Gregory looked at her. “How are you doing that?”
She shook her head and her hand began to quiver. “Kill him!”
He hesitated only a second and then sprinted to where Nab stood, unmoving. Gregory pulled the sword back and uttered a flurry of ancient words. Rell’s body trembled from the effort of holding the demon. Though he couldn’t move, Nab was fighting her, trying to send the black evil of the Bane into her mind.
She screamed as the familiar malevolence clawed at the mental shields she’d erected. With a thrust of his sword, Gregory drove the blade deep into the demon’s chest and then pulled it free. Not waiting, he turned and sprinted toward Rell, scooping her around the waist as her knees buckled. Half dragging, half carrying, Gregory maneuvered her into the shelter of the trees.
Nab’s screams filled her head. She slapped her hands over her ears and slid to the ground, watching the demon convulse. Siban and Juna exited the trees and stopped to take in the scene.
“Grab the woman and man and get into the trees. Hold onto something,” Gregory yelled.
Without hesitation, they ran to the two people. Siban jammed his sword into his sheath and hoisted the man’s arm around his shoulders, Juna did the same on the opposite side. They dragged him toward the woods.
“Come on!” With his free hand, Siban grabbed the woman’s wrist and tugged her behind him.
She stumbled, but let him lead her.
A large black hole formed behind Nab. His screams ricocheted through Rell’s mind, sending spikes of pain through her head. Suddenly the agony and his howls ceased. Dead silence filled the woods. She slowly sat straighter and looked around, but Gregory wouldn’t let her go.
“Hold onto the tree.” He shoved her hands against the rough bark.
Just as she tightened her grip the breath was sucked from her body. Gregory wrapped his arms around her and grabbed onto the tree as well. Rell coughed, trying to suck air into her lungs but it was as if no air existed. Her legs slid out from under her, drawn toward the black hole growing within the clearing. By panting she managed to get a shallow breath.
Branches and rocks rolled toward the hole. She pressed her mouth and nose against her shoulder to shield her face from the leaves and sticks flying through the air. Her body lifted from the ground. Gregory tossed his leg over hers, smashing them back down.
Nab screamed again, this time his howls were not in her head. She looked at the demon and gasped. His body was stretching and being sucked into the black void, headfirst. A roar like thunder rumbled through the clearing and the ground shook. Small trees uprooted and flew toward the black hole, smashing into Nab’s body.
First his arms disappeared into the blackness, followed by his shoulders, and finally his head. All at once his legs slipped inside, and he was swallowed completely. The hole expanded and pulsed. The image reminded Rell of a huge black mouth chewing its prey. Another peal of thunder rumbled through the clearing and the black hole vanished.
Her body dropped, suddenly feeling many times heavier than it really was. Gregory’s knee pressed into her stomach and she gasped, pulling in a lungful of air as cool wind swirled around her.
He rolled off her and to his knees. “Are you all right?”
Rell coughed and released her grip on the tree. Her fingers ached from clawing the bark to avoid being dragged toward the void. “Yes. I’m fine.” She stumbled to her feet but rested her hands on her knees. “What was that?”
His breath came out in short pants. “That was the Abyss of Souls and from its strength I would say it’s getting very full.”
“The Abyss?” She straightened and stared out at the now empty clearing. “Sweet Sainted Ones, that was horrifying.”
He nodded. “It is not supposed to be pleasant.”
Siban raced from the trees, his footsteps pounding across the clearing. Without stopping, he barreled into Rell, sweeping her in his arms and crushing her to him. Once again the breath rushed from her body.
“Siban.” Her voice squeezed from her. “I can’t breathe.”
He released her and held her at arm’s length. “Are you all right?”
She gripped his forearms in an effort not to fall. “Yes. I’m fine.”
“What were you thinking by confronting those Bane by yourself.” He shook her hard. “You could have been killed.”
“But I wasn’t.” She circled her hands under his arms, breaking his hold. He reached for her again but she sidestepped him. “I’m not a child, Siban.”
His mouth compressed into a hard line and his gaze narrowed. “Your actions would prove otherwise. We were to assess the situation and work as a team.”
Embarrassed by his chastisement in front of Gregory, she turned her back to Siban. “It worked out for the best. Nab is dead.”
Siban turned to the king for support. “Do you agree that she was careless, Gregory?”
Rell faced their leader. She had been careless but hadn’t been able to stop herself. That was not something she would tell Siban. They’d only been on this quest for a little more than an hour and already he was harping on her—and already she had nearly gotten herself killed.
“I’m sorry if I overstepped my place, Gregory.” She inhaled slowly. “He was one of the demons who helped turn me. One I had slated for revenge.”
Gregory searched her face and after a few seconds he said, “You had every right to revenge yourself, Rell, but there are unknown forces we are dealing with. Next time we encounter the Bane, I must be able to trust that you will fight as one of the group, not alone.”
She nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry.”
“For now there is no harm done.” Siban harrumphed but Gregory and Rell ignored him. “Where are Juna and the others?”
“Across the clearing.” Siban glared at Rell. “The man was still unconscious, but the woman said they were on their way back to Illuma Grand.”
“Bringers?” Intent on going to assist Juna, Rell took a step, but Siban blocked her path.
“I will help Juna. Go get the others. We will need their help.” He continued to scowl at her, lowering his voice. “We will speak more about this later.”
Rell stepped away from Siban but didn’t reply. She had been rash, but the woman had needed help. Instinct had taken over and until Juna had reined her in, she’d been more than willing to take the four demons on herself. Though she wouldn’t admit it to Siban, she knew her actions had been careless.
“Guide them over to the trees just beyond.” Gregory pointed across the clearing. “It seems we’ll need to make a stop at Illuma Grand to safely return these two—and find out if Lord Bagita has lost even more of his Bringers.
Chapter Eleven
It took all of Siban’s willpower not to rage at Rell. He couldn’t believe his eyes when she’d strolled directly into the path of danger, only thinking of her need for revenge. She’d been unreachable. Her anger had swamped him as he had tried connecting and corralling her back to their mission. Between that and freeing Icarus, Siban was starting to trust her judgment less and less—no matter how much she argued that her reasoning was sound. Now she sat on her horse, her spine stiff with defiance. He’d known she still struggled with the dark stain on her soul, but this was the first time he’d seen it manifested. With the other Bringers around he’d have to wait to say his piece until they were alone. Saints help her when he did.