Page 29 of Demonic Cage
Darya looks at me for a while, but I don’t detect contempt in his eyes, just curiosity. He turns back to Léthé.
“You can’t do this,” he says. “Neither of you can. No one is as capable or would be as strong as Lotte.”
I laugh out loud. Does Darya think that the powerful demon woman who emerged from the foam, or the huge muscle-man, or even the killer-eyed Sylla, is weaker than me?
Darya raises an eyebrow.
“You don’t believe me? Of course, you don’t. How would you know that you can fight if you’ve never really fought?”
This sentence is so familiar that I instinctively look at Léthé. She said something to me along the similar lines. How can you know you truly want to forget when you’ve never really remembered? I see in the girl’s eyes that she recognizes the similarity in Darya’s sentence, and her beautiful face freezes as she stares at me. It’s a reminder for her, and a warning for me, that Darya is watching everything.
“She will learn, she will learn,” the green gnome repeats.
“But how will she be able to fight?”
“We will teach her,” Darya asserts. This makes me curious. The idea of becoming stronger is demonically tempting.
“The angels will try to invade,” the Kraldem continues. “They cannot reach her unless we allow them. But safety first.” He then turns to Sylla. “Examine Gorgóna with Léthé. Do you have the vision to see where they could camp?”
“Yes,” Sylla replies without moving her lips. Her voice is eerie and soft, like the newly arrived fog in a cemetery.
Darya nods. He moves his wrist for the white crow to perch on, cawing. The Kraldem whispers something to the specter bird, which croaks, spreads its large wings, and flies away.
Darya turns back to his subjects.
“Kripot,” he says, addressing the massive blue muscular giant. Aside from his colorful skin, he appears to be little more than a trained human, the most normal creature in the room. “You go with Hépotis. It seems we need to forge more weapons. Make a list of what he needs.” Darya then points at the emerald gnome. “Organize as many demons as you deem necessary. If they are again in the eastern part of the Maavica Caves, we’ll repel them.”
Kripot nods like an obedient soldier. The green gnome, twitching, vehemently mutters his approval.
“Lizander, from tomorrow, you’re in charge of reinforcements. Until then, you’ll be with Nárs, Lotte.”
I raise my eyebrows in surprise. What doesNársmean?
Lizander swallows silently and nods. Darya looks at his demons.
“You need to understand that the war has escalated to a new level. We have the advantage, as long as Lotte is on our side. From now on, there won’t be a moment without one of us being with her,” the Demon King says, pointing at me. “This means you strengthen her, train her, and also heal her. If she spends days in bed, there should be a reason for it. If you don’t fix her, there must be a cause. If she has to perform on the next battlefield, make sure she is well. If she suffers permanent damage,” Darya adds, pausing for emphasis, “and it hinders her in the future, I won’t hesitate to inflict a wound twice as large on anyone.”
Everyone nods, even Sylla while maintaining her deathly smile. My heart pounds against my ribs with fear. Why might I have reason to stay in bed? Might I get hurt?
“Stand up,” Darya commands, and it takes a moment to realize he’s addressing me. I immediately jump up, not wanting his claws on me any longer. The Demon King appears next to me, smoothing out a stray lock of my hair and gazing into my eyes. An excited warmth runs through me. “They will take care of you, my little champion.”
His cold fingers depart my face, leaving behind a hot yearning. He strides towards the mermaid. He also smooths out a strand of her hair, but then his white fingers slide down from behind the mermaid’s ear onto her beautiful, round face, encompassing her dark neck. The claws dig into the golden-brown skin.
“Dear Léthé, can I count on you to take care of our little champion? I shouldn’t be worried that anything will happen to her, right?” A monotonous, threatening melody permeates his deep, honeyed voice. “I take it I shall not have to contemplate your punishment…”
The fear on Léthé’s face makes her vulnerable, and for a moment she seems almost human. Darya’s sweet smile is horrifying and I shiver like a fragile bird in a storm.
He is insane.
The fingers release her graceful neck, and the eerie atmosphere vanishes. Darya returns to me with such superhuman speed that I only see his blurred figure.
“I’m glad we’ve cleared that up,” he declares, looking at Lizander, who swallows again but otherwise withstands the Demon King’s gaze.
“Nárs,” Darya repeats this unknown word. I follow his gaze and stare at Lizander in disbelief. The demon’s face cracks and falls off as if it were just a dried clay mask. I initially believe a black demon is emerging, but no. The face is still Lizander’s, but someone else is looking back at me from behind those palebrown eyes – someone entirely different. As he speaks, his voice is higher-pitched and more amused.
“So, I’ll take care of her today!” He claps his hands joyfully and shouts, “Marvelous!” He continues clapping. “Can I take her to the statue square? Go on, Darya, let me take her there!” he pleads, squeezing his hands together in supplication, as if praying to the Demon King. I stare in amazement. Before me is no longer the serious Lizander.
“Assuming you heard the previous conditions, you can take her wherever you want,” Darya asserts disinterestedly, then looks at me with a big smile. “My dear champion, let me introduce Nárs.”
