An Angel Or A Devil In Disguise?  

My encounter with Miss Marloon had tired me to the bone. Yet for some peculiar reason, I just couldn't fall asleep. Instead, wandering the hall of the hotel again, I found myself drawn to a distant voice coming from the lakeside. Walking out through the back door, I laid my eyes on Erica tending to her horses with a brush.

Running her hand in a swift guileful motion, she was plucking out fleas as well as other filth attached to their phantasmal bodies. How did they ever get dirty even though everything phased through them? I hadn't the slightest clue. Making my way over to the witch with the rising sun reflected in the lake, a soothing calm washed over me.

The morning dew on the sand brought comfort to my sore feet and the fluttering hint of grass in the air breathed new life into my tired body. Walking through the light mist, I stood silent before the witch. Watching her tend to her horses with but a gentle smile, eased the guilt in my heart for having forced her to share the secrets she bore as scars. 

"You know," pulling her brush off the horses, she glanced at me from the edge of her eyes. "It's been a while since someone didn't try to kill me in my sleep. I was expecting a similar treatment last night. But…"

Letting go of the brush from her fingers, she made it disappear into thin air. With a deep breath followed by a smile, she finally turned to face me.

"Either way, I think you deserve to know more before I have to return to the chaos of my world," turning her head, she glanced over the lake, at the trees, and the sun, all the while drawing long soothing breath of clear forest air. "It's–peaceful here, nothing like Elturia, the only thing you can smell there is either blood or malice."

Growing curious about this world she spoke of, I decided to indulge in my curiosity.

"You said you're a world traveler. Does that mean you're not from this realm but the realm of monsters? Or–"

"Neither, but yes. I'm traveling the world after one sneaky rascal," bringing her attention back to me, she took off one of her frilly dark gloves and held its index between us. Moving it around in a flurry of gestures, her magic began to paint a face in a blood-red aura. "Another slave of my master, I'm looking for him. He might know a way to find Mythril for my rotting face as well as the flower powering my magic."

Entranced by the portrait-making, my eyes were glued to the image of a young boy with glowing dark eyes and long-tipped ears. Dressed just as flamboyant as Erica, he had a huge hat on top and a jacket with decorated floral patterns. However, what fascinated me more was a miniature scaly dragon resting between his slender fingers.

"And you think he's been here, in our world? That's why you're here right?" I asked, breaking away from the portrait and looking back at Erica.

"Yes, I think he was here for a brief period, but no longer," drawing her hand back, she quickly put her gloves back on. "Even so, I need more rest before I can move on and so do my lovely horses."

The sudden sound of clanking steps from behind me, has us both turn to the voice. Carrying a large bucket, the marionette Dandelion was struggling to carry over from the hotel. Using her magic, Erica conjured a phantom hand of blood and took the bucket off of Dandelion's dainty fingers. The hand quickly carried the bucket over, leaving the marionette visibly furious.

"The lake's water is clear, but I didn't want to risk getting them sick," holding the buckets to the horses, Erica let them drink as much as they wanted. Once done, she put the bucket down and scratched the two on their chin before eyeing me again. "As peaceful as this seems, I can still feel a storm brewing up in that hotel."

It was clear that she'd sensed that something was wrong, after all, she'd heard the guests insulting Senya firsthand. 

"Say," holding her hand forward with the gloves still on, her expression changed from a light-hearted one to one much more serious. "I'm still a merchant who mostly deals in clothes, decoratives, magic items, and more, but if there's a deal to be struck here, one that would help you calm that storm, I can be more than just simply a traveling merchant."

A surge of abrupt thoughts sprung up in my head. Even though I knew nothing of what she was offering, her hand extended felt like a lifeline. However, at the same time, the cynical vampiric part of my new soul made me wonder–was she the angel in disguise that I needed or the devil veiled behind a mask? I had no way of knowing, at least not without knowing more about her.

"And what exactly are you offering, and why?" I asked.

"I told you that you deserve some answer, but before I tell you, I want you to make a promise," extending her hand further towards me, she added. "You'll allow me to put a hex on you and your friends, it'll make it so that you'll forget everything about my visit, except for the wish I bestow upon you. Your mind won't ever question how you got that power and you'll never want to find its source either."

The more she talked the more she sounded like the devil, but even so, I could see it in her eyes. She meant me or the girls no harm and simply wanted her existence to remain unknown to the rest of our world.

"Fine, I promise," having made my decision, I shook her hand.

"Then tell me what do you–" Cutting Erica's words, a sudden call came from behind me.

"Ken! Come back to the hotel, someone's missing!" Letting go of Erica's hand, I turned around to find Cinder screaming at the top of her lungs. "Senya and Rin have gone out to look, but I need you back here to calm down the other guests!"

"Dammit!" Having no clue exactly what had happened, I did as Cinder asked and followed her back into the hotel. 

The deal with Erica had to wait, at least until we found the missing person.