11. Mordakus

11

MORDAKUS

T he sun beats down mercilessly as we trudge through the wasteland. I try to focus on the path ahead, on potential threats, on anything but the memory of last night. Eve's compassion, her acceptance of my demon nature... It's unsettling.

Dangerous, even.

Attachments are a liability.

"Mordakus, look!" Her excited voice breaks into my thoughts. She's pointing at something in the distance - a cluster of structures that don't look entirely abandoned.

I squint, my enhanced vision confirming her observation. "Seems like some kind of settlement," I grunt. "Could be friendly, could be trouble. But we need supplies, so stay close."

As we approach, pull down my old worn hat to cover my horns. I notice makeshift fortifications and guards posted at what appears to be an entrance.

They tense as they spot us, raising their weapons.

"State your business!" one of them shouts.

I step forward, positioning myself slightly in front of Eve. "We're travelers," I call back. "Looking to resupply if you're open to trade."

There's a moment of tense silence before the guard nods. "Approach slowly. Any funny business and you're dead, ya hear?"

The settlement turns out to be a small commune of survivors. As we enter, I'm struck by the relative normalcy of it all - people living life, repairing buildings, children playing. It's been so long since I've seen anything like this.

"Oh, Mordakus, it's wonderful," Eve breathes, her eyes wide with wonder.

I grunt noncommittally, but I have to admit, it's impressive what they've built here. But I know the truth.

Out here in the open… they're doomed.

Will be rounded up wholesale and put to work.

As we negotiate trades - some of Eve's medicinal plants for supplies we desperately need - I overhear snippets of conversation from nearby settlers.

"...heard there's a place out west..." "...golden coast, they call it..." "...demons and humans, living together in peace..."

I dismiss it as idle gossip, but Eve's ears perk up. "Excuse me," she interrupts politely. "What's this about a golden coast?"

An old man chuckles. "Just a story, little miss. They say there's a colony out on the west coast where demons and humans have found a way to coexist. A real paradise, if you believe the tales."

I scoff. "Sounds like a fantasy to me."

But Eve's eyes are shining with excitement. "What if it's real, Mordakus? A place where everyone can live in peace... isn't that worth checking out?"

I'm about to dismiss the idea outright when I catch sight of her face. The hope there, the pure optimism... it stirs something in me I thought long dead.

"We'll think about it," I say gruffly, surprising myself.

As we prepare to leave the commune, restocked and rested, Eve can't stop talking about the golden coast.

"Just imagine, Mordakus! A fresh start, a place where you wouldn't have to hide who you are."

I grunt, but her enthusiasm is oddly infectious. "Never seen the ocean," I admit. "Demons aren't the biggest fans of water."

Eve's face lights up. "Really? Oh, it's beautiful! The endless blue, the sound of the waves..."

As we set out, I find myself actually considering the possibility. A place where demons and humans coexist... could it be real? There's no reason there aren't others like me. And if it exists, could there be a place there for someone like me?

"If we're really doing this," I say, interrupting Eve's excited chatter. "We need a plan. It's a long way to the coast."

Eve nods eagerly. "You're the expert. What do you think?"

I pull out a battered map I traded for in the commune, spreading it out on a flat rock. "We're here," I say, pointing. "The coast is way out here. It's not going to be an easy journey."

Eve leans in, her shoulder brushing mine. I stiffen for a moment, then force myself to relax. "We'll need to find water sources along the way," she says thoughtfully. "And safe places to rest."

I nod, impressed by her practical thinking. "Good. We'll also need to avoid any demon attacks. They'll be more frequent as we get closer to populated areas."

As we plot our route, I feel a sense of purpose I haven't experienced in years. This isn't just survival anymore.

It's a mission.

A goal.

We set out the next morning, our path clear. As we walk, I find myself opening up to Eve more, sharing bits of my past I've never told anyone.

Eve listens intently, her face full of compassion. "And what made you like this?" she asks softly.

I stare into the distance, memories flooding back. "Realized that humans were not the enemy."

Eve's hand on my arm startles me. "That's why you helped me," she says with a smile.

As we continue our journey, I start to see the world differently. Eve's constant wonder at the plants we encounter, her ability to find beauty in the most desolate places... it's changing how I view our surroundings.

"Look, Mordakus!" she exclaims one day, pointing to a cluster of vibrant flowers growing from a crack in the stone. "Even out here life finds a way…"

I find myself nodding, actually seeing the beauty she's pointing out. It's... unsettling, how much she's affecting me.

As we make camp one night, a thought that's been nagging at me finally surfaces. "Eve," I say hesitantly. "Do you ever wonder if... if the demons might be right? About their desires for expanding, I mean. In this world, they're trying to make their mark alongside the other creatures and whatnot."

She looks at me, surprised. "What do you mean?"

I struggle to put my thoughts into words. "Maybe... maybe the demons' way is better. A fresh start that's different from what Protheka has always known."

Eve is quiet for a long moment. "I don't know," she says finally. "Maybe some change was needed. But not like this. Not with so much destruction and suffering."

I nod, mulling over her words. "You might be right," I admit.

As I take my first watch that night, I find myself looking at Eve's sleeping form, Vincent curled up beside her. My protective instincts towards them have grown stronger with each passing day. It's dangerous, this attachment. But for the first time in years, I'm not sure I want to fight it.

The golden coast may be a myth, a false hope.

But the journey itself... maybe that's what really matters.

And maybe, just maybe, I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.