The exhausted knight drew her spare shortblade while teeth, claws, and tentacles unfurled from her struggling demonic foe. The knight grit her teeth, ready for death. The demon took a good, long look at her and-
"It's you-"
The demon spoke. "I have no quarrel with you, Aria."
The demon retracted its probing, viscous tendrils. "Or should I call you Inquisitor Private Aria now?"
The knight leaned on her scabbard, attempting to stay upright. Hesitation. But she wouldn't be tricked by some devil. She had to stay strong, even in her weakened state.
The demon lowered its body on what seemed to be some kind of cushioned altar. Moments passed. Neither the knight nor her foe made a move. Then the demon lazily tossed the knight's longsword back to her feet with an awkward clang.
"What more do you want, Aria?" The demon declared with a sigh "I'm dying. With my godpact destroyed, I'll shrivel into nothing in a day or so. I can't imagine the Inquisitors asked you for anything more."
The knight awkwardly collected her sword. A tear ran down her face.
"So, it's really still you." The knight relaxed her stance. "They told us you were too far gone, Sara. Then you killed the rest of our squad sent after you."
The demon smiled weakly, "In all fairness, they tried to kill me first- Those uptight zealots."
It twisted its face into a grimace "To be frank, I never wanted to stay in the Holy Lands after I defected. But, perhaps unsurprisingly, my fellow priestesses didn't trust an ex-inquisitor- I learned that the hard way when I tried to escape to the Fell Wilds."
The knight returned a soft, tired stare. On a second glance, the knight could appreciate the demon's shape. It truly was Sara with another few meters of height, some runes, horns, and a few extra curves where Sara always wanted. Another wave of emotion hit the knight.
"I- I'm sorry." The idealistic knight lowered to her knees. "I didn't even know for sure it was you." The knight seemed lost "If I knew... If I had more than an inkling... I would have never-"
"If it was going to be anyone, I'd want it to be you." The demon cut her off.
"You don't know how many Inquisitors they sent after me- How many times I have fled in these last five years." The demon let out another withered sigh. "I was... doomed."
The knight and demon locked eyes with each other. They were both so tired.
The knight broke the silence "Well- If you don't mind- I'll rest awhile here with you."
"I..." The demon looked lost in thought "I would appreciate your company."
The knight dropped her heavier gear and curled up with the demon.
How ironic, the knight thought. The last time Sara and her held one another, Sara was the little spoon.