Free Rise of the Fallen by Teagan Chilcott Page B

this one until about three in the morning. Soul’s head softly fell on my shoulder as he drifted off to sleep and the toll of the grandfather clock in my room was sounding when there was a loud knock on the door.
    I jumped, but Soul remained asleep. I got up, letting his limp body fall gently to the couch. I walked to the door and grabbed the handle
    â€“ I pulled my hand back instantly. The handle was freezing cold, to the extent that it felt as though it burnt me. I watched as the handle frosted over with a thin layer of cracked-white, misty ice. I took a few steps back and the door swung open soundlessly.
    Zacharia stood before me, his face was expressionless and, for the first time since I had met him, I saw his eyes. They were a chilling ice blue, so light they were almost white.
    â€œZacharia, what are you doing?” I kept my voice low.
    He looked at me blankly for a moment before speaking in a voice that sent nervous shivers down my spine.
    â€œIf you don’t stay with him he will kill you. He’s more thancapable and you know it.”
    â€œOh, shut up!” Soul’s hand collided with Zacharia’s face. Zacharia stumbled back.
    â€œI should have let Dorian take you! I doubt he would have tolerated your insolence as long as I have.” Soul’s voice was harsh, but still warm as he wrapped his arms around me. I turned my head away.
    â€œCan’t you see she’s disgusted by you? She can’t stand to be around you!” Zacharia said, anger laced through his voice.
    Soul let go of me and spun me around to face him.
    â€œIs that true? Do I disgust you Emilie?” Soul’s eyes locked with mine, staring me down.
    I honestly didn’t know how to answer. Zacharia was right. Soul disgusted me, but it wasn’t only him. It was all demons. They had no respect for human lives. They only cared about getting their share of human souls, so how could he not disgust me?
    â€œOf course not,” I lied, looking away.
    Soul looked at me, unconvinced, “You are disgusted by me, aren’t you?”
    Zacharia laughed his chillingly cruel and childish laugh and I took another involuntary step back. “Just tell him exactly how you feel about him. Tell him what he is,” Zacharia said.
    â€œYes, just tell me the truth, Emilie,” Soul glared, running a hand through his hair impatiently.
    â€œI doubt that matters, Soul … I um … I love you,” I stuttered.
    Okay, so I was in a demon’s house with an elemental designed to destroy me. No matter how I answered Soul’s question there would not be a good reaction. I looked around the dark room and could feel the walls constricting. It was unusual for me to feel claustrophobic, but that was what was happening.
    â€œCan we please go outside? I can’t breathe in here …” I said as the room spun around me.
    â€œEmilie, are you okay?”
    I felt myself collapse in his arms.
    â€œZacharia, I swear to God if she dies I will murder you.”
    As Soul carried me out I felt the air clear; I opened my eyes slowly.
    Soul was smiling nervously down at me, I saw the dim, yellowing light of the sun slowly rising in the sky and heard the loud chirp of crickets around us.
    â€œDo you want me to put you down?”
    I wanted to answer but I couldn’t. Soul took my silence as a yes and placed me gently on my feet, holding my elbow to keep me upright. When he was certain that I wasn’t about to fall again he let go of me. I looked around at the sky and the trees and took a few deep breaths. I wasn’t actually afraid of him but a strange thought hit me as
    â€“ Zacharia was nowhere to be seen.
    â€œWhere’s Zacharia?” I asked softly.
    He looked at me strangely for a moment before shaking his head dismissively, “That doesn’t matter.”
    I blinked before realising how that question could have upset him. I slightly worried that he might have changed his mind