Chapter 27
TWENTY-SEVEN
"L uce, are you all right?" Thea asks as she comes into the room.
"Yes. Now I'm fine. My wounds are healed, see?" I point to my knees.
"Your lip, too," she notes, raising a brow. "Ze was quite busy, wasn't he?"
"Oh, it's nothing like that," I hurry to add, thinking she's going to imagine the worst. "I dabbed some of his, ehm, saliva on my lip." I strain a smile.
She doesn't look particularly convinced as she takes a seat on the bed next to me.
"You should be careful with him," she suddenly says as she takes my hands in hers. Her expression is serious—entirely unlike the Thea I've come to know.
"What do you mean? Isn't he your friend?"
"He is, though I'm sure he wouldn't call me that." She lets out a dry chuckle. "But he's also...unpredictable. Until a while ago, I thought I knew him well, but now I'm wondering just how much I truly knew him."
"I don't understand." I frown.
"I've known Ze since I was young. My brother went to train under him when he was very young, and Ze would come visit our family home every now and then. He's always been...cold. Emotionless. Some say that's why he's the best at what he does—because he relies on cold logic and unbendable rules. But more than anything, that's what makes him ruthless. He doesn't have a moral compass. For him, there's no such thing as right or wrong, there's only his position and the orders he receives."
I blink as I slowly take her words in.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because Ze has never broken a rule before. In all of his existence, he's never broken a rule."
"I kind of gathered that," I add dryly, thinking back to his outraged remarks.
"What he did today. He broke a rule. And it's not the first time."
"What rule?" I frown.
"He's not allowed to dispatch someone unless he's directly under attack."
"But he was," I add, confused.
She shakes her head, the corners of her mouth curling up.
" You were under attack."
"We're a team. What happens to me reflects on all of you," I point out.
She just smiles at me indulgently.
"I like you, Luce. I don't want anything to happen to you. Just...keep this in mind, okay?"
"Okay..." I answer, still not seeing the point of this conversation. Ze has been nothing but nice to me—granted, in his own, surly way. He might not be the best with words, but his actions prove that his heart is in the right place.
"Speaking of today. Why were those people so incensed about a tail?"
"Those damned foxes." She rolls her eyes. "They're very particular about their tails. To touch their tail without permission is the most offensive thing you can do. They're usually pests and no one can stand them. They probably picked on you because you're human and they thought they could eliminate a contestant easily."
"Is it going to be like this from now on? Are people going to keep attacking us?"
"I reckon they'll try. It's about to get more and more vicious, Luce. You need to keep your guard up."
I nod.
Thea gets up, stretching languidly and proclaiming she's exhausted. Her demeanor changes back to normal, mischievous Thea as she jumps on her bed, bouncing on the mattress.
Shaking my head, I get up, telling her I'm going to take a shower before bed. I gather a change of clothes and go to the bathroom. At first glance, the place is eerily similar to a bathroom in my world, except the bathtub is made of wood.
Interesting.
I carefully explore the plumbing until I manage to turn on the hot water, then get in the tub and wash myself thoroughly. Yet no matter how much I try to relax and forget today's events, I can't. Nikki's plea to quit echoes in my head.
But how could I willingly give up when it's my only chance to get him back in this lifetime?
I can't deny that I'm at a disadvantage given my frail human condition. Even if there are other humans in the competition, considering the abilities I've seen displayed today, I doubt any will make it out alive.
And that leaves only one recourse.
I need to become better— stronger . And the first step is information. I need to find out as much as I can about the other contestants—their strengths and weaknesses.
Taking a deep breath, I rinse myself before dressing up and heading back to the room. Thea is already in her bed, fast asleep. I get under the covers and close my eyes.
I sleep like the dead. I'm utterly content under the blanket, my body cocooned in warmth and comfort. Maybe it's the exhaustion of the day, or simply my mind being in dire need of a break, but I don't think I've ever had a better sleep.
And it's all being made even better by the fact that Nikki appears in my dreams, hugging me from behind and resting his chin in the crook of my shoulder. His breath is on my skin, the beat of his heart loud in my ears.
"Luce? You need to wake up," a voice calls out to me.
I groan, pulling the covers over my head.
"Five more minutes," I grumble. I'm not ready to give up this perfect dream yet. If only I could hang onto it just for a few more moments...
"Luce! Come on, the second trial announcement will start soon."
My eyes snap open at hearing that, and I jump into a sitting position.
"Come on, get ready. I'll be outside," Thea says, waving at me and getting out of the room.
I rub my eyes as a yawn escapes me. Damn, but that was a fine dream.
Scrambling off the bed to get dressed, I almost don't notice the imprint on my bed. I carefully pull the blanket off the bed as I study the sheet and pillow with a frown. There's the outline of my body, but there's another outline—particularly on the pillow, there's the impression of another head.
"Nikki?" I whisper, hope blossoming inside my chest.
After the way he disappeared yesterday, I was heartbroken at thinking he might be mad at me. But if he was here... If my dream wasn't just a dream...
"Thank you," I say with a smile, hugging my arms to my chest and imagining it's his embrace instead.
My mood vastly improves as I realize that Nikki likely spent the night with me, holding me in his arms. With a smile on my face, I quickly get dressed and go to meet the others.
"I'm ready," I call out excitedly. "Let's do this!"
"My, my, you're in a terrific mood today, Luce." Thea chuckles.
I nod vigorously.
"I'm very optimistic about this," I say, happily hopping around until I reach their side. Ze's mood, on the other hand, is right about the opposite as he glares at me.
I ignore him as I squeeze between Thea and Cer.
He scowls at Cer, which prompts him to offer his spot to Ze.
"It seems someone didn't sleep very well last night," I quip playfully as I look up at Ze's sour expression.
He narrows his eyes at me.
"I did not," he replies in a strained voice.
"Well, I did, so keep your surliness to yourself, okay?" I smile, skipping about, unable to contain my energy. I'm not about to let him or anyone ruin my good mood.
"Why are you smiling like a fool, human?" Ze barks out.
"Maybe I am a fool." I shrug. "But I'm a happy fool," I say as I stick out my tongue at him.
"Stop smiling," he grits out.
"Nope." I shake my head.
"I forbid you to smile without my approval, human." He stops in his tracks, his eyes shooting daggers at me.
"Good thing I don't need your approval." I wink. Not even his arrogance can make me lose my temper today.
"Human," he growls low in his throat. Coming toward me, he stops just as his chest meets mine. With how tall he is, I need to crane my head back to the maximum to be able to look into his eyes.
"Yes, Sir Sparkles?" I ask innocently.
His cheek twitches dangerously.
I raise a brow at him, daring him to tell me more of what I can and can't do—just to prove him the opposite.
"Stop. Smiling," he repeats.
"Make. Me." I stretch my lips into a wider smile.
Out of nowhere, his hands shoot out, his fingers on the corners of my mouth as he pulls my lips down. His brows are knit together in concentration as he tries to stop me from smiling.
Damn, someone really didn't sleep well last night if he's so bothered by a simple smile.
He somehow manages to pull my lips into a flat line. His own lips twitch in response. He proudly nods to himself as he continues to stare at me with those intense eyes of his. There's something odd about the way he regards me, and in a weird twist of fate, I don't know whether to feel flustered or incensed at his behavior.
"I think we shouldn't start the day with a conflict," Thea intervenes, sneaking between us. His hands drop from my face, but his expression doesn't change. If anything, I catch a note of wistfulness, but I could be wrong. I don't think Ze has more than two basic emotions—annoyance and arrogance.
"We need to show a strong front. People are watching," she says as she inclines her head toward the audience gathered around us.
Ze mumbles something under his breath as he pushes his chin up in indignation, but not before he gives me one last scathing look.
Just what the hell is his deal today?
I roll my eyes, taking Thea's arm and continuing toward the courtyard. On our way, we have the opportunity to see more teams. Most of them are in pairs of four or a maximum of five, with very few in duos or trios. Some are humanoid-looking like the foxes from yesterday while some are less...normal-looking—at least my kind of normal. There's a wide variety of horns, tails, and other...appendages.
"In Christian lore, demons are the ones with horns generally," I mention quietly to Thea.
"Oh, those?" She points directly to one of the horned groups—who immediately take note of her interest. "They're some incubi species. Right, Cer?"
"Don't look at them, Thea. They'll take it as an invitation."
"Invitation?" I frown.
"They...feed on sex," Cer explains, doing his best to keep a straight face.
"Oh." My curiosity immediately plummets as I avert my gaze.
"Oh, indeed." Thea chuckles. "I guess they would be seen as demons in your world, but it's not what we'd technically call a demon. Humans tend to call any being with less than honorable intentions a demon."
Cer nods. "They're known to usually prey on humans since they are the easiest to control. They've been around for thousands of years in your world."
My lashes flutter in disbelief. First, there are demons that feed on human souls. Now there are other creatures that prey on humans? My God! A shudder goes down my back as I realize just how unsafe my world is. And here I thought that my past was the epitome of fucked up. But it seems it doesn't even begin to cover the reality.
"Does no one stop them from taking advantage of people?" I ask, horrified.
"No one has reason to." He shrugs. "A lot of the species you see here are parasitic in one way or another. They're all looking out for their best interests."
"What about you guys? You fight demons. Can't you fight them, too?"
Ze snorts from the back. I turn and notice he's walking right behind me. "It is not our duty," he intervenes in his scholarly tone. "Although some species may cause human death, they don't cause the total annihilation of the soul. We're merely charged with protecting the cycle of the soul. Human life means little to us."
"I wasn't talking to you," I tell him before turning my attention back to Cer. He's still not off the hook after his behavior.
"Your world has a trophic chain. In the grand scheme of things, these species also occupy a position in the universe's trophic chain," Cer notes.
"You mean to tell me humans are not at the pinnacle of evolution? What a controversial statement." I laugh.
"Cerenios," Ze calls his name, a warning echoing in his voice.
Cer gives him an odd look and, shaking his head, he steps to the side to allow Ze to get in line with us.
God, he's like a petulant child upset he's not the center of attention.
"Your reality is merely one of many," Ze continues as he resumes his spot by my side. Hands behind his back, he walks as if he owns the entire place. "There are many worlds out there, and even more realms. But most of them are in agreement on one thing—humans are at the bottom."
I roll my eyes at him. What did I even expect him to say?
"Might I remind you that you have a human on your team?"
"I am aware," he states blankly. "You should thank the fates for bringing me into your life."
Thea can barely contain her smile, while Cer isn't far behind. Only Ze isn't laughing—because he's actually serious . He believes what he's saying.
"Oh, I am so very lucky," I add sarcastically. "What would have become of me if it weren't for your magnanimity?"
"Good of you to recognize your good fortune." He nods, pleased. "I knew you were wise for a human," he continues.
My hands curl into fists by my side as I barely resist the urge to tell him just how lucky I feel.
"It's not worth it," Thea whispers in my ear.
I blow out an annoyed breath. Yes, it's not the time to get mad at him. The man can't even recognize sarcasm. If anything, I should pity him and his narrow worldview.
As we reach the courtyard, I note just how many people there are. There must be a few hundred—if not more. Since we came a little late, we're in the back.
We make our way a little farther into the crowd before Ze suddenly puts a stop to it, placing his arm in front of me.
"That is enough," he commands, his eyes monitoring the movement of everyone around us. Although he's been a grouchy asshole all morning, I value his insight when it comes to the competition.
He pulls me backward, placing himself behind me as he rests his hands on my shoulders. I blink in confusion, but I don't question it when Cer does the same with Thea. A few moments roll by before a noise erupts from the front. The crowd grows wild as people start chanting an odd name.
"Milado, Milado!"
"What's happening?" I ask Ze. With everyone taller than me, the only things I can see are people's backs— lots of backs.
"Someone is on the stage," he answers laconically.
"I kind of gathered that." I sigh. "But who is it? Can you tell me what's happening? I can't see anything, in case you haven't noticed," I add drily.
"I have noticed," he replies glibly. "You are a very small human. Somewhat like a little pet."
"W-what? A pet?" I sputter, my eyes widening in shock. I turn to face him, ready to let him know that he's crossed the line. But in his nonchalant style, Ze doesn't stop there.
"Yes." He nods thoughtfully. "A cuddly little pet. If you strayed on my grounds, I would spare your life. Maybe feed you. Maybe I would even keep you," he says as he taps his finger against his chin.
"Wow, Ze. That's so generous of you. I would love to be your pet. Why, I can't believe you'd even feed me!" Of course, the full-on sarcasm is lost on him.
"You do need more meat on your bones," he points out as his eyes scan my frame.
"I think you should stop there," I warn, narrowing my eyes at him. "Jesus, you need to read a book on sarcasm," I mutter, shaking my head.
Suddenly, he frowns.
"Who is this Jesus and why are you suddenly bringing him up, human?" he demands, his eyes glinting dangerously.
"What? You don't know who Jesus is?"
"You are forbidden from saying that name again." He places his finger against my lips. "You cannot simply say another man's name in conversation with me."
I blink slowly as I stare at him. He doesn't even know who Jesus is...
Why do I even try?
Removing his finger from my person, I release a sigh as I turn my back to him. Ignoring him is the best course of action when he's so vexing. Otherwise, I may end up saying or doing something that's entirely unbecoming.
"And I still don't know what's happening on the stage," I mumble, squaring my shoulders.
"It's the host for this trial," Thea says, finally taking pity on me. "He's a minor Earth deity if I'm not mistaken."
"He is," Ze grunts, inserting himself in the conversation— again . I sneak a glance at him and note that he doesn't seem very pleased with Milado's appearance.
"You know him?"
"I know his kind."
"And?" I probe.
"I do not like them," he growls. He doesn't explain further. He merely directs his attention to the stage, no doubt imagining countless scenarios in which he could harm that Milado person.
"He hates Earth deities," Thea leans in to whisper. "He's been badgered for a long time by a slew of Earth nymphs—among others."
"Earth nymphs?"
"Minor deities, but they always think themselves so important." Thea rolls her eyes. "They think he's a catch, so there's a running bet on who's going to land him first."
I blink in surprise.
"Are we talking about the same Ze?"
He might be good-looking, but I doubt anyone would consider his extraordinarily sociable personality a prize.
"Yes, I don't know how that happened." She laughs.
"I will have you know that I am very sought-after," Ze intervenes with a huff. "I have been branded the most eligible mate at every court I have been to."
"I can't say I know why," I say, struggling not to laugh.
He narrows his eyes at me.
"Of course you would not. Your human mind is too narrow for that."
"I will accept that as my fault." I nod, amused.
He stares me down.
I shake my head and turn, ignoring him and his too inflated ego. Most eligible mate, my ass. I truly wonder how that happened.
Leaning closer to Thea, I whisper, "Is this the part where you finally admit to me that you're not a harpy?"
She blinks repeatedly as her eyes widen.
"Is it that obvious?"
"I was waiting for you to tell me on your own, but yes. It is very obvious."
"Drat it," she mumbles. "I thought I was good at it."
"You were quite mediocre." I pat her shoulder. "Except the claws. Those were a good addition."
She releases a dramatic sigh, though the corners of her mouth twitch in amusement. "We're from a realm called Arche," Thea mentions with a tight smile.
"Arche?" My brows go up. "Why the lie then?"
"Don't take it personally, Luce. I didn't want to lie, but we're technically not supposed to be here," she whispers. "So please, don't tell anyone or we'll be in big trouble."
"Of course. I wouldn't say anything that might harm you."
"Everything else I told you is true. Ze and Cer are part of an army that fights demons. I'm...well... I'm still taking my exams." She sighs.
"You are overly gregarious today, Erithea," Ze comments in his imperial tone.
She whips her gaze up, wariness entering her eyes. It's not the first time I've seen this. She's always careful around Ze, almost as if she fears him. And then there's also our conversation from last night in which she told me to be careful with him. I can't help but wonder what happened between them...
"She's not dumb, Ze. She was bound to figure out I lied," she shrugs.
"Because it was not a good lie in the first place," he shoots back. "Harpies," he snorts. "It is little wonder that you have failed your exams five times already."
Thea's eyes widen with hurt. She blinks slowly as she nibbles at her lip.
"Ze! That was uncalled for." Cer shoots him a look—the first time he's been anything but deferential with him.
"Stop bullying my friend, Ze," I intervene in a stern tone. "You are being mean for no reason."
"I am only speaking the truth," he points out matter-of-factly.
"Sometimes it's better to be silent than be so insensitive."
He looks down at me, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"You think I am insensitive?" he asks in a low voice.
"That's an understatement." I roll my eyes. "You've been behaving abysmally the entire morning. What's gotten into you?" I ask, exasperated with his behavior. In the past, I might have seen his cluelessness about the world as cute. But this is straight-up mean.
He blinks slowly.
"I see. I shall attempt to be more sensitive, then." He nods, pursing his lips.
"I think you owe us an apology."