Page 124 of Demonic Cage
I laugh, water still leaving my mouth.
“Sorry to disappoint you.”
“If we meet in the water again, I will kill you. I don’t care what Darya does to me!”
I’m sure she means it. Trembling, I push myself up and drag myself toward the cave entrance. I have nothing to say to the mermaid. I ignore her struggling form, and the moment my legs obey, I start running. I have to run while I have the upper hand.
I know where to go, but when the path forks in the dimly lit, dark red tunnel, I hesitate. Pandora said to pay attention to the details in my memories. One leads to my cell, and, according to my brother, the other goes to the place where the dagger is.
I should pick the latter, but then they’ll rescue me, and Pandora’s book will stay in my room. Something tells me I’ll need it. I grind my teeth. I’m running out of time. I have no idea how much time I spent in the lake, but I need to get the dagger as soon as possible. I take a step to the left, where I know I should go, but an invisible hand pulls me to the right.
I curse but give in to the urge and run to my cell. I fling the door open, and the huge eyes immediately fix on me, their yellow light almost blinding me.
Great, now they know exactly where I am!
I hurl myself toward the massive bed, left messy from when I abandoned it weeks ago. I grab my backpack and stuff Pandora’s book inside.
“Going somewhere?”
I spin around. Darya stands in the doorway.
Heart pounding, I grab my bag.
“I’m tired of having nothing in your tower,” I reply to the Demon King with feigned anger. “I came to pick up a few things.”
Darya tilts his head to the side, considering.
“Is that why you crawled out and wrecked the bed?”
I shake my head.
“I’m also tired of needing a babysitter everywhere I go.”
He takes a step closer to me. My body tenses, but I put on a neutral mask.
“So,” I begin, casually swinging my bag over my shoulder, “when are we going to train?”
Darya leans against the wall, a lazy half-smile on his face.
“It’s too late for that,” he says, yawning.
I start to sweat.Too late?
“What… uh… what time is it?” I ask uncertainly.
Darya shrugs.
“It’s almost evening. The sun will set in an hour. Or sooner.”
I feel like I’ve been struck on the back of my head. An hour? I don’t have enough time…
Darya raises an eyebrow.
“You’re shaking, my little champion,” he sings, pushing off from the wall.
I can’t speak. I watch helplessly as Darya steps closer and gently grasps my neck. He follows my gulp with his thumb and curious eyes.
I didn’t get the dagger.
