Page 41 of Daemonium

I tried not to stare - it was making me feel sick.

"Since we were born?" Ciaran replied as if this were common knowledge.

"Well, I didn't know that," Lana said, sounding frustrated.

Ciaran fell quiet and I could sense there was something we should have known but somehow forgot. "Me neither," I added, ignoring Ky's intense gaze on me.

"Is Maverick related to you too?" Lana tried to change the topic.

"No," Ciaran answered bluntly.

The tension between them grew as they both fell silent. I racked my brain for something to say, but knowing myself, I'd probably just make things worse.

Just as we were trying to decide what to do next, there was a rustling in the stalks and suddenly Mel appeared with even more blood on her than Lana. Maverick and Brody were with her. It was almost comical how we all stopped and stared at each other for a moment.

"Are you okay?" I hurried over to Mel with Lana close behind me. I could feel Ky following closely.

"Oh, me? I'm just peachy," Maverick replied sarcastically.

“I’m not,” Brody rubbed the side of his face. “I think I got a tooth knocked loose.”

“You’re fine,” Mel interjected.

"You two barely have any blood on you," Lana noted.

"Because Mellie here decided to steal my kill," Maverick defended.

Mel rolled her eyes. "You were getting double-teamed, I just outsmarted them. You're welcome." She looked at us, and I could tell that she had paid a price for helping.

"Where are the others?" Lana asked, noticing how exhausted Mel looked.

"They finished heading to the edge of the property. I was coming to find you guys." Maverick's gaze fell on Ciaran's arm and his brow furrowed in concern.

"I'm fine," Ciaran reassured him. "Let's get out of here before the next group comes in."

"There are more?" Mel asked in disbelief.

“It’s endless,” Ky replied.

We set off, re-entering the corn maze, waving and pushing through the stalks. We emerged into an empty pasture, the music growing fainter as we moved away.

By the time we neared the fence and made out the others, I had wanted to stop more than once, dots dancing before my eyes. It was the Helios—whatever Ky had given me was wearing off, and I needed more. But I couldn’t very well announce that right then.

We reached the fence and reunited with the others—Charon, Hayven, Dion, Earl, and Carol.

“Look what they left us,” Dion gestured to two golf cart-looking vehicles a few feet away.

“Is that a good idea?” Lana asked.

“I don’t think it is,” Hayven agreed, looking wary.

“We can use them for now and then foot it,” Brody suggested.

Ciaran nodded. “Let’s do that.”

We moved forward, navigating our way back into the corn maze, pushing aside the towering stalks as we went. The distant music from the festival faded as we distanced ourselves from it. But my steps were growing heavier with each passing moment, and I desperately wanted to stop and catch my breath. It was clear that whatever Ky had given me was wearing off, and I needed more to keep going. But I couldn't voice this concern at the moment.

As we neared a fence and spotted our group, I could feel myself swaying with exhaustion. Dion, Hayven, Earl, Carol, Charon...all there waiting for us.

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