CHAPTER 54: CH 54: THE DAMNED DEMON - PART 3

Jamie cursed under her breath as the deformed monster’s claws swiped dangerously close to her face.

The sharp wind of the blow nearly split her cheek open, but she managed to twist her body and roll out of the way.

Her boots sank into the snow, and she pushed herself back up, lungs burning, before forcing her legs to move again.

The monster roared behind her, a grotesque sound that rattled her eardrums and made the storm itself seem to shiver.

It lumbered after her with shocking speed, its distorted body leaving cracks in the frozen ground wherever it stepped.

"Damn it."

Jamie spat, darting forward as fast as she could.

She had no idea why she was doing this. Her mission had never been to protect this valley.

She wasn’t bound to Lucian, nor to the wolves, nor to the strange people who had gathered around him. All she had been asked to do was observe and report back if necessary.

’Well, then again, there is that contract. So maybe I am a little bound.’

And yet here she was, risking her neck.

Jamie almost laughed at herself.

"What the hell is wrong with me? Did the brat brainwash me or something? I’m even making excuses for these people."

It almost felt like it. Somewhere along the way, she had started to care.

The valley had given her food, warmth, and something even rarer—rest. Perhaps that was why her body moved on its own, why her instincts screamed at her not to let the monster reach the valley.

Still, she scoffed as she ran, bitterness coating her tongue.

The Jamie from before—the Jamie who had survived alone, who trusted no one, who cut down anyone that stood in her way—would never have done something this stupid.

She clenched her jaw, dodging another wild strike.

"I’ve gone soft."

The thought made her burn inside, and not in the comforting way her flames usually did.

Her lungs ached, and her legs threatened to give out, but she forced herself to keep running, weaving through jagged rocks and icy trees.

The storm howled above, flinging snow and sleet into her eyes.

And then—she stopped.

Jamie’s heart sank as her boots skidded against a wall of stone. She had run into a dead end.

"Perfect."

She muttered, glaring up at the monster that now loomed over her. Its malformed frame cracked and writhed, half-corpse, half-something else entirely, with eyes that glowed like dying embers.

But Jamie did not tremble. Instead, she let her flames burst to life. Orange and crimson fire licked up her arms, coiling around her fists until the snow beneath her hissed into steam.

The monster lunged, one of its massive arms stretching out unnaturally to grab her. Its claws dug into her arm as it lifted her off the ground, snow scattering below.

Pain flared instantly, but Jamie gritted her teeth and forced herself to smile.

"This is it, huh? Let’s see who wins. My fire—or your freak regeneration."

She growled.

Her flames roared louder, scorching the monster’s deformed flesh. The stench of burning rot filled the air as black smoke rose between them.

The creature howled, shaking her violently, but Jamie only pushed harder. Fire spread from her fists to its chest, threatening to consume it whole.

Then, a voice slipped into her mind.

"Impressive. Very impressive."

Jamie froze for half a heartbeat, her flames flickering.

"You have potential. With a little push, you could crush this abomination. I will give you a boost—power beyond your limit. All I ask is a quarter of your life force in return."

Jamie’s eyes narrowed.

"Get the hell out of my head."

The voice chuckled darkly.

"Refuse, and you die here. Accept, and you live to protect what you cherish. Think carefully, child."

Her grip tightened, the heat of her flames flaring brighter.

"I said—fuck off!"

The voice fell silent, but the monster did not. Its claws squeezed tighter around her body, bones creaking as if they would snap at any second.

Her fire blazed hotter, but she knew it wasn’t enough. The thing’s regeneration was already knitting its flesh back together, even as she burned it.

Her body screamed in pain, blood dripping down her side, her vision blurring.

This was it. She would either break here or burn out completely.

Just as the pressure reached its peak—something struck the monster from the side.

A deafening crack split the air.

Jamie felt herself falling, the creature’s grip suddenly gone. She hit the snow hard, rolling across the icy ground until she finally came to a stop.

Her chest heaved with shallow breaths, and her flames sputtered out.

For a moment, she couldn’t move. She barely had the strength to lift her head, but when she did, her vision blurred with disbelief.

A figure stood not far away, framed by the storm.

The monster shrieked at the newcomer, but the man raised his weapon again. Another shot rang out, bursting through the storm with unnatural force.

The monster’s body convulsed violently, the corrupted energy within it tearing itself apart until, finally, it disintegrated into black mist.

Jamie’s lips parted, her eyes wide.

"What... kind of monstrous power... is that...?"

She whispered, her voice trembling.

Her head spun, the blood loss and exhaustion pulling at her consciousness. Still, she forced her eyes to follow the figure as he stepped closer.

He was tall, his silhouette sharp against the swirling snow. Calm, steady footsteps echoed in the quiet storm.

Each step felt like thunder in her ears.

"Who... are you?"

Jamie muttered weakly, her voice nearly drowned out by the storm.

Her eyelids grew heavy, threatening to close, but just before they did, the man’s figure seemed to shift in her vision.

For the briefest of moments, she saw not an adult but Lucian walking toward her, his small frame overlapping perfectly with the imposing figure.

Her lips curved into a weak chuckle.

"Ha... figures. I must be losing it. No food, no blood... no oxygen. Of course I’d see him..."

Her voice faded, her body going limp against the snow.

The storm raged on, but Jamie no longer heard it. The last thing she saw was the stranger—no, Lucian?—reaching out toward her before everything went dark.