City of Fire

Chapter Twenty-Six

"Adrian"

He didn't deserve such treatment...

Erin was exceptionally gentle as he tended to Zane. He was laid out on the ground, his eyes closed. His black hair hung across the top half of his face, revealing only a glimmer of his long eye lashes. His lips were parted as he breathed, his chest exposed as Erin tended to it. It was covered in blood but as Erin wiped it away it revealed pale flesh the color of alabaster. The wounds were healing, but slowly. Erin applied a green paste to them, one that should have stung but not a sound was uttered from Zane. He'd been given a new silk shirt, but the sleeves were rolled up, revealing how the cuffs had cut into his wrists. They were healing as well, quickly, but not fast enough. The wounds made Adrian look over at the chains that dangled from the ceiling. No such being could have broken them, not even when fully changed, but Zane had.

And he hadn't changed...

The thought left an unpleasant knot in his gut...

"He should sleep for awhile," Erin murmured as he finished. He straightened his small body, wiping his hands clean of the blood. Adrian brought his eyes back to Zane before raising them to Erin.

"That was a Night Crawler, a high class demon. We were lucky to defeat it." Adrian murmured and Erin dipped his head in a nod.

"What was one doing here? This is Holy Ground; no demon would possibly be able to venture here especially with Zane going to change." He looked back down at the sleeping Ice Dweller.

"I don't know, but whoever summoned it is very powerful indeed," Adrian looked back over at the chains. An icy chill raced up his back. Nothing should have escaped that and the only creature to, laid at his feet.

"It's unsettling," Erin stepped towards the door and Adrian followed.

"The priests were able to seal the grounds," Adrian looked back over his shoulder at Zane's slumbering form. "When is he going to wake?" They stepped out into the cool night air before Erin answered.

"He shouldn't until daybreak." He rubbed at his eyes and yawned. Adrian smiled softly, his heart warming for the little Earth Dweller.

"Then let's get some sleep, I'll speak to the High Council tomorrow before we leave. Tell them what's happened and when to expect us." They crossed the destroyed graveyard, heading for the kitchens when a figure caught his eye. He halted, Erin stopping beside him. The woman, her face full of sorrow looked down at the stone that had the names that were once worn away, but now were no more. The front of the stone had been scorched, darkening the engravings and Adrian felt his heart stutter when the full realization of why the woman was weeping struck him.

A cold bitter laugh sounded across the clearing...

Then was gone...

Erin looked up at him, his eyes wide and Adrian swallowed.

"Come on," his voice was surprisingly soft; as if he were afraid he might wake the dead. Without another word they entered the church.

Missing the figure that snickered and disappeared in a burst of light...