A horrible sound broke the silence, entering my ears and I inadvertently covered them. The roar made my eyes widen. In front of me was a smooth black shadow with wings and horns. From behind his back I noticed an extra pair of hands. What could it be? His tail hit the ground several times, causing it to tremble. He began to shrink, becoming smaller than the main tower of the castle, his height reduced to the level of the defensive walls, and he became a little smaller, similar to an assault wolf. Now he was only four meters tall.
He gained strength. This pit, these events... The island is on the infernal rift, and that's why they dragged us here. They wanted to use us as victims to destroy the barrier. It was created long ago to protect our world from people like them. But this barrier was broken, and the world fell into chaos. There are few left who remember that there were five demons. The last of them was Desperatio, despair. He was killed by the Rose Empress before she even got to the palace. He begged her himself and gave her something in return, perhaps a curse or a gift. The ability to become invisible.
-Mortals, you are strong, you don't want to join my army, - he said, smiling with all his crooked yellow teeth, - In exchange for your souls, and hell will grant you strength and immortality - Give up humanity and the whole world will fall to your knees. You two are stronger than three demons as humans. What power will awaken in you...
-Unfortunately, we have to decline this offer, - Adrian said and prepared his sword for an attack.
- Then say goodbye to life, for the sake of some miserable world in which you were not accepted, - he said and created a black sword from his flesh and slightly decreased in size, - The world in which you suffered. Where you were hated. Those scars on your bodies, you don't want to take revenge for them.
- We will take revenge on the dead, that's why we learned to forgive them, - I said and my quiet voice stopped the two of them, - Why...
- It can always be done with our methods, there will always be people who helped them, - said the demon and smiled, - Maybe you will change your mind.
-No... - I whispered.
Mercilessly, the blows split the altar, and it dissipated with a terrible laugh. A few more blows, and cracks began to appear in the barrier. The demon will turn its attention to us. I blocked his fireballs, but he absorbed my attack and broke into pieces. I felt my strength giving out, I was weak. But he remained mocking, as if he felt that we had less and less strength left. It seems he would attack first if he had the chance. It was not so difficult for us.
Now Adrian and I continued to fight him. He tried to stop all his attacks. Several blows flew past him. Hadrian upset his hand and it flew away with the sword. He put away his back hand temporarily and created a new sword. The demon shrank a little more. We continued to fight. He fought back with his wings, but they flew away. I tried to create chains, but they fell apart without achieving their purpose. What is wrong with me?
- Constantia, leave, what happened to you, your magic... How it split... It won't be able to protect you, I noticed it a long time ago, - he said and jumped back again and raised hundreds of giant crystals.
- Well, when they trayed to catch me, and I couldn't have said in worse moment, - I said and sharply jumped back.
- I'm not sure that you were bewitched, - he said and attacked the demon.
- Oh, for the sake of all the gods, - I shouted, grabbing the bridge of my nose, - So let's finish him off and then we'll talk.
He was striking the demon, and I was just trying not to interfere. The demon was extremely strong. A terrible black aura appeared before my eyes. I blinked again and she was gone. But suddenly hands began to emerge from the ground. There were blows. Continuous blows. They continued to fight, but no one could win. The head started to hurt a little. Hadrian moved forward sharply and stripped the demon of one of its wings. He jumped out screaming in fear, moving as far away as possible.
- People, how did you do it... - he shouted and touched the burnt wound, - How did you manage...
He tore off his hand and threw it at us. Bits of his flesh stained my dress, leaving red and black stains. This scoundrel! I looked at the stains, now the dress will be easier to burn. And it will be safer. Who knows what effect all this may have on us. The fog began to clear and they continued to fight. Each of them was on the verge of exhaustion. The crystals crumbled. He wasn't weak, he was just playing his part.
-Mortal, you are losing strength, - he said and laughed.
-Don't be too confident in your abilities, it rarely ends well, - Adrian said and laughed.
With a sharp movement, he tore off its wing, and the demon howled, tearing out its horns. He assumed another, headless form. What to do now? He made two axes from the horns and attacked us. Blow after blow, but he didn't understand what was happening to his opponent... Why was there a smile on his face? It seems he was waiting for something.
Suddenly he looked down at his feet. Snow began to envelop his legs, pelvis, chest. The crystals immobilized him, piercing his pitch black skin and he howled in pain. But he was still able to move his arms. His legs became extremely thin, and the ice magic squeezed them harder and harder. However, his arms became very long, and although they were less strong and fast, he continued to attack. First the left hand flew and crumbled, then the right hand followed the same path.
- That's the end, - said Adrian and shackled him more and more tightly, - You will meet your friends in hell.
He began to turn the remains of the strongest demon into minced meat. I did not see what happened to him. Nausea approached the throat. But what is it with me? fed up Well, at least that's over. Adrian is covered in blood and dirt in a torn suit and disheveled hair. It was over and we were back in the palace. They haven't started moving yet. The plan is how to explain the big hole in the floor. Before they had time to move away from the curse, we left as quickly as possible.
Clutching some object in our hands, we found ourselves at home. This teleportation is convenient. Because it is a day's journey from the capital. But pleasure is available only to the nobility. Creating an amulet for tunnels is very difficult. It was so nice to be home after all this. Warm. And without all this. Well, at least I'll get some sleep. And how much time has passed. Well, let them leave and wonder what happened. Knowing that imperial family, it will be easier for them to add another floor to the ballroom than to simply earn a floor.
I went up to the bathroom and called the maid. I threw off the screen dress and remained only in the corset. But I also rejected him when they took a bath. I jumped into the warm water. I've had enough adventures. Now, as they say in the capital, there is enough adventure for a year, but I would say that until the end of life. I don't want to deal with those demons anymore. I looked at the maids.
-What time is it? - I asked quietly.
- For twenty-twelve, - answered Nora. All the tiredness immediately disappeared from my face.
- How... - I thought, every memory flashed before my eyes, - At least 5 hours have passed.
How could this happen. Well, only if the majority was not an illusion. They were strong. Only the one who has a more important reason to do it wins. But now I just want to rest. Sleep. Eat. And try to lead a normal life while playing a role. As if nothing had happened then. She died when she got into the palace. Like a weak heart. There were no demons. The floor collapsed because the ceiling was weak. The prison was blown up by an unknown traitor who immediately escaped.
I couldn't believe it. And I won't be able to. Maybe it was easy for everyone to believe. But those scenes that I saw before my eyes. I always poked my skin with my nails from it. Unfortunately, they could not be erased or forgotten. Time does not heal from this. Because that horror. It's numbness. That helplessness. It was the scariest thing for me.