Tempting Fate

70 Chapter 70: The Hooded Figure

“So you’re saying what happened to us outside the portal wasn’t a coincidence?”

Reed stood up and looked down so they could see what Emy and Jasmin were doing. Devin finds out from Damon, a soldier he trusts, that the animals didn’t attack Reed by accident when he was at the portal.

“Are you going to blame me again for something I can’t do when I’m in the other world?” Devin asked. “That’s okay, I’m used to you.”

When Reed thought about what had happened that night, he couldn’t say anything right away. Devin’s claim could be true, so he has no plans to accuse him. Devin looked down at Emy, who was on the ground. After taking a deep breath, he turned back to Reed.

“I’m leaving,” said Devin.

Reed’s brows went up. “We still haven’t finished talking...”

“Not yet?” Devin asked. “Usually when I do this, you push me away.”I didn’t know, you’re too emotional.” said Reed.

Devin laughed. “Fine. What do you want to know more about?”

“What happened? How did Damon find out?”

.....

“I told him to look into it,” said Devin. “Can’t you remember what happened that night? The date that every wild animal is avoiding?”

Reed scowled. He remembered it was the night when poisonous flower pollen bloomed in the forest. He remembered that was why the wendigo stayed in that hut, which they rarely do. If it hadn’t been dangerous for low-level demons that night, Emy’s body part would have been cut off as soon as he found her. But because the flower was poisonous, Emy was still alive until he got there. If he was right, some demons led wild animals to their locations. He knew they were there, but he didn’t know who.

“I think you’ve given that night some thought,” said Devin. “Who do you think it could be? Who is the demon who will fight you?”

Reed said nothing. Instead, he put both of his hands in his pockets and thought hard.

“It seems like the demon knows both you and Emy,” said Devin.

“Do you know who it is?”

Devin had a chuckle. “So you want to know what I think?” Devin gave Reed a quick look. “Maybe you won’t believe me when I tell you who’s on my mind. If you think there might be someone you know, why don’t you find out?”

Reed looked over at Devin. “Why don’t you tell me who it is?”

Devin looked at Reed for a while, then smiled. He said nothing, though. Instead, Reed just disappeared from his view. Reed reached out and put one hand on the glass wall.

“There’s no way...” Reed mumbled. “I want to know what’s going on.”

—

It surprised Jasmin and Emy when Reed told them to leave out of the blue, even Devin was with them. During the trip, Jasmin’s eyes were fixed on Devin. Reed and Devin are in the front seat, and Emy and Jasmin are in the backseat. Even though Reed didn’t want to, he had to agree because Emy didn’t want Jasmin to feel awkward around Devin, so she sat next to her in the back seat. When they arrived at the bar, they immediately looked for a vacant table and seats. Devin gave Reed a quick look.

“Why don’t you do what you can?” Devin asked.

Reed didn’t move; he just tried to find a vacant table. Devin shook his head and raised one hand, let the smoke come out of his palm, and whispered in that place. Soon, it took off, and soon after, the people who were in good places left. Devin called the server right away and had him clear the table.

“Are we going to drink?’ Jasmin asked.

Devin gave Jasmin a quick look. “Why? Don’t you drink?”

Jasmin turned red. “I drink, sir.”

“Devin. You can call me Devin.” Devin said, smiling.

“O-okay Devin,” Jasmin said.

Reed sat next to Emy, who was sitting next to Devin, who was sitting next to Jasmin. Devin got the girls a bucket of beer, and Reed got them a bottle of brandy. They look at the people dancing on the dancefloor. The server came back with the food they had asked for. The server set out all the food that Devin had ordered for them with care.

“Wow, I like all of this,” said Emy. “These are my favorites.”

Reed frowned. He had no idea that Emy liked the grilled meat of chicken and pork the most.

“Really? Then let’s dig in. I’ve heard that the food here is good.” Devin said.

“Let’s taste Jasmin,” Emy told Jasmin at the same time. Her friend smiled and took a barbecue that had been grilled.

“Hmmm, delicious,” Emy said after dinner. He went up to Reed right away and bit him on the grill he was holding. “It tastes good, doesn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Why aren’t you in a good mood? Is there something wrong?”

“That’s all. All I want to do is go out.”

“But you don’t feel like it. It’s as if we aren’t there with you either.”

“I’ve got something in mind.”

“What’s on your mind?”

Reed was looking at Emy. He wasn’t sure if he should tell Emy what was making him nervous. Whoever it was, that demon knew Emy was the thing that made him weak. He already knew what he would do if Emy got hurt.

“I’m scared by how serious you are, are you going to leave me?” Emy spoke up.

Emy and Reed caught Devin’s eye. Emy asks Reed a question, and he waits for Reed to answer.

“Why would I go away from you? What gave you that idea?”

“I was just thinking,” Emy blurted something and turned away from Reed. She didn’t get it, but that was her best guess. She got another beer and drank it in one sip.

“Hi, Emy! Take it easy. You might get drunk.” Devin said.

Emy didn’t answer. He looked at Jasmin. “Jasmin, do you want to dance?”

Devin’s question surprised the woman a little, but she quickly said “yes.” Devin grabbed Jasmin’s hand right away and dragged her out onto the dance floor.

Reed looked over at Emy. “Are you in the mood to dance?”

Emy didn’t answer, she just kept drinking beer. Reed saw Emy had already had a few bottles of beer and that Jasmin was just another, so he pulled Emy over to the dance floor right away. Reed stood next to Devin and Jasmin, who were both dancings.

“Don’t worry too much. I won’t leave you.” Reed told her in a whisper.

Emy did not speak. Emy’s hips pressed against his. She immediately held Reed’s shoulder. He was looking right at her.

“I just want to make sure you’re safe, Wifey.”

“Why? Is my life at risk?”

“You just don’t pay attention, but yes. This happened because of me.”

“Why is it your fault?”

“They know I’m weak when it comes to you.”

“Who are they?”

“The one who wants me to get rid of my throne. And it was a demon, a powerful one.”

“They want you to give up your throne. Why?” Emy spoke up.

“It makes sense for demons to think like that. Everyone wants to be powerful as I am,” said Reed.

“Will that be the reason you leave me?” Emy spoke up. “Well, that’s your kingdom, anyway. One life for the lives of many. I understand.”

“I promised I wouldn’t leave you, and I won’t.”

“But if you think...”

“I don’t think about that at all.”

Emy stopped talking. Reed smiled at Emy and looked at her. Later, Devin notices that the man is sneaking up on Emy. Jasmin also noticed this, and when she got close to Emy, it surprised her when the man touched her buttock.

Emy turned around right away while holding her behind. “Pervert!” Emy suddenly sighed.

“Excuse me, maybe you’re just mistaken ...” the man said.

Devin put his hand on the guy’s shoulder. “I saw what you did ...”

“I also saw ...” Jasmin said.

Reed went up to the man. He stood next to it. “Out of all the women here, you choose my wife, huh?”

“I told you I wasn’t, wah!” it surprised the man when his feet went up off the ground. Reed had both arms around him.

Everyone, there was shocked by what Reed did, so they all took out their phones and filmed the event. However, everyone was surprised when the phones and CCTV in the area suddenly stopped working. Reed threw the man into the air, and he took off. Inside the bar, a lot was going on.

“Reed stop it,” Emy said something, but Reed didn’t hear her. It went up to the man and again threw him away. Emy watched Devin. “Devin, go get Reed. Stop him!”

Devin smiled. “Let him be, and don’t worry, he won’t kill them.”

“What?” Emy was shocked.

—

“Aw!” Reed complained.

Emy is taking care of Reed’s cut lip in the bar’s parking lot. Emy was so mad at her that she almost put the cotton to her lips.

“Can you be sweet? I am hurt,” Reed said.

“I’d rather not. You don’t listen to me.” Emy said, annoyed.

.....

“You won’t have any scars if you use those powers,” Devin said.

“You’re another Devin, Haist.” Emy was upset as she pushes pushed, Devin. What he did made the young man laugh.

“But Miss Emy, they are right. They got into a fight because of the men. If they don’t touch you, nothing bad will happen.” Jasmin said.

“Do you think I’ll do nothing after they touch you?” Reed asked. “If I want, I can kill them in an instant, but you saw me fight with them fairly.”

“I see what you mean,” Devin said.

Emy just inhaled deeply. She didn’t want to argue. Emy looked at Reed’s wound badly after she had fixed it.

“I’m hungry, so feed me,” Emy said something and then got in the car quickly.

The three of them looked at each other and smiled. They also got in the car later.

Meanwhile, the person in the hood who had been following them was standing nearby. Reed’s rivals came out to fight. Close to being hurt, they walked toward their car. The man in the hood raised his hand, filled it with black smoke, and spoke into the air. Later, the smoke got into the men’s ears as it flew around.

“So, what went on?”

“Did we get into a fight?”

“Damn, my lip just blew up!”

No one can remember what happened, and everyone is confused. Reed went back to where the person in the hood disappeared.