Denial

What was she doing?!

Jace clenched his fists as he watched the Entuak demon press Katarina against the bars.

That idiot! I told her to climb, what is she doing?!

The demon's screech drove a blade of fear deep into his chest.

That caused him to pause for a second.

It was impossible to him to be affected by the fear-inducing shriek of the Entuak. There was nothing for him to be afraid of. He no longer had anything left that he was afraid to lose.

Or was there.

As he watched the demon prepare for the kill, he could feel a tremor of fear pass through him and he was almost about to enter the cage when a boy pulled the demon off her.

The wave of relief was so instant it engulfed him in it's entirety, causing a light headed sensation.

This entire play of emotions puzzled him greatly.

Did this mean he cared about her?

That very thought made him shudder and he could not understand why.

No. Of course I don't.

I just don't need another dead body to bury.

Reassuring himself with that notion, he shifted into a more relaxed posture and folded his arms across his chest.

But despite what he told himself, he couldn't deny the torrent of emotions that coursed through him, growing in intensity as he continued to watch the battle.