Page 55 of Demon Daddy's Little Girl

"Clever." Vashti's eyes sparkle with approval. "Using herbology for protection rather than just healing. I'd love to learn some of your techniques."

"I could show you." The offer slips out before I can stop it. "It's the least I can do after everything."

"I'd like that." She begins gathering the used bandages. "We survivors need to stick together, share our knowledge."

"Did you fight bad guys too?" Rose asks, violet eyes wide.

"In my own way." Vashti smooths Rose's curls. "Sometimes the hardest battles are the ones we fight inside ourselves, learning to trust again."

Her words strike a chord deep within me. Here in this sun-filled room, with Rose safe beside me and Vashti's gentle presence, I feel something I haven't in months - hope.

"When's Cappy Dez coming back?" Rose tugs at my sleeve, her violet eyes bright with concern. "He promised to teach me more sparkly magic."

My heart clenches at her unwavering faith in Dezoth. Despite my reservations about demons, I can't deny the gentleness he's shown my daughter.

"Soon, sweetheart. He's helping keep us safe."

"But he's already safe! He's the biggest and strongest." Rose spreads her arms wide to demonstrate. "Nothing can hurt him."

Vashti's musical laugh fills the room. "My brother does cut an imposing figure. Though you should see him when Rose convinced him to wear that flower crown."

"It matched his eyes!" Rose bounces on the bed. "And he said real warriors wear flowers because they're not scared of looking pretty."

The image of the towering demon lord adorned in daisies brings an unexpected smile to my lips. "He said that?"

"Mhmm! And he showed me how to make the petals float." Rose cups her hands, face scrunching in concentration. A single flower from her chain rises shakily into the air. "See? Just like Cappy Dez taught me!"

Pride and fear war in my chest as I watch my daughter's growing magical abilities. Her demon heritage shines through in moments like these, reminding me why we can never stop running.

"Mama, don't be scared." Rose drops the flower and crawls into my lap, careful of my injuries. "Cappy Dez won't let the bad demons find us. He promised."

"Did he now?" I stroke her curls, marveling at her perceptiveness.

"With his special warrior handshake." She holds up her tiny pinky. "He said Pierce ladies are under his protection, and warriors never break their word."

Vashti nods solemnly. "Dezoth takes his oaths very seriously. Especially pinky promises to brave little girls."

Rose beams at the title, and I find myself drawing strength from her absolute conviction. My daughter, who's seen too much darkness yet still believes in the good in others, teaches me more about courage than any battle ever could.

Eventually, Rose curls into my side to sleep and Vashti finishes with my poultice and tea. The room falls quiet as Vashti excuses herself, leaving Rose dozing against my side. Her peaceful breaths remind me of simpler times, before we knew the true danger that stalked us.

My fingers trace the scar along my collarbone - a permanent reminder of our desperate escape. Yet here we are, sheltered in a demon's home. Not just any demon, but one who made a pinky promise to my daughter.

"Mama?" Rose stirs, blinking up at me. "Are you thinking about Cappy Dez?"

"What makes you say that?"

"You get this funny wrinkle." She pokes between my eyebrows. "Like when you're trying to solve a really hard puzzle."

A laugh escapes me. "You're too observant for your own good."

"He gets the same wrinkle when he's worried about us." Rose sits up, her violet eyes serious. "That's why he checks all the windows and doors three times before bed. And why he taught me the special knock."

My breath catches. I'd noticed the complex security measures, but assumed they were standard for a Guard Captain's home. "Special knock?"

Rose demonstrates a pattern on my knee. "If something scary happens, I knock like this. Then Cappy Dez will know it's me, even if it's dark."

The care behind such a detail strikes me. He didn't just offer us shelter - he's teaching Rose how to stay safe in ways a four-year-old can understand.

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