章 368: [71.6] Saving Rose

[Author's note: This chapter is from no one's point of view]

Rose glanced around the audience anxiously, but catching a glimpse of the Madame who motioned her with her eyebrows as if silently communicating, Rose turned her sights to Asmonious.

As soon as the target was made, she opened her mouth. A voice as melodious as a siren's call filled the room. Every person who could hear was quickly entranced, their eyes filling with desire and lust.

Among that pair of eyes, was a dull orange pair that was seemingly swept away by the beautiful enchantress.

Yet, there was no lust in them.

Instead, there lay a darkness with unimaginable depths.

However, due to the darkened room, one could not see what he didn't want them to see.

When she finished her performance, the crowd cheered in a standing applause. Asmonious slowly put down his coin purse to clap along slowly.

With a smirk on his lips, his gaze pierced into her as if he could see every little secret within her soul.

Under that gaze, Rose shivered unconsciously and felt a strange instinctual fear rise in her chest. She swallowed it down, more afraid of the Madame watching her than of the young man with the gaze of death.

Rose left the stage after her bow and the band started playing to fill the room with background noise as everyone else mingled. Spurned on by her song, many sought out the Madame to request a private song from Rose. The Madame politely chuckled as she listened to the offers, her eyes glued to Asmonious as if waiting for his approach.

Asmonious casually stood up, fixed his tie calmly, then walked over to the Madame. He took her hand and smoothly placed the entire coin purse into her palm.

He grinned at her, his eyes dull as he spoke, "I assume this is more than enough?"

She quickly opened the bag, her eyes growing wide with greed at the sight of gold. She closed the bag and then grinned at him in a leer, "Ah, my most distinguished guest… Our singer Rose has enough time to make your acquaintance… If you follow me, I will show you to her."

He bowed to her politely, "Please lead the way."

The Madame walked to the backstage, nodding at the guard to let her in. As Asmonious followed her to the back, the overwhelming scent of rouge and makeup soon filled his nose.

As she walked, she explained, "You can spend a few hours with her, then I will come get you. Do not worry about noise, we use special magic to keep it silent… As for whatever you wish to… Talk about… Just know we allow any conversations as long as there is no permanent damage to Rose."

Asmonious gaze turned deadly for a brief moment before he regained control and nodded, "Don't worry… I won't do anything to hurt her."

She stopped at a room and smiled at him alluringly, "She's right in here."

As he entered the pink room, he was met by a strange smell. His orange eyes flashed for a moment before he willed them back to normal.

Rose sat at her boudoir as she slowly brushed the long locks of hair.

She spoke in a captivating voice, "What shall the mister speak to me about?"

Asmonious looked around the room, his gaze unreadable.

Eventually, he answered, "Freedom."

She suddenly dropped the hairbrush and looked at him in astonishment, "I'm sorry!? What do you mean-"

He interrupted, "-You're a demon being used by that woman to bring in money." His gaze was suddenly drawn to her expression of fear, "-In any way you can, whether it's through voice or…"

He gazed at her silken dress so light, any normal woman would be shivering from the cold.

She jumped up in shock, her face stricken with fear. Her voice trembled, "I-I don't know what you're talking about-"

"-It's okay… I'm a demon as well."

She wanted to shout out that he was a liar, but from the expression on his face, she knew it would be foolish to do so.

"So? Do you want freedom? Or do you want to stay as her pet?"

Rose looked at the door behind him as if anxious someone outside could hear, "P-Please don't speak such nonsense!"

"Are you truly happy here?" His orange eyes grew more vibrant as shadows twisted at his feet, "My Master is kind to those like us… She will protect you from that woman."

She tried to cling to the wall, too afraid to even scream.

"I-I don't believe you. The-The Madame is unforgiving and ruthless! She's far more fearsome than she looks to be!!! No one can protect me from her! She-She has connections to the Holy Ones!! There's a reason why they allow her to have me as her pet!"

"I'm offering you a choice." He held out his hand to her, "Keep living this lifestyle, or come with us to the Mountain."

Rose's eyes shot up once she heard this. For a brief moment, a look of hope flashed in her gaze, "The Mountain?! You mean the mountain with the Great Fairy!? She's real!?"

His eyes widened slightly before relaxing, "You've heard of her?"

She nodded quickly, "I was performing one night when she rescued demons from the military…. I… I thought it was only false hope."

He kept his hand outstretched, "Ah, well I assure you it's not. She's real and she can save you too. I can take you to her."

She went to take his hand, but pulled back instead, "But…"

It was clear the girl didn't trust him.

He knew it was possible she wouldn't go with him.

After all, he was a strange man who appeared and promised freedom with no proof.

He smiled weakly, "You can either take a chance at a different life or stay here living this one… It's your choice."

Rose bit her lip, her gaze on his hand.

Without any movement, Asmonious figured she made a decision. He went to pull back his hand, but she quickly lurched forward to grab it.

Her alluring, pink eyes stared up at him desperately, "Please save me!"

He grinned, his eyes curving into crescents.

Shadows suddenly swallowed them up, and in the blink of an eye, they were standing at the base of the mountain.

Rose looked around in surprise, "W-Where!?"

"If we walk up the mountain, we will get to where my Master lives." He glanced at her, "Oh, but please don't tell my Master I can travel through shadows."

Rose was still shocked as she tried to speak casually, "W-Why can't I tell her? Would she get angry?"

"No, much worse. I just…" His smile faltered for a moment, "I think she may get scared."

Rose furrowed her eyebrows, "Scared? Is that worse than being angry?"

His expression darkened, "Much, much worse…"

Before she could open her mouth to say something, a smile suddenly replaced the darkness on his face.

"Follow me and I will bring you to her."

She nodded silently, then followed after him. However, he suddenly stopped without warning.

"Oh. I left something behind."

He held out his palm and a coin purse suddenly appeared from the shadows. It landed perfectly, where he felt it to ensure the full amount was inside.

Asmonious chuckled mischievously as he tossed up and down the coin purse.

No longer afraid of the stranger, Rose felt her admiration overcome her hesitance. Her foxy-shaped eyes slowly raised, "Um… Can I ask something?"

He smiled at her warmly, "Sure."

"How come… How come I can't read you?"

His smile twitched imperceptibly, "What do you mean?"

She looked away as if embarrassed, "I'm always swarmed by the desires of humans… Demons too. I can read them all even though I wish I couldn't-"

He asked innocently, "You can't control it?"

She shook her head, "It's impossible to control… Maybe it's because of my broken horns, I'm not sure… But… But how come I can't read yours?"

He stopped in his tracks and for a moment, they both stood in silence.

Finally, he spoke, "Perhaps I just don't have any desires…"

She bit down on her lip, "No… That's not right. Those people have clouds in their heads, but you are completely empty. It's almost like there's a shadow or-" she peered closer at him, her head tilting as if confused, "-or.. Or… If I listen close enough… I hear the sounds of many voices-"

"Rose."

She was startled out of her trance and anxiously looked back into the smiling face of Asmonious.

However, his orange eyes were growing more vibrant…

Vibrant enough to send chills down her spine.

He spoke in a calm voice, "Let this be a warning- do NOT use your magic on me. I say that only out of concern for you…. If you get too close, I can't be responsible for what happens."

As he started walking again, Rose stood back, her fists clenching to raise her courage. She shouted, "Then tell me!! What is your desire?!"

With a smile on his face, causing his eyes to curve into crescents, he answered, "To live peacefully with my Master and my siblings on the mountain… Nothing more, nothing less."