16 Caught Sneaking Out

Hidden amidst the foliage, a dusky butterfly adorned with intricate purple markings delicately fluttered its beautiful wide wings. It veered off in another direction after observing the two companions leisurely wander into the forest, their voices growing more distant as their figures retreated.

The butterfly dutifully returned to the Ancesgon city, practically seeking out a towering building that stood far from where other inhabitants dwelled in. It slipped through an opened window, alighting itself on Eryx's index finger, hence, its wings closed up the more those intense amethyst eyes scrutinized it.

Eryx tilted his head slightly, and the butterfly disintegrated into dust moments later.

It faded like the dissipating scent of burning incense, prompting the lazy fox to rise from his chaise lounge with a groan. He sauntered towards his window with his hands nonchalantly stuck in his pocket, overlooking the landscape, and the wind tousled his already untamed hair.

His gaze shimmered from the picturesque sight below, but his demeanor betrayed a far less serene deposition. He looked pissed—not the kind of pissed that makes you want to hurl a teacup across the room, but the kind that could compel one to contemplate rearranging continents just to release pressure.

However, his moment of quiescence was interrupted by the familiar patter of a fox's footstep, and his gaze flickered in her direction. He watched Sayge venture into his chamber, her timing as impeccable as a cosmic alarm clock, specifically channeled to "annoy."

It was the last thing his brain cells needed at the current moment.

"Master." Sayge greeted him with a slight bow, but the fox demon remained fixated on the scenery outside his window. He sighed audibly, as if bored by his own existence, and then he grumbled to himself.

"What to do?" His eyebrows knitted the more he thought about it, "how long should it take for a victim's wall to crumble like my butterflies? I've been sitting here like a solitary spider in a web of boredom."

He mused at his own impatience, leaning his tall frame towards the window, and a subtle pout unconsciously tugged at his lips. Being confined to his chamber with no freedom to roam elsewhere was starting to gnaw at him, and the limited opportunities for mischief in his quarters was frustratingly few.

Sayge, who was used to her master's daily tantrums, gently reminded him of his actions, "but… you allowed her to leave just yesterday, remember?"

"Well consider me astounded." His eyebrows shot up, "I assumed she was merely indulging herself in an extended holiday to the Abyssal realm, enjoying the scenic routes and all." he remarked with a roll of his eyes and scoffed.

He didn't require the reminder; he was well aware of his actions and rationale behind them. Yet, why did a single day already feel like an eternity to him? The mere anticipation of her call irked him even more, he needed her here because she was the key to solving 90% of his problems, but she was handling their deal far better than he expected.

"I granted her a day off to think things through. A mere 24 hours to reconsider her life choices. And what does she do? Vanishes like a sock in a dryer." Eryx's irritation simmered. His focus was unconsciously on a particular mortal woman—a tempest of contradiction—one who had the audacity to keep him waiting...and still waiting.

Sayge stayed quietly in her corner, but the more she observed how he handled Valda's absence, the more confused she became. She couldn't help but wonder why he was so bothered about it, afterall he suggested granting her this 'momentary freedom' why would he possibly think she'll return here?

"Suspicious, I'd say." She cleared her throat and straightened, "give her more time, she will return to you as long as it's destined." She added with certainty, but that only made her master hum in bewilderment.

"Destined?" His lips twitched into a subtle smile, "you believe in fate? I hesitate to accept that notion, for if that were the case, she wouldn't be destined to be here with me at all. I'm forging this destiny of mine, forcing my way into her life regardless of the consequences, just like I did once."

He moved away from the window and turned to face the blonde-haired Sayge. "I strongly advise against uttering that word in my presence. If you must, ensure each syllable is delicately veiled before you speak. Do you understand?"

Eryx's velvety tone could have easily disarmed the mindful Sayge, yet she sensed the underlying menace sipping into every word. She understood that any repetition of her errors would prompt him to act on his impulses, resurrecting the pain he had buried within, and that was the last thing she would bring herself to unleash from him.

"Forgive me, I won't repeat the same mistake twice." She said without any ounce of fear, but with respect. She seemed somewhat happy—it won't matter if the human joins them, as long as she isn't treated any differently from the rest.

Eryx reclined against his chaise lounge, his bored gaze flickering to where she stood. "Tell me about the book, I want to know who guards it." He dropped.

His sudden inquiry had Sayge raising her head to meet his gaze, and in response to his expectant look, she quickly averted her eyes, flustered by their brief exchange.

"The book… your brother has it." she confessed honestly, earning her a look from Eryx. "Deus and I took a 'detour'. It's safeguarded beneath the cave of terror, inaccessible to anyone. I'm afraid your brother understands exactly why he hid it there."

"Why? It's irrelevant," Eryx remarked, casually crossing one leg over the other, showing no interest in his brother's intentions. He poured himself a glass of fine wine and didn't cease until it nearly spilled over the rim.

"I'm going after that book." he declared, setting the wine bottle down with a decisive click. "And the best candidate for the task has yet to join the rank."

✿

Meanwhile, in a small mansion nestled close to Scarborough town, Valda carefully scaled the ivy-covered walls, her gloved hands finding purchase on a rough stone. She had done this countless times as a child—during those instances when she was typically locked out, she made a habit of keeping her windows open, already prepared for scenarios similar to this one.

She looked like a cat burglar in silk skirts, and it was difficult to work on this particular type of outfit. Reaching the top, her breath hitched when she made it to her window—ajar, just as she'd left it yesterday.

Entering her room, Valda quietly crept towards the door and secured it. She didn't have the luxury to feel at home, knowing her uncle and aunt were likely to suspect her intrusion. With her cousin's history of deceit, she anticipated being framed as the culprit, a tactic they had employed before, though she had remained unaware until now.

Lingering here for too long would be risky!

"Where is it?"

Crossing over to her desk table on the right, Valda glanced at the books arranged on the surface, and she immediately opened the center of the page. To her relief, the white envelope she kept there had not been moved.

Her cousin Annabelle would normally write notes to her, a way of mocking her for being unable to read. Whenever her father assigned tasks and requested Annabelle to deliver it, her cousin would write it on a piece of paper instead and bring it for her, telling her to read it. Since she never understood what was written on the notes, she wouldn't do what the notes required from her, and her uncle made her see heaven twice.

He had a whip specifically made for her, and whenever she failed to act against his wishes, she would face the whip. Her cousin Annabelle never stopped writing to her, making her a victim to her uncle's violation, but when her uncle found out about it, he burned all the letters, since it could implicate him if it ever got in the wrong hands.

She had secretly kept this one hidden for a day like this, and it was the only evidence she needed to free herself from the gambling accusation.

"This is it." She breathed.

Glancing across the room to ensure privacy, she slipped the envelope into her chest area, unwilling to take any chances.

When she was done, she slipped out of the house the same way she came in. She ran towards the gate, hoping to make it out of here before someone sees her, but what she never saw coming was to find the Palace guards already waiting for her at the gate.

The sight of them made her freeze in her gait, and they weren't alone. Her uncle, Aunt and her cousin were with them.

"That's the bitch!" Annabelle pointed an accusing finger in her direction. "Take her away this instant!!"

"Valda Griggs, your game ends now." the guard uttered, and she was immediately held by two palace guards. Her cousin approached her, but what shocked Valda to the core of her being was when she got slapped, pretty hard on the face.