My dad had a confused expression as he looked behind the hay bales. "The scent stops here?" he looked at me with anger and confusion in his expression. I was confused too until I remembered he's a demon shifter so he can teleport. "What is going on Akira?!" he growled at me. I ran down from the loft grabbed my horse's bridle put it on him, jumped on his back and made him gallop as fast as he could down the trail in the woods. Jericho knew the trails well so he knew where to turn since I do this kind of thing pretty often. Once I was about an hour away from home I got off him and took the bit out of his mouth and the bridle so he could eat and I could hold him to keep him there with me. I sat on the grass beside him and watched him eat. I watched him for a while cause I eventually fell asleep.
I woke up around seven o'clock. I saw the sun was only halfway above the horizon. I looked beside me to see Jericho laying down and sleeping. I smiled and reached over to pet his nose. He opened his eyes and licked my hand. I laughed and moved so I could lay my head on his side. I watched around us then I saw something move in the woods. I quickly put the bit back in his mouth, got on his back and made him stand up. I kept my eyes focused on the woods, searching for anymore movement. There was none so I decided to take Jericho the opposite way of those woods which was also the opposite way from home. I don't care though I don't want to go back right now. After a few hours of walking we came along a stream and we stopped to get a drink and rest. I searched for a makeshift den and found a big hole halfway under a tree which looked like it could fit at least three people in. There was also many small trees around and they were so close together they could block out rain. I got Jericho and tied him under the trees and I went into the hole and sat there for a while. I feel very uneasy like this placed was used by someone and they might find me here. But I guess it's only one night. What are the chances of anyone coming here and finding me? As I was falling asleep I thought I saw something move in the woods but before I could sit up, I fell asleep.
I woke up with my back against a tree a few trees away from Jericho and my wrists and stomach hurting with lots of pressure on them. I open my eyes to see rope tied tightly around me and my arms were behind the tree tied together as well. I look around as much as I can but don't see anyone but I sense someone behind me. "Let me go!" I growl and struggle against the ropes. I hear a female voice laugh as if she was waiting for this. "Once our leader gets here he'll decide what we should do with you pathetic animal shifter. But right now we can just play with you." She smirks and pulls out a knife. I hear more foot steps behind me and I see ten more people walk into my view. They all shifted and right then I knew they were demon shifters. I thought of Xic but I knew he wouldn't be the leader of them cause he would never let anyone do this to me. Unless he betrayed me..... I look down and stop struggling. The girl walks up to me and grabs my face to make me look at her. She presses the knife against my cheek and keeps adding to the pressure. I feel my skin starting to break and the pain in my face where she's holding my head still. She slides the knife downwards and the sharp pain in my cheek makes me flinch and I feel the blood pouring down my face. All the demon shifters immediately lock their eyes onto the blood still running down my cheek.
She cuts the ropes around my stomach and then the ones around my wrists. I jump up then they all surround me, thirsty for blood as if they were vampires. One of them runs at me then stops mid stride only a few feet away from me. I can tell he's trying to move but something is stopping him. All the other demon shifters immediately get down on their knees to bow. Then I see Xic walking toward us. He is in a full demon shift and he keeps walking then stop once he's in front of the one that charged at me. "What have I told you? You don't ever hurt anyone that comes here without my consent. Do you understand me!?" Xic glares at him and he nods. Xic turns to me and gets a wet rag and wipes the blood off of my cheek. He then turns to everyone else. "Now, all of you go home now!" Every one of the demon shifters teleport away besides Xic. He stays and he shifts into his half shift and looks at me. "I'm sorry about this. This shouldn't have happened." He thinks for a second. "Why are you all the way out here?" He looks at me with a serious face and waits for my answer.
I look up at him. "That don't matter" I reach up and kiss him. He kisses back and holds me close to him.
"As long as you're with me I promise you will be safe and I won't let anyone lay a hand on you ever again" He puts his head on top of mine and my head is against his chest. I listen to his heart beat as we stand there. Ten minutes pass by then he picks me up and brings me to the hole. He puts me down then snaps his fingers. There is Ivy now growing across the opening so you can't see in. I gently move it and peek my head in. There's a small bed, fridge, and a coffee table. He picks me up again and sets me on the bed. I feel his hand on my cheek that's cut open and I close my eyes. A very bad pain goes through my cheek but then all the pain disappears after that. I put my hand up to my cheek and I feel that the cut is gone. He looks at me and smiles. I smile back and hug him. "thank you for saving me and healing me."