Page 34 of Monsters in My Bed
Did he swim in the pools?
How do you defeat someone who can't die?
As if hearing the despondence of my thoughts. Roxy's baby stirs in The Fallacious’ arms and cries. He shifts between his three forms, but the False King doesn't let him go. I know it's not out of concern for the baby, but rather to keep me in place because the sick bastard is using the child against me.
Zuriv clicks his tongue and his army of scion spring into action, swiping at Xhoshad and Nerazi. Seriq pulls me close while my other mates fight in what appears to be an unwinnable battle. The two of them run away from us so they're at a distance, ever protecting me from danger.
“Stay close to me.”
This is the only warning Seriq gives me before he lunges at The Fallacious. It's a testimony of how far we've come—of the trust he has in me to make sure I stay safe, and of the utter evil that the False King represents. My mate's attack catches Zuriv off guard, and Seriq's claws slice into one arm.
The Fallacious drops the baby—who's currently in his Vasura form—and I scurry forward to grab him, tucking the monstrous baby into me as I roll out of the way. Stuck between two different battles, I'm torn in which direction to look, and ultimately back away toward the Malevolands. The only wise option is to run.
I take Roxy's baby and turn to flee as fast as my human legs can carry me. It’s up to my mates to take down The Fallacious because I have no chance of hiding or escaping from him if I’m to protect the baby. But as I start to run, Seriq lets out an inhuman bellow. The Fallacious looms over him, his lips moving as he no doubt whispers terrible things to my green-eyed monster.
Zuriv raises his claws, poised to strike, and I grind to a halt, stumbling to keep my balance. I take for granted that my mates are indomitable, but I don't really think they're immortal. They bleed just like humans and can die just like us, too. If the False King slits Seriq’s throat, there is no sinqol coursing through my mate's veins to save him.
And fuck if I know how to use what I have inside of me to heal him, either.
I panic, gripping the baby even tighter in my grasp. Right before The Fallacious can move, I scream at him to stop, but Zuriv just appears amused at my command.
“You're only delaying the inevitable—which is his death.”
“Spare him, and I'll go with you. I'll be yours to use… however you want.”
The Fallacious chuckles in evil delight. “Anything I want to use; however I want—how enticing of you, my dear. I accept.”
“No!” Seriq growls just as Zuriv swipes down a hand across my mate’s stomach.
I watch in horror as he's sliced wide open. “Seriq!” I turn in anger toward Zuriv. “We had a deal, dammit!”
The Fallacious scoffs. “I said I wouldn't kill him, but I'm not going to leave him well enough that he can come after us. What kind of fool do you take me for? Don’t fret, dear, there’s a chance he might heal… although there’s a greater chance he ends up scion food. But either way, a promise is a promise. And if you don't want me to kill him on the spot, you'll go with me.”
I make to run towards Seriq, willing the sinqol to my hands to heal my mate, but the False King catches me and throws me over his shoulder. I nearly drop the baby and move into an upright position as Zuriv shifts into a shadow form and flies away.
The last things I see through the darkness are Xhoshad and Nerazi fighting a legion of scion, and Seriq, who fought so bravely for me, left bleeding. The sight ignites a fire underneath me, and I'm even more determined than before to defeat Zuriv. It doesn't matter what the prophecy says—my death is worth his in spades—and if that's what it comes down to, then that's what will happen.
Fortified by this, I relax slightly in The Fallacious’ hold, peering down at Roxy's baby. The little guy shifts between his Vasura and human form. I pull his face close to mine, our cheeks touching as I hum a little lullaby. It seems to soothe him, and after a few seconds, he calms, choosing his human form. I take it as a sign that he's doing better.
His Vasura wants to fight, but his human side is like any other child—he wants comfort and someone to care for him. More than anything, I wish I could give him to Roxy and Rastorj, his rightful parents, instead of the monster that's taken us hostage.
The Fallacious flies us out and over the Malevolands, heading back in the direction of his castle, and I tell him about his home. How the volcano erupted and The Palasseum is burning, but the False King doesn’t seem fazed.
“It’s fine. I don't plan to establish my kingdom here, but rather in your realm. Once my Revenant Swarm corrals all the humans, it will be nothing but an endless feast.”
“Your army is no more, remember? They're out finding their mates, and when they do, they're going to come back here and rail against you. No matter what, you will always be fighting someone—you will never have peace—and one day, someone will succeed in taking you down.”
Zuriv lashes out, slapping me across my cheek, his claw carving into it once more. “I am all-powerful! You are nothing but a wish foretold—a lie to give my people hope—but I am the Vasura savior, not you. When my brethren don't find their mates, they will come back to me. Enraged. Hopeless. Perfect for turning back into my weapon, and just like the humans, I will consume their emotions, as well. Getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger until I am nothing but vastness, ruler of all the universe. The Supreme Devourer.”
I choke at his words, at the horrid image he paints, and the abuse humans will suffer if he does succeed. Tears splash down my face, mingling with the wound in my cheek. The salty liquid stings the open wound, and I hiccup on a sob. The noise alerts the baby in my arms as I valiantly try to tamp back down my fear and pain, knowing I'm just feeding into Zuriv’s powers as well as upsetting the baby. The little one doesn't seem to enjoy the taste. His face scrunches up as if he’s tried something bitter.
The False King notices this, as well. He places a talon under the baby's chin, tipping it upward. Glowing blue eyes clash with a pair of identical ones. “Why are you upset, son? Can you not taste? Are you not well-fed? This woman is a banquet for the two of us, and I grow weary of your constant wailing.”
The baby's lips quiver as if he can understand Zuriv's words and the menace behind it. The Fallacious looks between me and the infant with interest before pricking the child's chin deep enough to draw blood. The little guy doesn't react—but I do—and I realize this is what the asshole wanted. My outrage. My anger. My fear for the baby.
“Eat,” the False King commands.
Instead of doing as he’s told, the newborn squalls loudly, and I smack Zuriv’s hand away. I turn the baby’s head into my shoulder. Already his scratch has stopped bleeding, but I'm furious. How dare his own father lay a finger on him in such a manner? Not that I'm really surprised but hurting a child is one of the worst crimes anyone can commit.
