Your Shadow Is My Light

Chapter 19 - Every dream worth chasing requires a sacrifice

Normal text
Thinking
Onomatopoeia

Rayne's POV
One week later.

I was sitting on a sofa, distractedly fiddling with Ahri's stubby paws. Opposite me, Evelynn leisurely sipped on a goblet of... Ribena.

The atmosphere was muted, save for the sizzle of the fireplace. Stilted tension hung delicately in the air. A suffocating ambience droned on. Made worse by the numerous thorns pricking my body. I fidgeted, anxiously squeezing my chubby girlfriend. Idling with that succubus wasn't exactly fun. Or perhaps it's just me being a sensitive wimp. Because while I'm on the verge of shitting my pants, Evelynn was downright relaxed. According to Ahri, she had long forgiven me for being a deplorable ingrate. So she chose to pretend that she didn't just try to snap my neck in half.

How absurd.

Evelynn might not remember our conflict well, but I do. Vividly. I could never forget the trauma of drowning, the feeling of steellike hands clamping around my jugular. It was permanently engraved in my bones. To the point where I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night covered in cold sweat, hallucinating that my father was strangling me.

Honestly, I wished I could be like her-able to let go of every horrid experience. But it's kinda hard to act dumb when the indents left by claw rings were still visible on my neck. Though most of the hideous scars have faded, they were still there nonetheless. Despite Ahri's repeated assurance that the immortal demoness was not one to hold petty grudges, I can't help but be a tad bit uneasy around this ticking time bomb. These faint marks were a grim reminder of just how terrifying a demon general was. Even if she's a slacking couch potato, I can't lower my vigilance. Because they're all a special breed of attractive disasters that I can't afford to offend. And to be fair, I personally don't believe there exists someone this open-minded.

Thankfully, Ahri was here. Otherwise, it would've been mighty awkward. Hugging a pudgy meatball, who also happened to be my insurance policy, was keeping me vaguely grounded. At least, enough to not let out a deflated squeak.

I instinctively shrunk into the sofa, clasping onto my life-saving straw. I hadn't even realised I had long lost my composure. Noticing bouts of jitters, Ahri rubbed my forearms soothingly. Her ears perked, brushing either side of my cheeks. She then looked up, button nose nudging my chin. Her round amber eyes dazzled. Before flashing an endearing smile. Very childish... Gorgeous. I subconsciously tightened my embrace. Who would have thought I'd one day be so enamoured with someone. And to a pup at that.

I want out of here-

Without warning, a pair of lashers reached out. I flinched, awaiting a stinging bitch slap that was sure to leave my cheeks swollen for days. But all the appendages did was press on my slumping back.

"Don't slouch. Head up, chest out."

A crippling shudder shot down my spine at the sensation of cold hard beaks tracing my tender skin. Those harrier skulls freak me out too. Or more precisely, everything about Agony's Embrace was especially disquieting. Definitely not as lovable and squishy as Ahri!

"O-oh," I stammered, obediently straightening my back like I'm stuck in detention.

In hindsight, my current posture must have looked hilarious. Fortunately, no one laughed at the sputtering idiot.

"Don't stutter either. Just say what's on your mind."

... Easy for you to say when claws aren't drawing circles on your back!

That's what I said but in reality, not a sound of protest eluded my pursed lips. What can I say? Stubbornness won't get me anywhere in this dog-eat-dog world.