Page 58 of Her Demon Mate

“Time to get those weapons out. It’s a good thing you never took them back to the armory,” he says conversationally, as if we’re going out to get coffee and pastries.

“Yeah, but I may need to sharpen my knives,” I reply, my voice just as casual, as my mind flips through the various scenarios that I am about to walk into.

I need to find Elia, and I need to find her quickly.

But luckily, there are only so many places that the xaphan gather in Sarziroch.

“That should narrow it down.” I strap my knives to the holster that hangs around my hips and place a sword in the sheath that hangs on my back.

And with that, I leave.

27

ELIA

I’ve never felt more like shit as I sit waiting in a quiet kaffo shop. I may as well be rotting in this chair. My psychological state is the worst it has ever been. I’m sipping on my third cup in the space of an hour as I wait for Zephon.

Today is different from all of those other times I was pursuing him. The biggest difference is that I know I’m going to die.

There is no point in trying to approach him using stealth anymore. Every time I’ve been suited up with all of my equipment primed and ready for the kill, something has always come up, some sort of saving grace that allows Zephon to live another wretched day.

Whether it’s spotting a better opportunity at a later date or time, or the forbidden love of my life jumping out in front of me from the shadows, Zephon always seems to be afforded more time to live.

“I’ve had enough of this,” I snarl, ignoring the bewildered looks of the other customers in the shop.

I’m sick and tired of putting this off for so long. When I woke up earlier this morning in the arms of Azron, I realized that the best way to go about this is to just do it.

It was in his arms that I also grasped the fact that I never planned for a life beyond the bastard xaphan’s death, that nothing lay ahead of getting my revenge. Somehow, I’m not bothered by it, and in turn, I’m completely accepting of the fate that follows with seeing this through to the bloody end.

There is nothing left for me to live for once Zephon is dead. I think of Azron and how he comforted me last night, but he still deserves far better than me. He, too, will realize one day that the world is a better place without me in it.

I will die, but I’ll do so happily and take Zephon with me.

The streets are getting busier as the morning progresses so I decide it best to survey them outdoors. I finish my drink and toss money at the worker before exiting the building.

I step out into the blistering heat of the sun. Its warmth reminds me of Azron’s kisses on my face but I shake off the thought, reminding myself to stay focused. Despite the heat, there is a chill lingering in the air, carried by a light breeze.

My heart almost stops as I look across the street, seeing a passing soz’garoth who bears somewhat of a resemblance to the love of my short life. For a brief moment, I think it is him, that he has found me to once again be the voice of reason.

The man turns, allowing me to get a full view of his face. He is nowhere near as handsome as Azron, and so I look away as the stranger moves along with the crowd.

My fingers wrap around a square-shaped object in my pocket. I pull it out, looking at the only picture I have of my mother.

I’ll get to see you very soon, and then we can rest eternally together, side by side.

I put it back in my pocket, then slide my hands toward my sheathed knife. It is the only piece of equipment I have with me, having left everything behind at Azron’s place. I didn’t need my needle and thread, or any throwing knives.

Zephon isn’t going to go through the same fate of suffering as the rest of my victims did. That hurts because he is the one who deserves it the most. For so long, I’d been looking forward to enacting new methods of torture on him, to hear his relishing screams as I slowly drained the life from him.

Alas, things have changed. Now all I’m going to be able to do is stab the fuck out of him. The only thing that really matters now is that he will die.

A few minutes pass by the time that Zephon makes his presence known. I pull up my hood, watching as he walks by. Surrounding him is a large group of soldiers, all of them armed to the teeth with weapons and armor.

I don’t know how I am going to do this, but I’ll find a way.

I break away from the wall, blending in with the crowd as I tail the group. The soldiers encircle the xaphan, acting as a shield as they push people out of the way.

A public killing in broad daylight isn’t quite the scene I had in mind for disposing of Zephon. Then again, I don’t think any of the demons in the streets will give a shit what I do to a high-ranking member of their naturally born enemies. Instead of intervening, they might even cheer. Or better yet, help me.