19 CHAPTER NINETEEN

He narrowed his eyes, looking at me with an impassable expression. The kid started crying again and tried to escape from my embrace.

But I couldn't move at all. I didn't know what to do. Run? Stay? Die?

The moment I saw his eyes I knew it. There was no escape. His red eyes were studying me with a combination of disgust and curiosity. I didn't even know it was possible this kind of combination.

The tall guy was staring at me while all the questions about what I should've done next popped up in my mind. Suddenly, his hand moved and grabbed my arm, making me almost drop the child on the ground.

"What are you doing?!" I said, scared by his sudden movement and by the way he was grabbing my arm, dragging me after him.

"Shut up and follow me." He replied and I widened my eyes, watching his blue back, realizing he responded in English.

Damn, he got me. How can I explain myself now? What should I tell him?

I had no idea.

"Put the kid down. His mother is living five feet further. He can run until there." He told me, planting his feet in front of an old, wooden house and releasing my arm.

The child was still crying, but the guy's face was too frightening for me to not listen to his commands. So, I lowered my body and let him go. He started running, as fast as he could, and stopped in front of a dilapidated, small house. I sighed relieved when he opened the door and entered it, but a few shouts behind me made my blood freeze in my veins.

"Go in now, human!" the guy obeyed, grabbing my arm again.

He threw me in the house where we stopped a few seconds ago, got himself in and shut the door, lowering his body and sticking his ear on it. He was carefully listening to any sounds from outside and, because of his focused expression, I let myself study him, at least for a few seconds.

His hair was black and long. Thing which made a beautiful contrast with his light-blue, almost white kimono. His face was perfect, like Caiden's, but his features were sharper. His nails were long as well, thing which made me thing he could've been a fox demon. I didn't have a certain pattern in my mind, but only the way he looked at me, his movements and yes, his nails, were enough for me to think that. With my heart hammering in my chest, I waited tensed until we couldn't hear anything from outside. I opened my mouth, ready to ask him if it was safe now, but he raised his hand, with his palm towards me, right at that moment, making me stop.

I narrowed my eyes. His red eyes were moving. His irises weren't static, how it was at normal people. His irises had the same strange, continuous movement as Caiden's. Only they weren't snowy and peaceful. They were bloody rivers.

After other few minutes, he finally breathed and lowered his hand. He turned his head towards me and let himself sit more comfortable.

I inhaled sharply and he grinned.

This is not good.

"Well, well, well. Tell me, foreigner. How did you come here? It's pretty rare to see a woman talking English around here."

"I can put you the same question. How do you know English? You're not a merchant."

I almost grimaced. What was happening with me? I was almost one hundred percent sure he was a demon and, still, I was talking back like he was mom.

Get a grip, Ivy.

He lifted an eyebrow and let his chin rest in his hand, tilting his head. He placed his elbow on his knee and the other hand on the floor, exposing his sharp nails, which looked more like claws. I gulped.

"Interesting question, human. Let's say I'm... peculiar. You're right, I'm not a merchant. My rank is much higher. But..." He narrowed his eyes, thing which made me almost flinch. "...if I'm looking closer... you are not Asian at all. Are you coming from Europe?"

"... yea." I said, trying to keep it as simple as I could.

"What country?" He seemed interested and curious, but at the same time distracted.

He's planning something. And it's not good.

"... I can't remember. My parents raised me here, but they talked only in English. They died a few years ago."

He said nothing, staring at me. I held my breath. If he caught me lying, I was dead. Caiden knew when I lied. He'd told me I was an open book. But what about this guy?

"I can't see the reason. You don't look like a killer. You would've done something more intelligent than just running if you were, when the guards were chasing you. So... why are you lying?"

His confused expression reminded me so much of Caiden that I wanted to cry. I realized how much I was missing Caiden, even though I knew him only for a week. I missed talking with a pleasant demon, knowing he wouldn't kill me if sometimes I was annoying. Instead... that guy seemed ready to kill me anytime he couldn't find something interesting or curious about me, a merely human.

"I'm not lying. This is the truth."

"Indeed? Let me see your face. I will tell you if you're lying or not in a second." He said, his husky voice giving me the chills.

His tone was so sweet and kind that I could feel how my blood turned in honey. He was the perfect predator.

Bewitching me with his beauty and then killing me.

I grabbed the cloth which covered my face and squeezed it. "If I let you see my face, will you let me go?"

I knew I should've asked him about Caiden. That I had only 13 days to do that. But, I was too scared. I had no plan. I wasn't even expecting to meet a demon, besides Caiden. But he was there, right in my face, with a dangerous expression on his face. I gulped involuntarily.

"You're not alone. Who's with you? Are you a thief? Are you trying to destroy the village? If the other ones are like you, well, that would be cute. You don't look like a warrior at all."

"I'm alone. I'm trying only to live." I told him. The last thing I wanted him to know was that Jessica was with me.

"Are you?" He said, lifting his black, thick eyebrows. "Then why aren't you coming with me?"

I froze, watching him grinning. His canines seemed way too sharp for a normal denture. "What do you mean?" I asked, my heart skipping a beat.

He shrugged. "You're intriguing me, human. Come along with me."

Something in his eyes told me it wasn't a good idea. And his weird, moving, bloody eyes hinted me that saying "no" wasn't an option for him.

How have I got myself in this mess again?

I exhaled sharply. "I'm better on my own. Thanks for the invitation." I got to my feet, taking a few steps closer to him. The only exit was right behind his back.

He laughed and got up slowly, touching nonchalantly his sword. I gulped, watching his long and white fingers brushing it almost delicately.

"I'm sorry you thought I'm giving you a choice."

Well, this is bad, indeed. What should I do now?

I clearly had no idea. He was standing right in front of the door, having a focused and... determined expression on his face. If he wanted something, he took it at all cost. It didn't matter if that "something" was a pitiful human.

He took a step towards me and I took one back. His grin widened, exposing his white and sharp teeth. He truly looked like a demon and I froze, remembering the shadows grabbing Mike and the disgusting sound of his bones breaking...

He opened his mouth, ready to say something, but a sudden shout made us both widen our eyes and turn our heads towards the door.

The door fell on the black-haired guy, making him hit hard the floor, the dust rising in the air. I protected my face with my arms, but a Japanese shout made me uncover my eyes.

Jessica was standing where the door was a few seconds ago, her fearless expression making me sigh relieved. She made eye contact with me and pointed her finger outside, telling me to get out as I still could. I nodded and, passing by the guy, who was shaking his head and coughing, I got outside. Jessica grabbed my hand and started running, dragging me after her.

"I can't leave you outside two minutes, I swear to God!" She nagged at me, throwing glances behind me, making sure the guy wasn't following us.

"I know. What can I say? I'm goddamn unlucky." I said, touching the necklace's cross and sighing.

***

After 20 minutes of running, we finally stopped in front of a fruit stall. Jessica began inspecting an apple, like she was truly interested in buying fruit and not running away from an ancient demon. She gave me her wheat basket which was empty and I lowered my eyes as she was speaking with the merchant, probably negotiating the price.

The sun started going down, the sky becoming red and orange. The splash of colour made me raise my head and watch the sunset like I was bewitched by it. The wind was messing gently my hair and the heat almost disappeared, the chilly air making me exhale relieved. My whole body was sweaty, and now dust was stuck on it. I really needed a shower. The number of people around us decreased significantly and I realized the first day in Edo era was so awful that I wanted to cry. At least, I hoped we could've found a place to stay. If we were forced to sleep on the ground...

"Bad news. I don't think we'll find a place to stay this night." Jessica said, pivoting and facing me calmly.

I laughed in her face. She narrowed her eyes. "You gotta be kidding me. Where are we gonna sleep, then? On the ground?"

She rolled her eyes and turned her back at me. "You're acting like a spoiled brat. I'm not your mama. I tried to help us both until now, but if I can't do something, don't blame me. I'm kinda restricted, ya know? I can't use my power because Satoshi will surely feel me. He's more powerful now and he's not hiding from humans like he does in the present. Is it more appropriate to say present or future? Well, whatever. I... I have an idea, but you might not like it."

I lifted suspiciously an eyebrow and she grinned. "What idea?"

"Oh, you'll see. We only have to walk ten more minutes. It's gonna be hella fun, Ivy Moore."

I sighed. Why did I feel like it won't be fun at all?

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