Page 30 of Fallen Demon

I wanted to go now, but I could see his reasoning. So instead of complaining, I followed everyone to the dining room, where the food was already being served—juicy steak cut in thin slices, baked potatoes with herbs, and several other roasted vegetables.

“I apologize for it being so simple,” Jasmin said at the head of the long table. Tanner sat at the other one. “But we weren’t expecting so many of you.”

This might be simple to them, but it was delicious.

Besides, not everyone ate the food. Drake and his vampires had goblets full of blood instead.

In my eagerness to get moving, I was the first done. Thankfully, no one was here to have fun, so they all finished right after me. Except for Tanner. He ordered the servants to bring more wine and serve dessert. He bid us good luck as we exited the room.

Jasmin went out through another door, but a few seconds later, as we filed out of the castle, she reemerged in a demon hunter’s uniform.

Seriously, if one day I settled somewhere, I needed a magical closet that always knew the guests’ sizes and did quick changes like that.

Outside the castle, Rage reminded us that even though Princess Jasmin was with us, he was the head of this mission and whatever he said, went. If something attacked us and he told us to run instead of fighting, we didn’t question him. We just ran.

Sure, whatever.

We exited the castle through the back where a black brick bridge stretched above the lava. The heat was even worse than when we arrived, and it would have bothered me, if I wasn’t a pile of nerves.

By the light, we had a lead. A real lead to Levi. We would find him, I was sure of that.

Farrah noticed how tense I was and hooked her arm through mine, offering me a small smile as we crossed the bridge. She didn’t have to say anything, and honestly, I didn’t want her to. Her presence here, her support, was enough.

The bridge took us to an open area of dry, gray earth. There were dark mountains to the right, and thick clouds and lightning to the left. This place didn’t seem like a prize, but something to be conquered, ruled, and controlled. It looked like a prison through and through. The stuff of nightmares.

I didn’t envy Rage for exploring it, and Tanner and Jasmin for ruling it.

“The trek is long,” Rage warned us. “But we have rides.”

To the side, ten horses made of shadows materialized. They were huge, certainly a foot or two bigger than any other horse on Earth. Thicker too, with strong legs and square muzzles. Their eyes were red and their long, luscious black mane and tail moved as if there was a fan in front of them.

The horses approached us, the clop of their hooves echoing on the dry terrain. Rage reached for the first one, Princess Jasmin got the second, and Lord Drake had the third. The rest of us spread around the horses. I walked up to one of the beasts, admiring its beauty and also a little concerned on how easily it could squash me if it wanted to.

The horse lowered his front legs, and as I held on to his mane and swung my leg, a small black saddle appeared on its back. Once I was seated, the horse straightened and stood there.

I was about to kick it on the sides to see if I could get it to move, but then Rage brought his horse around and addressed the party.

“The area we’re going is far,” he said. “The horses will move fast, faster than horses in the human realm, faster than a car, so hold on tight.”

With that, he and his horse took off.

The other horses followed. At the first movement, I almost fell off my horse, but I held on to the reins and kept my legs pressed against its side. I hadn’t ridden in a while, and not this kind of magical horse, but after a minute or so, it got easier.

What was the human phrase? Just like riding a bike. If the bike was enchanted and went a lot faster than others.

Rage and Drake took the lead, and somehow, the two were able to talk, in spite of the speed. Princess Jasmin was right behind them, followed closely by Zad, Frank, and Cyran. Wyatt was next, and then it was Farrah, Lacey, and me at the back.

At first, Farrah tried talking to us too, but it was impossible. The horses moved too fast and sometimes they jerked to the side to avoid an obstacle or jump over a stream or some fallen branches. We had to be prepared for everything.

We rode in almost complete silence for about three hours. It was close to four when Rage lifted his fist and the horses all stopped on their own. We formed a messy circle so we could all hear him.

“It’s almost five in the afternoon, your time,” Rage said. “We can rest now, or we can keep moving and stop later.”

I glanced up to the dark sky. It was pitch black, with no stars. I wondered how this entire place wasn’t completely dark. Instead, it looked like a cloudy evening, where everything was dark gray.

“How long until we reach the cliff?” Jasmin asked, squirming over her horse.

“Another four hours or so,” Rage said.

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