Page 88 of Demonic Cage
Rejection hits me, and I end up on the vines. The first two breaths painfully burn my lungs. I quickly stand up.
The dagger isn’t with me. I couldn’t bring it out.
Hours pass as I try. The mirror only lets me in when I want to defeat Darya, and when I want to kill him, it throws me out. But when I don’t kill him, the dagger is then missing when I step out of the mirror.
I sigh. I have to search in my memories. In my memories…
My throat tightens as I look at the mirror covered in vines in the distance.
I step closer to it, and it immediately lets me in.
My brother’s face is lively, just like in my memories, but his eyes are empty. All I see is anger in them.
Anger for what I did to him.
For killing him.
“Murderer,” he whispers in my ear.
His hand clasps my neck. He is choking me.
“Bengt… Let me go…”
“Switch places with me!”
I freeze. I stare into my brother’s glassy eyes.
“What?”
“Switch places with me. I shouldn’t be here. You should!”
Something splits in my chest, and I scream. The mirror throws me out.
“What happened?” Darya asks after Nárs leaves the tower.
It’s like I’m in a bubble. I clear my throat and head towards the bathroom.
“Nothing, just need a minute…”
Cold fingers grab my wrist. Darya spins me around and pulls me close to his chest. His black claws gently scratch my neck.
“It’s not nice to lie, especially since I never do.”
My fists clench.
“You…”
I can’t finish the sentence; the anger makes me tremble.
Switch places with me.
Darya’s hand on my throat is as suffocating as my brother’s.
I couldn’t bring out the dagger. I don’t know where else to look, and if I don’t find it, I’ll stay here with the demons. The angels will never take me out.
Bengt would figure it out. Maya would figure it out. I can’t figure it out.
Switch places with me.
