7. The Run...

Arguse was no fool. He had realized what Shinok was planning, and had sent Shinryung along with some of the men to go after Kiara and bring back the child of Virgo.

As Taero ran away with Kiara and the children, with swords in the hands of both adults, it was only a matter of time before Shinryung caught up with them.

The back of the temple led directly into the woods, so it wasn't easy to meander through in high speed with two little children. Taero was a demon, so he was naturally faster, but Kiara was but a mere human, and even if both children were demons, they were still children.

"What's going on mom, why are we running?" The boy had to ask as never in his life had he been made to run so much at a very fast speed before.

"We just have to keep on going Zai," Kiara says with a trembling voice, her heart skipping with fear of being caught.

"If we keep on running everything will be okay."

*SWOOSH*

An arrow comes flying past Kiara, but she was swift enough to dodge it, increasing her pace as Shinryung was clearly upon them.

*SWOOSH*

Another air cutting arrow wheezed past them, this time grazing Taero's left ear.

Soon, more arrows came descending on them, and it was clear that running will only get them an arrow to the head.

They both turn around, placing both children behind the shield of a huge tree trunk. Drawing out their swords, swishing and slashing the arrows that came flying through the air.

"Just hand over the boy and your lives will be spared!" Shinryung goaded from behind his men.

"How about you take your filthy selves and walk away from here, and maybe we will spare you!" Taero retorted.

"You insolent fool!!" Shinryung's roar resounded in the woods.

"Destroy them, and bring the boy," he orders, and as soon as the order was given, they transformed into their demon forms. There was like thirty of them, huge and fierce looking.

Some years ago, Kiara wouldn't have flinched at this kind of sight, she was the fierce and renowned Demon hunter, but things had changed since those times.

She met a man, and fell in love, and then got married, and then she lost that love, and that broke her, it tore her in shreds.

It ripped the fierce and bold demon slayer in tiny pieces, and now she has her son right here.

She had never been more scared in her life before. She had to protect him in any way possible.

*HYAH!!*

There was clanking of swords against even bigger demonic weapons, dodging of supernatural blows from some of the demons.

Whooshing of fireballs back to the sender. Demons never fought fair, always using their demonic powers against human weapons.

*SWOOSH*

Slashing and cutting of limbs, but none of which was hers or Taero's.

*SWISH*

Thrusting and slicing up the demons, making sure to hit the right spots that would knock them down in one punch.

Blood splashing all over her face.

Shinryung just stood at one spot, his back rested on a tree trunk as he watched them.

Neither Zairo nor Zaya had seen this much violence in their little lives. Both their tiny bodies trembled in fear and horror.

Too scared to even look over their shoulders and watch, but the loud grunts and groans and silent sounds of sword cutting flesh and the low thuds of bodies hitting the ground was enough to terrify them both.

"My_My dad, he'll b_be okay, right? He_He'll come back, right?"

The child trembled as she thought of her father alone back at the temple in this same kind of situation that they were in at the moment.

It was at this time that Zairo noticed her quivering with fear, he wasn't doing better himself, but she seemed to have it worse. His little arms went over her shoulder, pulling her in a comforting hug, whispering some comforting and assuring words into her ear, both warm bodies shivering in each other's embrace.

"Don't worry, if you can move so fast, I'm sure your daddy can move faster."

Taero and Kiara had their backs rested on each other, their swords firmly positioned in their hands, sweat and blood running down their bodies, inhaling and exhaling heavily.

"You have to take the kids and move on." Taero whispers to her.

"But I can't leave you to face them on your own," she refuses.

"If you don't, we might all perish, so just take them and go." His words sounded all too familiar, Virgo had said similar words to her that day.

"Go my lady, I'll hold them off. You have to take them and go." he was right, she knew it.

The fight seemed endless, almost like a means to waste time.

"But you must follow after us. Don't die here!" She ordered, but she also knew that he might end up not following these orders.

He gives a slight nod, and she immediately bolts for the children, swooshing from her way any demon that tried to stop her.

"Let's go." she grabs both their hands, and runs with them, not once looking back at Taero.

Being on the run with two children was no easy thing to do, but they ran as fast as their little legs could carry them, even though they still had no idea what was going on... They understood that their lives were at stake.

Taero did well in holding them off.

Not being able to keep up again, he had transformed into his demon form, using his powers at the same time using his weapon.

But soon enough he had cuts all over his body, blood dripping from different parts, there was just five demons left standing, including Shinryung.

And they clearly were not planning on showing any mercy.

Shinryung soon joined in fighting him, as he fought with Shinryung, he was trying his possible best to keep the rest of the demons there too. Not letting them go after Kiara and the children, he fought as much as he could but he was no match for Shinryung...

Shinryung didn't bother turning into his demon form to take on the man still fought with his sword.

Taero trying to attack another demon had left his chest vulnerable and open for attack, shinryung saw the opportunity and with a swift and firm movement of his arm, thrust the sword straight and deep into Taero's open chest.

A blood-curdling grunt escaped Taero's lips as Shinryung dug in deeper into his chest, the sword sticking out his back.

*Arghhhhh* He groaned as shinryung drove the full length of his sword into his chest.

"Master, I've failed you."