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A chiroptera flutters overhead. I need to consume something, to maintain this vast reserve of energy. I cannot stop eating, because this part of my mind that I long to extract has deemed this human creature worthy of preservation.
Moving a few feet clear of her, I drive my lower claws deeper into the rock floor, springing into the air as the cavern floor cracks from the force of the exertion. I pry the chiroptera from the air, plucking it by its leathery, bony wings.
Thousands of chiroptera would not equate to one human life source. I could devour every creature and life form contained within this cavern, and still not come close to the energy her blood would provide me.
Should I devour her here, I would not need to consume anything for several hours, possibly even a full day. The end of her life would ease several problems for my own existence.
I descend, crashing into the ground mere inches from her, and she dives out of the way. I take the chiroptera’s right wing and place it between my fangs, ripping into it and desperately trying to savor such an unsatisfying snack. The only joy I receive is at the chiroptera’s realization that ultimately, its life has ended, its juices flowing freely into my maw.
I move over to a nearby rock wall and drive my jagged claws into its surface, crashing them into it with full force. Deep beneath this cavern, I can sense the presence of creatures whose attention I would rather not engage, creatures far beyond my conception, but they are sleeping. I need to exercise my rage somehow.
The woman looks upon me, her confusion evident, as many traces of her fear are leaving her.
My urge to tear her apart is constant. But among the deeper feelings, which I had so long held at bay and cannot properly articulate, I feel a protectiveness toward her, and what I believe might be a form of kinship.
But most of my sentiments, and their sources and implications, are an unnerving mystery to me. I want to return to charging through the forest, hunting creatures through the darkness and the light alike, but something has awakened in me, regardless of my own wishes.
7
ARIELLA
It is a majestic cavern, far more glamorous and captivating than anything I’ve seen these past five years. Before me is a glorious, shining spring, illuminated by strange boletus. I drink once more from its waters at this creature’s insistence, looking around me in marvel… and terror.
Multicolored cristallum covers the wall, bordering the bright waterfall that also glows in the dark. Around me, winged, leathery chiroptera fly through the air, one of which, to my revulsion, is leaking its fluids beneath the creature’s pointed fangs. Landmasses float in the air, covered in vegetation and strange trees.
Where we stand, a narrow path leads downward to a great chasm, whose contents and creatures I cannot begin to comprehend. Several branching paths lead to great caverns, and I can hear in the distance the snorting and stamping of beasts, whose strong presences I hope to never encounter. In front of us, a large opening leads to parts unknown, beckoning me.
To my left and upward is the exit to this great cavern. Looking at him, crudely devouring his meal, I wonder if he even appreciates the beauty of this place. To him, this is probably nothing new, but I have spent the last five years of my life in bindings and cages.
My feet and wrists still ache from the presence of the metal shackles, which tightly constrict my movement. My heart leaps as I remember that in spite of the change of scenery, I am still in tremendous danger here and that he is my captor.
He throws his macabre meal to the floor, only bones left, before leaping to the air to retrieve another chiroptera. I see my opportunity.
It’s time to run.
I climb the rock face in front of me to a ledge just above me, then reach for a foothold in the wall. It will be difficult to scale, but it is surely possible. I turn to look behind me, noticing that he is still distracted, and move my hands to another loose stone in the cavern wall. This task is incredibly difficult, due to my restricted movement. And I’m so tired, I could just sleep here.
I see him coming before I can even process it. He picks me up from my position, slamming me to the cavern floor below with moderate force. I ache from the collision, My shoulders and back are numb from the impact, but I am still alive.
“Stay!” he roars, now standing above me, his horrifying visage tightly pressed to mine.
He tries to press into me with his sharp claws to convey his point, but I roll out of the way with some of my little remaining strength.
“If you’re not going to kill me,” I protest. “Then just let me go!”
I am not sure if this is better than being in the market. I do not know if he will let me starve in this cavern, or if he has bigger plans to murder me later.
“If you return to the world beyond,” he growls, far more articulately than I remember. “You will be their prey.”
He does have a point, thinking more logically about the events outside. As soon as Zyranth finds his men dead, he will put the word out, sending even more dark elves after me. Outside, I will be the subject of a constant hunt.
“Is it really safer in here than it is out there?” I ask, turning to the beast who threatens my life with an honest question. I do not expect an answer. I am a bundle of trembling nerves, desperately doing whatever I can to survive. “How are you any safer than any of the elves pursuing me?”
He growls deeply.
“As long as your heart beats, I promise, I will devour you,” he says before licking his lips. “You are far too delicious for me to resist.”
I look at him, unable to contain the terror in my eyes. The way he speaks, there’s confidence in it. But his words are empty.
