FREE NOVELLA CHAPTER - Demon Heart Chapter Three
Dominique ran as fast as her impractical boots would allow but
fell to the ground within a few steps. Opaque shapes drifted over her, and she
couldn’t escape the pungent odor of rotting flesh. Darkness folded around her.
The chill of the snow seeped through the vinyl suit and into her back. The
arctic cold numbed her soul as she stared into the expressionless faces that
floated above. She wanted to curl up and disappear. Without a console
controller or keyboard and mouse, she hadn’t the foggiest idea how to defeat
the monsters.
What sounded like the roar of a wild animal shattered the strange quiet that blanketed her. The grey shadows scattered and the bright sunlight blinded her for a moment. Her vision cleared until she stared at the masked face of the biggest bear she’d ever seen. She tried to scream but found herself on her feet before she even opened her mouth. Her gurgled cry died when she focused on Zachary.
“Dorian has sent his army of creatures as distraction,” he said and turned away. He reached back and pulled her into his body.
Dominique had no choice but to throw her arms around his waist and crush her cheek into his wide back. She drew in a deep breath. He smelled like a humid, rainy afternoon.
“What are they?” she asked.
“Shadow specters. Stay close to me.”
Dominique grinned. “Any closer and I’d be wearing your clothes.”
Amusement flickered in the eyes that met hers over his shoulder. “Brace yourself. This will be difficult.”
Low, inhuman moans filled her ears and dimmed her mind; death, and so much worse than in any game. Grey gloom descended, pressed down on her shoulders with heavy, icy hands and made breathing hard.
Zachary touched her hip in a reassuring gesture. “Don’t let them take you. Don’t let them—.”
Three shadow specters entered his chest and exited through his shoulder blade to careen into the sky, moaning and shrieking with laughter. Zachary's body stiffened in her embrace. He stumbled backward. Dominique also stumbled but managed to keep her grip around his waist. He remained perfectly still. For a long, terrifying moment, she thought the specters had hurt him. The sword he held slowly lowered to his side and she was positive he’d stopped breathing. Panic sent a cold rush over her skin, and her mind returned to a day, two years ago, when she tried to save someone who’d stopped breathing. She squeezed Zachary around his middle. He let out a long breath.
“Don’t let them touch you,” he whispered.
Dominique's heart resumed its normal rhythm, glad Zachary hadn’t come to any harm. She couldn’t defeat the wraiths by herself. She wouldn’t even know where to start. Zachary's body relaxed and he moved forward. Dominique stayed attached to him like a leech. Beside her, the bear kept pace with their slow, zigzagged strides.
Darkness descended, thick, tangible, and daunting. She stared over Zachary's shoulder into the inky void ahead. He pulled a white crystal from his pocket and tapped it on his thigh. Light erupted from the end of the crystal, strengthened, and spread through the gloom like trickling water. Dominique blinked, her eyes slow to adjust. Her hold around his waist tightened. Thousands of shadow specters blocked the way ahead. Some glided through the air above her. Others hovered near her feet, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
“Prepare for the worst,” Zachary said quietly.
A moment of silence filled Dominique's head with images of terror, pictures of what laid in wait for them, visions of beasties she didn’t want to know about. Then, Zachary lunged. Her body jerked forward from the power of his movement. A specter exploded in a flurry of dark powder. Two green gems popped into the air, their eerie illumination barely penetrating Dominique's hysteria.
Zachary lunged again. This time, she lost her grip around his waist. With the bear by his side, he moved further and further into the jade colored mist. As one enemy felt the sting of Zachary's sword, two more took its place. Fear rooted Dominique to the spot. Wherever she looked, shadow specters met her gaze. She tried to talk her feet into moving but they wouldn’t listen. Even as two specters shrieked and plummeted through the air towards her, her muscles refused to work.
The first shadow passed through her stomach. She drew in a stunned breath. Cold shock stiffened her spine. The second spirit shot through the centre of her chest. The force of the impact knocked her onto her back on the snow. Her muscles twitched. Her lungs became heavy. Somewhere in her mind, glass smashed. Brilliant light penetrated the gloom and increased in intensity until she couldn’t see at all. The silhouette of a man blocked some of the iridescent glow. Dominique sucked in a breath and raised her hand to shade her eyes.
“Domini.”
The voice, deep and smooth, lessened her worry. The glow subsided and her eyes adjusted. Breathing deeply, she sat up to study the light that pulsated around her. Zachary had used some sort of protection potion. Every time the specters tried to break through the barrier they dissolved into a shower of dark powder.
Green gems replaced the destroyed specters. Zachary's body quickly sucked them in. A vial of red liquid materialized on the snow, which he picked up and placed it in his pocket without interrupting the arc of his sword. After the last shadow specter disintegrated, he slid his sword into one of the scabbards on his back. His chest heaved. Absently, he brushed dark hair form his eyes. The bear padded to his side and nudged his shoulder. Zachary bestowed the animal with a warm smile and a hearty pat on the shoulder. His attention turned to Dominique. At the sight of his frown she quickly looked away. He dropped to his knees and reached inside the protective barrier. The bubble burst and exposed her to the cold air.
“I told you to stay close.”
“I know you did but it isn’t easy. I can’t jump six feet into the air and swing a sword at the same time.” Dominique took his silence as disappointment. Now he knew she wasn’t the best person in any world to help save Demon Realm. She glanced at his outstretched hand.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She accepted his help to stand. Her legs wobbled a little, otherwise she wasn’t hurt. “I’m fine, thanks to you.”
“One day, Domini, you will save me.”
Dominique finally looked at him. Undeniably gorgeous, he possess a vital power and an aura that exuded masculinity. Yet, she had glimpsed his tender side through gentle touches and concerned looks. She turned away from Zachary's questioning gaze.
“What now?” she asked.
Zachary indicated to the bear with a flamboyant sweep of his hand. “I brought Gagan to assist you across the snow.”
Instead of standing on all four paws and looking ferocious, Gagan balanced on his hind legs and leisurely turned in a circle. He growled to an unseen entity in the sky. Dominique quirked an eyebrow and glanced sideways at Zachary. He clapped his hands to the beat of a song only he, and the bear, could hear.
“What’s the bear doing?” she asked.
Zachary's delighted grin stretched from ear to ear. “He dances to the music of the dragonettes.”
Dominique listened. “I don’t hear any music.
Zachary stopped clapping and turned to her. “You cannot hear the sweet music in the sky?”
She shook her head.
He stared at her for a long time. “Are you truthful that you cannot hear the music?”
“I can’t hear the music.”
With a snort of disgust, Gagan dropped to all four paws.
“I agree, friend,” Zachary said. “Domini has no imagination.” He strode towards the bear.
Dominique stabbed a finger at his back. “Hey! I have imagination. How do you think I got into this game?”
Zachary smoothed his hand along Gagan’s side. “The Hope Stone chose you and I brought you here.”
“I am here because I believe this is real.”
“To believe is not the same,” Zachary replied. “Please, Gagan awaits.” He gestured to the bear’s back, almost two metres in the air. “Allow me to assist you.” He bent and formed a cradle with his hands.
A high-pitched squeal, not unlike a siren, punctured the air. Dominique cringed and covered her ears. She looked around but couldn’t see where the noise came from. An expression of startled horror crossed Zachary's face. He ran in her direction. Her name formed on his lips as he reached forward. Strong energy shot through her. Her muscles quivered. Another zap of power rendered her body uncooperative and she fell to the ground like a stone.
Silence pulsed in her head. Not far away, Zachary battled a shadow specter. Larger, blacker, and more ferocious than the others, the monster didn’t succumb to Zachary's mighty sword. However, every positive strike increased the Demon Lord’s aura as though the small victories gave him strength. He glanced at her. Domini, run. He said the words but she didn’t hear them. Besides, she couldn’t run even if she wanted to. Her arms and legs had numbed, her body heavy.
Zachary and the shadow specter still battled. The specter dodged weighty sword thrusts and expanded until twice the size of the Demon Lord. With one powerful pass, the specter knocked Zachary to the ground. Struggling for breath, he regained his footing and picked up his sword. He pressed a hand to his chest and staggered forward.
The wraith glided across the snow in Dominique's direction. Her eyes widened but she couldn’t move. She couldn’t even open her mouth to scream. The evil face filled her vision and she knew no one could save her, now.
Chapter Four
What sounded like the roar of a wild animal shattered the strange quiet that blanketed her. The grey shadows scattered and the bright sunlight blinded her for a moment. Her vision cleared until she stared at the masked face of the biggest bear she’d ever seen. She tried to scream but found herself on her feet before she even opened her mouth. Her gurgled cry died when she focused on Zachary.
“Dorian has sent his army of creatures as distraction,” he said and turned away. He reached back and pulled her into his body.
Dominique had no choice but to throw her arms around his waist and crush her cheek into his wide back. She drew in a deep breath. He smelled like a humid, rainy afternoon.
“What are they?” she asked.
“Shadow specters. Stay close to me.”
Dominique grinned. “Any closer and I’d be wearing your clothes.”
Amusement flickered in the eyes that met hers over his shoulder. “Brace yourself. This will be difficult.”
Low, inhuman moans filled her ears and dimmed her mind; death, and so much worse than in any game. Grey gloom descended, pressed down on her shoulders with heavy, icy hands and made breathing hard.
Zachary touched her hip in a reassuring gesture. “Don’t let them take you. Don’t let them—.”
Three shadow specters entered his chest and exited through his shoulder blade to careen into the sky, moaning and shrieking with laughter. Zachary's body stiffened in her embrace. He stumbled backward. Dominique also stumbled but managed to keep her grip around his waist. He remained perfectly still. For a long, terrifying moment, she thought the specters had hurt him. The sword he held slowly lowered to his side and she was positive he’d stopped breathing. Panic sent a cold rush over her skin, and her mind returned to a day, two years ago, when she tried to save someone who’d stopped breathing. She squeezed Zachary around his middle. He let out a long breath.
“Don’t let them touch you,” he whispered.
Dominique's heart resumed its normal rhythm, glad Zachary hadn’t come to any harm. She couldn’t defeat the wraiths by herself. She wouldn’t even know where to start. Zachary's body relaxed and he moved forward. Dominique stayed attached to him like a leech. Beside her, the bear kept pace with their slow, zigzagged strides.
Darkness descended, thick, tangible, and daunting. She stared over Zachary's shoulder into the inky void ahead. He pulled a white crystal from his pocket and tapped it on his thigh. Light erupted from the end of the crystal, strengthened, and spread through the gloom like trickling water. Dominique blinked, her eyes slow to adjust. Her hold around his waist tightened. Thousands of shadow specters blocked the way ahead. Some glided through the air above her. Others hovered near her feet, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
“Prepare for the worst,” Zachary said quietly.
A moment of silence filled Dominique's head with images of terror, pictures of what laid in wait for them, visions of beasties she didn’t want to know about. Then, Zachary lunged. Her body jerked forward from the power of his movement. A specter exploded in a flurry of dark powder. Two green gems popped into the air, their eerie illumination barely penetrating Dominique's hysteria.
Zachary lunged again. This time, she lost her grip around his waist. With the bear by his side, he moved further and further into the jade colored mist. As one enemy felt the sting of Zachary's sword, two more took its place. Fear rooted Dominique to the spot. Wherever she looked, shadow specters met her gaze. She tried to talk her feet into moving but they wouldn’t listen. Even as two specters shrieked and plummeted through the air towards her, her muscles refused to work.
The first shadow passed through her stomach. She drew in a stunned breath. Cold shock stiffened her spine. The second spirit shot through the centre of her chest. The force of the impact knocked her onto her back on the snow. Her muscles twitched. Her lungs became heavy. Somewhere in her mind, glass smashed. Brilliant light penetrated the gloom and increased in intensity until she couldn’t see at all. The silhouette of a man blocked some of the iridescent glow. Dominique sucked in a breath and raised her hand to shade her eyes.
“Domini.”
The voice, deep and smooth, lessened her worry. The glow subsided and her eyes adjusted. Breathing deeply, she sat up to study the light that pulsated around her. Zachary had used some sort of protection potion. Every time the specters tried to break through the barrier they dissolved into a shower of dark powder.
Green gems replaced the destroyed specters. Zachary's body quickly sucked them in. A vial of red liquid materialized on the snow, which he picked up and placed it in his pocket without interrupting the arc of his sword. After the last shadow specter disintegrated, he slid his sword into one of the scabbards on his back. His chest heaved. Absently, he brushed dark hair form his eyes. The bear padded to his side and nudged his shoulder. Zachary bestowed the animal with a warm smile and a hearty pat on the shoulder. His attention turned to Dominique. At the sight of his frown she quickly looked away. He dropped to his knees and reached inside the protective barrier. The bubble burst and exposed her to the cold air.
“I told you to stay close.”
“I know you did but it isn’t easy. I can’t jump six feet into the air and swing a sword at the same time.” Dominique took his silence as disappointment. Now he knew she wasn’t the best person in any world to help save Demon Realm. She glanced at his outstretched hand.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She accepted his help to stand. Her legs wobbled a little, otherwise she wasn’t hurt. “I’m fine, thanks to you.”
“One day, Domini, you will save me.”
Dominique finally looked at him. Undeniably gorgeous, he possess a vital power and an aura that exuded masculinity. Yet, she had glimpsed his tender side through gentle touches and concerned looks. She turned away from Zachary's questioning gaze.
“What now?” she asked.
Zachary indicated to the bear with a flamboyant sweep of his hand. “I brought Gagan to assist you across the snow.”
Instead of standing on all four paws and looking ferocious, Gagan balanced on his hind legs and leisurely turned in a circle. He growled to an unseen entity in the sky. Dominique quirked an eyebrow and glanced sideways at Zachary. He clapped his hands to the beat of a song only he, and the bear, could hear.
“What’s the bear doing?” she asked.
Zachary's delighted grin stretched from ear to ear. “He dances to the music of the dragonettes.”
Dominique listened. “I don’t hear any music.
Zachary stopped clapping and turned to her. “You cannot hear the sweet music in the sky?”
She shook her head.
He stared at her for a long time. “Are you truthful that you cannot hear the music?”
“I can’t hear the music.”
With a snort of disgust, Gagan dropped to all four paws.
“I agree, friend,” Zachary said. “Domini has no imagination.” He strode towards the bear.
Dominique stabbed a finger at his back. “Hey! I have imagination. How do you think I got into this game?”
Zachary smoothed his hand along Gagan’s side. “The Hope Stone chose you and I brought you here.”
“I am here because I believe this is real.”
“To believe is not the same,” Zachary replied. “Please, Gagan awaits.” He gestured to the bear’s back, almost two metres in the air. “Allow me to assist you.” He bent and formed a cradle with his hands.
A high-pitched squeal, not unlike a siren, punctured the air. Dominique cringed and covered her ears. She looked around but couldn’t see where the noise came from. An expression of startled horror crossed Zachary's face. He ran in her direction. Her name formed on his lips as he reached forward. Strong energy shot through her. Her muscles quivered. Another zap of power rendered her body uncooperative and she fell to the ground like a stone.
Silence pulsed in her head. Not far away, Zachary battled a shadow specter. Larger, blacker, and more ferocious than the others, the monster didn’t succumb to Zachary's mighty sword. However, every positive strike increased the Demon Lord’s aura as though the small victories gave him strength. He glanced at her. Domini, run. He said the words but she didn’t hear them. Besides, she couldn’t run even if she wanted to. Her arms and legs had numbed, her body heavy.
Zachary and the shadow specter still battled. The specter dodged weighty sword thrusts and expanded until twice the size of the Demon Lord. With one powerful pass, the specter knocked Zachary to the ground. Struggling for breath, he regained his footing and picked up his sword. He pressed a hand to his chest and staggered forward.
The wraith glided across the snow in Dominique's direction. Her eyes widened but she couldn’t move. She couldn’t even open her mouth to scream. The evil face filled her vision and she knew no one could save her, now.
Chapter Four
Comments