Runes of Truth (A Demon's Fall #1)
G. Bailey
Created with Vellum
Thief. Runaway. Assassin. What happens when your rumoured name destroys your life? When the very runes engraved on your skin since birth, are a death sentence?
Evie doesn't remember a life before she was on the streets, a life before thieving to live and killing to stay alive.
When a royal family she didn't know anything about goes missing, Evie finds herself thrown into the royal court of the protectors, and they demand her help.
Help in exchange for a chance at freedom and the name that's haunted her, forgotten. A name she can’t even read, a name she doesn’t understand.
But when three Royal protectors are tasked with helping her get into hell, her demon ex who is literally from hell, stalking her . . . will Evie ever be free?
For all the people that live in books. For all those that live in worlds only made up by dreams and words.
“I . . . I am so sorry for this,” I mumble, kissing my niece’s forehead, wishing I didn’t have to leave her here. If there was any other way . . . no, I can’t think like that. I look up at the flashing lights of the hospital, my heart breaking with every little step towards the entrance steps. It shouldn’t be like this, nothing about this is right. Protectors do not leave their own on the streets, and she will be alone.
“We will never forget who you are, Evelina. My sister’s life was not lost for no reason tonight, because you will live,” I whisper to her. I place the basket on the steps, making sure Evelina is covered up in her blanket, with only her arms out. I glance at her beautiful face, her now dark-blue hair, and her rune marks on her little arms. Only two weeks old, and her life is changed forever with only her hair as proof anything happened at all. The door to the hospital opens, and I turn, walking away. I know the humans will keep her safe. They cannot see her runes, they will just think she is one of them until she is older, and her powers emerge. I hear Evelina start to cry, and then the soothing voice of a human comforting her. I stop, calling one of my runes and opening a portal to my home, knowing I cannot come back here. Not ever.
“Where is she?” the keeper asks me as I portal into the hall and see them all waiting for me. Not that I expected much less, I just hoped I could escape the same death as my sister.
“Gone,” I respond.
“Tell us, or we will make you. The child needs to be destroyed, she is a monster!” the keeper growls. I slide my sword out of my holder, and look up at the ceiling, through the glass to the sky. I watch the stars for a second, keeping the image in my mind. The beauty of the night is a wonder.
“For Evelina,” I shout, and slide the sword straight through my stomach.
Evie
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask, trying not to yawn with boredom as I hold my sword at my side, resting on it and staring at the Protector. He isn’t the typical type that come after me, that’s for sure. Usually Protectors are all posh assholes in shiny suits, but this guy looks like a fake-leather store threw up on him.
“You must die, and I will be the one that finally–” he gets interrupted in his boring, predictable speech when my phone starts ringing. I sigh in relief, not wanting to hear that speech again. I pull out my phone and see Hali’s name flashing. I answer it, placing it on loudspeaker, and resting it on the dumpster near me.
“Yeah?” I answer, looking back at the protector as he runs for me, his sword raised.
“Evie, when are you home? I’m starving, and you promised me Chinese tonight. The good stuff from Chingwa, not from the crappy one you like,” she says as I hit my sword against the protector’s, and swipe my leg under his, knocking him over. I kick his sword away from him, wondering why they even bothered sending this man after me, he is a worthless fighter.
“Yep, I won’t be long, and I’ll get that damn Chinese for you. Anything else?” I ask as the protector grabs my leg, calling his fire rune and trying to burn me. I laugh, leaning down, and grabbing his hand off my leg. I jump on him, placing my sword under his neck.
“Evie . . . what are you doing right now?” Hali asks, suspiciously.
“Err . . . nothing,” I reply, kneeing the protector between his legs as he tries to knock me off him. He whines, before coughing out in pain.
“I don’t believe that, but I want my Chinese, so I’m going to stay quiet. Later,” Hali laughs, and then the sound of beeping lets me know she put the phone down. Good, no fifteen-year-old should have to hear this.
“I could let you go, but only if you will tell me who sent you,” I say, already knowing his answer before he says it. They always say the same thing.
“Never. I would never betray my people. Protectors never betray their blood, we always protect,” he spits out.
“I’m your people, you idiot,” I try to reason with him, giving him one more chance.
“You are not,” he spits out.
“I’m a protector. I don’t want to do this, but you won’t give up, will you?” I sigh deeply before lifting my sword and shoving it through his heart before he can reply. His mouth widens in shock, and I pull my sword out, standing up.
“Death will find you, and we will never stop hunting you,” he crackles out, just before his soul light leaves his body, floating up into the sky. I remember the first time I had to kill a protector, and I saw the light of his soul leave his body. It scared me, but then I saw it as what it is, beautiful. That even an evil protector, has light in his soul. That no matter how many of my own people I have to kill to survive, there might be a little bit of light left in my own soul. At least I can hope there is.