Chapter 76

Chapter 76: Chapter 76

"I’m Lady Rose Woller." She introduced with pride, "I’m embarking on this journey alone, do you mind if I bother you with my presence a bit longer?"

"No, I don’t-"

"I no longer want to stay on the deck." Kath’tan cut in, dragging the Vampire away by the collar.

Rose was startled by the suddenness of it all, whipping around when the gentleman she was speaking with was suddenly carted away. "Wait! I didn’t get your name!"

Dulce was about to call it out to her when Ruoxi leaned in close, startling him and cutting off his line of sight.

The Incubus said nothing, merely giving him a smile. He pulled away when they went below deck, barely spending any time outside before they returned to Dulce’s room.

Shortly after, they could hear distant shouting and footsteps going past the door - the journey was about to begin. Noon had arrived, as well as the time to set sail.

The ship lurched as its anchor was retrieved and it drifted into deeper waters. All of the passengers had been sent to their quarters; only the ship’s hands were left on deck.

Dulce’s room was filled, and the Vampire was perched on a barrel next to a window, since ships didn’t have fireplaces. Although, it didn’t matter much, the weather was no longer bitingly cold, they were soon approaching the middle of spring.

The ship swayed gently as it moved farther and farther out into the water, the dropped sails billowing in the afternoon sun. A crisp bell rang from the deck, as a way to inform the passengers that it was now safe for them to return to the deck if they wished.

The ship provided meals for the passengers at specific time periods, and most preferred to eat on the deck where sitting areas had been arranged for the passengers.

So as darkness fell, the deck was lively, a shiphand playing an instrument in the distance, burning torches casting light on chatting passengers as they ate their dinner.

Dulce had to convince the others to have dinner on the deck instead of his cramped quarters where they had all been content to sit in oppressive silence all day.

He peered into the darkness that surrounded them on all sides, it was a moonless night. There were no reflections on the water so it felt like they were floating through an endless abyss.

Their gloomy surroundings didn’t touch the ship however, the lively music and conversation provided as much illumination as the torches did.

"Do you miss flying?" Dulce asked, his attention returning to the table.

He had directed the question at Kath’tan because he had only seen the Demon with wings.

Kath’tan paused before replying, his attention had also not been on the table, distracted by his attempt to find the human woman from earlier in the day.

Flying was the same as running to Demons, a method of movement that was often done only when it was needed. He wouldn’t say he missed flying, but he wouldn’t turn down the chance to fly if he found one.

Ruoxi sighed, melancholy, replying although the question hadn’t been directed at him. "I do, I haven’t flown in centuries."

Kath’tan had been about to give a blunt, negative answer, the word getting stuck in his throat. He watched Dulce divert his focus to the shameless Incubus with a scowl on his face.

"You could try to fly alongside the ship," Dulce suggested lightly, "There is so much open space and the cover of night so you can fly freely..."

Ruoxi propped his jaw on the table, making it a habit to sit next to Dulce whenever the chance arose. "Do you want to fly?"

Silver blue eyes widened in surprise, "I..." Dulce trailed off, looking at the sky again. Vampires could move so quickly that it was exhilarating but it certainly couldn’t compare to flying. Floating high above the sky, unfettered.

"I’ve never really thought about it," He shrugged.

"Think about it now," Ruoxi pushed.

Dulce wore his thoughts on his face, hesitation and hope plainly written on his pale features. "I think flying is really pleasant but I can’t fly."

"But do you want to?" The Demon asked in a tone far too serious for the conversation, his gold eyes burning.

Ruoxi straightened up and resumed his meal, "When the deck clears out a bit, I’ll take you flying." He said without waiting for Dulce’s response.

"Do you even remember how to fly?" Kath’tan asked with a grumble, tossed to the side and forgotten.

Dulce’s sparkling gaze dimmed, "I’ll only get in your way as you reacquaint yourself with flying."

"Which is why I’ll take you flying instead," Kath’tan said without wasting time.

"I’ll let Dulce be the judge of my flying prowess." Ruoxi said calmly, unfazed by the claims.

Kath’tan was unimpressed, disbelieving. "I’m not fishing you out of the sea."

Ruoxi shot the Fiend a look, "Why don’t you focus on keeping yourself out of it?"

Dulce looked from Demon to Demon as the conversation grew more heated, he couldn’t help but feel like Kath’tan and Ruoxi didn’t get along, they tended to bicker often.

"Asael, can you also fly?" He dragged the Shadow Demon into the conversation, hoping it would dissipate it.

Asael looked up from his food, an odd expression on his face. "I have wings." He replied vaguely.

Ruoxi immediately zeroed in on this like fresh meat. "Can the assassin truly not fly?" He immediately chimed in, mischief brightening up his face.

Asael lowered his gaze back to his plate, displeased. "I never said that."

"Then, can you fly?" Ruoxi stirred the pot.

Dulce scratched his hair, he had hoped to ease the situation but all he had done was provide Ruoxi more kindling for the fire.

"What Demon can’t fly?" Asael retorted but it lacked the Shadow Demon’s usual disinterest.

"I can’t." Caedos said around a haunch of meat.

"And also the Shadow Demon," Ruoxi concluded.

Asael knew that the Incubus was merely taunting him, battling internally to squash down the urge to react.

Ruoxi was starting to become as aggravating as he had been when he had been newly summoned, it made him narrow his eyes. Realizing that the Incubus was being so tetchy likely because he was hungry, made him easier to ignore.