Page 2 of Once Upon a Demon's Heart
So, what’s one more death?
I firm my resolve and strike his heel with my blade, thinking if I can get him on the ground, he’d be easier to slay. He doesn’t budge from my attack. My eyes widen as he lifts his arm and with one hard thrust, he pierces his sword straight through my chest armor.
Blood spurts from my lips as my head is thrown back with the force of his blow. My helmet falls and topples to the ground. Silvery-white strands of my hair wisp around me, and for the first time I catch a glimpse of the Blood Knight’s eyes as he watches me fall.
They are an inferno of golden amber. Heartless flames. For a second, I think I see a glimmer of emotion flash through them, but my mind doesn’t linger on the thought as darkness clouds my vision. Then the tide of black waves consumes me whole.
I sit straight upin my cot and stare down at my hands.Again.To what end will this loop continue resetting? My gaze shifts to the calendar on the far wall of the knights wing. It’s exactly one week before the demons come to take over Alzhor. The mirror beside the calendar reflects my weary lavender eyes. My silver hair spills over my shoulders and makes my olive skin look rich in contrast. The gold blood in my veins makes my complexion practically glow even though I feel like death.
Korin raises a brow at me from her cot beside me. The sun has just risen and slivers of light streak across the graystone walls of this practical dungeon we sleep in. Vines of ivy grow along the windowsills, thanks to the knights who are descendants of Ceres, the Goddess of Agriculture. The presence of a child of Ceres alone springs life to any dwelling that is unlikely to have it.
Most of the demigods are uncertain of who our parents are until we start to show signs of our gifts. Many never develop their signs though.
I wish that was the case for me.
“What’s wrong, Alira?” Korin asks sleepily as she rubs her eyes. I glance over at her, trying not to grin at the messy brown locks of hair strewn over her face.
I breathe out slowly and press my palm to the fading ache in my chest.Gods, he didn’t hold anything back that time, did he?I muse grumpily. At least he kills swiftly. Not once have I suffered too much from his death blow.
“Nothing, just a bad dream,” I say routinely. It works every time I’m sent back to restart the week. The first few times, I tried to tell her that I’d somehow jumped back in time and she reported me to the healers for insanity. They kept me locked up until the night the Blood Knight came. Long story short, I learned the hard way that no one would believe me.
Korin nods with a drowsy smile before turning into her sheets and almost immediately resuming to snore. Ignorance really is bliss, I suppose. They have no idea what’s coming our way. I press my lips together and narrow my eyes as I take a deep breath, memorizing the scent of the mossy stones and slumbering comrades.
I decided in the days leading up to my last death loop that if I failed to protect my kingdom again, I would abandon it and live for myself this time. Who’s to say if I will survive or not? At least I’ll have a fraction of peace. I want to do something besides fight and train to no avail. What’s the point of all these time resets ifI have to watch all of my friends die before being slain myself? Nothing I do saves any of them. There are too many demons and not enough of us.
I can’t do it anymore.
My pillowcase is heavy with bread, small jars of honey, and dried meats. I secure my sword to my side but leave the rest of my armor behind. It would be suspicious for anyone outside of the kingdom to be wearing a full suit of imperial-grade plates so the sword and black leathers will have to do. It will be easier to explain that I found these things on a corpse if I get stopped and questioned about them.
My thin pale blue cloak is the last thing I secure around my neck before giving the knight’s quarters a final look over.
The men and women in the royal guard are the only people who’ve cared for me for most of my life. I’m not just betraying my kingdom, I’m betraying them. I firm my hands at my side and force myself to turn away from their sleeping forms.
I’ve watched each of them die so many times. I can’t experience it again.
Perhaps leaving will alter their fate,I think blissfully. I close my eyes and pray, even though it’s been decades since anyone has heard so much as a whisper from the deities who created us.
The gods abandoned us long ago. It won’t be long before the final frontier of the deities is gone for good. We’re outnumbered a hundred to one. I huff at the thought. If the mortals and demons want a world without gods, then let them have it. See who answers when the plague comes again to rot the world like it once did centuries ago.
The stables are dark, and the only sound is that of the horses occasionally stomping their hooves over the cobblestones and hay, huffing as I pass.
“Venrey,” I whisper for my chestnut mare. She trots over obediently and stares at me like she knows I’m up to no good.“You’re not going to like the journey we have ahead of us.” I pat her neck before getting the saddle strapped.
The air is brisk tonight, making chills move across my arms. I shiver as I lead Venrey by the reins out of the stable. I don’t have time to ride around the perimeter of the city, so going straight through the courtyard of the royal gardens will be necessary. I won’t be hidden like I want to be, but this is the quickest way. I wince passing the empty flower beds. When I was a child, I remember Alzhor being a much prettier place. Much has changed since the war began thirty years ago.
I hold my breath as we make our way across. Venrey’s hooves seem ten times louder than they’ve ever been before, making my teeth clench tighter with each step. I dare to look back when we reach the end of the courtyard and thankfully don’t see any lights on in the windows. A grin spreads over my lips.
I should’ve run away sooner.If I knew it was this easy, I would’ve. Although I think part of me still had hope we could win the war.
But you can only die so many times before all of your hope is stolen away.
I ride the rest of the way out of the cold, winter fallen kingdom, keeping my hood up in case any early birds are awake. The evening guards don’t bat an eye at me since I’m disguised as a civilian. Thankfully, many of our townsfolk work in the surrounding villages and fields at odd hours. By the time Venrey steps into the open meadow outside the silver gates, we’re at a gallop.
Tall dry grass rimmed in frost bends as the wind blows. Alzhor never gets more than a dusting of snow, but still, my cloak isn’t nearly thick enough for this time of winter. I only need to make it into the forest of Florum before I’m in the clear to start a fire. So, I ignore the icy throb that runs through my limbs and tighten my grasp around Venrey’s reins.
I finally dismount after we’ve ventured deep into the woods and allow a relieved breath to exit my lungs.
Florum is a forest made of the thickest trees in all of Faultore, making it damn near impossible to build a fire unless you bring wood from elsewhere. The height of the branches creates zero visibility, making it safe to have a fire without fear of being spotted by enemies.
