It was already late night, we were given a small cottage to stay in. It had one room and one kitchen. After eating supper, I insisted Elena to sleep on the bed while I choose a corner in the room to sleep. Elena didn’t talk to me after the incident and I too said nothing about it. It’s been an hour since we decided to sleep, but neither of us were actually asleep. Elena shifted again in her bed.

“Are you not able to sleep, is me being here really bothering you?” I asked looking at her direction.

“It’s not that. It’s just... There’s lot of things going on in my mind, I am just feeling a bit restless” She said sitting up on the bed.

“You need not worry about what anyone says. We are leaving this village tomorrow anyways” I said to her.

“Hum... Can’t we stay for a few more days. After all the walking, I am really tired and we can always resume our journey a day or two later. Besides I do think that I need to take a bath atleast” Elena said with pleading eyes.

“Hum.. Ok, if you want to stay then we can postpone our journey by one day but I really like to leave this village. I don’t like it here” I said looking a bit bothered.

“Is it really that bad? I think there's just some misunderstanding. I am sure they will treat you right once they get to know you” Elena said as to reassure me.

“Yeh. I was forced to the ground, got dirtied. Interrogated, threatened, insulted, they snatched my possessions and refuse to given it back and they even insulted you. You want me to suck up to those who did these things. Even the pirates only did two of those things and none of them alive was left alive. I would not bear any insult towards me or my comrade” I said to her in a displeased tone.

“I am sorry, Both the times it’s because of me you became like that... that angry” she said sorrowfully.

“No! It’s not you that should feel sorry. Anyways don’t dwell on the past. Look even my injuries are healed. Somehow I feel that it’s healed a little faster this time.. So it’s all well and good. Now go to sleep, we only have one day to make preparations and then we leave. I am sure your mom and sister are worried about you, the sooner we leave the sooner we can reach your village” I tried to console her.

“Um, Good Night” She said laying down on her bed facing towards the opposite direction.

A few minutes passed by and I heard a sound of someone approaching. Elena turned towards my direction and looked at me.

I took out my knife just in case and upon seeing the silhouette I relaxed a bit.

“Is it alright for a girl to sneak into a man’s room like that, Grace” I asked Grace provokingly. I was mad at her grandmother and was unconsciously taking it out on her.

“It’s alright, everybody’s asleep. No one knows I am here besides you have got Elena with you. So I know it’s safe to be here” Grace said teasingly.

“Why are you sneaking out at night. Whatever you want can wait till morning” I said to her.

Elena didn’t say a word and was listening to the conversation. I can see very well in the darkness but those two cannot, so Grace didn’t notice where Elena was and that she was awake.

Grace came towards me sensing the direction of my voice.

“I don’t think Granny would let me talk to you anymore. She was telling granpa that anyone who wants to do anything with the demon book cannot be trusted”

“Maybe she is right, afterall she is your Grandma” I told her to get out of the conversation.

“Granny is just being cautious, after all two of the kids from our village lost their lives. She doesn't want to take anymore chances” Grace said to me.

“So why are you here at this time” I asked her.

“I am here to apologise on behalf of my Grandmother and the villagers. You saved us and yet we didn’t show any gratitude” She said sincerely.

“I do not want any gratitude, I can just do without being disrespect and it seems no one is capable of that in this village.” I said to her in a serious tone.

“That’s why I am here to apologise. Please forgive my Grandma. Even if you are viewed with suspicion, Elena will be treated like a guest and will be taken care of, so please stay with........” As Grace was saying that I heard whispers outside the house and quickly placed my hand on her mouth to silence her. I motioned her that someone was outside.

------------Out side the house-------------

“Are you sure everybody’s asleep. If anyone saw us then we would have a hard time to defend ourselves and wont be able to get a hold of the demon book” a man whispered.

“Everybody’s asleep, I made sure to look out for anyone wandering outside” another voice came from the same direction.

“This time I get to have the girl first, you did that girl with curly hair first in the other village. I hate used goods, I like them fresh” The first voice said.

“Whatever, make sure to bound her mouth tightly so that she doesn't scream and alert others. I will go for the guy and finish him off as soon as possible” the second voice replied.

Then they started to move again silently.

----------------------------

Hearing the conversation both Elena and Grace panicked, Grace stated to open her mouth to scream when I closed her mouth tightly and motioned her to be silent. I told her to stay in the same place and slowly tiptoed towards the door. I knew that those voices belong to Reed and Spot, I was suspicious of them before and I didn’t want to go back on my earlier promise either. Rage filled me and my eyes started to cloud. The door was pushed open silently and two men steped inside. As soon as they steped in, I grabbed both of them by the neck and lifted them.

“The world would be better off without scums like you” I said to them. They were both caught off guard and seemed to be terrified by looking into my eyes. Red aura covered them both, it condensed to form black flame and both their bodies started to burn. They both screamed their lungs out, after a few seconds it was over. Two pile of ash remained where the men previously stood. I calmed myself and looked at Grace and Elena.

Elena was not afraid this time and seems to be calm although still bothered by the scene, where Grace was looking at me with horrified expression.

“I do not like to give a chance to my enemies. Leaving him alive the first time was a mistake” I said looking at Elena. Grace stood there motionless looking at me.

After a few moments I heard a lot of people coming towards my direction. A middle aged man with a muscular body came first and asked what happened.

On seeing him Grace hurried towards him. More villagers started to appear behind the man and by now Elena also was besides me.

“Papa, Reed and Spot. They both tried to kill us. They were planning to kill Cleon and take the book. They even said that they will violate Elena like they did to the girl in the other village” Grace said to the man almost crying.

“Calm down Grace and tell me what happened properly” The man said to Grace.

I didn’t want to strain the now emotionally unstable girl, so I explained them what had happened.

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I was over enthusiastic today and wrote three chapter, so now I don't have to write for three days. I'll be posting them one at a time each day after proof reading them.