Ch 32: The Nightmare in the Clearing

If nightmares were real, Calder would have traded everything to know that this was a dream.

The scene before him was something he would give anything to unsee. But it was very real, and his blood boiled and every fiber of his being became electrified with rage.

The first thing he noticed was the earth sorcerer's body on the ground, his throat cut, eyes lifeless. Next to him stood the blonde water witch, what was her name again? Cordelia. Her eyes were wide, but with fear or excitement, he couldn't tell. All he knew, was that they were locked on something that was happening at the edge of the clearing, and that something was what made him lose all rational thought.

Against one of the trees, a naked figure loomed over the bound and limp body of a woman, a woman with deep red hair. Her dress was shredded and a large cut gaped over her right breast. There were slashes across her body and legs, as if claws had been raked across them, and blood, there was blood everywhere. Her face though. Calder knew that face better than his own, and it was wracked with bruises and thick red.

He had no idea when he had drawn his sword, but the sound that came from his mouth as he charged toward the thing standing over his love was a mixture of pure animalistic fury and the most gut-wrenching anguish.

He knew it was the demon that turned to look at him, its eyes burning with malevolent pleasure, lips tainted with blood turned up in the most abhorring sneer. He didn’t care. Even death couldn't stop him from removing the head of the thing that had done this to his beloved Tasha.

Calder was almost to her, arms raised, sword in the air, ready to swing with all his might, when a force hit him, sending him flying backward, knocking the wind out of him.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't my dear meat puppet, come to join the fun." That voice. Calder never wanted to hear that voice again. It had been inside his head for what seemed an eternity, and now, it was coming from the mouth of what appeared to be a man standing before him.

He lifted his head to look at the monster. He didn't know if it was his eyes playing tricks on him, but it looked as though the demon's flesh was changing, the skin decomposing before his eyes and then reforming. He gave it only a moment's thought though before lifting his sword and lunging at the creature once more.

Again, he was tossed back like a rag doll, his back colliding with a tree.

"Come now Cal, we were so close, didn't you miss me?" The demon's arms were open as if waiting to embrace a long-lost friend.

"I will cut you down where you fucking stand, demon!" He spat and pushed himself off the tree, settling into a battle stance.

“Now that's not very nice. Didn't I take good care of you? I gave you such an unforgettable evening with this luscious beauty, after all.” The demon turned to look at Astasha, running its hand down her cheek.

"Stay the fuck away from her!" He used the moment the demon had looked away to bolt towards it, but just as he was about to bring his sword down, the demon's hand closed around his throat and tossed him into the tree next to the battered sorceress.

Calder could taste blood in his mouth, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was saving her.

The demon sighed and shook his head. "And here I thought we were having such a nice little reunion." It took a step towards him. "At least now I can fulfill my promise to make her watch as I peel the flesh from your bones."

He forced himself to stand and lift his sword. The blade sliced through the air but came to a stop, the demon's hand grasped around it above its head.

The hilt was ripped from Cal's grip and flung across the clearing.

Suddenly, the demon was in front of him, and Calder felt pain tear through him as the flesh on his chest was ripped open, his body hitting the hard surface of wood yet again.

He crumbled to the ground, only to be lifted up by his shirt. Another slash, and more pain, this time across his stomach. Cal found himself colliding with the earth as the demon slammed him into it.

All of his training, every fight he had ever been in, nothing had prepared him for this. There was no defeating this enemy. It was too strong, too fast. Blood was pouring from his mouth and chest and he knew multiple bones were broken.

His eyes found Tasha, his beautiful Tasha, her body ravaged and bloodied. If he was going to die, he was going to do it with her in his arms. If it was the last thing he did, he would hold her into the afterlife.

The demon was saying something, but he didn't care. He drug himself toward his love. He was so close, he just needed to reach out and her hand would be his.

Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, and she looked down to see him. The look she had must have mirrored his own. He knew she felt death was there, was about to take them. But he saw her fingers reach toward him and he lifted his arm.

His hand stretched out to her as he felt claws clamp down on his shoulder, but before he could be ripped away from her, their fingers touched.

There were no words to describe the feeling that surged through him in that moment. It was neither pleasure, nor pain, nor power, but something greater, something insurmountable in its intensity.

A spark ignited in their touch, raging into an explosion of fire and light. It consumed the clearing, blinding Calder and taking his breath away.

And then it was gone, and as he blinked and his eyes adjusted to the dark once more, he saw the demon hunched over, yelling in agony.

It looked up at him and he saw that half of its face was blackened and almost melted to the bone. There was fury in its eyes now, and its hands turned to fists.

Cal knew this was it. There was nothing that could save him and his love now. The demon was enraged. Whatever had just happened hadn't been enough to kill it, but it was injured and furious. He only hoped that its rage would cause him to make their deaths quick.

It took a step toward him and Cal turned his eyes to Tasha whose body had crumpled on the ground, the demon's spell that had bound her undone. She was unconscious and for that he was grateful. He didn't want her to suffer anymore.

He reached out for her and waited for the final blow, but it never came.

He turned back to look at the demon which was standing, staring at the two of them, its jaw clenched. Why hadn't it ended them? Why was it hesitating?

A snarl crossed its disfigured face. "It seems you shall keep your flesh for now precious Prince."

What was happening?

The sound of a twig breaking and boots on dry leaves pulled his attention.

"My Lord, they are coming!" The water witch’s voice was panicked.

Calder had forgotten she was even there. She was scrambling to her feet. The blast hadn't seemed to harm her but it had definitely knocked her to the ground. He realized now it had been her all along. She had done this. His determination to defeat the demon had blinded him to anything else and now it all made sense.

Silently he swore he would make her pay. Every drop of Tasha's blood that had been spilled, every bruise and broken bone she had suffered, he would repay her every cut on his love's body, every second of pain she had felt. That bitch would feel it too.

Someone shouted in the distance and the demon strode past him to the blonde. It wrapped its arm around her and turned its gaze on Calder, that vile sneer upon its face again. "Until we meet again, your highness."

Dark smoke began to swirl around the two of them.

"Calder!"

He knew that voice. Talib was there.

Errant's was the next he heard. The High Sorcerer bellowed something he couldn't understand and a force hurtled toward the demon and its accomplice. But the smoke enveloped them before it reached them and they were gone.

Black spots were forming in Cal’s vision as a pair of hands grabbed him. "Damnit Calder, don't you fucking die on me."

Talib had him, but he didn't care about himself. "Tasha. Help Tasha."

He was trying to stay conscious, he had to know she was alright.

"Ok man, just hang on."

He could hear multiple voices but they were all becoming faint, muffled. He tried to move so he could see Astasha but it seemed impossible to do.

The darkness was overwhelming him, but he thought he saw a glimpse of red hair as someone lifted a body from the ground. And then everything went black.


**Author’s Note:** *Poor Astasha and Calder! I have company coming to town this weekend so I’m not sure how much I will be able to update but I promise I won’t leave you hanging on such an intense note! I’ll make sure to get the next chapter up soon so you aren’t left wondering how our dear fire witch and prince are doing for long… I would love to know what you all think so far, so please leave a comment and let me know! Love and light everyone!*