Cassandra's eyes were wide, darting between me and the path leading to the gardens. "There's a rogue demon," she said, voice trembling slightly. "It slipped past the guards and is wreaking havoc in the royal gardens."
A rogue demon? Here? In our stronghold? I clenched my fists, feeling the surge of anger mixed with excitement.
This was exactly the kind of distraction I needed. My blood was already boiling from the sparring session with Aeliana, and I could use a real fight to release some of this pent-up energy. "Where exactly?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
Cassandra pointed towards the path leading to the gardens. "Near the eastern fountain. It's strong, Ciara. Stronger than any rogue I've seen."
I gave a quick nod. "Stay here," I commanded. "I'll handle it."
Before she could argue, I turned and sprinted down the path, my heart racing with a mix of adrenaline and irritation. As I approached the garden, I could feel the heavy, oppressive energy of the rogue demon.
The air was thick with the scent of brimstone and the faint, acrid smell of something burning. I slowed my pace, my senses sharpening as I moved forward, trying to pinpoint its location.
I saw it then, near the fountain. A massive, hulking figure with mottled skin, horns protruding from its skull, and claws sharp enough to tear through metal.
Its red eyes glowed with a feral hunger, and it roared, the sound rumbling through the garden like an earthquake. It had already torn apart several trees, and water from the damaged fountain was spraying wildly in all directions.
I narrowed my eyes. Damn it. I'd have to be careful here. If I went all out, I could risk damaging the entire garden. And I wasn't in the mood to explain to the royal gardener why half of his beloved flowers were scorched to ash.
I moved closer, drawing on my power. I could feel the familiar heat building inside me, the fire stirring in my veins. Purple flames flickered to life around my hands, casting an eerie glow on the surrounding foliage.
The rogue demon turned, sensing my presence. Its lips curled back in a snarl, and it charged at me with terrifying speed.
I dodged to the side, rolling across the ground and coming up on one knee. I raised my hand, and a jet of purple fire shot out, striking the demon in the chest. It roared in pain, its skin blistering and smoking where the flames touched it.
But it wasn't enough to stop it. It recovered quickly, slashing at me with its claws. I twisted away, narrowly avoiding the strike.
I needed to end this quickly. With a burst of speed, I moved in, ducking under its arm and slamming my fist, wreathed in flame, into its side.
The demon staggered, and I pressed my advantage, summoning more of my fire. I could feel the power surging through me, the heat intensifying, but I had to keep it controlled. Just enough to hurt, not to destroy.
The demon lashed out again, and I felt a sharp sting as its claws grazed my shoulder.
I hissed, more in anger than pain, and retaliated with a powerful kick to its knee, followed by another blast of fire aimed at its face. It stumbled back, momentarily disoriented, and I seized the opportunity.
I moved fast, circling around it, using the terrain to my advantage. I leapt onto a nearby tree, pushing off from it to gain momentum as I hurled a concentrated ball of purple fire directly at its head.
The impact sent it reeling, and it crashed into a hedge, thrashing wildly as the flames consumed it.
But it wasn't down yet. It let out another furious roar, and I could see its muscles bulging as it prepared to charge again.
Fine. I could play this game all day. I crouched low, feeling the fire coursing through every vein, every nerve. I was ready.
I let out a breath, and then, with a shout, released a torrent of purple flames that engulfed the demon.
The fire roared and crackled, swirling around it like a living creature, searing its flesh.
It screamed, a horrible, ear-splitting sound, and I could see its body starting to break under the force of my magic. Still, I held back, ensuring I wouldn't set the entire garden on fire.
Finally, it fell to its knees, the light in its eyes dimming. I summoned one last burst of flame, aiming for its heart, and let it fly. The demon collapsed, its body smoldering, and then went still.
I stood there for a moment, catching my breath, feeling the rush of victory, the heat still pulsing through my veins.
The air was filled with the acrid smell of smoke and burnt flesh, but I'd managed not to destroy too much of the garden. Small win.
Then I felt a sudden pressure on my back, and before I knew it, Cassandra's arms were wrapped around me in a tight hug. "You did it," she whispered, her voice breathless with admiration.
I blinked, momentarily stunned by her touch, but before I could say anything, she pulled back just enough to look up at me, her eyes shining. And then, without warning, she leaned in and kissed me.
I felt the shock run through my body, my mind scrambling to process what was happening.
Her lips were soft and warm, pressing against mine with a fervor I hadn't expected. For a moment, I didn't move, my brain short-circuiting from the sudden shift in events.
Cassandra pulled back, her face flushed, her breathing quick. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes searching mine for… something.
I didn't know what to say, didn't know what to feel. Part of me was still running on the adrenaline from the fight, and another part was confused, caught between the rush of battle and the unexpected softness of Cassandra's lips.
The warmth of her touch still lingered on my skin, my mind spinning with a mix of frustration and bewilderment.
But then, instinct took over. I pulled away from Cassandra, my eyes narrowing slightly as I felt the weight of another gaze on me. I turned my head, searching for the source of the sudden tension pressing in around me, and there she was. Aeliana.
She was standing just a few steps away, half-hidden behind the ornate archway that led into the garden.
Her expression was unreadable, a mask of calm that betrayed nothing, but her eyes… her eyes were locked on me, dark and intense, filled with something I couldn't quite decipher. Anger? Hurt? Disappointment?
My chest tightened, a strange sensation that almost felt like guilt clawing at my insides. What the hell was she doing here?
Before I could say or do anything, Aeliana turned on her heel and walked away, her movements quick and purposeful, like she couldn't get out of there fast enough.
And for a brief, maddening moment, I felt the world tilt beneath my feet, a twist of emotions that left me standing in the aftermath, uncertain and strangely hollow.