“Haste,” Jonah rushed up and down the complicated labyrinth of the cave. His heart beat wildly inside his chest, and his magic drained quickly.

Calm down, Jonah. I can feel your magic from where I am, Ma said.

I can’t, something terrible happened, I just know it.

Found them.

Where?

Jonah paused his search, awaiting Ma’s answer, but there was no response. His teeth ground against each other, and he waited. Finally, he felt a pulse of Ma’s magic signaling for him to find her.

Gruff looked into the man’s red eyes, frozen as he walked towards them. Physically, he looked human, but the power he held screamed that he was something else — something unnatural.

Gruff stared into the man’s eyes and all the hair on his body stood on end. He knew those eyes.

“Well, where is it?” the man asked again.

Footsteps echoed off the cave walls as the man moved closer. Marcia pushed Gruff backward as she squatted between the two. Red eyes glistened in the pitch-black cave. Then, the man raised a hand.

“Run, Gruffy!” Marcia screamed, her magic reaching out pushing the boy across the cave floor.

Gruff grabbed at the dirt. Feeling the rough ground pulling his nails off his fingers, he groaned. He looked up, prepared to help Marcia, when his soul wavered at the sight of the demon piercing his arm through her chest.

“No!”

Like a bolt of lightning, Ma arrived. She pulled Marcia away from the man and flung her in Gruff’s direction. Marcia coughed up blood, and Gruff’s deep, dark eyes flashed red.

“Stop it, Gruff,” Ma yelled. “Calm yourself.”

A pulse of magic emitted from Ma, and Gruff took deep, quivering breaths. Warmth began to fade from Marcia’s body, and with what little strength she had left, she gripped Gruff’s shirt.

“Stupid girl didn’t have to die. I was aiming for the boy.”

This time, Gruff’s eyes turned a deep red, his pupils narrowing into slits. He gripped Marcia’s hand, and the man looked at them, amused.

“How touching,” he chuckled.

Then, like another flash, Jonah appeared behind the demon. The man’s eyes widened as Jonah swung his sword, barely missing as the man leapt away.

The red-eyed man wiped blood from his cheek and smirked. “Well, that was dangerous.” Faster than Gruff could follow, the man approached Jonah and attacked, sending him across the cave into a wall several feet back.

“Stop this!” Ma grappled with the red-eyed man.

“Ma—” Jonah held his side as he limped back. “Let me help.”

“No, get those two out of here.” Ma’s back trembled.

“But I can help you.”

“You’ll only be a burden to me.”

“But-“

“Get out of here while I’m still telling you nicely.” Ma glanced at Marcia. “Gruff, that healing magic, you know. I want you to use it. It’ll only work if you do it.”

Gruff nodded his head.

“I love all of you.” Ma’s voice shook. “So very much.”

“Stop acting like you are going to die,” Jonah yelled, “If we work together-“

“Jonah!” Ma pushed the red-eyed man back and drew her sword. “Protect Gruff and Marcia. You need to get them out. That’s the only way to keep those two safe.”

Jonah looked at Gruff. His clothes were soaked in blood, and Marcia turned as white as snow. The pale man bit his lip before scooping Gruff and Marcia off the ground.

“No!” Gruff squirmed as Jonah threw him over one shoulder. “We can’t leave her.”

Frozen, Jonah looked back at Ma.

“Go!” Ma’s sword met with the man’s, and Jonah turned to run down the corridor.

Gruff screamed for Ma. Jonah struggled to keep him from wiggling out of his arms. “Shut up and do something about Marcia’s wounds.”

“I can’t.” The boy cried. “I’m not good at healing.”

“Do you not trust Ma? If she says you can do it, then don’t doubt it, and do it.”

Gruff wiped his tears and gripped Marcia’s wrist. Her skin felt as cold as ice, her pulse barely noticeable. Magic flowed through Gruff and into her. Her lifeline flickered as she held dearly to life.

“Wounds once hers now are mine.” Marcia gasped, then screamed.

Gruff’s body went limp in Jonah’s arms. Marcia followed suit.

Jonah’s ribs pierced into his lungs as he got to the exit of the cave, where a horde of monsters confronted him.

“Do you think you can stop me?” Jonah tied his younger siblings to his back then drew his sword. “I’ve fought in worse conditions.”

An armored monster unsheathed a knife. Darkness swirled around it, and Jonah gulped.