The Diablon Series 3
Autor
G. M. Marks
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In a world where survival is a daily struggle, Lilitha and Clara navigate a treacherous forest, haunted by their pasts and hunted by relentless foes. As they journey towards the town of Mainstry, Lilitha grapples with her dark nature and the monstrous Diablons she once called kin. Their bond is tested by secrets, hunger, and the looming threat of capture. Will they find safety and redemption, or will their fears consume them?
Chapter 45
Book 3
Lilitha remained dry-eyed, her face set as they continued their journey the next day. Streams of light poured through the canopy, hot and bright, forcing the girls to remove their cloaks.
Clara narrowed her eyes. âWhat is that?â
Lilitha gripped her necklace with a start. âNothing.â She unclasped it and tucked it into her cloak.
Their way out of the forest was proving much easier than their journey within. It wasnât just because they were no longer cuffed, chained, and terrified. It hadnât rained in days. No more deep puddles and thick, sucking mud.
Not to mention, Lilitha had developed much more skill in avoiding the worst obstacles. She could sense things now, like shadows across her vision.
Lilitha raised her face to the canopy, blinking against the light, enjoying the warmth on her shoulders. A bird was singing. How could she be a âcreature of the nightâ when she enjoyed the sun so much?
Clara frequently pulled out the compass, checking their route. They picked their way through a labyrinth of bushes. A bird was chirping from somewhere high in the treetops.
âYou know, in all the times we discussed your escape to Mainstry,â Lilitha said, âwe never once discussed your plans when you got there. What do you hope to do?â
Clara shrugged. âI have a way.â
âWere you hoping to go back home?â
Clara looked at her, then away again, her face screwed up with grief.
âSorry,â Lilitha said quietly.
âItâs not your fault.â Clara was looking resolutely through the trees. âMy mother will cope. Itâs too dangerous to go home.â
âSo, then what was your plan?â
âYou donât need to know.â
âWhy not?â
Claraâs blue eyes flashed into hers. âYou have your secrets. I have mine.â
And that was the end of their discussion.
They didnât stop for lunch, collecting food along the way: berries, nuts, mushrooms. Lilitha, of course, couldnât eat them. She would need to find some real foodâand soon. She could feel it already: the tingling in her fingertips, the weight on her shoulders.
She yawned as she raked her fingers through her hair. It didnât help that she was awake when she should be asleep. Two days. Two days until Mainstry. Maybe three.
At sunset, they made camp and settled for the night. Clara was bunched close to Lilitha as she peered fearfully around the trees. Lilitha couldnât blame her. At every rustle or squeak, her friend would suck in a breath and whip her head around.
Lilitha wasnât much better, dread clutching at her heart. If Damon and Mateus caught up with them, what would they do? Alphas never hurt females⊠But would that be the case now? Thinking of Damon and his rages, Lilitha shivered.
She contemplated building a fire just to make herself feel better but decided against it. Though the two alphas would still likely be chasing their human escapees, why risk things further? Lilitha wrapped herself more tightly in her cloak. At least there was moonlight. It was shining against Claraâs eyes.
âSomething wrong?â Lilitha asked, realizing her friend was watching her.
âYou look sad.â
âDo I?â
âYou miss them, donât you?â
Lilitha jerked her head up. âWho?â
âYou know who. The monsters.â
Lilithaâs mouth turned dry. âOf course I donât. Theyâre monsters.â
Clara watched her closely. âYouâre a monster too, arenât you?â
Lilitha leapt to her feet, goosebumps erupting all over her body. She didnât know where to look as Clara stared up at her, strangely calm. Damonâs voice suddenly rose from the void: Reveal the truth of what you really are and watch her scuttle away like a rat.
âSpeak with me, Lilitha. I am your friend.â
Lilitha looked at her. âYou are?â
Clara nodded.
âHowâhow much do you know? How do you know?â
Her heart did a little tumble as Clara smiled up at her sardonically. âIâm not an idiot, Lilitha. Anyone would know.â Then she frowned. âAre youâare you entirely like them?â
Bracing her hands on top of her head, Lilitha paced, leaves and twigs snapping beneath her boots. She folded her arms, dropped them to her sides, then folded them again.
âLilitha?â
Lilitha stopped pacing. âAre you afraid of me?â
âNo.â Claraâs eyes were bright. âWhat areâŠthey?â
âThey call themselves Diablons.â
âDiablonsâŠâ She shook her head. âWhat does that mean?â
âIâm not sure: beasts, monsters, demons of the night.â
Claraâs eyes glowed in the moonlight. âDo theyâŠdo they eat people?â
Lilithaâs grimace was answer enough.
Clara was quiet. âThey are evil, despicable.â
Lilitha felt a rush of rage. âSo sure of that, are you?â
âWhat else could they be?â
âIâm like them. Do you think me evil?â
âYou are not like them.â
âArenât I?â Lilitha glared at her. âI have seen things, done thingsââ she winced ââthings which I cannot believe of myself.â
âWhat have you done?â
âYou want answers, then answer mine. What is your plan at Mainstry?â
âTo work.â
âObviously. How?â
âMy looks, Lilitha. What else?â Now it was Clara who was angry.
âYou meanâŠâ
âWhat else can I do? As a âuselessâ woman with few skills?â
Lilitha stared. Her golden hair, her fine features, her soft skin, her magnificent blue eyes. Though she was dirty and disheveled now, streaked with filth, her hair knotted and greasy, there was no denying the beauty beneath it all.
Lilitha felt a deep pang of self-hatred. It had been her plan to just let Clara go all on her own. For a brief, crazy moment, she wondered if it was such a good idea to have left the Diablons at all.
âI can take care of myself,â Clara said, watching her. âI am not your responsibility.â She suddenly grinned and jabbed a finger at her. âIâm the older one.â
A grim smile pulled at the corners of Lilithaâs mouth.
âYour turn,â Clara said and Lilithaâs smile fell away. âWhat have you done?â
âWhat do you think?â
âStop playing with me.â
âFine! Fine. IâIâve eaten people, okay. Thatâs rightâpeople. Iâve held their flesh in my hands. Iâve seen their bodies. Iâve seen them imprisoned. Iâve seen their suffering and done nothing about it. Remember LaymondâŠ?â
Lilitha was shaking so hard she folded her hands under her armpits. âYouâre right. I am a monster.â Tears burned behind her eyes. âMy father was right. And I donât know what to do about it. I love them, Clara. No matter what theyâve done, I love them so bad. You donât know. You donât knowâŠâ Clutching at her chest, she bent over with a moan.
âBut youâre here now, with me,â Clara said. âA monster wouldnât do that.â
âDo you think Iâm evil?â
Clara looked at her hard. âNo. Whatever you were before, you are no longer.â
Lilitha wiped at her face.
Clara bedded away from Lilitha that night. While she slept, Lilitha stared up into the trees, her hands resting upon her heart.
