Once Upon A Dream

Chapter 21 - A Demon's Pride

Ch. 21

We panted as we shuffled into our seat on the plane. Why? Because we spotted Ravus while waiting for them to board us on the plane. In the airport, she was far off, luckily, though. She was looking all around her, searching. She had been lifting things, going into stores and restrooms, and even asked some people, which I found surprising. Meanwhile, sat on the ground behind seats, trying to look inconspicuous but also hide. When she finally did see us, the plane was boarding us. We gave the lady our tickets and hurried onto the tunnel and into the plane.

"How'd she know we were here?" I asked Aesc, out of breath.

"Who knows," he replied. He was in a much better state than me, barely even breathing heavily. "I'm sure she found out some way. I wouldn't rule out stalkers and spies. It's Ravus."

I couldn't help think of Danielle, no matter how much Aesc appeared to trust her.

I took the window seat, and Faellan took the one behind me. Aesc sat next to me as Faellan dragged Lea into the seat next to him. I had no doubt it was because of Danielle, but I cringed as she chose the seat next to Aesc over the one next to Lea.

"I thought you liked the window seat," I told Aesc.

"Uhh..." His eyebrows twitched, nearly coming to meet at the ends. "Well, you can have it."

"You can have it," I offered, and over Aesc's shoulder I saw Danielle smirk as she looked down at her palms in her lap. I scowled.

"Kate?" Aesc asked, brow fully furrowed now. I looked away from Danielle, but it was too late. He had followed my gaze, and looked over his shoulder at Danielle, who's smirk disappeared.

"Demons," I muttered under my breath as Aesc let out an annoyed sigh.

"All right," he finally said. "I'll have the window seat."

"Really?" I sounded more hopeful than I should have as both Danielle's and my eyes widened.

"Yeah, let's trade, seeing you hate your seat so much," he muttered.

We switched, and my nerves tingled when Aesc put his hands on my hips as we moved passed each other. Now I couldn't suppress a smirk at Danielle as she glowered. Victory!

"Kate-" Aesc began, but the pilot's voice interrupted, telling us to put on our seat belt and what not.

~

Aesc wouldn't utter a single syllable. He stared out the plane window. I fiddled with my phone's cover. After checking to see it was on airplane mode, I played games. Danielle read a small book she had tucked away in her large purse. I didn't look to see what the title was. That was no interest of mine; I just needed to see that she wasn't doing anything important, anything that I should know of.

Behind us, Faellan and Lea were quite the chatterboxes - not at first, however. There was no "click" for them, but they both had a hindered relationship with Aesc. Faellan shared a strong bond with his friend, but Aesc was still one of the mightiest demons in Hell. He had his flaws - his many flaws.

And Lea. She still thought of him as Dante: handsome, kind, and only a little rough around the edges. As Aesc said, Dante was a part of Aesc, but Aesc was no Dante.

It was when this thought entered my mind that I could not help but sneak a glance at Aesc. He was as still as a statue. Aesc's pale blue eyes gazed out the window and onto the white, fluffy clouds we glided over in the stomach of the metal bird. His hard features were tense. As he thought, I could see his jaw muscles moving. I couldn't help but narrow my eyes a bit as interest consumed me.