The Demon King And The Hero (Part One)

Chapter Twenty: The Hero's Defense

Chapter Twenty: The Hero's Defense

Shion awoke abruptly, her eyes became accustomed to the dark as she lay there in waiting, softly breathing in the moderately cool air and becoming aware of her surroundings. It wasn't usual that she awoke during the night, not unless there was something in the vicinity that she was not attuned to. Their little campground was hidden away, but she knew it was rather open to attacks.

Shion did feel something watching them.

A demon.

Its aura was so unlike anything she'd ever felt before. Power drifted to her in waves so massive that she suddenly went weak. It wasn't at all like the faint aura Felli had, nor was it like the peculiar tickle that she got from other half breeds. It was much, much worse.

Is it Him? She thought, her mind chaotic. She wasn't ready. They weren't ready and they were going to die because of her. If I don't move, we're going to die anyways. Shion closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Veiling it so that whatever was there wouldn't know she wasn't sleeping, she breathed and breathed again as she thought up a plan of attack.

It moved slowly, fluidly towards her. Her skin erupted in goose bumps and she fought the shudder she knew was coming. Even though her mind was calm and disconnected from the terror she felt, her body was not and it wouldn't listen to her.

Even her fingers, which until a moment before had been poised to clasp a thin knife, did not move. They were stuck in their place. She cursed whatever was there, for it overwhelmed her senses and made her stomach churn.

Not good. Not good at all. She vehemently whispered to herself. It's getting closer and I don't like what I see at all. Rather, I don't like what I don't see either. This chill...Its unnatural. Demon made, or caused, to precise. She felt a faint bitingly cold sensation wash over her as the temperature suddenly dropped.

Ice was beginning to form on the ground as it walked. Leaves turned black and fell to the ground, shriveled up. Whatever was there moved with such precision that Shion almost thought it was a cat.

Yet she knew it wasn't.

Shrouded in black, even against the brightly burning fire, it was a figure taller than Nemis. She saw no face, no features that marked it as human nor demon alike. It was inhuman in its proportions, its head too big for its neck and its neck too long to support it. Thin, like a small tree, the demon looked peculiar and frightening. Its long arms reached to its knees, and its legs looked spindly, as if they could barely hold its body. Yet it moved easily as it clutched a knife of pure black.

And she knew it wasn't the Demon King.

A little bit of her fear drifted away and she sighed inwardly.

It stepped through the darkness slowly until it was right next to her. Silently, she reached for her sword, her hands moving as slow as she could so that it wouldn't notice.

It didn't, and it just stood there for a moment, its large head staring straight up.

What is it doing... She considered that it was enjoying the full moon, but the thought soon perished as its head suddenly lowered. A sound, almost as if its bones were creaking, filled the air. After a second it lunged instantly and intently, and was as fast as it had previously been slow.

Shion rolled away as fast as she can, stopping herself once she got a good distance away. It was all she could to avoid being stabbed.

But as Shion shot up, she saw that the demon had instead attacked Nemis. Nemis, who held the dagger in his hand, was fighting desperately with the dark being. There was a tear in his clothes. on his shoulder, and blood seeped out.