“You must use her, the moon goddess would be kind enough to give you another mate” Those words echoed in my ears as I held a tree for support, Brooklyn had warned me not to trust Austin but I was foolishly blinded by love.
Tears blurred my vision, I couldn’t swallow the heavy lump in my throat, after what we shared, after all our plans for our future, after confessing his love, after all the vows, all the promises, it was just to lure me into their trap.
They killed my mother, making my father drunk and ending his life eventually and now they want to kill me too, I’ll never forgive Austin for this.
Tears continued rolling down my cheeks, I felt void. I sat on the floor and folded my knees. “Let’s leave, they would meet us soon” My demon warned.
“Leave? Where should I go to? I have no family, no friends. I’m all alone I wish I could die!” I screamed, choking on a sob.
“I’m sorry, I can scent a demon nearby, let’s go there. You would have your revenge and make them beg for mercy” My demon advised and I stood up, wiping my tears with determination.
I woke up in a dimly lit cave and looked around. Water was dripping from a crack. “Where am I?” I questioned, holding my aching head as I sat up.
“You’re in the underground world. You were killed and your spirit is trapped here” A demon, in his mid-forties, said and I stood up in shock.
“Ho.. how was I killed? Who killed me?” I questioned, fear gripping me.
”Just kidding. You’re still alive only that you’re on a hilltop” He replied with a deep laugh and I stared at him, creepy demon.
“Who are you and what do you want?” I demanded.
“Yikes, if I wanted to kill you, I’d have done it 20 minutes ago, I’m Lucile, your mom’s past lover” He replied and I gasped.
“Your mom was one heck of a lover. Naughty, wild and sexy” He recalled with a smile and I frowned.
“But she changed when she met that weak human. I was her mate but she chose him over me” Lucile recalled with hurt and I felt pity for him.
“I’m so sorry” I heard myself say.
“I’ve gotten over her”
“Your demon brought you here and I know the reason why. I still hate them for taking away your mom and now they want to take you away” Lucile gritted, clenching his fists.
“I’ll help you” He let out and I stared at him with surprise.
“Are you serious? Won’t you hate me for what mom did to you?” I requested.
“Like you said YOUR MOM, not you” He emphasised and I nodded, he seems too nice for a demon.
“You must be starving, wait I’ll get you something” He said and left immediately, I looked around again, the cave was large and spacious. I saw a big flat stone at the side, must be a table.
The opening of the cave had long flowers as curtains. There was no water or bed. The water had stopped dropping and a fireplace was at a corner.
“Here you go, the finest raven I could get. Tomorrow I would go for fishes” He declared, placing a dead blood-stained raven on a flat plate like a rock.
I glanced at the raven with pity. Poor animal, there was blood in it, yhough he had removed its feathers. He must have strangled the poor thing.
“No thanks” I retorted, passing the plate back.
“You don’t like blood or flesh?, your human genes are dominant, you’re lucky I have a few ingredients. I’ll set the fire and you’ll make your food” He offered.
I went outside and almost fell but he held my arm. “You should be careful” He advised bringing me inside.
“Why would you bring me to this dangerous cave?” I ranted with fear.
“Demons can float, don’t know why you’re different but you have to be very careful. And this is the way” He replied, leading me to the back and we passed a slippery path and came out to a small river.
I was damn scared as I stared at the fountain of water on the other side. The mountain was surrounded by water. “I forgot the pot” He said smacking his head as he ran back.
He came back holding a small aluminium pot. I cut the raven into smaller pieces and washed the blood off, using the pot to scoop water from the river. We went back to the cave and he set the fire, I marvelled at how fast he was.
“So why can’t you go back to the underground world? Can I also go there? Is it safe or anything like this place?” I questioned and he laughed.
“I need a portal and going back would be the same as living here. Your mom is there but dead” Lucile said and I could sense the sadness in his tone.
“Why can’t you live with humans, you might fall in love with one” I suggested.
“No sane woman would fall in life with a demon who eats raw flesh. No sane human would want a poor demon”
I pity him a lot, if mom hadn’t ditched him, he would still be a happy man.
“Here are some ingredients, I could get a few veggies if you want” He proposed, giving me a bag which contained salt and a few spices.
“Thank you a lot” I beamed as I added the ingredients and used a big spoon to stir the soup.
I brought the food down and offered him some but he declined.
“I’m accustomed to raw meat, that’ll taste sour in my mouth”
I ate to my fill and put the pit to a side. “You can sleep anywhere you wish” He replied, reading my mind as I looked around with horror.
I curled up at a side and regretted not taking any clothe in my haste. I stared at the cracks in the cave, wishing I could fall asleep but for eluded.
I tossed around all night and could see a little light outside before my eyes closed.
I felt a cold liquid on my face and opened my eyes. “Finally, you’re awake” Lucile sighed, dropping a bowl on the ground.
“Wh… Wh.. Why did you wake me. It’s not daytime yet, I haven’t slept for even an hour” I grumbled and he smiled.
“You didn’t come here to sleep or eat. You’re here to learn now wake up, sleepy head” He replied and I groaned.
“Quit whining and go have your bath. Today, you would learn how to stay afloat” He announced and I stared at him, I was better off in another town.
Sluggishly, I rose. My body felt sore, even when I was with my dad, I never slept on the cold ground. “I’ll take you down to have your bath. Then we would go to the field to train” He declared and I went out.
He held my hand and slowly, we descended. My heart ran uncontrollably, if I fall, that would be the end.
We landed on a big rock in the middle of a large river, larger than the one I saw yesterday. “This is where you would have your bath” He declared and I opened my mouth. He handed a blue hard soap to me and left.
“This is becoming a nightmare, I can’t believe this is how I’ll start living my live from henceforth”
I stripped and walked inside the water, it wasn’t very deep but bathing here is harmful to the aquatic beings.
With a shrug, I used my hand to pour cold water on my body and used the soap on my body, I finished bathing and came out of the water shivering. My clothes were dirty but I had to put them in the back.
“Lucile!” I yelled and he appeared at my side making me startled.
“Now to the field” He announced, taking my hand as we flew to another mountain which seems better than the one he chooses to stay at.
My stomach grumbled. “Won’t we have breakfast? I’m starving” I inquired but he ignored me and sat on a large stone, the field was covered with shrubs and I sniffed the cool air.
“What? Is something behind me?”
“Get to work. Shift to your demon form and float” He ordered and brought out an apple from his bag.
I shifted to my demon form and imagined I was in the air. I closed my eyes and opened them again but my feet were still on the ground. Wasn’t he gonna give me instructions? How would I float when I know nothing about it?.
I continued closing my eyes and having imagination about my floating but it wasn’t working. Why couldn’t I float? It’s easy for him, why can’t it be the same for me too?. After 3 hours of trying, I slumped to the ground hungry, weak and tired.
“I need food. I’m starving” I puffed but he stared at me and shook his head.
“You’re too lazy” He confessed, throwing an apple at me.
“What? Just an apple? What am I supposed to do with it?” I munched on the apple ravenously and within seconds was through and stared at him, wishing I could get another.
He brought out his phone and I gasped. Wow, I thought he’s from the 1850s and doesn’t use modern kinds of stuff. “Why do you have a phone?”
“I’m not all that ancient, I act like a thousand year old demon but I’m just 724 years” Lucile answered and I stared at him with shock.
“Wow! You’re more than 500 years! So unbelievable. When would I have breakfast?” I demanded and he cackled, he loves laughing a lot.
“You’ve had breakfast already and the way you train would determine if you’ll have supper”
“This is unfair. Please can I have another apple” I pleaded.
“No, let your demon part be dominant. You should crave for flesh not fruits” He scolded and I felt like crying.
Being used for the safety of Austin and starving to death which is better? Austin! I wonder what he’s thinking about now.
Is he fine? I miss him a lot. Would I see him again? Would he be sad, angry or happy that I left?. What about Charlotte and Donald? They would have gotten married if this mess hadn’t occurred.
And school, would I ever attend a school or I’ll spend the rest of my life hiding? How would this nightmare end? So much wish to go back to Austin. In his hands, I feel so secure.
“Enough of the daydreaming and get to work” Lucile interrupted and with a slight began trying to float, sometimes feeling something but it would vanish immediately.