Bride of the Demon Prince chapter 5

Chapter 5

                     It was after midnight when the captain advised the Princess and her companions of their crossing into the demon lands, they all looked out of the window into the night, the vast forest of the fox demons, known as Kitsumori, came into view.

As they crested a hill, Hinata peered out as the riders cheered and gleefully talked amongst each other about how they were approaching home— the cheerful disposition a stark contrast to how professional and silent they had been the entire journey.

The sight before Hinata was nothing short of breathtaking—an endless sea of trees, their tops bathed in the soft glow of full moonlight, stretching as far as the eye could see.

As the coach drew closer, the true scale of Kitsumori became even more overwhelming. The trees, once distant silhouettes, now rose higher and higher, clearly they were not the sizable trees Hinata was accustomed to; these were ancient giants, towering over the landscape, their twisted and gnarled forms hinting at their age and the magic that flowed through them. Some roots extended out like natural fences or walls, creating a barrier of living wood to keep others out—or monsters in.

             Hinata was speechless, her eyes wide with awe and bewilderment. She had never imagined such a place could exist, despite the stories she had heard, and her heart raced with a mixture of fear and fascination.

The other three girls were equally amazed, their previous conversations forgotten as they took in the sight before them. Sakura marvelled at the sheer size of the trees, while Tenten leaned forward, her eyes trying to take in every detail.

Ino, ever the provocateur, couldn’t resist making a joke. “I wonder if it’s just the trees that grow larger in the fox lands…” she quipped, her voice teasing.

Sakura, immediately catching the innuendo, groaned and lightly slapped the back of Ino’s head. “Ino, seriously?!” She chastises her friend.

Hinata, still somewhat innocent in matters of innuendo, looked confused. “What does she mean?”

Before Ino could offer an explanation, Sakura cut her off. “Nothing, Hinata. Ino’s just being silly.”

Tenten, noticing Hinata’s lingering confusion, offered a reassuring smile. “Ino just meant monsters… like bigger monsters!”

“Yeah, you would probably call them monsters if…” Ino smirked, with a flirty look on her face, before Sakura covered her mouth.

“Ino, would you quit it! Stop trying to corrupt the princess!” Sakura spoke behind gritted teeth, keeping her voice low and unclear to Hinata, as Tenten laughed it off to distract their charge.

Hinata was about to press further, knowing they were keeping something from her, but before she could, the coach came to a halt. They had reached the entrance checkpoint to Kitsumori.

The Captain stepped down from his steed and greeted, greeted by guards clad in crimson plate armour. They stood at attention, immediately their expressions, not hidden behind masks, showed a tense, but respectful expression, the nervous look she had noticed between servants and some nobles. They acknowledged the Captain’s return and there were loud orders to let them in, and to open the gates.

What surprised Hinata was one sentence “His lordship has returned.” it was announced amongst the orders so fluently Hinata almost missed it, though the others hadn’t reacted, so maybe she had misheard.
It wasn’t unusual for a Captain to be a noble, but for some reason she hadn’t thought about it since he never really acted like the nobles of her family's court—prim, proper, an aura of superiority and wealth.

But as she contemplated this new information, the massive wooden structures intertwined with living roots, slowly creaked open, revealing the dark, mysterious depths of the forest beyond.

               As the coach rolled forward, the guards remained at attention, saluting as they passed through the gates and into the heart of Kitsumori, the forest swallowing them whole, the moonlight fading as the canopy above thickened into a living ceiling, casting long beams of moonlight through the few openings on to the ground.

The air grew cooler, and the sounds of the night—rustling leaves, distant calls of nocturnal creatures—surrounded them.

Hinata couldn’t tear her eyes away from the window, her mind racing with thoughts and emotions. The grandeur and danger of this place, the mystery of the Captain, and the uncertainty of her future—all swirled within her, leaving her both anxious and admittedly exhilarated. How could she not be a little excited? she was entering a new world, one that was as terrifying as it was captivating, and with each passing moment, she felt herself being drawn deeper into its embrace.

                      The atmosphere inside Kitsumori grew more tense as the guards tightened their formation around the coach. The lights inside the carriage are the biggest source of light for the occupants.
The fuards were more cautious now, their eyes scanning through the darkened surroundings as if it was bright, and with the familiarity of those who knew that even home could be dangerous.
The forest was alive with sounds and Hinata closed her eyes to hear it all—the creaking of ancient trees, the rustling of leaves high above, the distant, eerie calls of unseen creatures opened up what was around her, but much of it was unfamiliar, only the trees and leaves reminded her that this world was no different from her old, and one day it might be a place of both beauty and terror to her, where nature and magic intertwined in unpredictable ways.

              As Hinata opens her eyes and peers out the window, she notices the amber glow of lanterns hanging from branches, their crystal cores emitting a soft, flickering light that barely pushes back the shadows. The dim illumination casting strange, dancing patterns on the trees, adding to the sense of mystery and unease. The beams of moonlight that occasionally pierce through gaps in the canopy, offer her fleeting glimpses into the depths of the forest.

Hinata's breath caught in her throat as she saw something—an indistinct shape—flash through one of those moonbeams. It moved too quickly for her to make out what it was, but the sight of it sent a shiver down her spine. Her gasp was audible, and the Captain, ever alert, spoke up.

“There are many beasts in this forest.” he said, his voice low and steady. “Terrifying creatures, more akin to demons than we are. They are wild, untamed, born to hunt and consume.”

Hinata trembled at his words, the reality of her situation settling in. She was in a place far from the safety of her home, surrounded by dangers she had yet to comprehend, and The darkness seemed to close in around her, filled with the unknown.

But then the Captain’s voice softened, taking on a reassuring tone. “But you are not alone, Princess. We are here to protect you. I am here to protect you. You will not be hurt while I am with you.”

His words, spoken with such confidence, brought a measure of comfort to Hinata. She looked at him, and for a moment, the fear that had gripped her heart began to loosen. The warmth in his voice, the strength in his presence—it made her feel safer, as if the dangers of the forest were kept at bay by his very will.

Yet, even with his assurance, the darkness around them was unnerving. The strange noises, the shadows that moved just out of sight, and the knowledge that this forest was home to creatures beyond her imagination made her heart race. She couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, of eyes lurking in the depths, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Despite her trembling, she found herself leaning closer to the window, curiosity battling with fear. 

What kind of creatures lived here? 

What secrets did Kitsumori hold?

The questions filled her mind, mingling with her nervousness, as the coach pressed on through the dark and mysterious forest, guided by the faint glow of lanterns and the watchful eyes of the guards.

As the coach makes its way through a particularly dark and dense section of the forest, the air grows colder, and an unnatural stillness falls over the group. The usual sounds of the forest—rustling leaves, distant calls—seem to vanish, replaced by an eerie silence made worse as the guards grow even more alert, sensing that something is wrong.

Suddenly, a thick fog begins to rise from the ground, enveloping the coach and the guards in a suffocating mist. Visibility drops to near zero, and the lanterns' amber glow is reduced to faint, flickering points of light in the gloom. The Fox steeds become restless, their nervous growls cutting through the silence. 

The captain immediately calls for a halt, his voice firm but calm as he orders the guards to form a defensive perimeter.

Without warning, dark shapes move within the fog, darting between the trees with supernatural speed. 

The first attack comes swiftly—a shadowy figure leaps from the mist, aiming directly for the coach. The captain reacting instantly, his sword materialising in his hand in a flash of light as he leaps from his steed to the carriages side, Parrying the blow close to the window where Hinata is closest, making the princess almost leap out of her chair, falling against her companions, who were already  preparing themselves for action, to defend the princess.

The creature, a hulking demon with glowing red eyes and twisted, horned features, snarls in frustration and retreats back into the fog.