The Damned Demon

810  A Reason To Trust

The crimson sun above burned like an unrelenting eye, its fiery gaze scorching the sands below. The vast expanse of one of Zalthor's dead deserts stretched in all directions, an endless wasteland of cracked earth and skeletal rock formations that clawed toward the sky.

Each step Asher took was soundless, his shadow stretching long across the sands as he made his way toward the distant tent—where Eradicator and Lori waited. His black robe billowed slightly with every stride, the fabric resisting the cruel desert winds that howled in protest.

He decided to descend and walk for a while before reaching the tent to pull himself together and prepare himself for whatever came next. He knew he couldn't afford to wallow in pain and hurt after everything that happened.

He needed to remain strong and fight for those still depending on him and awaiting his return. He still had to make things right for Rowena and his people. He can't just leave it at that.

Then, without breaking stride, his body suddenly halted.

His sharp eyes flicked toward the jagged rock formation to his right. He didn't need to see her—he could feel her.

A cold shadow, lurking. Watching.

His lips curled into a slight frown, "You can't hide from me twice, Rebecca. Show your face before I lose my patience."

Silence followed.

Then, a haughty scoff cut through the air.

"Hmph! I wasn't even trying to hide!" Rebecca's voice rang out, bold and full of attitude, as she strutted from behind the rock.

Her voluptuous chest was puffed up proudly, hands perched on her hips like she was making some grand entrance. Silver strands of hair whipped behind her as the desert winds lashed against her figure.

But the confidence faltered the second she saw his expression.

His black boots crushed into the hot sand, his movements smooth but deadly in their precision as he marched straight toward her. His eyes—cold and piercing—held none of the tolerance she wanted to see.

Her throat went dry as she took an unconscious step back.

"H-Hey, you better stay back! I'm no longer your slave to toy with!" she stammered, forcing a smirk onto her face despite the sudden tightness in her chest.

Asher stopped just before her, looming close, his presence suffocating.

His gaze bore into her, but his voice was eerily calm, "Exactly."

His next words were clipped, sharp, "You are no longer my slave. So why were you pretending to be one before the others? I already told Grace and Amelia about your little pretend act before I came here."

Rebecca's eyes twitched in frustration.

"Ughhh! Why did you have to tell them of all people, especially that smug little human brat?!" she groaned, gritting her teeth in embarrassment.

Amelia would use this to ridicule her. And Grace? That woman would tease her forever.

But Asher's expression didn't shift. It remained cold. Unrelenting.

"Don't change the topic," he cut in, his voice as sharp as a blade, "Why are you following me? What are you planning? After knowing who I was, you should be trying to kill me which you can't. So that leaves only one option. Getting as far away as possible from the man who was once a Hunter and killed your brother-in-law."

Rebecca snorted, "Pffft, who cares about that smug, dead bastard? I have to thank you for killing him. He treated me like a fool and got on my nerves so many times. Even if he was my real brother, I couldn't care less."

"So you don't care that I was one of those lowly humans? Or one of those rotten Hunters? If you had met me in the past, I would have killed you for sure and feel good about it," Asher said coolly as if he was stating a fact.

"Y-You!" Even though she knew he was trying to provoke her, Rebecca grunted in anger and frustration, knowing that he was telling the truth. For some reason, hearing it just stung her in a way she had never expected.

Asher frowned, seeing that she still remained undeterred despite whatever he said, making him feel even more suspicious of her true intentions, "Since you appear to not care about all that, don't tell me you're secretly working for Naida—feeding her information on my every move or what I am about to do next?"

Rebecca's entire body stiffened. Her eyes widened in pure, unfiltered shock.

"How could you accuse me of working for that backstabbing bitch?!" she snapped, her voice laced with betrayal. "I'd rather you call me a slut than accuse me of such treachery! She no longer has any hold over me now that I don't care if my secrets get exposed."

Her breath was uneven, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.

"If I really was working for her, why would I do something so stupid like following you when I knew you'd find out? Why would I even tell you the truth about her?!"

Asher wasn't convinced. His jaw tightened as he narrowed his eyes. "I don't know. It could all be some convoluted plan. If not, then give me a solid reason to believe otherwise."

His gaze flickered, assessing her with the same brutal scrutiny he reserved for those he distrusted.

"Because right now, you don't seem so trustworthy." @@novelbin@@

Rebecca's lips parted, but no words came out.

Because… she didn't have a reason.

She herself didn't know why she followed him. Why she couldn't stay away? What was this strange and annoying pull she was feeling towards him?

But Asher wasn't done. His voice dropped to something lower. Something sharper.

"If you truly had no ulterior motives, then you would have run off to your son instead of lingering around me."

His words hit harder than any physical strike.

Her breath hitched.

"When did I become more important than your own son?"

Rebecca snapped back immediately, "Nonsense! When did I ever say that?!"

But even as she said it, she lowered her gaze, her throat tightening as she swallowed hard. Her voice weakened.

"He's… in a safe place right now. And I'm staying away from him for a while."

Her fingers curled slightly as she admitted, "Because of you, he feels miserable whenever he looks at me. He blames himself for everything. That is why I can't be around him until he feels better."

Asher's gaze didn't waver, "Good."

Rebecca jerked her head up, stunned.

His voice was void of sympathy. Cold. Absolute.

"He should feel miserable. That's the least he should feel, don't you think?"

The weight of his words made her stomach churn.

She lowered her head—not out of defiance, but out of something she couldn't name.

Shame.

Guilt.

She remembered everything he went through when he was a soulless boy. At that time, she took pleasure in watching it happen, but now, why was it making her feel the opposite?

"Now," Asher continued, "fuck off. Don't make me catch you following me again."

He turned, ready to leave her behind.

But—

"No!"

Rebecca's voice rang loud and sharp through the dead desert air.

Asher stopped. His head tilted slightly, before he slowly turned back around, his eyes flashing with disbelief.

"You really want to do this the hard way?" His voice was laced with warning, "I thought I should go easy on you for 'loyally' serving me for a while, but you just want to push it, huh?"

Rebecca stared at him unflinchingly, even as her heart pounded against her ribs.

"What? You're going to kill me?" she challenged, her hands clenching at her sides.

And then—

His figure blurred.

A gust of wind slammed against her, sending sand whipping around her body as his hand closed around her throat.

The air was stolen from her lungs.

His grip was firm, unforgiving.

His face mere inches from hers.

"You want to die that badly?" His voice was dangerous, his fingers tightening just enough to send a warning.

Rebecca's throat trembled, her hands shooting up to grip his wrist.

"W-Wait!" she gasped, her eyes wide, "I know… you won't believe whatever I say… So…"

She swallowed, her nails digging into his wrist as she forced out the words.

"Use your Gaze of Agony on me!"

Asher's eyes flickered with confusion.

His grip didn't loosen.

"What?" he murmured.

Rebecca gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing as she spat, "If you really think I'm lying, then use your Gaze of Agony on me. Make me suffer and see for yourself that I am willing to tear open my deepest nightmares to you! That should give you a reason to trust me."

The desert winds howled around them, kicking up the sand.

And for the first time since this encounter began…

Asher was truly baffled by her.

Will he use it on her? :#

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