Runaway Devil
66

Kara

My toes were cold. I could barely feel them, the only thing reassuring me that they were there was the pressure from my boots. I felt rough stubble on my forehead and vague rocking. I peeled my eyes open, my head pounding worse than usual.

The sky was bright and quiet like it always was following a storm. I took a breath in and grunted. Balan huffed next to me, his breath fanning over my chest. I lifted my arm and rested my hand on his head. Touching him made me feel more grounded, knowing he was close to me helped me pull myself together. I blink a few more times, the figure above me coming into focus.

My chest ached as I looked up at him, his face so close to mine. I hadn't been this close to him in years, the feel of his arms around me made me want to cry. He stared at me like he couldn't believe I was there. I stared back with the same bewilderment.

"Hey," he said, his voice just as rough and deep as I remembered. His eyes trailed over my face, taking me in completely.

"Hi," My voice was scratchy and small, I couldn't muster much else. I felt his hand on the back of my head, his arm supporting me. I reached for his face, my fingertips trembling. I was a hair's distance away before he met me halfway, leaning his cheek into my hand. My chest grew even tighter and my lips quivered. He smiled at me, a small smile that shown through his eyes.

My breath was shaky, coming out in short bursts. I felt lightheaded. He hadn't changed. He still had his close-cut beard, the same beard that used to tickle my skin. His eyes were the same eyes I sought every evening and morning. The same eyes I looked for while in the throes of battle. My breath caught and my vision blurred with tears.

He leaned forward, his body covering mine, and our lips brushed. We tasted of blood and sweat and tears. He held me close with no intention of letting go. "You really got yourself into some trouble," he said in a breathy voice, inches from my mouth.

"I always do." A small smile graced my lips. He buried his face in my neck, my hand on the back of his head. I ran my fingers through his hair, taking his scent in. I took a deep breath, a deep ache in my side cutting it short.

I opened my eyes, looking over his shoulder, and saw Bethany, Jerry, and Ben. They stood, shaking, with distant looks in their eyes. "Jareth," I said quietly, "let me up." He pulled back and looked at me, a storm behind his eyes. I raised my brow and dared him to refuse me. "After everything that's happened, you think I'm gonna let a stab wound kill me?" He sighed and stood, handling me gently. I was unstable, my legs having lost most of their feeling. His arm wrapped around my waist and I gripped it, grinding my teeth against the pain.

I squeezed the back of his neck, silently encouraging him to let me go. He loosened his grip but his hands still hovered over my skin, like I was a toddler and he was waiting for me to fall. I stood and tested my legs for a moment. When I didn't collapse, I took a step towards them.

Ben stared, his eyes moving in and out of focus. When he finally saw me, instead of looking through me, he stepped towards me. He was slow and cautious, my true form still intimidating to him. I continued forward, eventually standing in front of him, looking down at his upturned face. He was staring unblinkingly at my horns.

I waited, I was not about to be the first to say something. He opened his lips, words working their way up his throat. But when they got to his tongue, they withered and disappeared. He closed his mouth and reached a hand forward, towards my forehead. I bowed my head as nonthreateningly as possible. His fingertips grazed my horns, starting at the base, slowly gliding upwards.

I could see my reflection in his pupils. I couldn't blame him for taking it slow. I knew what I looked like, especially to humans.

"They're so big," his voice was small like it was squeezed from his throat.

"Yeah. When I was young, they always felt heavy."

"Not anymore?"

I smiled. "No." He gulped and gave me a once-over.

"So, you look like this all the time?"

"Normally," I nodded and held my arms out as if to show him myself fully. He tilted his head to the side and a playful shine glinted in his eyes.

"Is that a tail?" I followed his gaze and found my lioness tail flicking, inches above the ground. I hummed a response and found him smiling at me. Bethany approached, joining him in front of me. She was staring with open bewilderment, her mouth slightly ajar.

"You're so much bigger up close," She reached forward and grabbed my arm, squeezing and prodding. I smirked and let her explore. She circled me, running her fingertips over my torso and comparing the sizes of body parts. She held her hand up to mine, her eyes growing bigger. My hand dwarfed hers; I could engulf it with just my fingers.

I looked over her head at Jerry, who knelt beside a small, crumpled body. My face fell. Bethany followed my gaze and stepped back, clearing a path for me. I limped towards them, trying my best to be unimposing. I lowered myself next to Jerry and placed my hand on his shoulder. He turned his face to me, tears streaked his cheeks, his eyes red and puffy. There was a deep sadness in his eyes that I had never seen. It broke my heart.

It conjured tears to my own eyes as I cradled his head against my shoulder. I stole a glance at Issac. It was a mistake. His head was in Jerry's lap, connected to his body by a small string of tissue. His glasses were in the dirt, shattered and blood-stained. Like Issac.

His face was white, the soil soaking up his blood like a dry sponge. I picked the specks of dirt from his face, my mouth pulled tight into a grim line. I closed his mouth, straightened his neck, what was left of it, and closed his eyes. He did not look like the Issac I knew. His eyes were always bright and playful, but he looked so still and fragile now. He was serious in death.

I held Jerry to me and stood, backing away from the body. I stood with Bethany and Ben, looking over my shoulder at Alec. He met my gaze and nodded in understanding. He approached the body, kneeling at his head, and placed his palm on his forehead.

The field was deathly silent, the fire that enveloped Issac just as quiet. Alec stood back, respecting the silence of the flame as it cradled the dead. He clasped his hands behind his back and bowed his head, giving Issac a warrior's send-off.

A single sob left my mouth, followed by a shaky gasp. I squeezed my eyes closed, feeling light-headed. Ben Grabbed Jerry and held him close in a fierce hug. They had all been friends since grade school.

And then I waltzed in and got him killed.

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