Through the Rays of Dawn CH.13

Chapter 13  

One moment a hissing, clawing, biting red-eyed demon was trying to eat Adam, the next moment, all the Elemental saw was another, more frightening demon; this demon stood over the wounded boy like a statue, staring at him with burning hellish eyes: From the waist down the demon looked like a goat with mighty black hooves and coarse blackish-brown fur. Its torso was more that of a muscular man with blazing red skin while the demon's head was that of a red stallion with a thick mane of long black hair. Adam's breath caught in his throat when he spotted the hissing, chattering beast struggling in the demon's hand. Steam seemed to drift out of the demon's nostrils as it stared into Adam's very soul with eyes like lakes of fire.
Adam found himself staring straight back into those eyes with his own burning intensity. He could not look away yet he did not want to; this animal seemed to challenge him. "Adam!" Rain snapped the boy out of his trance. Adam blinked twice before looking at his sister. She looked terrified of the animal that loomed over them, silent and solemn. It grunted then raised the struggling Gremlin; the small monster burst into flames with a shriek so terrifying that Rain buried her face in her brother's shoulder.
Dropping the ashes to the Earth the creature grunted again, plumes of steam flaring from its nostrils. "Leave, Anneberg!" Rachel shouted from behind. The beast and the children in front of it looked back at her; she stood with her hair floating around her as though she were underwater. Orange sparks danced all over her body and hair while her eyes were now flooded with orange as the sweet scent of strawberry overpowered the smells of the forest and the burnt Gremlin.
The demon did not move or speak. "I said LEAVE!" Rachel's orange aura bloomed around her in an electrifying shock that sent chills down Adam's spine. "Mom," Adam croaked from the ground. Rain could only stare as her mother—the normal, gentle, dainty woman who had raised her—stepped forward to challenge a beast at least twice her size.
The demon—Anneberg?—was already rearing up to charge at the woman who glowed like a lantern. The Anneberg leapt; Adam caught it by the leg. Though his arms felt like they were going to tear right out of their sockets the boys held fast to the ratty mess of fur just above the animal's hoof. The creature stopped dead in its tracks. It slowly turned its head with sickening pops and cracks as though it were something out of a horror movie. It stared down at Adam with eyes that seemed to project Hell itself. Adam was in so much pain at the moment that all he could do was stare silently back.
"You dare touch me?" The voice of the demon was so ungodly deep that the New Generation and Elders felt the very ground vibrate with its words. All at once, everyone leapt forward as the horse-headed demon slammed its open palm into Adam's chest, forcing him into the earth with a loud gasp. SHHNK! Sam's scythe fell with force onto the demon's shoulder; the blade bounced off with twice as much force, sending the boy flying into his siblings. The demon gripped Adam's shirt, almost ripping it as it jerked the boy up out of the ground, pebbles dropping from his clothes.
Adam grunted as he looked down at his sister; her green eyes were wide with fear while her mouth hung wide open. "I may have saved your life," the demon's voice boomed so loud it echoed, "But do not even began to consider yourself my equal, boy."
An orange flash sent the demon forward a few paces. "Put him down, now!" Rachel's voice was strong from behind the creature. The Anneberg huffed then turned. Its mouth opened with a small puff of air; visibly green breath plumed out of the monsters mouth to spread over the group. Adam watched in wide-eyed horror as one by one the Elders and Next Generation dropped like flies from their mad dash toward him. "How…?" Adam thought silently. The Anneberg turned to face the boy in his grip.
Adam kicked the demon in the stomach; his entire foot throbbed after hitting the rock-solid abs of the beast. "What do you want from me?!" Adam demanded as he shook the pain away, "Why did you do that?!" "Hold your tongue." The Anneberg growled in a low, grumbling voice. Adam attempted to swallow back his fear that this demon might kill him. "I am Atterdag, and you are my reincarnated master, boy. I can see it." With that, the beast's eyes flared white. "I've never seen you before! Now put me do, you bastard!" Adam yelled as he struggled with no success to break free. "I am here to protect you, fool!" Atterdag hollered. Adam felt his ears ringing.
"Well then, as your master, I command you to put me down!" Adam said in a voice so low it was almost scary to him. Atterdag narrowed his burning eyes, steam drifting from his nostrils. He huffed, tossing the boy to the ground hard. Adam landed on his backside with a grunt; the pain in his leg was worse than before. He tried to sound as though nothing was wrong, "Why did you do that to them?" he demanded as he stared hard into Atterdag's eyes. Atterdag huffed then shrugged his massive shoulders. "They were pests of the greatest kind; humans, like you, you insolent child."
Adam glanced at Rain; she had passed out a few feet from where he sat. The injuries all over her body made Adam's brow twitch with concern. "Listen," Adam's voice cracked to his displeasure, "I DON'T need your help!" the boy pointed at Atterdag with an accusing finger, "and I DON'T need YOU!"
All was silent except for Adam's heaving breaths. Atterdag stared him down with what almost felt like pity while Adam barely managed to see straight. "I see," the horse-headed demon turned his back on Adam. The boy on the ground tried to grin but the pain in his chest and his leg made him grimace. "But be aware that I shall not be your hero again." Atterdag huffed before vanishing back into the shadows without a sound. Adam blinked as he tried to see into the darkness; moments later the dark was all he could see.