NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31: Ulterior Motive
Silfy was making her way through thick underbrush and brambles, her long hair occasionally catching on sharp branches, but she didn't slow down. She quickly brushed leaves out of the way and occasionally pointed the direction with her hand. Her barefoot steps were light and almost silent, but clumps of dirt and small stones persistently jabbed at her feet.
The brother and sister were making their way toward the capital, toward the White House.
"Ugh! They could at least make a path…" she muttered through her teeth, but immediately straightened up and raised her voice. "Come on, hurry up! We don't have all day!"
Behind her, Kai and Mei were struggling to keep up. Leaves rustled under their feet, and occasionally branches that Silfy had already cleared whipped their faces again. Their rescuer moved as if she knew every tree and stone, while they were just trying not to lose sight of her.
"Yeah, yeah, we are coming…" Mei panted, almost clinging to her brother. Her hands occasionally grabbed his shoulder or elbow.
Kai groaned and tried to pull away. "Do you have to be this close? You're not my shadow, you know…" he tried to push her away with his elbow, but with little success.
Mei frowned but didn't back down. Her eyes briefly sparkled with determination as she pointed toward Silfy, who was still striding ahead of them.
"I'm not going to…" she emphasized, squeezing her brother's hand tighter than necessary, "…let her flirt with you!"
Kai rolled his eyes and muttered something incomprehensible but didn't try to free himself anymore. Instead, he kept walking, letting his sister annoy him.
"This is just perfect…" Kai thought, a cold thrill crawling through him, knowing no one could see the storm brewing behind his calm eyes.
"I'm not flirting with him!" Silfy shouted, but her voice sounded sharper than she intended. Her face was already red to the ears, so she quickly turned her gaze aside, hiding it behind her hair. "As if I'd ever want something like that… u-ugh!"
"Hey!" Kai exclaimed, a little offended.
Meanwhile, the sky darkened and the forest started to shroud itself in shadows. The sounds of birds fell silent, and the wind carried the cooler breath of night. Silfy abruptly stopped, looked around, and assessed the area. "Here… here we'll sleep," she said quickly, then immediately bent down and started clearing the underbrush, trying to hide the blush that still lingered on her cheeks.
Kai watched her nervously toss leaves and pebbles. "Can I sleep next to you?" he asked innocently.
"N-no! What are you talking about, idiot!" she shouted, stammering and turning her head away. "As if I'd allow that! Just because I'm kind doesn't mean I want you… to sleep near me! I'm 1,256 years old!"
Kai smiled a little sadly at her reaction, and Mei crossed her arms with satisfaction.
They lit a small fire, and the orange flames illuminated their tired faces. They sat in a circle, quietly.
At that moment, a loud sound broke the silence. Mei's stomach growled. Her face immediately turned red, and she hid her stomach with both hands. "I-I'm hungry…" she muttered, lowering her gaze.
"Me too…" added Kai, nodding.
Silfy sighed, leaning back on her hands. Her eyes lingered on the flames for a moment. "I have nothing…" she said with a sigh. "I gave you all the food I had while we were in the cave." She quickly looked away, then added in a low voice, "And don't think I did it because I… like you or something… you just seemed helpless, so…"
Kai looked at her with a gentle smile but said nothing. She felt his gaze and immediately frowned, clenching her hands into fists. "W-why are you looking at me like that?! I'm not on the menu!"
Silence fell among them again. The fire crackled, occasionally throwing tiny sparks, while in the distance the hoot of an owl and the monotone chirping of crickets could be heard.
After a while, Silfy approached the fire and carefully added a few dry twigs. When she finished, she lay on her back on the cold ground and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Good night…" she murmured, turning onto her side.
"Already asleep?" Kai asked, but got no answer.
Mei looked at Kai, and in her eyes shimmered a mix of mischief and something deeper. She leaned closer, close enough for him to feel her breath on his skin, and wrapped her fingers around his hand.
"Shall we…?" she whispered, deliberately drawing out the words as her thumb traced lightly across the back of his hand.
Kai blinked, utterly confused, pulling slightly back. "Shall we what?"
Mei smiled, slowly raising her hand and placing it against his cheek, brushing his skin with her fingertips. Her face moved closer to his.
"To sleep…" she said sweetly. Then her lips grazed his ear as she whispered: "to-ge-ther?"
Kai jolted, nearly jumping back. "N-no, I'll sleep alone!" he stammered, his face burning red as he turned away from her and lay down on the ground.
"Perfect!" Kai thought, his grin twisting with malice.
Mei remained standing beside him, silent for several seconds. Her smile slowly faded from her face, and her eyes lowered, filled with disappointment.
"I'm sorry…" Mei whispered, so softly it sounded as though she was apologizing to herself rather than him. The flicker of disappointment in her eyes sank into something much heavier—sorrow. Slowly, she knelt onto the grass and lowered herself down on the other side of the fire.
"Kai… I didn't mean… I didn't… I…" The words snagged in her throat, breaking apart before they could even take form. She only mumbled into her breath, struggling with thoughts she couldn't put in order. "This is hard and wrong… I'm sorry, Kai…"
Her eyelids trembled, her eyes filling with tears she desperately tried to hold back. But her body betrayed her—tears kept spilling, relentless. She wiped her hand across her face, trying to brush them away, but as soon as she did, new ones welled up again.
She sniffled, shaking from those tiny, restrained sobs.
"Maybe… maybe I should stop trying…" she muttered, barely audible. Her voice sounded like it was fading, drained and heavy with pain.
At a small distance, Silfy stayed silent, listening. She caught every word Mei murmured, every clumsy sigh, every quiver in her voice.
"Now I understand what she meant by rivalry," Silfy thought. Then she smiled—not normally, but DEMONICALLY. "I'll kill her!"