Devil Himself

"Can I trust you?" afflicted by fear and distrust, Marlowe asked. Her voice came off as a whisper.

Thanks to his Vampiric abilities, he heard it loud and clear. "Yes, you can," he assured her, precisely not wanting any more hesitation.

Yet, he could still see the reluctance brimming in her mesmerizing gaze. He decided to be rather calm.

An attribute he knew he didn't posses.

"Come," he told her. His eyes flashed with something when he saw her intent stare on his outstretched hand.

Knowing her fear, he placed it back to his side.

Marlowe gaped at the ethereal figure patiently waiting for her.

On careful scrutiny, only his eyes made him look fearful. Apart from that, one might not even know his true identity.

He was…rather pleasant to behold. A fine man that was rarely seen in the east of Valcresh—except the son's of noble lords.

No. This one's more beautiful.

Breaking free from her unintended daze, Marlowe carefully pinned a leg forward before uttering, "Y-you go, I—I'll follow,"

No matter how fine of a specimen he is, he was still a bloodsucking creature.

And at this moment, she was playing with her life.

A slight slant of his lips was his response before he did as she requested.

Her small steps were audible from behind and he could tell, she was skeptical about following him.

Marlowe kept a pertinent distance between them while she slowly followed.

She didn't know if she made the right choice, or if she's being careful.

But one thing was for sure, she didn't trust his words of him being 'just' a Royal guard. There's more to him that meets the eye.

"Why did you choose to run into the forest than head back home?" he suddenly questioned, still moving ahead at a followable pace.

Not expecting him to speak, a jolt left her body when his deep voice echoed through the woods. "I—I don't know my way home from here," she muttered; barely a whisper. "I wanted to be safe first."

"That's foolish of you," Lothan admonished. Earning a frown from her. Tilting his head to the side subtly, he glanced at her from the corner of his eyes.

Although Marlowe couldn't see his face, she could imagine the expression he'd have. The mockery in his words were clear.

She wanted to retort but bit her lip in time.

Arguing with him might result in her being his meal. She doesn't want that.

They walked along in silence. Only the wind being sonorous. She tried to match his pace with all the trees and branches getting in her way till they arrived at a steep slope, instantly making her alarmed.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked. Her feeble heart picking up its pace once again.

Lothan turned to her, the frustration in his eyes were palpable.

"You wouldn't have followed me if you don't trust me," he deadpanned. His expression dimming by the second.

Of course, she don't trust him!

But she couldn't tell him that now, could she?

Not when he had taken her to an unknown place.

As if reading her feelings all in her frightened eyes, Lothan veered back around. "This is the way out of here," he said to her.

"No!" she bursted. Skimming the area with horror visible in her eyes.

"I had not seen this place when I ran in here," she asserted as she watched Lothan close his eyes before inhaling deeply; obviously peeved by her incorporation.

When he opened his eyes again, they were fixed on her and she stumbled subconsciously.

The red, glowing darker. Filled with all the forbidden promises in this world.

Even worse when he began drawing near to her. "Why are you testing my patience again and again, lady?" he questioned. His voice low and deep that made her paunch sink and her breath hitched.

Seeing her retreating figure, he stopped just an inch away from her.

He could feel it,...she breathed fear.

Fear of him.

His predatory gaze took in every bit of her face. Especially those eyes of hers that seems to be a reflection of one's soul.

As though afraid that she could really see through his dead soul, he hurriedly raised his gaze away, looking up at the sky while exhaling that breath he held.

"This is the way out of here without the risk of getting discovered by the monsters," he disclosed in a neutral tone.

Marlowe scrutinized the dangerous valleys ahead from above his shoulder. A line of worry appeared on her forehead, and as if knowing what she was thinking, he said,

"That'll require me to carry you out of here," he said. "may I?" Though he sought permission, but without waiting for a response from her, he bent and took her knees and back in his arms, hauling her up which elicited a cry from her.

Marlowe's eyes widen abruptly in shock, while her hands clung on his shoulders for her life.

How ironic how she was holding on to danger itself, while being scared of death.

She was so close that she could feel his heat through her clothes. But…weren't vampires said to be cold? Why is he so warm?

Leveled with his eyes, she was too afraid to look elsewhere, scared from how tall he is.

Marlowe wasn't given enough time to think, before she felt a force, and the next thing they were up in the air, before landing almost immediately once more.

"Close your eyes," he demanded in a voice so soothing that got her instantly obeying once she realized he was leaping.

She had heard of this abilities of theirs, but this was the first time she had ever seen it—not to talk of experiencing it.

And all of a sudden, everything went calm and still. She frowned when she realized that they weren't moving any longer.

Slowly, she opened her eyes to be dreaded by the sight in front of her.

It was…the Royal Castle!

She whipped her head to give him that questioning look, only for her world to crumble by that devil-like smile he wore on that devilishly-handsome face of his.

Like he was the devil himself.