Ruoxi got between them, his harmless smile still on his face. "If this servant may speak up?" He started lightly, but there was no humor in his dim, gold eyes.
The strange Vampire couldn't stare him down due to the vast differences in their heights but he attempted anyway. "And what do you think you could possibly contribute?"
Ruoxi already had all of his attention on Dulce, ignoring the guest. "I think it's a nice offer."
Dulce beamed, pleased to hear that. To achieve his goal, it was a nice offer - he could put his reluctance aside. "Then, we apologize for imposing."
Ruoxi straightened up, ignoring the weight of the glares directed at him. He had thought that Dulce was unable to keep his Demons in line, but it would seem that he used a more effective method. He knew that the timid Vampire had been cold to the offer but unlike the other two Demons, he wasn't wrapped around the Vampire's delicate fingers.
The ditzy, foolish Vampire wasn't all that he seemed to be. He was hiding something terrible, something sinister. So he deliberately egged him on, curious to find out more about him.
He didn't care that this only served to worsen how he was viewed by the other two Demons, but if Ruoxi cared about public opinions, he would be long dead.
The strange Vampire moved fast, emptying out a carriage. "I would have loved to ride with you, Lord Montesserrat, but perhaps another time." He said bravely, right before hurrying away to his second carriage.
"Who was that?" Kath'tan was the first to throw questions around, scowling. Although he was aware of the foolish Vampire's age, he had pictured him spending the entire time in his lowly, little cottage, caring for animals.
Dulce scratched his hair, thinking deeply. "I don't have a clue."
"He seems to know you," Asael pointed out.
"Live long enough and you'll become known, especially by other Vampires. I have to be careful, he might be working for the Queen of Alderth." He lowered his voice to say.
Asael and Kath'tan took the Vampire at his word, Ruoxi didn't. He studied the Vampire closely but couldn't seem to find a chink in his armor that belied pretense or lies.
The carriage was just a little bigger than the carriage they had ridden to Fairwyn, it meant that it would be cramped regardless.
Dulce stood in front of one of the carriage doors, waiting for everyone to choose their seats before he sat down. He even considered sharing the coachman's seat but that wouldn't help protect his identity.
Ruoxi went in first, he moved with a regal grace that seemed to flow back into his body when the gold vines were broken. With his horns put away, he looked almost human. Like nobility with the kind of beauty that could topple nations.
Asael went in next, both towering Demons already taking up most of the space in the carriage.
Dulce peered in and thought fast, "How about the three of you share the carriage? I can easily ride with the coachman or join the other carriage." He offered generously.
"There's no need to," Ruoxi spoke up before the others could. His suspicions aside, he couldn't risk having the Vampire out of his sight. "Come, I'll hold you."
His offer garnered him glares from the other Demons, but Ruoxi didn't care. He held his arms out, meaning his words.
Dulce wore an anxious expression, he would rather not be that close to an Incubus who threatened to eat him. "I-I..."
"Shameless," Kath'tan spat out, getting into the carriage.
Asael wore a serious expression, like he was thinking something over. "The Vampire weighs nothing, I wouldn't mind accommodating him..."
Kath'tan glanced at the Shadow Demon seated next to him, unable to believe his ears. If anyone was fit to carry the foolish Vampire, it was him, he had been around the longest - he wouldn't even wring that slender neck.
But he didn't say any of that out loud, rage burning in his eyes.
Dulce quickly scrapped his ideas of leaving, the air was too volatile in the carriage. If he was being asked, he might consider Asael. The Shadow Demon hadn't wrung his neck and he wasn't threatening to eat him.
He glanced at the wooden ledge and made the decision himself. "I'll sit here." He spoke softly, settling on the wooden ledge with his travel bag in his arms.
He sat roughly in the middle, across from Asael, his back against the polished wood. It was a rather uncomfortable spot to sit because he was the target of three pairs of eyes, all watching him a little too intently.
Fortunately, the journey began without preamble, the fast horses causing the scenery outside the windows to blur past.
"I-I suppose introductions are in order," Dulce spoke up after a lengthy span of silence.
Although, the first two Demons never referred to him by his name. The only time Kath'tan had said was name was when he yelled it in a rage.
"I'm Dulce Montesserat," He introduced to the Incubus.
"Ruoxi," The elegant Demon replied, his lips tilting up at the corners. He turned to the other two, curiosity gleaming in his gold eyes. "And what are your names?"
Ruoxi's long black hair was down his shoulders, wearing nothing but a loose, red robe, that was kept together by a belt embroidered with gold thread. His pale skin had a golden sheen to it, his beauty distracting.
His beauty was lost on the other two, both regarding him with wariness and displeasure.
"Asael." The Shadow Demon spoke up first.
Kath'tan didn't respond, instead he blatantly stared out the window, openly ignoring the peace branch.
"The Fiend's name is Kath'tan," Dulce introduced on his behalf. "I-I hope we can all get along on this journey, and I apologize for summoning you three."
"Are you really keeping the Incubus?" Asael asked quietly. A little affected by the Vampire being so nice to everyone.
Dulce scratched his head, not sure himself. "You don't want to return, do you?" He asked the Incubus, silver blue eyes wizened.
Ruoxi intently watched the Vampire, he was so interesting. "I don't."