Halfling (editing in process)

Chapter Thirteen

Payne wrapped Aria's body with a blanket before gently drawing her close, her fingers stroking lightly through her hair. She sat down with the girl and shot Javen a look that told him to politely fuck off. Javen complied and disappeared into the forest around them.

"There there." Payne murmured, rocking Aria softly. "It's over now... I won't let him touch you ever again."

Aria looked up towards Payne, compassion in the other's dark eyes. Aria hadn't known the woman was capable of such emotion.

"I-I lost the necklace you gave me." Aria whispered, a soft hiccup leaving her. "I'm sorry."

Payne shook her head. "I'll get you a new necklace, you used it to try and defend yourself against that bastard, right?" Aria nodded and Payne smiled. "That's my girl. Now hush, try and calm yourself, it's all over now."

Javen returned briefly, earning a low snarl from Payne. He rolled his eyes and held out a purple root.

"It's for her, it'll calm her nerves. I'm going to find dinner." And he was gone.

Payne took the root and sniffed it before breaking off a piece of it. "Chew on this; it'll calm your nerves."

"I heard what he said the first time." The girl muttered, making Payne chuckle.

Aria accepted the piece of root and ate it, her stomach turning as it hit her stomach. The root took effect within minutes, the trembling stopping, and her sobs reducing first to hiccups and then disappearing all together. She laid her head against Payne's shoulder.

"He's going to be pissed when he pulls me back." Aria muttered sleepily, her voice trembling with fear even the root couldn't calm. "He changed Lucien's mark to his own... He's going to make me come back. I'm... I'm lost now."

She held out her arm, making Payne frown as she traced the spot. As Aria was drifting off to sleep she heard Payne mutter, "There's no mark here," and she was gone.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Killing Azael had been easier than Lucien had thought. While his ex-familiar had been on her little quest, Payne watching the halfling's every move with a fascination Lucien had never seen her possess, he had been busy. He had spent his time killing demons and taking their power. He had collected energy from sleeping with desperate women, human and demon alike. It was just a few days in when he had picked up the power boost from the elven relic Aria had found. It was just a matter of waiting. He had known through his spies that Azael had gone after Aria. Payne had appeared, enraged, and had demanded she was taken to Aria. The sadistic demoness apparently had a little crush on the halfling. He had watched from the darkness as Payne and the elven male had weakened Azael and he had made his move.

He thought of an ironic death after considering the ways of the male, take him until he had drained every last bit of energy from him and reduce him into a husk. However, not only did Lucien not roll that way, but he had a much quicker way. He had ripped out Azael's heart and crushed it while he watched, cut him to pieces, and left as the shadow realm crumbled.