16. Mordakus

16

MORDAKUS

A village looms before us, a graveyard of old homes and broken dreams. As we approach its outskirts, my senses go into overdrive.

Something's off.

"Eve," I say quietly. "Stay close. I don't like this."

She nods, her eyes wide but determined. Vincent mews softly from his perch in her arms.

We move cautiously through the abandoned pathways, my eyes scanning every shadow, every broken window. The silence is oppressive, broken only by the occasional distant clatter or shuffle.

"Mordakus," Eve whispers. "Look."

She points to a building where a curtain flutters in a broken window. Recent activity.

"We're not alone," I growl. "Be ready for anything."

We continue on, the tension building with each step. I can feel Eve's fear, smell it on her, but she stays strong, following my lead.

Suddenly, a voice cuts through the silence. "Well, well. What have we here?"

We're surrounded in an instant. A dozen armed figures emerge from the shadows, weapons trained on us. My muscles tense, ready for a fight.

A man steps forward, his smile predatory. "Name's Zane," he says, his voice smooth as oil. "And you two look like you've got some nice supplies there."

I push Eve behind me, my eyes never leaving Zane. "We're just passing through," I growl. "No trouble."

Zane's smile widens. "Oh, but trouble's found you, friend. Now, why don't you hand over those packs, and we'll let you go on your merry way?"

"Not happening," I snarl, feeling the demon inside me stirring.

Eve steps out from behind me, her voice trembling but clear. "Please, we don't want any trouble. We're good people, just trying to survive like you."

Zane's eyes flick to Eve, and I don't like what I see there. "Aren't you a pretty little thing?" he says, his tone making my skin crawl. "Tell you what, sweetheart. You come with us, and we'll let your friend here go."

"That's not going to happen," I growl, my voice deepening as I struggle to contain my demon form.

Zane's smile drops, his eyes hardening. "I don't think you understand the situation here, big guy. We're not asking."

The tension in the air is palpable. I can feel Eve trembling behind me, and hear Vincent's frightened mewling.

But I won't back down.

I can't.

"Last chance," Zane says, his voice cold. "Surrender, or this gets ugly."

I bare my teeth in a feral grin. "Bring it on."

Everything happens in a blur. I lash out, my fist connecting with the nearest attacker's jaw. I hear the satisfying crunch of bone and cartilage. I hear Eve scream as the others rush in. I fight like a demon possessed, which, in a way, I am.

But I'm holding back. The rage demon inside me claws to be set free, but I resist. Eve's here, and I can't risk losing control, can't risk her seeing that side of me again. It's a mistake that costs me dearly.

A sword tears through my shoulder, the searing pain momentarily throwing me off balance. I roar in anger and pain, grabbing the attacker and hurling him into two of his comrades. They go down in a tangle of limbs and curses.

"Mordakus!" Eve cries out. I see her struggling against a man twice her size, trying to break free and reach me. The sight of her in danger fuels my rage, but it also divides my attention.

I'm so focused on getting to Eve that I don't see the attacker coming from my blind spot. A heavy piece of wood connects with the back of my knee, sending me stumbling. I lash out, catching the man in the chest and sending him flying, but the damage is done.

They swarm me, realizing that together they might stand a chance. Fists and weapons rain down on me from all sides. I fight back furiously, every blow I land taking one or two of them out of the fight. But for every one that falls, two more seem to take their place.

A particularly vicious blow catches me in the temple, sending my world spinning. I taste blood in my mouth, feel the warm ooze trickling down my face. Still, I fight on. I have to. For Eve.

"Eve!" I roar, trying to fight my way to her. I see her being dragged away, terror etched on her face. The sight nearly breaks me, and for a moment, I consider letting the demon take full control.

But before I can make that choice, a blow to the back of my head sends me reeling. Stars explode in my vision. I stumble, my legs suddenly weak beneath me. More blows rain down, and I feel bones crack under the onslaught.

I'm on my knees now, my body failing me despite my desperate will to keep fighting. Through swollen eyes, I see Eve struggling against two men dragging her away. She's screaming my name, tears streaming down her face.

"Mor...dakus!" Her voice sounds distant, like she's underwater. Or maybe I am. Darkness creeps in at the edges of my vision.

The last thing I see before consciousness slips away is Eve's terrified face as she's dragged around a corner, out of sight. Zane's laughter rings in my ears, a cruel, victorious sound that follows me into the darkness.

As the world fades to black, my last coherent thought is a promise: I will find you, Eve.