The Heart Of The Demon

Chapter Twenty - Three: Paid in Full

Falosa

I woke up beside Aayla, her naked body draped over mine. A cough racked my body, waking her from slumber. Black blood splattered into my palm. I rolled to my side, pushing her off, barely able to inhale between coughs as blood and bile mixed in my throat, decorating her floor in yellow and black. My throat burned, my chest ached as if a giant demon sat atop it, crushing me beneath. This was the reality Zendar caused. I hated him.

Aayla placed one hand on my back, rubbing it in soothing motions. "Do you need anything love?"

Zendar didn't deserve to be treated with such kindness. He didn't deserve to be with this demon, but I couldn't kill him without killing myself, and even then, look at how the last time I did that turned out. I trusted him and he betrayed me.

"It might be a good idea to get moving soon, with how broader your aura has gotten, the team that wants you alive might track you more easily. You shouldn't stay in one spot for too long," Aayla said, her voice soft as her skin. Her scent was intoxicating, it would've drawn me in if not for my disgust with demon kind.

"Leave Aayla out of this, it's between you and me, I was just trying to save us," Zendar argued, his voice in the back of my mind.

"Save us? Look at what you've done! I'm dying and it's all your fault."

An idea begin to form. I knew how to get the revenge I sought. If I couldn't take his life, I would take his purpose for living. I knew he could see my thoughts as they raced through our shared consciousness. Killing her with my own hand wasn't enough. I wanted him to watch Aayla suffer and not be able to do anything to stop it. Just as he had let me suffer, just as he left me to die to gain further power.

I engaged my light blue magic, allowing it to heal my body even as it continued to tear itself apart from the inside. The hell hounds would smell my magic. They would find me. Aayla didn't notice. I knew she wouldn't.

"It's not a worry love, I'll protect you," I said, planting a kiss of betrayal on her lips.

"Falosa! Stop!" I could feel Zendar attempting to push her presence forward. "Don't lay a hand on her!"

Lacey had left me a supply of suppressor capsules in my pocket. I popped one in my mouth, enjoying the silence as Zendar was forced into submission beneath it. I knew it made him suffer. It was what he deserved. I kept some of it in my mouth, pushing it into Aayla's as I searched her mouth with my tongue.

I matched the way I knew Zendar loved Aayla, ensuring she wouldn't detect the switch. He was watching, the barest whispers of his pleas broke through my conscious. I ignored him, grabbing Aayla's breast in my hands.

She leaned into my touch, biting my lip and pulling away.

I pulled her in deeper, keeping her close so she wouldn't open her eyes as I summoned more of my magic, making the room glow a dim blue, alerting everyone of where I was. It wouldn't take them long to find me. I grabbed the back of her head, keeping her from pulling away.

A deep bark sounded outside, echoing in the darkness.

I grabbed her wrists, pinning her to the bed and pressing my body against hers as I allowed my magic to dim, becoming invisible before she had a chance to see, a chance to escape. When I pulled away, her eyes were on me, pain shone behind them as she laid there, unable to move. The suppressant had worked.

"You're not Zendar," she whispered, her body shaking as her chest heaved.

I didn't know what effect this would have on a full demon, but I didn't care, as long as in incapacitated her. Leaning forward, I put my lips to her ear. "No love, I'm not."