What Lies Beneath His Pelt?

CHAPTER 12: SOMETHING PRIMAL

December 23, XX20 || 02:31:04

Forest, Daemomachi, Iasa

"Okay wait, your mom knew she was eloping with a Fabukage, right? But you said she was surprised when your father told her he was cursed by Hadansmuto! I'm confused," Ciara asked.

"Ah, apologies. To put it simply, she thought he was a true Fabukage, you know, born and raised, that kind of thing, but he wasn't because he was a human who was turned into a monster by the Hadansmuto." I replied and she simply nodded.

"You could have said it that way. You're a bad narrator!" She teased me and I rolled my eyes.

I was about to say something else when the putrid scent of someone unfamiliar infiltrated my nostrils. I stood up from the log.

"Calum what?" She started but stopped. She stood up from the log, too.

My protective instincts kicked in and I carried her bridal style.

I ran to where, I didn't know, but I knew it was not back to the mansion.

Thank Caelestis, I have night vision!

The unfamiliar scents were getting closer and they came in every direction.

"So let me guess, this isn't part of your area, yeah?" I whispered. She nodded.

"Yep. Urgh, how could I let my guard down? This isn't going to end well."

"I should be the one apologizing though? I was the one who led us away."

"Look, let's talk about this later, yeah? Put me down so we can see who we're dealing with."

"Is that a good decision?"

"No, but I like living dangerously."

I was about to argue when a ball of light whizzed past my ear and hit a nearby tree, splintering it. A siren came, followed by electric crackling and a forcefield surrounded the area.

"Well f**k, guess we have to battle again!" She exclaimed as she jumped out of my arms.

"What? WHAT?" I shouted as I dodged an incoming light ball. I threw back whatever I could throw.

Great, I don't have my weapons with me!

"See, in Daemomachi, we show our gratitude to the Caelestis by using the abilities they have gifted us in any way possible," she started as she dodged incoming fireballs and threw back the water she gathered from where I didn't know.

"One way of showing it is through public battles, which we are doing right now." She continued, slightly breathless.

"There are only two ways we can get out of here. Either one of us surrenders or we knock out the opposing team."

Another light ball came. I jumped in front of it and caught it like a baseball before I threw it back, bigger and brighter than before. A loud boom echoed and the forest was flooded with light.

“The Tamagmine and Unpaeda Stations are the only places you can't fight in. Welcome to Daemomachi.” She finished as a tidal wave coming from nowhere went in one direction.

I waited for the forcefield to break but Ciara shook her head.

"There's still ten more. I can feel them." As she said that, I heard a swishing sound. Small tiny lights fell from above us and they smelled strongly of poison.

The ground shook beneath me and I sank. Ciara tried her best to dodge the arrows but cables came out of nowhere and they wrapped around her.

More arrows fell and one got lucky and hit me on my shoulder. A searing pain spread immediately and I burned inside. My heartbeat increased and my chest became heavy as my lungs began to constrict. I tried to swallow but my throat had gone dry and I wheezed.

No, no, no! I don’t want to die just yet! Please!

This felt like the nightmare I had when I came here. I was restrained and weakened, my dry throat closed up and my breaths came in short bursts. I imagined my grandfather as he stood in front of me with his cane ready to strike and his icy glare unforgiving. I could see my father’s face as he gave me a sad smile before the water covered the entire section he was in.

Images of Victor and Edmund flashed before my eyes as well. I remember when we first encountered them, filthy and lost, and then it shifted to them bidding good night, dressed in clean and comfortable clothes with grateful smiles gracing their faces.

A tear slipped and my vision blurred. This was it, I supposed. It was time to resign to my fate.

What is happening? Where's my focus? My will to fight?

"That is enough!" Ciara’s strong voice came. I was surprised when the arrows floated and time seemed to stop. I couldn't hear anything, I couldn't even feel the poison as it continued spreading, because all I could focus on was Ciara.

Red light emanated around her, her scent of lemon and lavender replaced by the scent of sulfur. Red intricate lines appeared on her skin, and double ram horns sprouted from her temples.

Her nails had gotten longer and the way the red light surrounded her made her look bigger than before. A forked tail swished behind her and I watched as that tail swung back. There were grunts before the scent of blood infiltrated my nostrils. Other figures came from all directions. I watched as they danced in the light of the moon.

Something wet seeped through the crack in the ground I was half-buried in. It smelled strongly of blood and sulfur.

Something stirred within me and heat rushed through my arms, chest, neck, and stomach. It was something primal, an urge to join in with the dance. My hazy mind cleared and I was hyper-aware of everything, most especially of Ciara.

She was graceful as she danced on her own. Yes, but I wanted to see her close-up. Her skin seemed to glow against the moonlight as she danced, her movements fluid. I want to know. I have to know how she was able to move like that.

I didn't have an idea how I did it, but I found myself free from the earth. I made my way towards her. She now stood triumphant and she looked beautiful, drenched in red. Her eyes glowed like rubies.

When she saw me, she took a sniff of my scent and a smirk graced her lips. Those lips, full and red, called out to me. I moved towards her and she watched me curiously, still not dropping her guard. We circled each other and I knew that everything was going to change.

*****

Thank you so much for your support and patience! You can see chapter art from the story on my i********:, artbyellysse, or my Deviantart, reza-delavega. Do not forget to leave a comment if you want!