Page 77 of Their Demon

He snarled, spit flying at me as he pulled his blade from my daggers. He lifted his sword with both arms, exposing his chest. I slashed with all my might, my blades cutting across his skin with ease, splitting it open in two thick red lines.

Blood flung into my face as I put my daggers up once again to stop the sword headed straight for my face.

“Please!Let me explain!” I pleaded as we pushed against each other, vying for the upper hand in this duel.

“Aaargh!” he roared.

He headbutted me, causing blood to gush from my nose, the pain making my eyes water and my ears ring. I stumbled back, wiping the blood with the back of my hand. My heart pounded loudly in my head as I focused on controlling my breathing.

“Please. If you’d just let me explain!”

He growled and ran at me, sword rising, ready to deliver a killing blow.

Whoosh.

He swung.

Clang.

I blocked.

I pleaded with him.

Whoosh.

He swung again.

Clang.

I blocked again.

I pleaded again.

We continued our dance of swinging and blocking and pleading, but no matter what I did, I could never get ahead of him. I was always the one blocking, defending. I was losing, unable to keep up with his swings. They were becoming faster, more erratic, harder to predict.

He swung and swung, forcing my steps backward, toward the dragon’s room.

Fuck.

If we made it in there, this would surely wake Aridam up. I could kiss my life goodbye. It would be over. I’d never see them again. My princes. My saviors. The loves of my life.

My daggers were crossed, the demon’s sword meeting them where they intersected. He stared at me, his harsh, neon-orange eyes narrowing, as if he could smite me with a single look.

“Please…” I cried, tears spilling down my face.

He knew. He knew I was tired, that I was faltering. He knew I was the weaker of us. He knew I was done for, so he pushed against me with all his might.

I couldn’t stay standing. I wasn’t built for this. I wasn’t ready for this sort of battle.

I fell backward, landing on my ass with ahmph, losing one of my daggers in the fall, the blade clattering away from me. I lifted my single dagger high, ready to put up one last fight.

He tilted his head at me, watching me sob.

I pinched my eyes closed for a split second, feeling all the fear, panic, rage, and defeat. It bubbled in my chest, filling my veins with a new, unknown energy.

A scream erupted from my throat, so strong, so monstrous, I wouldn’t have been surprised if it had shredded my vocal cords.

When I opened my eyes, the room seemed much brighter than before.

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