Page 166 of A Soul to Embrace

They all wore some kind of strange material. Although dirt-smeared, it reflected the light from Otholla like it was silky.

Their pants were similar to Jabez’s in that they were loose, but their shirts appeared to cross over the front of their torsos with long material flowing down their backs. She wondered if those capes were used as shields from the sun, orsuns, as he’d mentioned once or twice.

Some of the males didn’t wear shirts, and many of the females were scantily dressed, most opting for skirts or dresses, while a few had chosen pants.

Half were barefoot, just like him, while others wore some kind of shoe that lacked a sole. All of them had pointed ears, some longer or shorter than others, and their horns were all varied. Most of them had brown skin, although quite a few had patches of that void-like glistening Demon flesh.

They were also tall. Not as tall as Zylah, and Jabez seemed to tower over most, but there were a few who matched him, as if his height was natural here.

They smell a little different.Their scents were spicier than most of those on Earth, and they completely lacked any pungent, unpleasant odour that came from lesser Demons.

After a brief discussion between Jabez and the one who initiated their conversation, they all stepped back to make room.

“I noticed the worddakuraspoken a few times,” Zylah whispered softly, hoping not to be heard clearly.

“It’s the Nyl’kira word for our kind,” Jabez responded in a hushed tone.

Okay, at least she could start learning the language one word at a time. She put that one away, noting it was important to remember.I think it’ll be a lot easier to learn Nyl’kira, since he can tell me the English equivalent.

A triangular gap opened up in the dome just large enough for them to fit their bodies through one by one. Jabez led the way, and she ducked ever so slightly when it was obvious her short antlers weren’t going to let her through freely. She tried to remain as non-aggressive as possible when she straightened up on the other side.

Other than the handful of people who had come to watch them while maintaining a safe distance, the first thing she noticed was the inside of the village. Much of it appeared to be made of stone, and what once looked like houses or buildings lay broken or as rubble. Hide cloth had been strung up intermittently to act as shade, while giant leaves and branches had been installed as roofing.

Everything appeared broken down in some way, as if a battle had ensued here, or time had weathered it through disuse. She could tell there were attempts at making it liveable, most of it still in progress. She imagined it would be difficult to collect stone or ore if this world was even more overrun with Demons than Earth.

The smell of smoke was empty of meat, but all of it had essences of pleasant-smelling herbs – as if none of the fires were for warmth or food.

I was expecting this place to look... nicer.She’d been hoping it would remind her of Spiral Haven, not some war-torn village like in one of her books.

After another quick conversation in Nyl’kira between Jabez and the male who let them inside, they were led deeper within the village.

An ominous sense of foreboding crept up her spine the further they went as more nearly completed Demons came to stare at them. Heads popped out around leaf or stick doors, while others brazenly came closer to circle them as a growing crowd.

Her fur puffed in alertness, despite many of them appearing to smile warmly around tusks and fangs. She put the negative feeling aside, assuming it was just the adrenaline of being in a foreign world surrounded by fierce-looking Demons.

Many of them bore scars. Some here or there were missing an eye, ear, or even a horn, and their worn clothing was dirty or in tatters. Those close by looked nearly completed, although she did notice those further away were less so, with more void-like flesh glistening rather than brown.

At first glance, she thought those who were further from completion were hiding, but she figured it was just due to nervousness. Most were already peering at her with either a cautious or curious gaze, and she didn’t want to do anything but follow Jabez in case she did something wrong.

As they passed a building, a male inside was pulling silky strands from the inside of a leaf, but he halted to watch them. The deeper they went, the more she saw people in the middle of tasks, most of which she wasn’t familiar with.

They all abandoned their duties to stand and follow, creating a crowd behind them she found uncomfortable.

When someone came just a little too close to her, Zylah chittered and accidentally knocked into Jabez. He glanced ather, but offered no comfort or caring gaze before he lifted his eyes to the side.

In the corner of her sight, she noticed someone duck from view, and Jabez’s brows narrowed. His ears twitched constantly, yet he wore a dull expression as he drifted his gaze around the area.

He’s hiding behind one of those false masks again.

Zylah chose to focus on him, as she found that easier. She greedily sucked in his scent of bergamot and sandalwood to soothe her chest on each compression of her lungs, while her sight narrowed in on his features.

She wanted to hold his hand or arm, but she had a feeling he knew that since he gently, although purposefully, pulled away each time.

Then his steps began to slow. He spoke loudly – and in her opinion rather sternly – to the person in front of them. The Demon gave a deep laugh, turned his head to glance at them over his shoulder, then said something that was meant to put them at ease.

It worked. Despite the fact that she didn’t understand a word of it, his tone appeared sincere and his expression was welcoming and kind.

Jabez answered him with a smile in return until the Demon faced forward once more. Jabez’s expression instantly fell, and his head tilted forward ever so slightly so he could look around more subtly.

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