Page 118 of Wings of Destiny

“It’s just me.” Libby emerged from the woods; hands drawn in front of her person as she neared me.

I stood and resheathed my sword. “Sorry, with where we’re headed, I figured the possibility of stumbling upon a rogue Demon was pretty high, given my luck—” I bit my tongue.

Given my luck with stumbling upon things I shouldn’t apparently.

Libby rolled her eyes, as if she knew what thought had waltzed through my head. She shook her head at me. “Understandable. Now, do you have a plan?”

“Minimal,” I dusted the dirt off my pants. “I was thinking we wing it. Go after the bad guys, save the humans, and get our asses out of dodge.”

Libby scoffed as a grin spread along the contours of her face. “I like your style. Let’s go save some people.”

We crossed the meadow and took off in a sprint. We headed deeper into the woods, the trees growing thicker; the sun dropping lower into the sky, casting us in fiery shadows as we ran through the undergrowth, our feet light, as we weaved through.

I felt my sword hum at my back.

“On your left.”

I slid a dagger from my thigh as a Demon came barreling towards us. Its frame came into view, bulky, purple arms grabbing the air where I’d been a moment before. I dipped low, dodging, and struck my blade at its thigh, scraping it throughto the bone. Black blood gushed from its wound. I pivoted, launching myself onto its back and wrapping my arms around its neck before I sliced my dagger across its throat, ink bubbling up in the Demon’s mouth. I snapped the Demon’s neck back as I jumped from its back and out of the way as its body came crashing to the forest floor with a thud. Libby stood to the side, gawking.

“When the hell did you learn to do that?” She hissed.

I kept my dagger at the ready and motioned for us to keep going. “Training has been paying off. And I might’ve snuck out on a few occasions to try my hand at hunting.”

“And you were pissed at Seth,” Libby mumbled.

I shot her a glare and she snapped her mouth shut. “Exactly why I kept it to myself.” And Josh, as he’d been sending me leads, weaker ones, that he believed I could handle on my own for the time being. The silence between Libby and I grew.

Kinda helps when you get stabbed in the heart.

It’s not so hard to beat the living shit out of a Demon or two when it's gone.

Wonder if that’s Josh’s secret.

“How did you know it was coming? I didn’t hear or sense anything.” Her head swiveled, on the lookout for more.

“My sword told me.” I flicked my wrist toward the deceased Demon, a small flame spurted from the tips of my fingers, catching them on fire.

Libby’s forehead creased as her brows pushed together in question.

I brushed her off and I kept my focus forward as we trekked up into the mountains. I took the lead, so that if we were attacked again, I’d be our first defense and in a better position to keep Libby safe. If Seth cared about her, especially in that way, I needed her to make it out of this. Even though I was beyond hurt, they were my friends.

“I’m sorry, Erin, but yourswordtold you?”

“Yes. Keep the judgment to yourself,” I snipped. “I don’t know why but my sword can talk to me, and I can talk to it.” I shut the conversation down, my sword humming again, the twin daggers vibrating as well.

Where?

“There’s several. They’re narrowing in. Have your guard up and be on the ready. Back to hers. Now!”

“Back to mine, and weapons out. Now!” I hissed. Libby instantly jumped into position.

Can you sense where the strongest is coming from?

“No. That falls to you. I’m sorry.”

How the hell am I supposed to do that!?

“How did you find us? Or your talents? It is all in the same. Quickly. You are running out of time.”

---