The Journey South

After travelling south for nine days, David and Rebecca were almost at Cliff’s Edge, the village closest to the Shadow Tombs.

It lay less than a hundred metres from the steep stone steps up to the fabled ruin and was roughly fifty miles away from the city of Black Port.

The journey had been a silent and uncomfortable one for both David and Rebecca.

Rebecca was too terrified of him to say anything, whereas David didn’t know what to say to ease her nerves and try to connect with her.

If he looked at her, she looked away.

If he moved, she flinched.

I’d hoped she and Eva would’ve tried to be a little friendly to me after I said they could call me Allaric, but I guess not. It’s not my real name, but it’s my name in this world.

It was only then that David realised why they didn’t try talking to him.

They had only seen the worst of him - the ruthless and cruel tyrant.

No wonder she hasn’t tried to talk to me!

When they’d slept out in the wilderness, Rebecca had asked to sleep alone outside, but David made her stay in the carriage. Then, he teleported back to his bedroom to sleep, sending a few Machai back through to protect and monitor Rebecca.

When he woke in the morning, he’d teleport back, send the Machai home, and then they’d resume their journey.

David had considered letting Rebecca return with him, but he didn’t want to make that offer just yet.

If Rebecca still has any intention to betray me, then I’d rather she tried to defy me early on in our ‘partnership’. I don’t want to hurt her, but my family’s safety comes first.

Much to his relief, Rebecca hadn’t shown even the smallest signs of rebellion, nor had she tried to escape.

That was how their journey had been for nine days until the Raven spotted the village in the distance.

“Disguise me.”

The Raven muttered a few quiet words and, an instant later, David’s appearance changed into that of Anthony Kelsey, a sight which made Rebecca’s skin crawl.

It was the first time in their journey that she’d looked at him.

“It must be a convincing illusion to make you react like that.” With a slight frown, he cleared his throat. “Even my voice changed?”

“Yes, your majesty. This spell will keep your noble self hidden for the next four hours.”

“...I see.”

If I have that much time, then I could get us a room at an inn and then go exploring for a while. I can actually take a break from being the Demon Emperor!

“How often would you be able to cast this spell, Raven?”

“Only once a day on other people, your majesty.”

“…I see.”

Damn - that’s annoying. He grunted and looked at Rebecca. When isn’t it stressful being the Demon Emperor?

After building up her courage, Rebecca, for the first time in their long journey, asked David a single question.

“…Your majesty, what happened to my parents?”

David broke his gaze from her and stared out of the window.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the complicated, and pained, expression on Rebecca’s face.

Her tormentors were dead.