"Now I'm in business. Now, what should I do? Ah yes, how could I almost forget—I have you."
He glanced down at his right hand, gripping the tool tightly with satisfaction.
[Creak—Croak]
[Errreee—]
The three humans turned slowly toward the staircase in awe.
Sirus descended step by step, the dagger's handle clenched in his mouth as he nonchalantly brushed his silver hair.
"He looks so handsome! He looks better than Daddy!"
Jacob scoffed, shooting Bella a glare.
"Hey! I'm handsome—and much better looking than that demon! H-Hey! Is he wearing my clothes?!"
Emma chuckled with a mischievous grin.
"My, my… Hehe. Oh, it's brushing its hair!"
'Why are they all staring at me? And why is granny's face getting red? This family is on another level of weird…'
Bella ran toward Sirus and hugged his waist tightly. He couldn't be bothered—he kept brushing his hair as if it were the only thing that mattered in the world.
Emma followed, spanking Bella's rear with a light whack and shaking her head.
"Bella, give the poor man some space. Or else—"
"OWW! Okay, okay, okay!" Bella yelped, rubbing her sore butt.
'Did she just spank her own daughter in front of me? Well… that should teach her not to hug a demon.'
As Bella sulked and Emma scolded, Sirus quietly slipped out of the house. No one noticed—except Jacob, whose eyes were always on him.
Outside, Sirus scanned the area. When he confirmed no humans were nearby, he exhaled and walked to the small dock.
A sudden gust of wind burst forth without warning. It tore through the grass, stirred the trees, and sent waves crashing against the rocks. Yet as it passed Sirus, it softened—caressing his face like a whisper.
He closed his eyes, letting the wind course through him in a soothing current.
"Why do I feel so light on my feet? I… I feel stronger, too?"
He sat at the edge of the dock, hind legs dangling over the water. Scooping a handful of river water, he soaked his hair from root to tip. Then he pulled out his treasure: the [Mighty Brush].
He beamed. Finally—he could take care of his hair again.
"This is it. I feel so much better."
"What are you doing?"
A soft voice whispered behind his ear.
Sirus sighed, recognizing the annoying girl. She plopped beside him, pestering him with questions he couldn't answer. He ignored her, brushing his hair with blissful focus.
She stared at his silver strands, mesmerized. Even as she chattered, he remained silent.
'I can't understand her… but how do I speak human? I need to learn. Someday.'
So he listened. Watched her lips. Studied the way her body moved with each word.
Nineteen minutes passed. Ten o'clock approached.
Sirus crossed his legs, placed his hands on his knees, and stared at her. She noticed. Her face turned a faint red.
He tapped his chest.
"My name is Sirus. What is yours?"
He pointed at her, though he had a faint clue.
Bella tilted her head in confusion.
Sirus sighed and repeated,
"Sirus. Sirus."
"S…scus?" she tried.
"No. S-I-R-U-S. Sirus. Si-rus."
"Si…rus? Sirus!" she finally smiled.
It took her eighteen minutes to say it—imperfectly—but Sirus was satisfied for now.
He pointed to her. She understood.
"My name is Bella!" she beamed.
"Bella." Sirus echoed softly.
"Yes! Bella!" She clapped with joy.
'Perhaps… if I mimic their mouths, I can learn. Why do I keep calling it "human"? Whatever this language is, I'll master it eventually.'
Bella tugged his coat.
"Let's go inside! We haven't eaten yet."
Sirus raised a brow.
She pointed and rubbed her stomach.
"Food! Food! Let's eat fooooood!"
'Now she wants me to have breakfast? With a human family?'
Sirus exhaled.
As they walked back, he thought:
'I despise humans. But… one race's actions don't condemn all. I won't trust blindly—but I'll judge them by what they do, not what they are. If their intent is wicked… then there will be no warnings. No talks. Only judgment.'
"Mom! Dad! I'm teaching—uh, I think his name's Sirus—how to talk!" Bella exclaimed cheerfully.
Emma and Jacob exchanged confused glances.
"Jacob, do we still have those children's books in storage?" Emma asked.
"Wh—what? You can't be serious!" Jacob snapped.
"You want him to learn our language?!"
"Why not?" Emma frowned.
"Wouldn't it be wonderful to speak with him?"
"We don't know if he's dangerous! We don't even know what race he is! Or where he came from! Look at him—red glowing eyes, those legs, that white hair, those horns—!"
[Whack]
"Ow! What was that for?!" Jacob rubbed his shoulder.
"We've got two women and a grown man in this house—and you're the one scared of him? If he wanted us dead, he'd have done it the moment he escaped the basement."
Emma shook her head, sighed, then turned to Sirus with a gentle smile.
"Come, come. You must be hungry."
Sirus nodded silently and sat beside her as she served him a bowl of porridge and half a loaf of bread. Jacob sat stiffly at the other end, eyeing the demon warily.
They all folded their hands, palms facing upward, and closed their eyes in silent prayer.
'A ritual? A religion? Something like Christianity? Sniff… it doesn't smell poisoned… Wait. What does poison even smell like? Ugh, whatever. They don't seem hostile—well, except Jacob, but he's just protective. I can't fault that.'
Sirus took a spoonful.
'Hmm. Simple wheat porridge. So this is a normal breakfast?'
"Do you like it?" Emma asked.
Sirus smiled and shrugged casually.
"He might not speak, but he understands perfectly," Emma noted. "Jacob, be nice."
Jacob choked.
"He… he understands us?!"
He paled, remembering everything he'd said.
After they finished eating, Bella and Emma collected the dishes. Sirus and Jacob sat in silence, awkwardly exchanging glances. Sirus reached for the fruit bowl and grabbed an apple.
"A demon. In our house. I'm losing my mind," Jacob mumbled.
Sirus grinned, revealing sharp fangs as he bit through the entire apple—core and all.
'Being a demon has its perks. My digestion is flawless. Nothing wasted.'
He rose, bowed slightly toward Emma in thanks, and walked out.
She smiled warmly.
"My, he doesn't even know our language… yet he has better manners than you two good-for-nothings."
"Ehhh?" Jacob and Bella blinked at each other.