For the rest of the night I couldn't sleep. Start a family? Me? She was joking, right? In this whole wide world there's no one less suited for that than me. Would I have to meet her family? That's right, they hate her, so that's a no. Diana is totally the kind of girl that would want kids, but just look at me, I'd be a shitty father.
Hell, I despise kids, they are loud, annoying and drool everywhere. There's no way in hell that I'm changing a diaper either. Besides, I don't even think that it's possible for the two of us to have children, given the thing that I've become. Even if we do, by some miracle, have a child, it would probably be a monster like me.
But then again, being with someone like Diana… She's a good cook, she can clean, do laundry, hunt and take care of all the other stuff that I'm hopeless at. She would be my perfect other half. Besides… I kinda… Like her… Maybe this whole family business can be done somehow.
No, this is stupid. It's so damn stupid! Someone like me could never be with someone like her. It's pointless to even think about it. I should just go to sleep. damn it! because of this, I'll probably have to leave the party. Shame, I kind of liked spending time with those pests.
I spent the whole night tossing and turning, thinking about the possibilities, about how to reject her and what I would do next. When morning came, I left my tent groggy and with a massive headache. I was immediately greeted by Sara, calling me brother in law and saying that Diana is by the river waiting for my answer. Did Sara wait for me by the tent just to say that? She's strangely invested in all this, huh?
Diana was waiting by the river, sitting on a stone, her back to me. I was hesitant to approach, this was my first time rejecting a girl and I didn't know how I should act. Hell, before this, I haven't even held a proper conversation with a girl alone. We were always together as a party, so I never had a chance.
Diana noticed me standing behind her and turned around. "Hey, Adam…" She stood up and approached me. She was standing right in front of me, looking straight into my eyes. "I'll ask again, I really like you, will you be with me?" Her face was red, I could see just how much courage this girl had to collect to ask me that.
I have to reject her, there's no way that… I swallowed hard. "I… Well, I…" Shit, don't go soft now, this is the critical moment! "I… Want to be with you… until the end of time, until this world turns to ash and beyond." What the fuck am I saying? Snap out of it, tell her that you're joking!
Diana smiled, hugged me tight and stayed like that for a while. "I-I'm so glad!" Then she kissed my mask where my lips would be and ran away embarrassed. Now I've done it. Shit…
I stayed by the river dazed for what felt like hours, not knowing what to do or how to act. Should I run away? I'm confident that if I ran, no one in this whole world would be able to catch me. But then again, why run when I could just kill them all and make it look like an accident. Nah, for some reason, I feel bad just thinking about that. I guess there's no alternative, I'll have to be with her. That's strange, why am I smiling all of a sudden? I'm doing this because I have no choice, not because I want to.
The trip back to the city was uneventful, Diana seemed happy, the rest gave me approving nods and smiles and I just wanted to hide below the biggest rock that I found for the rest of my life. But looking at Diana, I couldn't help it but smile. She was such a bright and cheerful girl, she really lit up my life. At that moment I swore to myself that if I found a way to go back home, I'd take her with me. I have no choice, but to take her with me.
Nothing happened between the two of us for the rest of the trip. All we did was glance at each other from time to time, not being able to hold eye contact for more than a second. But I was always given more food than usual, so that was nice. It seems that having a real relationship is new to the both of us and neither knows what to do.
When we came back to the city and finished our business in the guild, we, as usual, went for a few drinks. For some reason Sara - the one that usually got drunk in seconds - was restraining herself to only a few cups of ale while making me and Diana drink like there was no tomorrow. She even said that it's on her, so I, seeing a chance to save up on money, obliged her demands and drank as much as she poured.
It took hours, Diana was really tipsy, the guys were passed out on the table and the frustrated Sara kept pouring me cup after cup, but to her dismay, I was as sober as a judge.
Finally after losing her temper and the better half of her payment for the mission, Sara asked. "How the hell are you still sober you damn 'Dragon'? You drank enough to put down a whole battalion!"
"Oh, haven't I told you? I have a 'poison resistance' skill. In essence I can't get drunk."
This sent Sara to a frenzy. "Why didn't you tell me that before I spent a fortune trying to get you drunk, you piece of sh…" She composed herself and her usual smile came back. "Huh, never mind, Diana looks like she's drunk too much, you should take her to her room."
"You're her sister, isn't it your job to do so? She always takes care of you when you pass out, after all."
"Listen kid, you already drank through my savings, so just do what you're told or I'll get really mad, you hear me?"
"Fine, fine, whatever you say." I wonder what's with her all of a sudden.
I tossed Diana over my shoulder and was about to get going when Sara stopped me. "Not like that, you idiot! That's not how you carry a lady!"
This is annoying, if I knew that all that free booze wasn't free, I wouldn't have drank it. I took the very red Diana into my arms like a princess. "Is this better?"
"Yes, finally, I thought that you wouldn't understand, but here you go. Good for you, newbie." Then Sara turned to her sister. "Are you okay? I would join you, but this is something that you have to do alone."
Diana answered. "Y-yes, I think so, I'll be okay." What the hell are these two talking about?
Then Sara turned to me and with a stern voice ordered me to take care of her sister and to go. "If I hear that you've hurt my precious little Diana, it will be the end of you." What is she talking about? I'm just taking her to her room. Does she think that I'll ram her head on a wall on the way or something? She does know that I'm completely sober, right?
I give up. "Sigh, yes, mam, you can count on me!"
"Good, you two, make me proud!" Sara said while nodding in approvement.
The walk to Diana's inn wasn't long. We were both silent. Diana's warmth in my hands contrasted sharply with the chilly air outside. The night sky, full of stars, was soothing my senses, the voices of the drunkards in the streets gave way to almost complete silence of the inn Diana was staying in.
We entered her room. It was a room similar to mine. It had a table, two chairs and two beds. I layed Diana on one of them and was about to leave when she called my name. "Will you stay with me for a bit longer? Just a bit."
"Alright, I'll stay." I sat on one of the chairs.
"No, sit next to me on the bed, if you would…"
I obeyed. We just sat there, feeling uncomfortable for some time. I was starting to wonder why I was there when Diana finally spoke. "Can I take your mask off?"
"My mask? Why?"
"Please don't make me say it out loud." She looked very embarrassed.
"Do as you wish…"
She slowly took off my mask, exposing the face of Alex beneath it. She looked at me for a while and then asked. "I know that it sounds weird, but is this really your face? It doesn't match your personality at all."
"Clever girl, I use this face since I don't really like my own. Why? Is there something wrong with it?"
"C-can you show me your true face then?" I hesitated. "Please, just for a bit…" I obliged. My hair changed from black to grey, eyes full of life and vigor turned dead and three parallel scars appeared dividing my face. Diana smiled. "Now this is a face that matches that awful personality of yours." Before I was able to object, she kissed me.
I finally understood what was going on. She pulled back looking embarrassed, so this time I kissed her. I laid her down on the bed and slowly took her clothes off. My heart was racing, she looked so alluring, I hadn't ever felt such passion. "Please, be gentle, this is my first time…" She muttered, covering her mouth with her hand.
The night we spent together was far more enjoyable than anything that I've done in the brothels until then. One time was enough to fully satisfy me and soon, we fell asleep in each others arms.