A Hero With/Out Time

Chapter 17: Our Demons. (Part 4)

Finally Lara nodded and with that we left the square, a pit within all of us.

*

Somehow we managed to convince Lara to let it go. It came under the heavy promise that once the Demon Lord was dealt with things like before would never happen again and on both sides to boot. To say it was being optimistic was an understatement. I saw how the man looked in that cage. At the rate he was going he wouldn't last the next few days and afterwards, he'd probably be fed to the monsters as bait.

Thus why I found myself awake at night. Maybe it was Lara rubbing off on me or maybe it was my desire to see her smile. Regardless I had dressed myself in black and my sights were set to where the man had been taken. I was at least confident if things went bad then I could just try again.

"Where are you going?" the voice chirped in my ear cheekily just as I stepped my leg out the window of my inn room.

I reeled back almost falling. "Taylor go to sleep," I shooed her away as she hung outside the window.

"No way," she grinned. "What you're doing looks so much more fun. Off to save that man I'm guessing?"

"What's it to you?" I firmed myself.

"For one I'd rather you not die," she replied with a hint of seriousness. "And therefore I'm coming too."

I sighed, "Fine, but you listen to what I say. Even if things go-." My words stuck in my throat as I spotted a figure running from the inn. Strands of white hair poked out beneath the ragged cap she wore.

Taylor noticed as well, "I know she's a Hero but she's not very stealthy."

"Let's just stop her before she ruins everything," I moved past Taylor and leapt to the ground. Taylor landed beside me easily and smiled.

We followed Lara silently from behind. Although it hadn't looked like it, Lara had been more attentive than I thought and found her way to the well-dressed demon's home quite easily. It was on the far side of town and significantly larger than the buildings around it. While lights shone from inside the building they did little to light up the street outside.

Lara stopped at the edge of the building and breathed as if psyching herself up. Before she could take a step however her head lurched up and faced to where I was hiding with Taylor.

"Come out now!" her voice was clear.

We left the shadows and Taylor shook her head, "Tut tut Lara you're doing it wrong. You don't let them know you know. You sneak around and ambush them. This is why you're not good at sneaky stuff."

"You two followed me?" Lara let down her guard and relaxed.

"Well I was on my way here anyway," I admitted. "You however should be back in the inn asleep."

She looked at me indignant, "Why can't I be here? I have every right and determination to be here."

Before I could stop myself my hand leaned forward and rapped her on the head, "As Taylor said, you're just not cut out for this kind of work."

"And you are?" she huffed.

"More than you at least," I replied bluntly. "Taylor and I can hide our presence. You being you, not so much."