Page 48 of The Hellbeast's Betrayal

WHEN BLOOD IS SPILLED

ELLA

Saying goodbye to Jared was one of the hardest things I had ever had to do. Because this wasn’t like it had been when jumping into the portal to save him. This wasn’t one of those split second decisions I had been forced to make.

This was planned.

It was the uncertainty. It was the unsure promise we made to each other. The way we gripped on to each other tighter, just for those few precious moments longer. It was the last bittersweet kiss goodbye, not knowing if we would ever get another. It was the last words of love uttered between the two of us.

It was the heartbreak we both had no choice but to endure.

“I will come for you, I swear this,”he had told me fervently, making me nod in his arms because I couldn’t stop my tears from falling. My hand held onto his as long as I could before I had no choice to let go as I was ushered to leave. The pain in our faces was easy to see by all as Koro told me gently,

“It’s time.”

So, I had let myself be led away, knowing I was doing the right thing, no matter how hard it was to leave him. And he knew it too. Because without his beast there to fight, the battle would have been near impossible to win.

Which brought us to now, as Koro led me and my sister to somewhere he knew would be safe and far from the battle, because the moment that Koro was seen fighting for the other side, then his cover would be blown. I had even asked him whether it looked odd with him not there to fight for Garmr. But he assured me that he had been sent on a mission to try and find my sister. This so as Garmr could once again use her to get me to do whatever he wanted me to. To use her as a tool to manipulate me. Because of course, he had been the one to hunt her down in the first place, assuring Garmr that he could do it again.

As for who else joined us on our journey, they agreed Asher and Koro’s sorceress, Sorina, would be enough.

As for Tyr, Jared convinced him that his skills at fighting would be needed in battle, something he was happy to hear, because well…he was the God of War after all.Which basically meant he was born for fighting.

The fight began not long after we left, and my worry only grew the second I caught sight of the army making their way towards the town. One I could see more clearly the further up the valley we travelled. It was like a shadow had fallen on the land and was floating across it as the thousands of HellHounds all ran as one.

As for us, we made for a mountain pass, leading us up toward a forest area, where Koro told us of a network of caves that we could hide in until the battle was over.

“I am sure he will be victorious,” Lerna said to me, putting her arm round me and making me lean into her. This was the first time we had spoken since our argument, one that seemed pointless now with what we currently faced.

I nodded in her hold, dreading the moment the trees swallowed us up and I lost sight of the town completely. Like my last connection to Jared would be severed. It was as if my body was just going through the motions as I left my heart behind.

So, with the forest only steps away, I looked back down to the valley below one last time, my panic taking hold the moment I saw the two sides finally collide. The sight of Cerberus being bigger than anything else on the battlefield at least gave me the hope and encouragement I needed to continue. To know that I had done the right thing. Because now he could fight without having to worry about me being there with him. He would have no distractions to do what he was born to do, and from the realm that powered his beast.

To protect. To guard. To fight.

“Come, for we have much ground to cover,” Koro said, making Lerna take my hand and pull me softly, gently forcing me to leave the sight behind. So, with tears in my eyes, I said,

“Soon, my HellBeast.”

They were the same words I had told him before leaving, along with making him promise to be safe. His answer being,

“Only if you do the same, my love.”

Of course, we said the words but neither of us knew the future. With one glance at Marcus and I knew the same could even be said for him, his face had been a mask of worry. Not a usual sight, which gave everyone cause to be anxious because it was clear he had no clue, for once, what the future held.

So, as we left the sight of the battle behind, stepping into the forest, the echoing sound of the fight also became ever more distant. Until soon, there was no trace of what we left behind at all.

“I am sorry about our fight,” Lerna said after long moments of silence, no doubt trying to keep my mind off the uncertainty I had.

I squeezed her hand and told her,

“I know, and I’m sorry for blaming you for not telling me. I understand now how hard it would have been.”

“That’s no excuse as I should have explained… it’s just… I wanted you to trust me, and you were so angry with me when you first appeared through the portal that I… I was afraid you would hate me,” she admitted, making me stop long enough to pull her in for a hug, one we both needed.

I then looked up to find Koro watching us, before nodding at me in what looked like appreciation. It was obvious he cared deeply for her, and it was like I had told Jared, I was glad that she had found a love of her own.

Because if seeing all those visions of the past had taught me anything, it was that Lerna also deserved to fly free. She deserved to live and love and see the world she didn’t know. She had lived in fear too long and what became obvious now, was lifetimes waiting for the chance to be with the man she loved. Something I knew would only come once the threat was over and Garmr was finally dead.

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