Demonic Spell II

Recipe 1

Standing like a statue, I used every sense that I have to pinpoint the exact location of the predator that was hunting me.

Ears peeled open for the catlike footfalls of the hunter, eyes trained and ever watchful on the immediate surroundings, nose flaring for any alien scent and skin sensing for any shifts in the air flow, I'm crouching down on the forest floor; ready to turn the table the moment that I caught the pursuer following after my wake, anticipating the moment when the hunter becomes the hunted.

A small yet unmistakable shift in the air made me crouched lower, balancing at the ball of my heels with my bowie knife grasped tightly in my hand; the hunter is nearby.

Tensing my body like a tightly drawn out spring, an almost silent footfall sounded in my left and if not for my enhanced hearing I would missed it.

Another crunching sound comes nearer and that’s the cue I'm waiting for as I shoot out from the undergrowth like a released arrow, flying with agility towards the source of sound only to stop short when I found nothing but air.

Damn it! I swore to myself as I once again fell to my nemesis’ ploy and I know that I'm already defeated long before I felt a hand surrounds my neck.

“Caught you.” His voice brushed my neck as I jumped when his tongue flicked to my ear.

Moving away from him, I was immediately stopped by an arm snaking around my waist and pulling me back until I was flushed against the wall of warm flesh.

“Not so fast, El. You lost. So where’s my reward?”

“Fine!” I huffed, raising my hands in defeated exasperation as I craned my head to the side, exposing my neck to him while crossing my arms over my chest in a stubborn gesture.

“I will be sucked dry long before I could sneak up on you, you Fox.” I mumbled in a not-so-quiet voice, letting him hear the vexation in my tone.

“Be thankful that I'm not sucking you dry now. If any other creatures managed to sneak on you like I did, you will be nothing but a hollow, dried-up body.” He teased back; his breathe fanning over the tiny hairs on my nape.

“Fine! Get this over now.” I pouted, berating myself more because it’s the third time that I failed to catch him.

I think I remained standing for several minutes with my head craned awkwardly, waiting for Thallan’s bite but it never come until neck started to ache.

“You forget your lessons, El. Let me remind you.” Thallan murmured, and with a surprised squeal, he spun me around so fast that my senses reel. “Rule no. 1; Never ever turn your back to a demon or any beings in this matter, whether mortal or not.”

Then I felt the rough bark of a tree on my back as Thallan pinned me with his body, welding his hard contour against my heaving body.

“Rule no. 2; don’t put yourself in an inescapable place, always find a way out without engaging in a fight.”

My body immediately went lax at his warm closeness but it took only a fraction of second for me to go rigid when I felt the cold steel of my own knife on my neck as Thallan held it on his hand. “Rule no. 3; always have a weapon with you. Your weapon is your lifeline, lose it and you will lose your life.”