They were halfway down the building before Caden could even think to act. Thankfully, Iolaire was ahead of him--as usual-- and the two humans disappeared in a miasma of frost. When the frost cleared, ice stuck the back of their clothes to the wall. They hung there, eyes squeezed shut, and mouths open.
Good job, Iolaire! Caden laughed.
But then the clothes ripped. And the humans were falling.
No!
Lunging for them would crush them against the Emporium. And there were no more clothes to freeze. Frozen flesh would not be a good idea. So they made snow. Mounds of it that gave the humans a soft landing.
We got them! They’re okay! Caden cried.
But then he heard the soft footsteps as Landry ran towards the opposite side of the Emporium. Laughing.
Where is she going? Caden asked.
They rose up just as Landry reached the opposite ledge. She turned around to face him. Two flaps of their wings and they were high above the Emporium. Landry’s face tracked them.
What’s the Behemoth doing?
The Behemoth was smiling. And then those eyes changed. The Behemoth blinked. Confusion followed. More blinking.
“C-Caden?” Landry’s voice came out uncertain, but hers.
Landry? Landry?!
