The Rise of Nix
Chapter 9

“What the hell are you doing in my home?” screamed Nix as she held a knife against a sleeping Deimos’ neck.

The words shook him awake as his eyes shot open, landing on an enraged Nix glaring down at him. The blade stung against his soft flesh as their gaze met, hers wild-eyed. Deimos lifted his hands in the air as a sign of surrender.

“How did you get in here?” demanded Nix, leaning in closer.

“Look, I can explain,” mumbled Deimos. The sharp tip of the knife glided below his chin as Nix moved closer, forcing his head up.

“Try me.”

Scanning her angered face, Deimos tried to think of how to explain his presence in her home, but he doubted that she would believe anything he said. She is brighter than most. “I was searching for a camp for the night when I stumbled upon your village. It was late, and no one was around. I turned to leave when I heard shouting. I followed and came upon you lying in the dirt, yelling to the sky.”

Nix chuckled, the humour not reaching her eyes. “Sure, let us go with that.”

“I am serious. You were stumbling about, most likely drunk off your ass.”

“Okay, let’s say I believe you.” began Nix, releasing pressure from the knife on his neck but still keeping it close to him. “How did you know which hut was mine?”

“You told me, or more like muttered.”

As the wheels turned in Nix’s mind about the truth in his words, she replayed her fogged memories. She, Mary, James and she had been outside their hut until the sun was long gone from the sky, drinking some toxic mead from Maverick’s camp, but she would never get drunk. Would she?

“I am sorry if I overstepped. But it seemed like you needed some help.”

Deimos pulled her back to the present as he made sense, but something still felt wrong about this encounter. Promising she would keep this stranger in her hawk eyes, Nix straightened, pulling the knife away from his throat. Deimos watched as she moved away, leaving a slight tingle where the cold metal had pressed into him. Rubbing at the spot as he stood up, Deimos awkwardly glanced about the small room before landing on Nix as she stood in the corner, weapon still in hand.

“Thank you for not gutting me.” played Deimos, eliciting a vague smile from Nix.

“Don’t mention it.” she joined in on the Joke.

Deimos winked, “Anytime.”

An awkward silence filled the room as the two watched each other, making Nix ashamed of her actions the night before. “Listen, I don’t usually let loose like that. I despise it.” began Nix as she dropped the knife on her bed, averting her gaze from the man in her room. “The mead was stronger than I anticipated.”

“No need to apologize. We have all been there.” defended Deimos, also lying a bit for he has never been drunk before. From the humans he has observed, mead seemed like a great relief from this crazy world, but it is also the cause of all the problems. Men become monsters with one too many, while women become easy targets for the despicable. The bad it caused outweighed the good it could supply.

“No, I do need to apologize. I was in a compromising situation, and if you did not find me, I can not imagine what could have happened.” feeling anxious, Nix turned her back on Deimos as she moved to straighten up, glad to keep her trembling hands busy. Suddenly, a sharp pain slammed into her head, and she dropped the blanket she began to fold to massage her temples. “Seems like I am paying now for my mistake.”

A deep chuckle came from behind, and turning around, she saw Deimos with a smile as he laughed at her.

“It is not funny.”

“I am sorry, but you are something else.”

Nix’s eyebrows pulled together as she glared at the man, causing him to laugh harder. Grabbing the blanket from the bed, she chucked it at him, hitting him right in the head. His face dropped, but a slight smirk stayed.

“You devil. You will pay for that.” with a glint in his eye and the smirk deepening, Deimos stalked Nix as she realized too late his intent. Stepping back, her legs bumped into the hay, her hands in front of her. “You asked for it.” she giggled.

“And you asked for this.” Deimos reached for her, but she slipped his grasp as she fell onto her bed. His hands shot out as he began to tickle Nix on her side, her laughter filling the room.

“No, stop,” begged Nix in between breaths as she laughed, tears forming and rolling from the side of her squinted eyes.

“Apologize.”

“Never.”

“Then this will only get worse.” Deimos’ laughter mixed in with Nix’s as he tickled harder. She tried to wiggle out of his grip, squirming hard, but he was too strong. Her movement made her foot hook behind his leg, with her laughter jolting her leg, forcing Deimos to fall forward. Their bodies crashed onto the rough surface, but in a split second, he flipped them around so she lay on top of his chest, her weight minimal compared to his. Their chests rose and dropped deeply with each breath, his fingers stopping its assault. Instead, they caressed her hips.

Nix froze as she glanced down at him, the torture on hold, but her body still betrayed her. The warmth of his seeped through her clothes as his fingers softly moulded her body, a spark erupting from deep within. Staring intensely into his eyes, a hunger gripped Nix as her eyes shot between his plump lips and mesmerizing gaze.

Deimos wanted, no needed, to kiss her, to taste her, but now was not the time or place. Clearing his throat, the fingers on her waist pushed hard, and Nix allowed him to move her away. Rolling to her side, she watched as Deimos stood up, hurt by his reaction. She thought he would kiss her for a moment, but he fought to get away instead.

“I, uh, I think I need to leave,” muttered Deimos as he swiped his fingers through his hair, trying to make it look less tossed.

Shooting up, Nix protested, “No, you don’t have to.” getting off the bed, she quickly straightened her shirt after it had ridden up while Deimos glared at the ground, affording her some privacy. “I would like to thank you for helping me last night. Would some breakfast be acceptable?”

On queue, a deep rumble came from Deimos’s stomach as he shifted to turn down her offer, but she was too fast.

“I insist, and you really need it from that sound.”

The silence between them was broken by the hustle happening around them. Sitting by the fire with ample space between them, Nix and Deimos watched the flames as they ate while people moved around them. A few villagers spared glances towards the newcomer, but he ignored them, his mind in turmoil over what had happened. Since the first time he saw her, Deimos had been bewitched by Nix. Her vibrant smile and loving heart made her stand out from the rest of humanity and piqued his interest. Throughout his surveillance, he had always wondered what she would feel like against him, would her lips be as sweet as honey, and if there was a fire inside of her just waiting to burst forth. But in all his dreams, he never thought he would be able to explore his desires, yet he faltered the second she was in his grasp.

Sneaking a peek at her eating form from the side of his eyes, Deimos shrugged away his cowardness. The Gods had forbidden any romantic interest, and he agreed, but he secretly wished he could have kissed her back in her hut, for she practically begged him.

Returning to the meat in his hands, Deimos tore off another bite as he soaked in the atmosphere. Children’s laughter mixed in with parents’ whispers, wood splintering from being chopped, and yells from men sounded around them. All these noises might bother some, but he loved it, for it was a sign of humanity, of humans living their lives.

A loud commotion suddenly came from behind them, and Deimos twirled around to see the source, coming face to face with a man twice his size and a belly bulging from his pants.

Nix followed suit as she tensed up. Deimos noticed her reaction, quickly jumping up to cover her with his body.

“Who is this?” roared the man, his eyes zoning in on Deimos.

He was about to respond but was sidetracked as Nix moved around him to stand between him and the big guy. Deimos watched in amazement as she stood up for herself instead of hiding behind him.

“Good morning, Khan,” began Nix, a fake smile plastered on her lips. “You are looking well today.”

“Stop this small talk. I demand to know who this uninvited man is. You know the rules about new people in our village.” said Khan, sweat dripping from his forehead as his cheeks puffed up.

Nix took a step forward before turning slightly to have both Khan and Deimos in her vision. Pointing a hand at Deimos, she replied, “This is Deimos. A friend I met a couple of days ago.”

Khan’s beady eyes shot to Deimos, scanning him up and down before returning to Nix. “Friend or no friend, new people have to be introduced to me before they can move freely about this place. I told you one more chance, and this was it. I want you gone from...” his voice rose the more he spoke, blood pumping beneath his skin, making him turn red.

“I apologize for the intrusion,” Deimos cut Khan off from his rambling, stepping closer to the man as he held out his hand. “I wanted to meet the wonderful leader of this village, but I got distracted by this astonishing woman. I apologize if I offended you.”

Khan looks shocked and is left speechless, shaking the hand offered by Deimos. “Well, you have met him now. So you may go on your way.”

Nix watched bewildered as Deimos managed to silence Khan and reign in his temper, a feat she had yet to master.

“I will gladly go, but I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time in person.”

Khan blinked a few times before his face straightened and perched his lips. “Fine. Follow me.” Turning around, Khan began to stride to his hut, and Deimos spared a glance at Nix, giving her a wink.

Closing her hanging mouth, Nix watched as Deimos followed the leader into his home, disappearing into the darkness. He may be a smooth talker, but Khan is a man he has never faced, causing Nix to fear for his life instantly. Stepping forward, she was about to follow them when a strong hand took hold of her shoulder. A bright smile and dark eyes welcomed Nix as she faced Maverick.

“And where have you been hiding?” asked Maverick.

Sparing a glance at the hut and Deimos inside, Nix faked a smile to hide her emotions as she fully turned towards the beast of a man. “Just going about daily life,” she replied.

“Hopefully, you have some time in your crazy schedule for me.”

Glancing at the towering man, Nix relaxed slightly as her smile turned genuine, copying his. “That depends. What do you have in mind?”

Moving his hand, Maverick reached behind him, pulling out a hidden spear. “How about I prove to you that my story was true? Go on a hunt with me.”

Maverick’s muscles twitched and pulled as he moved, flexing under the sun’s rays. Never before had Nix been drawn to a man, especially not his body, but this specific man was making her imagination flutter wild by just staring at him.

“So, what do you think?” asked Maverick again, twirling the wooden shaft in his hands.

Nix shook her head, realizing she had been mesmerized by his arms and not answering his question. “Umm, I don’t know. I have a friend here, but I don’t know if he can stay. I have to wait and find out.”

Maverick’s bright smile faltered for a moment but shot back to normal, “Maybe some other time then. I look forward to hunting with you and teaching you a few tricks I have picked up.”

Placing a hand on her hip, Nix’s head turned slightly, eyeing the man up and down. “Do you really think there is something new I can learn?”

Bending down, Maverick’s hot breath brushed against Nix’s heated cheek and neck as he whispered, “Come with me, and you will find out.”

Being so close and smelling the earth on Maverick set Nix ablaze as she swallows back a response, not knowing what to say. For the first time in her life, there was not one, but two men in her life who made her body react like never before. And as much as it excited her, it was also scary at the same time, for she could not predict her or her body’s response. Luckily, a saving grace came from Khan as his voice echoed around the open field.

“Maverick, I am so glad you could come on a hunt with us.”

Both turning towards him, Maverick moved back as he straightened, giving a beaming smile to Khan. “I would not miss it for the world.”

Khan clapped his hands as he moved closer, embracing the towering Maverick before facing Nix, a stern look directed at her. “Today’s indiscretion is forgiven, but it is your last chance.”

“Don’t worry. I will make sure she stays in check.” Deimos spoke as he revealed himself, walking next to Nix.

Relief flooded her when she realized he was alive and had no bruises indicating a fight. He must be good if he came out alive with a meeting with Khan.

Khan nodded, “See to it. O, Maverick, this is Deimos. Also, a hunter who will be joining us for a while.”

Maverick’s jaw clenched as he locked eyes with Deimos, a smirk visible. “We have met before,” informed Maverick.

“That is wonderful.” chirped Khan, “Why don’t you join us today?”

Maverick’s knuckles turned white as he grasped the spear tighter, his face contorting to anger. Deimos could spot the signs of rage, especially in a wolf, and he could not afford the beast to be set free, especially so close to Nix. “Thank you for the generous offer, but I sadly have to decline. But maybe some other time.”

An ignorant Khan missed the tension building between the two men as his smile grew, and he slammed Maverick’s shoulder. “More animals for me and you.”

“Yes, more prey for me to kill,” Maverick said, his eyes locked on Deimos.

“Good. We better be off.” Khan turned and walked away. Maverick released a soft growl in warning before also turning to leave, leaving Deimos staring at his back and Nix confused.

“Did he just growl?” she asked.

As soon as the hunting group vanished into the thick scrubs, he turned to Nix. “Yes, he did.”

Nix giggled, “Is he an animal?” she joked.

“More than you know.”

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