2010

~Tove

Eventually, Mary dozes off.

She looks so peaceful, not a care in the world with her now dry jacket bundled under her head.

She wanted to stay awake, but once we left the Territory, she succumbed to the satisfying click of the train on the tracks, the way it sways gently.

When I am certain she will not be waking for a few hours, I stand.

Bracing my hands on the top of each seat as I walk down the aisle, I keep my gaze pinned to the Demon splayed out in his own booth, not a care in the world.

I slide into the faded red seat opposite him, resting my elbows on the table.

Slowly, he slides his hood back, dark locks of hair tumbling out over his forehead. "You made the right decision."

Did I? I don't have it in me to be scared anymore.

"Then why do I feel so torn?" I say it more so to myself than him, knowing he isn't going to comfort me.

He taps his fingers on the surface of the wooden table. "Because you're frightened of me."

I shift, his dark gaze burning into me, like an ice cold fire. I'm terrified of him. Any intrigue I would have for all the mystery that shrouds him is snuffed out by the true horror I feel deep within me every time I look at him.

"Should I not be?"

The edge of his lips turn up. "No. You should."

I swallow my fear, knowing he will only get pleasure out of it if he sees how much it affects me.

"What do you want me for? I proved I'm willing to do it," I mutter. What it is, I don't know. He has some masterful plan for me that is important enough that he would torment me despite me never having done anything to him.

He tilts his head to the side. "You're devout, aren't you?"

"If by that, you mean I follow the words of the Angel's, then yes," I say simply. My belief is weak, at best, but I'm an Angel-blood, which rare enough that I feel obliged to listen to what my ancestors have to say about how I should conduct my life now.

Talking to a Demon would not be condoned...

"Why?"

"Because I have their blood in my veins. Not much, but I should probably take what they have said into account." I shrug my shoulders, wondering why he is curious.

He sobers from his amusement. "What if you're wrong about how strong you are?"

"I've done all I can to explore my magic. I can travel short distances, but that is all," I tell him firmly, hoping he will see my lack of magic for what it is and decide I'm of no use to him.

"You know, you're the only Angel-blood I've come to know with that ability, other than the Noble's. But they can only travel between this realm," he muses.

I haven't met enough Angel-bloods to know that for certain.

"You're saying there are more realms?" I ask, his words sinking in slowly. I've never really thought about the concept, but Keo said it as if it were obvious.

Keo blinks, seeming to realise that maybe he has said too much.

"I fear others on this train will learn your face, and when Daxen and Arkyn set an alert out for you, they will report you," he muses, looking past me at the other passengers.

"Maybe, but-"

He stands swiftly, grabbing my arm, yanking me up to standing. I yelp, although no one even glances up as he marches me down the aisle and into another train cart.

I would pull away, but it's no use, his grip tight, the leather of his gloves digging into my bare skin.

Keo walks me over to a man all dressed up who clearly works here. The poor man physically flinches at the sight of the Demon, stumbling back a few steps.

"Excuse me sir, but myself and my lover are in need of a quiet room," Keo murmurs lowly, wearing a seductive grin that could manipulate anyone into doing anything.

"We only have one left, and it is very expensive..." he exclaims anxiously, rubbing the back of his neck as he looks between Keo and I.

"That shall not be an issue."

The poor man's gaze dips as he motions down the aisle. "Right this way."

With Keo's hand still on my arm, we are led down a few more carts toward the back of the train, where the compact rooms are for those travelling long-distance between Territories.

"Thank you. My lover is quite insatiable. She can't keep her hands off me for a moment, it seems," Keo exclaims, glancing back at me with that insufferable grin.

I grit my teeth. "Keo..."

"Uh...That's fine, sir," the man in front of us mutters, checking his chart to find the correct room number.

Finally we stop in front of a single wooden door, the man turning to face us with a shaky smile.

Does he know who Keo is? Not many do, but everyone can feel the power seeping off him. To human's it's probably suffocating, overwhelming.

And it's not a good kind of magic. It's dark and hideous and it's cruel intent is painfully obvious.

"Here, is it?" Keo nods at the door.

"Yes sir. You can pay-"

In a flash, Keo lets me go, grabbing the man before slamming his head into the wall.

Immediately his body goes limp, sliding down to the floor in a slump. I cover my scream of horror with my hand, backing as far into the wall as I can.

"Shh, he's fine. I'm sure he will wake up." Keo nudges the man with his foot, looking vaguely bothered by his new responsibility.

"You're sure?" I question, horrified as Keo leans down and grabs the man, dragging him into a nearby supply closet before slamming the door shut.

He glances at me. "No...But does it matter?"

"Yes!"

He rolls his eyes, as if he's tired of my morality. I know he's a Demon, that they are monsters with nothing redeemable about them and Keo is at the head of that all.

But seeing it in front of me...I could be sick all over the horrible, muted red train carpet.

Keo takes the keys he had swiped off of the man's body, unlocking the door. My heart thunders in my chest, scared of being cornered in a dark room alone with this monster.

He motions for me to follow him, and knowing I don't exactly have another choice, I step into the dusty room, the one dim light on the roof flickering on.

"Scared you're next?" That amused smirk touches his sensuous lips, making me shiver.

"You need me, clearly. You can stop with the empty threats," I bite out. It may be a mistake to stoke the fire that clearly rages within him, but I'm not going to allow him to walk all over me.

"You're right, I do need you. I need you to travel between realms," he tells me, peeking out past the flimsy curtain to ascertain where we are.

I blink, stunned. "What...how?"

He turns to look at me, something flickering in his eyes. "Because you're the first glimmer of real hope to achieve that in a long time."

I look down over myself, trying to comprehend how he thinks I am capable of transporting myself between realms that I never even knew existed...

"I can tell you right now that I can barely get myself off the train, let alone to another realm," I insist, pressing my back against the door.

"What if you had help?" He continues to wander around the room, inspecting everything.

"What kind of help?" I ask warily.

"I'm going to take you somewhere, to show you something that once you see, cannot be shown to anyone else, ever again."

My heartbeat stumbles over itself. How long is this going to go on for? How long am I going to be forced into his proximity?

"What if I don't want to see it?" That sounds like a significant burden when I don't want anything to do with him in the first place.

He steps toward me, a tentative dip between his brows.

"Help me, and your friend will be healed. I promise."

I draw in a deep breath, considering my options. What if I said no? Would he revert to forcing me?

"I don't trust you," I whisper, feeling faint as the train continues to sway on the tracks, a wind outside battering it.

"You trust me more than the Noble's, clearly." He outstretches his arms, as if to encompass all of his power, all of his darkness. How can I embrace that?

"You're going to be disappointed. Even with help, I don't see how I can transport myself through Realm's," I tell him honestly.

My Angel-blood came from my mother, whose connection to magic was limited. I assumed because she never took an interest in working with what she had, that she didn't have much, and consequently, neither did I.

Keo doesn't waver. "You're not just going to be transporting yourself, but also others."

I sigh through my nose. I'm not going to succeed, and he will learn that quickly.

But I have to try...I'll swallow my terror for one reason only.

"I'll do anything with Mary," I murmur.

Keo's smile is sickly sweet. "Well aren't you a great friend?"

"I don't expect you to understand, when all you do is murder, kill and manipulate people," I snap, folding my arms against my chest. It's almost like a shield against him and his insufferable attitude.

He taps his chin. "Murder and killing are kind of the same thing."

He's suddenly close enough that impulsively I step forward, pushing at his chest. "I hate you."

He retreats a step. Not because I'm stronger than him, but because he seems to enjoy the game, smirking down at me with that faint glimmer in his eye.

"You're hurting my feelings," he pouts sarcastically.

I push him again, with all my strength. This time he doesn't budge, instead grabbing my wrists in one smooth movement, pinning me against the wall.

All the air rushes from my lungs, pausing at my lips.

He's close enough that I can smell his rich scent of cedar and spice, that on any other person, I would find captivating.

"I could kill you," he murmurs lowly, gaze drifting down to my lips, which sit in a hard line.

Something deep inside me sparks at those words, and not from fear, like I suspected. In fact, it's enough for me to forge some words out of my wavering confidence.

"Do it."

He won't. I know that. But the thrill of danger surges through my veins, awakening something in me I never knew existed.

"You are very tempting." He turns his head slightly. "And that bed is right there..."

I cast my eyes to it, going cold.

It's small, low to the ground and the bedding looks ancient.

Some stupid part of me wanted to sleep with Keo the moment I saw him. Under the gilded light of the restaurant he looked ethereal, until I got close and saw the festering darkness that haunts him.

But he's beautiful. So beautiful it's inhuman, which makes sense, considering who he is, what he does to people. And now, he is using it as a tool to make a fool out of me.

"If you think you're seductive, you're not," I respond coolly, trying to wrestle from his grip, but he still holds me tight against the wall.

"We'll see how long that opinion lasts," he murmurs, before finally pulling away.

I rub my wrists, watching him. Okay. Now I am truly scared.

💛••💛

~Midika 💜🐼