CHAPTER 23: LESSER DEMONS

"What is your name, young boy?" Zek asked.

"Fate," he mumbled out, a little hesitant. He eyed Zek, he did not know what to think about him.

"Nice to meet you," Zek said and stretched out his hand. He was still crouched beside him.

Fate struggled to lift his hand as he tried to return the handshake. Zek gripped his hand and shook it. Fate smiled weakly but it looked more like disgust than a smile.

"Are you hurting anywhere?" He asked.

Fate shook his head. His mouth was still sore but it was healing already and he felt like if he stopped feeling any pain, he might lose consciousness.

Zek grinned and his eyes sparkled as he looked at Fate from head to toe. Fate frowned, for the first time he realized he was basically naked. He pulled his hand from Zek's grip but the wizard held him tight.

"It is hard to believe you're alive even though your body is in this state." Zek blinked rapidly and his nose flared.

Fate forced a smile as he tried to comprehend what was going on

He looked to V for help but she obviously had troubles of her own.

"Aside from not dying, what else can you do?" Zek asked.

Fate was a little thrown aback by the question. "I grow horns," Fate mumbled awkwardly.

"I see that. Can I touch it?"

"Drop the act and stop the chit chat Zek, we don't have all day."

He slowly rose to his feet and then turned to look at her. "I know but look at you V, you are in no state to carry him."

"I would prefer it if you didn't underestimate me like that." She glared at him and walked towards Fate. It was obvious she was struggling even though she was trying to put up an act that she was fine.

"Are you okay, V?" Fate didn't even realize when he asked the question.

Zek turned to face him still standing and he smiled. "She is fine, she is just a little tipsy."

"Tipsy?"

V was close enough to both of them, she tried to kick Zek but he jumped out of the way. His smile increased and Fate would have sworn he saw steam deep out of V's head.

However, she did not react, instead, she bent to her knees. "Can you stand?" She asked and stretched her hand out to him.

"I think so," he responded and put his palm in hers.

She stood to her feet and pulled him up with her. Her balance was so unstable, that he feared they would both fall but she quickly found her balance. Unfortunately for him, his legs chose that moment to embarrass him. He started to fall forward but she caught him with her chest.

"Are you good?" 

"I think so," Fate voiced out but he was afraid all the blood was leaving his body and going elsewhere.

"What do you think you are doing?" Zek cried.

V ignored him, "Think you can hang on for a minute let me turn around so you can stay on my back."

Fate nodded, she pushed him away and quickly turned around so that when he fell forward again, he would land on her back.

"Carry him like a sack of potatoes!" Zek chipped in, he sounded very annoyed. "Better still, I will carry him with magic, you don't have to stress yourself."

As Fate stayed on her back, he was not sure if he should put his hand around her neck or under her pits. He went for the safe route.

"No, it will be uncomfortable to breathe. Can you hang onto me though? Do you have enough strength?" 

"Yes," Fate answered breathlessly. There was no way he would not be able to hang onto them. Even if he died, he was sure his hands would not let go.

"You bastard!" Fate heard Zek say under his breath.

Fate could not help it, he smirked as he slid his hands through V's pits and held onto her front for his dear life. From his peripheral vision, Fate saw Zek explode. As embarrassing as this was supposed to be, Fate was happy to be alive.

V stood slowly, she staggered a little but got her footing. "Do you think you can handle my armor?" She asked Zek.

"Yes!" Zek answered. Fate would have sworn he saluted.

"Okay then! Let's go."

V started to walk towards the entrance of the cave. Zek rushed towards his staff and picked it from the ground. Fate could hear him muttering under his breath.

The staff glowed brighter and Fate saw the pieces of armor that were lying on the ground start to rush towards Zek. They stopped before they could hit him and hovered just behind him.

He finally understood what Zek meant by he would carry him with magic but there was no denying that this was much better. He pressed further in an attempt to grip her for more balance and Fate immediately felt lightheaded.

Something hit him in the head. "Ow!" He yelled, it was the armor that was floating around. He didn't need anyone to tell him Zek had done it on purpose. They glared at each other.

Zek stopped just before the entrance. "Do you think you will be fine, I won't be able to use this out there?" 

"Yes," she said and walked past him. 

The light immediately went off and everything was dark again. It took Fate a couple of seconds for his eyes to adjust but V was already running through the forest. He could hear Zek directly behind her.

Suddenly, Fate heard a funny sound. Funny was a nice way to put it, it sounded more like a scream from the depths of hell and barely two feet away were three creatures. 

Fate could not place them but one thing he knew was they looked disgusting. They also had horns like he did and for some reason, he could immediately tell they were not normal animals.

"Lesser demons!" V mumbled.