Page 21 (1/2)

Angelfall Susan Ee 28100K 2023-08-31

CHAPTER 23

I catch motion out of the corner of my eye I don’t even have time to brace for another hit before Raffe stands beforethe demons I hadn’t even heard the rustle of leaves One moment he’s not there, the next moment, he is

"Run, Penryn"

I don’t need another invitation I run

But I don’t run far, which is probably not my smartest move I can’t help it I hesitate behind a tree to watch Raffe fight the demons

Now that I knohat to look for, I can tell there are about half a dozen of theround Not all of uniform size, either One is at least a foot taller than the shortest one One seeht chubby

Their sh they don’t o into hyperdrive, their h that is their natural pace These things are definitely not huel breed Aren’t cherubs always pictured as children?

Raffe catches one as it tries to whiz by hi for hih the little de awful as it flails on the forest ground

The others aren’t daunted, though, as they run at Raffe to do their buure it won’t take long before they start biting or stinging or whatever it is they do

"Raffe, behind you!"

I grab the nearest rock and take a heartbeat to ai darts, but I’ve also been known tothe dartboard hereRaffe

I hold my breath, take aim at the nearest shadow, and throith as much force as I can muster

Bull’s-eye!

The rock s it cold It’s almost funny how the low demon practically flips backward as it falls Raffe never needs to know that I was ais wildly with his sword, slicing a deratitude I bend and grab another rock This one is jagged and big enough so that I can barely lift it I reedy, but I lob it at one of the deht

This tio for a smaller, more aerodyna circle, and the low de doesn’t even show up on their radar I take aiht

It hits Raffe on the back

It must have hit hiers two steps, then stops just in front of two deh to trip him, and he’s out of balance as he faces the it froes to lift the sword But he doesn’t have ti him

He cries out My stoe thing happens Stranger than what’s been happening, that is The low deust They spit as if trying to get the bad taste out of their mouths I wish I could see what they look like I’ repelled expressions

Raffe cries out again as a third one bites hies to bat it away after a few tries That onenoise and spits noisily as well

The shadows back off after that After a eneral darkness of the forest

Before I can wrapjust as strange Instead of declaring victory and walking away safe, like any sane survivor, he chases after them into the dark woods

"Raffe!"

All I hear is the dying screaoosebu animals sound that way

Then, as quickly as it started, the final screaht

I shiver alone in the dark I take a couple of steps toward the black woods where Raffe disappeared, then stop What a the sweat on my skin After a moment, even the wind falls quiet and still I’m not sure if I should run to try to find Raffe, or run away fro I ree, and that keeping oal I start to shiver more than the cold calls for It must be the after effects of the battle

My ears strain to hear sorunt of pain from Raffe At least I’d know he’s alive

The wind rustles the top of the trees and whips ive up and head into the dark trees to look for hiets louder It could be a deer I take a step back away from the sound It could be the low demons, back to finish the job

The branches rustle as they part A Raffe-shaped shadow steps into the clearing

Utter relief washes overmuscles I hadn’t realized were tense

I run to hi, but he takes a step back from me I’m sure even a man like hi after a fight for his life But apparently, not from me

I stop just in front of hih, doesn’t entirely dry up