Runes of Truth (A Demon's Fall #1)(15)

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I exclaim, my hand naturally going to my back where my dagger is.

“I heard you had some new friends, dangerous friends. I’m here to help with whatever trouble you have gotten yourself into,” he says, grinning.

“Who is this?” Connor asks, placing his hand on my arm to get my attention, and a noticeable growl comes from Azi.

“Just an ex, who I sent to hell and hoped wouldn’t return,” I comment.

“Why did you send him to hell?” Trex asks.

“We had a mild disagreement and Evie took it too far,” Azi drawls in an annoyed tone.

“Let me get this straight, you sent your ex-boyfriend to hell because you fell out with him?” Nix asks me, and I shrug.

“He shouldn’t have been such an asshole,” I reply, looking up see that very ex glaring at me from the other side of the room. I can’t stop the smirk that appears on my lips. I’m damn proud of that day. Nix bursts into laughter, and when he stops, there is a tense silence to the room. Seth walks over to me, placing his hand on my shoulder.

“I cannot help you, but my brother can. Safe travels, Evie darling,” he moves closer, whispering into my ear. “Change your mind about hell, that is not where you should be. It’s a death sentence for you.” Seth pulls away and walks out of the room as I keep my eyes locked on Azi’s.

“Why do you need to go to bottom layer of hell?” Azi asks.

“None of your business,” I state.

“It is if I’m taking you there,” he replies.

“To rescue three very important people. Evie has made a deal and the price–” I cut Connor off.

“-is Hali. They have Hali,” I bite out, and Azi’s eyes glow a brighter red. If veins start crawling down his face, I know he has lost control of his inner demon. I’ve only ever seen that happen once, and it was when he fell into hell.

“Is she okay?” he asks, his hands in fists as he tries to calm down. I forget how much he cared for Hali. They were close before everything happened between us.

“The Protectors have promised her safety. I don’t trust them, but we will have three hostages if they touch her,” I point a thumb at the guys, who glare at me.

“Let me come with you, Vi. If not for you, for Hali,” he asks me. I stare at him for a second, before nodding.

“Fine,” I say, knowing I’m going to regret this. “Meet us tomorrow morning at mine.” Azi nods, before using one of his gifts to make flames smother him, and portal him away.

“We should leave tonight,” Trex demands as I turn and walk to the door.

“You are not dressed for hell, for one, and the top layer of hell is the most dangerous at night,” I say, and narrow my eyes at Trex.

“Why are you so desperate to go; more than Connor and your brother?” I ask.

“One of the princesses is his fiancé. Did they not tell you that?” Nix says, laughing low.

“Then we will get her back, but you have to do this my way,” I say firmly. “And no more secrets. Hell is exactly that, hell. We have to have some trust between us all,” I say and walk out of the room, swallowing the disappointment that the hot guy is engaged, and off limits.





Evie


I pull my plait up into a bun, winding it around and using hair slides to put it in place. I spent well over half an hour looking for the tiny little things I always seem to lose when I need them. I pick the leather corset belt up off the bed, putting it on, and tightening it up. I slide the five knives into their hidden compartments and make sure they are all secure before stepping away from the mirror. I glance at my bedroom; the clothes all over the floor, the messy sheets from where I couldn’t sleep last night. How did everything change so quickly? I fling the bag with arrows on my back, and my other bag with food and water on the other side. I glance at myself in the mirror as I pick my bow up and swallow the fear I have at going back to hell. The last time was an accident, and I’ll never forget it. The memory flashes in my mind without me even wanting to think about it.



I scream as I fall into the portal when the Protector pushed me, and I keep falling as I open my eyes and spread my arms out to catch something. Snow and mountains are everywhere I look, the harsh snow slamming against my face as I fall makes me close my eyes again and hold my head to my chest. My body hits the snow-covered ground with a thud, sending pain shooting through what feels like every part of my body.

Where the hell am I? Antarctica? It looks like it.

I stand up, when I can, looking around at the empty area around me. There is nothing but snow, and well, more snow. I look up at the sky, pausing when I can’t see the sun, or the moon. There are no stars, just blackness with a blue smoky haze that gives off light. Right, time to leave. I pull my sleeve up, pressing my finger to my red rune and try to call a portal.

Nothing happens.

That’s impossible.

The rune doesn’t even glow red. I move to my other arm, pulling the sleeve up in a panic and pressing my finger against the blue rune. My hand instantly burns with holy blue fire. So that rune works here. I close my hand, putting out the fire, and looking around again. I spot a fire in the distance on my right, and I start walking towards it, crawling to get over the hill. When I get to the top, I freeze at the horror in front of me. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of demons walking in a line, with transparent-looking people in the middle of them. the people look human, but it’s hard to tell from where I am. They are see-through, though, that’s not normal.