“A cave, like all Mavka – except this one.” He looked over the house. “It is strange. Why does he live in a human hut?”

Reia smiled. “Because it makes humans comfortable. If you really want my advice, be like him and build your own. If you bring a human to a cave, it’ll make them unhappy.”

He turned his head away, tapping at his snout once more with his foreclaw.

“He did say to be more like a human. I was going to ask him to help me get better clothes. The ones I take from the humans do not fit.”

“Like... help you by taking you to the Demon village?”

He tilted his head. “You know of it. Then can you take me?”

“Ah,” she laughed. He really was stupid. “No. You should definitely ask him instead.”

“Hmm. Then I will stay until he comes.”

“No. I think you should leave and come back later when he is here.”

“I will stay,” he said, sitting down on the very ground in front of her like a dog.

“You should leave.”

“I will stay!” he yelled, his eyes going red in a flash.

Something caught his attention. Something from above.

He turned his head up before she even heard the whooshing sound.

Reia followed where his gaze had turned up to and nearly fell straight on her arse. A Demon! Not just any kind of Demon, but a flying one. One of the most dangerous kinds.

Strong and ruthless.

And it was flying over the salt circle.

How is it above us?

She didn’t get a chance to think about it any longer because it dove and headed straight for Reia with the cry of bird similar to that of an eagle.

Despite the Duskwalker in front of her, she ran. Okay, so instead of Orpheus returning to find out she’d left, he’d come back to discover she was fucking dead because she’d been outside like a damn idiot!

Was it the human in her scent it smelled? The blood of the Demon she’d killed? Perhaps a mixture of both?

She was running in the presence of a Duskwalker, but right now she was more worried about the flying Demon.

She felt the pressure of a clawed, three-toed foot starting to close around the upper portion of her arm right before she made it to the porch. Shit! It was right there, but Reia began to be lifted off the ground. It was grabbing her even though she was wearing the amulet, but the moment it tried to close its foot around her head, it screeched in pain from touching it directly.

Suddenly, they were both knocked to the side.

They separated, the flying Demon being tackled to the ground while Reia was let go and fell about a metre to the dirt. A cry fell from her from the impact, the wind knocked out of her completely while her own hand punched her in the face.

Pain radiated through her shoulder, and she groaned, cringing as she grabbed it. She didn’t think she was bleeding but landing on it had hurt like hell.

Snarling and squawking above her head brought her attention forward to see the Duskwalker she’d been speaking to fighting the Demon.

It was brutal. Watching it was difficult with how fast they were moving as they swiped at each other.

The Demon used its arms to claw while the wings on its back allowed it to hover and jump. It looked more human than any other Demon she’d seen. Other than having wings and bird-like feet, the rest of it was human – even its face. It was even wearing pants! She’d never seen a Demon wear clothing before.

The Duskwalker jumped into the air to latch onto it and clawed down its stomach and back to hold on. He caught one of its wings in the process and broke it.

They both fell with a thump against the ground. The horrible snarling and yelps that came from both of them as they made a writhing heap as they fought, was horrifying.

Purple blood flung off them as their claws glistened with the liquid.

It was hard to tell who was who, but she could make out the white of Duskwalker’s skull and the red glow that emitted between them – the Demon’s naturally red eyes and the Duskwalker’s glowing orbs of rage.

She heard a distinct crack, and then the torrent of feathers that had been fluttering around them settled. A head was flung to the side, landing past the salt circle before rolling into the forest.

It was black instead of white, and relief settled through her. The Duskwalker had won.

Wheezing huffing came from him that ended with a curt whine.

“Are you okay?” Reia asked, shakily getting to her knees so she could stand.

She hissed out a breath when pain shot through her arm from her shoulder when she’d tried to use it to get up.

He growled. A deep, echoing growl that sounded bestial and ferocious.

Just as she got to her feet, he took a step towards her slowly, his maw open and dripping with saliva. Blood was pouring from multiple gashes over his body, and the crimson red in his orbs told her everything she needed to know.

He was angry. He was in pain. And Reia was about to be freaking dead.

She didn’t need to sprint far to get behind the safety of the charms that protected the house. The porch had only been a step away, and she’d climbed it before he could get to her.

With rabid snarls, he bashed headfirst into the barrier. Her heart nearly jumped out of chest at the crunching sound it made. Then he continued to claw and fight at it, bashing his head while also rubbing it over the shield protecting her.

With a gasp, she stepped back at how hard he was trying to make his way through to get to her. He didn’t relent, his movements quick and jarring. She could hear the deep thudding of his skull hitting the barrier, and it vibrated with a warping sound in response to his impacts.

She eyed her sword that lay on the ground near him and out of reach. He has others. Sprinting inside, she went to Orpheus’ room and grabbed one of the other swords that was a little heavier than she was used to.

She dragged it along the ground, her right arm too sore and tender to lift it properly. Then she faced the closed door while standing inside, ready to hold it up and spear him with it if he managed to get past the barrier and burst through the door.

Time passed slowly, a long length of it, as she waited while listening to his horrible sounds. He sounded like a frothing rabid bear and wolf mixed together. Sweat dripped down her temple and back, more from the aches and pains she felt while trying to stay there rather than in exhaustion.

Her heart pumped, but she refused to feel afraid because that would only make him try harder.

I just need to wait him out. Orpheus had been crazed and injured, and he’d managed to calm down.

He didn’t want to hurt her, and she was sure he’d be upset when he realised he’d eaten her.