Page 76 of Demonic Cage
“But no one did.”
With that, she pushes me out of the mirror.
It feels like a punch to the gut. I arrive with my back against the vines. The cold returns to my skin, ripping the quiet serenity of the garden from me. I stare at the mirror, but nothing. Pandora is gone, the mist no longer swirling behind the glass. I shake the mirror.
“Pandora! Please Pandora, I’m sorry…” I whisper, but the mirror doesn’t respond.
I need my medication to make a decision. Or Pandora. I try to consider what she said, but as I relive the story she told, anger takes hold of me.
The gods exist. There are more of them, and someone even more powerful created them. I’ve long passed the point of being shocked that my entire worldview has fallen apart. The life I’ve entered holds more magic than simply turning away from it.
I stare at the smooth mirror, but in my mind’s eye, white-robed godlike figures appear, surrounding the Earth. They’re holding cups of wine and are determining the fate of humans. They played with us. Maybe they’re still here? I couldn’t ask that either.
I’m twenty-two years old. But why does the fate of the whole world depend on me? Pandora made the wrong choice. My stomach clenches. What if I do too?
It’s up to the demon and angel blood pulsing in your veins to decide what to do,she said.I have no idea how to ask my own blood.
I close my eyes and focus on the slow rhythm of my heartbeat. If I don’t open any door, what happens? I go back to my own world, and they lock me up in a psychiatric ward. I couldn’t hide everything that happened to me here. Darya was right.
The Demon King promised I could leave my medication and that the dreams would never come again. He didn’t say which door I had to open for this to happen. I’m starting to figure out Darya’s ‘I don’t lie’ tactic. Maybe if I open the Gates of Heaven, redemption will still come?
I scoff at the word. Redemption doesn’t exist for me. I can’t imagine not longing for the medication; not torturing myself over what I did to my brother. I know Pandora said something would be unleashed on humanity if I opened the gates. But what? Darkness, goodness, light, pain?
I can’t grasp the weight of this. I find it impossible that everything depends on me. I’m only concerned about what happens if I don’t open any door. I either die, or something worse happens. I’m sent back to the psychiatric ward. Only those who have been there know why it’s worse than death.
And if there’s another solution?
Just for a moment… Just for a moment, let’s say I turn into an angel… I open the Gates of Heaven, blessing the world, and I, for the first time in my life, become normal, and everyone benefits. It’s a good plan, but there’s a hitch.
I glance around the vine-covered square. How do I reach the angels? I take a deep breath and look at where the vines stretch all the way to the other side of the wall. In the distance, I see the mountains. Darya said no angel has ever escaped from Filizi. But I’m not an angel.
I reach the wall and grab the dark green vines. They’re sturdy enough for me to climb. I don’t know what awaits me beyond the wall, but I’ll deal with it when I get there.Just one step at a time,a psychiatrist once said. Now I can use their meaningless therapy, built on wounds caused by creatures from another world.
I start to climb. It’s not far to the top, and I don’t even get tired. I’ve never felt so in control of my body. Every breath spreads new energy within me. I taste the flavor of hope, mixed with sweet narcissus scent. I’m almost there.
Just as I push myself up and catch sight of the distant mountaintops, water pulls me down by my hair, wrenching me out of the vines’ grip. I crash to the ground. The air is forced from my lungs.
A dark figure towers over me, her disdainful smile a perfect match for her murderous gaze. Her coral-colored hair glows in the night.
“You thought you could escape, bitch?” Léthé sneers at me. “There’s still a surprise waiting for you.”
She pulls a sack over my head, paying no mind to the fact that I’m already gasping for air, then leans in closer and whispers in my ear.
“Fortunately, the Kraldem is busy with his own little whores right now. He’s not interested in his latest toy. So let this be our little secret!”
She delivers a massive blow to my head, and I black out.
I wake up in half-darkness, light sneaking through window bars. Blinking, I see a table with weapons opposite me. My head is buzzing.
The noise.I should have noticed the noise first. I shot up from my position. The window bars are too high, I can’t see outside. I climb onto the table to peek out, but all I find is sand in front of me. Outside, hundreds of demons are screaming, cheering. I exhale shakily and climb down from the stone. My hand touches a piece of paper on which is written a short message. I try to turn it towards the light.
“If I were you, I would choose a weapon you can use. Although you will be killed, and I will enjoy watching you die.”
They didn’t need to sign it for me to know the message came from Léthé.It will still kill me…My every limb turns to stone. I count the days since I’ve been among the demons. We’re nearing the time when I should fight the monster. But Darya said…
I furrow my brow. Darya said thatif it were up to him, I wouldn’t have to fight the monster. But Léthé abducted me without the Demon King’s knowledge.
No! I’m not ready yet! This wasn’t the plan! I’m going to die. That monster is going to kill me.
