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~Aspen

As if he can sense me, his eyes draw up, pinning me through the window.

I freeze, unsure of what to do.

Slowly, his lips turn up into a cruel, dark smile.

There is nothing for me to do. I can't run, I can't hide...But I can face him.

Stalking to the door, I snap the lock off, opening it a crack. With purposeful steps, Keo comes toward the door, stopping on the short wooden porch.

"It's you..." I whisper, clutching the door tightly.

He's far more striking in person than I could have ever imagined. His eyes are so green, so absolutely pure they knock my resolve back a bit.

But it is quickly reconstructed, as I consider how terrifying he is. A true, almost pure Demon is a sight to behold, and it's clear by how he holds himself, he knows it.

"Of course it's me, who else would come into the middle of nowhere, where you just happen to be?" he says, that smile telling me more than just blatant amusement.

He is not to be trusted.

"What do you want, Keo?" I question. My voice wavers, but for the most part I manage to sound confident.

"I've come to collect you," he muses.

I shake my head in wonder. "Collect me? Absolutely not."

My mind starts conjuring up frightful thoughts. How much magic does he truly have? Under those black gloves, I imagine hands capable of inflicting horrific amounts of pain.

He tilts his head, taking a quick step at me. "I could just come in and grab yah."

I go to rear back, to slam the door closed, but I stand strong, knowing that he wouldn't have wasted time with small talk were he able to snatch me and transport me away.

So, I let the door fall entirely open. "You would have already..."

"Hmm, pesky ward, huh? Seems that Noble wants to protect you," he muses, leaning against the porch's railing, dragging his gaze over me.

I shift uncomfortably, feeling my cheeks heat. "He's trying to keep me from you, because you're evil."

"Evil? That hurts." He rests his hand against his chest in mock pain.

My eyes roll. "I'm not going with you."

I would never dream of stepping from the home Kastriv has magically protected to take his hand, allowing him to whisk me away, although a spark of curiosity blooms from within me.

What would his intentions be with me?

Keo clears his throat, a rather human reaction for such an otherworldly man. "I apologise, I don't mean to mess around when this is obviously such a sensitive matter, but we need to go, and quickly."

"Why should I go with you?" I question, folding my arms over my chest.

"Because you and I are the same. We are Demon's, and there are others like you." I try not to react. I'm here, doing a job for Kastriv that includes finding Demon's.

But what is it worth if it means communicating with Keo to get to them?

"You're not like the other Demon's...You've killed. A lot," I exclaim uncomfortably. I wouldn't be surprised if he were to take off those gloves, he would reveal hands stained with blood.

Keo takes a long time to answer, the soft, flower scented breeze ruffling his dark curls. Below his jaw, down the side of his neck, is a picture, or perhaps a collection of pictures that are impossible to decipher in the darkness.

"Who's to say other Demon's aren't like me? Who's to say we aren't the same?" he asks lowly, a shadow passing over his eyes.

I swallow, straightening. "I know we aren't. I'm a good person."

His brow raises. "Is that right?"

I grit my teeth. Is he trying to convince me I could relate to him in any sense? The thought of killing on such a scale could have me violently ill over the side of the porch.

"Just leave. I don't want anything to do with you," I snap.

"Come on," he extends his arms in what I presume is meant to be a comforting movement. "What if I promise not to hurt you?"

"You're a monster...You kill people," I growl.

"So?" He smiles, straight white teeth glinting under the moonlight. My stomach churns, as if the darkness that surrounds him as he infested my insides.

"So? What is wrong with you?"

"Plenty of things, I'm sure." He looks off into the forest for a moment, before that cold gaze drags back to me, an icy chill sluicing through me. "Who says that I'll hurt you, though?"

Does he suspect I'll be flattered by such a remark?

Perhaps he believes I should be honoured that he finds it so easy to kill with abandon, and yet my life is worth preserving, in his eyes.

My eyes drift to my left, where I left Kastriv's dagger. Lurching over, I grab it, brandishing it in front of me.

"Come any closer and I'll stab you," I threaten.

Keo's brows raise as he regards my weapon. He's not fearful that I'll cause him any time, nor is he the least bit intimidated. Rather, he appears curious.

"That is quite the fine dagger. Reminds me of a certain someone's," he notes, pointing at it with fingertips stained with pink from all his mindless petal tearing. He really is insufferable.

"Go. Please." My pathetic begging is barely above a whisper at this point.

"Aren't you a little curious? Don't you want to know more about your people, who you are meant to be?"

Of course I want to know more. It's why I'm entertaining this conversation and not slamming it in his deceptively handsome face.

"I'll be whoever I want to be. Without you."

He releases a tired breath, shaking a hand through those silken curls. "Ugh, fine, you're obviously stubborn, which is a Demon trait. Why don't we talk about that Noble, then?"

"His name is Kastriv," I say warily.

He narrows his eyes, as if the mention of Kastriv's name is exceptionally bothersome. "Trust me, I'm very much aware."

"And I trust him more than you." Far more. Kastriv saved my life, in more than one way.

"You don't know me...not yet, at least," he reminds me. He begins pacing, tucking his head under each exposed beam, mindful of his own towering height.

"I know enough about you."

"From credible sources, I'm sure. Now come on." He pauses, holding his hand out to me. I look down at the leather, the milky gleam of moonlight tracing over the material.

"Leave me alone," I grit out.

Does he not tire?

Swiftly, he advances on me, grabbing the door I attempt to shut. I struggle to close it, feet slipping on the polished wood floor as I fight hopelessly against his own strength.

He leans as far in as the ward allows him. "Getting too close to a Noble is never a good idea. He will only use you."

"And you won't?" I snap.

His eyes drift down to my lips. "Not like that, anyway."

I don't even want to know what he means by that.

"Go away, and don't come back," I growl hoarsely. It's as if he has drawn in all my energy, depleting it entirely. Being around someone so obviously cruel and evil is exhausting.

Keo opens his mouth to respond, but whatever he wants to say dies on his lips, as he jerks his head to the side suddenly, appearing to notice something I cannot see.

His face contorts into one of reluctance as he forces himself back a step. "And this is where I must depart. But I will see you very soon, Aspen."

A lingering gaze is all I get as a departing farewell, before he vanishes, leaving only a soft breeze that picks up a few rampant petals in it's wake.

And then, a hand lays on my shoulder.

Screaming, I whirl around, stumbling back out the door and into the cold grip of the night.

Standing inside, is a confused Kastriv, holding his hands up in surrender.

Raking in deep breaths, I regard him. He doesn't look any different to when I saw him a few hours ago, meaning he hasn't slept, the dark shadows under his eyes conveying that much also.

"Aspen, are you okay?" he asks gently, motioning for me to come back inside.

I practically fall through the door toward him. "Keo came. He spoke to me."

Kastriv looks over my shoulder, wordlessly inspecting the area around the cabin. Seeing him now, shoulder's tense, I realise what a formidable man he is as well. One I can imagine Keo would be fearful of facing off against, considering his swift departure.

The Noble then turns his attention to sweep over me. "What did he want?"

"For me to go with him." I rub my arms, my skin as cold as a glacier.

Kastriv's pitch black eyes appear hollow, borderline frightful. "That's not going to happen, okay? Keo is a murderer, he only desires to hurt people."

I squeeze my eyes shut, knowing that Keo's presence will haunt me long after he has left. "He told me I'm just like him."

Kastriv grabs my shoulders, giving me a little shake, forcing me to look up at him.

"You're not. I can see that," he murmurs gently.

"I hope you're right, Kastriv. Because I don't know anymore," I breathe, casting one last glance at where the Demon once stood.

Kastriv doesn't leave.

He sits with me by the fire as I drink heated milk, telling me stories unrelated to frightening Demon's, to abusive husbands. He tells me about his travels, about the Princess who rules here.

And once Keo has been banished from my mind, thoughts only occupied by Kastriv, I'm led to my room, where I settle under the covers, and Kastriv sits in a chair by the door.

I sleep soundly for hours, it feels. And once, when something rouses me from sleep, I see Kastriv still sitting in his chair, wide awake, staring at the door.

I'm safe. With him.

And there is no better feeling.

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