Guild Master Arnold looked at the fountain with mistrust.
"So, it was that deity who ended up a demon?" The old man asked as he kept on trying to clear the fountain of the ritual potion.
"Yes, sir!" Nikola said. He was bathed in sweat. His eyes landed on the Lich's dust, which still had his arrows in it.
"And how did you kill the Lich?" The guild master asked.
Nikola blinked.
"With the bow and arrows. I… I wasn't thinking. I was scared." Nikola hoped that it wouldn't end up with him being kicked out of the guild.
If he could only be useful during a panic attack, then he didn't know just how useful he could be in general.
And yet, he didn't want to leave the children to Lena and Galen to raise.
He didn't want to depart from this world so soon.
"If there was one ritual, then there are more in the town," the guild master said with an even tone. "I have already told the guildies to search through Oak's Rest and the area. But, Niki, I think we will be under siege from now on."
Nikola bowed his head.
"It is not your fault," Arnold told him, as he finally looked at him. "You didn't choose to be the servant of this demon from your own free will. Nor did you choose Father Sam to die. He will be missed, but he gave his life for the greater good. We will bury him. But now, Niki go back to the guild house. Take your family there. Stay put where we can protect you all, ok?"
Nikola nodded. Feeling as useful as nipples on armor.
"You did well," Arnold told him. "Lich are A-ranked creatures. You killed one. I think you are way overdue for the rank of F!"
Nikola kept his silence.
"Or don't you agree?" Arnold asked as he finally managed to fish the cat out of the water. "Poor creature."
"I don't know if I can replicate it," Nikola said, as he tried to keep his hands from shaking. "I am not ready!"
"You will never be ready," the old guild master told him. "I wasn't ready when the dragons attacked. But I still fought. Every single person whose life you saved today will think you are ready. But you, dear guildie, will never think yourself ready. That is just human nature."
Nikola nodded. He sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
Taking off running.
****
When Nikola made it back to the inn, Dimitri made him a sign to be quiet, pointing at the crib where Timmy and Vera were sleeping and Rocky was resting against, his eyes closed, Silvia the potted plant in his hands.
Nikola nodded, rushing into their bedroom.
"We need to get everyone at the guild house," he said as soon as Dimitri closed the door with a click. "Those are the guild master's orders."
Dimitri nodded. Then he noted the dust on Nikola's boots.
"What happened?" The vampire asked him.
"I was out on a walk," Nikola began, still not being able to believe that it had all happened. "And then I saw a dead cat in the fountain. And the Lich… I killed it, Dimitri. I killed it with my bow and arrows. I have just five more Leshy arrows left. What am I going to do when they run out?"
Dimitri went to his side, wrapping him up in an embrace.
"We have mana stones. Perhaps Drusilla would be able to make you some new arrows? Niki, please breathe. Please."
Nikola forced himself to inhale. He was shaking like a leaf. Not wanting to face the truth but having no other choice.
"He is going to hunt me until the end of time, won't he?" Nikola asked as he sucked in another breath. "And not just me, but everyone I hold dear!"
Dimitri nodded against Nikola's nape.
"You are not without hope," the vampire told him. "Did the guild master kick you out?"
Nikola shook his head.
"It would have been the smart thing to do," the brunette told his soulmate. "It could have saved lives!"
"No," Dimitri told him as he hugged him tighter. "We are speaking about a demon who was worshiped by the Huns, the Mongols, and yes, the war hounds you call ancestors. And many other tribes, besides. This is a creature who has only one thing on his mind: revenge."
Nikola nodded once more.
"And if history has taught me anything, it is that the people who worship it end up with a collection of skull cups before they stop."
Nikola felt as a shiver went through his spine.
"But you know what?" Dimitri asked as he kissed Nikola on the nape. "All of these people were defeated. Tangra has failed more than once. He will fail again."
Nikola didn't want to believe in these words. He didn't want to believe that one day, he would be free.
But he dared to hope. As much as he was a realist, there was a small optimistic part of himself that told him that the guild was behind him.
"I doubt that he has an army in here," Dimitri told him as he hugged him even closer. "And if he doesn't have an army, then he can't do much to you."
"A Lich is better than an army," Nikola murmured.
"Is it?" Dimitri teased. "How long did it take you to kill it?"
Nikola tried to remember, but the only thing he could feel was the panic of that dreadful moment.
"I think it was three arrows time and a lot of stabbing with the fourth," Nikola said, still in the grip of a panic attack.
"See?" Dimitri asked, as he finally let go of Nikola, to look in his eyes. "You already proved yourself. Now, let us get the children and send a note to Jack and Jean to come to the guild house. And Niki?" Dimitri asked as Nikola tried to focus his eyes on him. "I promised to be by you in sickness and in health. I will keep my words."
"Why?" Nikola asked. Anyone else would have told him to fix his mess. Why was Dimitri still by his side?
"Because dearest husband of mine," Dimitri said, brushing a thumb over soft red lips. "You fight, even when you are scared. You never try to shove your problems on someone else. If I get even more in love with you, I think I might start to growl at everyone who so much as looks your way."
Nikola giggled, trying to imagine that.
"I love you, too," the brunette said, closing the distance between them. Capturing Dimitri's lips in a kiss that was more than just warmth and softness.
It was care and devotion.
It was what he needed.