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Without the energy to protest, she dropped the vial fixed to her nose and placed her hand atop her heart.
“Good. Now tell me, what do you feel?” His voice was softer than usual; nicer.
There was bounding beneath her palm. “My heart … it’s beating too fast.”
“Can you shut your eyes?”
She swallowed, fluttering her eyelids closed.
“What do you see?” he asked.
“Darkness,” she whispered.
“And are you afraid of it?”
She felt the warmth of her tears now. “Yes. I-I don’t want this.”
“If you want the truth, neither did I. But I’ve spent too many years consumed by fear. I promise it’s not all bad. There are good things in dark places, if you care to look for them.”
Her chest heaved at his truth. Cool air swirled inside her lungs. Why was he helping her out of this spiral?
“Slower on the exhale,” he noted.
As she blew the air through her parted lips, slowly, she felt her heartbeats ease beneath her palm. Opening her eyes revealed Soren still hunched over her.
“Now breathe properly or I’ll toss you in the sea,” he said in jest, which was exactly what she needed right now. He stood, offering her his hand. “Just remember, we’re only as demonic as we let them make us.”
Thessa accepted the offer and got to her feet. “How can you be so sure?”
Soren sniffed, diverting his attention toward the cave’s mouth.
“What is it?” she asked, rubbing her eyes dry.
He didn’t answer, he ran.
“Where are you going?” she called, chasing after him.
Then, the smell of smoke hit her. Soren was already halfway up the cliff by the time she made it out. As she neared the top of the rocks, she watched him dart for Ares, mounting the stallion in one swift swing.
Impressive.
Climbing over the edge of rocks, Thessa shouted uselessly, “Soren!” but he was already galloping toward the thick plumes of smoke—in the direction they’d come from.
She had to figure out how to mount Hades without him.
Thessa led Hades closer to the boulder, climbed up, and hopped on the saddle.
“That wasn’t so bad.”
Hades stomped her hooves down, grunting.
Thessa took her heel to the horse’s side and kicked. A quick buck in retaliation and they were off. Hades thundered through the field of flowers to catch up. Ares was in the distance, moving like the wind with his fearless rider.
“Faster,” she shouted.
As she reached the top of the hill, where Soren had halted, her mouth fell open.
Soren’s entire property was engulfed in flames. His home, the barn, the pasture. All of it. Just like the library greens.Her fingertips darkened at the sight.