Rise of the Erifs (The Fire Song Chronicles Book 1)

Chapter 12

Earth

ALEX AND DAYE FLED DOWN THE PATH TOWARDS THE CLIFFS. Alex led the way. Daye held an axe in her right hand and had her shield swung across her shoulders protecting her back. She followed Alex as he took a sharp turn. He started clambering up the rocks towards a high cliff path as fast as he could, his feet skidding and skittering on loose stones here and there.

Behind them the Erif was gaining. His strong legs eating up the distance between them.

Alex just reached the top when he felt a blast of heat whiz over the top of his head singeing his hair. He glanced back to see the Erif standing at the base, his hand outstretched towards them. As Alex watched a mass of fire collect there, blazing red in colour, prepared to shoot at them.

"Move!" Daye snapped.

Alex dragged himself over the edge. He turned back to help Daye, gripping her arm. She threw herself forward landing on top of him. Alex threw his hands up over his face as a blaze of fire flew over them, missing them by inches. Alex could feel the searing heat threatening to burn them to a crisp but Daye held her shield up, protecting them from the worst of it.

Daye jumped to her feet, pulling Alex up with her. "Which way?"

Alex hesitated a second before pointing to their right. He took the lead again racing along the cliff edge. Daye looked back to see the Erif reach the top of the cliff. His eyes stared hungrily after them. He let out a roar and charged.

"Do you know where you're going?" Daye asked.

Alex didn't reply right away. "Um...I think so."

Daye felt the panic rise in her throat. "You think so?"

"I can't exactly remember where this cave is." Alex gave Daye an apologetic look. "Aurora does most of the exploring around here."

At that moment they rounded another bend and Daye felt like she was going to strangle Alex. To their left rose a cliff too steep to climb. Straight ahead and to their right was a sheer drop to the forest below. 

And behind them was the Erif.

A dead end.

Daye turned angrily on Alex. "You've led us into a dead end!"

Alex cringed. "Maybe it was left back there." 

A humourless laugh reached their ears. They spun around to see the Erif calmly standing there, blocking their retreat. He twirled the knife in his hand as he studied Daye and Alex.

"Tell me, how do you want to die?" he said, his voice deep and throaty. "You ran like cowards. Shall you die like cowards?"

Daye flipped her helmet down, protecting her face and stepped forward. She held her axe at the ready.

"I'm sorry, Daye," Alex whispered.

"Just get behind me," she growled, her voice muffled by the helmet.

The Erif grinned. He stepped forward to meet Daye. He stood legs wide apart, slightly bent at the knees. He sheathed one knife and instead drew a large curved sword. At his touch the sword became enveloped in flames. The blade glowed a dangerous orange. 

He was unlike anything Alex had ever seen. His eyes were a frightening violet colour, staring so intensely at him that Alex felt as if they were going to burn a hole straight through him. His muscles rippled as he gripped the sword tightly.

The Erif swung his sword at Daye, leaving a fiery trail in its wake. She just managed to dive out of its way. She felt the heat as it passed her. He followed up with another rapid stroke. Daye skidded away, leaning back to avoid the tip, the flames just touching her armour. As he swung back for another blow Daye ducked, anticipating the move, and slammed her shield forward. It crashed into his side throwing him off balance. She swung her axe at him but he just managed to stumble out of its path.