"Is this really how you're going to greet your savior?"
Why is this happening to me?
Audrey crouched down low and fixed her grey eyes on the monster in human skin facing her.
His posture was relaxed, and a slight smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. With a discrete movement, she adjusted her legs so that her back was fully hidden from her foes' direct line of sight.
Her piercing glare alternated between his glowing red eyes and pearly white teeth.
Every single feature of his face was perfectly formed and symmetrical. It was an absolute kind of beauty that could not be human.
A cold shudder slithered down her spine.
"What do you want from me, Monster?"
The beast's green hair shifted to the side when he tilted his head and looked at her.
"What do I want? Was it not you who attacked me? And right after I saved your life, no less… dare I say it is almost enough to make me feel a bit angry."
Audrey shuffled her feet in place to assume a more ready position as she registered the monster's threat.
I wasted too much energy fighting those spiders.
Her arms trembled imperceptibly as she fought to keep them up. In contrast to her shaking limbs, her expression conveyed no hint of weakness and remained as stoic as it had been since the monster appeared before her.
After the silence between them stretched for a few seconds longer, the fiend slowly shook his head and sighed.
"Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot here." He straightened up to his full unimpressive height and put his right hand on his left chest. His eyes locked with her own as he performed a shallow bow.
"My name is Ladora Buné, of House Buné. It is a pleasure to meet you. What is yours?"
Her stare intensified as she peered closely into his crimson eyes. A moment later, her arms lowered and she responded. "Audrey…my name is Audrey."
The boy's brow arched. "No last name?"
Audrey's eyes narrowed. "Why should I tell you?"
In response to her blunt question, the monster huffed a laugh and rubbed his forehead. "You really are an overly suspicious one, aren't you?" He cast her a glance. "Didn't have the best experience with strangers, I take it?"
That's an understatement.
She flinched back sharply when he took a step forward and pointed his index finger toward his head. "However! While I understand the merits of stranger danger…just look at this face! I'm a child! What are you so afraid of?"
Audrey's brows knitted together closely, even as her fists unclenched.
What is he trying to accomplish with these theatrics?
"You are a monster. I saw you shapeshift earlier. Your youthful appearance cannot deceive me."
The boy blinked.
"Shapeshift? Well… yeah, I did. This really is my true form, though." The smile abruptly disappeared off his lips as he bristled. "And I will have you know that I am no mere monster. I am a dragon! That makes me the monster…though not the kind you are familiar with."
A dragon… Not a drakon?
Audrey's elevated heartbeat slowed when she sensed her bronze dagger return into its sheath attached to her back pocket.
She raised her chin and spoke up again.
"If you want to kill me, get on with it already."
Her adversary rolled his eyes. "Ok, this is getting ridiculous. Listen here, you brat. I saved your life. If that is not enough to convince you of my good intentions… then I will not waste any more of my words. What you do with this second chance I have given you is up to you."
He shifted his head toward the approaching siren blaring in the background and then turned back to her.
A glint appeared in his eyes as his gaze alternated between staring at her blonde hair and grey eyes.
Her muscles tensed at his attention. She had gotten used to men staring at her since she began living on the streets.
This was different.
The boy's eyes were dispassionate. It was as if he was looking through her rather than at her.
"Alright, here's the deal. There will be more monsters coming soon. And let's not forget about the mortals." He took a few slow steps toward her and fished a piece of paper out of his pocket.
Once he crossed half the distance separating them, he crouched down and placed it on the ground. He straightened back up and fixed her with glowing eyes.
"You now have a choice to make. You can choose to trust in my good intentions and take this offering. Rip the paper in half, and I will take you with me… If you desire it, I will keep you safe for the rest of eternity."
His gaze turned to the street corner where he had previously vanquished the hateful arachnid Broodmother.
"Or you can take your chances with… this and continue fighting off monster after monster until you are too weak to fight them any longer." His eyes sharpened as they locked onto hers.
"Just as you were too weak to fight them off today. Make your choice." His lips twitched. "However, be sure to choose wisely. It is not in my nature to offer charity. Should there be a next time, my aid will not be given so freely."
She moved her gaze downward and stared at the marked piece of paper.
A huff escaped her, and she averted her eyes from the poisoned chalice.
"I've managed to survive by myself just fine until now. Did you think that spider was the first monster I've fought? I have been battling their kind for years!"
The boy's brow rose as he demonstratively took turns looking between her own miserable state and the devastation surrounding them.
"I suppose something has changed in those years? I would hesitate to describe your current circumstances as any kind of fine."
Audrey's jaw clenched as a memory flashed through her mind.
I am sorry… Audrey. This is the end of the road for me... The rest is up to you, my darling daughter… Take this dagger. It will protect you for much longer than I was able to.
"Yes. Something has changed."
The monster… Ladora stared at her silently for a few moments longer and then vanished in a jade flash.
Her muscles relaxed fully for the first time since dawn broke.
She exhaled deeply. Her mind raced as she peered down at the left-behind piece of paper.
—————-
I touched down on the marble floor of my apartment with the sound of displaced air.
Honestly, what a stubborn girl.
A snort escaped me as I pivoted and glanced through the towering panorama window that separated my living room from the world outside. The thundering sky was as cloudy as always. The mortals below went about their dull lives.
I shook my head and turned around.
With unhurried steps, I sauntered across the living room into the spacious kitchen. A few well-practiced movements later saw me prepare a simple meal from the self-replenishing fridge.
I whistled softly to myself as I headed to the adjacent dining room and took a seat at the long table. Just as I was about to dig in, the Boosted Gear suddenly manifested on my left arm.
"Partner… Are you certain that was the best way to deal with that child? She is a demigoddess of an Olympian. Having her alive and on your side would give you an in with the rest of her kin."
My mouth hung open as I stared down blankly at my armored limb. "Did… did you just summon yourself? What the hell, man? Since when were you able to do that?!"
A low grunt rumbled out from the jewel adorning the crimson gauntlet. "It is a small matter. If you must know, I can also trigger boost in your stead. It is a safety mechanism put in place for emergency situations."
My lips pursed.
"Mhm... well, I don't actually mind too much. Just don't do it too often." I leaned back into the leather chair and kicked up my feet onto the mahogany table.
"As for your question, don't worry about it. I have something planned for that girl. Now that I'm aware of her, she is in no danger."
A deep hum echoed out of my Sacred Gear. "Is that why you did not tell her about the location of the demigod safe haven? Or at least the fact that it exists?"
A low chuckle escaped me. "Of course I didn't tell her. You see, my scaly friend."
A sharp glint ignited in my blood-red eyes.
"Some things are better left unsaid."
—————-
This is it.
Audrey crouched down low behind the black car, keeping herself out of sight as she listened to the voices of her pursuers drawing nearer.
"We know that you are here, girl. We can smell you. Ahhh…and what a delectable smell it is."
The monster's deep voice gained a melodious pitch at the end. The sound of hooves colliding against concrete echoed through the second floor of the private parking garage she had hidden herself in.
Her blood coursed through her veins like a crashing river.
She lifted her upper body slightly and stole a peek over the polished car hood at the approaching group of half-man and half-horse creatures.
"Come here, love. It has been a while since we had a real demigoddess. The others might not know how to treat your kind properly, but not us. No, we noble centaurs know how to keep a girl company. You have no reason to be afraid; we will not harm you. I promise."
Silence fell across the garage as the centaur paused his speech and their group came to a halt. After a few seconds of quiet, the same man spoke up again.
His previously pleasant voice sounded more strained than it did before.
"You know about Chiron, don't you? Ah, what am I even asking? Everyone knows about Chiron. Here's the thing: he and I? We're actually very good friends! He even used to roam around with my herd a couple centuries back. Isn't that something? Do you want me to introduce you?"
Audrey took a deep breath and then rose upwards.
With steady steps, she walked out from her hiding spot into the open hallway of the garage. She came to a stop in full line of sight of the monstrous group.
There were only a few dozen feet separating them.
The moment the centaurs saw her, cheers broke through their ranks. They clapped each other on the backs and leered like they had just won the lottery.
The leading centaur standing at the front hit his bare chest a few times and called out. "Jackpot! Are you all seeing this? I told you guys to let me do the talking! It is always the same spiel with these half-bloods."
While the gathered monsters were busy boasting, Audrey crouched down low to the ground and pulled out a lighter from her front pocket. With a quick movement, she flicked the metal wheel and watched as the colorless liquid below her caught on fire.
The fire spread rapidly in a straight line until it reached a few meters before the monsters and then split into two paths that encircled them whole.
The temperature of the indoor garage rose rapidly.
The herd of centaurs flinched back from the fire.
A few of them bucked up like startled horses.
Audrey paid them no mind. Her grey eyes were instead fixed on the leading monster, who, unlike his lesser brothers, had not moved.
His voice rose mockingly as he shamelessly ogled her.
"Is that all? Was that truly your last-ditch effort?"
Audrey threw a glance at the slight sheen of sweat coating the back of her hands and quickly took a couple steps backward.
Instead of reacting to her movements, the lead monster turned his head to the centaur closest to him, standing on his right side. "Are we really sure this one is a daughter of wisdom? They usually put up much more of a fight before—"
An ear-splitting noise resounded through the garage as the fire safety system activated.
The few untampered-with sprinklers lining the ceiling rained down pure ethanol on the unsuspecting herd below.
When the alcohol landed on the centaurs and the circle of still-burning fire, itt instantly lit up and ignited into pale blue flames.
Audrey's lips curved into a radiant smile as the anguished screams reached her ears.
For minutes she watched in silence as the monsters that had stalked her for hours burned to death in front of her.
When the spectacle had ended and all that remained of them was golden ash, Audrey averted her eyes and let out a derisive snort.
She turned her back on the quickly spreading fire that had already reached its first car and approached the garage's fire exit.
——————
I groaned deeply as I rolled sideways and came to a halt at the edge of my king-sized bed. I caressed the silken sheets for a quiet moment before I disappeared in a jade flash and then reappeared in my expansive walk-in closet.
With a languid set of movements, I covered myself in a black cashmere robe. Another flash later saw me appear standing in the kitchen in front of the coffee machine.
I let out a deep yawn and pressed the buttons that made the machine produce the heavenly liquid. After a few moments spent waiting, I disappeared again with the steaming cup in my right hand and sank into the living room couch facing the windows.
The sun rose before my eyes to usher in a new day. I took a few sips of the dark beverage and summoned the Boosted Gear. "Morning, Ddraig."
A rumbling voice answered my greetings. "Good morning, Partner… What id it? It is unlike you to summon me this early in the day."
I put my feet up on the stone table and positioned the warm cup on my right knee. "As you know, I have been working on my second spell. Yesterday, I made somewhat of a breakthrough… and that's when an idea hit me!"
I raised the Boosted Gear in front of my face.
"I heard that you once wielded flames that could even burn gods. Is that true?"
The dragon's voice boomed as he answered. "Oh yes! The Blazing Inferno of Scorching Flame. My original finishing move before I invented Doubling during my rivalry with the White One. If anyone survived my fire, it was proof enough that they were beyond even god class."
I swallowed down a few more sips of coffee and mumbled quietly. "Is that so?"
The green jewel flickered. "Yes, but do not get your hopes up just yet, Partner. The Boosted Gear does not work that way. The only abilities of mine I can share freely are Boosting and Transfer."
I clicked my tongue and planted the empty cup on the living room table.
"While we are on the topic of gods… do you have an update regarding that demigod child? It has been a few days now."
I did a double take at the sudden shift in topic. "Why are you so worried about that girl, Ddraig? This is the second time you've asked me about her."
The dragon's deep voice was deliberate when he answered. "She was strong. In mind, if not in body. She witnessed you do battle as a dragon and still did not hesitate to pick a fight with you after. Even if it was hopeless. That amount of will is unusual, even for her kind. She has the soul of a warrior... It would sadden me to see such a brilliant spark be extinguished before it had time to burn brightly.
I hummed at the dragon's words. "I agree. She did seem promising, for a demigod."
My left eyebrow twitched involuntarily.
"However, did I not tell you that she is in no real danger? When the time is right… we will see her again."
——————
How many more of them do I have to kill?
Audrey's breath was ragged as she ran through the narrow alley.
The relentless rain pelted her skin and drenched her clothes. Her muscle burned after hours of abuse.
She had been moving without pause for over a day.
A synchronized assortment of howls alerted her to the death nipping at her heels.
She forced her body forward and pushed through a group of humans barring her path. She did not bother to turn around when they threw insults after her.
They did not understand. None of them did. She was running for her life, while all they saw was a young woman playing with her pet dogs.
The demigoddess turned a corner and tripped.
She did not see what it was that her foot had caught on, nor did she have the time to check. With shaking arms, she crawled forwards on the filthy ground to accumulate the necessary momentum to get up again and continue running.
She was too slow.
The fastest runner of the hellhound pack reached her while she was still on the ground and lunged at her with a drawn-out howl.
Audrey fixed her eyes straight ahead and waited for the last possible second.
Moments before the monster's claws pierced her back, she rolled away laterally. The hellhound barked loudly as it flew past her and immediately turned around when it landed. A ferocious snarl on its lips.
It lunged at her again, but she was faster this time. Her right hand shot out like a whip as she plunged her bronze dagger into the monster's eye.
With a savage twist of her wrist, she pushed the blade in deeper and exhaled a wheezing breath when the beast exploded into golden dust.
Every muscle in her body screamed when she pushed herself up and hobbled down the dark alleyway.
Why will they not leave me alone?
Her teeth gritted together tightly once another round of animalistic sounds reverberated around her.
They were closer this time.
Her movements slowed, and she came to a stop halfway through the narrow passage. Her hands steadied as she gripped down hard on her dagger.
She turned around with a faint smile on her trembling lips.
Might as well die fighting.
A hiss escaped her when a burning sensation assaulted her senses. The pain originated from her back pockets.
With her empty left hand, she retrieved the offending object. It was a wrinkled piece of stained paper.
The dragon symbol marked on its front shone brightly with crimson light.
She stared at the monkey's paw with a vacant gaze.
I am already as good as dead. Why not make a deal with the Devil? I have nothing left to lose.
She put her dagger back into its sheath and tore the paper clean in half.
——————
Thunder boomed across the heavens above as I appeared in a grimy alley. My previously dry clothes were immediately drenched in the rain.
I lifted my head slowly and locked my gaze with the storm-grey eyes in front of me.
Instead of speaking up, I tilted my head to the side and remained silent. A few moments later, a hoarse voice called out to me.
"Help me."
I nodded and spun around, facing the alley entrance.
My shoulders squared, and my dragon heritage roared to life as a pack of monstrous dogs turned the corner into the alley and pounced toward us.
I met their charge head-on with a roar and plunged my clawed hands into the first two beasts' heads. Meanwhile, my jaw unhinged fully, and orange light illuminated the dark alley.
I breathed out and transformed night into day.
The flames I released burned so hot that the pouring rain instantly evaporated into scalding mist, joining the golden dust that was all that remained of the monstrous pack.
My jaw closed shut.
I inhaled deeply and then rotated back to the unmoving demigoddess.
"What is your name?"
She unflinchingly returned my stare with equal intensity.
"My name is Audrey Sinclair."
My mask broke, and a smile grew on my face.
"It is good to meet you, Audrey Sinclair. My name is Ladora Buné."
I crossed the distance between us and reached out my right arm. "Now, take my hand. It is time for us to go home."
—————
Audrey peered down at the boy's bloodied hand. His claws had retracted, and having taken their place were perfectly maintained nails.
She hesitated briefly and then reached out her own hand to clasp his.
The moment she did, they both disappeared from the alley in a flash of jade light.
When she could finally see clearly again, she glanced around at a spotless living room not unlike the ones she grew up in. The cleanliness of the apartment stood in stark contrast with her own filthy state.
"This is where you will be staying for now. It is safe. No monster will touch you as long as you remain here."
She looked down at the shorter boy in incomprehension for a second. Then, the floodgates opened.
"How did you do that? Who are you? Where are we? How do monsters keep on finding me?"
Ladora huffed and shook his head.
"How curious you are. Tell me, what do I get in return for providing you with such knowledge?… I warned you that my aid would not come without cost the next time."
Audrey's hands clenched as she glared at the boy with conviction burning in her steel-colored gaze.
"Anything."
The dragon's eyes gleamed a crimson light.
His lips curved into a smile.
"Good."