Chapter 19

The time for the humans to arrive was drawing near. The scent of them was so potent that Lilitha felt as if she could taste it on her tongue.

Her mouth was watering uncontrollably. Her fingertips were tingling, and the back of her neck was itching.

She could almost sense the humans’ blood coursing through her own veins, their hearts pounding in sync with hers. She found herself wishing they could take the Champions as well, not just the likely frail and underfed prisoners.

But it would suffice. It would have to suffice.

Mateus and Damon both rose to their feet, preparing to leave. Lilitha pushed herself up as well.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“We’re going to watch,” Mateus replied.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be safe,” Damon assured her.

“I want to come,” Lilitha declared.

The two alphas exchanged a glance.

“Absolutely not,” Carmella growled in response.

“But if it’s safe…” Lilitha protested.

“I don’t see why not,” Silus interjected.

Carmella whipped her head toward him with a snarl. “Are you serious?”

“She’s not an invalid, Carmella. Damon and Mateus are there.”

Carmella sprang to her feet. “If you’re going, then I’m going.”

Silus stood. “Why don’t we all go? At least we can hear what they might be saying. Their plans. Their fears and worries. It could prove valuable.”

The clan moved swiftly and silently, gliding through the trees, sticking to the shadows, careful with their footsteps.

It felt good. It felt natural. Lilitha hadn’t realized she’d become so adept.

Aside from the growing smell, which was so overwhelming it felt like the air was wet, there was the noise: the crying, the screaming, then the moaning.

She could hear Champions too, shouting at their prisoners, the fear unmistakable in their voices.

Mateus took Lilitha’s wrist, keeping her close as they slowed their pace and crept through the trees.

When they reached the edge of the clearing, they hunkered close to the ground, hidden behind the leaves.

The noise was a little shocking. The forest was usually so quiet.

The humans were like an explosion. The screaming and begging were endless—men, women, old and young, even a child.

Then there was the sound of the Champions’ heavy footsteps, their lurching, awkward movements, uncertain and fearful.

They were like children. Like they’d only just learned how to walk and were crashing into everything.

It felt like a storm. There were a few horses.

One of them raised its head, nostrils flaring. It rolled its eyes, then reared on its back legs.

And Lilitha knew it could sense the clan: The Diablons. Monsters. Predators.

The Champions and their prisoners seemed to sense it too. “Let’s move! Hurry up!”

The prisoners’ screaming and begging increased in volume. A woman’s shrieks were so piercing Lilitha clapped her hands to her ears.

Quickly, the Champions locked up the rest of their prisoners, wrestling some to the ground.

Others were frozen and mute, faces blank and ashen, simply doing what they were told like moving dolls.

A little boy was crying. They were dirty.

Some were bloodied. All were exhausted.

Lilitha instinctively reached for her neck where the metal collar once sat.

Mateus gripped her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, and she relaxed a little.

All she wanted to do was look away, but she kept her eyes fixed. She had to.

It was only fair and right that she shared a little in what they were feeling. That she understood the cost.

The last of the prisoners were locked in place. The Champions were either pale or flushed.

Sweat beaded their foreheads. All were cloaked, some with their hoods down, revealing their harassed, fearful faces.

She noticed how the nearest Champion’s hand shook as he gripped onto the hilt of his sword, gazing into the trees, eyes wide.

His eyes lingered over the very place where they were hidden. For a moment, Lilitha thought he was looking straight at her.

Then he turned away, joining the others as they retreated.

The clan waited for a while, making sure the knights had truly left before Damon stood and stepped into the clearing.

The prisoners hadn’t noticed yet. They had fallen quiet since the Champions had departed, weeping and crying and praying.

Somehow, that was even worse than the screaming. Lilitha tried to count but it was hard to focus.

So many people. They smelled filthy.

Some had clearly soiled themselves. Lilitha quickly followed Damon, taking his hand.

He turned. Lilitha pulled him back into the trees.

“Maybe wearing a cloak would be better,” she suggested.

He rolled his eyes. “We’re not going to go through this again. I thought you were over this?”

“There’s no need to make things worse for them, Damon. Put on a cloak.”

He raised his eyebrows at her stern tone. He looked at Silus, who nodded.

“Why not? It’s sensible. Why make them more scared? They’re already noisy enough.”

“Maybe…maybe Carmella and I could be the ones to leave them their food and water,” Lilitha said uncertainly.

“Not a chance,” Damon scowled. “They might be locked up but they’re still dangerous. Remember last time?”

Lilitha touched her cheek, recalling when the prisoner had kicked her in the face by mistake.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Damon told her.

“Do it, Damon,” Silus snapped. The alpha turned to Silus in surprise.

“I am in charge here and you’ll do as I say.”

Damon’s lip curled but he left without argument.

Silus turned his gaze to Lilitha. “There is nothing wrong with being compassionate, my daughter, as long as it doesn’t put the clan in danger.”

Lilitha looked at him. His tone was different, less affectionate and more firm.

It was like he was giving her a lesson. And it suddenly hit her—maybe he was.

Once Silus left, who would be in charge? Her eyes widened.

“It’s time to be strong,” he told her. “And you will be. You are the flame, burning more brightly every single day.”

Lilitha stared at him. It was when Damon returned, concealed in his cloak, ready to assess their prisoners, that Lilitha felt the weight settle upon her shoulders.

Damon caught her eye. Mateus caught her eye. Carmella looked at her.

And suddenly they were different. She was different.

Lilitha was feeling numb as she followed Damon into the clearing, walking by his side, chin lifted, thinking of all the responsibility that lay before her.

When she looked down upon her victims, she felt different, more composed perhaps, like the weight of her responsibility was a shield deflecting her victims’ terrors, deflecting her own guilt.

She let out a deep sigh, standing over the small boy who was curled up on the ground, sobbing into his arms.

He was pleading for his mother. She stood there for what felt like an eternity, the boy too terrified to look up as the others yelled and screamed at the ominous figure of Damon.

She found herself questioning, ~Are we really that terrible?~ as she placed a hand on her stomach.

It was difficult to believe that any Diablon would willingly send their own child to their death. Her human father had certainly shown her no love.

Maybe humans were the real beasts.

~They are the beasts.~

“Damon,” she called out.

Despite the chaos, he heard her. He carefully made his way over, taking care not to step on anyone.

She pointed at the boy. “This one first.”

“A wise choice,” he agreed. “Although there’s an elderly woman who looks like she’s on death’s door. He could survive for weeks.”

“No. The boy.” Lilitha met the alpha’s gaze with determination. “And I want Carmella to do it.”

“You don’t owe him your mercy.”

“True. But it’s what I want.” Lilitha crossed her arms. “It won’t harm the clan.”

Damon’s eyes sparkled with intrigue, but he didn’t argue. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a key, handing it to her.

With a flourish of his cloak, he left her alone.

Lilitha could feel the clan’s eyes on her from the trees as she crouched down next to the child.

“Boy.” She touched his leg, and he recoiled with a cry. “It’s okay.”

He turned his head. His eyes widened.

Lilitha smiled. “My name is Lilitha.”

The child glanced toward the woman who was wailing.

“Don’t worry about her,” she reassured him.

The boy flinched again when she reached for his collar. “It’s okay. I have a key.” She showed him. “I’m going to help you.”

“I want Mummy.”

“I’m going to take you to Mummy.”

The boy was crying as she unlocked the collar. He sat up, staring at her.

He looked toward the screaming prisoners again.

“Come,” she held out her hand. “I will take you home.”

Tears glistened on his cheeks. More tears welled up in his eyes. He looked at her hand, then back into her eyes.

He didn’t know. How could he? He took it.

The boy limped at her side, looking around fearfully, tears staining his shirt. Lilitha noticed his clothes were tattered.

He was so thin that his eyes seemed too large for his face and his bones jutted out at his wrists.

Soon, they left the other victims behind, their voices fading into the distance, and the child relaxed a bit.

She could feel the Diablons watching. Carmella emerged from the trees. The child looked up with a start and pulled back.

“It’s okay,” Lilitha reassured him, holding him firmly. “She’s here to help us.”

Carmella was cloaked with her hood down, her long black braids cascading around her. She was smiling.

The child’s eyes darted over her, especially her exotic dark skin and eyes.

Lilitha could see what he was thinking. What were two harmless pretty women doing in a forest full of monsters?

It didn’t matter. He was away from the very real terrors of the other prisoners and Lilitha and Carmella looked kind.

Carmella approached. The boy didn’t resist as she reached out her arms and pulled him to her chest. He was shaking.

He started to cry again as he clung to her tightly.

“I miss Mummy.”

“Shhh, we’ll take you to your Mummy.” She ran her fingers through his hair. Carmella looked at Lilitha, her eyes suggesting that maybe she should leave.

Lilitha shook her head. She needed to see. She owed it to the child—and everyone thereafter. She owed it to herself.

Still, Lilitha kept her distance as Carmella took the child’s shoulders and gently held him away.

“Everything is going to be fine,” she whispered, wiping the tears from his cheeks.

The boy managed a trembling smile. Then Carmella shrugged off her cloak. The boy barely caught a glimpse of her thrashing tail before Carmella turned and whipped it out with a crack that made Lilitha jump.

The boy just stood there. And for a moment Lilitha wondered if Carmella had done anything at all.

Then she smelled the blood.

Then she ~saw~ the blood. Spilling from the side of his head. The boy’s eyes rolled up. Carmella caught him as he collapsed, easing him to the ground.

Carmella looked up at Lilitha. With a nod, Lilitha turned and walked away.

Later that night, Lilitha sat alone, staring into the distance quietly. Here, the trees were pulled back and she could see across the expanse of the forest.

It had taken her hours to climb the hill, but it was worth it.

She needed to think—or not to think. She needed to breathe. She needed to be alone.

Lilitha sighed. Apparently, it was a hard thing to ask for.

“Leave me alone, Damon.”

She couldn’t see him, but he was there, somewhere amid the trees. He didn’t say anything.

Nor did he go away, always concerned, forever protective, as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.