Page 48 of Monster's Property

I watch as his white light approaches, my heart hammering in my chest. My fears are blown back by a gust of wind when he lands, putting himself in front of the monsters behind me.

I’m saved.

21

PELIEL

The desert of Tlouz is a massive, massive place. Even with these wings, it takes days of nonstop travel just to get from one end to the other, never mind searching the entirety of it searching for one little human.

A little human who had the audacity to leave me.

I don’t believe we will ever learn exactly how hot the sun is, not with its distance from us and its power. We will only be able to guess what is probably only a fraction of the heat that it can create.

With the anger that burns inside my body, I feel somehow hotter than the sun could ever be.

I shoot through the sky as fast as my wings allow. The sparse number of clouds cleave in two before disappearing entirely as I pass them by.

The desert of Tlouz is massive, yes, but it will not stop me from finding Arie.

In the distance, I can see some of the caves that decorate the sandy landscape of this desert. She must be in one of them, lest she succumb to the heat of the sun. I pray that she is both smarter and more resilient than to let herself perish like that, or else this whole thing would be a waste of time.

I ignore the twinge of worry in my chest.

My wings twist to begin my descent, ready to look through each and every one of these caves to bring Arie back into my possession, to tell her she is a fool for leaving me and even more foolish still for thinking that she would get away with it. I never thought myself the kind to get attached to a human that commits such idiotic acts, but wonders never cease and Arie always surprises.

I see specks traveling in a pack in the distance. Predators hunting down some sort of prey I would surmise. I fly closer, curiosity overriding my annoyance.

It’s Arie.

She’s sprinting across the sand, skin reddened and hair flying. I almost don’t recognize her in this state, with her eyes crazed and limbs desperately pushing her away from the creatures. From the looks of it, she has been at this for a while, and will soon fall and have to accept her fate to the beasts.

I almost feel sorry for them, thinking of what’s to come.

My descent is fast and powerful. I position myself in between Arie and her predators and flare my wings out to scare them. They back off but do not run away, pitiful creatures that they are. I hear Arie’s gasp.

“You’re here,” she says. She sounds lost, her voice scratchy and dry. “You’re really here.”

“Of course, I am,” I snap.” One of the dumber beasts lunges at me, but I bat it away with just a sweep of a wing. “Did you think I’d let you get away?”

“N-No! Peliel, please, I did not leave you on purpose!”

“Didn’t you? I didn’t see a note!” I yell, feeling crazed myself. “I didn’t see any warning!”

“I was confused. I thought I heard my mother!”

“Excuses!”

“They’re not excuses!” she yells. “Please, listen to me!”

I catch the neck of a lunging beast and squeeze, cutting off the growl with a pained yelp. Its neck cracks underneath the force of my hand, and I treasure the sound like I would something pretty and valuable.

I used to want to do the same to Arie, but now all I feel is hot rage. Her eyes are wide and looking with fear at the corpse I hold with little effort.

“You dare give me a command? Me?” I spit, dropping the dead creature to the ground. “Has the sun seeped into your skull? Have you forgotten who I am and what I have done for you?”

Arie gulps. “No, Peliel, I haven’t. I only wish to explain myself. I don’t want you to be angry with me.”

“I already am,” I mutter. I turn my gaze back toward the pack of beasts and their loud baying. They’re keeping their distance for now, more than likely spooked over their fallen comrade. Good, let them.

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