Page 79 of Demonic Cage
I hoist the bundle of long hair onto the bow and aim for Kripot’s side. As I release, the creature ceases its rampage. The purple hair caught its attention – it thinks it’s me.
I leap out from the rubble on the other side of the monster, aiming the arrow tied to my waist at its neck. It catches in the flesh, causing the monster to roar in pain. I don’t wait for it to react.
I pull myself up on the rope as stoops down, conveniently giving me a foothold on its back. I grip its tattered clothes. As it removes the arrow from its neck, I kick the rope off myself, too.
I reach for one last knife in my belt. The monster flails its hand behind its back, but it can’t reach me. Its arms are too short.
I have to climb up to plunge the knife into its neck. But the monster staggers, trying to shake me off. I don’t have time to climb up any further, I have to throw the knife to…
Everything happens too fast for me to comprehend.
I’m falling. The monster has thrown itself backward, burying me beneath him.
I hit everything. The impact is so great it makes my head spin. I hear the break of my bones. I can’t move. I can’t breathe.
The beast rises, confused. It licks at its own wounds. The crowd is roaring. I lost.
I lie here broken, staring blankly at the starry sky. In the distance, I hear Darya shouting for the monster to be captured. He’ll get everything he wanted. Eventually, he’ll break me. I clutch the knife tightly. I’m helpless. But I’ve been here before. I’ve been tied down. I won’t go back there again. I’d rather die.
And I will. I won’t become a demon. I won’t be a monster.
With what little strength I have left, I turn my head to the side. My gaze meets the Demon King’s. Tense, smooth features now break on his face. He spreads his massive wings.
No. I can’t let him have everything. He’s playing with my life. He throws monsters at me.The demon and angel blood pulsing through your veins must tell you what to do. Pandora was right. Now I know what I must do, for my blood paints the entire space around me red. I have no more strength. I’m done. I have only one reserve left, revenge against the Kraldem. He who took my life from me. Well then, let’s see what he’ll do about this.
I try to push myself up, but my arm is broken. Only the one with the knife can move. I’m too tired. I see them trying to restrain the cyclops. The battle is clearly over. But I can still take something from them.
From all of them. I look deeply into Darya’s eyes, placing the knife above my heart. The Demon King’s eyes widen.
“No!” he screams, leaping from the ledge. But it’s too late.
I plunge the knife into my heart.
The pain is so intense I would scream, but only blood comes up my throat. I cough up red bubbles from deep within. Darya appears beside me. Too late. He can’t bring me back.
“Lotte, Lotte, stay with me!” he shouts, then bites into his wrist, pressing it to my mouth.
I don’t know what he hopes to achieve. I’ve won. There will be no one to open the gate for him. With this, I’ve sealed his fate.
I feel warmth in my throat. Darya’s blood trickles into it. The Demon King cradles me, and as I can no longer control my eyes, he positions himself so I can look at him. His gaze is desperate. But it’s too late. I know it is. I smile as his face freezes.
And so the weak human defeats the Demon King. Strange. I thought when the end came, I would be afraid. But everything hurts so much, I just want to escape from hell. I already feel my soul isn’t here. It’s as if it’s floating on a beach.
The pain fades; not a single muscle moves anymore. With a penetrating stare, I look at the demon, conveying my wordlessfinal message to him. You’ve broken my body. But you’ll never break my soul.
His face pales, and his hand falls beside his body, just as lost as I was in these past few months.
Perhaps he understands. That’s good. Very good. I sink away.
Wind caresses my face, while cold water gnaws at my feet. A salty taste mixes in my mouth, enveloped in the humid air. It must be the ocean. I hear seagulls in the distance. Gently, I grasp the sand beneath my palm, then release the dust through my fingers. With a grateful hiss, it pours back to the earth. I don’t open my eyes, not yet. I’m tired. Very tired. I forget the pains endured on Earth and in Hell. Because I’m not there now, am I?
I inhale the fresh air into my lungs. Happiness and relief fill me. Is this death? Pleasant and gentle. Do I just have to lie on a beach? Or have I already turned into a rock on the sand, unable to move? Perhaps, when we die, something useful finally becomes of us. Maybe I’ve become a rock. It would suit me. An immobile gray block, occasionally sat upon. Perhaps one day they’ll even carve into me, or break me, as Darya broke me. Interestingly, the name no longer troubles me – it only brings me solace and peace. I could drift off here forever, if not for a familiar, firm voice suddenly breaking in.
“Get up!”
Slowly, calmly, I open my eyes. I see blue sky and gentle sunlight. White, glistening sand. It blankets the shoreline like silk next to the dark blue ocean. I feel the injury that pushed me into death. The place where the knife pierced me feels like a thorn, but it doesn’t hurt – I’m just aware of it. A strange feeling. Leaning on one elbow, I search for the source of the sound. It’snot far from me, and although his appearance is familiar, I’m still surprised.
“You,” is all that comes out of me. I sit up on the white silk blanket. I feel happy as my naked feet sink into the comfortably warm sand. I turn towards the familiar stranger. Tall, broad shoulders, bronze eyes, dark brown hair. His gaze is calm, not questioning why I’m here. But where ishere?
