Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Fyn wanted to laugh.

If things had been different, he would appreciate just how Kavan looked in orange light. The demon looked utterly magnificent under the crimson rays of the blazing fire. The flying embers and charcoal making him seem like an angel that had just been sent down from the heavens.

Still, Fyn knew that with the amount of sweat that was now dripping from him and Kavan, their scenario was a whole lot different from the image that he conjured up in his mind. Oh, but how wonderful it would be, Fyn thought to himself, forcing himself not to smile, it would be inappropriate to do so at that very moment. If only things were that simple.

If only.

But it is not.

"Can you hear that?" Fyn asked, his ears straining as he leaned once more in Kavan's arms. He should be scared. It should have terrified him, being in such close proximity to the demon that his village had feared for ages. And yet the only thing he could feel was assurance. With Kavan, the demon would never hurt him. With the demon, he felt safe. A major contrast to how he felt with the villagers of the small valley home he used to live in. There he felt unsure, insecure, and alone. "Please tell me that's not just me hearing that."

Kavan clicked his tongue, "I hear it."

Even from a distance, Fyn could hear the distinct shout of villagers from Gashea. Narrowing his eyes, he leaned away from Kavan, squinting towards the moving yellow dots that seemed to move within the trees. With a gasp, Fyn felt himself stiffen once he realized what they were. He was no newcomer when it came to riots. He knew just what the villagers were trying to do.

And when he squinted enough, he saw right there in front and center was someone all too familiar.

Hana.

"No," Fyn stuttered, "They can't be doing this!"

Kavan grunted, "They are."

The villagers were lined up, their lighted candles, sticks, and pitchforks at the ready. They were screaming unintelligible words. Still, Fyn could tell that at most one or two of them were screaming, screeching his name. The loudest one, the most familiar. Hana tipped her head back, her forehead slick with sweat, her face as horrible as Fyn remembered, "Come out, come out, wherever you are, Fyn!"

Fyn trembled, the same fear he felt when the village chief had kidnapped him from his house.

Arms tighten around him.

"I'm here," Kavan reminded. "They won't hurt you."

Hana's cackle resounded all over the forest once more, "Come out, demon's whore!"

Kavan stiffened.

Fyn felt his anger before an animalistic growl even erupted from his mouth. Blinking rapidly, Fyn grabbed Kavan's cheeks, drawing his face near him. His eyes were blazing, more intense than the fire that seemed to consume half of the forest. His wings erupted. It seemed to be bigger than it had been before, more terrifying. His antlers protruded and in a snap of a finger, sharp vines appeared on it like a second skin.

The demon's pupils dilated as his fangs extended, barred, and ready to bite into skin.

"Kavan," Fyn hissed, careful not to provoke him anymore. He squished the demon's cheeks, forcing his head to face his direction. It didn't work. His head was to the side, but he directed his eyes on Hana. Anger racing through his entire body. "Kavan, don't listen to her."

If Kavan heard him, Fyn didn't know.

Because before he knew it, the demon swooped down, bringing them closer to the villagers. A scream echoes across the forest again, and it took Fyn a few seconds to realize it had come out of his own mouth. Closing his eyes, he wrapped his arms around the demon's shoulder, the wind rough against them. The sudden movement made his stomach lurch, and it took an enormous effort not to vomit all over Kavan's back.

As they landed on the ground in a loud thump, Fyn heard a scream so loud it left his ears ringing.

He was pretty sure that as they landed, Kavan probably broke ground.

Literally.

"Nice move, idiot!" Fyn hissed, pulling away so that he could glare at the demon. "You just-"

Words die in his mouth as he looked at Kavan.

Fyn didn't know if it was still the same demon he was looking at.

Kavan's eyes were an intense red. His antlers were terrifyingly long, spiky vines crawling towards the tip, never seeming to end. Veins seemed to bulge on the demon's neck as Kavan clenched his jaw. Trails of saliva dripped from his mouth as Kavan growled, his fangs bared. His pupils were dilated, and he was staring at Hana. His gaze was unwavering.

A shiver climbed up Fyn's spine.

If he had seen Kavan this way all the time he had been here, he would have believed what the other villagers said. How the demon in the forest was dangerous and deadly.

This was not the Kavan he knew.

"Kavan," Fyn whispered, feeling deep talons ripping through his shirt, pricking his skin. Something warm dripped from his shoulders and Fyn winced, feeling a stinging sensation on his arms. "Don't listen to them."

The demon growled, not listening.

Kavan growled once more, animalistic and loud. Fyn wanted to cover his ears, but he fears that if he lets go of Kavan right now, the demon might do something that he would ultimately regret.

The arms around him loosen, and before he knew it, Fyn was on the ground.

And the next thing he knows, he was looking at Kavan's wings.

Furrowing his brows, Fyn watched as Kavan placed him behind his back, still growling, still acting like an aggressive demon that he was not. Gritting his teeth, Fyn was about to speak when he heard Hana's voice. The woman cackled, and if he could see her now, Fyn knew that he looked much like she did years ago. How she looked when she didn't even bother to help him as her father tied him down.

"Oh my goddess," Fyn heard Hana screech, her voice reminding him of a witch with every word she spoke. "Look at the demon, protecting his whore."

Kavan growled, tipping his head to the side, "Say that again if you wish to lose your tongue."

Fyn gasped, pushing Kavan aside to walk in front of him.

Hana was pale, her eyes stuck on Kavan. Only when Fyn approached and got in the middle of them did Hana's eyes flicker over to him. Fyn raised his arms up, feeling the intense heat of the forest fire they just started.

His plan was to get them out, get rid of the fire, and get Kavan to calm down.

It was easier said than done, but he could dream, can't he?

"Hana," Fyn whispered, looking back at Kavan every now and then. The demon still wasn't looking at him, his eyes were on Hana. Unwavering. Anger and rage rushing through him. His wings at their full length and height. Fyn clicked his tongue, looking back at Hana, his arms still raised, one of the palms facing Hana, the other facing Kavan. He shakes his head, "Just go back, please. We won't bother you anymore, just go-"

Hana cackled, "Go where?"

"Back to Gashea," Fyn snarled, already tired from Hana playing dumb. "We don't have time for this. I don't think I can stop him if he-"

"Odd," one said from the crowd, "The whore cannot control its demon. Who knew that was possible?"

Fyn flushed, his mouth opens, ready to shout at whoever that was. Ready to correct them and tell them that Kavan has treated him with the utmost respect and would never treat him that way. That Kavan would hurt no one. Except he didn't get to. The palm of his other hand, the one facing Kavan, was pressed into something warm and rumbling.

Blinking, Fyn tilted his head, looking up at the demon who was now snarling, saliva dripping from his chin.

"Say that one more time," Kavan dared, his voice barely intelligible at how animalistic he sounded at the very moment. Goosebumps peppered Fyn's skin, and even he trembled at Kavan's voice. Why was he so angry? It was as if he was the one being wronged and not him. It was ridiculous. Kavan snarled, his fangs on full show, "Say that one more time, and I will rip your tongues out."

Fyn rolled his eyes, not yet fully understanding the situation.

The fire was getting bigger and with all their bickering, they will wake up to an empty, burnt forest in the morning. Fyn narrowed his eyes at the demon, pushing him to take a step back but ultimately falling. It was like Kavan was rooted in place. Fyn hissed, "Kavan, move back. You're not helping. They're afraid, mortals do stupid things if they're afraid. You know that, don't you?"

Kavan blinked in surprise, as if finally realizing that Fyn was there from the start.

"Fyn?" The demon muttered. "Forgive me, I must have-"

Hana chuckled darkly, "Oh please, cut it with the romance. We have no time for that. Just bring Fyn over here, demon. And we would leave."

Fyn blinked in surprise, his eyebrows raised.

They wanted him?

He wanted to go home days ago, wanted to stay at the village before they threw him away, and now they want him back?

He asked just that. Word per word. Not missing a beat.

"You ask why?" Hana's voice was croaky, and she sounded like a witch. "You ask why? You know why!"

Fyn shook his head, not understanding.

"When you went back, you unleashed another wreck of havoc that fully destroyed our town," Hana explained, her eyes flashing hurt and sadness that was too powerful that Fyn couldn't help but take a step back. Why was Hana looking like it was Fyn who had hurt her and not the other way around? "Houses destroyed, crops gone and wiped out, people died because of the things you did."

Fyn shook his head, "I don't understand."

"When you went back and got angry at us for calling that a demon," Hana snapped, her eyes falling on Kavan. Fyn felt the demon take a step forward again, but luckily, his palm was on his chest, stopping him from doing so. He couldn't even look back at Kavan, Fyn's eyes were stuck on Hana. The absurdity of her words failing to reach his head, to try to make sense of it. "You nearly killed all of us."

Fyn shook his head again, "I didn't-"

Hana cut him off, "When you got angry, so did everything else. There were tornados that blew everything away, lightning that struck on ground and people," Hana choked a sob, looking like a fragile woman that Fyn almost took a step forward to comfort her. "People who were innocent, those who didn't even know you. They died, because of you."

Hana's eyes fall on Kavan, "Because you wanted to protect him."

"Hana," Fyn stammered, "I never hurt any one. And Kavan, he could hurt no one."

Hana shook her head, her eyes stuck on Fyn. The rage and anger pouring out of her made Fyn's hands clammy. Not to mention that the fire was still burning around them. Why was the forest not doing anything? Are they really letting the land burn to the ground?

"Doesn't matter," Hana spat, spitting on his feet. "They're already dead because of your anger."

Fyn felt tears prick his eyes, he suddenly was afraid.

Very afraid.

Had people really died because of him?

The sky couldn't have felt his anger then. Could it have? That made little sense.

He was a mortal. He wasn't like Kavan. He was normal. He was human.

When Fyn didn't speak, Hana continued, "Doesn't matter anymore. You know what? Fine, stay there. We don't care. I don't care. I knew I should have done it from the start. You are the destruction of us all, Fyn."

Fyn stuttered, "Done what?"

At least that's what he wanted to ask.

Except he didn't get a chance.

The sound of everything seemed to disappear, and time seemed to slow down. Embers and charcoal flew across the air, the wind kissing his skin. Fyn felt boiling hot. Sweat dripped from places he didn't even realize could sweat. The fire was bigger now, and the silence so loud it felt like there was a ringing inside of his head.

Time was slowing as Fyn watched Hana raise her hand.

Someone shouts, and an arrow flies.

Her eyes were on Kavan. They directed the arrow to Kavan.

The demon snarled, his wings ready to flutter to throw the arrow back towards them.

Towards Hana's belly. Towards her unborn baby.

If it was true that Fyn had killed innocent people, he couldn't bear killing something innocent once more.

He didn't think.

He just did.

He jumped.

In front of Kavan.

Time seemed to stop.