Kath'tan stayed in the meadows the entire morning, watching mindless sheep graze a short distance away. It was incredibly strange. This world was so peaceful, it was a sharp contrast from the Hells - he wanted nothing more than to return.
That thought prompted him to his feet, the longer he stayed away, the more disruptive things would get, and soon, he would completely lose the chance prove his worth to his father and regain his honor.
The Vampire flinched and cowered away when he knocked and stomped his way back to the kitchen, the steamed-up little room giving his pale face the barest of flushes. He clenched his teeth, feeling anger lick through him.
"You said you would find a way to undo the summons," Kath'tan was forced to deign himself to ask. If the Vampire truly couldn't die, then he would only be extending his stay here by incapacitating him.
Dulce had just finished up in the kitchen and was about to leave when he received a visitor who trapped him there. "Yes. I bought the summoning tome from a witch a few towns over. She certainly would know a way to release you."
Kath'tan pressed his lips together, it was frustrating but logical. "Fine. We will leave right away." He said, turning around, no doubt to follow through with his words.
"Right away?" Dulce repeated, "It's a lengthy journey, so I'll have to make some preparations."
Kath'tan paused, lengthy? "How many days by carriage?"
Dulce guiltily looked out of the window. If he could afford a carriage, they could certainly make the trip in three days or four. "We have to make the journey on foot," He censored the truth.
"We will leave by sundown." The Demon said instead, hunching over to go out the door.
It was still too short a time for the preparations he needed to make, but he didn't have much of a choice, the Demon was already being incredibly generous, and he hadn't tried to kill him again.
Dulce right away got to work, eating a large bowl of mutton stew first, accompanied by the bread he had gotten from Elinor.
He needed to clean up and throw out his old clothes, a distressing ordeal because it was one of his few decent outfits left. Then he needed to run down to the village square.
As for his farm, he couldn't delegate the responsibility to someone else, so he planned to let them roam free. They could survive off the land until he returned, as long as predators didn't wander into his farm.
He hastily put on a new outfit, his pale skin scrubbed clean. There was no time to even attempt a braid, so he simply tied his hair up. He had a large helping of mutton stew for the shopkeep, as well as some fine cuts of meat. She had been very kind and helpful to him, it was only right.
Just as he stepped out of the cottage, he found the Demon already waiting for him, right on the cobbled path that led to the road.
"What are you doing?" He demanded in his typical brusque manner, anger and detachment swirling in a strange mix in his purple eyes.
Dulce right away clutched the straw basket he held closer to him, it was what he used to deliver eggs, and was big enough for the errand he needed to run. "To the village square to run some errands."
"I'm coming with you," Kath'tan said. He couldn't fathom what the Vampire's errands could possibly entail, but he wasn't taking any chances, he would rather not lose the strange creature.
Dulce knew that it wasn't a request or a statement but rather an order. "Could you perhaps do something about your skin?" He forced himself to ask.
The Demon had lost his horns and wings, but the damning color of his skin was sure to give them away.
Kath'tan glanced down, "Humans can only perceive as much of me as I allow." He said decisively. "Lead the way."
Dulce wasn't quite sure what that meant, but he hoped it meant that he wouldn't be run out of the village for cahooting with a Demon. So he started down the familiar path that he had walked many times, only this time with a seething Demon for company.
Just as they approached the square, Dulce remembered something important. "We haven't shared our names yet. I'm Dulce Montesserat." He introduced amicably despite the Demon walking a few paces behind him in brooding silence for their entire journey.
Kath'tan looked away from the paltry village, he had made his presence unassuming, so all the stares directed at them passed over him and settled on the Vampire in front of him. There was no animosity between the Vampire and the ignorant humans but they kept a polite distance regardless.
"Kath'tan," He said in a low voice, going back to taking in the sights. It was the first time he had to say his own name in a while- it was unpleasant.
Dulce silently acknowledged the Demon's name, going straight for Elinor's shopfront.
"Back at the square so soon, Mister Monteserrat?" Elinor said in a bright voice, surprised to see him again so soon. "Did you... oh?" She cut herself off, noticing the person who came in with him. "You brought a friend?"
Kath'tan just stayed in a corner of the shop, it was more apt to call it a shed. The human woman would forget him as soon as he left, he didn't care for her.
Dulce barely kept his smile on his face at Elinor's description of the Demon. He placed the basket on her counter, lowering his voice, although that would do nothing to prevent Kath'tan from listening in.
"More like distant family," He lied nervously, "I need to take him to Fairwyn."
Elinor couldn't keep her surprise off her face; she looked back at the other stranger, although she couldn't make out his features or height, it didn't seem odd to her. "How kind of you," She smiled. "How long will you be away from the village?"
"I'm not quite sure," Dulce lied some more. They would be on the road for almost a fortnight, but Kath'tan didn't need to know that. "Here, I made some mutton stew." He pushed the basket to her.
"You did? How sweet of you... Wait! Are you leaving already? Who will tend to your farm?"
Dulce was already halfway to the door after he gave her the basket of food. "I've already made the arrangements, there's no need to worry." He turned around to give her a reassuring smile. "Keep my basket safe."
Elinor was rendered speechless by the rare smile, and by the time she recovered her wits, her shop was long empty.