Luke hadn't fallen asleep that night. He wasn't as exhausted or terrified as the night before, but he couldn't sleep because the inn was too quiet, no sound at all.
He lay on the bed, fiddling with his smartphone, which still had 67% battery. But with no internet, he couldn't open any apps that required it.
Setting the phone aside, he stared at the ceiling beams, listening to the crackle of the fireplace.
His thoughts drifted to the little succubus girl sleeping in the room next to his. She seemed to have become his responsibility now.
"I know. But I feel this won't be easy. Why she's hurt, why she's afraid. I think she's running from something," Luke muttered.
He rolled onto his side, pulling the blanket tighter. "What the hell am I supposed to do with her? Teach her how to fold laundry?"
"Typical of your business mindset," Luke scoffed. "But if someone finds out I'm housing a demon kid who ran away from something, say, her family, I'm screwed."
Arx didn't answer this time, remaining silent.
—
Near midnight, his door opened, and the succubus girl stood there, carrying the blanket from her bed.
Luke, still awake, sat up. "You can't sleep?" he asked.
She shook her head.
He sighed, then gestured toward the sofa near the fireplace. "Alright. Sit there. It's warmer."
The little succubus dragged her blanket to the sofa and curled up there.
Luke got up and tossed another log into the hearth, making the flames grow stronger.
"Better?" he asked softly.
She nodded, and Luke sat on the edge of his bed. "You know, I'm not used to this either. Back home, I lived in a crappy room with thin walls, noisy neighbors. I hated it then, but now… I kinda miss the noise."
Her eyes blinked a few times, watching him curiously.
Luke chuckled to himself. "Guess silence isn't always peaceful."
For a while, they sat in silence, lost in their own thoughts.
Finally, Luke spoke again, his voice low. "You don't have to be afraid here, and I mean it. No one touches you while you're under this roof."
"…why?" she whispered, so softly it was almost inaudible.
Luke froze, startled to hear her speak for the first time. "Why what?" he asked, hoping she'd say more.
"Why… help me?"
He smiled, pleased, but then his smile turned bitter. "Because I know what it's like to be unwanted. To be a mistake. And I'm done letting people feel that way if I can stop it."
The succubus kid said nothing more, only pulled her blanket tighter and stared at Luke.
He looked back at her, then climbed into bed. "Go rest. We'll figure out what to do tomorrow."
They both lay quietly in their places. As Luke drifted toward sleep, Arx spoke in his mind.
He frowned, half-asleep. "The beginning of what?"
The inn didn't answer.
—
Morning light gently filtered through Luke's window, enough to wake him.
When he sat up, he noticed the sofa near the fireplace was empty.
"Hope she's in her room," he said, putting on his boots and stepping out.
Luke knocked on the staff room door where he had placed the girl the night before.
"Hey. You awake?"
No answer. Luke opened the door slowly. The girl sat on the bed's edge, staring at the floor.
He entered carefully. "Morning," he said softly.
The succubus girl lifted her crimson eyes to him.
"Hungry for something chewable?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Alright. Let's make something. Come to the kitchen when you're ready."
Luke left her, leaving the door open, and went to the kitchen, thinking about what to cook. He wanted something simple and warm.
He bought eggs and bread from the storage dimension, savoring the familiar feeling as he cracked eggs into the pan. The sizzle of frying eggs filled the kitchen.
"Honestly, cooking is the only thing keeping me sane right now," he muttered.
"True. Yeah, I actually do. It's literally the one thing I'm good at that doesn't require me to fight or pretend to be something I'm not," Luke said, smiling with a peaceful heart.
The inn sent a mental nod into his mind.
The succubus girl entered the kitchen just as Luke placed fried eggs on two plates. She still wore the same torn clothes as yesterday, her hair black fading to red and then pink at the tips, messy.
"Sit," Luke said, nodding toward the dining chair.
She said nothing, sat quietly, and watched his every move.
He set a plate before her. "Eat. We need to talk after," he said gently.
She picked up the fork hesitantly, then began eating. After one bite, her expression softened, no longer tense.
Luke sat across from her, eating from his own plate. "So here's the thing. You can stay here as long as you want. But I need to know what you're running from."
The girl stopped eating, gripping her fork tightly.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna kick you out," Luke added quickly, seeing her expression change. "I just need to know if someone's gonna come looking for you. Because if they do, I need to be ready."
She stared at her plate for a long time, then answered softly, "Hunters."
Luke's eyes widened. "Hunters? What… like… people who hunt monsters? Demons?"
She nodded.
"Shit," Luke cursed, running a hand through his hair. "Why were they after you?"
"I don't know… I heard they wanted to sell me," she said, her voice trembling toward tears.
Luke felt his blood boil. "Sell you?! What the hell they—"
Arx's voice reminded him to stay calm.
Luke took a deep breath. "Listen. You're safe here. I promise."
The girl looked at him with disbelief. She blinked several times, and Luke saw her fighting back tears.
"Hey, don't cry. Eat your food. We'll figure this out."
She quickly wiped her eyes and resumed eating, though her hands trembled slightly. Luke didn't press further, restraining himself from asking where she came from.
"By the way," Luke asked. "Do you have a name?"
The succubus girl looked confused, then shook her head. "My people… never gave me one."
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Then we'll give you one. How about… Nyx?" he suggested. "It means night. Fits with the whole demon thing."
She looked at him in surprise, then whispered the name slowly. She nodded, her face brightening slightly. "Nyx… I like it."
"Good. That's settled then."
Luke stood, gathering the empty plates to wash. "Now, let's get you some proper clothes. You can't keep wearing those rags."