Page 4 of Once Upon a Demon's Heart
Every living being on Faultore has essence that they release naturally. Our soul essence, as we call it in Alzhor. When trained properly, anyone, even demons, can sense another being’s soul essence. And this demon’s essence is overbearing. He’s dangerous. It’s a gut feeling that makes my palms clammy.
“And you are a demigod. Do you not eat food?” His condescending tone puts a tick in my jaw.
“What is your name, demon?” I demand, loosening the grip on my sword, though I haven’t decided yet whether I’m going to sit down and converse civilly with him or not.
“Kalel, and yours?”
Kalel.What an odd name for a demon.
“Alira.”
His eyes flick my way as he studies my face for a few moments; they remain soft as he waves to the spot across the campfire from him, motioning for me to take a seat. I narrow my eyes but hesitantly sit down.
Kalel carefully pours soup into a bowl and offers it to me. I shake my head. I wasn’t born yesterday—I’d be a fool to accept anything from him.
“Suit yourself.” He shrugs, taking the bowl for himself and starts sipping on it. The delighted hum that rolls from his chest makes mine warm. It’s known as the comfort call, something that male demons do to express assurance of safety.
I’ve never heard a comfort call before. As a knight’s apprentice, I was taught that the demons rarely make such sounds outside of their villages. They only do it to calm their own. Though a few demigods have heard it once or twice, and they described it as a warm hug, a pull from within to trust them.
Of course, they also said that if you’re close enough to feel the magic of it, that the demon will kill you the moment your guard is down.
I couldn’t care less if my day started over again. I’d only wake up back inside the barracks, and it’s not like I’ll get a chance to speak with a demon like this again. The only ones I’ve met have been shielded by plates of armor and helmets that conceal their faces. I didn’t expect them to be… so much like us.
My toes dig into the soles of my boots.
What is he playing at?Why is he trying to lure me into comfort? I firm my lips together.
“What are you doing all the way out here anyway?” I ask as I pull my knees up to my chest, staring at him from across the fire suspiciously.
Kalel takes another sip before answering me. “I could ask you the same question.”
Keeping his cards close.
“Come on.”
He smirks at my curiosity and sets down the bowl. “Alright, alright. No need for the dagger eyes, little godling. I’m an apothecary, and I’m searching for a species of toadstool for a medicine I’m developing. This forest is old, and I recall it having a wealth of them.”
My brows rise. That’s not the answer I was expecting at all.
“Oh.” Suddenly I feel rude for treating him so hostile, but I’m a knight and our nations are at war, so it’s sort of trained into me to be skeptical. The king would be mortified if he learned that I did not kill this man on the spot.
Fuck the king.I’m done doing what’s wrong just because I’m told to. For once I want to listen to my heart. “What kind of medicine? You act like you’ve been here before, even though this is holy territory.” I push. He knows as well as I do that he shouldn’t be anywhere near here.
Now that I study him closer, there’s something familiar about him but I can’t quite place it.
Kalel grins and leans back on his palms, legs sprawled out.He’s certainly getting comfortable.
“That’s restricted information, I’m afraid. Your turn, Alira. Why are you here? Isn’t this forest off limits for the demigods?” My focus is entirely set on the veins that protrude from his neck and the corded muscles that trail down to his collar bones.
I deflate. An apothecary is harmless and my time will reset in a week regardless, I’m sure. The truth to him would be nothing, right?
“Well, if I’m being honest, I’m running away.”
His brow arches and a look of concern replaces his smile.
“Fromwhatexactly?”
“From my duties as a knight.” I toss a stick into the fire and the embers dance as it’s swiftly engulfed.
