Page 44 of To Free a Soul
Although less intelligent than some of his older siblings, Orpheus was sweeter and more malleable. He didn’t argue and just agreed to whatever Katerina thought best. He did whatever she demanded, and Lindiwe strove to help him achieve what should have been impossible goals.
Orpheus was trying to appease his companion, whereas Weldir was argumentative and often devoid of emotion and affection.
It was getting better, though. Weldir was turning into someone Lindiwe found her heart flipping for in the oddest of moments, but their beginning... their foundations were rockier than Orpheus and Katerina’s. Feelings could develop, so long as their hearts were open to it.
Surely everything he was doing would come to be appreciated.They just... need time.Much like how she and Weldir had needed time to get where they were now: they could share in each other’s prolonged presence without it feeling stuffy and awkward.
Lindiwe stepped back and bowed her head apologetically at Katerina. “Build the garden and I will grow it. It will be ready to be harvested straight away, and then you can seed it again.”
“I’ll think about it,” Katerina said, unfurling herself so she wasn’t so tightly drawn inwards. She sat more comfortably now that she had a true source of warmth against the bitter cold.
Lindiwe flipped her hood up and willed the shift. She threw back her wings, bent her digitigrade legs, and lifted off.
The last thing she heard was Katerina sneer, “Fucking witch owl.”
September 24th, 1834
Sneaking into the Demon Village was relatively easy for a being who could fly. All Lindiwe had to do was land on a branch and walk her little owl legs from the outside of a tree to the inside of it, all while ducking around bushels of leaves.
The village was large, and the protective, spiralling walls of gigantic trees weren’t to keep out Demons but to block those within from the sunlight, which could destroy them.
When she’d first come here out of curiosity a year ago, it was because she’d finally caved to her yearning to see Merikh in person. Even from a distance, she wanted to see how her oldest living child was doing – if he was well, happy, and cared for.
He was all those things, and more.
He was intelligent enough to hold a conversation with a stranger, albeit reluctantly due to his less than chirpy nature. He’d worn well-tailored clothing, walked with a confident stride, and even bartered for items of his liking with expertise.
And his companion, although someone she disliked greatly, had involved him in everything. Merikh was the half-Demon’sbodyguard, a well-known confidant, and... his greatest friend.
It was easy to see their amicable relationship even from afar.
When they’d disappeared together near the centre of the village by climbing down a set of stone stairs, Lindiwe had wanted to follow, but wisely kept her distance. Within half an hour, more leaves had sprouted across all the trees spiralling around the village, and red flowers, similar to those of a lotus, had suddenly bloomed.
Within minutes, a fragrance she’d never smelt before littered the air.
They’d come to the village for a celebration or festival, which had commenced upon the flowers blooming. Music had played throughout the lively village, with a few dancers, acrobats, and fire spinners offering entertainment.
I’m glad there aren’t that many Demons here this time,Lindiwe thought, keeping hidden behind thick clusters of tree leaves.
There was also no festival, and fewer people here. Nor was there music, and the fire-lit lanterns were sparse, offering just enough light for those who did wander through it to see.
She crept across a thick branch, her talons cutting into hard bark, as she kept her owl eyes focused on one individual.
His white skull stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the Demons, who had patches of human skin of varying shades.
It didn’t help that Orpheus crept around on his hands and feet to appear less imposing in an anxiety-inducing environment. He was in his humanoid form, something he’d only recently learned he could do, but he’d chosen to be crouched. It made him look more beastly, more frightening, even if his orbs stated otherwise, shifting between a fearful white and curious dark yellow.
No one stopped him from entering, nor did they try to drive him out. They did, however, give him a wide berth when they noticed him, and offered him wary glances.
A small, relieved sigh slipped past her dark beak.
Good. I’m glad he’s being received.She lifted a wing to squeeze past a branch as she followed him deeper within the village.I was hoping that if they’ve accepted Merikh, they would accept Orpheus.
No one had told them otherwise. Orpheus would be done here before those who had seen him would finish running to Jabez’s castle to inform them about the new ‘Mavka’ that had entered their village. If all went well, Lindiwe hoped this meant he could keep returning.
Orpheus had already known about this place; he’d just never entered it. Getting him here had been a challenge all on its own.
Lindiwe had spoken to Katerina secretly, and the usually disgruntled and dismissive woman had been weirdly helpful in this regard. Once she’d learned he could obtain various luxuries for her, like abathtub, the woman couldn’t seem to push him out of his own ward fast enough.
