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Each of these three are winged and wield huge swords that look like they belong in an anime. They point and direct the lesser demons, all of whom bow and scrape before acting. Dugald and I stand side by side, staring at the demons across an open space of six or seven feet.
Duncan is on a wooden X a foot in front of the demons. His legs and arms are shackled to it, which holds him off the ground. His head hangs on his chest. Blood and grime cover his naked body. Four different demons stand in a semicircle around him.
These four have their backs to us but are dressed in identical long leather coats that cover them from neck to floor. They have gray skin, bald heads, and long, spindly arms. On either side of Duncan are two tables lined with blades and other, grimmer tools of torture.
The four things each slice his flesh, and he grunts in pain, his chest spasming as the blades slice but the cuts barely bleed, sealing themselves a moment after the blade passes through. The four monsters turn their heads to each other as if discussing the results of their cut.
“Duncan!” His name tears my throat as I scream.
My vision blurs, covering over with red, and the newly found magical power fills my body. I feel myself growing larger as it comes to my call. The three lieutenants watch impassively. Two of them have their drawn swords but hold them point down to the ground and lean onto them. The third, the one in the middle, has the blade of his sword resting over his shoulder. The horde surrounding them pulses as if it’s a heart, rising and falling, ready to charge but held back by the lieutenant’s will.
Duncan raises his head. His eyes are crusted with dried blood, but he forces them open and the tearing sound of the gunk breaking tears at my heart. I step forward, ready to destroy, but Dugald grabs my arm and gives me pause.
“Quinn?” Duncan croaks.
I jerk free of Dugald’s grip.
“I’m here,” I say, striding forward.
I raise my fists, focusing magic into them. They crackle loudly but the demons don’t move to block my path. Dugald stays at my side, but in the corner of my eye I see the middle lieutenant make a motion with one finger.
The four torturers around Duncan nod and as one they pick up long steel knives. They glance over their shoulder and look at me. I’m almost close enough. I swing my fist and as I do they shove the steel knives into Duncan’s chest.
Duncan gasps and his eyes widen as blood sprays from the wounds. He throws his head back, then the light in his eyes fades as his chin drops onto his chest.
ChapterTwenty
I shakemy head and don’t breathe. Any second Duncan will raise his head. The other wounds healed. They won’t end the torture yet. This is their pleasure.
But nothing happens.
Duncan’s chest doesn’t rise. He doesn’t lift his head. His body continues to hang limp on the wooden X. The demons, in all their various forms, watch. They wait with an air of intense anticipation. I look at Dugald, hoping to see an answer.
None of this makes sense. It can’t be real, must be an illusion or some other kind of trick. Dugald stares at Duncan’s lifeless form too. His hand spasms on the pommel of his sword, loosening and tightening, then the blade is rising to an attack position.
“Duncan?” I’m numb. This isn’t real. It must not be real. Can. Not. Be. Duncan continues to hang lifeless. I look at Dugald again. “Dugald?”
He shakes his head. His eyes glisten and then a tear falls down his cheek. That single, glistening ball of moisture breaks me.
“No!” I scream.
The numbness is gone, burned in the fiery hell of rage. The pregnant pause breaks and the demons surge forward. They are a writhing black mass of limbs and fangs. I release magic in surges of raw power. As the demons rush ahead, they’re blasted backwards. One wave tumbles and crashes into the one behind it, but it’s not enough. Despite all my effort it barely slows them down.
Get to Duncan.
I’m not sure if it’s my thought or not but it’s the only thing that matters. Duncan cannot remain in their hands. He’s mine.
Focusing on him I stride forward, unwilling to let anything stand between us. Dugald moves at my side, slicing away any demon that manages to come close. We’re parting a sea of evil, but it closes behind us. I’m not unaware of how dangerous a situation we’re in but don’t care. I cannot leave Duncan there.
Stars fill my head as pain explodes. Blindly I punch to the side and make contact with something solid that an instant later becomes a spray of viscera. Blood drips down my face. I’ve been cut but I can’t stop.
I sweep my arm to the side and push the demons back. The four torturers stand in a line as we clear the path. As we reach them the rest of the demons stop pressing their attacks, leaving Dugald and I to face the four. I’m heaving as I stare them down, barely able to contain the raging storm of emotions filling my body.
The four don’t make a threatening move. They stand with their hands clasped behind their backs staring imperiously down at the two of us.
“Move,” I growl.
Obeying my command or some other they seem to glide more than move, creating a path between them that leads to Duncan. I don’t care, I don’t want to waste time fighting. I rush through the opening to Duncan.
