Demon in Disguise

06| The moonlight.

“What are you doing here? And why are you dragging me out?” Akiesha shoots him questions.

She heard him chuckle. “Take it slow young miss, one at a time.” He playfully said while throwing her a wink.

“For your first question, isn’t it obvious? Of course, I’m here coz I am a student here.” A cute dimple appeared on his left cheek when he grinned at his answer.

Akiesha pouted in annoyance at the man’s demeanor. He’s obviously teasing her.

The nerve of this man!

“Secondly, the reason I’m dragging you out because you just annoyed the hell out of Liam’s ass for punching my sister.” He said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Sister?

“So, you’re that b***h’s brother?” Akiesha arched her eyebrows at the guy.

She still hated his guts.

“Adopted brother.” He deadpanned answered.

Oh, so that means they’re both not related by blood.

“That’s why I can’t pinpoint any similarities from you two.” She commented as they stride on the bushy road.

The road’s a bit unfamiliar to her.

It seems to her the road leads to a forest as there no houses nearby.

The only light that guides them on the way is from the moon.

“What do you mean by that?” he asked while his eyes focused on the road

Akiesha glanced at the man’s side.

Gilbert emits that mysterious aura that puzzles her.

There’s something on the man that she can’t put a name to it.

It’s too early to conclude, besides, if he possibly the man that was destined to be my rival, wasn’t her mission too easy?

Nah, anyone in this town can be my destined rival.

It can be he or she.

It’s possible that the human she’s looking for isn’t here.

But that doesn’t scratch him from the possible list.

Who knows he can be a great help in finding her supposed rival?

“Well, she’s a big bad b***h while you’re the lesser b***h, I suppose.” Akiesha haughtily answered.

Gilbert turned to him with an amused smile plastered on his face.

“Lesser b***h huh? I’m really surprised that you act like nothing happened tonight.” He stated. The underlying curiosity on his tone is obvious.

“I’m not afraid of your stupid sister and his weak boyfriend, you know?” She answered with a hint of pride on her voice.

“Yeah, yeah I see that. Well, you kicked me one time too, at the LIBRARY.” Gilbert chuckled emphasizing the last word.

She scrunched her nose, failing to understand the humor of that statement.

“I mean, you’re allowed to laugh at that.” He suddenly said, breaking the silence that enveloped between them after that joke which she failed to comprehend.

If there’s anyone hearing their conversation now might be bursting in laughter.

Failing to gain reaction from her, Gilbert give it up and just sighed.

“You are really quite unique huh? Anyway, wear this coat for now. You must be freezing from the cold.”

Akiesha stopped Gilbert’s hands from touching her skin when he’s about to put the coat on her.

“I’m not weak to die from mere cold, Mister.” Akiesha glared at Gilbert.

The guy just stared at the woman in front of her. Her behavior really puzzles him.

In fact, he never met anyone that acts and talks unconventionally like her.

He wanted to ask why but decided not to press on the topic anymore.

“Well, if that’s you want but if you will catch a cold tomorrow, don’t blame me.” He jokingly stated trying to make the air around them lightly.

The woman just stared at the road.

He threw a quick look at her clothing.

Why is she wearing this kind of clothes on an Acquaintance Party?

The pieces she wore seemingly resembles to ancient clothing of an extinct tribe.

Maybe she was into artifacts.

Well, based on her weird ways, it’s not impossible that she is a history freak.

A smile appeared on his face again.

“So, where are you going to bring me? I swear to Lucifer, if you will try to harm me, it will just end on opposite. I could just easily snap your neck, you know.” Akiesha mindlessly blabber, too late to realize that her statement is too devilish.

She heard him burst in laughter.

“I swear to God, you really amuse me. Imagine swearing to Lucifer instead of Him and you can really make good threats huh?” His eyes glimmered in amusement as he stared at her annoyed face.

Her cheeks flushing in annoyance and shooting him glare of death.

Akiesha sighed in relief internally.

Good thing, he just thought she was being funny.

When he’s done laughing, he took a light jog.

“Come on, we’re already near.”

The only thing he said before he dashed into a full run towards the road.

Akiesha not caring about if the guy has ill intentions towards her, started to run after him.

I’ll just occupy myself with this little adventure then.

***

Akiesha followed the guy silently. She could hear rushed waves crashing against sandy floor.

A chill breeze of wind slightly touching her face.

She’s never been into a place, but she fears that they’re now heading towards a beach.

Demons are vulnerable to a salty water.

Seawaters burns their skin.

Akiesha froze on her spot.

Gilbert noticed that she’s not following him any longer.

“Is there any problem? What? Are you cold now and regret that you didn’t take the coat I offered awhile ago?” Gilbert asked, his smile never falters on his face.

“U-uhm, I think I now changed my mind. I think I need to get back home.” Akiesha reasoned out.

He can’t afford to risk failing in her mission.

She can’t just go back yet on the tribe.

The guy furrowed his brows. “Come on, we’re already here. Besides, it’s too early. Come on, you will love this little paradise.” Gilbert ran towards her and took her wrist again.

But Akiesha’s feet was glued on the ground.

Her eyes glimmered in fear as the waves glowed in white under the moonlight.

The guy must have noticed her fear.

“I see, you’re afraid of the sea and to think you just threw me those threats back there of snapping my neck.” He chuckled.

Gilbert gently squeezed her hands which sent comfort to her, somehow.

“Don’t worry, you need not to fear. I will not let anything bad happen to you, I swear.” He gently said.

Confused as to why, but Gilbert’s voice soothed her nerves.

Without thinking, she heaved a deep sigh. “Okay, but can we stay away from the waters?”

Gilbert nodded and gently dragged her towards the shore.

Akiesha’s foot buried into the soft sand.

For a second, her body quivered in fear, but Gilbert was quick to take her hand and that again, calmed her.

Akiesha’s trying to shove away all these thoughts that the guy might be imposing danger against her.

She’s also busy trying to invalidate Gilbert’s calming effect on her.

The fact that she appears so weak in front of a human irks her.

Why did I allow this man to bring me here?

And why did she agree to this?

“Come on, take another step. Eventually, you will feel the calming effect of the soft sand under your feet.” The man encouraged her.

Heeding to him, she took another step, then another step until she’s now walking comfortably on the bed of sand while maintaining a safe distance on the seawater.

Wow, this feels so nice.

Thanks to the strange man, she now learns the secret of enjoying the beach without the fear of being burnt.

She involuntarily closed her eyes and breathed the calming sea breeze.

“I see you’re now enjoying this.” Gilbert broke out the silence.

The guy sat down on the sand and stretched his legs in front of them.

His blue eyes sparkled at the reflection of the moonlight.

Akiesha copied the guy and sat down beside him.

She stared at the sea.

Everyone around her felt so serene.

The magnificent view of the waves crashing against the shore, creating this harmonious melody.

The sea glowed at the bright beam of the moonlight.

This is beautiful.

She honestly thought.

Her whole life, she was deprived of such beauty as her kind was forced to live depths underground, away from the humans’ sight.

And therefore, I should win against this pre-ordained battle.

I’m tired of hiding.

“I don’t know why but I’m always drawn to the beauty of moonlight.” The guy suddenly said.

Akiesha turned to him, he was looking up towards the sky, wearing again that smile.

He was always smiling.

“So, you’re not afraid of the dark? I mean, the moon only appears during night.” Akiesha commented.

He turned to her with a bemusing smile. “Why I should be afraid of the dark?”

Akiesha tried to shrug her shoulders. “Because monsters appear during night?”

She heard a soft chuckle. “I believe that humans are worse than monsters. Humans? They might not appear like those horrifying creatures we see in books but they’re equally capable to do bad things. Besides, I don’t think monsters exist.” He explained, his toes playing in the sand.

She inquisitively eyed him. She curled his knees in front of them and leaned his jaw on top. “You don’t believe in these mystical creatures? Like demons?”

For awhile he stared at her then shook his head. “Nope, if they do exist, then they’re just a bunch of cowards.”

Akiesha glared at him, her blood boiling at the audacious man.

How dare he call us cowards!

But Akiesha managed to calm herself.

“Aren’t you too judgemental for calling themselves cowards when they haven’t seen one?” she calmly replied though she’s about to unleash her demon and lurched at him, torture him and let him beg for his life.

“Well, they’re supposed to be powerful creatures, right? So, why are they out of sight?” Gilbert answered.

His hands picked some seashells and throw them at the sea.

For a second, Akiesha thought she bit her tongue.

She couldn’t react right away because somehow, the man hit a spot.

Who would’ve thought that she will be sharing the same sentiments with a human?

Her kind supposed to rule the surface and not chickened-out in our hideout away from the people.

We’re far superior to them, it is by their nature to inflict fear to the people and not the other way around.

No matter how she tried to understand her ancestors, she still doesn’t understand why they were hiding?

A fire ignited deep within her.

A longing of freedom bursting deep on her chest.

I, Akiesha – descendant of the great Dayabulu, will definitely defeat whoever the person destined to be my rival.