When I open the window, I am greeted by Titan’s majestic frame. “Titan,” I mutter. “Are you visiting us?”
I open the window completely to let him through, but he just halts at the windowsill, sitting down, while casting a glance at the packhouse. “I know your heart belongs to Aurelia,” I say. “Don’t worry, I understand.”
He meows and turns his head to look at me, his eyes so full of life that they just draw me in. “I wish I could understand what you are saying.”
Again, he looks at me, his eyes boring into mine. What is he trying to tell me? I know he is a demon, so I assume his conscience is different to the animals of our realm. Titan jumpsoff the windowsill, disappearing into the darkness of the night, only to jump up onto the windowsill again. Once more, he stares at me before turning his head back to the packhouse.
Then he looks at me again.
“You want me to follow you?”
He meows again before jumping down into the night once more.
“Eh. Felix, babe,” I peek into the living room. “I… I think your sister’s demon pet is trying to show me something.”
Felix looks up, surprised. “Titan?”
“Yes, I think he was trying to tell me something, but I am not so sure what. I just know there is something he wants to show me. Pretty silly, huh?”
“Not at all.” Felix picks up Grumpy and kisses his head. Man, I need to take a picture next time. The combination of Felix’s sunny expression when smooching the cat and the grumpy one of doom on the cat’s face is hilarious. “I am coming, too.” He looks at Tiger. “Tiger, my girl, watch out for everyone.”
Tiger flaps with her wings.
When we close the entrance door behind us, I am still trying to understand what just happened. I thought Felix would laugh at my suggestion to follow Titan; I thought he might even try to talk me out of it. I know he is not the type to mock someone, but I didn’t think he would accept it that readily.
My heart takes such a big jump of joy that I feel like I could fly away. “So, where is he?” Felix muses.
“There.” I point at Titan’s silhouette, as he is sitting a couple of steps ahead of us.
Now he gets up, trotting towards the packhouse. Felix and I readily follow him, but to my surprise, he doesn’t stop at the packhouse, but walks past it.
“Where are you leading us, Titan?” I mutter when he makes a turn and leads us behind the houses on a small trail. Funnily, itdoesn’t lead us into the forest; it just seems to be an alternative way to the main road.
Titan casts me another gaze, meows and then keeps walking ahead.
“Gwen.” Felix’s grip on my hand gets a little stronger.
“Is something wrong?”
“No.” Felix looks at me with the same kind gaze as always, but his tone is slightly off. “Not… really.”
“But?”
“It could be a coincidence, but this“-he points ahead of us-“is an alternative path to the infirmary.”
His words make me halt. The infirmary? Titan stops and sits down, turning his head to look at me.
“Marina!” I cry, letting go of Felix’s hand to run in the direction Felix pointed at.
Felix chases after me. “I will link Dad!” he calls out towards me.
“And your mom,” I call back. “In case Faye is with Marina!”
Years of using the bike are paying off, because my stamina is strong enough to help me reach the infirmary within minutes. One of the nurses calls out to me.
“Just run ahead!” Felix yells. “I will explain everything.”
With that, I run up the stairs to the third floor, where Marina is staying. My heart sinks the moment I get there. Nurses are running around, clearly panicked, and I can hear a child crying.
