The Demon and the Healer - Chapter 23- Grief and Vow!

“Heh?”

It took me time to respond in such a weird voice but the thing I just heard from Ray was anything but believable.

“Is it that surprising? ”

If not for that genuine expression I might have considered that Ray was teasing me by asking that but in his eyes, I can only see how perplexed he was seeing me react like this.

“You…really were otherworlder?”

My voice carried a hint of astonishment and a massive blend of disbelief since I have never heard someone retaining their memories in the first place. For them to belong to another world is an entirely different story worth noting down the history.

I inched closer to him, feeling a bit apprehensive even though there was no human around us. Just in case I chanted a silencing barrier around us as I urged Ray to continue with his story.

“Woman, this is the first time I have seen you this interested in me. Does it really matter what my past was? ”

I was taken aback by that statement.

Indeed, as he said, I have been keeping my distance from Ray even though he has always been attentive toward me. It was not like I was wary of race or something Ray did could be counted as a trigger to my cautiousness, rather it was my inexperience in these things which has been putting us in an awkward stance ever since.

I never thought Ray observes my action this closely to notice how I have been reserved with him all this time, but it seems I underestimated his feelings for me.

I was ashamed yet felt my face heating up. Am I sick?

“It’s not that your past specifically matters but this is news of the century that someone can retain their memories of their previous and more so when they were from another world. ”

I didn’t want him to feel that his past can create any kind of judgment in my heart. Ray was and would always be the same for me. Truth be told, by now, I somehow feel guilty initiating this topic since the look of slight disappointment in his eyes previously was heart-aching.

But as always, he was not like me who couldn’t withhold her emotions and put up a facade in order to bring out a fake expression in front of others.

I felt sorrow seeing him trying to mask his real face.

“I was from a world where I was a human and lived until the age of 17 before I got killed-”

“Wait! You were murdered? By whom and why? ”

I grew restless hearing that and before I knew I found my hand over his, but that wasn’t something to be concerned about at the moment.

Ray glanced down for a moment before he looked back at me with subtle surprise as he continued.

“A robber was trying to steal something when I accidentally stepped in and before I knew my left eye was pierced by a knife followed by three stabs on my chest and stomach… ”

I subconsciously clutched his arm as I heard his story which despite being told with a straight face, made me anxious and frightened. To think that someone of that age had to face such brutality…

Even just thinking of how Ray must have felt at that moment makes me tremble.

“No one saved you…?”Despite already being aware of the answer I asked him in the hope that someone might have tried to help him. But…

“Ah, I was filthy rich but abandoned. I am not sure but I think I saw my uncle’s face behind that ribber’s mask before my life fazed away.”

*Ba*Dumb*

My heart was racing so rapidly that it was getting difficult for me to respire properly. My breath was caught in my throat, and my chest stung because of this sensation I am feeling right now. This was the same when I found Lilli in that mansion.

Was it grief? Am I sad because Ray was killed by someone his relative or feeling bad since he was all alone?

Whatever it is, I know for sure, that my heart was restless hearing his past. I do not need to ensure whether he is speaking the truth since his eyes….that unwavering yet dead gaze expresses it all.

Before meeting me, he said, he always lived in the forest and only came to the Demon castle some time ago before we arrived. That means even in this life he has spent most of his days all alone, in isolation.

“Why are you crying, woman? ”

He tilted his head as he wiped my tears gently with the back of his finger. I sobbed slightly to let air pass through before I inched closer to him.

Ray was undoubtedly confused at why I was reacting like this since he’s ignorant about many things which people count as normal. He doesn’t know how and why I was shedding on something I didn’t face.

But I pushed aside all his questions and hugged him firmly. My head reached only up to his chest but it was not our positioning that mattered. All I wanted for him to know was that…

“… I-I am here for you, Ray. You *sniff* are not alone… ”

“Oh… “I don’t know what face he was making and why he replied so briefly but his arms locking around me explained more than his words.

At least…his heart was open for me to influence his way of thinking.

In that serene atmosphere where only both of us were present to share each other’s feelings, I vowed something to myself that day.

Something I would never come to regret ever.

I would never leave Ray alone even if the world turns against him. I would never turn my back on him rather I would accept my death.

Once he bestowed me another chance to live, now it’s my turn to show him the beauty of life. I would do everything I can to make Ray feel that he is loved and he belongs to someone.

He would belong to me.

*****

A/N:-

His past will get more detailed. Drop a comment