Chapter 3

I had ‘Mother’ and Sorrow wait in the room while i got the money for the small bounty. Only 3 silver...small fry, but beggars can’t be choosers. That and the fact he had 2 gold, 3 silver, and 1 copper in his wallet made up for it. Now we have some real money to buy supplies.

Kibun had given us a good room and I gave him a gold and five silver to buy basic supplies for us so we could head out the next day.

When I was going to the room I saw a young demoness waiting in the hallway. “I saw how you handled your servant downstairs...I can take orders pretty well to.” She said clearly showing her interests in me as she moved closer and touched on my chest.

“I’ll do any-” “I’m not interested succubus.” I said sternly as I moved her hands off of my body and walked past her.

“I have a message from my mistress.” she said from behind which caused me to turn around and look at her. “Which mistress and why were you waiting for me here?” I honestly didn’t like how she almost seemed placed here.

“My mistress Toxicana wishes to extend to you another invitation to one of her galas.” she said as a letter appeared in a purple mist which she handed to me. I took the letter and looked at it. “I might make it this time.” I said glancing up to her.

She raised her eyebrow and smirked. “I don’t think you understand...for the sake of that little boy and that thing in there, you will go, or I will visit them and kill them both.”

I smiled tightly to retrain myself from jumping at her. “First of all, you are over your head thinking you would even get close to them in terms of power. Second, don’t think you you ever have a shot of speaking to me like that ever again. While I understand you think I am weaker here I am still stronger than you. You simply aren’t worth the effort of killing.” I took a step towards her and stood on top of her shadow and began reading it. “Third of all Sarliu,” her eyes widened as I used her name, “I can have you killed by your precious mistress just for trying to seduce me. So let me make it clear for you if I haven’t already. You are beneath me.”

Her eyes flashed with anger and she reached back to punch me; but, even though it took more effort, I grabbed her back hand with the shadow tendrils from the shadows on the wall and wrapped one around her throat and squeezed. “Is what I said understood, Sarliu?” I asked darkly

She glared at me as she was choking, but nodded in defeat. “Good.” I walked away and into the room before I let her go. “Well that was fun.”

“You’re here! Oh! Tell us where we’re going! You promised!” Sorrow said excitedly while bouncing up and down on ‘mother’s’ lap.

“First things first Sorrow. ‘Mother’ are you okay? You gripped heaven metal with your bare hand. There has to be some damage.”

Sorrow immediately stopped bouncing and turned to her with a scared look. She patted him and smiled comfortingly down at him. “The light from the blade was dull. My injuries will soon be recover.” she said as held up the fingers she had caught the blade with. Unlike the matte color of her bone the spot her fingers caught the blade with were like polished obsidian.

“Do you want to at least bandage it?” I asked but she merely shook her head. “I am well, little one. There is no need for concern.” she said to Sorrow while petting his head. “Now, inform us of the destination of our journey.”

Sorrow sulkily turned back around and looked at me. “Well I had a few in mind when we first started, but I finally decided. I want to go to the Tower of Origin.”

‘Mother’ blinked at me and then looked down at Sorrow. “Would you like to go there, little one?”

Sorrow seemed to be a little excited still as he nodded and smiled...I haven’t seen him smile this much in a long time. It can almost make me forget how dangerous that little kid is...almost.

Someone knocked on the door and ‘Mother’s’ eye looked towards it warily.

“Don’t worry. It’s probably Kibun.”

I opened the door and like i thought it was Kibun. “Your supplies will be ready for you first thing tomorrow morning.”

I smiled and nodded before taking my my change and giving him a silver coin for his service. He thanked me back and I closed the door as he left and turned back to ‘Mother.’ “Anyway, it seems our supplies will arrive tomorrow so let’s get some rest. Tomorrow we’ll be heading out early.

‘Mother’ nodded and Sorrow rubbed his eyes sleepily. “Okay...I was tired anyway...” he said as curled against ‘Mother’s’ chest. She smiled softly and wrapped her bone arm around him and held him close.

“‘Mother’ I am sorry to bring this up now, but I honestly can’t stand calling you ‘Mother.’ can you please give me a name to call you by?”

She blinked at me for a moment contemplating whether or not she should when she finally said. “Xaril.”

“Huh?”

“You may call me Xaril.”

After a few minutes of trying to properly pronounce it and some time with its spelling I got it. “Thank you Xaril. Good night”

She nodded as she laid down with sorrow on her body. “Good night Aslansa.”