Page 59 of Demonic Cage
“You’ll always be my champion, Lotte.”
I sink lower into the tub and exhale a deep breath. I release my thoughts about the Demon King, who left me alone just a few minutes ago with the instruction to change into the clothes laid out on the bed and make myself presentable.
He was aroused. Darya wanted me.
And I burned between my thighs.
I sigh and submerge beneath the water. My chest is heavy with saturated emotions. I’ve fallen under Darya’s spell. I desire him. I hate him.
You don’t hate me, Lotte – you hate yourself.Maybe he’s right. Maybe the Demon King knows me better than I know myself. Maybe I don’t hate him as much anymore. Why would I, really? Besides the fact that he’s a demon who kidnaps children. I know nothing about their world, and maybe it’s not so bad for the children here after all.
My breath runs out, and I break the surface. As I wipe the moisture from my eyes, I freeze. Two fiery, coffee-brown eyes stare at me from the doorway.
“Out, bitch, and get dressed!” It would take centuries to master the contempt in Léthé’s voice.
I defensively clasp my hands in front of my bare body.
“What are you doing here?” I blurt out.
A sharp smile spreads across her face, and she prowls toward me like a jaguar. In an instant, I leap out of the tub and grab my towel.
“That’s better.” Léthé nods. “I don’t like babysitting.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Darya sent me,” she says with disgust.
“And you do whatever he wants,” I mutter.
She waits a moment before responding.
“He’s our ruler. If you think he’ll ever do anything for you, you’re very mistaken.”
I don’t doubt that, though I wish I could.
“So, are you going to braid my hair?” I mock.
She snorts. “If I can avoid touching you, that would be nice. The instruction is to escort you to the ceremony on time, appropriately dressed. At least something like that, but there was no mention of laying a finger on you. Now, get rid of that bath sheet and dress yourself! If I have to intervene, your bones will regret it!”
I’d be naïve not to take the warning literally.
I don’t like the idea of being naked, vulnerable in front of Léthé, but I discard the towel and put on my underwear. From the corner of my eye, I see the mermaid looking at me, and her expression alters, if only for a moment. My body has changed over the past three months. I never had a bad figure, but now I am more toned my breast size has remained the same. The clothes I wore three months ago no longer fit me. I confidently turn to Léthé and put on the long white dress. It clings tightly to my chest, leaving an inviting neckline, then flows loosely and drapes over my now well-defined thighs. I take out the makeup brought by Nárs and discover yet another new addition. The dark purple, almost black lipstick could have been smuggled in when I wasn’t here. I apply it generously, then prepare the perfect foundation and eyebrows. As I stand up and look into themirror, I like what I see and know from Léthé’s disdainful glance that others will like it too.
My confidence doesn’t last long. As we leave my cell, I regret being so provocative. I try to shrink into myself as much as possible. Demons gather around us, but they keep a respectful distance. I feel like a white light that’s drawing attention to itself in a dark cave. A shiver runs down my spine as I sense that spicy earthy scent, the same one I felt when that demon attacked. I grimace. Léthé visibly enjoys my discomfort.
“You better get used to the idea that if you ever transform and don’t die – which I would deeply regret – this is how you’ll look.”
“Like this?” the question slips out of my mouth as I glance towards the black skeletal demons. Léthé shrugs.
“We can’t really know. I don’t look like this.”
“Then how?”
“It’s better you don’t know until you have to. Not many survive my demon form. Or even the human one.”
“Why are you in human form?” I ask.
“Darya is in human form too, and it doesn’t bother you, does it?”
