Page 41 of Demonic Cage
“If you come from humans, you become a demon. Or a herebia, but that doesn’t happen in Filizi. Or you die if you stay here. At least, only a few birds survive the prison. The cave would collapse on them.”
“Birds?”
“That’s what I call the herebias, Flower,” Nárs continues. “Their wings resemble those of a storm-beaten dove. There’s nothing good about them, though they themselves don’t know it.”
“And what is Kripot, then?”
“He’s neither a demon nor a herebia. He’s a native of this world. Don’t get me wrong, you could still be a demon or an angel if you’re born here, but we haven’t been able to reproduce for a long time.”
“So how…”
“We collect humans, and they become what they always were: demons.” Nárs smiles at me.
I ponder this.
“Much of the disappearances of humans, is because…?”
“Yes, it’s from us,” he affirms. “Or from the birds.”
“How do you handle it without raising suspicion?”
“I like it when a child disappears without a trace,” Nárs says, licking his pale lips. “But Darya likes to leave evidence and trails. I think it’s unnecessary. Parents just keep searching if there are tracks. Herebias have their silly habits too.”
“You kidnap children?!”
“If we didn’t, breaking everyone’s spirit would take as painfully long as yours is proving. Honestly, I don’t understand what Darya plans to do with you. We use a different method for children…”
“What?” I ask sharply. “What do you do to them?”
Every time I think of children, I see my brother’s face. The fixation is too old, and I can’t consciously do anything about it. Darya mentioned breaking demon-blooded ones when he dragged me into the dark crevice in the café. But children? What can they do to them?
“You’ll see someday.” Nárs shrugs, as if the kidnapping of someone’s child doesn’t evoke any emotion for him. It probably doesn’t.
“Oh my God,” I murmur in disbelief, and Nárs laughs bitterly.
“Why do you give a name to a phenomenon you don’t even know exists?”
“What do you mean?”
Nárs rolls his eyes.
“He doesn’t exist. God. Even if he did, why would you bother with him? What’s the worth of a god who gave you Hell? Who forgot to mention that, oh, there’s still a world before the real Heaven and Hell, where many of you will end up? If you ask me, he doesn’t exist. If he does, he’s the evilest you could ever meet.”
“Have you ever met him? Has anyone?”
“I haven’t. I said he doesn’t exist. But… Darya claims he has, apparently.” For the first time, I notice uncertainty in Nárs’s voice. Darya might have met a god or God… That’s a frightening thought. What have I gotten myself into? Why me?
“Where are the children?” I ask, envisioning blonde hair and a button nose in my mind.
“Here,” Nárs says, starting to descend suddenly, “there,” he adds, twirling around, “and over there.” We touch the ground.
I break free from his arms, my stomach turning due to his earlier antics.
“You asshole!” I scream at him, but he pays no attention.
“Oh, Lily Girl, didn’t you think I’d add a little fun?” Nárs asks, leading us to the entrance of a cave.
He moves along the ground as fast as he does in the air. Limping, I join him.
