16. Malek

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

MALEK

I hit the gas. My jeep's right-side tires came off of the road as I took a sharp turn. Traveling at breakneck speed, I watched the vast northern territory roll by. Even if I could fly there, it would still take at least another twenty minutes to get to the center.

I still hadn't gotten the full picture from Sam. We'd been too busy mapping out the best route to the center for Sam to explain exactly what was going on. All I knew was that Sunny needed me and I had to get to her as soon as possible.

"Take the next left, Your Grace. The Quester app says it'll shave ten minutes off the drive," Sam said from the passenger seat while tapping his phone.

I took the left and it led us down a lonely and dilapidated road. I glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing Logan, Lucile and Paul sitting in the back. They look like they'd been chewed up and spat out by a rabid dog.

"I see your fights went well," I mouthed, not hiding my disappointment.

"My King, we had two of them on the ropes. They were cornered and badly wounded. If we only had a few more minutes, we could have finished them off-" Lucile persisted, shame high in her voice.

"Lucile, you don't need to apologize. None of you do." I changed gears, and we drifted down a steep hill. "If I'm being honest, I fucked up in every sense of the word. I let my mark toy with me, nearly killing me in the process. I underestimated them and it won't happen again. But what's important now is getting to Lady Sunny and Princess Ferina. Now Sam, tell me again exactly what happened."

"The driver and security team we sent with the princess and Sunny went offline soon after they arrived at the school. I think it was because they were attacked. I tried calling the center administrator, Lady Sunny and the princess. I even tried calling the special forces. But no one would answer. I soon realized the entire city's telecommunications network went down a few minutes after the security team stopped responding," Sam said in a hurry.

"They must have known I was supposed to be there. I rarely make public appearances. The attack must have been meant for me. Probably some disgruntled thraxies stirring up trouble again," I hissed, fisting the dashboard.

"No, my King. This is the most sophisticated attack we've seen since the ‘Hightower Incident'. Whoever did this has resources and access to intel no civilian should," Sam argued.

My gaze narrowed as the trees dwindled, giving way to a suburban neighborhood. I considered what Sam said and it chilled me. It couldn't be who I thought it was. He'd been in hiding for years, knowing too well what I'd do to him if I ever found him. Why would he choose to resurface now?

"Everyone, prepare yourselves for battle. We're all still pretty banged up but we haven't got any better options." I instructed and my team nodded in eager agreement.

"We could be walking into an ambush so keep your eyes peeled," I overtook a slow-moving SUV and took a sharp turn ignoring a red light .

A few minutes later, I pulled down the winding community center driveway. I expected to see something unusual. Maybe a concerned parent or two who'd tried texting their child and didn't get through. But the lawn in front of the center was empty, there was no calm or sign of alarm.

I'd almost thought it a false alarm when Lucile lurched over and pointed at the front door. They'd been blown clean off their hinges and my guards lay splayed out next to them.

"Dammit," I griped, stomping the brake close to the building.

"Everyone out of the car. We have to hurry," I ordered, fresh panic biting into me as thoughts of Sunny twisted in my head. Had she been injured, killed? If anyone laid a hand on her, there would be no act of revenge too cruel for the perpetrator to suffer.

I barged into the building with my men trailing close behind me. My nose had never led me astray and with the building as quiet as it was, I would have to sniff them out.

"Follow me." I nudged my shoulder forward and bounded down the first-floor hallway.

In my current state, shifting to my full beast form would be impossible. All I could do was hope that my strength in normal form would be enough.

I couldn't hear anyone. The center was supposed to be full today. This was a very bad sign. We checked the administrative office and several rooms on the first floor, all empty as a ghost town.

Flying up the staircase to the second floor, my nose was hit by an assortment of smells. Tears, smoke and a hint of blood.

Closed doors dotted the path all the way along the second hallway floor.

A still figure haunted the space at the end of the hall, his face masked by a black hooded cloak. His foul scent carried on the air, reaching me and igniting my rage. I knew that demon .

"Where is Sunny?" I hopped forward with Paul and Sam grabbing my arms, restraining me.

"Wait, my King. This could be a trap. Something doesn't feel right here," Paul cautioned.

"Search for Sunny and Ferina. Make sure they and everyone else in here are safe. There's something I must do." I instructed Paul and the others, pulled my arms free and raced forward.

The cloaked man made a break for the emergency exit. I pursued him up the emergency staircase, up three flights of stairs and onto the roof.

On the roof, he tossed the cloak to the ground, revealing a silver sword at his hip.

The afternoon sun couldn't burn away the darkness that hovered above this demon like flies over dung. I hadn't seen his face in years but the moment I smelt him downstairs I knew exactly who this sick animal was.

"Varcus," I groaned emotionlessly. "It's been a long time."

"Too long". He gave a satisfied smirk, unsheathing his sword, directing its tip up to my neck.

"What have you done with my bride and sister? I'd ask if you hurt them, but we both know you wouldn't dare evoke that much of my wrath. Not again." My hands shifted to that of my beast form, my fingers morphing into dagger-like claws.

Thoughts of peeling Varcus like an orange tempted me.

"Your women are fine, so is everyone else, for now. You know you're the one I came to see."

For now? His words grated my already thinning nerves. He dared threaten my loved ones to my face? Thoughts of slicing him up like a pizza tempted me.

"You want me bad enough to invade a place filled with innocent civilians, including children? And I thought you couldn't possibly sink any lower. Well, you want me so badly?" I beat a fist over my chest. "Here I am." I launched at him, claws first.

My claws tore his neck, hitting nothing but hair as he dashed out of harm's way.

As a ‘pale faced demon' Varcus didn't have the ability to shift into beast mode, but his strength and speed were formidable. I'd heard rumors that he was a highly skilled swordsman, but only now did I see how he garnered that reputation.

His blade moved with a viper's brisk fury, slicing in so many directions, my eyes could barely follow it. His attacks were too random to predict, he was agile and quick footed, never staying in the same place for long.

Though I couldn't fully shift, my inner beast kept me light on my feet, contorting out of his blade's path just quick enough to avoid injury.

One of my claws grazed his cheek and he drew back, concern driving over his face. My fight with Payton left me battered and covered in moderately deep wounds. I was shirtless, with my tattered half-shredded pants covering me.

Even I was surprised that my movements remained this fluid and slick in my condition. Varcus had to have expected me to be an easier target by the look of me.

"She must have some kind of magical pussy to get you this riled up. I'm jealous." He mocked me.

"You shouldn't have involved Sunny in your plans. If you have a problem with me, you should have left her out of it," I roared, taking a swipe at his face and missing.

"You hide away in your lavish castle like a hermit. Courting your pretty little bride is the only thing that's gotten you out and about in ages." A mischievous glint shone in his eyes as his swings picked up pace.

He sliced my left arm and then the right, but they were shallow wounds. What he said concerned me more than the wounds .

He'd been watching me, following my moves from his hiding place in the shadows. He'd been waiting for me to leave my palace but just what was he planning? What was all of this even for?

As if reading my mind he said, "Everything I've done has all been for the good of demons. Can you say the same?"

His elbow straightened, using the blade as an extension of his arm. He feigned right then left, trying to confuse me. I moved with him, never showing him my back.

"What? How is this helping demons?" I asked.

"Your campaign of terror all across the world is why. You've gone way too far and we're the ones paying the price. Even your woman wants you to stop what you're doing," he said.

"How dare you tell me what she wants." I yelled, my pent up anger now reaching critical mass. "I don't know what lies you've been feeding her, but you will never speak to my bride again. I'll make sure of that."

Everything I've done. It's all been for her. Whether or not she understands it is irrelevant. I have lived for thousands of years and everything I have learned during that time has taught me one inalienable truth. Without enough power, everything that we love will be taken from us eventually. There are evil forces that must be suppressed if fragile goodness is to thrive. This is the nature of the world.

"I owe you no explanation. I am the King of Demons. The protection and advancement of our kind is my duty to lead. How I go about that is my decision, not yours," I bellowed, cutting a chunk out of his hip with my claws.

He winced in pain, gripping the area as it hemorrhaged blood. He lifted his sword high with his other hand. Sweat spilled down his face making him blink rapidly.

"You owe me no explanation, do you? So arrogant and you can't even see it. You know what I think? Your invasions have nothing to do with securing demonic dominance or our protection. You don't give a shit about demons!" His legs wobbled haphazardly as agony consumed him. " You show your subjects nothing but callousness and indifference. You resent us for something that happened so long ago. When the fuck will you forgive and forget?"

I glowered at him coldly as the circle of blood stains on his pants grew wider.

"I am the king the people want." He staggered to the side as his blood loss advanced. "You are not a god. And you are the last thing demons need. We both know that the only one in the city with a darker soul than mine is yours." I advanced on Varcus, happy to deal the finishing blow.

The beat of footsteps impeded me and I turned to watch Sunny cruise onto the roof. Lucile came running after her.

"Lady Sunny, I asked you to stay with me!" Lucile shouted. "My King, we found her, and the princess locked inside a room full of children. The terrorists fled before we arrived."

The sun illuminated Sunny's shimmering green hair as she sprinted for me, shouting my name. My anger melted away as I thanked the gods that she was alright and here with me again.

"Lady Sunny, get back here!" Lucile screamed from the door and Sunny ignored her, running to me. The look in Sunny's eyes was one of a type of warmth and care that I hadn't seen there since we were children playing in the forest.

Everything was coming together as I'd hoped. Little by little she had been softening towards me. Every day through my enchanted tattoo I saw her love for me grow. Soon I would ask her to marry me and we would be together, forever. I would build a safe world for us to live, one where no one would ever hurt her or me ever again.

My dream cloud burst into flames as a burning sensation ruptured in my abdomen. I looked down to see Varcus's blade impaling me from behind, like a toothpick through an olive.

The blade retracted, my hot blood sprawled down my legs .

"Malek!" Sunny reached me, taking my arm to brace me against her so I wouldn't fall over.

"You stay right there!" Varcus warned Lucile. "One step closer and I'll decapitate him. He's in too weakened a state to outrun my blade now."

My strength left me like water down a drain. Sunny propping me up was the only reason I was still standing. She spoke to me, worry bleaching her skin. Her voice muted as my body prioritized vital functions alone in a last-ditch effort to keep me alive.

"Just leave him. He's as good as dead and every demon in the city, no, the world will be better for it." Varcus said to Sunny, and she hesitated for a moment.

A war seemed to wave between her beautiful eyes. I knew she didn't agree with my methods and Varcus's words played to that.

A chill ran through me further depleting my strength. I wobbled as my legs started to fail.

Seeing my weakness appeared to change something in Sunny.

She cursed Varcus bitterly and he raised his blade. The world grew hazy as the metallic taste of blood soured my mouth. Where I once felt Sunny was now empty space.

She shifted to wolf form and made for Varcus. Her wolf's powerful hind legs sent her flying, her mighty jaw dawning two rows of incredibly sharp fangs.

With one bite, she took Varcus's sword and his entire arm.

His knees hit concrete, a look of utter disbelief washing over him.

Pride mounted in me. She was a fearless woman; one I craved to protect and possess. As the sun caught her thick, wild, black and white fur, I knew she would forever be the only being in this world that would never be fully under my control. Maybe that was why I craved her so much.

She spat the bloody arm from her mouth as I toppled over, falling to the ground. The sun stung my eyes as I desperately held onto consciousness. Lucile's face eclipsed the sun as she frantically tapped her phone.

"Hold on. Sam said the lines were back up. I'm calling an ambulance," she said.

Evil never dies easily and Varcus was no exception. Like a wounded fox slinking away to his hidey hole, he grabbed his arm and jumped from the roof. I prayed he wouldn't survive the fall, but the gods never did answer my prayers. This wouldn't be the last time that vermin crossed my path.

Sunny, now in human form, knelt at my side, caressing my face and comforting me. She shed tears for me, compressing my wound as if her small hands could stop the river-like flow of blood.

She spoke to me but I heard nothing. I watched her beautiful lips move as my head started feeling light as a feather. My pain numbed and a blackout fell upon me.

My eyes slugged open and I lost track of how much time had passed. My only indication was that I was now on a stretcher in front of the community center. A blood bag hung over me as a doctor stuck a needle in my arm, while crying orders at three nurses.

Two men in yellow suits carried me towards an ambulance. They loaded me in and Sunny and Ferina were already inside, talking to a paramedic. Seeing them both immediately calmed me.

The doctor climbed in next and he called out to the driver instructing them on which hospital to take us to.

Sleep beckoned, rendering me mute as everyone in the ambulance engaged in a heated debate, fueled by desperation to save my life.

A nurse climbed in, slamming one of the doors behind her. A rush of smells spilled inside before the second door closed.

I growled as the familiar scent invaded my nostrils, infuriating me. It was the demi-gods, all three of them. They were nearby. They came for her, my Sunny .

I watched as Sunny talked to Ferina, my lust-filled gaze branding every inch of her as mine.

I couldn't allow them to meet with her. Not even once. She hated them right now because of what they did to her parents. But I knew her. Her heart was too pure to hate anyone forever, no matter the reason.

I had to take those demi-gods under heel. They and Varcus had become a thorn in my side too big to ignore.

I would do anything to create a world of peace and light for my bride. Nothing less would be worthy of her. I only hoped my soul wouldn't be stained with too much darkness at the end of it all. I needed to protect her from the monsters of this world, and I would do just that, even if it meant becoming one in the process.