Chapter Four #6
“I’m s-sorry, Dora. I’m so sorry,” I sobbed, throwing my arms around her. Kazuya’s phantom fingers ripped open my thighs, making me cling to Dora tighter. “It’s all my f-fault. I couldn’t stop them... I couldn’t... protect you.”
“Charlotte...” Ronin’s voice was softer and gentler than I had ever heard it. “Let me get you out of here. Please.”
It was the please that did it. A word I’d never heard from a demon’s lips until that moment. Unable to look at him, I nodded—
—and the courtyard fell away.
Plopping down on something soft, I looked up to find me and Dora on the carpet in Ronin’s room—once my room.
A roaring fire spread its heat, trying to banish the chill that seeped into my bones.
Ronin crossed the room to pour two glasses of water and then brought them to us. After doing so, he claimed a seat on the couch... and neither of us moved nor spoke.
It wasn’t that I didn’t know what to say.
I just didn’t know what to say first. Did I thank him for saving us?
Did I repeat what I screamed through the phone—that I’d given in and was ready to accept the sub bond?
Did I ask him how he became that large and terrifying creature?
Did I ask if he knew all along that it’d would come to this—me on the floor before him... all out of bluster, words, and excuses?
Ronin broke the silence first. “That’s the first time you’ve seen a malevolent form, isn’t it?
” he asked. “Sorry if that freaked you out. It might make you feel better to know that only the most powerful of demons can take that form, and they can only do it when powered by pure, explosive hatred... all of which I felt when I saw what those bastards did to you.”
I squeezed Dora tighter, shaking. Again, silence descended as I finally chose what to say.
“Dora’s hurt,” I rasped. “Can you... use your magic to heal her?”
He shook his head. “Dark magic doesn’t heal. Not in the way you mean, at least. I can’t heal her injuries, only transfer them to someone else—”
“Then, transfer them to me.”
A slight twitch of the brow gave away his surprise. “Charlotte, you don’t have to go this far. You don’t deserve those injuries any more than she does. Why should you carry the pain?”
“I do deserve them.” My voice was sharp.
Hard. “You warned me not once, not twice, but three times that alone I was no match for the enemies I’d face here.
I’ve been going it alone—taking care of Dora alone—for four years.
Long enough that I really thought I could handle anything and protect her no matter what came my way.
“I’m the biggest fucking idiot that ever walked around without a curly wig and clown paint, and because of my arrogance, my sister was attacked.” Watering eyes met his. “So don’t argue with me, and give me her pain.”
Ronin didn’t argue with me. Leaning forward, he touched Dora’s cheek and chanted something in a language my mind refused to understand—translation spell or no.
Slowly but surely, the swelling and redness faded from Dora’s cheek and eye, as throbbing pain bloomed in mind.
Half a second after Ronin pulled away, Dora popped up beaming. “Wow, I feel so much better and— Ooohh, nice room. It’s so pretty.”
Dora rolled out of my grasp, leaving me squawking as she jumped up to explore.
Ronin hummed. “Hmm. The pure soul spell. Never thought I’d see it in person.”
“What?” I seized, spinning around. “What did you say?”
“I said your sister’s under the pure soul spell,” he dropped like it was nothing. “Angelic magic, so I’m guessing Lucifer did that to her.” He shrugged. “Although, one of his angel enemies could’ve done it too.”
“You’ve heard of this before? But Tristan said no one other than angels knows a thing about their magic or spells.”
“And he’s right,” he replied, reclining back in his chair and watching Dora dance with a pillow. “Angels are incredibly tight-lipped about the secrets of their magic, but all lips loosen in the presence of my father.
“One tried to teach my father angelic magic in the hopes of currying his favor, but the Lord Sloth has little interest in learning new things,” he said. “But Father did admit that among her boring droning, one spell did pique his interest”—Ronin gestured to Dora—“the pure soul spell.
“It’s a spell that washes away your sins and reverts you to a state of complete innocence and tranquility, removing even the capacity to think about doing something wicked.” Ronin met my eyes, a smirk dancing on his lips. “It’s a spell that guarantees you’ll get into heaven.”
“What?” I cried, jumping up.
Immediately, I swayed—pain ricocheting in my head and dropping me back down. “Get into heaven?” I forced out, rubbing my temples. “But then why... is she still here?”
“She’s still undead. But if you killed her now”—a lance went through my heart—“while she’s in this state, heaven is where she’s sure to go.”
“No!”
“Whoa, whoa, easy,” Ronin soothed, throwing his hands up. “I wasn’t suggesting it. I was just answering your question.”
I breathed hard, clutching my chest as visions of Mother plunging that knife in Dora’s heart assaulted my memory. Of course Ronin wasn’t suggesting he’d hurt her. It was me who asked, and he who answered honestly.
I just need to calm down and breathe. Dora and I are safe now, and safe is how we’ll stay.
There’s just one thing I need to do.
“You haven’t brought it up on your own,” I began, “and I appreciate that, but we don’t need to drag it out. I’d said I’d take your deal. I’ll do the sub bond thing, so l-let’s just get it over with.”
I was proud of myself. My voice only cracked once.
Ronin got to his feet. “We can get it over with, sure, but let’s do it in private.
You’re both under my protection now, so it’s time we moved you out of that hovel,” he said.
“You and your sister can have the room next to this one. I’ll remove the external door and make it adjoining so that the only way someone can get into your room is by going through mine, and no one is going to break into mine. ”
“You d—”
Before I could finish saying he didn’t have to go that far, Ronin snapped his fingers three times.
“Agh!” sounded from the hallway. “What the fuck!” Thud! Thud! Thud! “What’s going on!”
I was about to ask that myself when a door as grandiose as the rest of the room appeared beside the fireplace.
Ronin gestured for me to check it out.
Shakily, I rose up and reached for Dora’s hand. She happily skipped behind me as I led her into the next room.
It wasn’t as nice as Ronin’s, but it was much nicer and twice as big as the one Dora and I were in now.
Two full-sized beds claimed one side of the room, and scattered before them were two wardrobes, two desks, a small sitting area with two armchairs, and another door that likely led to a bathroom.
Honestly, it was perfect for our needs—which weren’t many.
I just wanted to fall asleep without the hissing of hungry vampires or the baying of lust-addled demons in my ears.
Ronin brushed past. “I assume it’s a mortal custom to dress like a lunatic in public.”
I couldn’t stop the blush stealing over my cheeks.
“But if you could see your way to letting that custom go, you could wear these.”
Ronin opened the wardrobe and my eyes bugged. Dresses, tops, shoes, pants, and skirts for all occasions swung on the hangers. All occasions, but not all price points. One look told me that each and every single item of clothing in this wardrobe was screamingly expensive.
“I— I can’t accept this,” I blurted. “Ronin, seriously, I don’t need all of these things. All I’m asking for is protection—for me and my sister.”
“And that’s what I intend to give you by making it clear that you’re under the protection of House Belphe, but if you’re to represent my House, you can’t continue on as you have.
” Ronin shut the wardrobe and leaned on it.
His shirt was nothing but tatters hanging off his shoulders, and his pants were half gone, and somehow he still looked like he just stepped off the runway.
“The Sins are changing the way things are run around here. The strong with the strong. The weak with the weak. And the—”
“—freaks with the freaks,” I muttered. I perched on the edge of the bed, my legs still shaking from the fear and adrenaline. As much as I was trying to put it out of my mind, I could still feel Kazuya’s filthy paws on my legs and thighs. “I got the memo this morning.”
Ronin tipped his head. “The short of it is that from now on, you’ll only be as popular, strong, and as safe as your allies. I won’t let anyone put a finger on you,” he said, “but demons have endless ways to hurt a mortal that aren’t physical, or even magical.
“You’ll have to give them a reason to back off.” His eyes were piercing. “And that doesn’t happen when everyone thinks you’re an insanely dressed freak.”
I was quiet for a spell, and then I nodded. “Okay,” I whispered. “I get it. The nail that stands out gets its head bashed in. I’m starting to get that memo too.”
He gestured to the door. “Shall we talk terms?”
I hesitated, caution and fear rising up in my throat—choking me. Am I seriously going to do this? Willingly enter into a slave contract with a demon I’ve known for barely a month. Is this really the only option I have?
“No one’s forcing you into anything, Hunter.”
My head snapped up at his voice... and the kind, patient look in his eyes.
“I assumed you have your reasons for being in Abaddon, but if you don’t, then there is one more option you can consider for your protection,” he said. “You and your sister can live in my palace in Ignavia.
“Nothing and no one goes against the word of my father, and if Father says you’re not to be touched, that is how it will be. No one in House Belphe will bother either of you, and more than that, you won’t have to deal with the dangers and politics of the academy.”