Evie
“We are getting close to the gate to the next level,” Azi tells us as we continue to climb. I stop, needing a break like everyone else seems to as I look back at them. We have been climbing straight uphill for over five hours, with the freezing cold wind and harsh snow. Every part of me is freezing and thank god for the thermal gloves or I’m sure I would have lost my fingers.
“Time for a drink,” I say, holding my hand up so they all stop. I lean against a wall, pulling my drink bottle out of my bag and see that’s its frozen solid.
“Fuck,” I mutter, struggling to even get the bottle’s lid off. Two hands cover mine on the bottle, gently warming up slowly. Azi doesn’t say a word as he defrosts the bottle, and steps away.
“Thanks,” I nod at him and he smiles, almost sadly.
“Dude, I could use some help with that trick,” Connor says, and Azi just scowls at him, walking away a little. “Asshole.”
I drink half my water with a smile and then walk over to Connor, handing him my bottle.
“That’s yours,” he insists, and I push it at him.
“I don’t need anymore,” I say, and walk back to my spot, leaning against the wall. I quickly eat a breakfast bar out of my bag and wait for the others before we start walking again. The end of the path finally comes into view, and the massive cavern.
“The gate,” Azi shouts, but his voice is lost in the wind. I pause when I smell burning, holding my hand up to make the others stop as I slide a dagger out of my belt.
“What?” Connor asks, and I look back at them for a second, placing my finger on my lips. I’ve only smelt that kind of burning once, and if one of those demons are around, we are in deep shit. I keep my footsteps as silent and light as I can as I run to the edge of the path, hiding behind the rocks. The others do the same, staying close to the rocks as I edge my head around, seeing the very demon I never wanted to see again standing with two friends at the entrance. Gragnog demons. Gragnog demons have bodies similar to ours, but they are constantly on fire and their hands are two long, sharp bones instead of hands. They have one eye on their head, and a mouth full of sharp teeth, but their appearance isn’t the worst thing about them. They feed on burning–burning humans mainly. One touch of their fire against your skin, makes you feel like you’re dying, and makes them feel like they’ve had an energy drink.
“Shit,” I whisper as I lean back, and look at the others.
“What?” Azi demands.
“Gragnog demons. One adult, and two teen ones by the looks of them. They are waiting, most likely for us,” I snap out, glaring at the Protectors because this is clearly all their fault.
“We will have to go around,” Nix states.
“We don’t have time for that, we need to get to the next layer, not travel around the fucking mountain. It’s three against five, we can do this,” Trex says, and steps out before I can grab him.
“You are a complete fucking idiot,” I hiss, as the demons turn to us.
“Maybe,” he grins. “Let’s see how deadly the legendary assassin is, huh?”
I don’t have time to reply to the idiot as the demons run at us, and I throw my dagger straight at the biggest one. He has his eyes locked on me as the dagger hits his chest, and doesn’t even seem to faze him. One of the younger ones goes for Connor and Trex, and Nix is left with the other. I go to fight the big demon when Azi jumps in front of me.
“New plan, get in the cave and dive into the water!” Azi shouts, grabbing one of the demons, and holding him in the air. Azi somehow manages to keep control of the older one by holding the demon’s sharp hands behind his back. I run to the younger demon fighting Nix, burning his chest as he pushes him against a rock with one of his dagger arms. I lean around the demon grabbing Nix’s fallen sword from the floor. I grab the demon’s shoulder, ignoring the heat burning my gloves and swing the sword hard across his neck, cutting its head off, and it falls to the ground with a bounce. Gross.
“Nihil!” the demon Azi is holding screams as his friend dies. I lock eyes with Azi as the demon struggles to get free.
“Run, I will portal to find you!” Azi demands, and I turn around, grabbing Nix’s arm and pulling him towards the cave entrance. I see Connor and Trex finish off their demon, before running after us. The cave entrance is tiny, with a ledge that overlooks a very fast-paced, and deep-looking river. The river has a waterfall at the other end; a large one, by the looks of it.
“Fuck it,” I grumble, running to the ledge and jumping off the cliff into the freezing-cold water.