Eden

"We're on the outskirts of the village, keep your head down, don't draw attention, don't ask questions." Jericho says to me, and I'm instantly annoyed at his demands of me to practically just follow him around as a mute.

"You've been away from this world for two hundred years, Eden. Things are not the same as they were. I don't want you giving us away by saying or doing something out of the ordinary." Jericho says, apparently sensing my agitation.

"Okay, okay. I'll just quietly follow you around, you won't hear a peep out of me." I assure him sarcastically, he takes my sarcasm in stride, smirking at me before grabbing my hand and yanking me into his arms, he runs his nose up and down my neck, inhaling deeply before he whispers in my ear. "Good girl." My pulse thunders in my ears.

"Jericho, this is barely appropriate." I say while I glance around as his face is buried in my neck and long hair. He makes an annoyed noise in his throat before standing up straight, releasing me from his embrace.

I'm hesitant to develop feelings for this male other than the ones that have already seemed to surface. I have a physical attraction to him for sure, my body practically buzzing any time we touch. But I can't let myself fall too deeply for something so unattainable

"We should get moving, I've been hearing your stomach growl for the last twenty minutes, and I know you didn't pack any food."

I roll my eyes, knowing my stomach has in fact been basically screaming at me. I turn from him and begin walking in the direction of the village again, he's quickly right by my side in close proximity, our arms lightly brushing as we walk, before Jericho reaches out and grabs my small hand in his overly large one, linking us together.

My heart feels like it's beating out of my chest as I look down at our interlocked fingers, and then back up at Jericho, though his eyes are turned forward to our path, not so much as looking at me as I stare at him for an answer to his blatant display of affection.

"I don't want people in the village thinking you're on your own, while we're in this village I'd like to appear as a couple. Women aren't treated as nicely as they once were, evil and cruelty running amuck these days. I'd snap a male's neck if he tried to touch you. Most women in this village are whores, so women just expect to be treated a certain way living here, I'll not have them treat you as a lowly whore. Nor have them thinking you're my whore, either."

Slightly touched at the notion he won't have people looking down upon me, I'm also left saddened at the fact things have become so harsh women are expected to sell their bodies just to make it by.

What have we let the world become while we hid away? Guilt threatens to overcome me, and I have to turn my mind towards other thoughts before it consumes me.

My nerves grow as the village comes into view, it's been only a few years for me since I've been to a village outside my forest, but really, it's been much longer out here. This is not the same world I knew.

Jericho squeezes my hand slightly, a reassuring gesture. "Don't be nervous, I'll be with you every step of the way. There's nothing to fear as long as I'm with you, Eden."

I stare up at him as he says reassuring things to me, trying to ease my worries. Not watching where my feet land as we walk my boot strikes a large rock just wrong and leaves me stumbling slightly, Jericho's large hands catch me before I fall and he helps steady me, then begins walking again, hand in hand.

"Are you always so clumsy?" He asks, and I gasp at his small insult. "No, in fact I'm not usually so damn clumsy."

"Mmm, so it's just my presence that leaves you stumbling over your feet and words?" He smiles deviously.

"You know what? You're pretty damn arrogant, Jericho." He seems slightly offended at my words.

"How's me stating the obvious arrogant? You do stumble over your words and feet around me, and I do turn you on, even when I'm not meaning to. So, tell me, is it arrogant to be aware of the affect I have on you?" He questions.

Fuck. Him. And his logic.

"And like I don't have the same affect on you?" I ask him, annoyed that he's right.

His laugh booms out at my statement. "No, I don't seem to be having the same difficulties with my legs or mouth, actually. But I won't deny you turn me on, even when you're unaware of it."

"Well, you've had a lot longer to practice your flirting skills than I have, living forever I'm sure comes with its perks, like being able to win over any woman that catches your eye." I don't realize the bitterness in my voice till it's too late.

"Actually, you'd be surprised at how many women aren't jumping at the opportunity to be with a demon. And usually the ones that were jumping on the opportunity, aren't the kind of women you'd want around, anyways. I've been treated like a walking plague most of my existence, Eden. No one good wants anything to do with some one evil. A monstrous demon." He says, no emotion present on his face, though I can tell by his words it affects him negatively the way people view and treat him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" he brings my hand to his lips as we continue walking, placing a soft kiss on the back of my hand.

"No need to apologize." he stops talking, seeming to be thinking. "You can make it up to me by telling me something? Plus, I told you the story of Aries, I feel I'm owed a story in return, yes?" He asks me. What he's wanting to know I'm not sure, but I'm instantly nervous and curious as to what he'd want to know.

"Sure, I feel that's fair." I agree with him, "What would you like to know?"

He smiles before answering. "I'd like to know why you thought I was an incubus." I practically choke on my own spit as he says this, causing me to cough.

"You had to have known I'd want to know eventually." He smirks. "I mean I've honestly never been accused of being a sex demon before and I'm quite intrigued to see what caused such a reaction out of you."

We officially make it past the outskirts of the village, and I'm met with the sight of busy streets full of busy people, trading for goods and conversing loudly, children running down the dirt street playing and laughing. I didn't realize it till now, but I've missed the hustle and bustle of the world outside my quiet forest full of only grown women. The laughter of children bringing a smile to my face.

"Right now isn't a good time to discuss such things, Jericho, we're in a busy marketplace it would seem." I say, smiling brightly up at him. He tries to seem annoyed, but my blatant happiness seems to keep him in check. "Very well, but you will be telling me once we find an Inn and settle in for the night." He says.

I nod and then inhale deeply, smelling what I can only describe as baked goods. Fluffy bread and sticky pastries seem to be calling out to me.

And then it hits me.

I have no money. No copper, silver, or gold. I have no money to buy anything at all. I try not to look too panicked as I realize how big of an idiot I am. What was I thinking leaving the forest with nothing but clothes? I didn't bring any food or money. And money is important out here.

Jericho leads me by hand over to a bakers cart. "Jericho, I don't have any money, I can't afford to buy anything." I whisper to him, trying to go unheard by the people standing nearby in the busy street.

He looks at me out of the corner of his eye, uncaring of my words as he continues towards the bakers cart. "I'll take two large sweet rolls." He says to the older gentleman running the bakers cart.

"That'll be two silver coins." the husky man says in a bit of an accent I can't quite place. Without a word Jericho reaches into his pocket and pulls out a bag full of coins, grabbing out two silver ones and setting them on the cart as the older man hands over two steaming sweet rolls. I can't help but eye the delicious bread, my mouth already watering.

"Have a good day." The baker says, Jericho simply nods his head in acknowledgement to the man's words.

He hands me both the sweet rolls as we walk away from the cart and down the street. "Aren't you going to eat?" I ask, feeling guilty for not only him paying for my food, but for apparently having no intentions of eating what he just paid for.

"I don't like sweets this early in the day, I'll find something else to eat as we walk."

"Then why'd you stop to buy this? We could have gone to a fruit stand or something else.." I say to him. It's not like I'm super picky, I would have eaten whatever he had decided to get us.

"Because I could practically see you drooling as soon as you caught a whiff of that bread. I don't see why I wouldn't buy you something you wanted when it's such a simple thing."

"Because.. it's not my money and I honestly feel awful you're wasting your money on me." I say to him. I don't like needing help. Ober the years I've grown independent and practically despise having to have others help me.

It's a fault of mine, not needing others isn't a strength, it's a weakness.

One I can't seem to overcome.

"I enjoy spending my money on you, and you shouldn't feel bad. Like I said, you were coming with me on this mission no matter what. What kind of male would I be if I demanded you accompany me, but refuse to help you along the way? Seems counterproductive to me." He tells me, trying to ease my guilt of spending his money on me.

"I'll pay you back when this is all over, Jericho, I mean it." I say to him before taking a large bite of the delicious bread.

"Hmph, you'll do no such thing, woman. I'll spend all the money I have and never take a copper piece back in return. I've lived many lives, Eden, the treasure I have in my home would leave you in awe. You should have no negative feelings about me spending money on you, it will not affect me in the slightest." He states to me.

"Treasure?" I ask curiously.

"I'm a demon, Eden, I can't help some of my characteristics. I'm a selfish being when it comes to certain things." He says as he sweeps his eyes up and down my frame, sending a small chill up my spine, before turning his attention back to the dirt path ahead of us.

"If you think I'm not going to pay you back in some way, then you don't know me very well." I've never been a taker, always the giver, and I don't like switching roles.

"You're right, I don't know you very well, but I greatly desire to do so." He says in a low, sensual voice as we come upon a small building with a quant sign that simply reads "Mary's Inn & Pub".

We walk through the tall door and are met with loud laughter and the smell of good food and drinks.

A drink would be amazing right now.

The thought of one is appealing, given my current situation. I deserve a nice drink, right? After all I've been through within such a short time.

Jericho makes his way over to a beautiful red headed woman with bright red lips who sits behind a small makeshift desk. "One room for the night, please." He says to her, she smiles brightly before leaning forward slightly, showing off her cleavage. "Will that be one," she pauses and looks me up and down before continuing. "or two beds for the room?" She says, twirling a springy curl around her finger as she does.

Jericho let's go of my hand before wrapping his arm around my waist, bringing me closer into his side. "One bed." He states, leaving no room for another comment by the beautiful woman, obviously trying to charm Jericho with her stunning looks.

I roll my eyes. What a little-

Woah, what's wrong with me? Why was I just about to think such a crude thing about this woman? I should be damn ashamed. Jericho isn't mine and I shouldn't be acting this way just because a woman is flirting with him.

But, we did walk in here hand and hand, she blatantly disrespected me just to flirt with him.

Deep inhale. Exhale. Let it go.

The woman reaches behind her and grabs one of the keys hanging there and hands it to Jericho, brushing her fingers against his, to which he quickly moves his hand away.

"That'll be three gold coins for the night." She states. "Seems a bit pricey considering the place." Jericho says while eyeing the surrounding area.

"It includes food and drink for the night and one meal in the morning." She says sweetly to him, he just nods his head and turns to leave.

"Your room is number four." She calls after us as we walk away. "Yeah, I got that information from the tag attached to the key." He calls over his shoulder to her, not bothering to give her a second glance.

I can't help but smirk at his actions, obviously annoyed at the woman for so openly throwing herself at him. Bet it'd be a different story if she knew what he was, she has no idea what she'd be getting herself into, anyways.

We come to the room we're supposed to be sharing when it really hits me. He said only one bed. My annoyance at the beautiful red head had me distracted and not thinking about what exactly was being said.

Jericho unlocks the door and pushes it open, gesturing for me to enter the room first, it's small with one bed and a nightstand with a few drawers, and one other door at the other side, I'm assuming the bathroom. Thank the goddess, I'm about to piss myself.

"So, you promised to tell me once we got to the Inn. Why'd you accuse me of being an incubus?" He smiles at me, amusement dancing behind his eyes.

"Hold that thought, I need to use the bathroom." I rush off into the small bathroom without another word, though I can hear Jericho's soft laughter from the other side of the door.

(Edited on 11/25/24)