Temporary bride for the demon overlord-Chapter 39: In danger

To assume she was defenseless, was to assume she was dumb. That was the thing about Karma, careful planning was required to deal with all situation, or so is her motto.

When Karma reached the mansion, it echoed oddly. She threw her bag on the floor, toeing off her heels and sinking into the comfortable couch.

A small smile spread on her lips as she reminisced the first time she had sitted on this same couch. She had been nervous as hell, her breath were short and raspy.

She had looked like a well used rag, worn and wrung. And that was how she felt. Her body slowing fading away, her mind fraught and withered.

Not only had she been poisoned, she had been poisoned but her stepsister. Who of course, had to make sure the poison had been administered in small doses until her body can take no more.

And then, Seraphina had played her winning card. She had seduced Ethan.

Just the thought of it turned her smile to ice. It was inherently good to be rid of Ethan_best, if truth was being told_but they were going to pay either way.

Suddenly, smell of burning and rotting flesh filled the room. She stood up swiftly, and held her breath.

Fear made her heart beat faster in her chest and she clutched the faintly glowing emerald necklace on her neck.

Whatever was going to happen, she wasn’t going to part with this jewelery.

Her eyes rapidly scanned the glowing space, like rancid oil on water. The air strummed faintly, like a guitar string. Her mouth turned dry like sand paper.

She took a deep breath_an amateur mistake_and cursed.

This wasn’t her first rodeo. Monsters had assaulted her several times in the past. But always when Alphonse had been around.

"I will not hurt you, but only if you cooperate." A shrill voice announced.

The air warped, creating a tear in space. And there it was, sickly green. With flesh that pulse and hair strands that writhed on it head.

Forget whatever Karma thought she knew about monsters, this was way worse. And it smells like bile and rotten eggs.

She took a glance at it’s large single red eyeball and promptly threw up on the floor.

The monster rolled its eyes, and a lightheaded sensation assaulted her. She gripped the hem of her shirt and squeezed her eyes tightly close. Trying to get her emotions into a smooth line, hammering down on the fear that gripped her throat with a deadly hold, and ignoring the nausea that made her stomach roll.

What did Alphonse tell her? Whenever she’s in danger, the necklace is your way out.

How?!! The question was how!

"Are you okay?" It’s voice was curious. Thin and whip sharp, it almost hurt her ears.

Despite it’s unsightly image, she thought the voice had a distinct female lilt.

"What do you want?" She managed to get the words out, admist the overpowering stench.

"Your tears, sorrows and regrets." It...she deadpanned.

Karma looked up in askance and was just in time to see her mouth opened widely to let out a laugh.

That sounded like metal grinding on stones.

"I’m here at the bequest of your husband, the overlord," the last bit was added with a bit of sulkiness.

Karma was perplexed, afraid, and curious. A deadly combination, if there had ever been one.

But she asked the question that was foremost on her mind. It was almost like the words ripped free from her throat.

"How’s he? Is he alright?" She said, unable to keep her worries at bay.

She was supposed to keep her thoughts controlled, and her head levelled when talking with any of the monsters or so Alphonse had said.

"I’d like to seat first, such bad manners you’ve got." The monster said, eyeing the pristine white couch.

Karma swallowed audibly_once again, a costly mistake_and pointed to the chair. The monster sat down, it skin pulsing like dancing worms.

Oh lord in heaven, what was even it?

"Is there anything you can offer me? A deal? Food? Regrets and sorrows you’d like to part with?"

The question took her off guard. Any regrets she’d like to part with? But a tiny voice reared its head in her thought, Alphonse had mentioned something about never offering a deal to them.

"No..not really." She quickly sat down, lest her wobbling knees collapse under her. She hug her knees tightly to her chest to avoid the content of her lunch on the floor, that currently had a the coloring of a puce.

"Fine. Human!" She clicked her tongue. "So boring. But that is by the way, your husband is in danger."

Karma stood up hurriedly, her eyes widening with fear. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"In danger?"

"I smell your fear and it’s oh so delicious," snout sniffed the air, "But I guess I have no right. Your husband saved my life and I owe it to him."

"You said he’s in danger?"

"Oh you human are always so impatience. What’s a life without danger? Is that even living?" A look at Karma’s pale face was convincing enough.

"Alright, I’ll tell you. He’s always in danger, that one. But this time, it might be vital. I think there’s a bond between you two, correct?"

She nodded stiffly.

"That means if he’s hurt you’ll be too. Which is why I’m here to guard you. Or particularly that," a gnarled finger pointed to the glowing necklace.

"Some other are coming into your realm tonight to steal the Jewel of hell."

Karma flopped back on the chair. She couldn’t make sense of what _ she..he? She wasn’t sure of how to address it_saying.

Alphonse was in danger, but how much? And if he was in danger, what was the relation to the necklace?

"Don’t think too much. It’s probably nothing. Your husband is something of a theorist. Lots of using theory by my own estimation."

The sound of Karma’s phone ringing sent startled her so much, she nearly collapse from fright. She took a tentative breath, it was getting better. Or maybe she was getting used to it.

She dug into her purse, tried so hard to ignore the stuff on the ground.

"I cleaned it up for you."

She picked up her call with a trembling finger and her father’s voice boomed.

"You insolent child! What have you done? Where’s it?"

Karma had to swallow a few times to work away the lump on her throat. It was a hard pill to swallow. The fact that her own father will probably never see her as a daughter stung.

"Good evening to you too father. How may I help you?" She made her voice frosty.

The monster was watching curiously.

"Robbers! Robbers in the mansion today. Ransacking everywhere, claiming you sent them." His voice was bristling with hatred.

A cold chill descended on her spine. Robbers? She shared a look with the monster. Ironic, that they were already sharing looks.

But it seems to understand what she meant. The only other necklace in human realm was with her stepsister.

"What did they take?" She asked frantically and received a stony silence in response.

"What did they take, damn you!" She yelled.

"Nothing! They were asking for the Ruby! The family heirloom. Do you know your sister passed out from the shock and she’s currently in the hospital? She’s in grave danger with her condition...."

She ended the call and flung the phone to the wall. It shattered with series of satisfying crunch.

"A shame. I was going examine the device when you were done with it. You humans are something too smart for you own good. To make a communication device, with no spell involved." The monster said mildly.

It all came back to this stupid jewel didn’t it? She wanted to unclasp the glinting thing from her necklace and keep it furthest away from her.

Instead she took in another rotten air breath and shrugged her shoulder.

"Thanks for cleaning the vomit_" just talking about it made her stomach heave but she continued determinedly. "I think Alphonse is mistaken_"

"Of course he is. Most of this theorist often are," his red eyes peered up at her. "But I ate the vomit or whatever you called it."

"I didn’t not ask!" Karma was horrified. She dry heaved into the floor.

"Whatever. So rude," another disgusting eye roll. "What were you saying."

"I think..." she gripped the chair tightly, "I think they weren’t after this one."

"They’re after the one with my stepsister." She finished and sighed.

"Curious, curious." A tap to the chin. "I didn’t know they were more than one Jewel in this realm! Human’s greed ne

ver seem to amaze me!" A maniacal grin.

Karma clutched the emerald on her neck as her mind churned. She needed a bath, and that was just the start of a very long list of what she needs.

One thing she was sure of? Nothing what it is, she was going to get it.