Missing way.

In an old cave where no human has ever gone, maybe the fear of what they will find or the fear of meeting the night creatures, or probably both made them not step into the deep forest. The ones who claimed to be brave went and never come back again.

But no one knew this was where some of the demons resided. Not everyone knew about the existence of demons. They only knew about the night creatures and the witches.

Even when the demons killed humans, the blame was always put on the night creatures. The council has done everything they could to keep everything gentle where both the demons, the night creatures, the humans, and the rumored witches will stay without causing chaos.

That was the agenda they have been working on for decades which has been unfruitful, especially the massacre that took place a decade ago that involved Kate's town.

Inside the cave, it was blazing hot, and different types of demons were everywhere. Some had the shape of a deformed human with black eyes, horns, and long black nails. Their jagged-looking teeth protruded from their mouths when they spoke.

These were the low-ranked demons. They had the lowest power which made them vulnerable to vampires and also their fellow demons too.

This was where the weird-looking creature that was watching Clarence fight with a fellow demon came from.

"Are you sure of what you saw Venda?" A demon that had the horns like an antelope questioned her.

"I know what I saw Zyul. She's alive and some demons are already going after her"

"Sure they will and I think it's time we make our move," Zyul said as others listened to the conversation between him and Venda.

"But I noticed something," Venda said looking thoughtful.

"What is that?"

"When the demons were fighting, the other man didn't show traits of being a demon"

"What! Next time don't you ever stay there. They can kill us without a second thought. You were lucky you were not caught"

"What do you mean?" Venada asked confused.

"Ths ones that can kill any demon and also able to hide their true nature are very powerful" Zyul shook his head "They are rumored to have come after the fallen angels. They are as powerful as them".

"Oh, don't worry, I won't get caught" Venda smiled showing dirty Jagged teeth "what are we going to do with the girl?" She asked.

"Kill her!" Zyul said with distaste "Do you know where she stays?"

"That I don't know, but I will find out. It won't be easy"

"Be careful, don't let anyone see you, you know we can't change how we are to blend with the humans"

"Got that" Venda assured before she disappeared from there in search of Kate. It didn't matter if it was the time of the night for her. As long as she used her sense of smell and vision she can sight her anywhere she was.

*•*•*•*•*•*

Kate who left Clarence made her way towards the room she thought was where she stayed when Clarence saved her.

She continued walking further inside until it dawned on her she had lost her way.

She had walked a distance more than she could remember when she was leaving the house that day he saved her. But now she didn't know what to do. She had sounded confident thinking she knew the way.

The place she was, was different from what she saw last, and the barely lit passage didn't help at all. She decided to go back to where she came from.

She walked back while internally scolding herself. She continued walking thinking it was the same way she passed through only to end up in another hallway with a different color of light and the painting on the wall was also different.

Has she been walking around the mansion in vain? Beads of sweat gathered on her forehead. She used her sleeves to wipe her face. This is frustrating!

*•*•*•*•*•*

"Shall I show the lady the way?" James asked Clarence who was in his room sitting on the huge bed with his legs crossed and a book in his hand.

"No. She said she knows the way" Clarence spoke not raising his head from the book.

"I think she's getting deeper inside the mansion" James was worried she will end up getting deeper inside the house where she won't be able to come back.

It happened to him when he first came here, and god knew how frightened he had been. If not for his master, no one would have heard from him again.

"Don't worry she will find her way back" Clarence looked at his butler who was visibly worried "Also it's part of the exercise. It will help her get warm in this cold weather"

"Okay, Master Clarence" James bowed before saying "Should I serve dinner?"

"Isn't it late to eat dinner?" Clarence asked raising a brow "And you know I can stay days without eating right?"

"I know master but you did not eat since morning, y…"

Clarence cut him off "Is it me or the Lady?" A tinge of amusement in his voice.

James scratched his head, he has been caught in his lie "Forgive me Master Clarence but the lady looked like she's hungry and she had also stayed on the cold floor for hours"

"Hmm," Clarence hummed and nodded his head "You're quite thoughtful but I don't know where your loyalty lies, it hasn't been hours since she came and you know all that's going on with her?"

James quickly bowed "Forgive me Master Clarence if my words came out that way. My loyalty always lies with only you"

Clarence laughed "I know James, you don't have to fret. Give her some time to exercise. When she's out, call me first"

"Okay Master Clarence"

"You can go and prepare some meals for her" Clarence said going back to what he was reading.

James left the room to carry out the order. When the door clicked shut, Clarence looked towards the door and shook his head. His kind butler.

*•*•*•*•*•*

Which way to go now? Kate was confused before deciding to do what her mother taught her. She stood straight facing where she came from.

Her mom said that when you don't know which way to go, stand straight in the direction you came from or the direction you want to go, any part your shadow casts, then follow that way.

The sun and moon goddess will always see that you make the right way. Oh, how she missed her mother. She was a brave woman who always stood up for her family.

Bitterness filled Kate's heart as she remembered her sweet mother. Her resolve to find and know what had killed her and the rest of her family became stronger than ever before.

Standing in the hallway, she stood straight. With the help of the lights from the lighted wall lamps, she saw her shadow facing her left.

Oh let it be the right way, please. This was the first time she had put one of her mother's teachings to practice.

Taking her left, she continued walking through the lonely hallways. This mansion is so big but so lonely. Kate thought to herself. It was only Clarence and the man she saw in the evening, James was it? She had seen in this house.

After walking for quite a long way with her always taking her left when she came across a passage that led in two directions.

She finally came to stand in the sitting room where she had left Clarence. She breathed a sigh of relief. It worked! Thank you sweet mother, and thank you, goddess.

Not wanting to get lost again, she decided to stay in the sitting room. She went to the huge window draped with heavy black curtains, she slightly opened them and watched the dark sky as the snow continued to fall making the ground and trees look white.

The night looked so lonely like how she was. With no one to call her family except Madam Rosie. Madam Rosie cared for her as a mother would, but she was not her real Mother. She had watched as life left her real mother. She sighed feeling tired of everything going on in her life.

"Watching the snow?" Kate heard Clarence's voice above her head. When did he come in? She quickly turned only to bump her head on the man's hard chest.

Why did she look so small with him standing beside her? Kate was of good height but here she was looking so small.

And what was this he wore!? A black nightgown with the front open, exposing his well-chiseled chest and fair smooth skin that looked inviting. She quickly closed her eyes. ''Ahh!" She suddenly winced.

"What is it? Did you hurt your eyes while looking?" He didn't want to miss this chance to tease her. He had seen how she was looking at him. A mischievous smile on his face made Kate feel embarrassed. Had she been so obvious?

This shameless man never leaves a chance to display his shamelessness "Move back!" Kate ordered still closing her eyes.

"Fine" Clarence said sounding defeated.

Kate walked forward only to bump into him again. This time her eyes flew open as she glared at the man in front of her.

"I asked you to step back!"

"What? I did what you asked" Clarence said sounding innocent.

Even though he sounded innocent, Kate knew he had done it on purpose to annoy her.

She ignored him and walked forward to hear him say "James prepared dinner"

"I'm not hungry!" There was no way she was going to eat with this pervert. Just as she finished protesting her stomach rumbled loudly.

Hiding the laugh that was threatening to leave his lips "But your stomach says otherwise. Come on now, follow me"

Kate felt embarrassed and angry with her stomach, well the stomach knows what it wants. She haven't eaten since the afternoon and now that food was mentioned, she became really hungry.

Reluctantly she followed Clarence. With him showing the way, she watched his back. He had a broad shoulder that looked strong, and his shape was so nice that it made him look elegant while walking. A man like him would be chased by women.

He had wealth and is very handsome, who wouldn't want someone like that? She thought. Kate shook her head, what's wrong with me? Oh, it must be the hunger that got me hallucinating.

Clarence smiled at Kate's thoughts. She had forgotten he can hear her thoughts.

"We're here" He declared walking inside the dining room.

The aroma of the food which has been explicitly arrayed on the table filled her nostrils. The sight made her mouth watery.

The dining was quite large, with a long table and chairs that can hold up to twenty people.

Was it only James and Clarence that ate here?

"No" Clarence answered her thoughts.

Oh dear me, I've forgotten he can hear my thoughts.

"Yes I can"

"Can't you make it less obvious?" Kate glared at this man that didn't miss a chance to annoy her. "You have others who live here?" She asked going to sit on the chair Clarence pulled out for her. "Thank you".

Clarence sat opposite Kate before answering her "No"

No? Then why the big dinning if it's only two of them, she thought.

"No you got it wrong, James eats separately and I eat here alone" Clarence cleared her doubts.

"Oh" Kate muttered placing a napkin on her lap "That must be quite lonely"

"Yes it is, but with you here it won't be lonely again" He sounded pitiful when he said that.

Kate poked her head up to look at him and her voice was stiff when she asked "who's staying here?".

"You"