Dark Hunger

Elize wanted Arryn to make a vow in order to protect Caleb and his family from her wrath. She knew that Arryn's magic was nearly as ancient and as potent as her father's. If she could do so much with her Edyrm's magic, what could Arryn do. She looked eagerly at Arryn who was still leaning against the wall, her expressions that of disbelief evident in her wide tear-filled eyes. 

"A vow?" she murmured in a soft voice. 

When Elize nodded slowly, without a second's delay, Arryn vowed. "I vow to the Lore that I will never hurt Caleb or his family. And—" 

Elize narrowed her eyes when Arryn stopped at that. 

"And I also vow that I will remain your loyal friend till I live." 

The vampire queen jerked her head back. She didn't expect Arryn to yield so quickly or to trust her almost immediately. The surprise of Arryn's trust in her was like a burst of icy feeling in her blood. The demoness was so desperate that she vowed to the Lore even though she had no guarantee that Elize could con her. Elize's heart went out for this poor creature who had suffered too long at her father's hands. A moment later when realization dawned upon her that there was a long silence between them and that Arryn was looking hopefully at her, in a hoarse voice that didn't feel like it was hers, she said, "Then I release you. I forfeit every control I have on you Arryn Aramaer. You are free to go anywhere you want to." 

Arryn blinked through her tears. She slipped to the ground and sat over there as a heavy burden lifted off her body. The raven feathers that were like a second skin on her, curled up and disappeared slowly, revealing a naked woman with marble white skin. 

"Gods above!" Elize rasped. She took her cloak out and wrapped Arryn with it. She knelt before her as Arryn stared and stared and cried and cried. She stroked her hair. It was not long before that the noise on the outside stopped. 

Byrd came to her, his tunic soaked in blood. "Your Highness, they are all dead. We can go back home." 

Elize tipped her head to the ceiling. She knew that the immediate danger was over, but who knew about the future. She helped Arryn to get up to her feet and curled her arms around her shoulders as she walked to the entrance of the cave. As she walked through the cave, she saw the massacre. Most demons were lying dead on the ground. Her soldiers were standing with their weapons drawn out. Some had gone inside to see if there were any survivors so that they would kill them, but most were returning empty handed. It looked like the demon lair was completely destroyed. Though Elize felt utterly satisfied, now she was gripped with a new feeling—of going to see Caleb as soon as possible. When she reached the cave's mouth, outside in the distance, she saw Edyrm's burnt, motionless body. 

"What do we do with him?" asked Byrd, as he signaled all his men to round up and gather. 

Elize and Arryn looked at the man who had tortured so many, who was tortured by just one… A feeling of agony, of hate, of distress… passed through the girls. Elize turned her glance at Arryn and said, "Would you like to come with us? I will take you to Ixoviya with me where you will stay safe forever." 

Arryn smiled through her tears. She wiped them, feeling only relief even as she saw her father dead on the snow. She couldn't believe that he was dead. She wanted to go and confirm it herself, but then she didn't want to stay even a minute longer with him. She must have imagined this moment a thousand times. She shook her head and said, "No, I would like to see someone. I want to meet my brother, Rolfe Aramaer, who is the king of Galahar and then take it from there. But thanks for releasing me from this heavy encumbrance." 

"You are welcome," Elize said warmly. And just like that she stepped closer to Arryn and hugged her tightly. When she pulled away, she said, "Then allow me to introduce you to Caleb or Daryn. I am sure that they can help ease your way to Galahar." She knew that Rolfe was not particularly fond of his brothers or sisters which Caleb had told her during several of their sessions of practice together. 

Arryn chuckled. She placed her palm on Elize's face. "I can manage, Elize. Rolfe knows me." 

Elize flushed at Arryn's words. The demoness had so much confidence in her brother that after all that happened between them, she was confident that Rolfe would know everything. Her heart went out for her own brother Owen. If only she had a nice relationship with him. Why did he turn out to be so greedy? Tears stung at the back of her eyes and she swallowed down the lump forming in her throat. She stepped back from Arryn and said, "I guess… see you soon, then?" 

Arryn's smile turned into a grin as hundreds of scenarios ran through her mind. "See you soon, vampire queen!" she said and bowed a little out of respect. Then she turned and ran down the slope. When Arryn leapt in the air, she shifted into her feral form—a raven. She flew to a height and circled in the air above them as if to acknowledge Elize and then flew away to her freedom. 

"What are we going to do with him?" Byrd's voice pulled her out of her emotions. 

She looked at Edyrm. Irritation spiked. She said, "Take his body inside the cave and place it on the same altar where Vadin is." She had plans. 

Byrd motioned his men to do the same. They picked up Edyrm, who was unrecognizable with a half burnt body that was charred beyond recognition. Half of his face was burned completely while the other half was burned and destroyed. Three soldiers carried him inside. When they came out, Elize instructed all of them to stand away from the mouth of the cave. When they were at a safe distance, she thrust her hands in the air and the rocky outcrops beside the entrance blasted. They filled the cave's entrance in a way that clogged tightly. The demon and his men were sealed inside it forever. When the snow fell over the entrance, it covered it, sealing it as if nothing ever existed there. 

Along with her men, Elize started down the slope of the Northern Mountains to be with Caleb and not once did she look behind. Since it was about to dawn, Byrd created a portal for her using magic of other soldiers as well and they all stepped in the foothills of the Whiteclaw pack. When Elize gave him a surprised look, he shrugged. "I memorized the location." 

She smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Byrd." 

"You are most welcome, Your Highness." 

She had sent a message to Daryn to take care of Auril, and so the most logical place to go was the settlement where Caleb had hidden her. So Byrd created another portal for her and they walked in the place where they all had camped, but to her surprise, it was abandoned.. There was no one.