Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry it's been a little while. I just started college and things have been a little hectic around here. Thanks so much for your patience. There is more to come!
At the end of the hall, a single door sat into the wall. A lone figure hunched beside it. A demon. His gnarled decaying face spotted us before we could speak. Edward muttered an obscenity under his breath, but didn't slow down.
"Prince Edward, what are you doing down here?" It asked, the voice like grinding stones. His malevolent eyes darted to me and back.
"I need to go to Pride." Edwards's voice ran with authority.
The demon though, wasn't buying it. He shuffled on his feet. "Who's with you?"
"No one. Let us through."
The demon eyed me warily. I could see he didn't want to disobey a direct command, but he had commands of his own to follow. "I can't do that. Master instructed me to watch for intruders." A sparkle lit in his eyes, a snarl formed on his face. "Maybe Master will want to know why you've brought an angel here. To the portal."
Edward sighed and leapt into action. I never seen him move so fast. He slipped a dagger out of his belt and slid it up into the demon's chest cavity before the demon could move. Black blood seeped from the wound. Edward watched as the life fled from him. The body dissolved into ash and settled on the floor.
"What the hell." I squeaked.
"An angel swearing? Do you always resort to foul language when upset?"
"You just killed him."
Edward slid his dagger back into his sheathe. "He's not dead. Just dematerialized. He won't be able to alert anyone for at least a little while. So we should get a move on." He eyed me with a twinkle in his eyes. "Are you showing concern for a denizen of the deep?"
I shrugged on my feet. My heart pounded in my chest, and not just at the demon's demise. It also had to deal with Edwards speed. He could easily subdue me if he wanted too.
I had to admit to myself that a part of me also liked it. His badassery. I shoved that thought away and looked up at him with what I hoped was indifference.
"No."
He grinned and turned back to face the door. He placed one hand on its surface and it creaked open. "You never would have made it, you know. This door only opens to those with demon blood."
"I could have found a way."
"No. You couldn't." He turned to me. His face showed no hint of amusement. "If it wasn't for me. You'd be dead, captured, or worse."
"What's worse than death?" I challenged.
Darkness clouded his features, a sight I'd never seen portrayed on his face before. I wasn't sure I liked it.
He stepped into the doorway and turned back to me, his face half hidden in the shadows. I could barely see him. Only a part of his face stayed visible, along with his green eyes. They shone like a beacon in the dark.
"Follow me."
He extended his hand to me. I trembled slightly as I put my hand in his. His skin burned with the heat of one of the damned. He pulled me into the darkness and within seconds we disappeared into the dark. Together.
After walking behind him in total darkness for what seemed like an hour, I spoke. "Where are we?"
"Deep inside the Nether. Don't lose your grip. Even I don't wager my skills on finding you if your lost here."
My grip tightened and I shuffled my feet to get closer. "Where's the next portal?"
"It's ahead. A ways. I think."
"You think?"
"Don't worry. I'll get you to the other side. Just hold onto me." He sounded amused.
I didn't need to be told twice. The darkness seemed to suffocate me, taking all my breath. Like the deepest ink of the darkest kind. I couldn't see anything, and I wondered if Edward could.
I couldn't shake the fear starting to rise inside me.
Every sound caused me to jump. Even the faint slide of Edward's shoes made goosebumps rise along my skin. Being in complete darkness with only your hearing and sense of touch is a nightmare. I gripped Edwards hand tighter.
We made our way steadily in the dark. After being in the dark for so long, I didn't notice the gradual shift in lighting. A tiny spot of light could just be seen in the distance. Oh, how I welcomed the sight. Being in the dark made me think of scaled insects and creepy crawlies just waiting to devour me.
"The light. It must mean we're close." I said, slipping my hand from Edwards.
"Bella! No! I told you not—"
Suddenly, my feet dropped through the floor and I was swept away into nothing. I landed in a heap. My ribs felt like someone smashed them in with a brick. I couldn't barely see two feet in front of my face. What happened?
One second Edward was next to me, the next he was gone. Poof. Out of thin air. I could have kicked myself. He warned me not to let go and like a fool, I didn't listen. Now how in the world was I going to find him again? But first, I had to find myself.
I squinted in the dim light and saw I was in some kind of rocky cavern. A torch hung from the far wall, illuminating only a small area. I got to my feet and got a little closer. The torch appeared to be glued to the wall. No matter how hard I tried to pry it free, it wouldn't come free.
I turned around and took in my surroundings. A break in the wall caught my attention. I walked toward it and could see it continued on. Maybe it was some kind of exit. Using my hands as guides, I began walking along the cave wall. The light began to recede until I was cloaked in darkness.
My heart started picking up speed. Each thunk sounded like gunshots in this total silence. The stone under my fingers felt worn and smooth. This couldn't have been made naturally.
If there was one thing I hated most when I was still alive, it was those cheesy horror movies. The kind where some badly dressed monster jumped out from behind a bush at the unexpecting teenagers and scared them to death.
Something about the whole gimmick just seemed ridiculous.
But being on the other side of things, certainly puts it into perspective.
Something was coming.
I could hear it. Something was being dragged along the ground. It sounded big and it sounded heavy. I didn't have anywhere to run except back to where I just came. And that room was just a dead end!
I turned back around and used my hands to quickly rush back to the cave room. My foot caught on the smooth floor and down I went. My knee crashed into the rock and I let out a small cry of pain. My whimper echoed along the walls.
The slithering came to an abrupt halt.
I knelt on one knee and listened with all my might. After a few moments of complete silence, I got to my feet. It seemed as if my pursuer finally accepted my presence, for the slithering noise started again. And this time it sounded like it was in a hurry.
I took off in a blind sprint. My fingernails scraped the wall and I felt a nail rip free. I barely felt it. I just kept going. I couldn't have come that far from where I began?
I almost cried when the walls around me begin to lighten. My slithering friend was still coming this way. I ran into the room and looked for a hiding place. I could find none. The cavern's wall were bare. I couldn't even see the ceiling because the torch only casted so much light.
Bottom of the story is, I was screwed.
Royally and truly screwed.
I turned towards the cave rooms' entrance and braced myself. My slithery friend was on his way. In a few minutes, I'd finally meet him. I was determined to be ready.
