Page 7 of Demonic Cage
My eyes oscillate between the two men as I try to find a logical explanation for the events unfolding before me. Maybe there’s a metal structure attached to his shoulder that…
As soon as he lands, the wings begin to phosphoresce, as if tiny golden droplets are forming around them. Then the wings retract, disappearing with the glowing mist.
Ah… So, no structure, but…Oh…
I don’t take my medicine anymore. Of course!
Dreams have always been like this. Too vivid, too realistic. Many times, I couldn’t distinguish between the two things.
Now I’m sure I’m not awake. Maybe I collapsed from exhaustion in the middle of the street, and now I’m dreaming that two angels kidnapped me. Perhaps I couldn’t cope with Nathan’s betrayal, or my parents’ tension, or it’s just the result of medication withdrawal. I don’t know, but the fear subsides, and my calmness slowly soothes my heartbeat.
I exhale, using my tongue to push away the loose gag while I watch my dream captors.
The arriving angel, covered in blood, speaks with a stern expression. “They followed us,” he says, and it feels like a cymbal is again struck inside my head.
“I don’t understand why we didn’t kill her on the spot,” the black-haired one responds, spitting out the words. The angel who just arrived looks at me. His dark brown hair hangs sweaty on his forehead, and his heavy breath suggests he may have been fighting someone. He holds a similar spear to his companion, but both ends are sharp. His bronze eyes pierce like spikes. He was the one I saw. He kidnapped me.
“Too many were following. They would have taken her away from us,” he answers the black-haired one, although continuing to look at me. “Let’s get it over with.”
I know I’m dreaming, yet the terror hits me in the face. Everything feels so real. The man walks deliberately towards me, each step seemingly filled with pain.
“I’m sorry,” he says, kneeling. He takes out a knife, and my eyes widen. Is he going to kill me?
“I know you deserve better. But believe me, this is best for everyone.”
I struggle to create a small opening under the rag with my tongue. Even though it’s a dream, I don’t want to experience pain.
“Mmmm, youuu donnnn lokinn foo mee!” I manage to mumble.
The man with brown hair stops.
“What? Say that again!”
I glance down towards the rag, and he pulls it out of my mouth.
“I said,” I begin, deciding to lay everything on the table, “I’m probably not the one you were looking for. I haven’t done anything. If it’s a ransom you want, my father has money. You’llget it.” The speech is somehow difficult, and I need to search for words. Probably the blow to my head slowed me down.
I don’t understand the bewildered expression of the two men. The black-haired one looks at his companion in confusion.
“By Théos’s light, Lavian, did you… did you hear this?”
“You?” Lavian asks me uncertainly. “Where did you learn our language?”
It has to be a joke.
“I moved to Luxembourg when I was a child. I’ve been learning French since then.”
Lavian’s eyebrows first shoot up, then a surprised smile spreads across his face.
“You have no idea what language you just spoke, do you?”
Today’s events flash before my eyes. The Chinese janitor, then Nathan’s incredulous look when he asked how I know Greek. How is this possible? And this man in front of me now claims that I speak their language, and…
I freeze, staring into his bronze eyes, which are anything but human. In a dream, I shouldn’t be able to think like this. I shouldn’t experience a dream in such detail. Sweat drips down my forehead.
This is not a dream. This is reality.
Panic boosts my pulse. I scream at the top of my lungs, kicking the man kneeling in front of me with all my strength.
