The Dimension Break

EIGHT

The delay was met with two days of sleeping and word games before we went back out again into the night. The desert in the dark was the same as before whenever we had tried to leave - cool, dim, and inhabited by soft air. We were all strapped down with armor. . . Ace wore an extra coat of overbrotherly concern.

I couldn't blame Ace, either. Honestly, I saw myself in him. We're overbearing, protective, quick to anger, and passionately loyal to anyone that we come to love. Both of us stuck close to Oliver after seeing the self-harm he'd done, and the damage that Salt had inflicted both mentally and physically. But these simularities didn't help us get along at all. If anything, they ripped us further apart from any possible positive relationship.

I walked beside Oliver. My feet crunched on the sand. "Are you alright, Oli? I'm sure Dillan would understand if you wanted to wait longer before going."

"The den if far behind us," Oliver said. He slipped his hands into his pockets; he wore his hoodie over flimsy armor. "It's okay, Emma. I'm strong, I'll be fine. Besides, even if I was in pain, fighting it would do me good!" A cute, loveable smile.

"Are you suuuure?" And who else would be at Oliver's other side but Ace, messy-haired with a small, ancouraging smile. Of course, he wasted no time shooting me an acid glare. "You know, baby brother, I could carry you if you start hurting. I can carry you through anything."

I understand you, Minium, but you're really starting to annoy me. "Leave Oli alone. He's fine."

"Oh, and you would know, Whitestone? Have you ever gotten stabbed then forced to lug aroung a whole bunch of weight?"

"I could lug around your unconsiouss body."

"That's it, foul succubus!" Ace flung himself at me, but each punch was more of a cat-slap than anything actually harmful. I was grateful for that; if he really wanted to, the guy could rip my head off. But he didn't. Instead, we stood there in a soft furry of little hand-slaps. Although harmless, it wasn't exactly friendly. He only spared me real pain because his brother cared.

Mary sighed, covering half of her face with a single hand. "Do we need to seperate you two? You're acting childish and stupid. Both of you."

"It's his fault," I muttered.

And at the same time, Ace said, "She was the one being a bitch."

Oliver turned and peered at us through concerned eyes. "R-really, you don't have to fight. We've been through enough so far, haven't we?" The demon shrank back and casually grabbed my hand. "Besides, I'm sure other demons aren't far off, so we should all be on the lookout, right?"

In the shadows of the desert, everything was still. The group moved in a silent line, our fluid movement being the only notion of life. For someone so used to fluttering trees and a house that was falling apart, a still environment fit surprisingly well. The chill of the night touched my lungs, and a beautiful sense of peace wrapped around the seven of us like a blanket. Oliver's hand was soft and warm in mine. In front of me, Mary's short, curly hair bobbed as we walked next to Caleb. They were talking about something I couldn't hear, laughing.

Do you think she's talking about you? You'd just love if she was. It would give you a reason to to wrap your hands around that little neck of hers.

I stiffened and pulled my hand away from Oliver as Belamy's voice echoed in my head. My Apotropaic sensed something was wrong and glanced at me, but I ignored him and faced foreward.

Her neck is very frail. She may be chubby, but she's dainty, too. She'd be so easy to break. Even if you won't do it, you know it's tempting, don't you, Emma? We'd both like to know how easy she'd be to snap in half.