Page 46 of Demonic Cage
“But you said… Well, Nárs said,” I say, smoothing a lock of hair behind my ear in embarrassment, “that, um… demons come from humans.”
“This is true,” Lizander replies. “However, our ancestors originate from here. It became clear that we couldn’t reproduce. We had to find humans.”
“Sounds like-”
“No,” Lizander asserts. “I wasn’t there either. I also come from the Third World.”
“Third World?” I ask, surprised.
“Where we are now is the Second World. Yours is the Third – the humans’. What you call Heaven and Hell is the First. The real one. Théos or Diávolo awaits you there somewhere. At least you still have a choice.”
I bite my lip.
“I don’t think I have many options,” I comment quietly.
Lizander looks up from the book, surprised.
“Why do you think that?”
“You owe me,I heard my brother say yesterday.” Lizander leans closer, and I can already feel his narcissus-scented breath. I see the subtle layer of powder covering his face, the brownish contour emphasizing the arch of his eyelids. His lips stand out with natural matte lipstick against his bronzed complexion. His eyebrows are neatly shaped and lightly painted, like a model before a photoshoot. His pale-brown eyes scrutinize sadly, and I look at him in a way I hope shows I am someone he can confide in. But this is only the second time I’ve talked to him. Although for him to sit beside me, I know that if his lips were a bit longer, if his drawn eyes were just a shade darker, and if the circles under his eyes were fainter, he wouldn’t be here with me anymore. Only someone skilled can create such natural makeup, and I doubt Lizander is that.
He notices something, and his gaze hardens. He nods almost imperceptibly.
“Yes,” he whispers, leaning closer to me. My face warms and my breath becomes heavier. “Anytime he can…”
Suddenly, he holds his head in his hands and sighs softly. He rubs his eyelids.
“Lizander?” I ask, moving cautiously closer. The man opens his eyes, pulls me into his arms, and kisses me. Stunned, I don’t kiss back, but my lips soften as his tongue breaks between them. His eyes are black, and the circles have disappeared. I cry out, pushing him away with all my strength. I jump up, vigorously wipe my mouth, and crawl back.
“You asshole!”
“Oh, Little Flower, no need to behave so aggressively again!” Nárs licks his lips with pleasure, like an art collector running his finger along a frame. “Nice to know you accept Lizander’s tongue.”
I shake with anger.
“Did you think,” Nárs begins, “that my promise not to touch you would apply to other days?”
“You said you wouldn’t do it without my permission!”
Nárs thinks about this for a while.
“Well,” he starts, “even if I said that, I didn’t mean it. Now, can we go?”
“I’m not going anywhere with you!” I state, crossing my arms. “Bring Lizander back!”
Nárs shrugs.
“No. Either you come with me, or another demon takes you. And he may not be as kind as—”
“Then I choose the other demon!”
Nárs jumps up, raising his palms in surrender.
“Okay, okay! Calm down, Lily Girl!” he says, jumping towards me. From a pockets on his thigh, he pulls out a black eyeliner. One that’s mine.
“What do you say we make a deal?” He winks at me. “You come with us every day, and I occasionally return your masking tools.”
He offers me the eyeliner reverentially. I sigh loudly. It’s likely that the man wouldn’t give me to hungry demons, but that doesn’t rule out the possibility that every day he knocks me out and takes me to Kripot.
