Chapter Nine

How could fate be so cruel to them. If her destiny was set in the wildersness, couldn't it be a little kind to her young sibling? She grew up in a loving home . . . She was well aware of the hostile environment around them because of their witch nature but she was sheltered from the hatred and coldness. She didn't mind the stares because she had a glare of her own. She didn't mind scaring the children to their houses so that they knew she didn't envy their company. She was happy with just being her mama and papa's daughter and friend. She was adored and she knew from the sneaking around she did that most of her peers didn't have a swift and warm home to run to so she was content.

Surely mama and papa were met with a formidable foe to have kept them waiting this long. Lucky for Kayla, she hadn't seen nor felt the creeping danger so she remained unfazed.

Could she take care of her? All alone without mama or papa? Could she rely on herself to get the job done? How long will this male tolerate them in his personal space? Could she bring herself to ask him for more than he has already offered them?

"Being a child is the most exhilarating stage of life. You don't bear any weight on your shoulders . . . just when you need to be fed and when maybe you need to be bathed but other than that, you live a happy and oblivious life" He said coaxing her thoughts.

"I couldn't have phrased it better" she sighed

"I know" she smiled cockily and Hannah realised she had added to his already obese ego and she face palmed herself.

"Look Salem . . . you know what I wanted to say anyway" she decided to sort through her words and the male just shrugged his broad shoulders in time with the sunlight to reflect on his gleaming soot black eyes. He had defined muscles as if he had not an ounce of fat in his body. He had large arms and taut muscles in his legs . . . a stern torso and a poker face, he had messy brown hair and he looked almost angelic until.he grinned and then you improvise immediately. The man was a devil incarnate, masculine and handsome.

'What am I even doing gawking' Hannah thought to herself before caating her eyes in the distance. She could not see a sign of a living soul in sight but she knew better.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"Were you born in this place?" she asked the first thing that came to mind.

"Who would've known that thinking about me requires so much concentration"

He was teasing her and she knew it but nommater how many times she tells herself not to pay close attention towards his antics, he always end up getting under her skin.

"Why do you consider yourself so important huh?" she asked in irritation and he grinned.

"Am I not important Hannah?" now that was a pun she hadn't seen coming.

How was she to reply to that?

"You always try to be evasive with me, why?" she decided to stick to her original question.

"I thought you liked it since you always go around the same circles as me" now what was the meaning of that?

She flung her hands in the air as if to signal to him that she concedes. She thought that would be enough for him but the hulking mean male was not going to let go of her that easy.

"Don't you like conversing with me little female? because I was under the impression that you did" he looked dead straight into her eyes and saw her stare waver for a moment

"What is it that pleases you when you go about taunting other people?"

"Are you taunted little damsel?"

"Why should you reply to my questions with your own rhetorical questions?"

She scowled and he made a lopsided grin that taunted her even further. He could make up for not having a sibling to taunt and tease around her with the little damsel. She was easily irritable . . . perfect for his dark musings.

"Didn't you say you had somewhere to be? I am sure we will find our way back on our own" she tried to shoo him away but she was only baiting herself to be poked by the mean giant of a male next to her.

"I'm sure Kayla will have something differemt to say" as if on que, the child woke up to gaze up at the amused expression on Salem's face that contradicted Hannah's sour face.

"What's going on?" she scrunched her brows looking to her sibling, sensing the murdering intent directed at their male companions.

"Do you want me gone Kayla?" It was Salem who spoke first, earning a shocked gasp from Hannah who wondered which part of her gratitude did this giant male got twisted.

"No . . . ofcourse not. You are a nice person Salem and you are good company" she said passing an accusatory look to her sibling.

"It's decided then, I shall stay?" he beamed heartily at the child whose previous confusion evaporated seeing Salem's innocent smile.

'How devious can one creature be' she muttered under her breathe and just when she was about to sigh for the nth time, Salem couldn't help himself.

"If you got a penny for every sigh you make,you would be having a fortune by now" he bursted out in a fit of giggles along with Kayla who was innocently excitable by the devil's swing at her . . . if only she knew.

"I think we should head back now before it turns dark and cold" Hannah suggested to the sworn best friends. What a strange thing, she never would've thought this mean giant had anything nice to offer a child like Kayla but then again, her sibling was a whole mood. You could never be bored with her unless she was not feeling well or just sulking.

Salem whispered something to the child's ear which got her grinning from ear to ear.

"Please take me on your back Hannah, like the way mama and papa used to piggyback me"

Hannah couldn't expect any less from the scheming giant . . . she shot him a glare before putting up a sweet smile when she faced Kayla "only of you can promose not to fall asleep on my back" which got the child pouting sulkily.

"Salem doesn't mind if I fall asleep on him" she muttered which made him smile evily.

"Ofcourse I don't mind little Kayla"

"Okay, come before I change my mind" at this, she was legit pissed at Salem for his dirty tricks. Kayla is her sibling and making her doubt whether or not she could rely on her was not okay. She decided to piggyback Kayla and adress the issue with him when the child falls asleep.

He noticed the change in her demeanor but kept quiet either way.

He was just letting child have a little fun, nothing to earn him a serious murderous glare from the little damsel.

They made their way to his place but Salem stopped them just before they touched the sand that separated the forest from the inhibitable area.

"We have company" his voice now devoid of humor, halted all thoughts of ill intent and conversstions. Company was never good, especially if it made the owner so tense.