The Temple of the Demons

Chapter 19: Satin

Note: I apologize for the late update! Really, really sorry! Again, any typo, just ignore for now. I will edit everything some other time. Votes and comments are greatly appreciated to motivate me and help me improve the story. Thank you! >_<

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The past few days, after Tia joined our team, had been grueling. It was nonstop planning, arguing, and researching still. Sometimes, for fun and for getting stronger, Tia and I would duel. I'm still not used though to waking up and seeing the witch face first thing in the morning. But one thing I had to be grateful for her presence in the apartment was that she kept Raina preoccupied or distracted. It gave me the chance to pull Caleb aside and asked him questions that have been piling up in my head.

Just the other night, Tia felt the need to go out. Fresh air, she said. I didn't bother to ask anymore nor did I have any interest to react to that even. But when she pulled Raina with her out the door, I just had to jump off the couch and do a very brief victory dance.

"You lost it, Satin." Caleb's amused voice broke through my little bubble of happiness. I scowled at him but it also reminded me why I was doing the stupid victory dance.

"Now that we have some alone time, we can finally talk." I dropped on the couch again and patted the space beside me. "Sit."

"Yeah, I can already read the questions in your head."

I sneered at him. "Can you turn the mind reading thing off? A little suspense in the flow of the conversation actually turns more thinking gears. You just have it easy all the time."

He sad beside me and became quiet.

"First question. Why can't you read Raina's mind? That's a first. I think."

He didn't answer immediately. I can just imagine what goes on in his mind. There was also a brief hesitation when he finally said something. "Yeah... You're right. A first. It's different from people who actually know how to close their minds. Hers is different." He had the faraway look in his eyes again.

"How different?"

"My grandmother has mastered blocking my mind reading skills. When I try to pick her thoughts, I still get to travel her mind. But I don't read anything. I can't read anything. Don't know if that made any sense to you. But with Raina, it's like walking straight to a glass wall. I can't get past that block."

I can picture out what he meant. So he really can't read her thoughts? It's not like she's a threat to us but Raina's brain is like a database of anything demon-related. It would be so easy to just read her mind and get answers especially when she's distracted. "Is she aware of what she's doing?"

He shook his head and sighed. He sounded tired. I can't blame him though. He's done most of the planning for our jobs and for this particular job, he had to make changes sometimes to cater to my role and Tia's as well. Even Raina too. He closed his eyes but I know he isn't sleeping. In that situation, he looked vulnerable at least. Should I ask him about the man in the sketch? I just really think that he knows who that scarred man is. Or at least must have seen the man somewhere.

"We've been partners for a long time now, Caleb. Yet all I know about you is that you have a grandmother."

With eyes still close, he just grunted and didn't say anything more.

"I don't even know where you really came from or who your family is except for your grandmother. How did you get the fates? There has to be a story there."

"There is. But there's no need to go into that. Where I'm from has nothing to do with our job."

"And the man in the sketch? He seemed like someone you know."