He’d been right. The small force in town was a distraction, because right in front of him lay utter devastation. Homes wereburning. Fields were destroyed. Citizens screamed and ran. Horses galloped through broken fences. Livestock barreled down the lane, bloody and panicked.
And several hundred daemon soldiers marched the dirt roads, monsters crawling alongside them.
Raine froze. His heartbeat thudded in his ears. The air smelled of blood and fear. Horrified screams merged with the growls of monsters, death tainting the night.
Jorrar’s house wasn’t on fire, but it appeared as though it had been ransacked. The door sat tilted on its hinges. Windows were broken, flowers trampled.
“Raine.” Maeryn tugged on his arm, breaking his stupor. “Where is your father’s house?”
“I—” he stuttered. “It’s back that way…but…” He gestured to Jorrar’s house.
She moved in front of him and placed a hand on his chest. “Listen to me. Jorrar went inside to search for his grandchildren and your sister. You and I will go look for your father. Help is coming and they will handle this force.”
Casimir and Ava appeared, followed by Quinn, Thorne, Pax and surprisingly…Jareth again.
“We’ll have soldiers here within minutes,” Casimir said. “As soon as they arrive, Ava will make a portal for the citizens to escape back to town. Go find your father.”
Screaming nearby spurred Raine into action. “Alright. This way,” he said to Maeryn.
They sprinted down the dirt road toward his childhood home, Sabriel at his heels. Raine’s father was not a fighter. He didn’t even own a sword, though he was fairly adept with his magic. He might be able to protect himself for a short while, but it wouldn’t last long. Especially if he was surrounded. And he was notoriously stubborn, likely refusing to leave his home.
The farm came into view in the distance, thick black smoke rising into the night. A stone sank in his stomach. Theroof was ablaze, orange flames licking the sky. Half a dozen soldiers stood before it, laughing as they held someone limp between them, lifting his head and forcing him to watch the house.
Raine’s father.
“Faster!” he urged Maeryn, lungs burning.
“Vines,” Maeryn ordered, fury in her voice, as they came upon the scene.
Raine didn’t hesitate as he encased every single soldier in a net of vegetation, squeezing and breaking their bones. A split second later, Maeryn’s lava crept up the demons’ legs, searing their flesh and burning them alive.
Raine lunged forward, catching his father as he collapsed, and dragged him away from the burning bodies. Kneeling in the grass, Raine put a hand on his face.
“Father?” he whispered.
His father opened his eyes. His face was bloodied and beaten, his eye swollen and lip split. “Son,” he rasped. “You’re here.”
“Of course I am.” Raine trembled at the sight of his injuries. “Everything’s going to be okay. I’ll get you to the healers.”
“Your sister…” his father took a shuddering breath. “They made me watch.”
Raine’s blood ran cold. “Made you watch what? Where is she?”
Bootsteps to Raine’s right rapidly approached, Pax and Jorrar running toward them with a small squad. His father lifted a shaking hand, pointing a finger to the house currently ablaze.
“I’ll get her.” Raine stood, handing his father off to a nearby soldier. “They’re inside!” he shouted, bolting for the house.
A powerful force shoved him back. “You will not go in there, captain!” Maeryn yelled.
“My sister’s in there!” he cried.
Pax charged forward and broke the door with his shoulder, the giant orc disappearing inside with Jorrar on his heels.
“You are too emotional. You’ll get yourself killed. Let us handle it.”
“Us? Wait, Maer?—”
But she disappeared into the house after the others.
