The Demon And The Guard

Demon

I wake with a start, instantly swinging for the man that was no longer holding me. Im drenched in a cold sweat, sitting in my uncomfortably hot tent. I am so confused, but have never been more sure of myself at the same time.

I get up and step out of my tent, looking around to find camp already packed, but no one to be seen. I sigh and start to pack up my stuff, shoving even my armour into my bag. It's way too hot to wear anyway. As soon as I finish this I stand up, moving to look out past the trees to where I woke from my first dream.

Thats when I feel the cold blade press against the middle of by back. I freeze, realizing I don't have my sword on hand, again. The voice was threatening but farmiliar "Demon. Stop. We have the advantage here. Put your hands where I can see them." I giggle and roll my eyes, not listening "Jeffory thats so funny. Im not a demon." The blade has less pressure against my skin at my words. "....katelyn?"

I slowly turn around, still smiling. He's such a kidder. "Why so serious jeffory? Im laughing." He drops the sword to his feet from surprise, staring at me in a terrified gape. "Katelyn?! What happened to you!?" I blink and take a step back, my confusement making me look down, noticing my grey skin. "WHAT THE-?!"

I scream and reach my hands up instantly, feeling my stomach turn as I feel the curled ram horns coming from my own head. What did happen to me? My mind races and last night returns to my memory. Travis did this to me. He....recharmed me. I think. At least I hope he did. Jefforys voice breaks through my concentration, sounding on the verge of tears.

"I promised I wouldnt let anything happen to you. Now look at you. You're possesed by a demon. Or... you are a demon... or something." I shake my head, taking a step toward him "n-no. I.... I guess my charm kicked in. You guys will probably look like me soon too." He shakley nods and bends down to retrive his sword off of the red soil.

It wasnt his weapon of choice, but each of the members carried a sword if they were left to no other option. Like my special gloves. They dont call me "FireFist" for nothing. But I didnt even have them on me. I broke this last pair pretty bad. I am snapped from my thoughts once more by my hair being tugged, a knife being brought to my throat.

The voice was low and made me panick instantly. "You may fool Mr. Softie over there, but I'm not falling for it." I dont know why, but I start to beg "I-Ivy it's me. I swear it's me. P-please dont kill me." I feel the blade gain pressure on the sensitive skin of my neck, making my breath hitch in my throat. "Katelyn never begs for her life. That would make her seem weak."

I feel tears welling, not because I actually cared if she killed me, but if she did, how will I get Travis out? He needed us. I dont know why I got so emotional over it though. A single tear slips past my eye and rolls down my cheek, Ivy letting the blade down and allowing my hair be dropped from her grip.

"Real demons don't cry. Especially for their life. She's the real deal." I blink and wipe my tears, turning shakily to face the three who were now suddenly there. Lilian blurts out instantly "Where the hell were you? We let you take the lead and you go run off? Who does that? We've been searching since lover boy got up to check on you at some ongodly hour! I want some sort of explaination. Now."

I blink "I was asleep....I wasn't in my tent? What...?" I think on this, looking to Jeffory for guidence, but he was scowlimg and blushing sending dagger glares in lillians direction. "I....uh...I must've been.....um....sleepwalking? Anyway....Im back now. Lets just go then...shall we?"

It takes us what feels like forever to actually get going, myself naturally walking the path I'm sure will lead to where we wish to go. I walk with my group with a satisfied smile as I reach the farmiliar bricked path, stepping onto it and turning to see their expression as the annoying little chant sounds.

"Which way do you go, to wild? To castle? I'll guide you in tow, it will be no hassle." All three grab their weapons and prepare to fight, certainly not expecting that. "Now guys, don't be so jumpy. It's only a magic pathway." I clear my throat and reply politely "to castle please." The voice doesn't respond for a moment, but comes back with words I didn't expect "princess, if you please, let me guide to the trees. Your party
of nine, concern may not be mine, but wrong turn they took, the wyverns they shook. If wish they live on, you may want to get gone."

(Augh. One thing I didnt miss about writing this. The rhyming. Uggggh.)

I take a moment to sort this out in my mind, realizing it was telling me the rest of the jury was about to be killed by wyverns. "Which way? We need to save them." I hear Ivy muttering things behind my back, sounding confused, but I ignore her. "...please."

The path comes back with yet another rhyme "Go to your left, and then down the path, the wyverns are deft, and they suffer their wrath. Your friends are at risk, so hurry along, do try to be brisk, the wyverns are strong."

I nod and start to lead to group, although against my will, away from our real mission. I hear Ivy now, her voice snapping my focus. "How did you do that? Talk to it like nothing? And why did It call you princess?" I sigh, shrugging "I dont know why it called me princess."

I have a feeling I do though. Travis reffered to me as princess, and he really is so important....He must've done it to mock me. I'm no princess. I hear her growl again behind me, this time making me turn my head to see her. "You didn't answer my question....princess."

I sigh and resist getting angry with Ivy, its really not worth it. "Look. I don't know, maybe I just know what I'm doing. I know thats a foreign concept for you, but I know exactly what I'm getting into." I turn my head away from her and can almost feel the daggers shes staring into the back of my skull as we trek on.p

It's a couple of hours of walking before we become reasonably tired. We decide to take a rest beside a couple of weird looking boulders. They seem almost....purple? The rocks also had flecks of different shades of grey. It looked like scales almost...It was weird.

I move and climb up the highest of these rocks, standing and looking as far down the trail as I could. We were mostly surrounded by black barked, dead looking trees and grey vegetation that I encountered before, and the bushes looked as if they were about to take over the now dirt path we are taking. Why would they come this way? It makes no sense...Wouldn't they figure that this path lead away from any kind of civilization? What were they thinking?

As I stand there in thought, I feel a presence coming up behind me and turn to see a very tired Jeffory. "Pondering, are we?" I shrug a bit, jeffory staring at me like I just killed someone. I speak without thinking "I know its going to take some getting used to...believe me....But I am still Katelyn. Alright?" He blinks and shakes his head, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "No,no! I was just thinking if it was painful.... I wasnt.... I didnt... I....ugh...Oh my Irene."

I laugh quickly and sharply as I look away for a second, almost pushing the man off the rock as he crashes into me and wraps his arms around my waist. "Wha-...What...?" He holds me awkwardly in the embrace, hiding his face in my neck. I awkwardly hug him back, not because we don't ever hug but...I feel different now. Like...my soul is different and forgot how to feel about my friends. "I'm so glad your okay....If anything happened to you I'd-" I cut him off by shushing him. "Now don't get all mushy on me. We have to focus."

He does as I say and lets go of me, crossing his arms "I'm just... really happy you're okay." I nod and look out down the path again, completely letting my gaurd down in that moment and I gape as he kisses my cheek. I feel myself blush, about to say something but he was already gone from my side.