Hunted by a Night Fae

Chapter 31

[CW: mention of rape, violent childbirth, death]

The fire cracked, and the light lowered. The sluagh paced back and forth, her horde of shadows spreading and consuming the ground. Their shapes danced, as if moving to a violent song I couldn't hear.

Think, I told myself. Whispers filled the silence, the sound of the birds fading away. The sluagh stopped walking to stand just beyond the flames. Her milky eyes caught in the firelight, her body almost an arm's length away from me now.

The fire's light had fallen to a small perimeter around the fire. If I looked up, the night sky was blotted out by shadow. I couldn't even see the trees anymore.

Beyond the fear, a burning rose inside me. Anger. I was helpless and it was nobody's fault but my own, allowing myself to be swept up in Ronan's shadow, doing nothing to learn how to fend for myself in Faerie. I had become complacent, thinking relying on someone else was enough.

I didn't have him now. 

I breathed in deep, swallowing up the decaying scent of the sluagh. I nearly gagged, it was so strong.

"You will not get me, sluagh."

The demon tilted her head, eying me. "Oh, smart little human. You know what I am. A few little fairy tales won't save you, though. Neither will your knife." Her voice was monotonous, echoing through the air.

I looked down at the weapon gripped tight in my hand. If I broke the barrier of light, the shadows would be upon me in moments.

I thought of the fire, wishing for a way to feed it, make it brighter. If only I had a small sliver of the magic Ronan had. A little bit of faerie Craft. Something,

Almost as soon as I thought it, a breeze danced along my sweat-soaked skin. My gaze flickered down to my hand. Adrenaline continued to beat through my body. My muscles were poised to claw, fight, and cut through the mass of shadows.

The fire cracked, and the light drew closer. I stepped back, hunching to stay in its glow's safety. My boots hit a piece of burnt wood. My arms shot out and I stumbled, heat scorching up my back. I steadied myself, and grit my teeth. I had nearly fallen into the fire, I was so close.

The sluagh cackled.

"Your soul will soon be mine. But please, continue to entertain us."

I breathed in heavily, nearly choking on the ashy air. I gripped the knife in my hand hard, the hand slick under my hand.

An impulse had me moving before I could think of what I was doing. I lifted the knife and flung it. I aimed directly at the sluagh's head. A breeze caught it from where it went of course, driving it into the space directly between her eyebrows with a slick thunk.

All was silent. I flexed my now empty hand at my side. Had it worked? Would the suagh disappear into thin air? How had I...?

Slowly the sluagh's milky white eyes crossed, looking up at the knife. She rose a bony hand to pull it from her head, black blood trickling down her face. She smiled, showing me her brown teeth as she dropped the knife. It lay there, covered in a layer of her tar-like blood.

So much for that.

"Nice try, human." I watched as her skin knit back together over her head, leaving only the new trail of clumped blood down her face.

I lifted a shoulder, feigning nonchalance. "It was worth a try."

She looked at me, her gaze narrowed as she considered me. As if I had surprised her.

In all honesty, I had surprised myself.

"You aren't afraid?"

"No, but I know I should be."