THE DEMON WOLF AND HIS MATE

Chapter 9

Raina had caned her so hard her skin had peeled off. The pain was excruciating. She hadn't screamed that day, but she wanted to scream now, and she did. With every strike of the cane, she shrieked. She wanted to kill every one of them. So much pain...

“Noooo!!” she screamed and was covered with sweat despite the coldness of the room she was shackled in. She couldn't take it anymore and started kicking against the chains.

“Release me!”

She felt choked as Raul held her head inside a barrel of water. She was being drowned. Raul was holding her head inside a barrel of water. She gasped for breath, she wanted to come out, she wanted to shout but her voice didn't come out. She was not able to move. A tremor passed through her body and with all the force she could muster, she got out, gasping for air, screaming. She opened her eyes, feeling nauseated. Her arms were pinned to the sides as strong, muscular arms and legs surrounded her. She was pressed firmly against a hard torso.

“Shh..” He said in a deep, lilting voice. Who was he? But Anastasia found herself clinging to the hard chest as a hand stroke her hair and assurance rolled out from his mouth again and again.

“You are fine Anastasia...” It was soothing... Her head was tucked beneath his. It was so... safe. Tears rolled out of her eyes and she let them roll.

“Kiss me” she found herself saying it to him. She didn't know why she said it, but she just felt the urge, the need, the reassurance...

Macilleus pressed a kiss on the crown of her head.

Anastasia opened her eyes, it had become too dark and yet the carriage was still moving. She turned her head to see him. Her blue eyes met his golden eyes. He was staring right back at her. She curled her hands around his corded neck and pulled his face closer as if driven by primal instinct. She wanted to press her lips on his, but suddenly her face was forced on the side as he pressed against his neck. Her kiss fell on his neck and he shuddered, his body tensing strongly.

“You can't do this.” he whispered in her ear.

Anastasia broke into tears. Her body raked with an overflow of emotions as waves of gloom and rejection passed through her. She had been brave for all her life, but why did she melt into his arms? For what seemed like an eternity, the world blacked out and she slept, still clinging needily to his chest- his heartbeat lulling her, soothing her.

She didn't know how much time had passed when suddenly she found herself being thrown to the side of the carriage. It screeched to a stop and the horses neighed in fear. Her head thumped on his shoulder and she was jerked awake.

We are under attack!” Darla's voice forced her to open her eyes wide.

Macilleus pulled her out of the carriage and said

“Stay under the carriage until this is over.”

“Wh- who attacked us?” she asked

“Is it Raul's men? Or the Demon wolf's men?” a shiver ran down her spine.

He didn't say a word as the other soldier's gathered and he went to free the horses from the carriage. The coachman helped him release the horses which were extremely tired and needed a rest.

“This is going to be bloody.” said Starlight as he plucked an arrow out of his upper arm.

“Keep steady Starlight.” said Macilleus as he plucked another arrow. Starlight grunted. The man had such an athletic and warrior-like built that for a moment Anastasia thought taking out the arrows was nothing until it started bleeding badly. Macilleus grabbed ice from the road and rubbed it on him.

Nyles was already yelling at Darla.

“For godsake woman, put me down, I need to go to Milady!”

“Shut up or I won't think twice before putting this sword into you first!” Darla snarled quietening Nyles. Werewolves, Anastasia thought, were so easily provoked. She didn't for once think Darla will hesitate before driving the sword into Nyles if she hadn't quietened down.

Anastasia looked around, but all she could see was the mist. She heard a rustle nearby. Twigs snapped and someone ran over them. Everyone in group fell silent. The hazy moonlight and the mist made it difficult to see anything. Suddenly the flap of wings was heard and everyone drew their swords from their sheaths, except for Macilleus who drew daggers from his belt. The hilts were studded with red, blue, green and yellow gemstones that glowly dully in the darkness.

A great turbulence disturbed the fog around them and a beast with enormous, battered, grey wings that flapped like that of a bat emerged. The tall, grey-skinned being who looked even blacker against the night with dull yellow irises and pointed horns came to stand in front of them. It snarled. A quiver full of arrows hung on his left shoulder.

“Go away!” Macilleus said in a threatening tone.

Anastasia was aghast. Her skin was pebbled with goosebumps and her mind refused to believe that such a creature exists.

As if provoked, the creature took a step closer on his scaly legs towards Macilleus as if he didn't hear Macilleus' warning.

Macilleus leapt out of the mist and the creature lunged after him. Macilleus who had jumped almost ten feet in the air, swirled and turned to attack the beast. He plunged his daggers into the wings of the demon, and drew it through it's heart as he came down upon it. The demon shrieked in a shrill voice but the next moment it was lying dead on the forest floor. Black blood flowed from the wound. Macilleus came back to his people avoiding the blood. He circled around the area but there were no more creatures in sight.

When he came back, he said

“Abandon the carriage. We must move from here. There are no more nearby, perhaps this one was alone.” He extended his hand to Anastasia who was still hiding beneath the broken carriage and pulled her to her feet.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She nodded with wide eyes.

“Who was that?” she asked.

“A rogue Zor'gonian.” he said in a clipped voice with the intention of no further explanation.