Descent Into Darkness (Book 2) Read Free

When their eyes met, she broke their gaze and turned to walk away, mumbling under her breathe. "He could have at least bound me to this world by something more flattering than a scrap of wood."
    Ean was about to call her out, but she spoke again, louder this time.
    "If you want to get out of the forest, you need to head that way." She pointed off in a direction opposite the one he would have chosen. "I could fly to the edge of the forest in barely any time at all, but since I'm supposed to follow you two geniuses around, it will probably take us a day or two on foot. Unless you are as weak as you look of course, then I would say three to four days."
    "Leave now? I can barely see anything," objected Ean.
    "Well then, I suppose I'll have to lead you by the nose, and then you and your ugly little imp will be out of the woods in no time."
    "Unless you enjoy being called soul-sucking hag, I would stop with the insults and call me by my name," Zin retorted.
    "Fine, fine, can we go now?" Azalea was staring at Ean, her hands now on her hips with one foot tapping impatiently on the ground. Ean returned her stare, drinking in Azalea's form. White leather hugged her curves. Thick purple hair hung to her shoulders, framing a face with petite features. Any normal man would consider her beautiful...if they could ignore the bat-like wings spread out behind her.
    Ean knew better. As alluring and almost hypnotizing as her beauty was, deep down she was no ordinary woman. She was just another denizen from the Abyss. A creature of darkness. If Zin hadn't made a deal with her, she would have killed them both by now.
    "Yes, we can leave. There's nothing left to pack. So if you're ready to go, then so am I."
    Without another word, the Yulari walked off into the dense forest. Zin and Ean hurried to catch up. The threesome walked single file through the forest, with the light of the moons barely breaking through the canopy and creating dappled shadows on the leafy ground. Azalea took the lead position, while Zin and Ean walked a few paces behind.
    Zin had been the one to support the decision of keeping Azalea around after all. It was confusing now to see him frown in her direction. Ean couldn't exactly ask the imp what the problem was with Azalea only a few steps ahead of them. So, all three of them walked on in silence until tiny rays of light began poking through the canopy above, signaling the beginning of a new day.

 
     
     
     
     
    THEY WALKED ON THROUGH most of the morning. Every now and then, Azalea would tell them to stop and then fly off into the air. When she returned, she would always point them in a different direction than the one they had been going in. It was surprising for Ean to see how off track they could get when he believed they were going straight. It made him wonder if she was purposely misleading them. He wouldn't put it past the creature to keep them lost longer than necessary to make herself seem more useful. Every time Azalea altered their course, he glanced over at Zin to raise a questioning eyebrow. The normally cautious imp didn't seem concerned, so Ean decided he had no choice but to go along with whatever the Yulari said.
    "Not too much further now," Azalea said after her sixth check of their position. "You've been keeping up a better pace than I gave you credit for, and I'm very surprised that the imp's little legs have been able to keep up as well. Guess I underestimated you both."
    "These legs don't feel so little when they're kicking things, Yulari," the imp responded. "Keep that in mind."
    "Such big threats from such a little creature," the Yulari retorted, her expression that of mock concern. "Good thing I have Ean to keep you from hurting me. Oh wait, it's the other way around. It's a good thing you have Ean to keep me from hurting you. But don't think the fact that I can't kill you because of our partnership doesn't mean I can't hurt you. So watch your tone when you address me."
    With a sigh, Ean decided to