Arc 4: Chapter 9: The Demon, Yith
The broken corpse, and the monster hiding inside of it, watched me from its perch on the table. Within the gloom of the study, surrounded by stacks of tomes and research papers and other arcane equipment, it looked like some foul thing called up as part of an occult experiment. The multi-faceted eye within Kieran’s broken jaws glowed like a putrid coal.
I wanted to check on Lias, see if he lived, but I couldn’t risk taking my eyes off the immediate threat. I heard movement off to the side. Emma.
“Keep back!” I barked, and heard her stop. Just like Lisette, Emma had no experience fighting abyssals.
Yith quivered with laughter.
Both of the Silver Queen’s pets…
And the scion of Astraea Carreon!
The demon’s host spread its arms out wide in jubilation.
I am truly blessed!
How did it know Emma’s identity? I caught sight of her in my peripheral vision, seeing the shock on her face.
Had it smelled her bloodline? Or had it been spying on us?
I blew out an amber-misted breath, stood straight, and brought Faen Orgis up into a salute. I whispered into its blade, and the flickering golden flames wreathing it condensed, sinking into the alloy and causing the patterns in the metal to glow. The light spread up my arm. My skin took on a metallic tint.