Page 136 of Demonic Cage
The angels form a protective circle around us, but the demons are many, and they mindlessly slaughter the herebias. Some of them break through the defensive line, and Lavian has to spin with me in his arms. I try not to scream, but as a demon crashes into us and I fall from Lavian’s grasp, I let out a howl. He catches me at the last moment, and we both fall to the ground.
My bag rolls away. I scream as I tumble onto my aching arm. Lavian is already on his feet, fighting a demon.
“Lotte!” he shouts at me. “The dagger!”
Dust settles in my eyes, and my arm is broken, but I rush towards my bag. A demon falls dead beside me, causing me to slip. I get up and am almost at my bag. And then, in the distance, I see the Kraldem. I freeze. His burning gaze locks with mine. He’s far away, but I can see his silver pupils enchanting me.
My feet root to the ground, as if the Demon King’s gaze has pinned me with tiny daggers. To my left, Lavian battles another demon. Darya then focuses on the angel, looking over him slowly, a dark desire in his gaze. A desire for blood, for vengeance. I look ahead at my bag. I’m meters away. I can’t threaten Darya the way I did Nárs.
I hear a chiming sound above my head. I look up at the ceiling. Sharp rocks hang from the volcano, and I’m standing right beneath them. So too is Lavian.
My lips tremble.You’re only worth more to me dead if I see you on the angels’ side.Darya will kill me now. He must know I’ll never stay here, that I only tricked him.
I clench my fist. This is the end.
Darya turns his entire body towards me. His face is inscrutable. The world seems to vanish around us. The demon’s dark gaze glues me to the ground. He spreads his legendary wings, then flashes them at me. Blood-red liquid drips to the ground from the sunset-colored membranes. He takes a step towards me.
He stops.
He doesn’t need to come closer. He extends his arm in front of him. His fist clenches. I know what’s coming. This is how he killed his subjects, too.
My legs turn to ice.
The battle quiets around me. Everything slows down. A soft breeze blows my hair across my face, moving like lazy waves. I let it cover my eyes.
Weapons clash beside me. I slowly wrap my arms around my chest.
The Kraldem takes another step towards me. My mouth dries up. I wait for the rock to hit. This is it. I dig my nails into my arm. He’s going to kill me.
And then Darya, the Demon King, standing amidst the battle and the corpses,smiles.
His eyes light up with his grin, his dark irises gleaming with satisfaction. And I know I will never, under any circumstances, be able to forget this wicked smile.
The demon’s sharp fangs flash, and he waves at me lightly with his outstretched hand.
He’swaving.Darya iswavingat me.
Grinning.
I can’t breathe. I forget I exist.
The Demon King looks behind me, andwinks.His smirk is widening, the same hunger for blood filling his gray eyes as before.
Then something hits my waist, lifting me into the sky. In an instant, I’m soaring above the ground, my bag landing in my lap.
I’m in Lavian’s arms again.
“Hold on and don’t lose the dagger!” he shouts at me, and I obey. He looks down, hatred battling with something in his gaze so deep I can’t comprehend, but I know he’s looking at the Demon King.
Angels surround us once again, and I don’t see Darya anymore. I bury my face in Lavian’s chest, but I can’t even blink. The black castle recedes from us, the mountains gradually forming into hills. The demons do not follow, and Darya’s blood-curdling smile flashes before me again, as if I am still standing frozen in his scorching gaze.
No one comes after us, and without a struggle, we reach the deep blue sea. With every minute, I am more certain that theDemon King has let us go. Darya wanted the angels to take me with them.
My mind is blank. I have no thoughts. Or perhaps there are too many, and I can’t sort them out. I’m just soaring through the sky. Hot blood soaks my neck.
We descend, the wind catching my hair. Lavian’s feet touch the ground. I think he sets me down beside a tree. Maybe he says something, but the next moment he’s gone.
Blood. Blood everywhere.
