Chapter 14: Romina
Romina woke up slowly, her body aching and her head spinning. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in an unfamiliar place. Her surroundings were dimly lit, and a sense of dread hung in the air. As her eyes adjusted, she noticed the figure sitting in front of her.
The man was handsome, with jet-black hair that fell messily around his sharp features. His emerald eyes gleamed with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. He was sitting on a chair, his posture relaxed but his gaze fixed on her. The man's clothes were ragged, as though he had been through some harsh battles.
But soon, her mind was filled with thoughts of how this man was being sucked by none other than a demonic woman. It was insane. It was the most action she had ever seen with her own eyes, and she quickly flushed upon seeing his face and soon she noticed the same demonic woman standing next to him.
But it wasn't just one woman instead there were three. Their skins were a deep crimson, and they had horns protruding from their heads, wings on their backs, and tails swishing behind them. Romina's heart skipped a beat as she recognized them as demons—beings that the people had warned her to be cautious of.
But the most startling thing was that Romina could barely move, because her hands were chained tightly to the wooden floor. Looking down, she realized she was barely clothed. Her cheeks flushed, and a wave of fear washed over her. She wasn't sure how she had ended up in this situation, but one thought immediately crossed her mind.
"Please... don't kill me," she whispered, her voice trembling.
The man, who had been silently observing her, finally spoke. His voice was low and calm, yet there was an underlying authority in it. "I'm not going to kill you," he said, his emerald eyes scanning her with curiosity. "What's your name?"
Romina hesitated, her heart racing in her chest. She wasn't sure what was happening or why she was here, but she wasn't about to trust this man completely. Still, she had no choice but to answer.
"My... My name is Romina," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She opened her mouth to give her surname, but then she stopped herself. She knew it was better not to reveal too much.
Shennong narrowed his eyes, clearly sensing that she was hiding something. His sharp gaze lingered on her for a moment before he continued his questioning.
"What was that power you used?" Shennong asked. His voice was no longer a question of curiosity but one of suspicion. "The power that seemed to transform you into... a fire monster. Mind you, you almost killed us."
Romina's gaze dropped to the ground. Her heart pounded in her chest. She could feel the burning sensation in her palms as she recalled the fire that had surged through her when she attacked. It felt so real, so overwhelming, but now that she thought about it, her memories were fragmented.
"I... I don't really remember," she said, her voice shaky. "The last thing I remember is being dragged by some men... those people who captured me. They..."
Romina didn't want to reveal too much, but she couldn't hold back when she was reminded of her brother, who died protecting her. "*Sobs...they killed my brother,"
Shennong's eyes widened for a brief moment, but he quickly calmed down showing no holding back. "Why were they dragging you?" he asked, leaning in closer. "What did they want with you?"
Romina closed her eyes, trying to piece together the broken fragments of her memory. "I... I think they wanted my power," she said quietly. "They wanted to control it, to use it for themselves. Or maybe they just wanted to get rid of me... I don't know."
Shennong studied her carefully, his expression unreadable. He could tell she was hiding something more—there was a lot she wasn't saying. But instead of pressing further, he decided to move on to a more pressing matter.
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He raised an eyebrow, his voice growing colder. "Tell me, Romina," he said, his gaze piercing into hers. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right here, right now."
Romina felt her breath catch in her throat. She could see the danger in his eyes, and the fear that had been building up inside her suddenly surged to the surface. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at him, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Please... don't kill me," she pleaded, her voice barely audible as the tears began to spill down her face.
Rilith, smirked and nudged Velara standing next to her. "Looks like you made her cry, Shennong," she teased, a playful glint in her eyes. "You're a sinful boy! I heard human males shouldn't make their woman cry,"
Velara chuckled softly. "She's just a girl, Shennong. You're too harsh."
Yenissa was not reacting much, but she found this whole situation amusing. For the first time, Shennong was interacting with a real human female of his own race. She felt rather uneasy just imagining that he might leave her realizing she preferred humans more than her but knowing Shennong she realized it was just her overthinking.
Shennong sighed, looking at the girl in front of him. He watched as she wiped her tears away, her face streaked with snot and dirt. His expression softened just a little, though he remained composed.
"Don't cry," he said, his tone more gentle than before as he reached out and wiped the tears from her face with the back of his hand. He gently lifted her hair, pushing it back from her face.
As he did, his breath caught in his throat. Despite the state she was in, despite the dirt on her skin and the tears on her face, Romina was undeniably beautiful. Her delicate features, her soft skin, and the hint of vulnerability in her eyes struck him.
Shennong coughed awkwardly, clearing his throat. "I won't kill you," he said gruffly, trying to hide the slight unease he felt. "But you're going to owe me. You'll have to do me a favour."
Romina blinked, still trembling, as she tried to process his words. "A... favour?" she asked, her voice shaky but curious."What...what kind of favour?"
Shennong smiled, though it was a slight and calculating smile. "I just need some information," he said, his voice turning more businesslike. "And if you help me, I'll let you go."
Romina's mind raced. She was still confused, still afraid, but she didn't have much of a choice. Her hands were still chained, and she was surrounded by demons. There was no way out unless she cooperated.
"What kind of information?" she asked hesitantly, her voice quiet but firm.
"I need information about this land. I need to know where we are and everything you know. I am not your enemy, so tell me everything you know," Shennong muttered, hoping he would be able to find information about where he was going next because he wanted to explore and collect things.
He knew his life of rotting in an old, decrepit wooden hut was over, and Romina was the gateway to his new life.