Page 10 of Demon Apathy: Sunderverse

Phenog!

Suddenly, an invisible blanket fell over us. My stomach turned violently, then, like sand trickling down an hourglass, we disintegrated through the floor, our particles washing away as fast as water down a whirlpool. As we disappeared, I glanced up and saw the glowing shape of a winged man looming over us, his face cast in shadows and the whip rushing toward my face.

Terrified, I lowered my head and screamed.

5

Myentirebodytingledwith a million little ants crawling over my skin as I waited for Jophiel’s lash to cut across my face and turn me into vapor. The scream died in my throat as oxygen ran out, and I hunkered against Drevan, who had protectively wrapped his arms around my back.

I waited, but the hit from the lash never came, and instead, I was assaulted by horrible nausea. A humming sound filled my ears, disorienting me.

Gradually, I opened my eyes and blinked. Darkness surrounded us, and Jophiel was nowhere to be seen.

Thank the witchlights!

Phenog had saved us.

“W-what the hell was that?” I managed, remembering the beautiful, terrible wings stretching from Jophiel’s back.

“An angel,” Drevan said.

“An… angel,” I echoed in disbelief. A damn angel had just tried to cut me in half?

Shit, I was screwed.If an angel wanted me dead, what hope did I have?

“Where are we?” I asked in a rush of breath, trying to forget about Jophiel.

Drevan held me for a long moment before shaking his head. “I don’t know.”

A dim shaft of moonlight trickled down a window high up in the wall. The firelash’s silhouette was imprinted in my retina, and it took several moments before it dissipated and my eyes adjusted. A dank smell and an eerie hush surrounded us.

Grunting in pain, Drevan slumped against something smooth, hard, and cold.

“Can that…thingfollow us?” I asked.

“Not with Phenog at the helm. I’m sure she took good care concealing us.”

I exhaled and sat by his side, limp with relief. “How do you feel?”

“Like shit. We have to take these off before I can feel better.” He raised both wrists to indicate the hellcuffs.

“How though? It’s not like I can whack them like I did with the chains. I wouldn’t be able to do that without hurting you.”

“You won’t have to do it alone. Phenog, you still there?”

“I am,” a little voice echoed in our confined space.

I stared at the sword with new eyes. “He called it… Blazebringer,” I murmured.

Drevan grunted. “Yes, that’s its name.”

“And it… really kills demons.”

He nodded, laboriously got on his knees, and thrust both arms forward. “Hold the sword over the cuffs. Phenog will steady your hand. Just let her guide you.”

I stood and perpendicularly raised the Queller over the cuffs. “Like this?”

“Exactly like that.”