CHAPTER 44: CRUELTY OF HUMANS

Queen Lili's forehead furrowed. "Now, why do you think that?" Her hands rested on the armrest of the seat as she stared at him.

"Isn't it obvious? We both landed in your territory in the same manner and on the same day, yet V is somehow treated differently than I am. If you have a problem with her being in your town then it simply translates that you also have a problem with me being here." Fate rushed air into his lungs as he took a break but he was not done talking. 

"V saved my life, without her I would still be stuck in prison with no hope of ever getting out. Not to mention the constant torture, I couldn't tell time, the number of days that went by. I only know how many years I spent in there because Felix, the guard who was in charge of me, wouldn't shut up about it. I wanted to die but I couldn't. I still find it a lot hard to believe that all this isn't a dream and I won't wake up and be back in prison." 

He sighed, it was getting a little too hard to talk but he could not stop now. He was not sure his actions would make any difference but he won't be able to forgive himself if he didn't try to do anything about this.

"If you don't want us here," he started to say, slowly this time to allow himself to breathe. "Let us pass through the town, this isn't our destination, we just need a safer path. However, if you refuse we will go back to the sea and find our way from there. I am immortal, I can handle anything, and don't underestimate V. She is as tough as she looks."

He was bluffing, there was no way they could survive the ocean by themselves. Not to forget V's seasickness but he was counting on the fact that the Queen wanted him around. He hoped he didn't play his hand too hard and ruined things for them.

Queen Lili did not say anything as she held his gaze. The silence got increasingly awkward that Fate had no option but to tear his gaze away. He began to draw circles on his feet as he waited for her response.

"It is not our intention to make you feel unwelcome here. You must understand that. However, we have our reservation towards humans and the reservation isn't something that can be easily set aside even if the said human means no harm."

Fate frowned, "What does that mean? I am human too."

"Are you really?" Queen Lili asked with a raised brow.

"Yes, I am.  I have human parents and I've lived with humans all my life."

"Oh yes, I am not disputing the fact that you were born human but right now as you stand before me you're not human. Certainly not with those horns sticking out your forehead and as you said yourself, you are immortal. I am pretty sure there are no immortal humans."

"I still feel human." Fate blurted out. "My feelings haven't changed and I still have my emotions. Sure, my physical appearance may be a little altered…"

"I don't think growing out horns and immortality is a little alteration. If you don't die, doesn't that mean you lack the most human thing about being human?"

"I still bleed like one, I feel pain and everything else."

Queen Lili sighed. "Were you treated differently when your horns started to grow out? There is a huge chance your parents still loved you but did they panic? Did they try to cover you up? Hide your horns, perhaps?"

Fate froze up as flashes of memories poured into his mind. His mother's panic, her worry. The older he got the more anxious she got, and the more she tried to hide him and cover him up. One time she had tried to cut them off in his sleep but had stopped when he started bleeding.

The worst of it all for her was his immortality, which broke her more than the horns ever did. It was hard to watch her deteriorate, to watch her worry so much, and to try to keep him safe from the church. Still, her worst fears were realized and there was absolutely nothing she could do to stop it.

Fate bent his head and bit the insides of his cheeks. He didn't like to think about his mother, it always made his heartache. He made a fist as he resisted the urge to grab his chest.

The Queen looked at him with a sad expression. "That's what I thought. I can only imagine how it must have been for you, let alone us who are born demons who have known nothing but the cruelty of humans, they treat us worse than animals. Only coming to us when their gods fail them and they are desperate."

V walked closer to Queen Lili at this point and they made eye contact, the Queen glared at her for a few seconds before resuming her speech.

"You are welcome here as long as you want to stay." Queen Lili said while looking at Fate. "And yes this also includes V. She is also free to move and join us for dinner," She said V's name like a curse and avoided looking in her direction.

"Thank you, Lili. You have my gratitude." Fate said and bowed. "Also whatever I can help with please do not hesitate to ask." He said after he raised his head.

"I am sure I can think of a few things." She held his gaze and smirked.

"Ugh!" V muttered under her breath.

Fate chuckled awkwardly and scratched his head. "I would be happy to help and I am sure V will help too." He looked at V to be sure he did not say anything out of turn and she gave him a soft smile.

"That's good. I'll tell Ki-an to give you your chores later on but for now, I would like to have a private conversation with V."

"Oh, why?" The same thing happened the first day they arrived here. 

"There is something I would like to clarify with her."

"I am sure there is no need for me to leave before you can ask her…"

"It's fine," V interjected.

"Oh, um okay. I will be outside."

"You don't have to wait for me," V said without looking at him. "I will come to look for you when I am done."

Fate nodded and slowly turned around.  He walked towards the exit with his shoulders down. He wondered what they wanted to talk about that could only be discussed in his absence. Was it that they thought he was a child and could not handle it?

He sighed and gave one last glance before he went out the door. The door shut and he rested his back on it. He would pay good money to hear the conversation going in behind the door but the door was too thick for him to eavesdrop.

Fate pushed himself off the door and headed back to his room. The good news was they could stay here and V would be treated better. Being able to accomplish this task was a little refreshing.

He made it to the room to find his food exactly as he had left it and he picked it up from where he stopped. It was colder now but the temperature was the only thing off about the meal. It was still quite tasty.

He finished eating V was still not back. Bored, he picked up the plates and made his way to the kitchen. He was not sure where it was but he figured if he retraced his steps back to where he had seen Ki-an, he should find the kitchen. He could recall her smelling like food.

Holding the tray in hand, he rapidly made his way through the several turns and finally got to the junction he had seen Ki-an. The air was strong with the meal he had just eaten. He followed the scent and came upon two doors.

Fate pushed the door open with one hand while the other held the tray. As soon as the door opened, Fate froze and the tray fell off his hand making a loud sound as the plates hit the ground.