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“We’re in the Barren Fields again,” I realized. His thumb brushed my hand in confirmation. Its warmth, in sharp contrast to the cold environment, made my own shadows flip in silly little joy. They loved his touch.
“Indeed.” He tugged, and I stumbled along, “Although this place is much farther from your University than the last place. Hence the trees and spiders. A bit of life remains.”
I wondered why. Maybe the ocean nourished their growth.
As we walked, my traitorous shadows sang. They wanted to set up camp and stay here. This was exactly what school warned me about. That if I strayed too far from campus, I would go mad and never return.
Wind whistled. Icy air battered my face as I trod along, lids half-closed against the assault.
“Gaksi wanted to come. I could feel him trying to join in with you.”
“But he didn’t?” Usually, I felt his presence like a phantom limb. Now, I was uncharacteristically alone.
“I told him I wanted you to myself for an evening.”
“Controlling.”
“I could just leave you here, you know.” He hauled me out of the way when I stumbled over a crater. It looked like the ones you saw on the surface of the moon. “Remind you why your university prohibits relations with demons.”
I knew he wanted a reaction out of me. Fine, I’d give him one.
“Perhaps I would encourage a relationship if I didn’t detest you,” I proposed, pressing a kiss to our joined hands. “But you have to spend the night at my place first.”
“Nothing would delight me more, spicy seraphim.” He adjusted to brush his mouth against my bargain mark. It sent a wave of heat straight to my core, toes curled, breath heavy.
“But you have to make it back home first,” his silky voice threatened.
“Excuse me?”
He traipsed away, fast now that I didn’t weigh him down.
Waste of space. Annoying, arrogant demon. This—flirtation—we had would be the death of me. Literally, if I couldn’t keep up with the demon and got left behind here. Alone.
I prowled after him. There had to be a way to kill him. Every creature had a weakness. One day, I’d find it and use it to destroy that imperious demon.
“I can hear your thundering thoughts from here,” he shouted ten paces ahead, “it’s almost as loud as your heavy breathing.”
“I’m plotting your demise.” I hopped over miscellaneous holes in the earth. Stupid potholes, slowing me down.
Ahead, a red-orange glow lit up the night sky. Reaper paused beneath it.
A heavy chuffing sound vibrated the air ahead. It sounded like panting. But it couldn’t be Reaper, could it?
As I closed in, the glowing apparition drifted downwards. Each feature radiated energy, lighting up the surrounding expanse. There was a long, furry-looking tail. Four larger, muscular legs, each as big as I was. A bulking body as large as a horse. Two large, pointed ears, which swiveled toward me.
I lurched back when I saw the monstrous face. Burning red eyes, a drooling muzzle, and razor-sharp teeth growled at me.
“Bulgae?” Reaper commanded. The dog barked, a terrible, ferocious bass, at me. The sound waves pushed me a couple of steps back. The very air quaked.
Reaper just brought me here to die.
Think, think, think.I learned about this one when Professor Ansi introduced it. The fire dogs were responsible for the world’s eclipses. An ancient king, addicted to power, wanted to be able to control the light and dark phases of the day. So he seduced a witch to make the dogs of Beyond, whose job was to steal the moon and sun. They never succeeded, leading them to become more aggressive every year. Every time they tried, their hulking figure blocked the sun and moon.
The lunar eclipse was tonight.
“To escape my hellhound, Luna,” Reaper taunted, “the exit to your home is that way.” He pointed ahead, directing my gaze to a large, decayed tree with gnarled roots and a branching ruby canopy. Deceased, almost gone. Like everything else in this place.
Along the trunk, a mirror, gilded silver, hung. Its cracked surface revealed a dual reflection—below, Reaper’s reflection took up the frame, and above, familiar red trees swayed. My home. The Whispering Woods. The colorful trees parted in the middle like they were waiting for me to jump through and come home.
