Page 41 of Taken to the Deadlands

That should teach me to try to be a good person.

Aris had been ignoring me since that night. She didn’t even try to come back to her room. I don’t know where she’s been sleeping, but it hadn’t been with me.

Finally, after four days of being ignored, I decided I needed to take matters into my own hands.

“Hey, you.”

The demon who had been bending over to put something in the rusty oven jumped and let out a shrill scream that caused me to flinch.

Thera turned to me with wide eyes and a slightly agape mouth.

I had seen her around once or twice since I had gotten here but never had a chance to talk to her. Though based on Aris’s reaction the first time we met, I was pretty sure he’d planned for us not to meet. And now I could see why.

Black veins appeared on her forehead, and her eyes began to glow.

The frenzy.

Or at least that’s what the demons called it. I should have been worried that she was fighting her instincts to eat me, but after living with Aris for the time I had, I couldn’t help but feel for them. They didn’twantto hurt me. That much was clear.

“Where’s Aris?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

She took a step back, her eyes darting around the room.

“You shouldn’t be this close to me. It’s dangerous.”

I rolled my eyes. “The quicker you answer the question, the quicker I’ll leave.”

She opened her mouth to speak but then snapped it shut and shook her head wildly. Her clawed hand gripped onto the counter behind her, and for the first time in days, fear seized my heart.

I took a step back.

Shit.

I had severely underestimated just how much my presence would affect her.

“Where are you going?” she asked, though her voice didn’t sound much like hers anymore. There was a growl to it. Her eyes narrowed at my movements. I took another step back, but she was following me like I was her prey.

Damn it.

“I think I hear Aris,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “I’ll just go to her now.”

My heart was beating wildly in my chest, and my throat was closing in on itself. Even if I wanted to scream, I doubt I would have enough time to.

The demon gave me a sharp nod and closed her eyes, the internal fight against herself and her frenzy obvious on her face.

“I can smell your fear, human,” she muttered, her eyes still closed. She inhaled deeply.

I took two more steps back. By the time the heel of my foot hit the ground for a third time, her eyes popped open.

Run.

I turned and ran back into the hallway I had come from. I launched myself too hard and ended up slammed into the wall but used it as leverage to push me forward.

Her roar shook the walls around me.

“Run, human! And when I catch you, I’ll enjoy tearing your flesh?—”

The sound of my heart pulsing in my chest combined with the thuds of my feet against the carpeted floors drowned out her words.

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