Page 56 of A Soul to Keep

Her scent grew stronger as he got closer and the sound of leaves crunching under quick, but light, footsteps told him she was running.

Orpheus gave a bellowing roar with parted fangs, the chase sending an electric thrill and excitement through him. Those hands squeezed his brain, and he panted. His vision dazing as it pulsated in and out.

He was so close he could hear her gasp at his roar, knowing he must be coming upon her. He was her death, her doom.

Then he saw her. Reia stopped and turned to him just in time for him to lunge at her.

She knocked against the ground, but her halt had stopped his claws from ripping into her, instead they found air around her back. His jaw clanked and clicked as he widened it swiftly, his head backing up to make room as he hovered above her.

Just as he dived his head forward to sink his fangs around her head for a quick strike, she ducked it forward at the same time, causing him to miss her. A crackling, wet snarl was loud even to his own hears.

“Orpheus!” she cried, wrapping her arms around his neck to bury her face against his monstrous, fur-covered chest.

He froze. His name and her tight hug burst through the fog that clouded his mind from the chase.

“I’m sorry!” She began to sob, the salt of her tears filling his sense of smell as she heaved her chest against him. Her nails dug through the long fur around his shoulders as they embedded into his flesh. “T-thank you so much for saving me.”

He didn’t know what to do. His emotions were still too chaotic, his thoughts still uncontrolled. He could still attack her. He could still hurt her.

I almost ate her.A part of him still wanted to.

“Reia,” he warned as he placed his hand around her shoulder to pull her away from him. He needed space to calm down. He was still in a highly agitated state.

She shook her head while squeezing him tighter.

“I’m so sorry. I was so stupid. I sh-shouldn’t have left.”

His head shot to the side when he heard the snap of a thin branch on the ground.

We need to leave.Demons would fall upon this area soon at the smell of the arachnid Demon’s blood – and he currently had a human in its vicinity.

“We have to leave,” he told her, trying to get to his hands and paws to get her to let go. Then he stood, able to stand on his pawed feet alone even though that bent his body so that his arms hung forward.

She continued to cling to him until she was dangling in the air, before slipping her legs around his waist to stay attached.

He heard more rustling and knew they were running out of time. Orpheus wrapped one arm around her securely and began to run, occasionally dipping forward to balance himself with his free hand.

His eyes were a diluted red, fear for her safety making it appear whiter than normal.She isn’t wearing the amulet.

He raced for their home, needing to get her within the protective salt circle there. He needed her safe.

Reia sobbed as Orpheus carried her through the forest.

She knew they were going fast by the cold chill of the air cutting through her skin, but the warmth he emitted kept the shivers at bay. She could hear the rustling of movement beside them, as if something, or multiple somethings, were following them.

Orpheus snarled before he jumped sideways with the sharp, clipping sound of his jaws snapping around air. A warning. He knew they were being followed as much as she did.

“Give us the human, Mavka.” She heard from her left.

“Feedus!” This time it came from the right, a different voice telling her it was a second.

He ran faster than they could keep up, and they quickly fell behind.

She couldn’t stop crying, couldn’t stop clinging to him, not daring to let him go or peek her head up to see the Demons despite not being afraid. She trusted him. Trusted he would protect her.

She didn’t know how long he’d been running for, but the only reason they separated was because his legs crumbled, and they fell sideways to the ground. A gasp tore through her, andher arms loosened from shock when she thudded against the dirt.

He’d tried to shield her by wrapping his massive hand around her head when they hit the ground, but she bounced away from him after they fell.

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