Page 29 of Dormeo
Ash storms, all brooding energy, leaving behind the bitter taste of anger that makes the atmosphere uncomfortable long after he’s left.
Slumping down on the couch, I stare at the shut door, still picturing his broad back criss-crossed by worn brown leather straps and laden down with weapons. Even though he’s pissed off and about to hurt someone, my libido shot through the roof when he thrust his sword into its sheath.
There’s something very wrong with me.
Right before he slams the door shut, Lily gives me a mischievous wink and a small wave, her waves of crimson hair swishing around her slim shoulders as she disappears into the dark hallway.
Pretty and petite as she is, there’s no mistaking the danger she’s capable of.
She strikes me as the kind of woman who loves to light a match and watch the chaos she’s created burn the world down.
This time.
Carefully chosen words, no doubt, successfully designed to leave me sitting here, knowing I’m being kept in the dark and feeling helpless about what’s going on outside.
Ash has left a few times while I’ve been asleep, leaving Barghest in charge of minding me, but he never felt the need to explain himself. After the first time he came home soaked in another man’s blood, I chose not to ask questions I’m sure I don’t want answers to.
And he hasn’t left since the attack.
Lily suggested this isn’t the first time he’s thwarted a rescue attempt. Surely, that’s something he should have mentioned. For no reason other than to let me know what to expect when I return home.
Recalling the blood that dripped down his face on his last return, I twist my fingers together. I know he’s capable of it, but those men were murderers. He’s hardly killing those coming to rescue me, is he? Not when they’ve done nothing more than fall for my father’s devious lies, telling people, no doubt, that I’ve been kidnapped rather than handed over as collateral by him while he concocts some awful plan to reestablish our wealth.
These are innocent men. They do not deserve to die at the hands of a demon for trying to do something good and decent.
Feeling nauseous and slightly guilty for the danger these men are finding themselves in, I quickly dress and hurry to the balcony. The blast of warm air as I move outside has me blinking and turning my face, needing a moment to get used to the dry air. From below, I hear the creak of hinges and a loud clang as wood crashes off metal.
Then I see him.
Ash strides out into the darkness, Lily hurrying along beside him, black hood and cape hiding her diminutive frame. She flicks back one side of the long, flowing material and rests her hand on the hilt of her knife, her head twisting from side to sideas they move further into the gloom, in the direction of the cliffs to the west.
Eager to watch them for as long as I can, I lean forward, just about able to make out the outline of a small posse of men, heavily armoured, who march toward them.
The wind makes hearing their words impossible, but from the sharp tones and the angry hand gestures, it’s easy to tell it’s not a welcome that Ash is giving them. Lily shifts, her stance slightly wider, ready for the fight as the men spread out in a semicircle, trying to surround the two demons standing unbothered before them.
Pointing back in the direction they came, with a jerk of his head, sharp horns gesturing for them to move, Ash holds up one dark finger and waits.
One chance to go back to where they came.
I hold my breath, praying they agree and just leave. I’m so far unharmed, and I don’t wish for anyone to get hurt on my behalf. My father may still make good on his deal, and we can all return home, and forget any of this ever happened.
And Ash. With a warm feeling still flowing through my veins from every flash of last night’s dreams, I’m getting strangely attached to him. He might be gruff, but he speaks of respecting and pleasing women in a way that’s both alien and appealing to me.
With the prospect of more enjoyable naps in my immediate future, I’m in no hurry to leave him.
My heart sinks as the leader of the human posse withdraws his sword and points it straight at Ash. With a weary sigh, Ash adopts a fighting pose and shakes his head at his opponent, mocking the mere idea that this man thinks he could fight him.
The human strikes first, but Ash easily bats away his blows, pushing him back each time with ease, and toying with him, wounding him with small slices of the blade rather than deadlyblows. This continues for a few minutes, and with the human tiring, his companions decide to join in and attempt to take Ash down with a cowardly blow from behind.
Lily is there quickly, deflecting the strike and stabbing the man quickly with her blade in the gut, a more deadly wound than any Ash has inflicted so far. She’s not taking prisoners where Ash seems reluctant to do more than just deflect the human’s attacks.
As more men swarm around, Lily spins and ducks, kicking out legs and striking with vicious precision anyone who attempts to come after her or intervene in her brother’s duel. The way she moves is hypnotic and graceful as she twirls around her attackers and seems to dance around their attempts to get hold of her.
It’s the complete opposite to Ash’s display of pure strength and dominance where he simply stands tall and blocks each blow with such ease, that he looks like a father blocking the playful swats of his children.
Ash’s mouth moves, and once more, he tips his head toward the cliffs, sweeping his arm around to gesture at the injured and dying man lying on the ground where Lily has felled them.
She stands to one side and slips her bloodied blade back into its sheath on her hip, waiting to see what’s going to happen next.
