His Mistress, His Bride

CH 6 Monsters

The wind ripped through the narrow alley.

A little girl stumbled over a pile of broken crates, scraping both knees against the tarmac. Tears blurred her vision as she forced herself back to her feet.

"Mom!"

Her voice cracked. No answer. Heavy footsteps echoed behind her.

One… Two...Three.

She looked back. Three figures emerged from the shadows. They looked human. Until they smiled.

Their canines were longer than any human should have. Black veins crawled beneath pale skin, and crimson eyes blazed beneath the streetlights.

The tallest one chuckled. "You've run long enough."

The little girl shook her head, backing away. "P-Please..."

He crouched until they were at eye level. "Humans always beg."

His talons slid from his fingertips. "But they all taste the same."

She squeezed her eyes shut. "Help me..." her tiny voice trembled. "...please help me.”

Miles away, Ryan stopped walking. The cry hit him like a blade through his ribs.

His chest tightened. His blood burned within his veins.

Ryan moved his hand through the air. A black mist appeared, the sky grew darker as Ryan stepped into it.

*….*….*….*

The demon’s claws clasped around the little girl’s neck. Her throat tightened. Air choked on her lungs. Tears streamed down her cheeks “p-please…”

A gust of wind exploded through the alley. Dust soared into the air. The demons froze.

Someone appeared. A tall figure clad in black. A mask concealed half his face.

His hands rested calmly inside his pockets, despite the storm within him.

“Let the girl go” Ryan said calmly, and the demon let go of her neck. She fell to the hard ground with a hard thud, coughing with a hand on her neck.

The little girl looked up. "M-mister... help…"

Ryan didn't look at her. "Close your eyes."

She obeyed instantly.

One of the demons laughed.

"So... the prince finally arrived."

Ryan's voice was quiet. "You know who I am."

The demon's grin widened. "How could we forget?"

"The King's disgrace."

"The half-breed."

"The human lover."

Ryan sighed. "I was hoping you'd forget."

"So.... You still answer every cry" one of them laughed "Five hundred years and the curse still owns you"

Ryan's jaws clenched.

"Tell me... How many humans died before you reached them, huh?"

Ryan's hands clenched hard beside him. The words pierced through him like needles poking his heart.

"Of course, many had died. No matter how hard you try, you can't save all. Just like you cannot save the child"

Ryan glanced towards the girl who still had her eyes closed tightly.

"That would be for me to decide. Not you"

One demon smirked, showing one long pair of wicked fangs. A scream roared against ears from behind. Ryan turned instinctively. Searching for the voice he didn't know where it came from.

The demons lunged forward while Ryan's attention was divided. All three at once. When Ryan turned, the demon's claw scratched his arm. He stumbled back with a low groan, feeling the warm liquid drench his hands.

Another claw aimed for his chest and Ryan moved back with one swift movement. The alley exploded. Before the child could understand what had happened, the first demon crashed through a concrete wall. Blood slipped from his mouth. Ryan drew him back and twisted his neck.

Crack!

The second hit the ground so hard the tarmac cracked beneath him.

The third never even touched Ryan.

Ryan caught his wrist. He twisted it, the scream echoed through the street.

Ryan finally lifted his golden eyes. They burned with quiet fury. "I gave the Abyss five hundred years."

His grip tightened.

"You still haven't learned."

The demon coughed black blood.

Ryan's voice became colder than winter. "If you hunt humans… you answer to me."

Long sharp talons slipped from his fingers, he plunged his hands through the demon’s chest. Pushing deep, ribs cracking. The demon’s scream roared against his ears. Ryan pushed deeper, searching for his heart and when he found it, he grabbed and ripped it out.

The demon’s eyes were wide, watching his heart thump in Ryan’s hand, before Ryan crushed it. He faded like black mist, disappearing into nonexistence.

Ryan wiped his bloody hands on his coat and turned around. The little girl still had her eyes closed tightly, covering both her ears with her little hands.

Ryan walked towards the girl slowly. He crouched when he reached her. That moment, pain crashed through him. He felt the pain from the bruises on the girl's knees. The burning in her throat. The terror racing in her heart.

Ryan's jaws tightened as he gulped down hardly. He lifted his hand, removing the girl's hands from her ears. She opened her eyes slowly and looked at him. Her eyes and face still wet with tears.

She sniffed "Mister, are you... the angel momma told me about?" she asked.

Ryan's expression didn't change "No" he answered "I'm just someone who heard you" He gently brushed the tears from her cheeks.

"Are you a monster too?" she asked.

His jaws gritted once more. "I don't know. Maybe I am. What do you think?"

"I think.... you're not a monster, even though you like them. You saved me from them, so you're not a monster"

His expression still didn't change "Is it?"

"Yes" she answered with a soft smile.

Ryan drew in a slow breath. Somehow her smile affected him. "Let's take you home" he stood, helping the girl in standing too. He walked forward expecting the girl to follow. She rushed towards him and held his clawed hands. Ryan's gaze lingered on their joined hands and her smile.

"You're not afraid of me?" he asked without looking at her.

"No"

Ryan looked away. He wasn't convinced. Everyone was afraid of him. Every human. Every demon. Every creature. Still he let her hold his hand as he walked her towards her home.

After walking for an hour, thy arrived a building.

"Are you sure this is where you live?" Ryan asked her.

"Yes" she nodded.

"Go on then."

She slowly released his hand and walked towards the house. And then she stopped and faced him.

"Mister, would you come to save me again if the monsters come?" she asked.

Ryan stared at her for a short while, and then he walked slowly towards her. He crouched, and she looked straight in his golden eyes.

"Little girl..." his voice was slow. "Monsters don't exist. Whatever you saw today, whatever happened...was just your imagination. You got your injuries while playing with your friends. And... there is no hero coming to save you from monsters. Do you understand?"

She nodded slowly.

"Go in now" Ryan said and she turned around, walking into her house without looking back. Ryan watched her enter the house before leaving.