𝚩𝐄𝚴𝐄𝚨𝐓𝚮 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐔𝚸𝐓 𝐒𝚱𝐈𝐄𝐒

Chapter 05

My full attention snaps upward as a circle of hunters closes in on both of us.

"Well, hello there." Azure waves at them with a smug grin, as though he's greeting old friends. This man is beyond belief.

One of the hunters, confusion etched across his face, mutters, "What's he saying?" I don't think Azure realizes they can no longer understand our language. Grandma once told me that, long ago, both sides used to communicate in shared languages, even when clashing for power. But this time around, the gap was final.

"Do they no longer understand Ilrithan?" Azure tilts his head to the side in curiosity, a gesture so absurd it makes me want to laugh if it weren't for the dire situation. His tilt drags my bound hands along with it, refusing to let go.

I shake my head. "No. They didn't bother to learn. But they don't know we can understand them." Every single one of us learned their crude language, ugly and jarring as it is. To my ears, it sounds like nails on a chalkboard.

Azure's expression sharpens. "Then aim your guns at her, not at me," he snaps in Nythran, his voice icy. "If you fail to shoot her, I'll kill every one of you myself."

The hunters' eyes widen, their fear visible as they realize he can speak their language.

Instinctively, I yank at his hair, drawing a growl from him. Despite his threat, his expression holds no fear—nothing that even hints at worry over the guns trained on us. He might as well be immortal.

"Don't throw me under the bus," I hiss, gripping his waist tighter. "You know you'll be next after me."

The leader, clearly taken aback, steps forward, gun aimed directly at Azure. "How do you know our language? Are you one of us?"

Azure laughs, a harsh sound that grates on everyone. "One of you?" His face twists with disgust. "Don't lump me in with baby killers. I'm neither your kind nor hers."

It's the way he says it, as if we're two entirely different species. Maybe we're different branches of the same tree, but we're human.

The insult strikes home. The leader tightens his grip on his gun, his face twisting with anger. "They are all born dirty sinners therefore they do not deserve to live. And since you're not one of us, then you don't deserve to live either."

A pang of dread strikes me. I close my eyes, praying silently, hoping to see my mom and dad in whatever peace lies beyond. The crack of gunfire reverberates around us. Seconds pass, yet I feel no pain. Slowly, I open my eyes.

Azure has wrapped his wings around us, shielding us from the bullets. His wings are pristine, not a single drop of blood marring them, even though they appear soft and delicate, like they're forged from spun silver.

"Born dirty sinner...are you sure you're not talking about yourselves? And here I was, being generous," Azure sighs.

I look up at him, his arm firm around my waist. His usual gray eyes are glowing a bright, unnatural teal. Something about them feels familiar, yet I can't quite place it.

The hunters, frozen in shock, stare at us in horror. One of them gasps, and I can't help the small smile that forms on my lips. Finally, they're the ones who are afraid.

"What the hell are you?!" one of them screams, panic breaking through his hardened exterior. I've never seen them like this—scared. This is a first.

Before I can savor the moment, Azure's hand releases me, and he stands at his full 6'4" height, radiating menace. I stumble back, deciding to keep a safe distance, three paces at least.

"Now, who wants to go first?" he asks with a chilling smile.

The hunters exchange glances, unsure. Then, they lift their guns, bracing for another attempt.

But Azure tuts, raising a finger. "Ah ah ah. Let's have some patience, you'll all get your turn."

He vanishes, moving faster than I can track. All I catch are brief flashes, the sudden, sickening cracks of necks snapping, one after the other. It's over within seconds, the hunters left lifeless on the ground.

Yet Azure isn't done. He begins to stomp on their heads, laughing as he does, blood and brains staining the ground in a gruesome tableau.

The bile rises in my throat, and I double over, emptying my stomach as he laughs. He's not just killing—he's reveling in it.

"That was satisfying," he hums, sounding almost relaxed.

My heart thunders as I realize just how deranged he is. If I stay here, I'm next. Without a second thought, I bolt, sprinting toward the direction I think my cabin lies.

Cold hands snatch my shoulders, pulling me back into a solid chest. A low voice whispers in my ear, "Don't run now. The fun's only getting started." His breath is warm against my cold, reddened ear.

A shiver of terror shoots down my spine. I'm not sure I'll escape him—or if I even want to know what he considers "fun."

As soon as his grip loosens, I pull back, my gaze darting to the dark trees surrounding us. Azure watches me, his expression shifting from curiosity to an almost childlike delight, as if he's waiting for me to try escaping.

"Did you really think you could outrun me?" he asks, a slow, sinister grin spreading across his face.

I clench my fists, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "What's wrong with you?" I snap, the words escaping before I can stop myself. "Why are you doing this?"

He tilts his head, feigning innocence, though his expression is anything but. "Because it's fun," he says, letting the word linger as if savoring it. "It feels like ages since I've had this much excitement." He steps closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And you—you're quite the fighter. Makes it all the more thrilling." 

A chill crawls down my spine, but I refuse to back down. "You're insane." 

Azure chuckles, "You might call it insanity; I call it enjoying the moment."  His voice softens to a dangerous murmur, and his hand reaches out as if to brush a strand of hair from my face. I flinch, pulling back before he can touch me. 

His grin only widens at my reaction. "That's right. Keep fighting." He leans forward, his tone a dark whisper. "Run. Make it fun for me."

Well fuck, you don't have to tell me twice!

It takes less than a heartbeat for my instincts to kick in. I spin on my heel and bolt into the woods, heart pounding, lungs burning with each step. Branches scratch at my skin, and shadows close in from all directions, but I push forward, refusing to look back. His laughter follows me, mingling with the whisper of the trees and the distant rustling of leaves. It sounds like it's coming from everywhere, haunting and inescapable.

I don't know how far I've run, but finally, I reach a dense thicket, forcing myself through, thinking maybe it will hide me, slow him down, anything. I press myself against a tree, fighting to catch my breath, ears straining to hear any sound.

Silence settles over the woods, and for a brief, hopeful moment, I think I've lost him. My heartbeat gradually slows, and I dare to exhale, allowing myself to believe that maybe just maybe I'm safe.

Then, that low, familiar chuckle echoes nearby, chilling me to my core.

"I said make it fun, not make it easy." Azure's voice drifts from somewhere in the darkness, smooth and mocking, as if he's savoring every second of my terror.