Page 49 of Fallen Stars

Eli shrugged as they continued. “Better that than allowing it to drink the souls of mortals as it was doing. The creatures down here are not ones you should ever feel sorry for.”

Elara clenched her jaw as they got to the fifth door on the left. Her stomach was somersaulting, and she still reeled from the news that real life Mythas were locked in some of these cells. She felt a calling to help them. Perhaps Eli was telling the truth, and they really were criminals, depravity of the highest variety. But Elara knew what it was to be a wild thing locked away, and she warred with herself as Eli put a hand once more to the door in front of her, unlocking it with his magick.

“I’m about the only Star who can unlock any door—comes with the trickery,” he said. “When I was human, I could pick a lock with near enough anything,” he said. Elara made an amused sound as a click finally sounded, grating metal shrieking as it was pulled.

With building anticipation, she followed Eli into the cell, completely bathed in shadow. It was a strange feeling that swirled around her. On the one hand she felt dread and apprehension, on the other…that dark thing that had awoken when she’d killed the three men in the pit was awake once more, leering and hungry, excited rather than scared as it observed the room. Her eyes caught on a figure hunched in the corner.

Eli was lighting a cigarette, the flame from his match the only light in the space as it leapt upon the walls. She called a wisp of her own shadows forward, a comforting gesture as she saw what was slumped, grinning at them, from a pallet.

A monster. It was the only word to describe the man. His eyes were wholly black, no distinction between pupil and iris as he blinked at Elara, grin widening. She nearly took a step back, for it showed rows of teeth sharpened to points and a tongue as black as his eyes, which darted out to catch a drop of something on the corner of his mouth.

“Whatishe?” she whispered to Eli, who took a long drag, looking at the thing with disdain before replying.

“He’s one of Ariete’s demons. Botis.”

Elara knew of the demons of Perses. There were extensive stories about them in her Mythas of Celestia book. Yet no depictions did the sheer horror before her justice.

“What do you mean, one of Ariete’s?”

Eli sighed, as though she was stupid for asking. “When Ariete fell to this world—to Perses—he befriended the Mythas there, gained control over them, the likes of which no other Star has ever been able to. It’s why the mortals there, centuries ago, began to love him and pledge undying loyalty to the new god.

“The Mythas ran from us Stars, but the demons of Perses… Well, they liked Ariete very much. Until that is, they became too bloodthirsty and began to upset the balance between themselves and humans once more.”

He cast a reproachful look at the demon, who still hadn’t uttered a word, instead watching Elara hungrily. She stepped a little closer to Eli.

“We had to do some damage control, exterminate those we could like the vermin they were. But this one here, he managed to escape for a long while. And well, it’s been proven very difficult to kill him. So instead, he was thrown in this prison, wards heavy enough to never allow his escape.

Botis licked his lips.

“And you expect me to walk through his dreams?” Elara hissed. “Are you utterly mad?”

“It’s this or be completely unprepared for when you walk Ariete’s,” Eli murmured back. “Like I said, if you can walk through his dreams and make it out with your sanity intact, Ariete’s will be a walk in the park.”

Elara sighed, the dark part of her that welcomed the challenge warring with the mortal and sensiblepart that screamed at her to leave the cell.

“He’s controlled in here,” Eli said. “You’ll be safe, physically. And I’ll be here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Elara would be reassured by the words if they weren’t coming out of the mouth of a god literally known for his trickery. She let out a long breath as she surveyed the demon again, willing her pounding heart to still. She wouldn’t betray an inch of fear—knew that the demon would likely smell it.

Botis cocked his head, his tongue flicking out as he tasted the air before chuckling.

“So the Moon has finally risen again,” he rasped, the sound like something dying as the statement left his lips.

“Don’t speak to her,” Eli snapped.

The demon chuckled again. “I wonder if she remembers.”

“Remembers what?” Eli asked exasperatedly, taking a step in front of Elara.

“Exactly what she’s done.”

Elara stilled, looking up at Eli. But the god was frowning.

“What are you blabbering about?” Eli drawled. “I suppose anyone would lose their sanity between these four walls, but I have no time for your mindless rambling.”

“What do you mean?” Elara breathed.

Botis fixed her fully with his stare, pointed teeth on display. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

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