Demons and Gin
Straight into Taasha.
She screamed, lifted her hands to try and ward him off. For a moment she held him, palm to palm in a lurching parody of dance. But Ralanous could not keep his balance, the world just would not stop spinning! He tumbled out of the circle, their hands still entwined.
Together, they landed on the stones, Taasha pinned beneath Ralanous’ weight. He was not a small man; a penchant for ale had ensured that. No matter how much she struggled, Taasha could not shift him.
Ralanous pulled the knife from her hand while behind them, the circle screamed. Its ink writhed and fought toward their struggling bodies. But while Ralanous kept Taasha away, the circle died.
“How?” Taasha’s voice lost its scorn. “This isn’t possible.”
Ralanous brought the knife down against the ground, and it rang in the alley with a sharp clang. The circle’s screaming was growing quiet, its millions of tiny, black heads slumping back into lifelessness.
“What are you going?” Taasha had stopped struggling and was watching Ralanous’ hand with foggy, blank eyes.
The red light was lifting, a sure sign Taasha was weakening. It made it easier. Again and again Ralanous brought the knife down onto the stones. What he had not been able to destroy with magic he would do with sheer determination and cobblestones instead. Because he could not think of another way. He was a useless drunk, but he would not leave the knife in Taasha’s hands. So he did all he could do.
“No!” Taasha tried to fight him as a tiny chip of black metal flew from the side of the blade. “You can’t, that’s my only choice!”
Gritting his teeth, Ralanous brought the knife down harder.
“No!”
The blade broke. Half a dozen shattered pieces flew to the edges of the alley. In an instant, the dying circle was silenced, and the scarlet light vanished.
Breathing heavily, Ralanous rolled off Taasha’s bloody body and lay on his back. He stared up at the stars, veiled by a layer of smog. He was alive.
Beside him, Taasha started sobbing. Quiet cries, filled with sorrow.
“He broke the deal, can you hear me? It was his fault, not mine!” She whispered between sobs. “Ralanous, how could you? Don’t you care?”