Tempting Fate

130 Chapter 130: Jasmin’s Province

The man was gaping as he lay on the floor, and Devin held both hands as he sprawled. Devin was sitting on top of the naked man, and his mouth was also open. From the man’s mouth, he eats all his spirits. Unlike what Eve and Dynhir do, he only eats people’s destructive emotions, such as anger and fear. The victim also does not die instead of losing consciousness.

Devin let go of the man and stood up. He looked at the woman naked on the bed. Devin passed out due to exhaustion. He released black smoke, and it entered the woman’s ear. He grabbed the man’s hand and pulled him into the bathroom door. When they entered the bathroom and opened it, they came out of the man’s room. He threw the man on the bed. He was stupid and out of his mind because of what he did.

“Be thankful I didn’t kill you,” Devin said, then he disappeared in front of the man.

——-

Emy wakes up without Reed by her side. She remembered the man hugging her when they were talking last night. She hasn’t gotten out of bed yet. Emy stared at the ceiling and then took a deep breath. She thought about getting up and showering before leaving the room.

Meanwhile, Devin arrives and finds Reed busy cooking. He smirked and immediately approached him.

“Are you planning to poison Emy? If you don’t want her anymore, give her to me.” Devin said as he approached Reed.

“I’m cooking. You can eat if you want. The three of us will eat together.”

Devin didn’t say anything. He sat in his place, and later Emy arrived and was a little surprised to see Reed wearing an apron. He also turned to Devin, who was waiting at the table.

.....

He sat on the other side of the table.

“Good, you’re here. Let’s eat together.” Reed said.

He put everything he cooked on the table. Devin stared at Emy.

“I’ll taste it first, and maybe there will be poison later,” Devin said, laughing.

Devin immediately took food. “Don’t overreact. Just eat.” Reed said.

Reed sat next to Emy. Reed immediately got food for Emy, but they were both surprised when they simultaneously put different foods on Emy’s plate. They both looked at each other.

“Thank you,” Emy said to avoid tension.

The two men did not speak. Emy looked at the soup that Reed cooked.

“What soup is this?”

Reed didn’t answer. Instead, he took the bowl and placed it next to Emy’s plate. Devin just watched. Later they were eating together, and since none of them spoke, Reed turned on the tv. Devin just glanced at the tv and had no interest in watching. He knows that what he did will never be shown on television or social media. Emy kept glancing at Devin and then at Reed. She didn’t know if the two friends were okay.

——

Devin, Reed, and Emy went to Jasmin and Avery’s house that day. Emy received a call from a friend.

“When the problem is a demon, you call Emy,” Devin said.

“Maybe because demons surround him,” Avery said.

Devin laughed but said nothing. The five started to travel.

They talked about what happened in Jasmin’s province. They have a long flight, and it’s also a weekend, so both of them don’t have work.

“A cursed river?” Devin asked with a frown.

“Seems like that,” Jasmin said. “Within this week, that river has caught a lot, and all of them are young people.”

“Why is that river taking lives? What past story?” Emy asked.

“Well, I was young. That’s what happened in that river before All Saints Day came. It took some young ones, and the strange thing is, the ones it takes don’t swim. They pass because there is a bridge to the other barangay.” Jasmin said. “My grandmother’s story is that the river fairies get angry with people because people make noise in the river.”

“Noise? What do you mean by noise?” Emy asked.

“Usually, Miss Emy, the young people who bathe in the rivers play loud music, sometimes they get drunk and shout, and others have fights. Others drown because they are too drunk and blame the river fairies for everyone.” Avery said.

“Is the fairy real?” Emy asked.

“They are real. People don’t know they exist but believe there are fairies.” Reed said.

“And most of those who believe in them are those who grew up in the province like Avery and me,” Jasmin said.

“So you mean the fairies are really to blame for the disappearance of the youth?” Emy asked.

“It could be a demon...” Devin said while smiling.

——-

They arrived at Jasmin’s house. It was small compared to their apartment. It had four rooms because they had many siblings. Although shy, Jasmin introduced her parents to her companions.

Devin didn’t speak, but he kept his eyes on the whole house. There is no ceiling. Only half of the stone is a wall, and plywood follows it. He was surprised because the place was small, but he felt strange inside it. He looked at the group again, and Jasmin’s parents were talking to them, smiling. He peeked through the window and saw a group of boys busy with something. He came out of the house and approached them. He looked at what those children were worried about and frowned at seeing two spiders fighting over a long, thin stick. The children were noisy while watching it. Devin sat next to a child and watched with them. The children were stunned to see him. They looked at him.

“I’m curious. What exactly are those spiders doing?” Devin asked the kids.

“They are fighting, Brother.”

Devin frowned. “What for?”

“They have a bet there. If the spider they’re bet with wins against the other, it means.” Avery said.

“Oh, I see,” Devin said, then looked away from Avery. “Okay, I’ll bet.”

“Sir Devin...”

“Alright, Kuya, whose spider are you? And how much do you bet?”

“Ten thousand for that spider,” Devin said.

“Sir Devin...” Avery said, then pulled the man away from the kids.

Their gaze followed them as they walked away.

“What is your problem?” Devin said, laughing.

“Are you going to kill those kids, Sir?” Avery asked.

“You said it was a bet...”

“Yes, for children, not for demons,” Avery said.

Devin laughed even harder. “You know that’s why you don’t have boyfriends because you’re too hot-headed.”

“What does my being single and being hot-headed have to do with what we’re talking about?”

Devin didn’t answer. He just laughed and walked away. Avery frowned at him.

“I think he’s going crazy,” Avery said.

——

Jasmin’s father accompanied them to the river. It was only a ten-minute walk from Jasmin’s house. It was Emy’s first time reaching the province. She was amazed at how those who saw them greeted them.

“It looks like you’re not shamans. I don’t understand why Jasmin brought you here. I’m worried that you might get hurt.”

“I’m a shaman, Uncle,” Avery said.

“Oh, Avery, you can’t handle fairies.”

“They’re just fairies, and I’m a king...” Reed said.

Jasmin’s father looked at him. “Oh, Reed was just kidding.”

“Well, I’m not...” Reed couldn’t continue what Reed was going to say when Emy covered Reed’s mouth with her hand.

“And I’m the prince,” Devin said.

“King and prince?” Jasmin’s father asked with a frown. It laughed a little. “Your friends are royalties, Jasmin. Can’t you just be ruined by this?”

“Dad, trust them,” Jasmin said. “So let’s go home, cook us a delicious dinner.” Jasmin was about to take money from her pocket when Reed threw a bundle of money at the older man, who surprised everyone. “Sir Reed?”

“It’s too much!” Jasmin’s father asked in shock.

“Invite your neighbors to cook a lot. We’ll enjoy ourselves later when we return.”

Jasmin’s father stared. Jasmin took the bundle of money and gave it to her father.

“Let’s go. We’ll go back to the house later.” Jasmin said, almost pushing her father away.

The older man scratched his head and hurriedly walked back to their house. Jasmin turned to Reed.

“Jeez, Sir, it looks like they’re going to be busy,” Jasmin said. He already knew why Reed gave the bundle of money to his father. That way, it will be busy and not try to go to the river to find out what is happening.

Reed released black smoke and swirled it around.

“What’s that for?” Emy asked.

“So that they can’t come near here. Once someone else comes near here beside us will surely die, just like what happened to the others before.” Reed said.

Everyone looked at Devin, who stood on the edge of the river. “Fairies don’t do shallow things. It’s a demon. A water spirit demon.”

“How did you know?” Avery asked.

Devin smiled but didn’t answer. Reed held Emy’s hand, and Emy looked at their hand.

“I need to secure your safety,” Reed explained.

.....

Devin looked at the two, then quickly approached Emy and held one of her hands.

“You’re safer when there’s two of us,” Devin said.

Emy was about to speak, but she remained silent and let them hold her hands. Letting them do what they want is a better way to keep the two men from fighting.