Some Things Are Meant To Be – Chapter Two

Meera Flame

The Demonata. That's all there is now. We have no time for anything else. All we do is fight, look for another window, fight again, look for another window, fight again, and if we're lucky sometimes we have enough time to get some sleep while we're travelling. But even that's hard when you have a great bloody werewolf howling in your ear. I used to love the life of a disciple. Not anymore. I loved the adventure, the travelling, the danger. We used to do some good; every time we went up against another mage, another window, another demon, we were saving lives, giving people an escape route. But now we're only delaying, and barely managing that.

I don't know why we bothered coming to this window. Compared to the others we've seen recently, it's just like a herd of bloody rabbits trying to invade. I honestly think that the time we've spent here would have been better use resting. How are we going to fight when more powerful demons cross if we've wasted all our energy on these? We could have checked in to a hotel, slept in real beds again. That has to happen soon. I don't care what Grubbs says, I am getting a bed.

Grubbs arrived with his werewolf pack a couple of days ago. They managed to sort out the attack on Bec and Dervish, and came to find me straight away. I appreciate Grubbs coming after me, but Dervish is an idiot. He's dying, and we can't save him here. He ought to go to a Demon world somewhere, but he isn't having any of it. Twat. I wish Shark was here, he always managed to talk sense into him. Hell, I wish they were all here; Shark, Sharmila, Beranabus, Timas… Particularly Timas. Not that I'd say that out loud. But I have to admit I did grow a little fond of that red-headed, anti-social, computer freak while we were on Wolf Island. I have no idea what on Earth attracted me to him; he's an absolute lunatic, and doesn't have a clue how to act around people. But then, he never tried to pretend otherwise. Whatever his flaws, at least he didn't try to hide; at least he was genuine. Oh, and not forgetting that he's a bloody good kisser! Always a plus in my books…

Weighing up these points on Timas distracts me for a moment and I feel a sharp slash across my back. I swing round just in time to see one of Grubbs' pack sweeping a demon into the air from just behind me. It's a hideous looking thing – black in colour, with short yellow hairs poking out from all over its body. It has six legs and no arms, but has a strange trunk-like thing on its face, like an anteater. Or a tiny elephant, one of the two. It makes a hideous squealing noise before the werewolf rips off the trunk and tosses it straight at a passing wasp demon. I turn away, not needing to look to know what will become of that creature now the wolf has its hands on it. Looking around, I figure out that the trunk demon is one of the last few. We're pretty much done with this window now. As the rest of the troop finish up with their mini battles, Grubbs barks a command at his pack, and they begin tucking in to the demon flesh scattered around. Well, if it keeps them happy who am I to disapprove?

For the next few minutes we can only stand there, looking around at yet more disaster the Demonata have caused, and hoping that not too much of the flesh being consumed is human. As we're sharing this mutual thought, a sense of magic sweeps over me. I look to the others, who have all had the same feeling. Suddenly, the reasoning behind the weaker demons being here makes a lot more sense. What if they were only sent to tire us out? If they were the calm before the storm, and now the real challenge is coming? Nodding silently, the group splits to look around for this window. Without Kernal, and with Bec distracted trying to heal as many of the injured as she can, we have no way of telling where the window is coming from.

Having had far too much practice by now, we automatically take a different direction to search, knowing that we have to cover as much ground as possible as fast as we can. I soon come across a small alley and, against my better judgement, begin to walk up. Hearing a noise from behind me, I quickly swivel round and scan the entrance for movement. Seeing nothing, I allow a small sigh of relief, but as soon as I do, a hand reaches round and grabs my mouth, pulling me backwards, further into the alley. Without hesitation, I reach for the hand and try to scream, but before I manage to pull it away I hear a familiar voice whispering into my ear.

"Shh, don't scream, please, it's only me. This way, quickly, before the others follow us."

I instantly know who the voice belongs to, and without thinking, I allow him to lead me backwards and deeper into the darkness of the alley.