The drive was a goddamn nightmare. The roads were a mess, barely more than dirt trails winding through endless stretches of forest and rocky hills.
I could feel every bump and rut in the road through the steering wheel, and each one made me grip it tighter, like I could somehow wring the frustration out of my own muscles if I squeezed hard enough.
The hours dragged on, the car's engine growling with the strain as I pushed it to its limits. I didn't give a damn about the speed limits or the treacherous curves I needed to get there, and I needed to get there fast.
My thoughts were all over the place, a tangled mess of worry, anger, and something else that I didn't want to examine too closely. I kept telling myself this was just another mission, that I was doing this out of duty.
That was the story, anyway, the one I kept repeating in my head like some kind of fucked-up mantra.
The sun was setting by the time I hit the halfway mark, the sky bleeding into a deep orange and red, like the world was on fire. It felt appropriate. The shadows stretched long across the landscape, and with every passing mile, the anxiety gnawed at me more fiercely.
I couldn't stop my mind from racing, running through every possible worst-case scenario. What if she was already dead? What if I was too late? The thought made my hands tremble on the wheel, and I cursed myself, slamming my foot down harder on the gas.
This was all so fucking stupid. I shouldn't care this much. Aeliana was just a human, and I'd seen plenty of them die. Hell, I'd killed more than my fair share of them. But the idea of her lying there, cold and lifeless, with those defiant eyes closed forever... it made something tighten in my chest, something I didn't want to name.
I couldn't stand it. It was like a knife twisting in my gut, a feeling I couldn't shake no matter how much I tried to tell myself it didn't matter.
But it did. Fuck, it did.
The sky had darkened completely by the time I reached the outskirts of the area where Aeliana and Nathaniel were last seen. The night had settled in, bringing with it a heavy silence that pressed down on me, thick and suffocating.
The headlights of the car cut through the darkness, but it did little to ease the sense of dread crawling up my spine. I slowed the car to a crawl, my senses on high alert as I scanned the area. Every muscle in my body was tense, ready for whatever shit was about to go down.
The air was thick with the scent of blood and something darker demonic energy, tainted and vile. I could taste it in the back of my throat, bitter and acrid. It was unmistakable, a sign that a fierce battle had taken place here.
My heart pounded in my chest as I pulled the car to a stop and killed the engine, the sudden silence only amplifying the sound of my own ragged breathing. I needed to get a grip, needed to focus. I couldn't afford to lose my shit now, not when Aeliana's life depended on it.
I stepped out of the car, the gravel crunching under my boots as I moved quickly, quietly, toward the fort that loomed ahead. The structure was half in ruins, the walls crumbling and covered in scorch marks.
The scent of death was everywhere, thick and cloying, making my stomach churn. I didn't bother with stealth; if there were any demons left here, they already knew I was coming.
The tension in the air was almost palpable, like the world was holding its breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. I tightened my grip on my sword, feeling the familiar weight of it in my hand, the cool metal reassuring against my palm.
I was ready for a fight, hell, I was itching for one. I needed something to take out this anger and fear on, and demons were always a good target.
But as I approached the entrance, something stopped me dead in my tracks. It was faint, but I could hear it a low, rumbling growl, like the sound of a beast lying in wait. My heart skipped a beat, my senses going into overdrive as I scanned the darkness, searching for the source. And then I saw them.
Five rogue demons, their twisted forms barely visible in the shadows, but their presence unmistakable.
They were circling, their eyes glowing a sickly yellow in the darkness, their movements slow and deliberate, like predators stalking their prey. Their auras were suffocating, thick with malice and bloodlust, and I could feel the power radiating off of them in waves.
"Fuck," I hissed under my breath, my grip tightening on my sword. This was bad. Really bad. These weren't just any demons these were strong, experienced, and fucking terrifying.
They were the kind of demons that gave even seasoned hunters nightmares. And they were here, waiting for me, blocking my path to Aeliana.
Panic surged through me, but I forced it down, clenching my teeth as I prepared for the fight of my life. I couldn't let them stop me. I couldn't let them keep me from getting to her. I took a step forward, my sword gleaming in the dim light as I raised it, ready to strike.
But before I could make a move, one of the demons lunged at me, faster than I could react. I barely had time to throw up my sword, blocking its claws as they slashed toward my throat. The force of the impact sent me staggering back, but I didn't fall.
I couldn't afford to. I gritted my teeth, pushing back with all my strength, the weight of the demon bearing down on me like a ton of bricks.
"Get the fuck off me!" I snarled, shoving the demon back with a surge of power. My flames burst to life, purple and searing hot, engulfing the demon and sending it flying back with a pained screech.
But there was no time to celebrate. The other four were on me in an instant, their claws and fangs flashing as they attacked from all sides.
I was in the fight of my life, and I knew it. Every movement was a blur of steel and fire, my sword cutting through the air with deadly precision as I fought to keep them at bay.
But they were relentless, their attacks coming faster and harder with every passing second. I could feel my strength waning, the adrenaline that had been fueling me starting to fade. But I couldn't stop. I couldn't let them win.
"Is this all you've got, you fucking bastards?!" I shouted, my voice raw with fury as I unleashed another wave of flames, incinerating two of the demons where they stood. The heat was intense, scorching the ground around me, but I didn't care. I couldn't afford to care.
But even as I fought, my thoughts kept drifting back to Aeliana. What if she was already dead? What if I was too late? The thought made my chest tighten with fear, but I shoved it aside, focusing on the fight.
I couldn't think about that. Not now. I had to believe she was still alive. I had to believe I could save her.
The last two demons were stronger, smarter, their movements more coordinated as they circled me, looking for an opening. I could feel the sweat dripping down my face, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I waited for their next move. I couldn't afford to slip up. One mistake, and it was over.
But they were fast, faster than I expected. One of them darted in, claws slashing toward my side, and I barely managed to block it, the force of the blow sending me stumbling.
The other demon took advantage of my momentary lapse, lunging at me with a roar. I tried to dodge, but it was too late. Its claws raked across my arm, the pain sharp and blinding as I cried out, dropping my sword.
"Fucking hell!" I cursed, clutching my arm as blood seeped through my fingers. But there was no time to wallow in the pain. The demons were closing in, their eyes gleaming with triumph as they prepared to finish me off.
But I wasn't going down that easy. With a snarl of rage, I summoned every ounce of strength I had left, my flames exploding out of me in a blinding flash of purple fire.
The demons screamed as the flames consumed them, their bodies disintegrating into ash as I stood there, panting and trembling.
The battle was over. But I didn't feel victorious. All I felt was a sick, gnawing fear that I was too late. That I had wasted too much time.
With a shaking hand, I picked up my sword and forced myself to keep moving. The fort was just ahead, and I could feel the dark energy pulsing from within. Aeliana was in there. I could feel it. And I wasn't going to let anything stop me from getting to her.
Not now. Not ever.