❝under their armor is a shining beacon of hope❞
A realm still suffering the aftermath of the original demon invasion. A world splintered from the core. A people frightened of the monsters that would one day rule their lands. A life ostracized from s...
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tw slight gore
The girl—Eclipse—stormed forward and screamed right in Adahlia's face, "Why the hell are you here?" Adahlia flinched at the words. Eclipse saw this and took a step back, face contorted in rage and a hint of hurt.
"Tell me," she hissed, eyes livid. "What's the reason you're here for?"
When Adahlia didn't answer, she growled in frustration.
Avanth watched with wide eyes as Eclipse threw her hands up in the air, nearly hitting Adahlia's face. She was pale and trembling, her eyes downcast, just letting Eclipse throw a fit. She was somehow . . . subdued.
Adahlia opened her mouth but Eclipse's gaze snapped to Daxelle. She scanned the faerie and her stare lingered on her stomach, her mouth curving into a sneer. She started for Daxelle, the fae female drawing back, her hands coming up to protect her from this blob of terror.
"Look! You even brought your friends here with you," Eclipse snarled. She eyed them all, giving Zadyn a particularly nasty glare. "Did you really think you could get away with stealing the book?"
"W-what do you mean?" Adahlia asked. A pit of dread filled Avanth's stomach. She knows. If this prospect wasn't terrifying enough, Avanth caught Daxelle trading glances with him, her eyes begging him to help her. He had no idea what to do. His level of confrontation was below zero. He hated this. Avanth offered her a grimace, trying to convey something he didn't even know how to say.
Eclipse jabbed a finger at Daxelle's stomach, "Do you not think that's obvious? Why the hell would you come here except for the book?" Avanth jumped slightly as Daxelle whispered into his mind, Shit.What do I do?
Avanth tried to give a subtle shrug. He tried mind-shouting a half-formed plan about slipping the book behind her back and tossing it to Zadyn, essentially playing a game of monkey in the middle with Eclipse. One problem; he had no idea how this mind-talking worked and didn't know if she could hear him through his own screamed thoughts.
Frick, frick, frick, Daxelle mumbled as Eclipse slammed her hand into her stomach. Daxelle let out a huff of air and arched slightly at the force against her stomach. The thud of flesh against wood sounded and there was no denying the book in Daxelle's shirt.
"What the hell is that then?" Eclipse deadpanned to Adahlia.
"A wooden gut?" Adahlia tried.
Eclipse's glare sharpened. "Cress sent you away;"—she swiveled toward Zadyn—"sent you away with the pitiful male."
"She sent me away with Zadyn," Adahlia corrected quietly. Avanth caught a glimpse of anger in her eyes, but that was quickly replaced by sadness. "And you know that."
Eclipse's face hardened, "Of course I know that, I was there! Did you not fricking think to say goodbye when you left?" She heaved a deep breath, clutching at her stomach, the pain in her eyes giving away her façade.
