Don’t you do it! Keep moving!
It took everything he had to move forward.
“He’s here!”
Malphas growled as one of the little bastards outed him to his companions. He threw a fireball at the human, then ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction.
They were coming. Faster and in greater numbers.
Malphas ground his teeth, determined to escape them. Blindly, he ran through the trees. Birds scattered to get away from them. Unable to maintain his form through the pain, he felt his body shifting again.
I have to do something…
He went to the wayside and fell, then used his powers to pull leaves and dirt over his body.
“It was right here. I saw it.” The humans were just beside him now.
“Could he vanish?” Another man asked.
“He’s a demon. He could probably do a lot of things. I imagine vanishing would be right easy enough for one such as he.”
“Killing us would be even easier.”
Something moved in the brush.
“Get ‘em!”
They took off at a dead run away from Malphas’s hiding spot.
More relieved than he wanted to admit, Malphas waited for several minutes to ensure they didn’t return this way.
Once he was certain that he was safe, he rose slowly.
Thankfully, he was alone. Ominously so.
The only sound was his echoing heartbeat that drummed in his ears. Indeed, even the insects appeared to be silent.
And still the pain ravaged him.
His legs shaking, Malphas renewed his path through the woods, making sure to avoid any places a human might be.
He needed someplace safe to rest. Then he’d be able to return home. Or to battle. Either one was acceptable.
Death was technically a third option. And given the way his body ached, it was a lot more appealing than it’d been earlier.
Indeed, he was almost ready to cut his own throat to escape this agony.
But he wouldn’t give his enemies that satisfaction. Not today.
As Malphas broke into a small clearing, he saw a rippling stream. A welcoming sight.
Hesitating, he made sure that no one was near, then crept toward it. The sparkling water beckoned him in a way he couldn’t deny. Until then, he hadn’t realized how thirsty he was. But his throat was parched.
Grateful for the small mercy, he fell down beside it and quickly drank his fill.
Malphas let out a relieved breath as he rolled from his stomach onto his side. He spread his black wings wide while he tried to staunch some of the blood leaking from his belly. All he wanted was a few minutes of reprieve.
But a sudden gasp intruded on his peace.
