A mind reader

The Devil was rushing to leave, and that's why we left the moment our vows were shared, and the proclamation was done.

Father tried to get us to stay for the ceremony after the wedding *how he'll have the heart to celebrate a Union between his son and the devil is beyond me.* but the devil refused the offer.

"Son, I'll…"

"The day I ceased to be your son was the day you had the deal with the devil without my consent."

An innocent child was doomed from the day he took his first breath.

Before my birth, my destiny have already been predetermined.

"I did what I had to do for our people."

"I see. You did all you did for your people, but what did they do for you?" I point at the so-called people who're already on their way to the banquet hall. "You did all you can for them, but what did they do for you?"

I don't see any reason why my life should be forfeited for people who care more about themselves than others.

They care more about their lives than that of the prince whose life was sacrificed for their sake.

"It's the duty of the king, my son." He tried to place his hand on my shoulder, but I sidestepped against him.

There's one thing I promised myself, and that's the vow to never shed tears. I won't show father how emotional all this is making me feel.

I'll never let him know how affected I am by what's happening.

"Why didn't you sacrifice your life? Why must you involve an unborn child in the equation?"

"Calm down." He tried to calm my spirit.

"I should calm down?" I scoff, "you're only saying this because you're not in my shoes.

Had you been the one in the same predicament as I, you wouldn't have had any cause to remain calm in this kind of situation?"

"Son…."

"Never you call me that. I'm not your son, and I've never been. I was only birthed to be given over to the Devil."

"Don't say stuff like that," my supposed mother, said.

"And what do you want me to say?" I glare at the woman who birthed me, the one who called herself my mother.

"Your duty to the devil was to give birth to me, aside from that, there's nothing relating us to each other."

Apart from the blood that runs through my veins, that is.

"Don't…"

"Let's go." I turn to the devil, "I think it's time to go home."

I know going with the devil isn't the solution to my problem, but it's far better than staying in a place with those that claimed to be family.

At least I won't feel hurt if he's to hurt me.

"As you wish, wife." The devil smirked.

You can have the time of your life now, Mr devil. This isn't the end of the battle we'll have.

One day, if I'm still alive, I'll find ways to defeat you.

And when that day comes, I'll be smirking over your corpse.

*

*

I stayed in the carriage while the devil rode on the horses. No servant was accompanying us as none was willing to leave their mortal life to serve the unfortunate prince and his devil.

For a while now, we've been travelling, but there's nothing to show we're anywhere near our destination. It seems like we've not cut a dent in our journey ever since we started, and that made me question the distance between my Kingdom and his.

I thought hell is somewhere you travel to with just a thought, but it seems it's the same as any Kingdom. You'll have to travel before you reach.

So far, we've not seen any Kingdom. Aside from ours that we left behind, we've seen no other Kingdom at all.

No sign of life can be seen in the otherwise deserted place. It seems everyone was updated about the passing of the Devil through the village, and that caused them all to enter their hiding places.

I don't blame them at all. Had I been in the shoes, though rebellious I might be, I don't think I'll go through the same route as the devil.

As a prince, I've had a dream to travel the world, a dream that would have come to pass had it not been for the fact my destiny has already been predetermined.

Now my dreams of Years are but what they are dreams.

"We'll take a rest when we reach the nearest town. We still have a long way to go." The devil said those words loud enough for me to hear.

I nod, not even bothering to reply to him.

Had I been in the mood to talk to him, I would have asked why he wants to rest when he was the one hurrying things along.

I thought he said he has somewhere important to be.

"The important task I have can wait, there's no way I can overexert my wife, it's not becoming of a good husband."

His words shocked me, as am quite confident I didn't ask that question out loud.

Could it be…

I hastily shook my head.

There's no way he can be a mind reader. It's just not possible at all.

He might be the devil, but that doesn't mean he's capable of doing all things. He can't be a mind reader.

"Do you want to have some water? There are some under the chair. Just lift the lid, and help yourself to whatever you want." He said after some time.

As if I'll willingly take some water from you. Who knows, I might turn into the devil just from taking a sip.

Nah, I love my mortality. I won't do anything to jeopardize that.

The devil might have my freedom for now, but that doesn't mean I'll give everything up.

All I'll do is wait for a time appointed. Only then will I strike like a cobra.