Apainful wave rolled through Axel’s body, his muscles rigid as he gritted his teeth. It pulled at the chain around his ankle, his skin splitting each time another wave hit.
Eight. Seven. Six.
A chuckle, but Axel ignored it as he continued to count in his head.
Three. Two. One.
The magic released, his body sagging in respite. He’d lost count how many times the cuff around his ankle had shocked him, the hours blending together as he carefully leaned his left side against the wall. The knife through his chest ached, his body trying to heal around the wound.
“Go on,” Baldy spurred. “Remove it, see what happens.” He kicked at a rock, and Axel shifted to the side seconds before it could hit, the blade sinking closer to his heart.
“Where is he?” Axel asked for what must have been the thousandth time. He could feel Titus, knowing he was close, but he couldn’t seem to connect. Every time he stretched out his awareness, he heard nothing but white noise, and then the cuff ignited and cut him off.
Dust rained down in intervals, the ceiling vibrating as something heavy passed above. There was nothing on the three walls that surrounded him, nothing but endless grey and some paler lines that looked like metal had been scraped against the surface. The room he faced was much larger, with movement for the first time in hours. The light was limited, and even with his enhanced eyesight, they strained to make out the shapes in the darkness.
Baldy stretched out his wings, the black feathers and membrane blocking his view for a second before snapping closed. The hole in his head had closed, leaving only a shadowed mark. He had been hit twice more, and Axel had taken great pleasure in knowing one of the bullets had lodged against one of his ribs. He hoped it fucking hurt.
“I need a piss.”
Baldy just rustled his wings in reply.
“Fine,” Axel muttered as he glanced down at the cuff, the silver covered in markings that burned a deep red as if embers consumed the metal. “Don’t moan if I get bored and piss on you.” It wasn’t druid magic, the runes harsher in shape as it began to tighten. Axel braced himself as his tattoos brightened with the wave, his muscles forced to tense. Ten seconds, that was how long it lasted.
His body slumped, but he caught himself before he fell on the knife that protruded an inch from his chest. Each breath was agonising, and he knew that if he pulled it out, he may nick his heart, the magic in the blade temperamental.
“Piss anywhere near me and I’ll cut it off,” Baldy said as he cocked his head, the sight amusing as his horns caught the fabric of his shirt.
Axel couldn’t help his strained laugh, especially as Baldy had to rip the tip of his horn free to leave a tear. “You’re new at this, aren’t you?”
Without a word he turned towards the room, and Axel glared at the two Daemons who stood by the centre, illuminated in a harsh light.
“I’m going to enjoy this,” Baldy chuckled, walking out of the three walls. “Almost as much as I’m going to enjoy destroying that cat. I’ve never taken an Omega before, I wonder if he’ll squeal different?”
Axel snarled, shoving forward until he reached the end of his chain. Bishop watched him from a distance, but it was the other Daemon that caught Axel’s attention. He was huge, not counting the wings that must have been at least twenty-five feet when spread. He stood with the confidence of never being denied and when his gaze settled on Axel’s he froze, beast silent. His gaze was ancient, old enough Axel felt it in his bones.
“It must be a decade or so since I first heard of these druids hunting us down,” he said, his voice a deep rumble that carried across the distance with ease. “Guardians trained to kill my kind.”
Axel tensed, muscles stiffening as the wave started once more. Baldy appeared in his peripheral, a chain rattling over his shoulder as he dragged something heavy behind. It took a second for Axel to realise what it was, his jaw clenched so tight as he waited for the wave to end and release him.
“Ti!” he shouted, except it came out more of a whispered puff, his arm weakly reaching out.
Titus was dragged behind, leaving a red smear from the open wound on his back. His eyes were open, liquid silver glazed over as he remained limp.
“This Guardian has been interesting to learn,” the greater Daemon said as Baldy yanked Titus violently. “His body’s able to withstand more magic than I thought possible for someone that hasn’t ascended. He hasn’t screamed once. Fascinating really.”
“Stay the fuck away from him!” Axel shouted, louder this time as he yanked at the cuff around his ankle. The heavy metal bit into his skin, but he didn’t care. “You’ve got me, do what you want with me!”
“You?” the Daemon appeared before him, drifting the distance in a second. “Why would we chooseyou?” The packet of three pills appeared in his hand, and with a chuckle he dropped them just out of reach. “I must say, my kind have feared you for so long, but you, you’re a disappointment.” He crouched, a slow smile curving his lips. “I bet you would’ve screamed for me, and even if you didn’t, I wonder how long we can tease you with whatever poison you’re addicted to before you break?”
With a click he appeared back over with Bishop, the floor beneath their feet breaking open.
“Please!” Axel shouted, “use me. Let him go!”
Baldy finally reached the centre, unhooking the cuff around Titus’s ankle. The floor around him continued to open, the cracks rumbling as Axel climbed to his feet.
Steadying himself on the wall, he called to his cousin. “Ti, get up! Fight this!”
Titus groaned, rolling onto his side. It showed his back, the skin stripped to muscle with the edges seared, flesh blackened. Slices had been made along his shoulders, shapes and marks that continued to bleed down his skin. Some of the wounds should have started to heal, but most looked fresh, raw.
