Page 50 of Taken to the Deadlands

I swallowed thickly and pulled the older woman into a hug.

“I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.”

She let out a laugh.

“We will see, dear.”

After three months of grieving my time in the Demon Realm, wishing for—no, not going there—for the first time I felt the need to change. To make something of my life here.

Because now I knew…

Aris wasn’t coming back.

Chapter 22

Aris

Fenix let out a loud sigh beside me as he sent out another burst of his power across the land.

The once graying, rocky soil was starting to turn a dark brown. The dead trees growing from it had straightened, and for the very first time, bright green leaves sprouted from their branches.

I patted the young demon on the head, trying my best to send him an encouraging smile.

“You can stop for today if it’s too much,” I said. “Let’s go back home. I’m sure Thera has some broiled meat for us?—”

A loud yell caused us both to turn and look toward the tree line. Just beyond was the house.

In the last three months, it had been renovated with the help of some of the weaker demons I took from the auction house.

I visited every week. I went there every time just to make sure the human I let go would remain free. It was hard to see others getting dragged to their deaths, but I would continue to do it just on the off chance that I would see her again.

The demons I collected had been in some of the auctions. Many separated from their families and sold for whateverMadam wanted. They were different from the ones that still lingered on the borders of my realm, digging up roots.

After Mia, I had realized just how lonely my existence was. It was another reason why I sought them out. I didn’t expect them to stay or to even treat me the way they had, but all of them had surprised me by how well they acclimated.

They were scared at first. When I bought them, they thought the worst, but instead I gave them some projects and a few chores, and after they completed them, they were free to live in my realm so long as they heeded my rules.

1.No eating humans.

2. Respect each other.

3. Don’t force anyone into anything.

4. Don’t ruin others’ work.

There had beenno incidents so far, and dare I say, some of them even started to feel like a sort of family unit. It had helped ease the loneliness.

Two things I never thought possible: to feel even more alone than before Mia, and to find a sort of family when I never had one.

I often looked forward to waking up now.

My demons took all the rotting wood out of the house and, with the help of those with the powers of plants or nature, rebuilt it. The fresh coat of yellow paint gleamed in the sunlight, and the patches of dark grass beneath it pulled the whole thing together.

Would she like it in yellow?

Another yell drew my attention to a smaller demon, who was now lying face first in the dirt. Taming animals was Shyla’s job. I had tasked her with bringing in the weakest types of demons andspreading them out throughout the realm to assist in the growth of nature, but the role seemed to be too big for her.

One of the furry demons was sitting on top of her, its face barely visible save for two blood-red eyes. Its long, black tongue stuck out as it panted. Two more of its kind were sitting on either side of her, licking her hands.

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