Man, woman, child, it didn’t matter. He went for them all.
And with every bite, there was always a risk he could prematurely turn one of their people into a Daimon like him—one who had to rely on human or Apollite souls to elongate their lives or else they would decay into dust.
Which was what had driven him insane. For that was the chance every Apollite took whenever they decided to thwart Apollo’s curse in the manner that Apollymi had taught them. It was the risk no one ever mentioned or talked about, except in hushed whispers or fearful tones whenever they thought the goddess or his father couldn’t hear them.
It was hard enough to make the decision to become a true predator who lived off the life force of other sentient beings. To consume their souls so that you could live one more day past your curse.
It was quite another once you realized that every soul you consumed came with the very real possibility that it could drive you insane and turn you into this crazy, mindless beast that might cause your friends and family to be forced to put you down, with extreme prejudice.
But his people had no choice. Once the trelos madness took hold, there was no way back.
Death was the only option, as a new soul only worsened the madness of the previous one. Urian felt terrible for the beast, but his feelings didn’t matter when it came down to it.
Trelos Daimons posed as much a risk to the Apollite population as they did to the humans. They were akin to a rabid animal that killed indiscriminately. Without mercy, compassion, or comprehension. Therefore, he had to put aside his own emotions and help destroy them.
“Where is that bitch!” the trelos screamed. “I want the throat of the goddess who turned us into this!”
Stunned and shocked, Urian drew up short as he heard lucid words. It was the first time a trelos had said anything remotely sensible while in this state.
His father moved to cut off the trelos’s path to Apollymi’s palace.
For once, his father was no obstacle. With an astounding ease of motion, the Daimon knocked his father aside and slammed Archie into Davyn. Then he picked up Paris and threw him into Theo. Both of them crashed to the ground, tripping three others in the process.
Urian barely cut the trelos off before he reached Apollymi’s doors. “Don’t.” With a move he’d learned from studying Styxx’s journals and diagrams, he used his shield to press the Daimon backward.
The Daimon slung him to the side with the unexpected force of a Titan. It was so great that for a moment, Urian feared the bastard had torn his arm from its socket.
Thathadn’t been in the manual.
Urian hit the ground hard but refused to stay there. No one would ever keep him down. Not for anything.
Rather, he quickly rolled over with his shield and in one fluid motion sprang to his feet. Prepared for war, he held his ground, but he knew his legs were wobbly. He only prayed that it wasn’t obvious to anyone else.
Especially the beast he faced.
With a loud, furious roar, the Daimon moved to wrest the shield from his arm. Afraid that this time he might actually lose his limb, Urian let it drop and stabbed him in the side. The trelos screamed and staggered back. His breathing labored, Urian unsheathed his kopis and stepped forward to slice upward with a stroke that landed straight in the center of the Daimon’s chest to hit the black mark where the human souls he’d feasted upon had gathered to form a giant stain over his heart. Instantly, the Daimon burst apart, showering them with a fine golden powder.
More relieved than he wanted to admit, Urian barely suppressed his nervous laughter. Mustering as much bravado as he could, he used his arm to wipe away his sweat and tried his best to act nonchalant about his victory. As if he did this kind of thing all the time, instead of it being his first real victory in battle.
But inside, he was turning cartwheels.
Who’s the Daimon-slayer? I’mtheDaimon-slayer. Kiss my ass, bitches!
Archie began cursing him while the crowd around them cheered his name. His father smiled proudly. Yet in all honesty, and in spite of his relief, Urian was more shocked than anything. Stunned he was still standing and that his strike had worked.
Given the size and immense strength of the Daimon, he was lucky he wasn’t bleeding on the ground, lying next to his shield in pieces.
Come to think of it …
Where was his shield?
Urian scowled as he realized it was nowhere to be seen.What the …?
“You were amazing!” His father clapped him on the back and hugged him.
As did Davyn and several others who rushed to congratulate his victory.
Until they realized that Apollymi and her Charonte stood in the open door of her palace, glaring at them.
