To Love Luca

Chapter 1

Magnus' feet propelled him forward as vines and branches nabbed at his exposed skin. Clutched in his hand were small fingers practically crushed from the death grip he had on them. A 12-year-old boy with fearful eyes did his best to keep up with Magnus, but where his own feet failed him Magnus's grip forced him onwards. The boy's tears had long dried out. The raging fires behind them left a dryness in the air that forbade the water from leaking from his eyes and down his face.

Magnus was doing his best to keep calm and collected, but his 5 years of training seemed to leave his mind in the face of mortal danger. He turned to glance at Mateo making sure he was in one piece, before turning around and pushing forward again. His body met with a wall and he went stumbling backward losing his grip on the boy.

"Mateo!" His voice gave away the immense fear he had been feeling throughout the night. He whipped his head around to see who he had run into and a relieved sigh escaped his chapped lips.

Two more young boys were sprawled on the ground, much like Magnus and Mateo were. Magnus stood up and extended his hands out to them. They looked at him, eyes wide with fear, and reluctantly took his hands to stand up. They held each other tightly. Magnus was sure they mirrored how he was with Mateo only moments before. They were both fae, their wings were flat against their backs and hanging limp with exhaustion. Most likely unable to carry the weight of their bodies any longer. One boy had unnatural deep blue hair while the other's hair was a blinding bleach blonde.

"You guys can't fly anymore can you?" Magnus breathed out while making sure Mateo was okay from the collision. They both meekly nodded their heads.

"I'm Magnus, this is Mateo. You can stick with us if you'd like?" Magnus asked as he heard screams in the distance growing nearer. The two boys eagerly nodded their heads. The younger one with the blonde hair spoke up.

"I'm Ryland, this is Bellamy." Magnus nodded his head knowing they had no time for further introductions. He reclasped his hand with Mateos and the four of them sped off further to the edge of the forest.

The fire behind them cackled as more piercing screams rang out through the once tranquil forest. Magnus glanced back to see a flickering shadow dancing near the edges of the flame, He grabbed Mateo and Ryland's hand—which was clasping Bellamy's—and pulled everyone down behind a nearby boulder. He placed his finger over his mouth shushing the other boys, they huddled closer together Bellamy and Mateo shaking in fear.

Magnus peered out from behind the boulder watching the shadow's every move. The demon must have sensed him as its black eyes stared into Magnus's purple ones. His breath hitched in terror as the demon turned his direction towards theres. He moved back behind the boulder panting and unable to slow his erratically beating heart. His body reluctantly moved to face the demon again. It phased closer to them. Magnus could only watch in fear as the shadowed demon grew uncomfortably close. The fires raging behind it, illuminating the terrifying creature in all its ferocity.

A long howl sounded throughout the air. Magnus glanced all around him looking for the source of the noise. 5 large warrior wolves leaped from forest foliage surrounding the demon. 4 of the 5 wolves immediately pounced upon it causing the creature to shriek. Mateo covered his ears at the piercing noise and clutched onto Magnus' tattered shirt in fear. The giant brown wolf that hadn't yet partaken in the fight let out a low growl. For a moment Magnus' anxiety shot through the roof thinking that this wolf was warning him that he was going to pounce. Instead though, out from the brush of the forest three smaller wolves appeared stumbling towards Magnus and the other three boys hiding behind him. The warrior wolf looked Magnus in the eyes and whipped its head away towards the opposite direction of the demon, motioning for Magnus to take the group and run.