Page 5 of Tricky Princess
“I will not hurt you,” he said kindly. “Even if you attempt to fight, I will do you no harm. But know this, it will be a waste of your brilliant magic.”
“Why would it be a waste?”
“You’re going to need your strength,” he said. “I will do my best to protect you, but seeing you, and realizing what you are down to your core, I can only do so much.”
“What does that mean?” How he could even gauge an ounce of who or what she was? “You don’t know me. I’ve been here for less than an hour.”
“Oh, darling…” He stood taller. “I am no mere king, holed up in a castle, blind to the comings and goings. You are a troublemaker, a powerful trickster, and I fear more for my subjects than your safety.”
Ellea didn’t know how to respond. She wasn’t truly a troublemaker. The occasional trick or scare couldn’t cause such a permanent label on her soul, especially from someone she had never met. She rolled her eyes, knowing she would cause trouble anyway. Defiance was quickly overtaking anxiety and fear, but not the sadness that clung to her throat. It couldn’t stop the crumpling in her chest as she remembered the look on Ros’ face before she’d disappeared. What would he think? What was he doing right now?
“Don’t worry.” Stepping closer, Asmodeus grasped her still bloodied hand in his warm one. He turned it over, quickly cleaning it before a small cloud of shadows shimmered between their palms, the bloodied cloth disappearing. He gave her a small smile before continuing, “He will be here in no time. I’m planning on it.”
“You seem too intuitive. Are you a seer and a demon king?” It was barely audible, but she needed to know. Maybe that was why she felt so comforted by him.
“Not a seer, but I can feel your emotions, know your lies and fears. Most demons would use it to be vicious and cruel. I find it to be more useful in other ways besides torture.”
“So you really aren’t going to harm me?”
Asmodeus gave her a searching look before shaking his head. She believed him. It didn’t make her any less angry, but he squeezed her hands and turned gracefully, heading back down the hall. Ellea glanced down at her clean hand as another pain splintered quietly in her heart. She hoped Ros would hurry the fuck up. She continued walking down the hall after Asmodeus, her heels snagging the thick carpet. It had been a month since she last wore heels; it had always been boots or running shoes while she was in Glenover.
The vast ceilings and dark marble with glints of gold continued, and she wondered if there were no windows in this part of the castle. The only one she’d seen so far was in the room she’d arrived in. Maybe it was good there weren’t many windows, hiding the horrors that would be Hel. She picked up her pace to match the long strides of the king as he rounded the corner. She was about to ask him one of the many questions whirling around her head, but she was blinded by radiating light. As her eyes adjusted, she found Asmodeus standing in front of massive windows that were like the ones in a library or office. Whatever this room was, it added to her questions. Ellea also wondered if she could call him something else. Asmodeus was so long, and referring to him as the king seemed like too much, especially with how he looked at this moment.
The gold light made him look so much younger, chasing away the harsh lines and angles the shadows and darkness gave him. She was able to fully take in his features and realized he wasn’t graying as much as she’d originally thought. His thick black hair had neater curls than Ros’, but he probably didn’t run his hand angrily through it like his son constantly did. He looked so composed, a king looking over his land. A king, not the king, she remembered. There were multiple rulers of Hel. She had so much to learn. She also noted a tattoo poking out from his crisp collar, one she couldn’t identify. It was all intricate lines and swirls. He turned his head slightly toward her, and the light glinted in his hazel eyes. They were more green than gold, she realized. He jerked his head lightly to the left, beckoning her to join him.
She passed two large, ornate doors before standing next to him and tearing her gaze away from his features that reminded her so much of Ros. His nose, the heavy brow, the coloring of his skin…Holding her breath, she readied herself to look upon Hel, a place she never dreamed of existing or going to. She closed her eyes and tried to calm her breath as she turned her face toward the warm light. A gasp escaped her as her eyes opened and she glimpsed scenery she would have never expected. The sprawling landscape was full of light and colors.
“Not what you expected?” Asmodeus asked.
Where flames and shadow should be, there were vast mountains and valleys. Green, blue, and gold shimmered all around the landscape. A clear blue river flowed down the middle of the deep valley, two massive peaks framing it. Her eyes widened as she took in the larger than normal sun that was setting to her right. Its rays sparkled off the jagged, snow-capped peaks that glittered with frost. The snow descended in rivulets that met with the greenest grass Ellea had ever seen.
“No, Asmond.” The nickname felt funny, and she decided she hated it. “This is not what I expected.”
“Asmond?” His nose wrinkled, and she rolled her eyes at her own mistake.
“I was trying something.”
He shrugged and turned his attention back to the window. “What did you expect?”
Ros hadn’t told her much about it, only mentioning a dark castle, brats running about, and how he hated the place.
“Fire, pits, demons running about,” she said with a wave of her hand.
“Ah.” He nodded in agreement. “I’ll show you that part another day. This is where the Gods sleep. It’s where I mainly rule over.”
“Mainly?” Ellea asked.
“Yes, mainly,” he said coyly, not giving anything else away.
“Where are we exactly? Besides in Hel. Are we someplace else or under something? I’m very confused about the logistics of all of this…amongst other things.”
He chuckled softly and turned toward her.
“We are just here.” Ellea huffed a breath at his flat answer. “Our universe isn’t up or down, east or west. It has vast layers, pockets, and worlds. We are simply here.”
He raised a hand, and a small hole of shadow formed above him. Reaching in, his hand disappeared as if it was behind an invisible door. He plucked out the dark green handkerchief Ellea had used to clean the blood off her hand.
“Things don’t disappear in my shadows.” The handkerchief disappeared again. “They go someplace else.”
