Briar is smarter than I give her credit for, at least her instincts are. For the most part, she stayed directly beneath the lamps, well away from the tree line. She wouldn’t run into the forest if she didn’t have a damn good reason. And I can still scent the reason. I follow the sound of the heartbeat deeper into the woods, not yet daring to call her name. If the Nephilim is nearby, I don’t want to call attention to Briar. For now, caution is best.
Slowly, the heartbeat becomes stronger, louder. I’m getting close. Branches whip at my face, slicing my cheeks. I ignore the seconds of pain, my attention wholly and completely on Briar. Suddenly, the pounding of her heart ceases. The blood in my veins is frozen with fear and I hear my breath go ragged. And then the beat begins again, much slower this time. She’s alive, but the fear doesn’t dissipate. Something is wrong. I can taste the fear in my mouth.
I surge forward, tearing at branches in my way and leaving a path of destruction behind me. The sight before me makes my heart stutter. Briar is on the ground, arms splayed beside her head. Her eyes are open, but vacant of life or intelligence. I see her chest gently rising and falling as she breathes. A robed figure straddles her, a hood hiding his features but I can feel the evil coiling from him. He lifts his head, leering at me. His red eyes glow in the darkness...
He stands and Briar exhales softly, shuddering. She’s empty now. A husk of what she was before. “You have no idea how delicious she tasted,” the Nephilim rasps, his eyes rolled back as he licks his lips. “I wish I had savored her more, but circumstances, you know.”
“Bastard,” I hiss, nails elongating to claws.
“Every other soul will simply taste like ash.” The Nephilim frowns. “Perhaps I’ll creep through the portal into the mortal realm as my master has already done.”
I narrow my eyes, anger blazing. I can’t let this Nephilim leave the Underworld, it’s too dangerous for the mortals. His words make my skin pock with goosebumps. Something must be done if another Nephilim is already in the mortal realm. They aren’t prepared for such an enemy. Briar’s eyes roll towards me and her lips tremble.
Darkness streaks over the ground towards me, swirling around me like a cloak or wings. Snarling, teeth bared, I draw all of the darkness to my palms. The Nephilim's eyes widen as he realizes I'm preparing for an attack. I thrust my palms towards him before he has time to dodge. The darkness slams into him, streaming from my open palms, and drives him backward. He grunts, flying backwards into the trunk of a nearby tree. I don't wait for him to recover before slipping through the shadows until I'm standing directly in front of him. I drive my fist into his belly and he coughs.
The Nephilim crumples at my feet and I kick him viciously. I hear the satisfying pop of cracked ribs and a wicked grin slips over my lips. “Did you really think you could leech the soul from my bride?” I growl. “Did you think you would live to harm more mortals?”
The Nephilim swipes at my leg and I see the flash of silver from his dagger. I dart backward, barely dodging the blade. It catches my trousers, tearing the fine material. He laughs, as if he's managed to harm me. I wonder vaguely if the Nephilim is mad. But it doesn't matter. I'm going to kill him regardless. He scrambles to his feet, lashing out at me clumsily. His eyes flare with confidence and I wonder just how much Briar's soul has affected his mind. Her soul. I want it back.
I growl and swipe my claws over his chest. He gasps, eyes wide and face crumpled in pain. Blood blossoms over his tunic. He shrieks, rushing me. I swing up with my leg, catching him in the temple and knocking him to the ground. He falls with a cry of pain and I feel a thread of satisfaction. He rolls onto his back, chest heaving. The Nephilim crawls backward, eyes wide with fear. Finally, the realization of his inevitable death is hitting him. Finally, I can taste his fear. And it is good.
“I’m going to kill you,” I murmur, smiling. “And I’m going to enjoy it.”
Without waiting for his reply, I pour the shadows into his gaping mouth. They rush into him, tearing his esophagus with the force of their speed. Blood spills from his throat as he coughs, choking on it and my dark power. The shadows fill his veins, straining against them. Darkness blooms over his pale skin as his veins rupture and blood seeps beneath his skin. His eyes burst next with a pop. Gore coats his face, blood pooling in the crevices of his skin. A gurgle slips from between his gaping lips, the only remnants of a failed scream of pain.
The Nephilim writhes, trying to escape the strength of my shadows. His trembling eases as the darkness chokes the life from him, filling his body with his own blood. He stills, body relaxing into the forest floor. My shadows seep away from him and back into the darkness, sated. I glance at him only long enough to confirm that his red eyes are empty of life.
I whirl around the Briar, fear coiling inside me now that my anger has abated. I kneel beside her, pulling her head into my lap. She stares up at me, lips parted and dry. Her soul is gone, leeched by the broken and bloody creature behind me. Her dark eyes rover over me, searching my face. Her breath wafts over my face. I study her face, heart pounding wildly. I can’t lose her.
I’ve heard legends that a soul can be restored if the Nephilim left a single drop of it. I hope this
