Chapter 33: Dream Demon

The night was not so simple though.

As oddly enough, his eyes began to shut and sleep overtook him as he curled up the sleeping little girl in his arms.

Now, all within the room were asleep.

That's when chaos ensued.

Bloody orbs observed for only a moment before acting swiftly this time.

Yellow dull teeth grinned in satisfaction.

This time. It would succeed.

It's long awaited prey was ripe and lovely for the taking.

A long awaited meal was before it.

A mangled and charred black claw stretched out, nearing the sleeping girl's forehead.

As the talon made contact- it was too late.

Electric blue eyes, sharper than a knife, fiercely stared the creature down, before his clawed hand struck the creature into screaming in agony.

All were awake now due to the shrill scream, waking the entire estate.

Before he could end the creatures life, a strange black mist began to surround them while a laugh began to bubble from grotesque white chapped lips. The ghastly figure was manically laughing as the world around the three began to swirl into a black void before everyone lost consciousness.

When I opened my eyes, I thought it was another dream.

I was laying in soft grass, the forest surrounding me as my body ached slightly.

Yet I realized quickly this was no dream.

I saw a passed out Ricin, his fluffy body was sprawled lazily beside me.

To my left, I couldn't stop the soft scream that escaped my lips as the naked body of no less than Kai of all people.

What the actual hell?

My voice woke the two, as I had my head averted from the nudist.

"This is bad. What happened?"

"I'm not sure either"

Ricin spoke to Kai, but Kai's answer fueled a rage in my heart.

The first man I see naked is this man?!

Where is Xavier?

"Kai, you better have a good explanation as to why we are in the middle of the woods, and you are naked. Your life depends on it" I growled out angrily. How dare he?!

"Calm down! Tell her!" Ricin spoke up worriedly, as I was pulling my sword out.

"Rosalia" I paused, a bit in surprise at him calling my first name. Very informal.

"Look then" he murmured. He wants me to see him naked?!

"Vulgar! I am an unmarried woman!" I shouted, my face burning hot at such shamelessness.

"No, Rose look" Ricin spoke now.

My curiosity has always been high...

nervously, I peaked at Kai, but froze.

Xavier was in his place...

Now. I may have my short comings, but I'm no fool. Not in the slightest.

The puzzle pieces clicked.

My heart wavered, like a candle light.

The leopard moved towards me, trying to coax me into petting him.

"We kept it from you... sorry Rose, this is because we didn't want you to be burdened by more things" Ricin spoke sadly, bowing his small fluffy head in shame.

"Why... no, truly I can't understand. Why not tell me sooner? What are you two hiding besides this...?" My voice was weak, Xavier- no, Kai, nuzzled his head against my cheek.

My heart hurt. My head hurt. This was too much, honestly.

"I only noticed it after you returned home, I promise I had every intention to reveal my identity" Kai spoke, startling me.

"You can talk in that form?" I whispered listlessly.

"Of course you can..." my tone was sad.

"Please, this isn't because I'm trying to bury your trust in me. You just seemed much more content as having me as simply an intelligent beast... I thought you'd abandon me if I told you" His tone was firm, but his big blue eyes had flickers of emotional truth in their depths.

My heart was in tatters like this.

Truly, I'm angry I was deceived, but not to the point of ever abandoning him.

It made sense now though. Why Kai approached me so often at the Academy. Why Xavier- Kai, could understand me so well.

So it was like this...

"This isn't the time though to be having this conversation" Ricin said lowly, and for the first time in what seemed like forever, my fairy transformed.

Now, before me stood a gorgeous green haired man with a serious gaze. His clothing was much like that of a noble.

"Ricin...?" I was helped to stand by Ricin, the tall handsome fairy transforming, worried me.

For what means would he...?

"A demon has been actively targeting you since your return from the Mermaid Realm. We've been monitoring the situation, but it seems we have been careless... and got caught in some sort of trap. Well, more precisely, we've been transported to an alternate dimension by this demon" Ricin's words made my blood go cold.

What...?

"How do you know this...?" I asked tentatively.

"It has occurred before, this demon, more specifically, this demon is the Demon of Dreams. He doesn't have a set name, so most of the older creatures know him as this. Even in the demon realm, he causes quite the trouble. He sends his victims to an alternate reality to confuse and disorient them into isolation, before consuming their soul. He was sealed about 250 years ago by an Elven Elder for his crimes, but it seems he has reemerged"

I could feel my pulse quicken.

Is this why? The nightmares and dreams? I am a scientist, these areas are not my expertise.

"However, due to Xavier's and my own intervention, we made the transport somewhat incomplete. I did my research"

It seems that's why he's been gone so much recently.

"And it was concluded if you interrupt the process, it messes up the entire ritual and fails to capture the victims consciousness. Right now, in this alternate dimension, likely only minor differences to our own world, we are all together, and the original Rosalia in this world, is still present"

I nodded for a moment.

It seems the dreams weren't the otome game. It was this world... this world where the Rosalia didn't have her past life memories like I.

Certainly, it would more than terrify me if this occurred before I had left home.

I was likely left alone due to the higher powers watching over me. The mermaid queen's land is no easy area to infiltrate- even for a high class demon.

"Okay... so how do we... beat it?" I was feeling light headed.

"Killing him will send us home" Kai concluded.

Okay...

"I see. Alright. I guess the most logical thing now, is to find the original Rosalia of this world, as well as contact Ceil. I highly doubt he's changed in the slightest in this world" I sighed. My legs felt weak.

"Hey cat, mind making me some clothes?" Kai spoke.

Ricin glared at the leopard but nodded, waving his wrist as a set of black noble dress clothes appeared.

I also had a lot of my own clothing stored in my bracelet.

It was still dark out, but it was cold seeing as the season and time was likely the same as our original world.

I pulled out a pale light pink dress, it was simple, but would do.

I also removed a warm cloak.

I stared at the two for a moment before moving towards the woods.

"Wait! Don't go off on your own. That bastard is around somewhere!" Kai spoke harshly, making me jump a little.

His personality took a real 180...

"I'll go with her, I'll just keep my back turned" Ricin sighed, following me so I And Kai could both change.

Once we were suitably dressed, we concluded we were just outside the Vermillion residence.

"Ricin, can your magic get us to the castle quicker?" I asked.

He nodded, "Of course, I control wind as well, so a simple flight won't hurt"

As he spoke, a small whirlwind began to flow around us, before engulfing us.

Kai wrapped his arm around me, holding me close as the wind blinded me and nearly sent me flying.

I still felt uneasy in my heart. Though, his touch did no longer caused me anxiety. I felt calm, but also hurt.

When I opened my eyes, we were in the room in Ceil's office.

Of course, it's because this is the place Ricin has been the most. I never wanted to see that hellish sadist's room before.

It was dark, the moon bright outside.

"This might be difficult without causing an uproar... we have to get past Ceil's fairy too..."

"Leave that to me, Fairy's usually have somewhat of a mutual understanding of one another" Ricin said seriously. Never before have I seen his eyes look so determined and fierce.

Kai was no exception either.