Chapter 6

  Back to the nice warm sun, with its bright rays cracking through the green trees. Birds were awake, and many other creatures too. All seemed peaceful and lush. Again, Matteo and Sonas were back on the road, with hooves trotting.

  Matteo stayed in front as always. The wheels creaked and squeaked as they rolled on the dirt path. Glasses were heard clinking underneath the blanket that covered all the resources and supplies for the long trip.

  On horseback, Sonas took her final bite of the rabbit piece Matteo cooked last night. It wasn’t full of flavour, but it was better than starving. She couldn’t argue, but all she wanted at this point was some salt. She wiped her mouth once she was finished, knowing that piece would keep her going until the afternoon.

  She had quite a rough sleep last night. She never thought sleeping in a tent on a thin mattress was not that bad. Yet again, it was something she was not used to sleeping in. That was the first time she’s ever slept in a tent, and it certainly won’t be the last.

  “How far did you say it was to the Ethereal River thingy?” Sonas asked.

  “At the pace we’re going, I’d say around 4-5 days.” Matteo answered.

  He didn’t turn back to look at her. He seemed to be focusing on the road more than anything. He’s focusing more than he did yesterday. It’s like he was cautious.

  “Strange.” He spoke.

  “Hm? What’s strange?”

  “I can sense something nearby but I don’t know where it’s coming from…”

  “Do you know what it could be?”

  “No. I’ve got no clue.”

  Suddenly, there was the sound of munching being heard from the supply cart. It sounded like someone, or something was eating an apple. Matteo and Sonas halted their horses and looked to where the munching sounds were coming from. Hearing a slight rustling, Matteo dismounted Apollo, cautiously and carefully walking towards the covers of the supply crate.

  Sonas started to get curious and nervous.

  “Could that be what you were sensing?” asked Sonas.

  “Maybe. Stay back in case it’s a threat.” Matteo instructed her.

  Sonas made sure to keep her distance from the cart, in case something dangerous pops out. After Matteo gave her that warning, she got even more nervous.

  Matteo then grabbed the cover firmly, ripping it from the cart. Matteo’s eyes widened with shock and surprise.

  “What the hell?!” Matteo shrieked.

  “What? What is it?” Sonas panicked.

  Matteo almost jumped. He was clearly afraid of what he was seeing.

  Sonas dismounted Domino, curiously but slowly making her way to where Matteo was.

  “Surely it’s not that bad, right?” She spoke.

  As she looked at the stuff in the cart, she was surprised to see…a mouse?

  “A mouse? Really?” Sonas sighed in disappointment. She thought it was a threat, but it was just a little white mouse. Completely harmless. She continued.

  “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of mice.” She spoke with a sheepish grin. Matteo glanced at her. He knew she was going to make fun of him.

  “I am not!” He shouts defensively.

  Sonas chuckles. She liked how defensive he was.

  “Didn’t you know that mice are demonic?! They’re vicious creatures!” He points to the white mouse that was sniffing the bag of firewood. Sonas was about to burst out laughing. She covered her mouth and tried hard to hold in her laughter.

  Matteo grumbles. He gets annoyed.

  “I’m serious, Sonas…”

  Sonas laughed. She found his fear of mice funny. She had one hand on her stomach, and the other keeping her mouth covered.

  “Hahaha! I’m so sorry! It’s just the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!” She laughed.

  Matteo sighed.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Do you want me to leave you behind to get killed?”

  “Oh.” She stopped laughing and collected herself. The last thing she wanted was to be left behind.

  To stop Matteo from worrying so much, she picked the mouse up by the tail and held it in the air.

  “See? Nothing to be afraid of.” She spoke, holding it in front of him.

  Matteo was about to freak out. He inhaled sharply and made a nervous sound. He backed away almost instantly.

  Sonas was about to laugh again, but held it in. She placed the mouse onto the ground and watched it scurry off into the bushes.

  “There. It’s gone now. Let’s just continue like nothing happened.” Sonas mounted onto Domino, holding onto the reins.

  Matteo also walked back to Apollo, mounting him as well. The two looked at each other and continued down their path.

  It was rather boring, sitting on a horse all day, trotting down the long and dusty path. Sonas wanted to explore, but then again, she didn’t want to get into trouble. She had to focus. She wanted this. She wanted to get back home to Orilon, but she also wanted to go back to Deersheild at the same time. She was nervous to meet a man she hasn’t seen all her life, let alone her biological father.

  The thought kept on ringing and ringing in her head. It gave her a slight feeling of stress and anxiousness. It was normal. She was sure that anyone who went through this experience would feel the same as she did.

  Matteo groaned, looking at Sonas. He noticed her expression. It was the same face she had yesterday when they left the village. It was annoying him.

  “Can you maybe stop pouting about it? How many times do you have to look miserable?”

  “It’s just something that’s constantly been on my mind. I can’t help it.”

  “Well, look on the bright side. You’re a princess! Royalty! That’s something to be proud of, not to be anxious about.”

  “But I don’t know anything about being a princess. I thought I was just some peasant girl whose father was a fisherman.”

  “You’ll know all about it when we get there. You can thank me later.”

  ??

  After a couple of hours, there was another strange sound, but this time, it wasn’t coming from the cart, it was coming from somewhere in the bushes. It sounded big.

  Matteo got defensive again, moving Apollo in front of Sonas for protection. He had a feeling it could be something hostile. It was growling that was heard, and rustling too.

  “Matteo? What was that?”

  “I don’t know, but it’s not a mouse.”

  He sniffs the air. His face told Sonas everything, he was extremely vigilant now. This worried Sonas. If it was a big threat, that could mean both her and Matteo would be in great danger.

  Then, Matteo gasped, and Apollo was about to freak out. He turned to Sonas urgently.

  “Sonas, run!!” Matteo yelled.

  “What?!”

  “RUN!! It’s a Rogue spy!”

  Without a second thought, Sonas encouraged Domino to gallop away as fast as she could, with Matteo following behind. Matteo looked behind him, and saw the Rogue spy. It turned out to be a demon. It may look slightly human, but he had sharp claws and horns, with glowing eyes. He was chasing after the two, and was about to catch up to them.

  Sonas looked behind them, and she was about to yelp in fear. This was her first time seeing a Rogue, and a demon.

  The two turned back to the path ahead of them, and had to stop almost immediately. Somehow the demon teleported in front of them. His piercing stare caused the two to shiver slightly. Even Matteo got a little frightened. That was something that scared Sonas. If Matteo got frightened by this, then so was she, except she’s 10x more scared.

  The demon Rogue spoke up. His voice was malevolent.

  “Good morning.” He spoke.

  There was a shiver up their spines. That voice gave them chills.

  Matteo jumped off of Apollo and stood in front of Domino to protect Sonas, taking a defensive stance. He tried sizing him up to intimidate the enemy.

  “We know what you are, and we know what you want. Leave us be, and no one gets hurt.” Matteo spoke in a demanding voice.

  The demon Rogue had a little laugh. He found Matteo’s act of intimidation amusing.

  “Nice acting there, hybrid. You can’t fool me, you know? I know when a man is acting.”

  “Shit.”

  “Can you just do us all a favour and hand me the girl? I’ll give you a handsome reward.”

  “How much?”

  “As much as you want.”

  “You’re bluffing. You think that’s going to make me hand her over? What is wrong with you?”

  “Well, I’m a Rogue, and a demon-”

  “It was a rhetorical question!”

  “Oh, calm down, hybrid. I was just trying to get a kick out of you.”

  “I’m telling you, leave us be.”

  “You’re very quick to change the subject, my friend.”

  “Shut up!”

  Sonas was starting to get annoyed with this back and forth banter. She was still scared, but she wanted to shut these two up.

  “Can you two just shut up?!” She called out, shutting her mouth right after. She didn’t expect to say it like that, but it was too late now. Both Matteo and the demon Rogue look at Sonas.

  “No.” They both said in sync. The two then went back to their banter.

  “God dammit.” She mumbled under her breath. She was getting really pissed now.

  The demon Rogue spoke to Matteo with a smirk.

  “Lord Krex is already well aware of her existence, and I just happened to be passing by, noticing you, and the princess.”

  She looked inside the cart, and saw a frying pan. Picking it up, she snuck through the bushes silently, trying to sneak up behind the demon Rogue.

  Matteo noticed this and tried to keep on stalling.

  “You’re not getting Sonas.”

  “Am I not?”

  “No!”

  “Odd, then why is it…”

  He stopped speaking, and grabbed the frying pan that Sonas was going to hit him with. Sonas’ eyes widened and gasped as she realised that she just got caught.

  “...that she came right to me?” He continued.

  “No! Sonas, get out of there!!” Matteo yelled.

  Sonas was about to back away when the demon Rogue used a force that sent her flying into a tree. Sonas grunted and fell onto the ground with a thud. The force was that bad, it caused her to get knocked unconscious. The demon Rogue dropped the pan, letting it fall onto the ground.

  “Sonas!!”

  No response.

  “Weak.”

  “She’s not dead is she?”

  “That’s an overstatement. She’s just unconscious. She’s fine. Besides, what are you going to do about it?”

  “I’m going to kill you, you bastard!”

  “Really? Try me.” He laughed.

  Matteo growled at the demon Rogue. He then got into a fighting stance. He bared his sharp fangs. A violent look in his eyes.

  “Actually, I should thank you.” Matteo spoke.

  “What?”

  “Now that she’s unconscious, I don’t have to worry about her finding out what I can do. She’ll freak out and fear me.”

  Matteo’s claws and fangs grew in size and length, and some veins become visible. His body became more muscular. It was disturbing. His pupils became slits. All his teeth became sharp pointy triangles. His breathing became more heavy.

  The demon Rogue's eyes widen slightly. He hadn’t seen anything like this before. His stance went from standing straight to a defensive one, and he became alert, ready to fight.

  This guy wasn’t just some hybrid with umber skin and long pointy white hair. This man, whoever he was, was a monster.

  ??

  The last thing Sonas saw was a blurry scene, it was hard for her to see, but it looked like the image of Matteo mauling the demon Rogue. She could hear the pained cries of the demon Rogue. So red. Why was the ground red?