Runes of Truth (A Demon's Fall #1)(36)
“I’m not kind, not usually, anyway. I’m downright evil when I’m pissed off,” I warn him, and his eyes gleam with humour.
“I’ll remember not to piss you off, then,” he replies.
“Who says we will even see each other again when all this is over?” I counter.
“We will, because there is no way I’m letting you walk out my life, blue,” he says, letting go of my hand and keeping the flowers. I don’t move as he picks up his logs before walking away, leaving me a little speechless and fearing that Azi might be right. These Protectors are good at getting my defences down, and that is dangerous for someone like me.
Evie
“It’s time to start,” Connor says, gently touching Trex’s and Nix’s shoulders as they stand in front of the wood platform. The princesses are resting on top of it, side by side and holding hands. I watched as the protectors placed them on there, and Connor slid the red flowers into their hands on their chests. Azi stands close to my side, watching silently as Connor steps to my other side. I don’t know these people, and it feels wrong to be at their funeral. They should have people who loved them here. At least they have Trex, Nix, and Connor. Azi and I are just witnesses.
“Emily Ravenwood and Esther Ravenwood, today we say goodbye to you, and free your souls,” Trex says, his voice seeming like it’s louder than it is, and it echoes around us. “As royal princesses, this is not the death you deserved, and I will forever be sorry that I couldn’t save you. As my friends, people who were like sisters to me, I will never forget you. I will never forget your laughs, your kindness, and your beauty. The world never deserved either of you, but we will miss you greatly.” Trex looks at Nix, nodding once before looking down before he starts to talk.
“As children, you used to chase me around, telling me my hair was so soft that it could be plaited easily. I never did let you catch me, but I remember the night you snuck into my room and plaited it all in my sleep,” he holds up a piece of his hair he must have cut off, and plaited. He places it on top of the platform, holding his hand over it as he looks up. “You finally got what you wanted. I will miss you both and you will always be remembered. Rest in peace Emily and Esther.” With those final words, Trex and Nix step back, and Azi walks over to them, holding a ball of fire in his hand.
“Tell me when,” he says quietly, respectfully.
“May death guide you on your way, may angels save your soul, and may you be reborn true. We bless your death in the light of the Protectors who fell before you,” Trex says, bowing his head. I’ve never heard the words before, but for some reason, they feel familiar. I can feel they have some great meaning, something that I didn’t quite expect to recognise or connect to, but I do. I know I have Protector blood, I have their runes, but I have never thought of myself as a Protector before. Never had connection to the people I share my blood with, and for a brief second as Trex speaks, I felt a connection. Nix and Connor repeat the sentence, and I find myself doing the same, quietly but I know they can hear me. Trex lifts his hand to Azi, signalling him to go ahead, and he holds the ball of fire on the wood, walking around it and setting every bit on fire. We stand still, watching the fire burn, none of us wanting to be the first one to move. Trex is the first one to move in the end, picking his bag up off the floor, and looking over at Azi.
“Where are we heading then?” Trex asks.
“It’s underground, and nowhere I should take you. Only overlords are meant to go there, but if Roth took your princess there, the rules have already been broken,” Azi says, picking his own bag up and walking around the fire to the building. I pull my bag up on my back, hearing Star’s light snoring as I follow him. Azi stops, throwing up another fireball into air as he kneels down to the spot where the princesses where left for us. He places his hand on the ground, into their blood and a red-light flashes once. The floor shakes as Azi stands up, walking back and part of the floor slides away to reveal a staircase. Azi goes to walk down them, but I grab his arm, stopping him.
“What is down there?” I ask.
“Do you trust me?” he asks, and I pause, staring at him.
“Not with everything, not yet but are we safe?” I ask quietly, and I let go of his arm.
“Nothing here is safe, but I will never let anything happen to you, Vi,” he says gently. I don’t reply as Azi walks down the steps, with Connor following first, and I go next, hoping I’m not making a mistake by trusting a demon. The steps go down for what seems like forever, and I slowly pull a dagger out as we walk down them. Azi keeps throwing balls of fire into the air around the staircase, lighting our way. I do spot the walls on the way down, seeing drawings and what looks like runes written all over them. I feel a little shake of the staircase under my feet, and then it shakes harshly, knocking me to the floor. The shaking gets worse, and I look down at the cracks in the stone under my hands, just moments before the floor falls in.
Evie
I open my eyes, seeing nothing but dust, broken stone, and I cough as I suck in some much-needed air and turn my head to the side a little. There are bits of light left from Azi’s fireballs flashing in the room, but I can’t see anyone else where I’ve fallen. The room spins as I push myself up off my chest, pushing broken stone off my legs and back, and quickly pulling my bag off my back. I feel little cuts all over me, but nothing that needs healing right now. I open the bag up, and Star jumps out, licking my neck as I check her over.