Chapter 77: A Decision.

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: A Decision.

Chapter 77: A Decision.

Her eyes moved toward his claws.

"...What are you if not a demon..."

" If I was one of them, then why would I reveal it to you of all people."

" That still doesn’t change all that’s happened..." Clawdeth said, " for all I know, you could’ve been waiting for the right moment."

" And you think now’s that moment? What? Because of a few mutts? That’s what you think?"

" Are you saying your lady can’t even detect the presence of a mere demon?"

Clawdeth’s brows furrowed, indeed his word held truth, if he really had been a demon all this time, how come Roseline hadn’t noticed.

Osborne sighed.

"You think I would risk my life trying to harm that woman?" He let out a quiet laugh.

"If I knew why this was happening, do you honestly think I’d waste my time hiding it from you?"

" This situation you’ve put us in is only wasting more of our time, when we could be making better use of it.

Clawdeth’s lips pressed together.

Osborne took a step toward her.

"I don’t know why my body is changing." He raised one of his hands slightly. " Nor do i know why my senses have improved so much."

He then looked at his claws.

"I also have no idea why I’m able to do all these things, but that isn’t important right now, what’s important, is getting back there and stopping the real demons from going on with their plot."

"Right now, I need your help." He said.

Clawdeth’s remained silent.

Osborne continued.

"We’re wasting time standing here." He said, pointing toward the distance.

"My teacher might be in danger." He said.

His tone became slightly more urgent.

"So if you’re really worried that I’m trying to flee, then think about it this way."

Clawdeth stared at him.

"Even if I am trying to flee, wouldn’t that be better for you?"

Her expression changed slightly.

Osborne noticed.

"If I disappear, you can tell my wife whatever story you want."

His eyes narrowed.

"You can tell her that I became a demon, that I abandoned you and that I escaped because I was afraid of what she’d do to me if she found out."

"Whatever story you need to tell, go ahead."

Clawdeth’s expression slowly became tense.

"You’d finally have the chance you always wanted, to return to her good graces."

Osborne stared directly into her eyes.

"Isn’t that what you want the most?" He said, a silence then stretched between them.

Clawdeth stared at him with furrowed brows.

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

Osborne watched her carefully.

He knew he had struck something.

Whether it was anger, guilt, or uncertainty, he couldn’t tell.

But she wasn’t denying it.

For a while, neither of them moved.

Eventually, Clawdeth’s brows relaxed.

" Fine... I’ll do it." She said. " I’ll go on ahead and help the others."

" But he warned, when this is over, and I don’t see you... I’ll be the one who personally hunts you down and brings you back to her ladyship." She said with an intense gaze.

’ Is that anyway to talk to your lord.’ Osborne held back the urge to chuckle out loud.

Clawdeths figure suddenly vanished into the night as she used her true speed, even while moving so quickly, she left no trace whatsoever, fitting of the assain she was.

Osborne stared up at the sky for awhile, as if enjoying the view for one last time.

Only after a long while did he lower his gaze, his expression looking like one who’d made a great decision.

" I’m afraid I’m going to have to go back on that promise." He said, turning around instead of following after her.

Osborne had already thought it over long before, heading back to the Roosevelt estate would only bring him an even greater misfortune as he was now.

The two sisters would definitely make use of his current situation and his so called wife probably wouldn’t care, not like she ever did, he thought to himself.

Of course while she’d be mad, he knew Roseline wouldn’t harm his teacher since there was no point, the worst she could do was send her away.

As for his family, Roseline would probably keep them under supervision for some time, only giving up after realising that there were no links between them and the demons.

It would honestly be for the best if she believed the real Osborne had been killed and replaced by an imposter who made a break for it.

Regarding what all this would mean for Clawdeth.

He honestly couldn’t care any less, maybe they’d think she was in Cahoots with him and torture her a bit to get the truth out.

To him, that sounded like a swell idea, maybe then she’d realise how it felt to be treated so unfairly.

’ Looks like it’s a tough road ahead...’ Osborne smiled, the moon illuminating his dazzling fangs.

Without house Roosevelt backing him, life would no doubt become harder, particularly moving around the kingdom, but that didn’t discourage him in the least.

Because, at least now, he would have lots of room to do as he pleased, plotting his path forward in this cruel world.

Whatever doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger.

******

Osborne didn’t leave right away but returned back to the tunnels.

" There’s still something here I need before I go..." He said to himself.

"..??" He suddenly noticed something in the corner.

" Looks like they’re already up." He spotted some children hiding behind a boulder in fright.

Osborne made his way to them.

" Run!!!" But some of them couldn’t hold themselves back and began to flee.

The first few caused a chain reaction, soon they all began to run.

In the end, Osborne was left alone.

He let out a breath.

" They’ll probably find their own way back to the village." He decided against taking them back himself.

So he continued on, until he arrived at the carvern.

Like before, the cages were still littered about, but Osborne didn’t pay them any head.

After rummage through the place, he finally found what he was after.

" Here it is." The item creaked as he raised it up.