Page 62 of The Hellbeast's Betrayal

“Requests?”

“Commands,” he corrected, making me huff.

“I thought so… and if I don’t?”

“I am not allowed to use force,” he replied, surprising me, because that was the first threat I had been expecting.

“Then I think I am good here, thanks,” I replied sarcastically, making him growl.

“I would not advise this, as he will be angered if he has to come and get you himself…and he is allowed to use force,”he added, making me sigh because I didn’t exactly have many options. And who knew, maybe it would offer me a chance to escape. Which was why I swung my legs off the bed and walked toward the door.

“Then, I guess, lead the way,” I said, making the demon huff, with actual steam coming out of his large nostrils.

At least I was doing this on my own terms. I had made a point of getting out of that dress, knowing he would likely be angry about that. I wondered if it was the thing that would actually send him over the edge and lash out at me. Because strangely, up to now, he hadn’t hurt me, something I still couldn’t wrap my head around. Other than manhandling me a bit, he had remained, for the most part, surprisingly gentle.

Something I knew couldn’t last.

The demon led me through the dark hallways, that were easier to see thanks to the lantern the guard carried on a pole. We also walked through one of the arches this time, and I knew straight down headed back to the balcony.

The castle seemed like a labyrinth of doors and archways leading off in all directions. Telling me that if I ever did manage to escape that bedroom, then I would only end up lost. I could also tell, with the lack of windows, that this castle must have been at least half built underground. Perhaps inside of the mountain I had seen glimpses of when on the balcony.

I also then wondered if Lucius’s castle was like this, because Amelia had explained it had been built inside of a mountain he owned. But then, with how uninviting and creepy this place looked, I couldn’t exactly see my cousin being happy living there if it was.

The place didn’t change much until we walked through a pair of ornate doors. And just like back in my room, there were battle scenes carved in the panels of black wood, with the metal handles coming out of the picture. These were two hands, outstretched from the burning souls below, as a rain of fire came from the winged demons above. Again, totally creepy and not exactly where anyone that wasn’t evil would want to set up home.

And speaking of demons that lived here, the guard opened these doors for me to walk through, into a room that made me gasp. It was vastly different to the rest of the castle I had seen. This space looked like it belonged in a fairy tale, it was like walking from night into day. A great stain glass window created a kaleidoscope of colors to play and dance on the pale marble floor. The light streaming in through the arched window depicted a scene of heavenly grace, as Gods and Goddesses sat in golden thrones watching those below. All around them a garden of Eden grew, that created most of the color in the piece. One that took up nearly the entirety of the wall that must have been at least four stories high.

There was nothing else in this huge space, one that was big enough you could have fit fifty of my trailers in here stacked like Jenga and still have room for fifty of my trucks. I felt like whistling, just so I could hear the echo. But then my guard alerted me to the fact that opposite this incredible window was another door.

Although there should be another name given for a set of doors that enormous. This time there was no carved scene, just panels of arched black wood with curled iron fixtures.

Everything was bigger, with the ceilings reminding me of English cathedrals. In fact, the space we were in now, looked as if it had been made with giants in mind, making me wonder if this was Garmr’s castle or one he had simply taken by force.

Of course, one look at the grumpy guard and I didn’t think asking was a good idea. The very last thing he looked like he wanted to be doing was escorting me anywhere.

Two guards stood either side of the colossal doors that must have been the same species of demon, because they looked very much the same. But then again, I wondered if the same thing could be said about humans, in their eyes.

This random thought left me as the doors opened up, after the two guards each pulled the lever at their sides at the same time. The sound of wheels turning as some great mechanism was being used made it echo throughout the enormous hall. And speaking of enormous rooms, I ended up leaving one colossal space for another.

The vast space was lined with Greek style columns, this time carved from a lighter grey stone that made them stand out in contrast against the bare black, rock walls. In front of each column stood stone plinths with each holding a large golden bowl that was filled with flames. As if lighting the way down to the main feature at the end, one that made me shudder when finally looking that way.

For there, sat on a very demonic looking throne was Garmr and like always…

He was waiting for me.

22

SUMMONING THE COURAGE FOR REVENGE

The sight of him sitting in that massive throne made me shudder. I wanted nothing more than to just run from the room.

The back of the chair rose up in a collection of giant dragon-style wings all interlocked together. Ten sets of them, at least, all fanned out, creating a huge backdrop that took up most of the wall behind. Each one tipped with deadly looking horns at multiple points, with the bottom of the chair like stone tree roots coming straight from the ground, anchoring it in place.

This was situated on a raised platform with a fan of steps leading up to it. Behind, were swathes of soft black fabric that hung from the arch behind, similar to what was in my room by my bed. Either side of the throne, were two doors tucked close to the corners of the room. Each framed in its own carved stone arch with keystone above.

The room was big enough to have held thousands of bodies, yet there looked to be just me and him. I didn't know whether this was worse or not, because I was left to walk the entire distance toward his throne alone. The long length of black carpet leading the way to what seemed to be my doom. My footsteps were barely heard because my nerves were that shot, that one sound and I might have taken off running.

Which meant that by the time I got to the foot of the stairs of the raised platform I had to fist my hands by my sides just to stop them from shaking. As for theoh mighty kinghimself, he looked eager for me to get there. The gleam in his eye told me that he had something planned and whatever it was, it would not bode well for me.

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