The Dimension Traveller's Daughter

Chapter 7

Before Cheng could say anything more, I slammed the door in his face.

“What was that?” my mother asked.

“The wind,” I snickered. She shook me off as if I was crazy. I walked to the kitchen and dropped off her five packs of herbs. Then I climbed up the steps with the remaining two packs, entering my room. My mother doesn’t notice as she is engrossed with knitting a scarf for my father, who has gone out with Uncle Gerald.

If I stay a moment longer to speak to my mother, she will try to bring up the engagement with Cheng, which I am uninterested in at all. I am already hopelessly in love with Han, and nothing can ever change that. Once I have made up my mind, nothing can change my decision.

Thinking about Han and my sister just drives me nuts. I push open the door of my room and search for more porcelain items to smash, but there are none. Then I let out a scream. One after another, until I feel exhausted.

After goodness knows how many hours have passed, I put away the extra packs of contraceptive herbs and throw off my clothes, laying down in bed in my belly-binder. I pick up the parchment message that Han has left me earlier and read it carefully.

“Tonight, meet me at the lake. No excuses, or you will regret it.”

I punch my pillow. Just what did he want this time? I am frantic, searching for the answer within my mind. In under a month, my brother-in-law and godbrother had me wrapped around his finger, serving his every whim. But not wanting him to act recklessly, I look for my most seductive night outfit and await nightfall to sneak out of the house.

My parents sleep early every night. Their final battle with the demons about two years ago had rendered them weakened by a near-fatal attack by the abominations. With their retirement from the demon-slaying world, my eldest brother Typhoon has stepped in to take their places as the next demon-slayer.

Autumn, who plays more of a support and healing role, cannot become a demon-slayer due to her weak constitution but has ample magic running in her veins. It is just me who hasn’t found the right way to unlock my powers, although I have discovered my ability in creating flames when I am angered. However, my magic tend to falter at times, making me lose my confidence.

I sit by the lake, pondering why Han is seeking me out at the lake instead of any other spot of his choosing. Hearing the high-pitched buzzing of cicadas in the secluded woods make me realise how I am alone. Han doesn’t appear for a good twenty minutes, and while I am on the verge of frustration, he dramatically makes his appearance.

I don’t jump and hug him like how Autumn usuallytends does but maintain my calmness instead. He is wearing a dark black suit, like those thieves in the books do.

As he approaches slowly, he looks at me up and down, liking the view of me in the tight garment with cut-off sleeves. I have also shortened the dress to end just above my knees. Before my rough tailoring job on it, it was the perfect demon-slayer war outfit. Demon-slayers do not wear everyday garments because rushing into battle can induce brocade to tear.

Instead, the material should be stretchable enough to endure a demon slayer’s swift moves. When my grand teacher, my mother’s teacher, was alive, he had identified me as a future demon-slayer. On the other hand, he had looked into my future and revealed that I have a rough destiny, possibly even harsher than my mother’s. Every demon-slayer has a destined one and a war partner. If I can find my partner, then I can avoid any possible misfortune.

“You look alluring, my secret lover,” he whispers, inching closer to me bit by bit. I smell the fragrance on his clothes, vexed that he smells of my sister. I bite hard on my lips, angered by the thought of him and my sister cuddled up together. I fall silent, not willing to say a word.

“Winter, what got your tongue?” he seizes my chin and stares forcefully into my eyes. “Today, at the market, you made me very, very disappointed.” He lowers the neckline of my garment, tracing my collarbone while cornering me against an oak. My heart races, deepening my breathing.

“You make me feel like taking you right here in the forest,” he whispers. The lustiness in his deep voice makes me tremble, but I don’t want to give in to him. After seeing him in the market with my sister, the feeling hurts more than it can ever be.

I ignore him, biting on my lips. He pushes me harder against the trunk of the tree.

“Don’t think keeping silent will help you, Winter,” he says rather audaciously. “Today, you have done two things that have greatly displeased me. First, that man who isn’t even fit to be called my rival. Second, the herbs.”

“I… I didn’t take them,” I blurt out the truth. “And as for Li Cheng, I… he is just helping me to act in front of my mother, so nobody suspects us….”

“No. Not him.”

He states his answer quite obviously. I nod, letting out a sigh. I don’t know, without Li Cheng, how I can convince my mother.

“From the way that he looks at you, I feel like digging out his eyes every single time.”

“You’re just jealous,” I say, but he pinches my nose and gives me a deep and challenging stare.

“I need to punish you, Winter.”

I gasp as he brings his lips on mine possessively, depriving me of oxygen. Then he releases me abruptly, ordering me in the most sinister voice ever.

“Strip. Now.”

It’s the first time he has ever told me to take off my clothes. Furthermore, it is in such a hot-blooded way that it frightens me. I quickly unravel my war outfit, which is belted tightly to my abdomen. Due to the unique design of the outfit, I cannot wear it with any undergarments. I have also bathed in lavender, which is his favourite fragrance that he wants me to have on my body.

He lays me down on the soft grass before taking out a sash, which I recognise as my sister’s. Then he pulls the sash over my arms, binding me tightly. This makes me fluster, as having my sister’s strap, which she wears over her clothes, translated to the possibility they had shared an intimate moment.

Before I know it, the man is standing with his bare chest to mine. He presses his warm body over mine, making me forget the chilliness of the night. My body craves his touch, squirming while my hands are bound behind my back. His lips claim mine possessively. I kiss him back passionately, giving in to the lust and desire I wished from him.

He seizes my hips and rocks me as hard as he can, pumping inside me with so much force that I thought that we would both explode. While I cannot move my arms, my lust-filled cries make him push inside me even more violently. Finally, we come together, moaning in pleasure as he erupts deep within me. But even after his release, he continues his teasing on me.

“Release me,” I plead. He turns a deaf eye on my pleas, smiling to himself. I think of the possibility of ever getting pregnant by him and shudder. Should I take my risks?

“Call me husband,” he suddenly orders, tickling me with a blade of grass. The grass pokes against my tips, which he swipes downwards, prodding it softly against my femininity. I moan softly, resisting his orders. I am confused because he will become my brother-in-law in less than a week, so why does he want me to call him my husband?

My arms are aching, and I detest being in this position as the unrestricted person I am. But he just drags me up and pitches me against the tree trunk wildly. My bare chest rubs against the bark of the tree, making me wince in pain. His hardness makes me convulse needily, wanting more.

The words exit my mouth, repeating themselves in a monotonous way that makes him gloat in enjoyment as he slides into me a second time, taking me from behind.

I have just betrayed myself and given in to the beast. And as deep and dark my sin is, the physical pleasure I have from him is enough to make me complete.

I am truly his.