The carriage driver was a bloated, toad-like demon with grayish-green skin and bulging yellow eyes. His thick fingers gripped the reins as they rumbled down the uneven road toward the forest's edge, the horse-like creatures pulling the carriage snorting and stamping nervously.
He'd been quiet at first, but the closer they got to the cliffs, the more he fidgeted. His throat bulged every few seconds as he swallowed hard, and his eyes kept darting to a small, cracked mirror hanging from the carriage frame. Not at the road behind them, but at Juno.
She noticed, since it was hard not to, the way he stared for a few seconds too long, then looked away quickly, like he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't. Then he'd do it again a minute later.
Gin noticed too, of course, with his hand resting near the hilt of one of his swords.
Finally, the demon croaked out: "You... human."
Juno tensed. "Yeah."
His eyes flicked to her again in the mirror, lingering more than necessary. His nostrils flared slightly, and his throat bulged again.
"Dangerous... for humans. Out here." He paused, then added haltingly: "Should... should stay away. From cliffs."
There was something almost concerned in his tone. Juno frowned, caught off guard. She found it strange, as she didn't expect a random demon to seemingly care.
"She's fine," Gin said flatly.
The demon's gaze shifted to Gin, and grunted, turning back to the road, but his fingers tightened on the reins. They rode in silence for a while longer, and as the trees thickened, the red cliffs loomed closer through the branches.
The demon's breathing grew heavier, his yellow eyes kept darting between the road and the cliffs, and he muttered something under his breath in a language Juno didn't recognize.
"Bad business," he finally croaked aloud, shaking his head. "Very bad. Gluttony..." He trailed off, his voice cracked.
"What about her?" Gin asked, leaning forward slightly. The demon flinched at the question, like he regretted speaking at all.
"Worse," he let out. "Lately. Hungrier. Always... hungry now." He swallowed hard. "Not safe. Not for anyone."
The demon's eyes darted to the trees nervously. "And guards," he added. "Red armor. Everywhere. Wrath's men... watching her. Keeping us out."
Juno's stomach twisted at his fear.
Ain, who'd been unusually quiet, flicked his tail. "And yet here you are, driving people right to her doorstep."
The demon shot him a nervous glance. "Coin is coin," he muttered defensively. Then, quieter: "But I don't... go close. Never close."
The carriage hit a rut in the road, jostling them. The demon cursed under his breath and pulled the reins tighter. His eyes found Juno again in the mirror, staying longer this time.
"You shouldn't... go," he said suddenly, his voice strained. "Not you. Not–" He stopped himself, throat bulging hard like he'd swallowed the words. "Just... shouldn't."
Gin's right hand moved to the hilt of his sword fully now. "Why."
The demon flinched. "No trouble," he said quickly, shaking his head. "No trouble. Just... just saying. Humans–" His eyes darted to Juno again. "Bad place. For her."
Juno didn't know what to make of it. He wasn't threatening her. If anything, he seemed... worried? That didn't make sense.
"We'll be fine," she said quietly.
The demon let out a low, croaking sound, almost like a whine. He turned back to the road, but his grip on the reins was white-knuckled now.
After a long pause, he spoke again: "Saw... another one. Human. Few days back."
Juno's breath caught. "What?"
The demon's gaze flicked away, back to the road. "Blond," he spoke slower now, like he was piecing together a memory. "Young, blue eyes." He paused, his thick fingers twitching on the reins. "Brought up... to the cliffs."
Juno leaned forward. "Where? Where did you see him?"
The demon shook his head. "Don't know. Mercenary brought him." His voice dropped lower, looking really scared now. "Sereph." Gin's expression darkened at the name. "Long golden hair," the demon continued quietly. "Horns. Eyes like... like coins. Slitted." His throat bulged hard. "Nasty. Very nasty. Calls me 'frog.'"
Ain snorted. The demon's shoulders hunched slightly, and he muttered something that sounded resentful. "Every time. 'Frog, frog.' Like... like is funny."
"Isn't it?" Ain asked, grinning.
"Ain," Juno said quietly.
The demon made another whiny croak. "Pushes me," he said. "Shoves. Into walls." His thick fingers twitched on the reins. "When carriage too slow." He paused.
The demon's voice got even quieter. "Last time... kicked wheel. Broke it."
Gin's eye narrowed slightly.
"Made me fix," the demon continued, and there was genuine hurt in his words now. "Right there. He... he watched. Laughing."
Juno felt her chest tighten. She could picture it, this nervous creature on his knees, fumbling with a broken wheel while Sereph stood over him, laughing.
"Says I'm soft, pathetic. Shouldn't be here." He paused, then added in an even smaller voice: "Says Gluttony would... would spit me out. Taste like mud."
Ain's grin faltered slightly.
"Sereph's all talk," Gin said coldly. "I can deal with him."
The demon's eyes snapped to Gin. "You... you think that." His voice was barely a whisper. "But Sereph... different. Not just mean. Kills. Easy. Like..." He made a gesture with one hand, like snapping something. "Nothing." His throat bulged harder. "Seen it. Demons who... who got in way. Who talked back." He swallowed. "Gone."
Gin's expression darkened but he said nothing.
"And he keeps coming back," the demon continued. "More. More than before. Looking." His yellow eyes flicked to Juno nervously, then away quickly. "Always looking."
"Looking for who?" Gin's voice was sharp.
The demon's throat bulged rapidly, panic flooding his wide yellow eyes. "Nothing! Nothing, I– I don't know. Just... rumors. Talk. I hear things, but I don't–" He swallowed hard. "I didn't mean–"
"You're saying he's hunting someone specific," Gin pressed, leaning forward.
"I don't know!" The demon's voice cracked. "Maybe! I don't– I just drive! I hear things, don't ask questions, I just–"
His eyes darted to Juno once more, like he wanted to say something but physically couldn't.
Gin's jaw tightened, and his hand shifted closer to his sword hilt. "What aren't you telling us?"
"Nothing! I swear, I–" The demon's voice broke. "Sereph, he... he talks. About plans. Big plans." His throat bulged rapidly. "But I don't listen, I don't–"
"Oh, this is entertaining," Ain drawled. "Keep going, frog. You're doing great."
The demon shot Ain a desperate look. "I didn't mean trouble. I swear. I just– just trying to help–"
"Leave him alone," Juno said quietly, as Ain kept laughing and Gin shifted closer to the demon.
Gin's eye snapped to her. Ain tilted his head, amused. "Oh, defending the poor little frog now, are we?"
"He's trying to help," Juno said more firmly, looking at Gin. "He's scared. Can't you see that?"
The demon let out a shaky breath, his shoulders sagging slightly. "Thank you," he croaked quietly. "Thank you. I just... I don't want trouble. Especially not with Sereph. He– he's mean. Really mean."
Gin exhaled slowly, his jaw still tight, but he leaned back slightly, letting go of the hilt of his sword.
His gaze never left the demon's face though. "Fine."
The demon visibly relaxed, though his hands were still trembling.
"Is there anything else?" Gin asked firmly.
The demon kept trembling slightly. "Nothing. Just... just be careful." His yellow eyes stayed on Juno a moment longer. "Very careful. Sereph, he... when he wants something, he doesn't stop. Doesn't matter who gets hurt. Doesn't matter if you beg." His voice cracked on the last word.
"Don't worry about us," she said quietly, though her voice wavered slightly. The demon whined and turned back to the road.
The carriage slowed, and the demon pulled it to a stop at the edge of the forest.
"This is far as I go," the demon said. He didn't look at them as Gin handed him the coins. But before they could leave, the demon turned slightly, his yellow eyes finding Juno one last time.
"Be careful," he croaked quietly. "You... you seem nice. For a human." He swallowed hard. "Nicer than... than most demons I know."
Juno blinked, caught completely off guard. The demon looked away quickly, like he was embarrassed. "Sereph... if he sees you… Don't let him get close. And if he does..." His voice dropped to barely a whisper. "Just... just run. Don't try to fight. Don't try to reason. Just run."
"Don't worry," Ain said lightly, hopping down from the carriage. "If things go bad, we'll just roast some frog legs and call it a day."
The demon's eyes widened, and he let out an indignant croak. "I'm a toad!"
"Same difference," Ain replied cheerfully.
"Ain," Juno muttered.
The demon snapped the reins quickly, clearly done with the conversation, and the carriage lurched forward. Within moments, he was gone.
Juno positioned herself on Gin's left side without thinking about it as he guided the path, where his good eye could see her clearly. She felt safer there, somehow.
Ain padded a little closer beside her. "You know that frog totally wanted to eat you, right?"
Juno's head snapped toward him. "What?"
"Oh, come on." Ain's grin widened. "All that staring? The concern? Classic predator behavior. He was probably drooling the whole time."
"He was trying to help," Juno said.
"Sure he was," Ain purred. "Help you right into his mouth, maybe."
She didn't want to believe it, but... the way the demon had stared at her. Was Ain right?
"He seemed nice," she said quietly.
Ain laughed. "Oh, sweetheart. They all seem nice at first. That's how it works."
Gin shot Ain a look. "Stop."
"What? I'm just being honest." Ain's tail swished. "Besides, it's good for her to know. Can't trust anyone down here just because they smile at you."
Juno pulled her jacket tighter around herself, gripping the fabric. She hated how easily Ain could get into her head sometimes. Hated that she didn't know what to believe anymore.
Was the demon really trying to help? Or was Ain right?
Ain tilted his head, watching her with those sharp violet eyes. "Still thinking about what that fat frog said?" he murmured.
Juno didn't answer.
"About Sereph looking for you," Ain continued, lightening his tone. "Big plans, huh? Wonder what that could mean."
"I don't know," Juno said quietly.
"Neither do I," Ain admitted. "But I'll tell you what I do know." He padded closer. "You smell like trouble, Juno. The kind of trouble that makes demons forget who's supposed to be eating who."
She felt her breath stopping.
Ain's grin widened at that. "You want to know what you smell like?"
She didn't answer, but he continued anyway.
"It's sweet," he said, his voice unusually thoughtful. "The kind of sweetness that sticks to your skin. Something sharp at first, clean... but the more you breathe it in, the softer it becomes. Turns into something almost... narcotic." He tilted his head. "It makes you dizzy if you're not careful."
Juno swallowed hard, pulling her jacket tighter.
Ain was looking at her now, his eyes narrowed. "Do you know what that kind of scent does to demons?"
She kept her silence.
"It drives them crazy," he murmured. "Makes their mouths water. Makes them forget who's prey and who isn't."
Her skin prickled, and she began walking slower without realizing it.
"That perfume of yours?" He tapped a claw against his nose. "It's like trying to put out a forest fire with a glass of water. And you want to know the best part?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "You can't scrub it off. It'll always be there."
Then, just as panic coiled tight in her chest, Ain grinned widely and added: "But I'm just messing with you."
Juno stared at him, her heart pounding hard, not sure what to believe.
Ain let out a fake gasp. "Oh no, did I scare you?" He walked ahead with a purring laugh. "Come on, Juno. You have to get used to it. You smell great, really. Like a nightmare wrapped in candy paper."
Gin shot him a hard look.
Ain pranced ahead with his tail high, the tip curled forward. "Don't worry. I'll protect you from the big bad wolves... unless you end up being the most dangerous thing in there."
Juno bit her lip. "And what about humans?" she finally asked.
Ain paused, flicking his ears back slightly. "Humans?" He tilted his head thoughtfully. "I mean... I don't know for sure. They can't smell it like we do, that's certain.But I'd bet they feel it. Something that makes them uncomfortable without knowing why." Ain added, smiling mischievously: "But hey, could be worse. You could smell like feet."
"That's enough," Gin cut in.
Ain glanced back at him, grinning. "What? She asked."
"You're scaring her."
"She should be scared," Ain said lightly. "Better scared and alive than confident and dead."
Ain was right. Scared and alive was better than dying, but Juno still felt sick. The idea of being avoided her whole life suddenly started to make sense. If Ain was right, if people had been feeling something off about her without knowing why, then maybe that explained everything. Why she'd always been alone. Why people looked at her like she was strange.
"...You're still messing with me, right?" she asked.
"Maybe," Ain said, but his tone was less playful now. "Or maybe not. Hard to say."
Then he skipped away, humming cheerfully, as if he hadn't just sent ice straight through her veins.
Gin, several steps ahead, had slowed down. He turned slightly, his green eye settling on her face.
She felt exposed suddenly. Not in the physical sense, but in the spiritual sense. As if something about her had been laid bare without permission.
The forest thickened as they got closer to the Red Cliffs. Juno's boots crunched softly on fallen leaves, each step sounding too loud out of a sudden.
Then Gin stopped, and raised his hand. Juno froze behind him, and Ain crouched, tail still, ears twitching.
Gin crouched, his voice was barely a breath. "Down. Patrol."
Juno's heart jumped to her throat. She started to crouch behind a gnarled root, but before she could fully hide, Gin's hand caught her shoulder, pulling her down. "Your scent," he murmured urgently. "Stay close."
Before she could process what he meant, his arm came around, positioning himself between her and the path ahead. His coat fell partially over her, and she realized that he was trying to mask her smell with his own, using the fabric and his body to create a barrier.
She pressed herself against the ground, barely breathing. His body was tense, and she could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her shoulder.
Ain slid next to them, even his usual know-it-all smile had disappeared.
Through the trees she could make out the soft light of torches. Then voices getting closer. Figures emerged, dressed in deep crimson armor with black accents.
One of the figures paused, scanning the forest. Its head moved slowly, and Juno's body locked up. Gin's hand tightened slightly on her shoulder, a silent command telling her to not move or make any sound.
The soldier's gaze swept over their hiding spot. And she could've sworn he saw riggth at her. But then the figure turned and kept walking, the patrol finally marching away.
It took Juno several seconds to realize she was still holding her breath. She exhaled in a shaky burst, and Gin's arm loosened, pulling back as he straightened slightly.
"You alright?" he murmured.
She nodded, not trusting her voice. Gin stood silently and signaled with a movement of his wrist.
"Let's go," he whispered.
It wasn't until they were well away from the patrol's path that Juno finally found her voice. "There were so many of them," she whispered.
Gin looked back at them, his expression tight. "Wrath's soldiers," he muttered. "Just like the toad said."
His jaw worked for a moment. "If Wrath's watching Gluttony this closely..." He didn't finish, but the implication was clear.
Something was very, very wrong.
"Come on," Gin said quietly. "We need to keep moving."
He moved ahead, making his way through the undergrowth with an ease that made Juno feel slow in comparison. Nevertheless, she managed to keep up with him. Ain slid alongside them, his ears moving as he sniffed the air uneasily.
Then, Gin slowed down.
The castle towers rose between the trees against the sky. Juno felt a chill when she saw it. They were on the east side, hidden among the rocks and wild vegetation of the cliffs.
Gin crouched down next to a rocky outcrop and pushed aside the ivy that had been growing there for years. Beneath it was a small metal grate, almost completely hidden.
"This is it," he murmured. "Old escape route. Nobody's supposed to know about it."
As Juno approached, a strange, sickly sweet smell was carried on the wind, turning her stomach.
"What is that?" she asked, wrinkling her nose.
Gin didn't look at her. "Something that's been down there a long time."
He opened the grate with a groan of rusted metal. Darkness waited below.
"I'll go first," he said, as he lowered himself down. "Stay close, don't get separated."
Juno hesitated at the edge, watching him disappear into the tunnel.
Then Ain looked at her, tail moving. "Second thoughts, sweetheart?"
She exhaled. "No."
"Good," he purred. "I'd hate to think you'd come all this way just to back out before the real fun started."
Juno just stared at him.
He smiled, then leaned closer, his violet eyes glowing in the darkness. "You know," he whispered, "I wasn't lying earlier."
"About what?" she asked quietly.
"Your scent." He wasn't entirely serious but not completely playful either. "It's not just sweetness. It's desire, hunger. A little death, a little sugar."
She froze.
"Delicious," he murmured with a slow smile. "If I were something less civilized, I would have taken a bite out of you already."
Then Ain laughed at Juno's terrified face. "Relax. I'm mostly joking."
She gave him a flat look. "Mostly?"
He just winked and moved past her, tail swishing, disappearing into the tunnel.
She was alone for a moment. The cold wind moved her hair, even though it was tied back. She brought a hand to her chest, trying to calm how fast her heart was beating. Then she followed them.
The tunnel walls were smooth stone, too tight for her taste, and the air smelled of dust and something rotten.
She caught up with Gin quickly, who was waiting for her. He looked over his shoulder, his single eye had adjusted to the darkness faster than hers, and seemed to glow in the shadows.
"Are you okay?" he asked in a low voice, as they walked slowly through the tunnel.
Juno nodded. "Yes, just... tight back there."
Gin murmured in agreement. "Gets worse before it gets better."
She tried to smile. "Comforting."
Gin slowed his pace as the tunnel curved, the faint sound of dripping water echoing somewhere ahead. Without turning, he spoke, voice low enough that she barely caught it over the silence of their steps.
"You should put it on now."
Juno looked down at the small vial secured to the strap across her chest, heart beating faster for reasons that had nothing to do with nerves.
"Where exactly?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
"Pulse points," he said, now looking at her. "At the throat, wrists. Maybe behind the ears."
She swallowed, and took the vial between her fingers. She uncapped it slowly, and the scent hit instantly, something metallic.
Her fingers went to her neck, applying the perfume along the curve of her throat. Then on the inside of her wrists, where her pulse was going a little too fast. Gin watched her the whole time.
His expression unreadable, but it was notable that he was thinking more than he was expressing.
When she finished, she tucked the vial back into the loop of her strap, then rubbed her wrists together lightly. She didn't know what she expected, that it would make her feel different, more protected. Instead, she only had an uncomfortable sensation of something sticky where she had applied it.
"It's... intense," she murmured to herself.
Gin nodded once. "It'll do its job."
Juno's hands fell to her sides. She opened her mouth to speak again, but a voice behind them interrupted her.
"Well, that's one way to ruin a perfectly good nose."
It was Ain's voice, smug and echoing slightly in the tunnel. She turned and saw him walking elegantly, tail swishing behind.
"Now you really do smell like feet," he added, helpfully. "Fancy, damned, demon-attracting ones. But still feet."
Juno gave him a flat look. "Wow. Thanks."
He wrinkled his little nose dramatically. "Just saying, next time you decide to bathe in corpse perfume, maybe give a guy some warning."
"You're lucky I didn't actually bathe in it," she muttered.
Gin said nothing, but there was an amused blink that escaped him. If you blinked, you'd miss it.
Ain trotted closer, jumping easily over a broken pipe. "You know, if you ever want a second opinion on your demonic aura, I offer very competitive rates."
Juno raised an eyebrow. "Do those rates include insults and zero help?"
"Of course," Ain said proudly. "It's part of the charm package."
She rolled her eyes, but noticed that the tension that had been building in her shoulders eased a little.
Gin, now walking ahead, spoke without turning. "Quiet, both of you."
Ain smiled, unperturbed. "Yes, general." Then, addressing Juno: "He gets like this when he's stressed. Or when he's slightly injured. Or awake."
The tunnel sloped downward and dust rose with each step. Roots clung to the stone walls, and the air became colder. Gin raised a hand, but this time it wasn't for danger, but for them to stop.
He turned slightly and pressed a palm against the crumbling wall to his right. There was a faint seam, barely visible, that split vertically through the stone.
"We're here," Gin murmured.