Chapter 12

Descaris

I awoke with a jolt from dreams of death and screaming. My mate was staring at me, terrified. Everything felt urgent. Imminent. It was happening soon. It felt like my heart was tearing in two, not knowing if I had moved all the pieces correctly. One thing had become clear to me after so many visions and a night of dreams that felt like truth. There were groups out there looking for an excuse to persecute monsters and I couldn't give them any ammunition by killing casually. The world had to see that whatever happened here, we were the victims and everything we did was in defense of ourselves and the ones we love.

This was bigger than just me and my mate. And it was important that my mate survived. Not just for me, but for all of us. I wanted to care about that more than I did. But selfishly, I mainly just couldn't bear to lose her. For her to lose all the opportunities she had ahead.

I felt a wave of anger and violence and rushed to it. The lich stood staring at one of the guards. The one at the center of this, and he looked murderous. I blipped to him and he froze, noticing my presence.

"Is it time?"

"Yes."

I reached out and blipped us to the small room that held my heart and the promised axe. As well as shelves and shelves of other belongings taken from monsters upon their arrest. I phased into shadow and reached into his collar, turning the lock into shadow too. It clicked open and fell to the floor. The lich didn't even glance back at me. The magic and energy dancing around the box entranced him. He sat and focused on the box for what felt like an eternity.

I was on the verge of getting very bored and irritated when a loud crack and burst of vibrating energy flew across the room, sending the lich flying. I let the wave of energy pass through me. The box swung open and the beating song of my heart called to me.

"What's your name, demon?"

"Descaris."

I didn't even look at him. I couldn't stop looking at the movement of my wet, glistening heart, still beating after all this time.

"Good luck getting out of here, Descaris. I have my own path to follow now."

I stepped forward and took the organ in my hands. It thudded against me. I remembered the pain of having it removed. The screaming. The emptiness. It had been so long. I didn't know how it would feel to have it back. I pushed it back into my chest and solidified everything but my hand. Pain sent me stumbling backwards as my body adjusted and reconnected to it. Every muscle in me cramped, and I collapsed to the ground screaming.

I don't know how long I lay there, panting, waiting for the pain to ease. When it became bearable again, I dragged myself to my feet. My body felt stuffed full and my emotions, the overwhelming ones I'd been struggling with, were even stronger now. I wanted to weep at the beauty of my mate. For her open heart and willingness to give herself to such a dark wretch as me. There was only one thing that mattered at that moment.

I reached out to feel her. Now, sensing her was as easy as breathing. I blipped to her. Right into the therapy room. Her mouth fell open, and an annoyed looking wendigo growled at me. I glared at me and saw him wince slightly. I was feeling generous, so I'd do him a favor.

"This is your one warning. Leave. This prison is about to fall apart at the seams. Go and prepare yourself however you see fit. You might make it out alive that way."

The Wendigo took a moment to assess me and then ran for the door. There was the sound of a scuffle outside, a guard shouting and footsteps as he chased the fleeing Wendigo.

"What the hell?"

Ella looked angry, and it sent red hot spears of lust through me. When that repressed anger came out, it was hot as all hell. I stepped forward and pulled her to me, diving for her mouth. She held back for a moment, still annoyed, but then gave in before I could pull away. Her arms wrapped around my neck and we devoured each other. She pressed her body against me and I let her feel my hardness. Pressing it against her. Eventually, we parted, both panting. The smell of her desire wafting from her.

"I'm still annoyed, Descaris."

"I love you, Ella."

She stopped, and a smile rippled across her face.

"I'm sorry I ran. The last time someone told me they loved me, it was my father. Right before I killed him. And for a moment, I felt like I was back there. At that moment. Shutting down everything."

The words left me in a hurry. Telling her and being open felt like risking my entire self. Leaving me bare and exposed. But her openness and honesty, with herself and everyone around her, had left me sure that I needed to give her some of that back. She deserved that.

"I'm sorry. That must have been hard and confusing."

"It… was a lot of things. But there isn't time for talking about any of them now."

Her eyebrows raised.

"Ella, it's happening now. The thing I've been seeing. It's starting. I can feel the waves of disturbance."

They were becoming so powerful that nausea was roiling in my stomach. A look of fear crossed her face.

"I thought I'd have more time than this!"

"I will not allow you to die. All of this has been to prevent that."

She took a deep breath and looked calmer. I nearly stepped back in shock. She trusted me that much. I could just say I was going to protect her, and she trusted that completely. I didn't deserve this beautiful woman that had found me. Her soft, eager lips lured me down for a kiss.

My mate, in this room. The door locked. Monsters are coming. But I get there first. Just.

"I need you to stay right here. Whatever happens. Whatever you hear, stay in this room with the door locked."

"What about everyone else? My friends? I can't just sit here like a lemon and do nothing."

This was why. Unless I'd put everything else in place, to protect the other therapists, she'd never have stayed in this room. No force on earth would stop her from running to them. From trying, even in a full prison riot, to help them. At least I'd managed this much.

"They will be safe. I've already made sure that some of them will be ok, and now I need to go and put the last pieces in place."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I will not stop until they are all safe. I promise you that."

"I trust you."

"That is the greatest gift I've ever been given."

She stroked my cheek and for a moment I let my full form show. The one that I never showed anyone. That I hadn't even shown her before. Horns grew on my head, gray angular patterns formed on my ink black skin and I let the robe vanish. Her eyes roamed around me, taking in the spikes running up my forearms before traveling up to my face. She reached up and gently stroked my horns. A shiver ran down me.

"They are very sensitive," I told her with a wicked grin.

"I look forward to having to hold on to them," she replied with a twitch of her mouth.

I leaned forward for one last kiss and, as her lips grazed mine, disappeared.