Page 130 of Demonic Cage
“Thank you, Lizander.” He nods deeply to his general. “I’ll be there shortly. I just have… one more thing to handle.”
I freeze as Lizander’s worried gaze falls on me. The general nods once and runs down the corridor. As he leaves, the Demon King turns to me. My mouth goes dry. His eyes are dark, like the killer who slaughtered his own people.
He leans towards me slowly, my muscles tensing. I’m sure everything is readable on my face at this moment. I fear his gaze. But what he says is worse.
“Surprises, surprises. Isn’t that right, my little champion?”
I’m unsure what to say, confused by what just happened and terrified of being caught.
Darya smooths a strand of hair behind my ear, caressing my cheek with his regrown claw.
“Remember whose name you screamed earlier. You know you can never belong to anyone else after this. You’ve already sold your soul to the devil.”
With that, he kisses my trembling lips and leaves me, locking the door behind him.
I sit on the bed. I have no idea how long I’ve been here. I just stare ahead, the yellow eyes around me remaining closed. My ears are ringing.
I’ve been left alone.
The trace of Darya’s hand still burns my skin, the cold touch of his lips sharpening the memory. I tremble – the cold has penetrated my bones, even though I shouldn’t feel cold in this place.
I need to pull myself together.
I keep telling myself that I did it for the angels, that I had no other choice, and I half believe it. How else could I have kept Darya here? And what would have been the point of not enjoying it? Why should I feel bad? Sex has always had a purpose in my life. Should I have suffered through it? Should I have pretended that…
No. I didn’t pretend. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed every minute of it, from start to finish.
Maybe that’s the demon blood in me. I enjoy being in bed with the devil. But who cares if, with this, I helped the angels?
My mind slowly clears, and I realize what has happened: Lavian and the angels have broken in. I can’t believe I didn’t hear anything before, but now I hear sharp sounds. Wingbeats, the clash of weapons… and here I sit on my bed, naked.
I jump up and hastily put on a jumpsuit. I press my forehead against the wall to think. It’s like I’m still in shock.
I’ve never been ashamed of my body or who I give myself to. Although I lost a lot of weight after my brother’s death, now that I’ve regained my old shape, or maybe a much stronger one, I never even considered being embarrassed in front of Darya. In truth, I never felt at a disadvantage, even when I was thin. I got what I wanted; I got Nathan, and not just him. The demons took my dreams, and the drugs took my days. If my mind wasn’t capable, the only thing I could rely on to survive all this was my body. Slowly, I went mad from the psychiatrists and my parents’ fights. And finally, I went mad because of my brother’s death.
And then I turned against myself. I punished and purged myself. I wanted to get rid of myself.
I push away from the wall. So, I gave in to a demon, and…? I used him, not the other way around. I used my body for what it always was: a distraction.
And most importantly, it worked. I got rid of Darya, and now I must go for the dagger. I still have time.
I straighten up and rush to the door, but as I try to yank the handle, I curse. It’s locked. I hit and kick it, but to no avail. I collapse in front of it. Despair creeps coldly up my spine. I won’t get out.
But if I don’t get out… if I don’t get out, Darya will kill me.
Maybe we just connected, but deep down, I know the truth. He will know that I’m on the angels’ side, that I was the one who distracted him.
He will know that such coincidences don’t happen.
You are only worth more to me dead if I see you on the angels’ side.
He will know… Darya will figure it out…
I think of taking the last celestial orb, so Lavian can find me. But judging by the sounds echoing through the cave system, thebattle is still raging. The walls of my cell shake, and thick dust rises from the ceiling with an explosion. I hear shouts, growing sharper. Demonic blares mix with the roars of monsters. I wonder how many will die because of me. Will Nárs survive? Will the kidnapped children be buried under the rubble? Will I ever see Lavian again?
I squeeze the celestial orb between my fingers, which I found in the jumpsuit Darya tore apart, and with my eyes closed, I think of Lavian. Nothing.
I have to get out of here.
