Karin: The Demon Sleeping Within

Chapter 23: Removing the Chains

The afternoon of the following day, Leone, Satania and I sat on the couches in the living room, Leone sitting across from Satania and I.

He fiddled with his hands, contemplating his next words, though I already knew what he would say. He had that same expression the last time I cut him off for trying to address a certain topic.

"Karin..." He breathed, his eyes glossy. "I am truly sorry for lying to you when I met you. I hope you can forgive me," He finished, his head bowed in shame.

I exhaled before reaching my hand out to place on top of his in which rested on his lap.

"If you can find it in your heart to set aside any anguish and hatred towards my last life, I can forgive you for not being completely honest about yours... after all, you came through when I needed you most. If it wasn't for you, I may not be myself right now."

Nodding, he then turned to face Satania, who had been sitting beside me silently for this entire conversation.

"And, Satania, I know I-"

She shook her head, placing a halting hand out in front of her.

"You've already been forgiven..." She then bit her lip as her mind trailed, capturing a memory. "And, I'm sorry for being rather... harsh towards you when I first learned of your betrayal. I should have learned to listen."

He smiled. "Well, at least we're all here now, listening to one another."

Satania placed her hand on top of ours, joining us.

"Yes." Her lips curved into a minuscule smile.

The matter resolved, Leone then changed the subject.

"I wrote a letter, which Gabriel sent, to your mother's address." A letter? How old-fashioned of him. Then again, he wasn't from here, and, of course, there were different norms from his world. "I explained how all evil have been removed from you, in hopes she will reconsider her previous conviction of you being unsafe."

"Did she respond?"

Leone visibly stiffened though his eyes held hope within them.

"Not yet. I am hoping she will soon. Give it time."

***

We were now at the town square, where everyone flocked like vultures.

We surely drew some attention to us as we stood in the center of the town square, Satania particularly standing out like a soar thumb, with her sinister looking cloak, her ominous yet compelling hoodie covering her face and her gleaming golden eyes. Her stare was always sharp, and it pierced anyone else's gaze, if they dared to hold one.

It was interesting to see the townsfolks' reactions to Satania. If they knew her like I did, perhaps they wouldn't have been so scared. Knowing her, no ounce of me felt unsafe around her.

The only problem, however, is that she had dangerous flames- flames that could kill. She could kill anyone she touches, so easily, with just a brush of her fingers, flames drawn or not. But, she had that cloak around her as protection. It veiled the malignant heat of her skin.

She stood tall, her hand intertwined with mine, with determination written all over her face.

"Attention, all. I have an important announcement!" Satania hollered.

Many heads turned, some stopping in their tracks as others gathered around, though they drew a careful distance from us. Understandable.

Leone stood with the crowd after leading some in this direction.