That night Karis slept so well. Familiar bed, smell and chillness of her room were comforting in these times of need. Since she took few days for holidays to unwind from all movement she allowed herself to sleep in.
When she was eating breakfast in the garden under oak tree that was growing in their yard she heard an uncomfortable cough. When turning with full mouth and cheeks of cereal she saw Vincent holding a phone in his hands and rubbing back of his head.
-I apologise, i misunderstood you yesterday I live in forest, there fore connection might not be there all the time, and i don't carry it with me all the time as i work manual labour and i am afraid it will break. Do you still need my number?-Karis finished chewing allowing awkward silence to linger between them.
-Yes,- she quickly took phone to exchange numbers and turned her back at him.
"I don't need a man, i don't want to be dependable on man ever again." She repeated in her mind.
Karis felt a bit bad, but for next few days she avoided and ignored Vincent. It lasted until she had to take her grandma back to her flat.
-Will you be ok? I am sorry i cant stay longer, i need to return to work.
-Yes grandma, i will be ok,- repeated woman for maybe 6th time in that ride.
-Could i ask you to chat with Vincent from time to time. He is a good man, maybe your age. 6 years ago his family got into fire, his parents house burned down and his family and wife died leaving only him.
-Grandma, i am in hard times, last thing i need right now is to pity another man, he has his troubles i have mine,- grandma sighed, but knew better not to question her granddaughters logic, she might have not agreed to it, but she was too stubborn to change. And if she really wanted, she would communicate with him in her own terms.
After their goodbyes she came back. All the memories flushed her if that happy childhood she had, which made her to slightly tear up. Vincent came up to her, trying his best not to scare her.
-I have finished todays work, i will come back in the evening to bring back animals to barn,- she turned at him wiping away her eyes.
-Yes, thanks,- not wanting to explain herself she hurried to the house, back into her room. She had to admit, she was feeling a bit uncomfortable, mainly because Vincent looked rather attractive to her. There was nothing special or extremely handsome, but some chub, nice muscles formed through manual labour, unevenly tanned skin was kind of making her feel cosy. Even being city dweller she now wanted to stay a bit longer, maybe even get to know him.
"I don't need a man" repeated Karis in her mind as her daydreaming caused her to doze off.
She spent her evening calmly in her solitude with few dramas she needed to catch up and surrounded by her guinea pigs and they poopies. Yet her mind was away, she was overthinking about how she allowed Jack to disrespect her like that and how she will continue to go on. It still rang in her ears how he said, that she was a bad person, and her imagination started pilling up making everything even worse.
The holidays has passed quite fast, she asked her friends to not come for a bit, as she needed some time to wind off and unpack, yet they still kept contact through constant messages. Azeroth gave her space that was needed respecting her privacy, while Ghost was trying to dig out her secret. Yet the more demon spent watching her from distance, the more he actually wanted to make a proper contact, at least a friendship. Even through limitations of the mortal body, he could tell she needed help, yet was too stubborn to ask.
Therefore one afternoon, when Karis came back from work, Vincent was sitting in kitchen with lunch already on the table still warm. Ghost has advised to make a nice gesture to sort of break the ice.
-Hi, has grandma came? i thought she will not come this week,- she said while taking off her heels and rubbing sore feet.
Since she had office job, her regular clothing were nice cut formal pants and shirt, which made her look professional and pretty. There was a bit of sauce stain on her leg from lunch when bite has fallen of the fork while she was chatting with her colleagues. They knew she moved places, but woman didn't want to explain reasons why. It was none of their business.
-No, i prepared lunch. I heard you complaining about coming back and having to cook, and since i had nothing better to do, i decided to cook,- he tried giving her a friendly smile, but she just frowned slightly. " I am strong independent woman, i need no man." she thought.
-Thank you, i will come in a minute, i need a bit of time for myself,- as she went to her room, he saw one of guinea pigs looking at him with such anger, like it would be throwing daggers at him.
-What is your deal?-suddenly said Karis while they were eating together, this made demon slightly confused.
-What do you mean?
-What is your deal? From what grandma said, you have no family, no ties here, why stay? Why not move on, find a new wife?-Vincent had to remind himself about his host tragic past, therefore he played as he needed a moment to compose himself while he thought of the response.
-Well, i had no where to go really, city was never something i wanted to go to. And your grandma and few other villagers needed help, so i am getting by,- she rested her chin on her palm looking at him with all piercing look. It even made demon in human skin uncomfortable. In the end she lifted her eyebrows a bit like she decided to believe his story or that its not her business and continued to her plate.
For next week Azeroth kept preparing her lunch and after few days, she started smiling every time she entered house and was greeted with delicious smell. She started talking a bit more as well, she complained about colleagues, talked about how much she loved her job even through all of the issues due to higher management. It made him feel content and happy that she started to open up, but at the same time he knew, its not real feeling. The shackles of contract were there to remind him that.
-I am done with work, see you tomorrow?- one day in the evening he found her sitting across the road in meadow and drinking cider.
-Thank you,- she replied taking another sip and making soft "ah" noise indicating the tastiness of beverage. Vincent didn't want to leave just yet. Her presence made this body very happy and demon himself started feel drawn towards her. -You know, after all these years, this view never changed,- she said crossing he legs and pushing bug off her tight.
-What do you mean?-he sat down near her keeping a polite distance.
-It doesn't matter how much forest had spread over these years, this view, with the lake still there and the way how sun sets around, colouring it in various shades. It always made me feel at ease, in a way i really missed it,- she didn't look at him, he did notice how she only looked straight into his eyes if she had any suspicions and needed to read his face.
-I guess you are right. I never really stopped to look and it and enjoy it,- she didn't react much just took another sip. Her cheeks were slowly getting more and more red from effect of alcohol.
The silence lasted and Azeroth just looked at woman. The sunset was playing on her hair, reflecting in her big blue eyes, making them look even red due to coloration.
-Say, do you believe in mythical creatures?- he suddenly asked and leaned back. He couldn't understand why this suddenly came out of his mouth, yet Karis chuckled taking another sip.
-That's weird question,-she giggled again,-How to put it through. I love fantasy literature and those creatures are alive in my mind. I heard so many stories being told by my grandma about hags, wisps and zombie like creatures i think Viduli, that was their name, that are deeply connected with out mythology. I think its interesting the idea of stronger beings living among, but then at the same time i believe they would rule over us as we are weaker species compared to any of them,- she took a little break to sip her drink before it became too warm,- and if they are actually really are living among us, well good for them. Yet i don't think i would wish to be part of their world or affairs.
-How so?-Vincent tilted his head and Karis just chuckled. She didn't knew that she was already involved by binding demon with a contract by accident.
-Why would i want be? Have you seen any of the fantasy movies? They are faster, stronger, better, more beautiful and human laws doesn't really apply to them, their love stories involves weak fable human, a pure damsel in distress with several hundred or thousand years difference. I don't think why i would want this. Besides i don't have time.
-What you mean?- she looked him straight in the eyes and frowned lightly like she questioned his mental abilities.
-What you mean? What i mean is, i have full time job, then i do like working overtime, if getting involved in all the supernatural mess would mean that i can still do 8-4 job, get at least 8 hours of sleep and have time for myself to watch my dramas, then yes, i could. But i am in no physical shape to even join, if i needed to run, after 10 minutes getting eaten by a werewolf wouldn't be that bad,- she chuckled and slapped her tights making them jiggle. She wasn't fit and she never hid that, rather than hiding, she embraced it, kept it under control to a healthy level and worn clothes to match her shape, which made her even more attractive.
A jolt of arousal ran through Azeroth back making him sit more straight. Karis was clearly under influence of alcohol as she was talking a lot more.
-Yet, if i would get the power, i am not sure i would be there saving the world. I worked in customer service long enough to actually want to see world burn,- she smiled at him and turned back ant nature scenery,- besides, my wish is not to be become saviour of world, but i wish to marry a man that treats me right,- suddenly Vincent frozen as he felt another shackles on his wrists. He went all pale as he understood what happened. She put in under contract with unsaid terms, and only god now knows what will happen. She might have accidentally turned him into her puppet.
-Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. It was interesting to see your point of view,-he stood up and was about to go to get Ghost looking into ways how to break contract, but stopped because a car had pull over by her house.
Karis stood up and from her expression it was clear, they weren't her friends. Azeroth smelled trouble as several men jumped out of car and walked towards them with hands in their pockets. Karis stood behind Vincent leaning just a bit to see what is going on.
-Hi, maybe you live here and can help us. On maps we saw that there is a lake nearby, but we cant find it, we have been circling around for a while now.- Azeroth glanced at Karis, neither saw that car passing before. Demon crossed his hands on his chest flexing his muscles and presenting himself as threatening as possible without bringing his supernatural side out, to which men replied with smiles and nudges.
-Yes, there is one lake if you will go to first crossing, and go down the hill, keeping straight to main road, you will end up at inner part of the village and lake will be in the end of road,- he said with serious voice and wasn't lying in case they would come back and seek revenge in the evening, when Karis was most vulnerable.
They looked at map and Vincent repeated directions pointing at road with gestures, yet his eyes were fixed on driver who did not got out and took several photos from his phone. In his mind Vincent wished they would cause trouble so he could eat them all without penalties.
After car drove off he looked at Karis behind who was pale, her big eyes looked like deer that was flashed with car lights, waved to get her attention.
-Do you want me to stay longer today? Just in case they will come back? And if they will return at night, don't open door, and if you need me, call my name or my number, i will protect you,- it was so satisfying for him to say those words, yet so unnatural.
-If you can,- she managed to snap out of her fear. Suddenly her whole strong independent woman façade has fallen and it was very clear, she needed a man, world is not forgiving for women.
At home, Azeroth was thinking ways to get out of the contract. 3 locks got him good this time. On the same time Karis realized dangers of living alone, by herself in village. When she was a kid, she felt so safe, as her granddad was here, and now the forest suddenly became so scary. She hated to admit, but she did needed a man. Even if its not Vincent, she needed someone now.
During dinner both of them would freeze when they would hear any vehicle passing by.
-This is really nerve wracking. I don't know if i will be able to sleep tonight,- said Karis without lifting her eyes from phone. She was telling her friends about the suspicious car.
-Hopefully they found what they needed and will not bother you... Maybe to get your mind off, you could tell me anything? - she looked at him very annoyed. Yet he used her alcohol intoxication as a gateway to know her better.
-I hate this question, makes me forget who i am,- they both chuckled.
-Maybe about your guinea pigs?- suddenly her eyes sparked with joy, a wide smile has appeared.
-I love them, i currently have 5, they came into my life as emotional support animals, and they made my life so much better, Pichu is my oldest and wisest, i don't want to look like i have favourites, but she definitely is,- she froze again hearing car pass by.
During that evening she did told him a lot, about Jack, about her studies, she opened up for him, which he appreciated.
-I talked a lot, can you tell me anything about yourself? How was your wife? How did you 2 met?- she used this as an escape to finish of her almost cold dinner. Azeroth thought for a minute, his host never gave out too much about her, so he merged his own story.
-Her name was Austeja.
-That's a pretty name. Its our Goddess of bees if i remember correctly?
-You know her?- Azeroth got a bit confused. He didn't think a mortal would personally know any of old Goddesses.
-Well i read about our pagan gods long time ago, so i do remember one or 2 names. But you continue,- Azeroth bit his lip as he had to now humanize story even more.
-Well, she was my childhood sweetheart. Our families lived in same house divided into 2 parts after our parents came back from Siberia exile and managed to reclaim their land. She was always so sweet, such a good mother too. But then we had an attack from bad people that burned our house with everyone trapped in. I still don't know how i have managed to survive. I often wish i didn't,- Azeroth knows well how Vincent has survived, but the story was not for mind of Karis.
Vincent called on Azeroth for help, stating his last wish to revenge his family, to which Azeroth did in return he took mans body as a host sending soul into better days together with family. As 8th Raven brother he was considered to be a wish granter. Not any kind of little whim, but wish surrounded by extremely strong emotion, and very often dyeing persons wish. Yet since not many people nowadays knew about him, or his ability, he had a lot free time for himself and his other duties.
- I am sorry about what you have gone through,-she took their plates visibly upset, blaming herself for even asking. Azeroth wished to stay longer, but host body needed to be healed up after such a long day.
-I do have to go now,- he stood up and walked closer, he wanted to put his hands on her shoulders for better reassurance, but she moved away. "Not there yet." noted mentally demon.
-Remember, don't open door, don't even try to talk with anyone. If something happens call me, call my name,- she nodded, her eyebrow movement given a slight doubt as she couldn't understand how he would manage to come as fast, but if she stick to thought that he was there to protect her, she might be able to sleep.
-Good night, Vincent,- she smiled putting a brave face on.
-Good night, Karis,-he smiled and walked of. Demon waited till all locks were locked and curtains got closed, then disappeared into night to return back home.