Papa Douma

Chapter 3

How Douma fell hard

Kotoha was a pitiful sight the first time he found her. He had been seeking a meal and had stumbled upon her slump against a tree, trying to hide from the harsh winds of winter. The cold didn't bother him the slightest but she was shivering and was covered in bruises. Snow was starting to cover her tracks and her body.

He was feeling merciful and he crouches in front of the woman. A clawed hand reaching out to snap her neck quickly.

Only he paused when his hand was grabbed, a hand colder than his at that moment and an eye opening to look at his. She winces before struggling to get to her feet.

"Help." She falls into him and Douma hums for a moment and strokes her hair. It was a beautiful shade of blue, brightening at the end. If she recovers, she could be a gorgeous sight to behold.

Douma kneels and picks her up properly and wraps her in his cloak.

Can't have her dying on him

—

Kotoha wakes to a fire crackling and someone humming as they poke at the flames. She sees the back of a platinum-haired man, wearing a long-sleeved red shirt that hugs his figure and hakama pants. She tries to shift, only to get a hand on her shoulder.

"Ah~, I wouldn't recommend that." She wants to flinch, the last time a male laid a hand on her, her husband beat the side of her head blind. With her one good eye, she does see the smile on the man and-

Douma watches almost amused as she blushes at his presence. Of course, he was more physically fit than other males of this era and he has seen how his female followers act around him.

Perhaps she'll say he was handsome or complainant his eyes and how beautiful and godsent they are-

She takes hold of his hand and squeezes it once before letting go.

"Thank you." She was soon out once again and Douma was....stumped.

—

Douma heals what he can, humans however will be humans and they are slow to recover. It was waiting for cattle to mature before they are put to the slaughter.

Kotoha stated why she was out in the snow, Douma listening as he was bored and his cult followers were scouting for more members.

He would nod and cry here and there, to keep his act up as a caring leader.

But she would strike him curious when she would cup his cheek and wipe his tears.

"It's okay, I can cry for myself." She sniffed, emotions have gotten the best of her.

Douma watches and can only stare, his eyes widening like a cat.

She was pure.

.

..

...

His fangs ache as he thought how she was gorgeous on the inside and out. Someone he wouldn't mind having her for a while for how genuine she was.

Oh, but her flesh would have been so tasty. Her warmth was enough as he let her wipe away his tears and try to make him laugh.

—

When her husband and mother-in-law came, he hadn't told her his position in the cult, having only told her that she had made it to the safe haven. It wasn't till they were enjoying a meal together when a follower ran in, wanting to inform him of newcomers.

"GRACIOUS ONE!!" The cultist bowed and Kotoha flinched at the loud voice and Douma took note of it. It was one of many signs that abuse was real and Douma with this wasn't going to let anything like that happen again.

.

..

...

?!

Douma surprised himself.

He was...protective? No this was him...believing in the heart of a story?! Right?

Perhaps these newcomers can provide a distraction.

"Gracious one?" Kotoha looked at him and then he sees the realization dawn on her and he grabs her shoulders before she could bow to him.

"There's no need for that Kotoha-chan." He flashes a smile and her cheeks turn pink at the action.

"Please wait here while I go and see what is needed of me." He gently takes her hand and kisses her knuckles, winking before taking his leave.

He can smell her blood and his fangs are aching more as he practically hears the blood rush.

—

His smile disappears and something sits inside him as he hears this fool of a male rant about how Kotoha was his wife and how she will be treated accordingly once they were home. His mother nodded and made remarks here and there.

Oh....

He flashes a smile, fangs having lengthened not that the newcomers notice.

This was going to be fun.

—

His eyes are blank as he tears through their necks and drags their bodies away from his temple.

It was in fact not nearly as fun as he thought as they had died quickly. He accidentally tugs a bit too hard on Kotoha's ex-husband while thinking about how he died much sooner than he wanted. His arm flew off and Douma switched to dragging him with the other.

He threw them in a ditch to rot.

—

He arrived back to Kotoha's room only to find her looking at the garden.

She was singing and in the glow of the moon, she was downright-

Kotoha is stopped short as Douma is by her side, leaning to her space, making her blush hard.

"Kotoha-chan, have I told you just how enchanting you are?"

With a smile and a shake of her head, she laughs and Douma for once doesn't force himself to smile.

What has she done to him?