Page 9 of Once Upon a Demon's Heart
ALIRA
Korin shakesout the last bed sheet before laying it flat on the table to fold the edges together. It’s her week for laundry duty. It has been since my loop started so I have no clue who’s turn it is next, but I’m glad that it was my week off from all chores around the barracks.
“Are you okay?” Korin sets the folded sheet in the storage hamper. “Because you look like you’ve just seen a demon running through the castle,” she jests with a slight smirk. Her expression quickly deflates into worry when she sees the dread only grow heavier on my face. “Oh gods, did you actually see one?”
I shake my head. “No, but I need to tell you something.”
Korin sits with her legs crossed on the opposite side of my bed as I explain the peace deal to her and what will happen in a few short hours.
“You’re giving yourself to them as a bride? But we can win, Alira! You don’t need to do this.” Angry tears well in her eyes. I understand her belief in the demigod’s abilities to thwart the demons, but she doesn’t know how wrong she is.
I’ve seen every outcome of the battle that takes place tonight. In every single one, we all die.
I press my lips together as I set my hand on hers. “Korin, we won’t win. This is the only way to have peace between the kingdoms. I’m honored to take this role.” I wish I sounded as confident as my words are.
Her expression twists with pain. “There’s no way I can talk you out of this, is there?”
“I’m afraid not,” I murmur sadly.
She sits with the information for a moment. “I’ll see you again someday, though, right?”
“I hope so.” I give her a reassuring smile that doesn’t meet my eyes.
She swipes her sleeve across her face before shifting off the bed and retrieving a necklace from her nightstand. Korin extends her hand out to me.
I stand and offer my palm. She cups the bottom of my hand and places the jewelry with a burdensome weight pulling on her frown.
“Always keep it close. I’ll be with you,” she mutters softly.
I clutch the silver heart-shaped pendant and wrap my arms over her shoulders in a tight embrace. “Thank you, Korin.”
The chapel bells ring, indicating that the sun is setting in five minutes. In the past, it was used to signal the departure of the sun god and to send our prayers and thanks to him for another day. Now we just use it as a way to keep track of patrol changes.
I set to packing anything that might be of use to me. It doesn’t take long because I don’t have much. Being an orphan who grew up to become a knight isn’t exactly a life that comes with luxuries, or belongings for that matter.
I don’t even have a last name. None of the orphaned demigods do.
I sheath the dagger that I’ve carried with me since I could walk. It’s the only gift my mother ever left for me, according to the house mother. From what I can tell, there are noenhancements to the blade, but the gods certainly aren’t known for being forthcoming.
I have no formal clothes to wear besides my armor, so I find the cleanest set of long sleeve leathers and pants I have and tug them on before getting into my armor.
I tuck my helmet beneath my arm, frowning as I take one last look at my bed. It wasn’t much, but it was all I ever had. My fellow knights were all I’d ever known.
Korin walks silently beside me as we return to the inner castle. She’s wearing the beige prayer robes adorned with gold beads and slips of red around the cowl. As is everyone else in our kingdom who is not positioned at a post right now is, ordered by the king. He really does intend to send me off properly with the song of the gods. I huff at the thought. Why stick to our old ways now? The gods won’t hear us. They never have before. I glance at the walls, memorizing them in case the demons decide to lock me up in a dark chamber for the rest of my long life.
The old paintings are of the deities. Some depict peaceful settings of them interacting with humans and demigods, while others show their violent nature. The wrath they so unconcerningly would take out upon the mortals and demons just for existing.
Statues made of ivory marble line the curved walls that lead into the foyer. I keep my eyes from trailing to Venus. She’s no mother to me. I’m only a discarded object to her, but if being her heir will bring peace to the last of the demigods and the merciless demons, then so be it.
I will accept my fate.
Korin grabs my hand tightly and offers a wounded grin that tells me she’s as heartbroken as I am about this. She’s like a sister to me. The only person who’s shown me an ounce of empathy and care throughout my life.
“You’ll be okay. I know we’ll meet again.” She throws her arms over my shoulders and hugs me tightly.
I shut my eyes and hug her just as desperately. “I hope so,” I murmur, and pray that she can’t hear the dismay in my tone. Because I doubt I’ll ever be returning, and I don’t want her to see what becomes of me even if we do get the chance to meet again.
She slowly releases me, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Best of luck, Alira.” I place the helmet over my head as I watch her leave to join the rest of the knights off duty and waiting along the balconies for the sendoff.
