Page 60 of Once Upon a Demon's Heart
My heart skips a few beats as a very tall, very slender figure approaches us from the head of the building. This must be the Krinsle that Nikolai told me about before we left the room. He kept it brief, but the Krinsle is one of the oldest demons in Devicit, with an ancient sort of power that has found its use in the chapels.
The demon is at least eight feet tall, draped in blood red robes that trail on the marble floor behind it. Its hood is pulled up and I can only make out two white dots for eyes. Chills run down my spine, and a shudder moves through my entire body. Nothing Nikolai said to describe this demon could’ve prepared me for the darkness that rolls from its shoulders.
“In all the centuries that I’ve walked in Devicit, I’ve never borne witness to the union of a devourer and one of holy blood.” The creature’s scratchy voice curls and bends through the room like a curse. My palms are clammy and it takes everything I have just to remain standing here and not bolt for the door.
The Krinsle extends its long, charcoal-like hand to Kalel. The fingers are practically bones, and the nails are overgrown and sharp.
Kalel takes the Krinsle’s hand, then looks at me. I flinch, not sure what I’m supposed to do, so I just stare into Kalel’s eyes and hope that he’ll signal me.
“Lord Kalel Lornhelm, I will bind you to this half-god if you so wish it.” That awful, haunting voice slithers through the room once more. No matter how long I look at the Krinsle, all I can see are the two dots for eyes. Perhaps it does not have a true face. Somehow, that’s even more disturbing.
“I wish it.” Kalel’s tone is steady and sure. His eyes bore into me, hurt still flickering there.
The Krinsle makes a clicking sound, almost like a clock that’s been spun backward. Then it extends a hand to me. It looks cold and like it will suck the life from me if I touch it.
I force my breaths to be smooth as I reach for its hand. Kalel holds his breath and tightens his fists at his side.
“I won’t let her filthy blood contaminate our beloved Lord Lornhelm’s heirs!” A woman cries out. Her voice rings from behind me, and an audible gasp moves through the entire chapel as she tears my head back by fisting my hair. A cold stone is pressed to my neck and in that split second, a pain like fire bolts through my arteries and brings me to my knees.
My vision clouds and all I can hear are the hammering breaths that escape me as I lift my trembling hand to my neck. Ash residue is left on my fingers. Only a devilstone can inflict this damage to the flesh of a demigod.
Another devilstone? Where are they coming from?
It feels as though time has slowed, because as I force my head up to flee from the demon trying to kill me, I’m faced with Kalel. His hand buried inside the woman’s chest.
Horror drowns out all sound in the room. The woman’s face is mortified, but she can’t mumble words as he rips her heart out in one fluid movement. She collapses on the ground beside me, twitching as her blood flees her flesh in a large pool of red.
I lean back on my elbows and inch myself away from Kalel. He takes notice and stares down at me. Her heart in his hand, his amber eyes glowing like fire.
“Would anyone else like to try to stop this union?” he asks in a lethal voice. He doesn’t let his eyes lift from me, assessing the wound on my neck that still throbs. He drags his tongue over the woman’s heart, tasting her blood before crushing it in his hand and dropping it.
The room is silent.
“Then let us continue.” Kalel reaches down and hooks his hand around my waist, hoisting me up and supporting my weight against him.
I grit my teeth and force my thoughts away from the pain.
Let’s just get this over with.
The Krinsle offers me its hand once more. This time, I don’t hesitate to take it. I want to get out of this chapel as quickly as possible.
A magical pulse spreads through my hand at its touch. It’s a soft and gentle magic. Not malicious like one might assume from the Krinsle’s fearsome appearance.
It tilts its head at me. “Hmm. You are a strange half-god. Alira, Daughter of Venus, I will bind you to this devourer if you so wish it.”
Kalel’s grip tightens over my waist like he’s about to be stabbed in the chest.
I swallow thickly and shut my eyes. Of all fates I’ve lived, this one I hope to keep. My eyes open and land on Kalel.
“I wish it.” My resolve is sure.
There can be no other path for me. And as much as Kalel despises me, I can’t help the emotions that swell in my chest whenever I’m near him. When he touches me, I feel like I’ll melt in his hands.
The Krinsle’s eyes arch as if it is smiling. “So be it. The devourer and the half-god are bound by this kiss.” The Krinsle touches its thumb to Kalel’s lower lip, leaving a black smudge of ash down the center. Then it does the same to me.
Kalel turns to face me. His earthy scent wraps around me and settles into my bones as I stare into his eyes. I want to tell him how sorry I am that everything has unfolded this way. Sorry that he has to marry the person he loathes most in this world. But as he lifts his bloodstained hand to my chin and tilts it up, I find a yearning burning in him. I find that it burns in me too.
Kalel’s lips press against mine.
