Word Count: 1728

~Aspen

I don't want to go out today. But I don't exactly have a choice.

Kaia has returned back to her relatives in another Territory today, and I've been left in her apartment while I wait to hear something from Kastriv.

I've officially run out of supplies, and although it's dangerous for me to go out in public, I don't have any other choice, unless I want to sit in this tiny apartment to starve.

So, I slip into a thick jacket and tug the hood over my head.

People know who I am now. They know I'm a Demon, and if they recognise me, they will kill me without hesitation.

I choose a market close to the apartment, keeping my head low, avoiding eye contact with people as I weave through them. Thankfully, none of the shopkeepers seem to notice my shadiness, giving me my goods with no question at all.

Quickly, I make my way back, until someone steps in front of me.

At first, I try to dodge around him, not wanting to draw any additional attention to him, but when he makes to step in front of me again, I realise this isn't an innocent mistake.

"Can I help you?" I ask irritably.

This stranger is tall, looking down at me with a freakish smile on his face. My stomach turns. This isn't good.

"You can if you are who I think you are," he exclaims.

"I'm not."

I make to push past him again, but he grabs my arm. I want to struggle, but people still mull past us, and I know whose side they will take if attention is brought to us.

"You're pretty for a Demon," he says lowly, continuing to grin like a maniac.

My heart falters. He knows. And if he knows, others walking past may know. I need to get out of here, because this person looks unhinged, and under his navy coat, he may have a weapon.

"Leave me alone," I hiss, yanking at his grip, although it holds fast.

He looks over me, as if I'm a hot commodity. "A lot of people want you dead, you know?"

"Get out of my way," I growl. Panic is starting to overcome me, as my fingers dig against his, trying to pull him off me, although it's no use. He isn't going to let me go, not when he knows he has something in his grasp that everyone wants to get a hold of.

"I don't hate Demon's though. I'm just a lowly human who needs a little money. You'll forgive me right?"

"I'll kill you," I growl back.

He shakes his head at me. "I don't think so."

He pulls me with him, despite me using all my strength to pull against him. He yanks me into an alleyway, and before I can react, he grabs the side of my head and pushes it against the wall with disturbing force.

A flash of pain strikes through me, before my vision darkens and I lose my grip on conciousness.

***

Groaning, my eyes blink open.

My vision spins, the light above me fuzzy and unclear as I slowly wake up.

My head is killing me. A pain like no other throbs against my temples as I force myself to sit up, trying to blink the dizziness from my eyes.

"You're finally awake."

I jump at the sound of the voice, looking over to see the man from the street sitting on an old wooden chair in front of me. I'm on a dark red couch, a threadbare blanket draped over me.

"What's going on?" My voice sounds foreign, my throat scratchy and dry.

This is bad. I'm in a basement of some kind, weeping boxes stacked all around. This place is a mess, although that is hardly my concern, even though I'm not died down in anyway, and thankfully, not dead.

"Here, drink some water. You hit your head pretty bad," he man offers, holding a glass out to me.

"You hit my head!" I snap back, pressing myself into the back of the couch. I'm not drinking anything he offers me, even if my body begs for thirst.

He sighs, setting the glass down at his feet. "You weren't meant to fight back."

I almost laugh. Were I meant to submit to him and let him escort me to his basement without any protest?

Reaching up, I touch the side of my head. I wince at the stinging feeling that follows, and when I pull my hand back, it's stained with blood.

I'm screwed.

"Are you going to kill me?" I whisper.

The impact did a number to my head, which explains my vicious headache. When I draw my fingers down my face, I feel caked blood. I probably look like a murder victim right now.

"I'm not," he says with a shrug. "But the Noble's might."

I blink. "Noble's?"

"I contacted them and told them about the Demon I have in my custody. They hate Demon's, so what happens to you after that is nothing to do with me," he says airily, leaning back in his seat.

All I can do is stare at him, unsure if I'm believing what I'm hearing.

There is no way I can be this lucky. He's contacted exactly who may help me, without even realising it.

"Which Noble did you contact?"

"I have a contact close to Vadric," he explains. I draw my legs up to my chest. I don't know Vadric, but hopefully the word gets back to Kastriv, if he is awake.

Otherwise I'm going to have to rely on someone like Larsen to alert Vadric to my existence, and that man cannot be trusted.

"Interesting."

"Don't be scared, maybe they will have mercy." He smiles. He doesn't believe they will, but he doesn't care. This is about money, and for that, I can't blame him, even if my life hangs in the balance.

"Demon's aren't your enemy. Most of us are just trying to live," I tell him softly.

I'm probably wasting my words on him, but it feels right to say. People want me dead without even knowing me. I've never hurt anyone in my life, and yet I'm accused of being a monster.

"Whatever happens between Angel-blood's and Demon's is nothing to do with me. I just want the money," he mutters flippantly.

I roll my eyes. "Of course you do."

Suddenly, a knock can faintly be heard from upstairs, causing the man to tense.

"Hmm, I wonder who that could be." He rubs his hands together excitedly, rushing toward the stairs.

I watch him, surprised he hasn't bothered to tie me up as he opens the door at the top of the door and slips out, even leaving it ajar. Were it not a Noble coming for me, I would probably grab something from one of these boxes and storm upstairs to whack him over the head.

He deserves it, considering the wound he's left on my head...

The door opens upstairs, a voice drifting through. "Where is she?"

My heart skips a beat. If I'm not mistaken, that's Kastriv...

"Down in my basement," the man exclaims, sounding so gleeful it's disturbing, anticipating the rewards he's going to get. "I'm going to need payment."

"You'll get it after I see her," Kastriv mutters. He sounds deceptively calm.

"Alright, just down these stairs," the man instructs.

I listen keenly at their footsteps approaching the basement door. When it opens, light floods down the stairs, and like a true angel, Kastriv descends down, catching my gaze.

"Kastriv..." I breathe out.

The relief on his expression is short-lived, replaced with concern. I realise I'm covered in blood, half my hair matted against my head.

"Aspen, you've been hit," he murmurs lowly.

The stranger looks between Kastriv and I, unbothered that we clearly know each other. "I'm going to need my payment now."

Kastriv turns to the man, and smiles wickedly. "Of course, here you are."

In a movement so fast, he reaches out and snaps the strangers neck. The body falls limp at his feet, Kastriv taking a step back distastefully.

"Kastriv!"

He nudges the body with his foot. "Waste of space..."

I gape at him, and then the body. I shouldn't feel bad, but I do. Sure, he hit me over the head and nearly killed me, but from the looks of my surroundings, he needed the money.

"I'm inclined to agree but I don't think he deserves to be killed because of it," I say, getting to my feet.

I stumble a little, far dizzier than I thought. Kastriv quickly grabs a hold of me, steadying me.

"He hit you. Are you okay?"

"It hurts, but I'll survive," I assure him. I rest my hands on either side of his arms, hardly believing I get to touch him right now. "You're okay."

"Of course I am." He smiles gently.

"Does Atari know you're here?" I can only imagine her anger. Had she found out about me being here, I have no doubt she would have arrived and killed me before Kastriv could learn I was kidnapped.

Kastriv shakes his head, looking more sure than I've seen him in awhile. "I don't care. She can't force me to stay there."

"Did you see a spirit?"

"Yes, the one that looks like you. It touched me again." He shudders, remembering the feeling. I frown. What is this spirit trying to convey? Are they trying to hurt him, or is it something deeper than that?

"We need to figure this out, and soon." I don't want to see him hurt like this again.

"First, I need to get you far from this. Let me take you take you somewhere safe." He grabs my hand squeezing it. I nod, desperate to get out of here.

"Wait, Kastriv..."

"Yeah?" he asks softly.

"I love you," I breathe. Now more than ever I want peace with him, my mate. It feels far away, since my world has imploded, but at least I know through everything I have him.

He leans forward and kisses my cheek that isn't covered in blood. "I love you too. Now let's go."

🤍••🤍

A Demon's Kiss is available 10 chapters ahead on RADISH! (:

HIS DESIRE - on Radish AND Wattpad now!

Instagram: Sophie_Midika

~Midika 💜🐼