Tempting Fate

62 Chapter 62: The Portal

“Reed”

“Hey, it’s morning..”

Emy sat up in her bed when she saw Devin in her room. Standing in front of her bed, looking at her with his hands in his pockets.

“What are you doing here?” Emy spoke up. She saw Devin was staring at her, so she lifted her quilt slightly to conceal her bosom.

“I’m just checking to see if Reed is here...” Devin said.

“He hasn’t returned yet. It’s barely been a week,” Emy said. “Did anything happen in your world to keep him from returning?”

“There is,” Devin said.

Emy frowned. “What happened?”

“I’ve been opening the portal for a few nights now, but it was still sealed last night.”

.....

Emy got to her feet and approached Devin. “Sealed? What precisely do you mean when you say “sealed?”

It astounded Devin when he saw Emy’s nightwear. Emy slept in black silk nightwear. He couldn’t help but stare at her body. She was wearing bikini-type shorts, her legs were exposed.

‘Damn it..’ Devin grunted.

If he could spend the night with Emy, he may not want to get out of bed. He couldn’t argue that Reed was crazy to be worried about Emy. Emy seems to have a strange aura that is meant to attract a powerful demon.

“Would you mind changing your clothes? You’re giving me a boner,” Devin said.

All of her blood flowed to her head. Devin could see her face was flushed. Emy wrapped the blanket about herself.

“I’ll simply go to your house,” Emy said.

“Okay.” Devin smiled and then walked away.

Emy let out a breath. She hurriedly changed her clothing and headed to the restroom.

—

Emy was ready to knock when Devin open the door, smiled at her, and glanced at what she was wearing. Emy was dressed casually in a t-shirt, jeans, and shoes, but the way he was staring turned her cheeks bright red.

“Your beauty is still dominant and charming, even if you’re only wearing it,” Devin stated. “By the way, I like what you wore earlier...” When he saw Emy’s ear was red, he grinned. “Could you please come in?”

Emy entered after Devin gave her some space. She went straight to the living room as she entered the house. She turned to face Devin, but when she realized he was behind her, she nearly fell. Devin held her arm with one hand and her hip in the other. With her hand, she grabbed Devin’s nape.

“Are okay?” Devin inquired.

‘This is humiliating,’ Emy thought.

“Y-yeah.” Devin had to let her go. “Tell me about what happened in your realm.”

Instead of responding, Devin turned his back to her. He emitted black smoke and left letters in the air that she couldn’t read at the moment. Soon, there was a little hole that grew until Emy could see it. It’s like water, with various energy swirling around that spherical thing, creating sparks.

“This is the way in, Emy. The portal.” Devin said.

“P-portal?” Emy raised her hand and attempted to grasp it. Devin smirked as she glanced at him.

“All right. You are welcome to touch it if you are curious.” Devin said.

Emy cautiously inserted one of her fingers. The insides of the thing are freezing. She then inserted her whole hand. When she placed her hard on the other side of the portal and felt a weird temperature, she smiled. Emy removed her hand and examined it. Something white was clinging to her flesh, she noticed.

“It seems like winter is on the other side,” Devin said, holding out a white piece of things that he gets from Emy’s hand.

“Do demons dislike winter?” Emy was curious.

Devin laughed. “Do you notice those red letters on the side?”

Emy took a cautious glance at the portal, then at him. It was like a word that she couldn’t understand what it said as red letters floated on the portal side like water.

“What exactly do they mean?”

“The door has been sealed.” Then, turning to Emy, he said. “Reed can’t go from one side to the other.”

“What?” Emy was taken aback. “Why don’t you remove the sealed?”

“Reed must be on the other side of the portal, but he isn’t, as you can see. To open the door, we must all work together.” Devin exhaled a blast of black smoke and spoke into it. Then he blew on it, and it sailed into the portal, only to disappear.

“What happened?” Emy asked.

“I’m unable to contact Reed. He’ll do not know I’m standing in front of the portal.”

Emy looked towards the portal. She then turned to face Devin. “You said Reed can only cross if you and he both stand in front of the portal and open it at the same moment.”

“Yes.”

“You can’t tell him you’re standing in front of the portal because you can’t message him.”

“You’re correct.”

“Why don’t you go up to him and tell him?”

“If I do that, none of us will be able to turn back.”

Emy didn’t think of Maria at first, but she did afterward. “How about Maria? She’s also a demon...”

Devin frowned. “How did you find out Maria was a demon? Did Reed tell you that?”

“I’m not sure, but I recall hearing them chat once. It’s like Maria has a higher position in Reed’s army.”

Devin gave a nod. “She is, indeed. Reed’s trusted right hand.”

“So? We can open a portal on both sides?”

“No.”

Emy was astonished and looked at Devin. “No? Why is this so? Mary is a demon. Reed trusted her.”

“And I’m not.”

Emy stopped talking. She fixed her gaze on Devin, waiting for him to say anything. Devin took a deep breath.

“Okay, Emy. I don’t trust Maria, and I’m sure she doesn’t trust me. We don’t trust each other.”

“I’ll speak with her then,” Emy said. Devin grabbed Emy’s wrist before she could even walk away.

“What do you intend to say to her?” Devin inquired. “I’d want to know...”

“It would be preferable if you just came with us.” Emy immediately yanked Devin’s hand away from her.

—

Mari and Emy were seated in the yard while Devin was standing by the pool. Devin stepped away so Maria wouldn’t believe he predicted what would happen next. He just came to see what would happen.

“When did you figure it out, my queen?” Maria took the initiative.

“Wait, what?” Emy asked. Mary had referred to her as queen. She couldn’t believe what she heard.

“King Reed commanded me to address you as his queen,” Maria told her.

“Emy should be OK,” Emy said. “Anyway, I just overheard you chatting to Reed, so I know you’re a... demon.”

Maria remained silent at looked at Emy. “Devin said that Reed cannot enter the portal since it is sealed.” Maria frowned but said nothing. “Because Devin can’t send Reed a message, neither he nor Devin can help him.”

“They should open the portal from both sides at once,” Maria said.

“As Devin said, yes.”

“What do you want me to do, my queen?”

“Emy, you may call me Emy,” Emy said. “I want you to cross and inform Reed that Devin will help him.”

“I’ll pass through the portal, and he’ll look after you, my queen,” Maria asked.

“Yes ..”

“No, my queen. I don’t agree with that...”

“So, why?” Emy asked.

“King Reed, my queen, will not approve of your proposal,” Maria said. “He doesn’t trust Prince Devin. He will punish me if I leave your side. I’m here to keep you secure while he’s gone. I can’t do what you want.”

“This is absurd,” Emy said. “How can Reed cross if you don’t trust each other?”

“I’m confident he’ll figure something out. I’m still waiting on the other side of the portal,” Devin said.

“A week has passed, Devin,” Emy said.

“It’s just been a week here, but it’s been almost three months in the realm, Emy. Do you believe Reed isn’t doing anything to figure this out?”

“Do you mean?”

“Yes, the times are different in the two worlds.”

.....

“Then we must act swiftly.” Emy turned to face Maria. “Maria will accompany me to the crossing, leaving you here at the portal.”

“You can’t force my queen to do anything you want...”

“Then I’ll cross on my own.” Emy turned to face Devin. “Open the portal now, Devin.”

“What you’re going to undertake is dangerous. No human has yet passed through the realm’s portal...”

“Are you going to help me, or are you going to wait for me to do something that would undoubtedly harm you?”

Devin chuckled. “What could harm us?”

Emy pulled the knife from behind her. The knife wasn’t very large, but she was certain it was razor-sharp. She’d be sliced immediately away, either on the neck or the wrist.

“Whoa!” “My queen!”

Emy pressed the knife to her neck. “All right, attempt to use your power; you’ll be sorry.”

“Fuck it, Emy!”

“My queen.”

“What? Will you open the portal or not? Will you accompany me, Maria?”

Maria and Devin exchanged glances. Reed will murder them both if anything awful happened to Emy. Devin saw Emy’s bloodied neck.

“All right, Maria. You’re already aware of what Reed can do to us if anything horrible happens to her.” Devin said. “I don’t want to do it, either, but Emy is.”

“What, haven’t you decided yet?” Emy asked.

“Okay, I’ll open the portal.” “I’ll accompany you, my queen,”

Emy smiled. Devin open the portal and gazed at Emy. “This is what we’re going to do. You have four days to get to the gateway.”

Emy was confused. Emy turned to face Maria. “That’s equivalent to 24 hours here, my queen.”

“OK,” Emy said. “If I travel through the portal at 10 a.m. Today, what time is it in the realm?”

“Ten o’clock at night,” Devin said. “I believe I have given you enough time, Maria, just in case anything goes wrong.”

Mary gave a nod. “Come inside before anybody notices us,” Devin said.

Emy smiled and hugged Devin. She also kissed his cheek. “Thank you very much, Devin.”

Devin laughed. “Please come in right now before I change my mind.”

“After me, my queen,” Maria said.

When Maria entered, Emy followed her. After a few seconds, they eventually passed through the portal.