BOOK 2 of the Running With Devils Series
It's been three weeks since Coralynn Bennet was dragged down to Hell and it was nothing like how she imagined it. It was a kingdom of skyscrapers but no sky. Demons ran amok, but limited their bloodthirsty te...
Song: Wait- M83 (to this day this song still gives me chills)
AN: I am a glutton for punishment and this has to be a new low for me. Ngl.
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The Shadow
I had nearly killed her. I had nearly let my own infernal condition get the better of me— I had let my condition get the better of me.
I had let it sweep me away into oblivion, not caring that I was stealing the life from inside her. I had been so focused on protecting her from others, that I had ignored the immediate threat that was set right in front of me.
My own desire.
I had never thought of my bloodlust as a curse. It just was. It was just the nature of what I was. And I had accepted it. There was nothing I could do to change it.
But now, after seeing myself fall so completely to its mercy, I understood it for what it truly was. A punishment.
A sickness.
All infernals had been afflicted with it. That was the cost of falling. That was the price of greed.
And I had nearly paid for it with the life of the woman I loved.
She was standing too close to me. I could feel her through the darkness as we walked toward that small dim light ahead. But every time I tried to put some distance between us, she gripped my hand tighter, and kept me where I was.
"What's going through your head," she asked softly.
I forced a tired laugh. "Nothing good, little priestess."
"I know you didn't mean it," she said. "I'm not upset with you—"
"I know," I said, swallowing hard. "But I'm grateful for the reminder."
I felt her bring the back of my hand to her lips, kissing it softly.
"Always," she whispered.
As we began to head into the light, I could see the aftermath of what I had done. The blood I had left behind made me sick. There was so much of it beginning to crust over her delicate skin.
I forced my eyes away, swallowing the nausea and trying to loosen my body. I rolled my neck and shoulders as smoothly as I could.
The pain was gone. The muscles had reformed and the skin had sealed. I'd been fully healed just so that I could die.
Such a fucking waste. I had become a waste.
Azura came from the other direction, stepping into the light.
"Coast is clear up ahead," she sighed, tucking her platinum hair behind her ear. "I think I found the game master."
I didn't want to even speak. I just nodded and strode forward.
