The silence he left behind was worse than his threats. I stared at the empty doorway, my breath held tight in my chest. The laughter still echoed in my ears, a sound that was more terrifying than any roar. He had found it funny. My threat. My anger. My desperation. He had found it all profoundly amusing.
Angus was staring at me, his usual cheerful expression replaced by a look of wide-eyed alarm. [Violet...are you sure antagonizing him is a good idea? I mean, a really, really, really good idea? (ಠ_ಠ)]
"No," I said, my voice a dry rasp. I sank down onto the edge of my bed, my legs suddenly too weak to hold me. "But I'm not sure I have a choice anymore."
The reality of our situation was a cold, heavy thing in my stomach. We couldn't stay here. Brackenwallow was supposed to be a sanctuary, a place to rest and recover. But it wasn't. It was a cage filled with potential hostages. Every person in this town was a liability, a weakness that the demon king could and would exploit. He had proven that last night. The old woman was just the beginning.
"We have to leave," I said, my mind racing. "Today. As soon as possible."
"What? But...you're still so weak! And the stew! There's supposed to be breakfast stew!" Angus protested, floating over to my bed and wringing his hands. [Leaving now seems like a terrible plan! A plan with a 100% chance of more swamp-related mishaps! T_T]
"We can't stay," I insisted, pushing myself to my feet. A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I had to grab the bedpost to keep from falling. The hollow ache in my chest was a constant, gnawing presence. "He's a danger to everyone here. I'm a danger to everyone here, as long as I'm his leash."
I looked down at my hands. They were shaking. I clenched them into fists, trying to stop the trembling. It didn't work. I felt fragile, like a piece of glass that had been cracked and could shatter at the slightest touch.
A wand.
A wand with a plastic star on the end.
Bopped me on the head.
"You aren't well enough to leave!" Angus said, his wings fluttering anxiously. "The bed! The rest! The goddess commands it! Probably!"
He huffed and crossed his arms, standing in front of the door. "The Demon King can't do anything to protect you if you're too weak to provide him with the strength." That was not the angle I expected him to take, but it wasn't a particularly bad one. If he's going to be a coward, at least he's a smart coward.
"I'm not sure he's particularly concerned about my protection at this point, Angus."
"But I am!" he chirped, puffing out his chest. "I am your guardian angel! And I say you need to rest!"
I looked at him, at the earnest, pleading expression on his face. "Angus-"
"Leave the Demon King to me just this once." He shook his head, refusing to move from his spot. "As weakened as he is from resisting the bindings, and as weak as you are, I have...a few temporary tricks that can work on even him. If I have to." [I'm not just a pretty face with wings! I'm also a pretty face with celestial magic! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧]
The confidence in his tone was so out of character that I couldn't help but stare. "You have magic that can affect him?"
"It's...it's a special kind of charm. Very temporary. And only for situations like this where he won't be strong enough to resist. But it will work. I swear it."
I couldn't risk a fight. Not in this state. And I couldn't risk him hurting anyone else.
"Alright. One more day." I sighed, giving in. "Just...one. We'll rest and tomorrow morning, we're gone. No arguments." I could feel the exhaustion pulling at me again, a heavy, pleasant weight. The bed was calling my name. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to pass out for about twelve hours. Try not to get poofed while I'm sleeping."
...I have a suspicion...
Even if what he said about the charm is true. He really just wants me to rest so he can have that breakfast stew.
He doesn't even pretend to be subtle about it.
***
I spent the rest of the day in a state of half-sleep, drifting in and out of consciousness, the world a muffled blur of dreams and reality. The innkeeper's husband brought me a tray of food—some kind of savory broth and a hunk of crusty bread. I forced myself to eat, the tasteless food doing little to fill the hollow ache in my chest. The demon king remained in his room, a silent, brooding presence that I could feel even through the walls.
Angus, true to his word, kept watch. He sat by the window, a small, silent sentinel, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a focused, almost serious expression. Every now and then, I would hear him whispering to himself, and a faint, shimmering light would surround him. He was practicing. Preparing. For what, I didn't know, but I was grateful for the quiet vigil.
The next morning, I woke up feeling… not better, exactly, but less like I was about to fall apart. The headache was gone, and the dizziness had subsided. The hollow ache in my chest was still there, a constant, gnawing reminder of my own weakness, but it was a dull throb instead of a sharp, stabbing pain. It was a start.
"Morning!" Angus chirped, floating over to my bed with a tray of food. "Breakfast stew! And bread! The innkeeper's wife made it special. She said you needed your strength!" [She's so nice! Almost as nice as the stew! (｡･ω･｡)ﾉ♡]
The stew was thick and hearty, filled with chunks of what I hoped was rabbit and some root vegetables. The bread was warm and crusty. It was just as good as it had been the night before. I ate slowly, savoring every bite. It was fuel. I needed fuel.
"The Demon King?" I asked between mouthfuls.
"Still in his room," Angus said, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. "He hasn't come out all night. I think... I think you wore him out."
"Or he's plotting a new and creative way to kill me," I countered, my own voice flat.
"Or that," Angus agreed, a little too quickly. [Let's focus on the positive! Like breakfast stew! ♪(´▽｀)]
...I'm beginning to worry, just a bit, about how much I should really trust him to help back me up even from a weakened Demon King. It's hard to imagine someone being quite that obsessed with the stew and still being trustworthy.