Since he wasn’t wearing a shirt, multiple gold chains hung from his neck in loops. He also had multiple arm bands, significantly more on his left arm, and long earrings dangled from those pointed ears.
He grinned, flashing sharp teeth behind his full lips.
“I was wondering how long it would take for you to notice me,” he chuckled with a deep baritone voice. “I’ve been standing here since the Mavka left.”
Reia’s face paled. Orpheus has been gone for over an hour. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed him standing there.
“You still didn’t answer my question.”
“You may call me Jabez, and I mean you no harm.” His grin grew wider, crinkling the corners of his eyes that appeared brown or perhaps another dark colour from afar.
Reia still hadn’t figured out what he was, but she couldn’t help finding him... handsome. Too handsome. Like it wasn’t normal or natural. With all the muscle and gold jewellery, he looked like some kind of God of sensuality, sexuality. A being that screamed an outward appearance of erotic and seductive.
“Says the person standing on the other side of the salt circle,” she sneered, twisting her upper lip at him.
He cocked a brow at her, like he was surprised about something. Perhaps it was because of her brash tone, or that she wasn’t immediately fawning over this sexy looking man that was doing very little to entice her.
“Oh?” He unfolded one arm to point his index finger to the ground. “You mean this salt circle?” He lifted his leg slowly, and stepped through it, standing within it alongside Reia.
“See, no harm at all, little human.”
She raised her sword higher even though they were still metres apart. Just because he doesn’t mean me harm now, doesn’t mean he won’t later. The Mavka had stepped through it and still tried to eat her after being attacked by the flying Demon.
“I’ll have you know, I’m not actually that little,” she told him. She found it cute when Orpheus called her that, but hearing it from him caused her skin to raise in goosebumps with apprehension. “I’m pretty average for a human.”
He began to step closer. “All your kind are small to me.”
“Stay back!” she warned, her eyes darting towards the front porch.
Can I make it? It wasn’t that far.
When she looked forward, he was almost in front of her, and she stumbled back to put space between them. How did he get so close all of a sudden?
He was almost at the tip of her sword. He grabbed it between his clawed thumb and index finger as if he was pinching it, turning his head one way and then other to examine it. Now she understood why he’d called her little.
He wasn’t as tall as Orpheus, but he was still huge. Maybe only three inches shorter.
“This will not kill me,” he said, examining it with a bored expression. Then he turned his gaze to her, brightening into something that looked heated with his sharp, white eyebrows. “But it will hurt. And you don’t want to hurt me human, not when I offer you salvation.”
Reia narrowed her eyes at him, her lips thinning in irritation as she yanked her sword from him to point it at his chest once more. A billow of wind wrapped around their bodies, chilling her slightly.
“And just what do I need saving from?”
“You’re the captive of a Mavka, aren’t you?” He reached his hand out to her palm facing up, offering for her to take it. “I will give you freedom.”
“Even if I wanted freedom, I’m not stupid enough to think anything comes without a price.” Reia continued to back up, slowly, but steadily, making her way towards the house.
“You want something from me. What is it?”
“It is not about what I want, but what another demands.”
His grin softened, as if he wanted to appear more welcoming, and in doing so came across less trustworthy.
“You are nothing but a pawn, and I am offering you the chance to go back to your people safely in exchange.”
Reia snorted a laugh, her lips curling into a smirk while her eyes were filled with a glare.
“You’ve worded your offer very well, but I can see the danger lurking in it.”
His brow cocked again, his lips twitching like his smile was threatening to fall.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You’re offering me a chance, not a guarantee.” She sliced her sword up so the sharp tip was pointing at his nose. “And pawns are usually insignificant to the grand plans in a game of chess. They are sacrificed without care and are often the first to die.”
He flashed his fangs while grinning once more.
“Regardless, if they are pushed forward, they are eaten by the choices of the attacking player, and I cannot guarantee what the Mavka will do.”
Her back stiffened. He’s after Orpheus. She didn’t care why. There was a threat to him, and that’s all she needed to know.
“Well, it’s too bad for you that I have no intention of going with you, so you can kindly fuck off.”
She stabbed forward, making him duck his head back, so she could get enough space between them to bolt towards the house.
Jabez materialised in front of her right before she reached the steps. Reia ran into his chest, his body like a hard wall and knocking the wind out of her. Groaning, she stumbled back as pain radiated through her nose since she’d bashed it.
“That was close. I didn’t expect you to do that.” He grabbed her arm holding the sword while wrapping his arm around her torso to trap her. “Now, let’s get this off you. The Witch Owl will sneak into my castle and steal it back anyway.”
