Ma'oz's POV
From my experience, when a demoness marches out with that sort of dark and tempestuous aura, all hell breaks loose. Homes will be wrecked, forests ripped bare, and the very course of the river will change. It would take days, if not weeks before the demoness can be placated. Usually, it involves the taking the spleen of whoever angers her.
My mother was unusual. She never had such fits of anger or outbursts that damaged the realm. Many claimed she was too calm, too demure to be one of us.
They were right. She was actually half-god, half-demon. No one else but my father and I knew. It would have been too dangerous. Even for a powerful being like her.
Journee is human. Do human women behave like a demoness? Even if she does, how much damage can she do? She doesn't have any powers. She can't control anything, not even her own life.
But this is precisely what worries me. Journee is too naïve, too weak even against other humans. She lacks physical strength even though she has proved to me that she has reasonable mental fortitude.
"Dammit!" I got up to go after her, but my legs just won't move. What is happening? I will myself to appear before Journee instead.
Nothing happens.
My powers too aren't working. "What the hell!!?"
I need to stop her from doing anything foolish. There is no telling what will happen to me if she dies or gets injured. I can't risk allowing her to fend for herself.
As the minutes passed, her scent grew more and more faint. She has left the Lewis family's property. I can no longer feel her aura. That magical something, that drew me into this mess in the first place is gone.
I realise for the first time in a long while that I feel empty. Drained. Soulless. There is no reason why I should feel this way. I am the King of Demons. The most powerful being in the three realms.
"It must be the bond. It forces me to stay near her." I reasoned.
But I can't go to her. "Is it because the bond considers her my master?" I shuddered at the thought. Me, who has roamed free and commanded millions am now enslaved to a human. I will become the laughingstock of the demon and divine realms.
"At least she isn't a mere mortal. Those lights…she is a demigod." Of that much, I am sure.
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Journee's POV
I ran down the stairs, hailing a cab from AegeanTaxi. It's pretty much like Uber and is tourist friendly. Thank God for that.
"Airport please." I told the young taxi driver. He can't be more than 20.
Eyeing me through the dashboard mirror, he asked "Are you alright, miss?"
"I'm fine. Just drive." That came out harsher than I meant to. But at least he is keeping his eyes on the road and his thoughts to himself now.
We arrived shortly and I scanned the earliest flight available. Qantas Airway leaves in approximately 50 minutes. Perfect.
I'm truly lucky that the flight is running a promotional rate right now, $1589 for a one-way trip. If Dorthy and a few relatives hadn't sent me some cash as a wedding gift, I wouldn't have the money to fly out now.
Grabbing my ticket, I ran to Gate 12. My phone rang a few times, but I can't bring myself to check who it is. If it is granny or worse, my father-in-law, they would demand an explanation, I am sure.
It seemed forever but soon, I made it back home.
"Honey bunny? What are you doing back here? Where is your husband? Where is your luggage," Dressed in his weekend clothes, my father has stopped watering the plants. "Come here." He pulled me into a bear hug.
To feel this warmth again, this unconditional love stabbed me in the heart. He has given up everything for me. And because of me, he now has cancer.
When will this trail of bad luck end?
"Why are you crying?" My father wipes away my tears and walks me into the house. I breath in the sweet lemongrass essential oil that burns in on the table. I am home.
From the corner of my eye, I see an opened envelop. It's from a pathology clinic in the next block.
Seeing what has taken my attention, my father immediately pulls me away, "Have you eaten? You look hungry." He pulled out a chair and made me sit at the kitchen island while he prepared me ham and eggs.
"Daddy…don't try to hide it. I already know." Why can't I just hold myself back? Is there any reason to jump the gun like this? Argh! Stupid me! Have more diplomacy, Journee!
"Oh well…you found me out. Yes, I admit I gained a few pounds since you left. I have been eating all that junk food you left behind."
"Daddy…" I am trying to sound as fierce as I can, but my guilt for causing his cancer makes me sound more like a mewling cat in pain.
I got up to reach for the pile of letters. Huh? I'm sure I saw the pathology clinic envelope. Am I hallucinating?
Putting the letters back on its tray, I pretended like nothing is amiss.
"Why don't you call Dorthy over? She'll be glad to see you."
"Thanks daddy." I dug into my food and rang Dorthy's number.
After two rings, a sweet voice picked up. "Hey stranger! Thought you'd forgotten me after becoming a rich woman."
I laughed. Dorthy has always been able to cheer me up with whatever she says. When she aims to sooth my worries anyway.
"I'm back. Come over."
"Seriously? What did you do? Leave the groom at the altar?"
"Well, I'll only tell if you're here.' I teased but she took the bait.
"Roger that!" She hung up and I continued to swallow the breakfast.
Once done, my father gave me a kind smile and chased me to my room. He knows that I need some girl time for now. He will always be there to listen to my story when I'm ready. But now I worry…because of my stupid wish, because of my selfish self, I might not have that much time with him.
Dorthy burst through the door, "come to mamma!!" We hugged and fell on to my bed laughing.
"Spill. What happened?"
I sighed. Where do I start?
"Your wedding photos were splashed all over the news. So, there isn't much I don't know. Where did it go wrong?"
Dorthy being the wonderful listener she has always been since we were 2 just hugged one of my pillows and waited for me to be ready.
"Well…it all went wrong from the beginning. Montgomery was so cold and unfeeling that I literally felt like he was being forced into the marriage just like me. At first, I thought that would bond us but instead he seemed to be pushing me away."
Folding both legs on my bed, I tucked a stray hair behind my ear. "There was turbulence on the plane, and we had to land in Langkawi for a spell." Spell…Funny choice of word for me. I suppressed the urge to laugh at my own silliness.
"I was so bored for those few days that I went to Lubuk Tuna. You remember the place."
"Yeah. We used to swim there every weekend." Dorthy nodded.
"Well, I thought I saw something strange in the water, which at first might have been a snake or something so I got out and put on my clothes while still wet. Then wind dried my clothes within seconds. Don't you think that is odd?"
"Erm…Are you sure you aren't over thinking it? Langkawi is pretty hot. Warm air plus fast motions equate moisture evaporation."
"I know, I know…but you see I thought the same too, just I felt like I was being followed. I could feel a pair of eyes settling on me."
"Okay so you're saying you came home because something was haunting you?"
"Still is, Doe."
"Huh? You mean in this house?! Yikes!" She posed with my pillow, ready to hit the shit out of anything that comes out way.
"No, no. Not here." I tugged her t-shirt for her to sit.
"Phew! So, what happened?"
"We arrived at his house. Freakin' mansion! But he didn't say two words to me. Just started talking to his uncle and ignored me the whole time. The next morning though, I found this antique ring…" I looked down at the ring and fiddled it.
Since its connected to Ma'oz, I truly wish to be rid of it, but my heart wouldn't allow it. I feel as if it has become a part of my soul. One piece of me that I loathe, fear and love all at the same time.
"What's with your hand? Do you get hurt?" My best friend took my hand in hers and looked all around.
She can't see it! She doesn't see it! "I know how this sounds, but the ring is still on my finger now."
"There is nothing there…" Dorthy is starting to look at me like I have lost my mind. It bothers me but I have to tell her the whole story.
"It is! You just…can't see it." I insisted then quieted my voice. Saying it out loud sounds far crazier than it did in my head.
"Okay…so you have an invisible ring. Then what?"
I continued to tell her about my encounters with Ma'oz and everything that happened after. It seemed like ages as the sunset on us and Dorthy staring at me, full of fear and intrigue.
"How is it possible that you know about your dad having cancer? He didn't tell anyone else. Neither did I." Dorthy gasped.
"I didn't imagine it. I knew I saw it! Why didn't either of you tell me?" I am close to tears that the two closest people in my life kept me out of this. A simple piece of information that will change our lives forever.
"Your dad didn't want to worry you. He's guilty enough about your marriage, you know. If he finds out what you went through, he will be devastated. Imagine his once sensible daughter is now talking about demons and dragons. Pfft!"
"You've got to believe me, Dorthy. Ma'oz told me about the cancer…and the koi all died. I don't know what else to tell you. I've told you everything!" I threw my hands in exasperation.
"That could have been a coincidence…I guess? Maybe you somehow felt it in your gut and dreamt it all, Jo? I'm sure you'll come to your senses after a good night's sleep."
"No, Doe. Don't you get it? I'm…I'm…" I have no words because there is nothing more to say. I have been honest and truthful. It really hurts that Dorthy thinks its all caused by stress and this delusions will soon fade.
"Hush." Dorthy forced me to take a shower and tucked me into bed. "No dinner for you tonight. A full stomach causes nightmares."
"Wait what? Not only do you not believe me. You're gonna starve me? Some best friend you are!" I snapped but Dorthy has always been stronger willed than me. It makes up for her petite statute I suppose.
Dorthy placed a few drops of lavender oil into my diffuser and quietly left my room. With my body and nerves fully relaxed, all the tension melted away, lulling me into deep sleep.
"Hello my sweet angel. I've missed you." My dark prince! He's back! My heart leaped with joy as a thousand butterflies churned in my tummy. Running towards him, I threw my arms around the faceless figure.
"How I've missed you. Why did you leave?"
"I never left you. You simply couldn't see me." He is as gentle as I have known.
"Why do you not show me your face?" I looked into the faceless hood. Wondering if I would see what he looks like if I removed the cloak he wears.
"You will see me soon enough. I will always be with you, my sweet angel. Rest,"
He kissed me on the forehead, and I drifted away. I wanted to fight it, to run back to him but my limbs felt heavy with sleep. My thoughts blurred.
Oddly, I started to think of Ma'oz and the moments when he set my soul on fire with passion. I had felt emotions I never knew of tingling through my body. It was home. When I was in Ma'oz's arms, I didn't want to leave.
"I miss you." I whispered as my consciousness faded into a dreamless slumber.