Chapter 69

"What brings you to my little home your highness?" The old man said.

"We were on a mission, of course sent by the king. We stopped by to rest since it's late. Would you accommodate us for this night?"I answered him.

The old man smiled, his wrinkled face shone in the darkness of the room. How demons love darkness. Though, I could see a lantern burn at the far end of the room."I'll be honored to have you in my home."

"Roy, prepare them a room." He instructed his youngest son. I noticed they didn't have a mother or maybe she doesn't live with them. The house just looked small, it was really big inwardly.

"What would you like to eat your highness? We have meatballs and some vegetables."

"We are very okay. We just need rest now" I answered. I think I'm the outspoken one, Julian was momentimarily mute. "Thanks for the offer."

Roy later announced that he'd prepared the room and we could go in. The old man apologized that he had given only one of his rooms. He explained that he only had one room to spare, since his sons are too much. We assured him we were grateful for whatever he had to give.

I slumped on the bed, exhausted from the day's work. Luna helped me take off my boots with her claws and I watched Julian. He's been moody lately. I mean since the journey began. And that only gets me more worried about what Alistair told him.

"Julian, Are you sure you're okay?"I was forced to ask.

"Of course I am."He pulled off his coat and walked away to the bathroom.

What is he thinking? Oh Katrienair, you should be thinking too. My subconscious blamed me.

"You know I will not worry too much about anything." I said to myself.

I pulled off my coat and sat on the couch to study the drawings.

I have five beings to find and I haven't found any. The three of us had five drawings which were all the same, that made the whole thing look more real. The first, a little boy, around Kabal's age. He has a special kind of eye, it looked too white, not gray, he's a little shepard. Second, like a slave girl, I see that she works in a brothel, She has a short hair that barely reached her shoulder. Third, a male with a pet, a white wild cat. Fourth, also a male, he has a birthmark beneath his left eye. The fifth, it's hard to discern whether it's a male or female, he has a facial features of a man but long hair, his hair fall over his shoulder. I have to find these people.

I noticed Julian was seated already at the far end of the couch so I laid on his lap.

"Julian, I'll find these people soon."I said. "But I have a question to ask you"

"Go ahead."He moved his stare to my face and our eyes locked for a moment. I had to look away.

"My..."I bit my lip."You know Alistair right?"

"Of course. "He smiled. Oh, this is working. I want his liveliness back.

"Are you brooding because of what she said to you?"

He was quiet for a while before he finally answered me.

" No. I'm not brooding. And ..."He laughed slightly and cupped my face in his hands."I'm glad you care."

I frowned. What is he insinuating? "I do not care!"I spat. "I'm just being nice."

"I'm happy Katienair. It's just too hard to show. I've got to be careful when I'm with my commander." He smirked. 

"You made me your Commander Julian." I said and watchedd him gasp in shock. "I know all. I know what you did. I know how becoming my assistant became your punishment." I paused. "Were you that desperate?"

"Maybe."He grinned. "Maybe not."

"I never knew I'll be where I am today. It's crazy how things changed so quickly." I paused."I grew up in love and hate, hate and discrimination as a human. More of pain, I was restricted cause my lungs weren't good enough. Who would have thought I'll find hope after death?"

Julian gently stroked my hair. "You never died. You just found yourself or maybe you died..." He grinned. "You died to bring reason into someone's life. Into my life Katrienair."He moved his face closer. I felt like he was going to kiss my lip but he didn't actually. He kissed my face, sending ripples of emotions into my being. All the other sounds of the world going silent — it's our moment, ours alone. 

My heart reactions --Not a thump exactly. Not even a leap. But a kind of swish, like a frog kicking off from a muddy bank. My heart, Oh that funny amphibian, moving that moment between two elements: one, excitement; the other, fear. I tried to pay attention. I tried to hold up my end of things. Though Julian was ahead of me. His lips enveloped mine when I least expected and it was really hard to think straight. But my fear lingered, I might end up like my parents.

That would be a disaster. Katrienair, please don't let that happen. You're here to save the world not to kill them. Julian is a demon! My subconscious screamed.

But what the hell is this useless fight for?!

Why can't we love someone we love?! 

Isn't it my heart?! 

Why must every decision I make affect the world?! 

I defended myself inwardly. I realized I was kissing him back. It opened up my soul, tasting, feeling , I felt my head go numb, almost like catching a smile in a bottle. This feeling like I'm levitating off the ground floating in the air. 

But is it enough?! I need to think.

"Joel."I gasped from a corner of my mouth. "We need to stop. I'm sorry. Let go."

And he did. I left the couch and wrapped myself in the bed cloth.

"You can sleep on the couch." I said.

He hesitated. "Katrienair." He called out. I sat up on the bed, seeing he was seated on it already.

"What's wrong?"

Everything! I wanted to scream.

"We should not loose focus Julian. Get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a long day."

"Are you sure that's all you want to say?"He grinned.

"I'm just being a realistic here. Forget me Julian" I swallowed, obviously hurting myself. "Make sure you forget me... Cause we can never be together."