Demonic Keeper

Chapter Four

He didn't watch as she left for her room, but Dante knew he felt the anger and fear emitting from the girl. She was upset about the situation but removing the necklace wasn't the solution.

It would only form a problem Dante would have to clean up.

She was in her room a while before she came out to shower. Dante had already removed his sleek coat and weapons, though kept them within reaching distance in case anything happened. His clothes weren't wet but torn, from the lower level demon he'd scuffled with.

He didn't know how this demon had found out about Evanora and the pendant, but it only made his job a hella lot more fun. Dante had to admit he enjoyed the fight. When he heard the shower shut off nearly ten minutes later, he half expected her to go back to her room but instead, she came out dressed in comfortable nightwear and hair wrapped in a white towel.

She stood beside the coffee table, clothes clinging to her moist body in a few places making the grey fabric she wore go dark.

It was hard not to notice her flawless skin on one side of her body then the damaged on the other, and, again, it stirred an emotion within Dante that he hadn't felt in years.

He pitied the girl. He didn't pity the humans and their easily damaged forms but just this one girl and her unfortunate run-in with fate.

He saw her notice his stare and saw the confidence leave from her face as she removed the towel from her head and place it around her shoulders to cover herself. She shook her wet hair out a bit, filling the space around them with the aroma of flowers- daisies, and what didn't stick to her face, covered her neck a little as she ran her hands through it.

She stood there a moment before thanking him.

"For what?" He asked confused.

"My mother told me what happened that night." She didn't have to say which night, he knew. "I don't remember much other than the flames but she told me and I just wanted to thank you for...saving my life then and I guess now, too. Even after my brother was a complete jerk to you."

"A job is a job," Dante stated simply. "I'm not going to let some ignorant human who doesn't know his way around a gambling table scare me off."

She bit her bottom lip and he knew it was to prevent a statement redeeming her brother.

"Regardless, I just wanted to say thanks for that and not, you know, asking for anything in return."

He chuckled. "And what could I have asked for that would have been nearly as valuable as your life?"

He realized the meaning of his words after he spoke and saw the smile in her eyes that didn't form on her lips.

"Get some sleep Evanora." He told her, giving his attention back to the television.

He didn't want her getting too comfortable around him. It was something that just couldn't happen. Not only was she human but a Keeper. And he knew that was one of the strictest rules their society held.

She left him once more and this time didn't resurface. After a few hours, Dante could hear the light snoring coming from her room.

Again, Dante didn't sleep but scouted the apartment and pushed furniture back to its original position.

When he heard Evanora's alarm sound, he was in the living-room gazing down at the bustling street.

She came from her room, hair a mess and clothes askew, and went to the bathroom. When she came out she mumbled a morning and went to the kitchen.