Not What It Seems
Chapter 24

Zeriah had gone silent since the Leader of the bandits had come in. He offered me a position in his group, and I honestly considered taking it if it means that Zeriah would be care for. But I didn’t know if he would allow that. My eyes went over to my Firefly. She had since passed out again due to the fever. I knew she wouldn’t want me to join the bandits, not even to save her. But worry caused me to think otherwise. I knew I could get us out of here if I had the right opportunity to escape.

“I’ll give you some time to think about it.” The Leader suggested. “You’d gain many great rewards if you did, and you’d live in luxury.”

“What about her?” I asked with a glare.

His vision moved over to Zeriah and stared at her for a moment. “Well… I guess that’s up to you, isn’t it? I can’t exactly promise her safety here, or out there. You say she’s blind, but I wouldn’t keep her around to be apart of my clan. I don’t have much use for someone blind. She’d only be entertainment for me, my men, or you if we kept her around.”

My hands balled into fists at his words. Now I understood why Zeriah was so upset with me when I told her I saw mortals as toys. This man only saw her as an object to satisfy his desires. There was no way in all of Diab that I would allow that to happen. He was going to give me time to decide, but I knew immediately after that conversation that I wouldn’t join him. I made a promise to Zeriah, and I was going to keep it.

The Leader gave me a smirk and waved goodbye as he walked out of the room. I waited a good few minutes and listened closely to make sure that we would be clear. I began to work against the ropes and pulled at them until they began to break. My arms suddenly pulled apart as the ropes finally gave way. I swung myself up and worked on the ropes holding me to the ceiling of the cave the bandits made their base out of. After a short time, soon my legs were free and I fell to the ground, landing on my feet.

I turned to Zeriah and began to untie the rope that had began to rub her skin raw. Once they were free, I rubbed her red skin to try to ease the pain a bit. My hand then went to her face. She was too warm for my own comfort. I had to get her out of here.

“Firefly,” I called in a whisper. “Come one, Zeriah. Wake up, for me.”

Her eyes began to flutter open. “Vudu?”

“That’s right.” I said with a smile. “I’m getting you out of here. You’re going to be okay.”

A harsh cough racked her body as I began to examine how to get her down safely. I didn’t have a lot of time. If I didn’t get this reaction to the poison under control soon, it would leave lasting damages to her body. Even with the antidote, a fever like this could leave her blind permanently.

“Vudu,” she said weakly. “Just stop. I’m already dead as it is. Just leave me.”

“Don’t you dare talk like that.” I scolded. “I am getting you out of here, and you are going to live. I promised you.”

“What happened to demons never keep a promise?” She asked.

“I’m not like ordinary demons.”

A weak noise came from her throat and I glanced back at her, she looked even worse now than she did a few minutes ago. I did the first thing that came to my mind and used my abilities to burn the rope holding her up. Once it gave away, she fell into my waiting arms. I held her close to my chest and made my way out of the prison like area. Looking around, I made sure that we were safe to move before I began to make my way out of the cave.

“That was faster than I expected.” The voice behind me stopped me in my tracks.

I turned around and glared at the bandit leader. His arms were crossed as he looked at me disappointed. With a snap of his finger, several of his men walked out from several areas and surrounded me. I was left with little choice. In my mortal disguise, it limits most of what I can do with my demonic abilities. But once I dropped that, I was free to access all of my abilities. I could take these bandits out easily, I just had to make sure that my Firefly was safe during the whole thing.

“I’m disappointed you didn’t take my offer.” He stated. “But I can’t say I’m surprised, that girl in your arms I knew was going to be the tipping point for you. Maybe I should have just killed her when I had the chance. Nothing would have held you back to join my clan.”

I glared at him. “If you had killed her, I would spare no expense to kill each and every one of you in retaliation.”

The Leader let out a sigh and motioned for his men to back off. Walking over to me he rubbed his chin and contemplated the situation. He looked over me and the young woman in my arms. His path led him behind me, and I kept an eye over my shoulder to watch him.

He let out another sigh and continued. “I wish it didn’t have to be this way, but I can’t let you or your friend go. I don’t leave survivors.”

Something plunged into my back, but I felt no pain. One of the advantages to being a demon. Instead, black smoke like magic escaped from the wound and enveloped the dagger before it disappeared. My anger had filled me to a point that mortal weapons wouldn’t affect me liked they normally did. I had someone to protect and I was going to do just that.

The Leader stepped back in shock. “What in Diab are you?”

I turned around with a small smile. “Well, you got the place right.”

My eyes changed to show the red of my anger and my guise fell, exposing my true form. In a flash, the room exploded with my power, filling with the black fire that I so often used. This sent the bandits into a panic and left me with an opening to walk out of the cave. No one pursued me and I was able to get Zeriah and I to a safe place.

Once we were a distance away from the cave. I carefully set Zeriah down on the ground and leaned her against the trunk of a tree. Pulling off my cloak, I folded it and placed it behind her head to provide her with a bit of comfort. I needed to find something that would help with the fever she was currently fighting.

Looking around, I eventually found the herbs I often saw her use for healing potions. I was glad that my few days that I was stuck in her home recovering my strength allowed me to read her books and identify the ones I needed. I quickly plucked them and walked back to her. With the herbs in my hand, I tilted her head back and opened her mouth. Squeezing the herbs, the juices dripped from them and into her mouth.

Once that was done, I moved her down to lie down on my lap. Ripping part of my already damaged cloak off, I wet it with some water from our pouch and placed the cool fabric on her head. All I could do now was wait and hope the fever would subside.

Zeriah’s breath seemed to calm a bit and she relaxed more. Gazing down at her, some sense of relief filled my chest. I reached and moved a lock of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. She looked so peaceful while she slept, and I wanted to make sure that she could continue to live a life like this.

I had thought about the many possibilities that could happen if I failed. No matter what, Zeriah would in essence die and a new demon would be born. She wouldn’t be the Firefly I knew. She would be completely different. She would have no memories of me. And she would feel…

I stopped myself from finishing that sentence. Though there was something there, something completely new to me, I didn’t want to chance saying or doing something that would leave her alone. As of right then, she was the most important person to me. If there was a chance for something, I would want it. But the most I could as for was to simply stay by her side and have whatever time with her I could.

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