Mayumi’s eyes crinkled into a narrowed stare, one brow a little higher than the other in puzzlement. “You’re a long way from home, Demonslayer.”
Emerie raised her arms as she looked down at herself, before swiping her hand over the top of the hood of her uniform. Understanding dawned as she pulled it off.
For whatever reason, these three women were living in the Veil with three Duskwalkers. Since she was wearing a Demonslayer’s uniform, they were considering her an enemy of their companions – which, usually, they would be justified in that assumption.
Emerie laughed, and it sounded spiteful and exhausted at the same time.
She was done. The last few weeks had been a lot, and she was too freaked out about running through the Veil right then to hold back the dam of her emotions.
The fact she hadn’t exploded already was a miracle.
“Screw this,” she snapped out, before pointing in the direction of Ingram. “I did not travel halfway across the fucking world with that Duskwalker, just to bring him here, only for you all to look at me like I’m the fucking enemy! Do you know what the hell I went through? What I had to do to get us here all by myself? I have almost died so many times I can’t even begin to count! He has also attempted to eat me numerous times, and I almost drowned today because of a giant Demon octopus. So, no. I don’t care who you all are, why you are here, or what your fucking problem is, but you can go and shove it back up your arses because I am tired. I am so tired, and hungry, and I just need five minutes to collect myself before you all start questioning me and my motives, like I’m being interrogated. You don’t know shit about me or what I’ve done wrong.”
Once she was done venting her frustration, she slapped her face into her hands.
That was probably the worst way to introduce herself, and it was absolutely out of character for her to have an outburst like that, but she really did not give a shit right now.
Everything she said was true, and she could still hear Ingram struggling. All she wanted was to go over to him and make sure he was okay because she sure as hell wasn’t. She’d never been more frightened in her life, and most of that was because she feared how he would react when he came to his senses and realised he’d killed her.
Right as they got here. Right when this long journey was supposed to end.
It would have eaten him up inside, and she just knew it.
Maybe it was the strange but heart-warming kiss they’d shared right before they both passed out in the forest together. How she’d been able to feel a tangle of... something in it from both of them that probably shouldn’t be there.
Or maybe that’s what her stupid head and foolish heart wanted.
Regardless, if he felt anything at all towards her, she knew he’d be upset. He’d already lost his ‘kindred,’ so she didn’t know how he’d take to losing a second person – and she’d be the cause of it.
So no, these people could fuck right off if they were going to treat Emerie as enemy number one after everything she and Ingram had been through together. Just for his sake.
She would have pleaded that she wanted to go home, but she didn’t even have one anymore to wish for.
To her surprise, she heard a giggle.
She looked up to find the blonde, Reia, still had her arms folded, but her gaze was filled with mirth as she stared at Mayumi.
“I like her,” Reia stated with a grin.
Mayumi returned her grin. “Straight, direct, and no shits given? Of course you like her.”
“Sorry,” Delora jumped in. “We probably should have given you some time to take this all in. Orpheus only just healed you, and I can only imagine how hard it was to get here.”
Emerie reared her head back and pointed to Delora, who had taken a seat on the step next to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“I like her,” Emerie admitted. “She’s nice.”
“We’re all nice.” Delora laughed as her gaze fell on Mayumi and then Reia. “Well, most of the time. We’re all pretty weird about strangers, and you are wearing a Demonslayer’s uniform.”
“You couldn’t have gotten changed first?” Mayumi added with a chuckle, as if that was a realistic question. “What sector are you from, anyway?”
Emerie didn’t know why that was important. “Eastern.”
“Zagros Fortress?” Mayumi said while cupping her chin. “Wren runs a brutal guild. If you’re from the eastern sector, there’s no surprise you were able to survive. Don’t let that go to your head, though. Hawthorne Keep has to deal with Demons from the Veil and the mountains.”
Her lips parted on a small gasp. “You’re a Demonslayer?!” Emerie yelled. “Why the hell were you giving me shit?”
“Was a Demonslayer,” she corrected while folding her arms. “I’m Mayumi, and the big guy you saw me riding in on is Faunus.”
Faunus was nowhere to be found, like he’d gone into the forest to put as much space between Emerie and himself.
“I’m Delora,” the woman, with hair such a dark colour of brown it almost looked black, said with a smile. She raised a hand like a student would when being called on.
“Reia,” the pale woman said, nodding her chin upwards in greeting.
“I’m Emerie,” she sighed out with her shoulders falling. “And, like I said, I’m hungry. Please tell me you have real food.”
If she had to eat another berry, she hoped she choked on it.
“Sure, I’ll get you some food,” Delora said while patting her knee. Finally, some true kindness! She rose to her feet, but instead of running off, she pointed between Mayumi and Reia with her brown eyes narrowing into a fierce glare. It didn’t match her sweet face. “You two, behave while I’m gone.”
Reia threw her hands up like she was surrendering, while Mayumi lifted her gaze to the sky while whistling like a deviant.
“I mean it!” she yelled. “And while I’m gone, can one of you wash her back so we don’t attract a swarm of Demons with her blood. I don’t want to have to hear them howling all night.” She visibly shuddered. “It’s fucking creepy.”
Then she was gone, heading to the green painted door behind them to go inside. Emerie still couldn’t believe she was sitting on the steps of a log cabin home belonging to a human who lived within the Veil.
I didn’t think people could live here.
She wondered if it was the green glittering ward surrounding them like a dome.
“She’s scary when she’s serious,” Mayumi admitted on a laugh.
Emerie turned back to the two women standing before her.
Mayumi pushed back a few of the many black strands that had fallen from her high ponytail, like she had a choppy fringe she’d haphazardly cut with a dagger.
“Here, I’ll wash your back,” she offered.
She came around, knelt behind her, and wiped at her back. She occasionally dipped the cloth into a bucket of water Emerie hadn’t known was behind her.
“I don’t see the point,” Reia stated. “Her clothes are soaked with blood. When everything settles down, I’ll give you some new clothes to wear. What size shoe are you? If you’re a nine, you’re out of luck, because that’s my size.”