"Valen."
Before I could even think, I was charging in his direction.
The yellow-eyed tiefling snarled a curse as I left him to fight the arrow demon we had both been attempting to bring down. Now that it was just him, the vicious four-armed creature turned its full attention on him with a wicked laugh.
I knew, from past fights, that the arrow demon wouldn't go down easily. Even though I suspected the tiefling would have the upper hand in the end, the demon was going to keep him busy for a while. Dodging the blades of four swords wasn't fun for anyone…
So my retreat was met with no resistance.
As I ran, there was a moment where I could see Valen clearly — could count the steps separating us — but then he was suddenly gone.
As if he had ducked and not come back up…
My heart lurched as I pushed myself to the limit, willing my legs to move as fast as they could.
I wove through devils, and dodged the handful of demons determined enough — or stupid enough — to have made it this far into the horde. Meanwhile, my eyes searched desperately for the red hair I had glimpsed, against all odds. Against all logic.
Please don't be dead.
I faltered at the thought of finding each other after so long — after getting so close — only for him to fall now.
Just as quickly as dread had settled in, relief washed over me. I found only battered devil's corpses lying where I'd seen Valen last.
I paused.
Gulping in desperate lungfuls of air, I tried to regain my bearings, even as bodies rushed past me, trampling their fallen comrades. They devils paid me no mind, intent only on the attacking army.
"Valen!"
I shouted his name, turning. The longsword in my hand shook as I turned again, searching desperately.
And then… there!
My heart sung at the sight of him.
Valen stood atop the frozen river, a snarl on his lips as he stared down two orc-like devil's. They each held massive swords in their hands and, as I approached, I realised their beards were made up of rotting green tentacles. Overhead, a blue skinned imp was making passes at Valen, sharp claws distracting from his two larger — and far more dangerous — enemies.
From the looks of things, he'd fallen down an embankment; the soft snow at the edge having given out under his weight. Below, I could see the marks in the ice where he'd landed, see evidence of a scuffle that had broken out. A tiefling with four curving black horns — not unlike those sported by the yellow-eyed one — lay dead in a pool of her own blood, armour dented in at her chest.
Transfixed, I was almost collected by a passing devil; it's hard shoulder catching my side as it shoved past. I stumbled, barely managing to keep on my feet.
Core tense, I retraced Valen's path down the embankment, noting where the snow was already compacted from his tumble. My feet almost slid out from under me more than once, as I edged into a controlled skid down the dangerous drop, fresh snow falling away beneath me.
But I finally made it — and upright, too.
At the bottom, I found the ground firm beneath my feet, the river frozen solid.
I looked back to see I hadn't been followed. Nobody would be stupid enough to, when there were plenty of easier kills happening up above.
Nobody save my yellow-eyed shadow.
I didn't have long…
Ahead, Valen let out a shout of pure effort. My head snapped back in their direction, and I saw his flail as it connected with one of the bearded devils, sending the creature sprawling. The win was short lived, however, as the imp took the opportunity to clasp ahold of one of his horns. He shouted out, reaching up to bat the creature away with a hand, as the determined imp pulled, wings flapping hard.
I didn't give the other bearded devil a chance to push his advantage.
Charging, I slid the last few feet, slicing the devil across the back of the knees. Using the tug of resistance in my sword, I stopped my skid across the ice, gritting my teeth in effort.
The devil shouted out, and I could hear the pain and surprise.
Falling to his knees, he attempted to twist towards me, his beard of maggot-ridden tentacles reaching desperately. I saw slime, bright and green, dripping from them.
No thanks!
I didn't let them get anywhere near me.
Stepping into my next attack — mindful of both the dangers of the slick terrain and the devil's reach — I stabbed up, just below his ribs, and felt as my sword pierced his kidney.
Good. Relief washed over me. The kidney's in the same place as a humans.
Pulling my sword free with a grimace, I watched as Valen reached out, grabbing onto the imp by a leg. He flung him to the ground with an irritated snarl, the creature shrieking at the impact. Lifting a foot; clad in midnight black armour, he brought it down on the struggling devil hard. Once. Twice. By the third time it was dead.
I was finishing off the other bearded devil when I heard Valen approaching, followed by the slight intake of air he took before every big swing. I felt a thump of panic.
I didn't think.
Diving over the devil, I landed awkwardly on my wrist, cursing the too-hard ground. Leaning into it, I barely managed to jump back onto my shaky feet. I spun, arms stretched out at my sides for balance, longsword long gone, dropped in my haste.
But I knew I didn't need it.
Valen was stepping over the devil, each of his movements careful and slow, mindful of the slippery ice. He was at a disadvantage, clad in his heavy black armour.
Blood coated most of his face, his flail, his armour, as he flicked the heads of his weapon once, sending specks of red flying in all directions.
But then — looking into my face — he froze.
Blue eyes blinked at me, the only movement other than his flicking tail. His face was slack with disbelief. As if his eyes were telling him a lie that his mind was desperately trying to pull apart.
I knew full well what I looked like, covered head to toe in paint.
I could hear the sounds of fireballs hitting their targets in the distance, the sound of shouts as the battle raged on. But I kept my eyes firmly planted on the tiefling before me.
"It's me," I said, at the same time my name left his lips.
He breathed my name, his voice reaching into places I had long ago closed off.
The crack of a smile escaped him for a moment, but it wavered, before dropping entirely; chased away by panic.
"How?" I cried, hope lifting my voice.
As I spoke, I felt the ice beneath me shift.
Fire exploded, staining the sky red for one terrifying moment. I could feel the heat against my back, even at this distance.
I staggered, arms flung wide for purchase as Valen's eyes snapped over my shoulder.
As I turned, I heard the demon's as they called a retreat; the blast of their mighty horns cutting through the din of battle.
"Hellfire," he cursed.
Desperately, our eyes found eachother again.
My heart broke, even as it soared; because he was here. And that was a very bad place for him to be.
Why? How?
I heard the roar of devils as they pushed their advantage; most of them immune to the fiery havoc they had created. It wasn't often that they resorted to such spells.
They must be desperate…
Valen stepped closer, tightening his grip on his flail. Fear lined my gut. But this time, I was not afraid for myself — he didn't mean to harm me. Not since I'd released him from his demonic taint would I ever worry about that again.
I could see the determined set to his jaw. The fire in his eyes. And I could tell that he was determined to stay. Determined to fight every last one of them — devils and demons — right by my side.
And he would fight until his dying breath, until they overwhelmed us.
I couldn't let that happen.
"Go."
My stomach lurched as the command left my lips. It was the last thing I wanted to say to him. But more horns sounded the demon's retreat, and I knew it was the only thing I could say.
Frowning, his eyes darted to me and then back to the edge of the ravine. He planted his feet, lifting his weapon.
I followed the line of his narrowed gaze, only to see the yellow-eyed tiefling. Fear clenched my stomach.
He was lowering himself down the soft snow onto the hard ice below, no doubt making it look a hell of a lot more coordinated than I had.
His knives were still in hand, filling me with cold dread. I knew how good his aim was with them.
I reached for my bow, notching an arrow.
I swallowed…
…And then I trained it on Valen.
Blue eyes widened in disbelief.
Maybe this would buy him some time. Maybe it would stop the yellow-eyed tiefling from understanding what was happening.
I willed Valen to see that I was trying to save him, my eyes pleading.
When he didn't move, I jerked my head towards the distant humm of portals. At the retreating demons.
"Go!" I begged him again, voice breaking. Don't die here.
A sob caught in my throat at the hurt on his face, at the pain in his eyes. I flinched as he reached out a shaky hand towards me.
Shaking my head, tears made tracks through my makeup, stinging my eyes.
"Please," I begged. "Don't die here."
His gaze trailed over every inch of my face, and still he made no move to leave.
Fear flared hot and bright inside of me.
He couldn't stay.
I couldn't follow.
My prison was hell — literally — but what would wait for me beyond the thrumming portals, with the demon army, would be many times worse than the last couple of months.
Mephistar stood at our backs, spires sparkling like cut diamonds, an army protecting the citadel's borders to their dying breaths. Ahead, the glowing portals of the retreating forces hummed. And, all around, the straggling devils and demons fought; the sounds growing more and more desperate as the end of the skirmish drew near.
There was nowhere to run. Not for me.
But he could.
And, if he left now, there would be another fight. Maybe another chance.
Just not today.
I saw him considering his options, eyes running over every inch of my face. I could hear the yellow-eyed tiefling's boots landing on the ice.
"I will find you," he promised. My heart thudded painfully in my chest. "Promise me you will not give up."
My heart swelled, knowing that he would understand everything that I had gone through. That he had lived it all… and then some.
And he had survived it.
I thought of the four walls on my cell, of the endless fighting. I thought of how close I had come to giving up, many times over.
But, each day; I finished the meal left for me. Each time I picked up the sword that was not my own, and I fought tooth and nail to survive.
No matter how close to giving up I had gotten, I hadn't given up; waiting for an opportunity to escape. To try.
Even knowing such an opportunity might never come, I had held out hope.
"I promise," I whispered to him.
And I did.
With a frustrated snarl, Valen turned, running back towards the edge of the ravine, towards the closing portals. I could hear the magic hum of their numbers lessening with each moment and willed him to hurry.
Relief and heartache warred within me, as I turned on shaky legs…
… only to find the yellow-eyed tiefling changing course, drawing his knife back, ready to throw. His eyes were narrowed, focused on Valen's retreating back.
"No!" I shouted.
I trained my arrow on the yellow-eyed tiefling.
Valen faltered for a moment, thinking my cry for him. His eyes were wide as he turned back, as he took in my bow's new target. I saw his eyes flash in appreciation, and he nodded once — trusting me to handle the enemy — as he returned to his escape.
The yellow-eyed tiefling skidded to a halt, head swinging from me to Valen, and then back again. I watched as confusion and surprise shifted to amusement.
He lifted his hands in mock defeat, knife dangling loosely between his fingers.
A smirk curled his lips as his eyes roamed lazily to Valen again, watching as he scrambled up the wall of snow.
I saw his fingers shift, the wiry muscles in his arm bunching.
And I drew my bow tauter.
"Don't you fucking even," I hissed.
I considered killing him, just to be sure he wouldn't throw that damn knife. But then I saw the barbed devil approach the edge of the ravine, searching for us.
And then Valen disappeared; over the edge, and out of sight.
He's gone.
And, with the thought, I felt a sudden keening loneliness, so sharp and cruel it felt like my heart had been cleaved in two.
The fight immediately went out of me.
I dropped the bow and my knees followed, hitting the ground hard.
I didn't resist when the tiefling — the tiefling that was not my own — approached, kicking my weapons away. He pulled me up with a hand around my upper arm.
I should have been worrying about the consequences of my actions. Instead, I thought of how Valen had sounded, saying my name. How he had looked at me.
The yellow-eyed tiefling's hiss dragged me from my thoughts, his bright eyes calculating as he looked around at the carnage Valen and I had wrought. Swearing, he kicked the bearded devil I had punctured the kidney of onto his back, his face a disgusted grimace as he took in the unseeing eyes of the devil.
"What would dear old grandad say?" he tutted.
I barely registered the admission of his lineage to Asmodeus.
The casual reveal would usually have me smirking; my suspicions verified. But I didn't have the energy left to care.
I let his clawed hand curl harder around my arm, nails pinching my skin, as he pulled me towards the edge of the ravine, towards the barbed devil.
Silently, we scrambled up the snow together, climbing towards our waiting portal.
I wondered distantly if Valen had gotten to his own in time, before we stepped through the humming black disk.
As always, we stepped out and into the throne room.
But today, I realised, looking around at the familiar room — at pointed ceiling and the walls of ice that sparkled as if cut from diamonds — where we were.
They were keeping me in the dungeons in Mephistar.
And the demons were pushing closer to the capital — to me — with every battle.
…And I didn't know if that was terrifying, or something else entirely. Something far more hopeful.
Because Asmodeus had been wrong. Valen was coming.
But so was a whole godsdamned army of demons.