Slipping away from Cain's grip, Pittaria walked towards the dried plant that stood lifeless in the corner of the room. Her fingertips lightly brushed its brittle leaves, and she leaned in to blow a kiss at it. For a moment, nothing happened. But then, as if responding to her subtle command, the plant's leaves turned a rich shade of purple and began to grow, slowly reaching for the sky. Yet, just as quickly, it began to wither, turning to dust before her eyes. Pittaria's frown deepened.
She was about to turn and demand an explanation from Cain when a harsh realization stopped her. He was the one who had done this.
"Why did you do that?" Her voice was barely contained, her anger rising.
Cain, ever composed, regarded her calmly. "Your Majesty, this is the human realm. You can't just do whatever you like here. People would panic, and they'd use us as their experiments. Now, come on," he added, his voice soft but firm as he transported them both inside.
Minutes later, they found themselves seated at a small, dimly lit table. The low murmur of human conversations surrounded them. Pittaria couldn't shake the feeling that everyone's eyes were on them. She leaned in close to Cain.
"Why are they looking at us like that?" Her voice was a whisper, laced with frustration.
"We stand out," Cain replied, eyes scanning the room. "Here, you don't call me Cain, you call me Cooge. Understood?"
Pittaria raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk tugging at her lips. "Hmm."
Before she could say more, a waitress approached, her smile wide and professional. "Good day, your orders, please?" she asked, pen poised over her notepad.
Without missing a beat, Pittaria rushed to speak. "Frog eyes, raw meat, raw beef, full chicken pee, horse blood... and I need blood—"
The woman's face went pale. "Umm, what?" she asked, eyes wide with confusion.
Cain, ever the quick thinker, reached over and touched the waitress's arm. His smile was disarming, a charm that most couldn't resist. "Forget what you just heard, my dear," he said smoothly, his voice low and persuasive.
The waitress blinked, nodded, and then smiled. "Of course. Your orders?"
Cain's smile didn't fade as he turned to Pittaria. "Chicken paste, green broccoli," he said smoothly, his tone warm and inviting. The waitress blushed, turned, and quickly walked away.
Pittaria stared after her, bewildered. "Why did you compel her?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
"You don't say what we eat back home to humans," Cain explained, his tone light but serious.
Pittaria furrowed her brows. "Why are there so many rules?"
"Because we need to blend in," Cain replied, the words measured and careful.
"Blend in?" She echoed, unconvinced. "Why do we need to blend in when we could just go back home?"
Cain sighed, his expression hardening. "It's not safe back home, my princess."
Pittaria opened her mouth, but something in his voice stopped her. She bit her lip, unsure of what to say. The weight of his words hung in the air between them.
Just then, her attention was drawn to the TV screen above them, where the news was playing. The headline caught her eye: 'Detectives on the Trail of Animal Claws Mystery.' A group of officers were gathered around a man's body, which was covered in bruises. Her breath hitched as she realized what had happened. The man on the screen—she recognized him. He was the one she had killed.
"You killed him, didn't you?" Cain's voice cut through her thoughts, and she quickly averted her gaze from the TV to look at him. She nodded, her face pale.
Cain exhaled sharply, his eyes narrowing. "You can't just go around killing people in this universe."
Pittaria's eyes flashed with defiance. "Killing people? It's just one. One person." Her voice was tight, but she didn't look away from him.
"Still, Pittaria," Cain said, using her true name for the first time in ages. "Humans are insane, especially their scientists. One wrong move, and they'll find out about us. They'll use us as their guinea pigs, and we can't let that happen. It goes against the Third Rule of the Fox Demons." His eyes locked onto hers. "No more hurting any humans. We can't risk them finding out about us."
Pittaria scoffed, her gaze turning cold. "Sorry, Cooge," she said dryly, but her face remained unapologetic. Cain could tell she was already shutting down, and he sighed in frustration.
"Seriously, Pittaria," he said, his voice low but urgent. "This isn't a game. We have to be careful."
"I'm so confused right now," she muttered, her voice distant. "I really want to go back home, Cooge."
Before he could respond, the waitress returned with their orders, setting a plate of chicken paste and green broccoli in front of them. She smiled mainly at Cain as she placed the food down. "Here you go, sir."
"Thank you," Cain said with his charming smile, watching as the woman walked away, still blushing.
He turned back to Pittaria, his expression now serious. "I'm serious, Pittaria. You—"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I've heard you," she interrupted, rolling her eyes.
Cain sighed deeply, his frustration palpable. He knew she wasn't going to listen, but he couldn't help but worry.
Pittaria took a bite of the food, only to gag and nearly spit it out. "This tastes like shit," she muttered, her face contorting in disgust.
Cain, ever prepared, slid a small brown bag towards her. "Here. You might need this."
Pittaria took the bag and emptied her stomach into it. "How do they eat this stuff?" she asked between breaths, feeling nauseous. This is the food they could offer? she thought bitterly.
Cain patted her back, his touch soothing yet firm. "Get used to it. There are a lot of dishes here. Hopefully, you'll like them. Trust me."
Pittaria didn't respond, her mind too preoccupied with thoughts of home, of the place she longed to return to. Her body ached, not just from the food, but from the constant strain of living in a world that was not hers.
When they finished, Cain called for the bill, paid, and led her out of the restaurant.
---
Later, they arrived at a grand mansion—its beauty undeniable. The structure was magnificent, designed with meticulous care. Pittaria couldn't help but admire it. Humans had their strengths, she had to admit, even if their food was repulsive.
"It's beautiful, but I miss home, Cooge," she said softly as she sank into a plush couch, exhaustion taking over her. The past few days had been hell, and her leg, which had refused to heal, only added to her frustration. The humans' food, despite her hunger, had made her sick every time.
As she lay there, her gaze shifted to the dark blue and black painted walls, and memories of the cages she had been kept in flooded her mind. She had escaped many times, but never without scars.
"How about you come with me, and I'll take you to your room?" Cain's voice interrupted her thoughts.
With a heavy heart, Pittaria stood and followed him, her gaze lingering on the beauty of the mansion. It was clear that, despite everything, the humans had good taste—at least in shelter. But the food? she thought, shaking her head. They still have a long way to go.