Chapter 43
Jaxon lunged at him as Chase disappeared in a puff of black smoke. Demi collapsed. Castiel caught her before she hit the ground and she drew a ragged breath. Avelyn fell to her knees beside her, the mage’s word ringing her head, coming back to haunt her.
One shall die by dragon’s blade;
By the dragon shall be slain.
Chase was the dragon. He’d betrayed them. Oh, why had she not seen it?! Why had she not listened to her heart and forbade Demina to come with her?! Castiel placed his hand on her wound, his heart pounding as the crimson liquid seeped through his fingers. She weakly moved his hand away. There was no use trying to staunch the blood flow. The injury was fatal and it would only be a matter of time before she was...gone.
“Demi.”
“Cas…” she rasped.
“Demi…why…did you do that?”
“Someone...had to...die. W-why...not...me?”
He hugged her tightly to his chest, not caring that he was getting blood on his clothes. Avelyn’s heart constricted as she remembered her words, spoken with such confidence.
“Why not?! Because I love you, that’s why not. You stupid woman. I was handling it!”
“R-right,” she answered, a ghost of a smile on her lips, “S-sorry for...inter...fer...ing...Cas…”
She coughed and he shifted, making it so she wouldn’t choke on her own blood.
“S-so tired...”
He brushed a hand across her cheek, painfully swallowing back the tears clogging up his throat.
“I-It’s okay, Demi…Stay awake for a little longer. Just a little bit, okay?”
He wanted every last minute he could spare with her. She nodded, fighting to stay awake. She moved her head to his shoulder.
“Don’t…don’t…hurt…him…okay…?”
Castiel’s jaw clenched and he, unknowingly, tightened his grasp on her. Chase the person that had caused all of this...this heartache. He’d killed Avelyn’s father and now Demina. Hurting Chase would be the last thing he did. No, he’d kill him.
“Cas,” she groaned and he loosened up.
“I’m sorry, Demi.”
“Promise…me…You’ll…only…kill…him…if…you…have…to.”
“Demi…”
“PROMISE…ME!”
“I-I promise. I promise, Demi.”
Avelyn sniffled.
One shall die by dragon’s blade;
By the dragon shall be slain.
“I should’ve never let you come,” Avelyn whispered.
“A-Ava?”
Her voice was so faint now, Avelyn strained to hear it. But she listened closely to her friend’s whispered words, tears gathering in her eyes. Demi clutched her hand as tightly as she could. She weakly moved it, placing it into Jaxon’s with a slight smirk. She slumped back against Castiel’s shoulder, at the end of her strength. Her breathing slowed and Cas pressed a kiss to her temple.
“I love you, Demina Grace.”
She looked up at him one last time, holding his gaze, trying to memorize his features before the light faded and her eyes closed for the last time.
“DEMI?! DEMI!!!! Demi, no!”
There was no response and Demina laid still, the rise and fall of her chest ceasing.
Demina Mikios was dead.
Avelyn turned and pressed her face into Jaxon’s chest, her quiet sobs echoing loudly in the small cavern. Castiel let his tears fall and buried his face in Demi’s hair. Jax met his eyes over Avelyn’s head. The loathing and anger smoldering in his friend’s eyes matched the same emotions burning in his own heart. They wanted the same thing, revenge and retribution.
