"Don't move," I whispered, my voice low and menacing, before circling my left arm around her slender neck.
I quickly canceled my stealth skill. It consumed a significant amount of mana, but since becoming stronger, my mana pool had also increased, allowing me to use it longer. It was truly one of my strongest skills.
Catnys froze as my arm pressed firmly against her neck. Though she was slightly stronger than me level-wise and could cast spells to repel me, she understood that a single wrong move could result in me snapping her neck. She couldn't see my level, but she was astute enough to recognize I wasn't a weakling.
"YOU!!! You're a Human?!" Jagon glared angrily, unsheathing his sword and pointing it at me. He couldn't see my face because of the black mask I was wearing covering my entire face except my eyes but he could tell that I was a Human.
"Lower your sword, or I will snap your chief's beautiful neck," I said with a smile.
"D…Don't tell me you're the one who followed me?! Did that Divine Knight send you?!" Jagon was half-right; I had followed him, but I wasn't sent by Radakel.
It was amusing to think that while I was following Jagon, someone else had also been tailing us without my notice. I was too focused on Jagon to pay attention behind me.
"I won't repeat myself. Lower your sword," I repeated, this time with a chilling coldness in my voice.
"Do it, Jagon…" Catnys said, her voice strained.
"Hell no, you won't do anything," I pressed further on her throat.
"Ugnnn!" Catnys let out a pained groan.
"You bastard human!" Jagon roared furiously.
My gaze remained fixed on his sword.
I said I wouldn't repeat myself. Jagon hesitated, seeing Catnys' expression telling him to attack me regardless of the consequences. But he would never endanger his chief's life.
With a deep breath, Jagon's eyes flickered with uncertainty. Finally, he lowered his sword, the blade trembling slightly in his grip. "Fine, you win. But let her go," he demanded, his voice filled with a mix of anger and desperation.
"I will, once we reach an understanding," I replied, easing my grip on Catnys' neck just enough for her to breathe easier but still maintaining control. "We need to talk, and you need to listen. Otherwise, this will end badly for all of you."
"If you harm her, I will kill you," Jagon threatened, his voice trembling with barely restrained fury.
I laughed snarkily at his comment. "If you hadn't made that clear, I'm sure this Catnys understands well enough that I can kill you easily after snapping her neck. Then I can escape as silently as I entered this room. Radakel would then have an easier task erasing Uteska off the map without its leader. What do you think?"
Jagon's face turned pale as he gritted his teeth. Seeing Catnys's hardened expression, he understood that my words were true. I could do it if I wished.
"You are... not with the Divine Knight?" Catnys asked, a frown creasing her forehead.
She quickly picked up on the oddity in my words. If I wanted to help Radakel, I could have already done so by killing her and Jagon. Instead, I was here, speaking with them.
"I came with Radakel, yes, but I don't share his goals," I said matter-of-factly.
"He's lying, Lady Catnys! It's a plan to kill us all and prevent our escape!" Jagon didn't believe a word I said.
I smiled and whispered in Catnys's ear, "Must be hard to have such idiots under your command, Catnys?"
"Nn!" Feeling my warm breath on her ear, Catnys shivered slightly.
Demon or human, all women had their sensitivities.
I smirked and sat on her chair, forcing Catnys to sit on my lap. I could feel her shivering in embarrassment, but I ignored it. Rather, I enjoyed the reaction from this demoness.
"I want to kill the Divine Knight Radakel, actually," I said simply.
Catnys's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"
Even Jagon was shocked.
"But it's quite wishful thinking right now. He is stronger than me and all of you combined," I added.
"I don't understand…" Catnys said, her voice filled with confusion.
"Let me explain," I began, keeping my arm loosely around her neck. "Radakel's presence is a threat to everyone, not just you. I have no allegiance to the Divine Knights or their empire. I have my reasons for wanting Radakel dead, and they align with your need for survival. We can help each other."
Jagon's face contorted with skepticism, but he remained silent, listening.
"Why should we trust you?" Catnys asked, her voice regaining some of its authority.
"You don't have to trust me completely. Just understand that our goals align for now. If we work together, we have a chance of surviving this and pissing off Radakel. Alone, you'll be slaughtered though. Think about it, Catnys," I urged.
The room fell silent as Catnys and Jagon exchanged a tense glance.
"In this matter, I have nothing to lose. I win regardless of the outcome. If you escape this place, Radakel will be furious, and I want to see what he is truly like. Of course, killing him is impossible for now. But if you choose to ignore my proposal, then you can all get slaughtered here for all I care. Not that I'm discriminating against you guys.
Human or Demon, they are all the same to me. I care only for what's important to me," I said firmly.
Catnys was taken aback by my speech. She thought for a moment before speaking. "What's your proposal?"
"Pretty simple. I want to ruin Radakel's plan."
I had a bad feeling, so I wanted to ruin Radakel's plan just in case I was involved in it. Of course, I wouldn't admit that I also wanted to avoid the death of innocent children, but I wasn't a monster who would let children get slaughtered when I could prevent it. My mother didn't raise me like that. My father, perhaps.
"They will come in a few hours, and we have to get the children out of the village. If we fight Radakel, we are dying at the end," Jagon said, not understanding my words.
He was right. Even if I fought alongside Catnys, Jagon, and the other Demons, we couldn't beat Radakel. But beating him wasn't part of the plan to begin with.
What I want is to wipe that smile off his face that he's had since the moment I met him.
/
/
/
If you like it and want to support me and want more chapters, please support my work with powerstones, comments and REVIEWS.
It will motivate me to write more! Thanks!