Chapter 4 – Fallen and Found

Night’s End

Cyrus’s POV

The next morning, after a night of tossing and turning that left me feeling like a rotisserie chicken, I woke early to brace myself for the day ahead. Stepping outside, the cold morning air hit me like a slap to the face, waking me up faster than any coffee could. The forest was a peaceful oasis, with birds chirping and leaves rustling, a stark contrast to the chaos of the previous night. The scent of pine and damp earth was a familiar comfort, grounding me as I prepared for what lay ahead. I knew we needed to start Kate’s training immediately.

The cabin was practically built for this kind of thing, protected by wards that could zap a demon back to the Stone Age. It was the perfect place for Kate to unleash her inner saintly warrior without worrying about being interrupted by uninvited guests from the abyss.

When I got back inside, Kate was already up, sitting at the table with a thoughtful expression. Her eyes, though heavy with the remnants of sleep, sparked with determination. “Morning, Cyrus,” she greeted, her voice a bit raspy from sleep.

“Morning, Kate,” I replied, noting the dark circles under her eyes. She looked like she’d been pondering life’s big questions all night. “Ready to dive into the world of saintly superpowers?”

She gave a small smile. “It’s a lot to take in, but I’m ready. What’s the plan?”

“Well, first off, this cabin is like Fort Knox, but with magic,” I said, grabbing a couple of mugs and starting to brew coffee. The rich aroma filled the room, mingling with the lingering scent of wood smoke from the fireplace. “It’s the perfect place for you to start learning about your powers without worrying about demonic interruptions. The wards around this place are ancient and powerful. They’ve held up for centuries and have never failed up till now, so we should be safe here.”

Kate’s eyes widened as she took the steaming mug from me. “Really? How secure are we talking here?”

“Think of it as a VIP suite in a magical hotel,” I said, watching the steam rise from my own mug. The warmth seeped into my hands, a welcome contrast to the cold morning air. I took a cautious sip of coffee, bracing myself for the worst. It was so bitter, I could practically feel my teeth curling inwards. I felt like I’d accidentally swallowed a spoonful of dirt from the excavation site.

“I swear,” I said, wiping my mouth, “whoever invented black coffee must have had a vendetta against taste buds. But before we get too comfortable, we need to do some damage control. Your team back at the dig site is probably wondering where you vanished to.”

“Good point,” she said, taking a careful sip of coffee. “We need to come up with a plausible excuse. Maybe a sudden family emergency?”

“Exactly,” I agreed. “Something that won’t cause a nationwide manhunt. Now, let’s talk about your powers. Think of them as premium magic: you’ve got healing, protection, and spiritual hotline capabilities. It’s not your average spellcraft; it’s a rare gift designed to combat evil forces like demons.”

Kate raised an eyebrow. “Wow, no pressure. Just your everyday celestial warrior duties, huh?”

“Something like that,” I chuckled, the sound echoing softly in the cozy cabin. “But remember, with great power comes great responsibility—and probably a few sleepless nights.”

She smiled wryly. “I’m no stranger to those. So, what’s the first step?”

“First, we train. Then, we conquer the forces of evil,” I said, trying to sound as dramatic as possible. The playful tone lightened the mood, but the weight of our task loomed large. “But I need to know more about your personal life. Any overprotective boyfriends or family members who might come looking for you?”

Kate shook her head. “No boyfriend. My mom disappeared when I was fourteen, so it’s just been me and my dad. My dad’s an archaeologist too, currently on a dig in Egypt. It runs in the family.”

“That simplifies things,” I said. “We’ll tell your dad you’re off on a spontaneous trip with a friend. He hopefully won’t even bat an eye.”

Kate nodded. “Sounds good. Now, what about you? Any family secrets you want to share?”

I hesitated, weighing the risks of revealing too much. But after a moment, I decided I owed her at least this much honesty, given her circumstances. “Let’s just say demon hunting isn’t exactly a profession you’ll find listed on LinkedIn. My family has been fighting the forces of darkness for generations. Both of my parents are veteran demon slayers, and my brother—well, let’s just say we don’t always see eye to eye on the whole demon-slaying approach.”

“Must be tough,” she said sympathetically. “Ever wish for a normal life?”

“Sometimes,” I admitted, the honesty surprising even myself. “But this is my calling. Besides, who needs a nine-to-five when you can have a never-ending battle against the forces of darkness?”

She laughed, the sound a pleasant break from the tension. “Fair point.”

We sat in comfortable silence for a while, the weight of the conversation settling over us. Despite the circumstances, I was starting to enjoy Kate’s company. She was intelligent, witty, and surprisingly easy to talk to. The warmth of the cabin and the bitter, earthy aroma of coffee created a momentary bubble of tranquility.

“Alright, let’s get this show on the road,” I said, standing up and feeling the familiar creak in my muscles. “Time to head back to camp and make sure your sudden disappearance doesn’t cause a panic.”

The journey back to the archaeological campsite was serene, the forest bathed in the golden light of dawn. Each step crunched against the fallen leaves, and the crisp air filled my lungs. The camp was quiet, most of the team still asleep, their tents casting long shadows. Instead of sneaking around, Kate walked confidently into the camp, heading straight for her tent.

I followed at a discreet distance, keeping an eye on our surroundings. Moments later, Elena, the firecracker heart of their group, approached Kate. I recognized her from my days of observing the camp. Her dark brown curls were tied back in a messy bun, and her energy was palpable even from afar.

“Wow, Kate, up at the crack of dawn! What’s going on?” Elena asked, her voice tinged with surprise.

Kate looked up and smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Good morning, Elena. I didn’t get much sleep last night… Something urgent came up, so I need to take care of some personal matters and will be out of reach for a while.”

Elena’s eyes flicked to me, standing a little way off. She raised an eyebrow and gave Kate a sly grin. “Does this ‘urgent business’ and sleepless night have anything to do with your handsome new friend over there?”

I raised an eyebrow slightly but kept my expression neutral, trying to blend into the background.

Kate’s cheeks flushed slightly. “No, Elena, this is serious. He’s helping me out with something important.”

Elena nodded, a hint of her grin remaining. “Alright, just checking. Be safe, okay?”

Kate nodded and gave Elena a quick hug before heading toward another tent. I followed at a safe distance, ready to step in if needed.

Kate approached the tent and called out softly, “Dr. Petrescu, can I have a word?”

The man inside looked up from his notes, his expression mildly surprised. “Of course, Kate. What’s on your mind?”

“I have to leave for a while to take care of some urgent personal matters. I can’t go into details, but it’s something I need to handle immediately,” she said, her voice steady despite the tension.

Dr. Petrescu studied her for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Is everything alright?”

“It’s a… family matter,” Kate replied, the words carefully chosen. “I promise I wouldn’t leave like this if it weren’t absolutely necessary.”

Dr. Petrescu sighed, concern evident in his eyes. “I know you wouldn’t, Kate. Your dedication to this project has always been exemplary. Your father and I go way back, and I trust you. Take the time you need.”

“Thank you, Dr. Petrescu. I’ll try to be back as soon as I can,” Kate said, relief washing over her face.

He nodded again, giving her a reassuring smile. “Family comes first. Stay safe, and let us know if you need anything.”

Kate nodded gratefully and then headed back to her tent to gather her belongings. When she emerged, she carried a backpack stuffed with essentials and a few personal items.

“Okay, that’s taken care of,” Kate announced, swinging her backpack over her shoulder. “Let’s hope they don’t start a betting pool on whether it’s a runaway bride situation or a secret government mission.”

“That’s a relief,” I replied, nodding approvingly. “Now, let’s get you to safety before anyone changes their mind about that family emergency. And don’t fret over your colleagues; the demons are after the saint, not the sinners. But if I were a betting man, I’d put my money on the secret government mission theory.”

A ghost of a smile crossed her face. “I might have to borrow that excuse for future disappearances.”

The forest was alive with morning light as we made our way back, the sun climbing higher with each step. Demons, bless their photosensitive souls, weren’t exactly fans of sunshine. They preferred to skulk in the shadows, probably plotting their next maniacal scheme over a cup of lukewarm blood. This meant we were less likely to encounter an attack on our way back, but it wasn’t entirely a walk in the park either.

A healthy dose of paranoia never hurt anyone in this line of work. Plus, I had a sneaking suspicion that my fair-skinned new companion was not a fan of prolonged sun exposure either. The cabin’s wards would ensure our safety, but we needed to get back while the sun was still high to use the remaining daylight for training.

The silence between us was comfortable, broken only by the sounds of nature and the occasional muttered curse from me as I tripped over a hidden root (curse my lack of night vision in daylight!). I couldn’t help but steal glances at Kate, wondering what she was thinking as we walked. Was she terrified? Exhilarated? Maybe a little bit of both? I was just hoping she wouldn’t spontaneously combust before we reached the cabin.

We finally reached the cabin as the sun was at its peak, the cabin’s wards shimmering like a force field from a bad sci-fi movie. Safety at last. Well, as safe as one can be when your new roommate is a demon magnet. It was the perfect time to begin the day’s training.