Page 54

She nodded and said her byes.

Cel was walking so slow out of the house, especially with how tiny she was just making her slower.

For every step I took, she used three. So I picked her up and carried her, she wrapped her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck, resting her head on my shoulder.

The crisp air entered my lungs and my muscles relaxed. “Did you not take your nap today?”

“Um... I did… Just tired,” she whispered. Her body went limp as she fell asleep in my arms and I tightened my grip around her.

Demons were like cats, sleeping longer than they're awake. So, her being narcoleptic on top of it must make it unbearable to stay awake, especially if she doesn’t have a proper place to sleep.

People stared at us as I held her, waiting for the train to arrive.

When it finally did, I set her down in a seat and she leaned against my arm, still asleep.

A few passengers kept their eyes on her, and I hated it.

I swore I saw someone shamelessly snap a photo, but I didn’t want to overreact in case I was wrong.

Not wanting to disturb her, I shifted my leg to block their view.

It must be exhausting to have people stare all the time—or maybe she doesn't even notice anymore.

Either way, they couldn't seem to look away from her.

***

It wasn’t too many stops before I carried her out, and she unconsciously wrapped herself around me again. Eventually, we made it to my place, and I managed to unlock the door without dropping her.

Niko was awake and watching a movie with Renee. “You’re home late.” He turned noticing Cel in my arms. “What are you doing? What happened?” He ran towards us.

I hushed him. “She’s just tired,” I explained in a low voice. “She’s narcoleptic so—”

“Did anyone follow you?” he whispered in a panic.

“I made sure no one followed us,” I reassured, I’m not an idiot.

“Silias is going to hunt us down.” He searched for his car keys. “We need to get her home.”

“He's asked her to do something she doesn't want to. Silias doesn't need to know she's here.”

“Who’s this?” Renee asked, coming to our side.

I gave her a small smile. “Hi, Renee. This is Celestine. ”

She exchanged knowing looks with Niko, before moving behind me to get a look at Cel’s face.

Renee sucked in a breath, “Demons below.” She gently ran her fingers through Cel’s hair, needing to touch her to see if she was real.

“She looks like a porcelain doll.” She turned to me.

“I see why you lose control around her.”

I felt the prickling heat on my cheeks. “Renee.” Please be sleeping right now.

Niko stared at Cel’s sleeping face on my shoulder, eyes softening. “She takes your room, and you're on the sofa.”

“That was the plan.” I rolled my eyes at him, as if he thought he had raised an indecent child.

I opened the door to my room and carefully set her down.

Cel was really knocked out. I took off her shoes and hesitated to take off her jacket.

I tried not to make it weird as I did it.

Gods… She really has so many injuries. Then I pulled my blanket over her.

I brushed my teeth in my bathroom and changed into my sleeping clothes. As I walked out, Cel was still fast asleep. Who would’ve been able to guess this young, pure face was one of Soulesity’s most dangerous killers?

I quietly closed the door to my room and joined Niko and Renee on the sofa, watching whatever movie they were in the middle of.

“Where were you two tonight?” Renee asked.

“A party,” I said. “It was boring.”

Niko nodded. “This movie’s almost finished, then you’ll have the sofa to yourself.” When the movie finally ended, he turned off the TV and looked at me. “Did Celestine mention what Silias wanted from her?”

“No.” I waved my hand in the air, too tired to dwell on it.

He nodded, dropping the subject. “Don’t you dare think about touching her.”

“Who do you think I am?” I was offended he would even say that. I may enjoy inflicting pain on others, but I don’t do things like that.

He squinted at me, glaring .

Renee giggled. “He’s a good boy, he wouldn’t dare.”

I groaned. “Exactly, thank you.”

Niko patted my back. “I am not afraid of teaching you a thing or two about consent.”

I gave him an annoyed look. “Niko… I’m not like that.”

“Sure, Cinth.” He rolled his eyes and Renee followed him into his room. “Sleep well.”

“Night,” I called back, and he closed the door to his room. I cursed, realising I didn’t have a pillow or blanket. But I had two blankets in my room and lots of pillows on my bed, so I’d just sneak in and grab them.

I quietly opened my door and closed it behind me, keeping the light out from waking her. I took the spare blanket I kept under my bed and picked up a pillow.

“Cinth?” she whispered.

Shit, I woke her. “Yeah?”

“Don’t leave me.”

“I’m sleeping on the sofa, I’m not far if you need me.”

“I need you.” She reached her hand towards me.

“I’m not sleeping with you,” I said, sternly. Niko would skin me.

She let her arm fall. “I’m scared,” her voice was barely audible.

“You’re okay, you’re safe here.” I looked under my bed. “There are no monsters under the bed,” I joked.

“They’re not under the bed.”

I set down my pillow and blanket at the edge of my bed and went to open my closet. “No monsters in the closet.” Closed my closet and opened the bathroom. “None in the bathroom either.” I closed the door to the bathroom and went over to gently graze my hand on her head. “You’re safe.”

Celestine pulled the blanket up to her nose, her head nodding off but attempting to stay awake .

I sat on the floor, leaning against the bed. “I’ll sit here until you fall asleep.”

She turned to face me and held out her hand, I took it. She was trembling.

***

Blood stained the white snow. My hands were painfully numb, and a heavy feeling settled in my chest. Someone was standing next to me and when I turned to look up, Cel was there— her silver hair and white dress almost blending into the snow.

But she wasn't looking at me. Her wide, fearful eyes were fixed on something else, her brows furrowed as if she were in pain.

What's she looking at?

***

When I opened my eyes, the sun was rising, and I was still holding onto her hand.

My heart felt heavy, and it was hard to breathe.

A nightmare, but as the seconds went by, the memory of it withered away.

I carefully slipped out of Cel’s hold and made my way out of my room.

Niko was in the kitchen, sipping on coffee, glaring at me behind his mug.

“Did Renee already leave?” I asked.

He grunted in response.

“She was scared to be by herself, but I slept on the floor,” I said sleepily. Thank the gods it was Saturday, I could sleep in. I plopped down on the sofa, forgetting to bring the pillow and blanket but I didn’t care anymore. I was too tired to get it.

“I know,” he growled. “I saw.”

I didn't respond and fell right back to sleep.

I woke up to the sound of Cel softly crying in the kitchen. “But it's going to hurt him so bad.” I peaked my eyes at the two.

“No, Celestine,” Niko's voice was mere whispers. “You're not going to tell him.” He pulled her into a hug as she cried harder. I didn't know what was going on and my body was too exhausted to try. I'd just get it out of them later, if I remembered it .

When I woke up again the sun was at its peak.

“Celestine left already, she wanted to thank you for last night,” Niko said.

I checked the notifications on my phone, there were a few from my friends debriefing about the party last night. “Are we training today?” I asked, my voice raspier from just waking up.

“Get ready.” He sounded angry.

***

Weekend training was always the worst, but today he made it extra difficult. Definitely angry at me.

“Another.”

I stopped the push ups. “Another set?” I could barely speak. “I just did seven sets.”

“If you stopped smoking, you wouldn’t be so out of breath,” he snapped.

My eyes widened. “How did you—”

“I’m not an idiot, I can smell it on you,” he snarled. Though, he didn’t know about my drug addiction or maybe he did. “Another.”

I shakily stood up and began the first work out all over again. This was just the warm-up, and I already threw up after the fifth set. I was struggling to finish this set and hoped he wouldn’t make me do another.

“Trust Celestine and keep her close to you,” he warned me. “You’ll need each other.”

“Why are you being so serious?”

Niko was usually quite the jokester during training and always made them fun, it was almost scary how he was acting.

He didn’t answer my question nor give me a break after I finished my eighth set.

“Spar.” He took a fighting stance.

My legs shook as I took my stance. Niko lunged at me, his speed was incredible, especially for his age, and in this state, it was hard to keep up .

Niko kicked me down. “Get up, Cinth.”

I attempted to stand up quicker this time, but he didn’t hold back, kicking me down once more. I cursed. I gathered what little strength I had left and pushed off the ground. Twisting, I swept Niko's legs out from under him and landed on my feet.

“Good,” he complimented.

I didn’t play nasty, allowing him to stand. We continued to spar some more until he too was out of breath. He finally decided it was time I practised with my bow. “Ten clean shots and then you can be done for the day. Miss one and you’re conditioning instead.”

I nodded. It should’ve been easy, but my body ached and trembled and I could feel bruises already forming. I pulled my bow back and just barely hit the middle dot.

He nodded in approval.

“Why have you been training me so much more than usual?” I asked, releasing another arrow.

“Because you need to be ready.”

“Ready for what?”

He let out a deep breath. “There’s going to be a day, Cinth, where I won’t be here,” he said. “There’s been talks of Stygians rising and you know what comes with that?”

“Angels?” I aimed the final arrow, released and hit the centre.

He nodded. “Angels are ruthless. And Demon Hunters—”

“Demon Hunters?” I cut in, laughing. “That job doesn’t exist anymore.” It fizzled out decades ago, after the war.

Niko didn't laugh. “They still exist.” He turned, grabbed a water bottle, and tossed it to me. “They just call themselves hitmen now.” He waited a beat, then added, almost like it was nothing. “My family used to be Demon Hunters.”

I caught the bottle but didn’t open it. The words didn’t register at first. It felt like someone had dropped a rock in my stomach. "What?" I asked, slower this time .

Niko’s mouth twisted, like he didn’t want to explain but knew he had to. “I grew up being taught Demons were monsters," he said. "But then I met Ender… And he changed everything.”

I stared at him. “So, you’re one of the Kynigos?”

“Yes,” he said simply. “I may be distancing myself from the Underworld, but I’m still a Kynigos. I always will be.”

“Do you know who the others are?” I asked, my voice low.

He pondered for a moment. “In due time, they’ll reveal themselves to you. The world is currently going through change.”

Change.

I wasn't sure if that was a promise or a warning.

“Get yourself cleaned up," he said, as though none of what he’d just dropped on me mattered. "Tomorrow morning’s training will be harder.”

I nodded, muscles sore, head spinning.

After my shower, I spent the rest of the day meditating in my room.

I heard Renee come in, and they left to go out to eat.