Demon Puppet

Chapter 6

"Noelle?" Hero asked quietly, his voice tentative and almost hesitant. "What are you thinking?"

I blinked at his uncertainty. "You can't tell?"

He shook his head. "No. You blocked your thoughts a while ago, and its making me nervous. It's unsettling to not feel that closeness from you..."

I blushed. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that I was blocking you."

He waited. "So?"

"So what?"

"What are you thinking about?" His red eyes met mine, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. So much time had passed since we left, but I hadn't grown used to the otherworldliness of his eyes--of him. My eyes roamed his face, tracing over the tribal markings on his right cheekbone.

His lips curved up in a crooked smirk. "Let me guess. Me?"

"Sort of," I admitted, quickly looking away. "Hero...it's been ages since we left the prison. We have been traveling to...home...since then. Why  haven't we reached it yet? Why haven't we found the others like us?"

His expression softened, and he moved closer to me. "You were thinking of home?"

I nodded. "Shouldn't we be there already?" I glanced at him before my eyes widened in shock. "You didn't forget where it is, did you?"

"What?" His brow furrowed. "No, of course not! I just..." He sighed. "It's been a long time since I've been truly free, Noelle. Can you blame me for wanting to experience the world again?"

I realized what he meant. Of course... Hero was locked in that Vault for hundreds of years. No sunlight, no one to talk to, no fresh air... He could barely even move with all those chains on, and that awful collar... Of course he would want to take his time and feel the sun, the wind, hear the animals and see the sky... My mind flashed back to my nightmare--to the prisoners that never saw the light of day after I left--and I felt a little sick.

You can't keep blaming yourself, princess, Hero's voice murmured in my mind. You didn't know any better back then. You were raised to hate them. His fingers traced over my palm. To hate me.

What did they do wrong? I asked him weakly. Did they even commit crimes? Or were they just there because they weren't human?

Both, he answered. Though what may seem evil to a human may only be a method of survival for one of us. Werewolves, for example, are rather instinctive creatures. They hunt when they need to and become aggressive only when they are threatened. Vampires, on the other hand, are rather sadistic. N and Ravi probably deserved to be locked up.

What about the immortal demons? I asked. Draco and Seungri and...and Leo?

Hero growled, visibly bristling against the mention of Leo's name. I frowned, wondering why he had reacted so viciously. Treacherous creatures. They'll turn on anyone in the blink of an eye if they think it will benefit them.

You were cruel to Leo, I said quietly, thinking back to Hero's rampage when he had been released.

If you are trying to make me feel guilty for killing and causing pain, give up, Hero said in a cool, completely serious voice. His icy tone gave me chills. Leo was standing deliberately between me and what I desired. I won't apologize for doing whatever it takes to get to you. His red eyes blazed. I would do anything for you, Noelle. Anything.

Is that a promise or a threat?  I asked, slightly unnerved by what should have been a sweet, passionate sentiment. 

Yes, Hero replied with a lopsided grin, sensing my apprehension. I rolled my eyes in exasperation and sighed.