Page 25 of To Free a Soul (Duskwalker Beginnings #2)

Sneaking into the Demon Village was relatively easy for a being who could fly. All Lindiwe had to do was land on a branch and walk her little owl legs from the outside of a tree to the inside of it, all while ducking around bushels of leaves.

The village was large, and the protective, spiralling walls of gigantic trees weren’t to keep out Demons but to block those within from the sunlight, which could destroy them.

When she’d first come here out of curiosity a year ago, it was because she’d finally caved to her yearning to see Merikh in person. Even from a distance, she wanted to see how her oldest living child was doing – if he was well, happy, and cared for.

He was all those things, and more.

He was intelligent enough to hold a conversation with a stranger, albeit reluctantly due to his less than chirpy nature. He’d worn well-tailored clothing, walked with a confident stride, and even bartered for items of his liking with expertise.

And his companion, although someone she disliked greatly, had involved him in everything. Merikh was the half-Demon’s bodyguard, a well-known confidant, and... his greatest friend.

It was easy to see their amicable relationship even from afar.

When they’d disappeared together near the centre of the village by climbing down a set of stone stairs, Lindiwe had wanted to follow, but wisely kept her distance.

Within half an hour, more leaves had sprouted across all the trees spiralling around the village, and red flowers, similar to those of a lotus, had suddenly bloomed.

Within minutes, a fragrance she’d never smelt before littered the air.

They’d come to the village for a celebration or festival, which had commenced upon the flowers blooming. Music had played throughout the lively village, with a few dancers, acrobats, and fire spinners offering entertainment.

I’m glad there aren’t that many Demons here this time, Lindiwe thought, keeping hidden behind thick clusters of tree leaves.

There was also no festival, and fewer people here. Nor was there music, and the fire-lit lanterns were sparse, offering just enough light for those who did wander through it to see.

She crept across a thick branch, her talons cutting into hard bark, as she kept her owl eyes focused on one individual.

His white skull stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the Demons, who had patches of human skin of varying shades.

It didn’t help that Orpheus crept around on his hands and feet to appear less imposing in an anxiety-inducing environment.

He was in his humanoid form, something he’d only recently learned he could do, but he’d chosen to be crouched.

It made him look more beastly, more frightening, even if his orbs stated otherwise, shifting between a fearful white and curious dark yellow.

No one stopped him from entering, nor did they try to drive him out. They did, however, give him a wide berth when they noticed him, and offered him wary glances.

A small, relieved sigh slipped past her dark beak.

Good. I’m glad he’s being received. She lifted a wing to squeeze past a branch as she followed him deeper within the village. I was hoping that if they’ve accepted Merikh, they would accept Orpheus.

No one had told them otherwise. Orpheus would be done here before those who had seen him would finish running to Jabez’s castle to inform them about the new ‘Mavka’ that had entered their village. If all went well, Lindiwe hoped this meant he could keep returning.

Orpheus had already known about this place; he’d just never entered it. Getting him here had been a challenge all on its own.

Lindiwe had spoken to Katerina secretly, and the usually disgruntled and dismissive woman had been weirdly helpful in this regard. Once she’d learned he could obtain various luxuries for her, like a bathtub , the woman couldn’t seem to push him out of his own ward fast enough.

Being together for a little over two years meant they’d formed some kind of bond, not that Lindiwe really understood to what level from afar. Especially since she couldn’t see the intricate, private details of their life within their home.

His communication skills had improved rapidly; his language complexity was deeper, and she seemed to understand Orpheus. Lindiwe didn’t know if either of them was happy or not, but they had a form of companionship.

He hadn’t wanted to leave her, but Katerina had been very stern and had given him the ‘silent treatment.’

Lindiwe didn’t appreciate the emotional manipulation, as it obviously distressed him, but he caved to the idea for a reward later. Not that she knew what it was. She overheard Katerina mention the promise of one if he returned with a bath for her, among other things.

They knew Lindiwe would follow to assist him.

As he crept deeper within the village on his hands and feet, he shrank back from those around him each time they neared. It was obvious he found the presence of so many overwhelming, and their stares unnerved him.

They were Demons, and he was used to them being violent towards him.

Even the largest and scariest-looking Demon was nervous about Orpheus when he neared and quickly moved away.

They all gave him a wide berth, but some glared at him as he passed.

When a couple dared to growl at him, he offered a snarl back in retaliation, with his fur puffing, which instantly quelled their aggression.

Perhaps her most violent child, Merikh, had shown them to back down to his kind. A good outcome, in the grand scheme of things.

Lindiwe winced when a Demon child, probably no older than six years old, saw Orpheus and froze on the spot.

.. then let out a high-pitched cry of terror.

Their parent, she couldn’t tell what gender, proceeded to wrap their arms around the child’s head and bring it to their chest. They gave a protective warning snarl with their fangs bared.

Pushing off, Lindiwe kept her wings close to her body to quicken her dive just as Orpheus’ orbs reddened.

She grabbed one of his horns with her foot and yanked his head back when it looked as though he was about to roar in confused anger.

The sound cut short, and she let go to flap her wings while hovering before him.

Stay calm, Orpheus, she mentally told him, holding his stare. Remember, no one will hurt you if you don’t hurt them.

She didn’t know if that was true, but it was what she hoped.

All of this was a guess.

She waited for his crimson orbs to soften and then turn to his natural blue.

He darted his wolf skull towards the child, and who Lindiwe could now see was its father, and snorted out a rough huff through his nose hole.

He moved on, showing them, and everyone around them, that he had no intention of harming them.

Seeing as it was safe for now, and that her presence had been given away when she’d been hoping to remain hidden, she flew to the top of a building. When Orpheus went to walk past it, she gave a hoot, and he looked up at her.

She bounced down its slanted roof until she was just above its doorframe, and his skull darted between her and it. The tile roofing clacked underneath her talons when she lightly stamped her foot.

Go inside here.

It took him a few moments, but he lifted his right hand from the ground and held the bag strap situated across his torso a little tighter. When he stepped towards the door frame, he looked up to her for guidance, and she nodded.

He entered.

With too many eyes on her, all curious or unsure of her presence, she was unable to shift into her human form. She didn’t know what would happen if they saw her, and she didn’t want to draw any more attention to Orpheus than he – or her owl form – was currently doing.

At least she was able to overhear their conversation.

Lindiwe hung onto every word shared between Orpheus and the storekeeper.

Snush’s voice was mousey, and had a nervous shake to it, but he didn’t usher her child from his clothing store.

Orpheus must have understood why she wanted him to go inside, because he stated one word, just one, that made the unseen Snush answer with his own.

“Clothing...” Orpheus said hoarsely, his voice grungy but not beastly.

“T-trade?” Snush retorted in a meek and quiet voice.

Whatever Orpheus produced was enough to prove he was serious and had something of value to trade.

She was thankful that she’d discovered many crystal mines within Austrális in her wanderlust, including amethysts, opals, and sapphires. She’d brought Orpheus to the mine closest to his home in preparation for coming here.

By the time Orpheus exited, most of his fur and protruding skeletal bones were hidden away by a pair of black trousers and a button-up shirt.

His deer tail was exposed by a slit in the back of his pants, and the front was made with ties that allowed for tightening around his narrow waist. He also had a new bag to go with the first one, and Lindiwe figured Snush had given him multiple pairs of trousers and shirts.

Orpheus scratched at his back and arms as he walked, and then his backside, unused to the feeling of being clothed.

Yet as uncomfortable as he looked in them, Lindiwe couldn’t resist the joyful spring in her steps as she followed him from rooftop to rooftop.

He looks so cute, so handsome! She gave an accidental hoot that would have been a gleeful squeal had she been in her human form. He looks so dapper in his outfit!

At the sound she made, he looked towards her with dark-yellow orbs and a head tilt. She held in her excitement and remained still so he wouldn’t try to enter the building below her clawed feet. She didn’t even know what it was.

Even though he looked more sophisticated, the Demons continued to give him a wide berth. Lindiwe receded back into the twisting, spiralling tree canopy above, remaining hidden as best as she could.

When he approached a cart merchant selling pretty gems and ornament-crafting materials, Lindiwe was surprised by his interest. He sat on his haunches as he inspected it all, as if mesmerised by the pretty shinies.

Before the woman shopkeeper could ask, Orpheus dug into his satchel, which sat above a new one given to him by Snush, and pulled out a handful of broken amethyst crystals.

She shook her head when he shoved his hand at her to trade.

“T-that’s too much,” she pleaded. “I-I’d only need a few. You don’t need to give me that many.”

Before she could finish, he pulled his hand back, dumped half of the pieces into his other palm, and held them out to her.

Her blonde eyebrows furrowed as she took them with trembling hands and placed them in her wooden trade box next to her.

Then she proceeded to place everything he picked up into a large pouch, whether he truly wanted it or not.

When their awkward exchange was complete, the woman picked up an amethyst and gestured to it.

“Thank you, Mavka. I like your trade.” She picked up a piece of crude jewellery she’d made, obviously not a well-skilled craftsperson yet. “I’ve never seen pretty stones like these, and I can practise with them. I’m sure others will like them.”

He dipped his skull down to her hand and then back to her face. “Orpheus.”

Her light complexion paled further as her eyes widened. “Pardon?”

“Name is Orpheus, not Mavka. Orpheus is Mavka.”

“Oh.” She offered a strained smile. “Thank you, Orpheus. ”

He nodded with a snorting huff and then moved on – a little more confidently than before. He never noticed how the Demon fell back into a chair as if all the energy was sapped out of her, and how the attendant at the cart next to her selling herbs came to her side.

“Are you okay, Coyul?” the man asked.

“By the cursed light, did you see that?” she muttered, fanning herself and attempting calming breaths. “I’ve only seen Merikh from afar, but I’ve heard the other Mavka are more violent. I was so worried he’d try to eat me!”

“At least he didn’t steal anything,” he stated, eyeing Orpheus walking away, only for his eyes to widen when Lindiwe’s child grew confident enough to stand on two legs once he left a different cart. “Are they all so big?”

I’m glad the village has a scent-cloaking spell, Lindiwe mused. She turned her attention away from them and brought it back to Orpheus, who garnered more stares now that he was standing at his full height in his humanoid form. Without it, the smell of their fear might have sent him into bloodlust.

That, or the aroma of blood from the meat market further in would have.

When he really needed specific guidance, she’d find a place to shift into a human, use black mist to mostly obscure her presence, and leave behind something he would understand.

A single white feather, pulled from her cloak.