Page 8 of My Demon Desire
I swallow hard, trying to keep my fear in check even though it is turning my blood to ice water. "I told you, I'm looking for my father." My words are shaky and hoarse. "A-A portal opened up and dumped us here. Or rather me, but he entered before me and I couldn’t find him anywhere."
The darker monster nods, seeming to consider my words. When he sees me staring, he bares his sharp teeth.
I shudder, looking down at the gray, stone floor.
"We don't just give out information for free. What are you willing to offer in exchange?"
My head snaps up while my heart skips a beat. Does that mean they’ve seen my father? I glance around, trying to think of something to offer, but I have nothing. "I don't have much, but I'll do whatever it takes to find my father," I say, desperation creeping into my voice. "Please, just tell me where he is." And how to get back home.
I sit, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. At least they haven’t killed me, but now I'm no closer to finding my father. I take a deep breath and vow to keep searching, no matter what obstacles come my way.
The darker monster stalks closer and stands right in front of me. Softly, I rub my bruised neck, and my stomach cramps, not knowing what will happen next.
"And you think he's here?"
I nod, squirming under his gaze. "Yes."
The dark creature looks me over with those deep eyes and then glances at Thorne who still stands too near me for my comfort. "Before we agree to help you, there needs to be a payment.”
"What? I don’t have any money," I ask, wrapping my arms around myself as a coldness settles over me. The wind wails outside as if in a warning.
"We're not telling you for free," Thorne says with a snarl that sends ice down my spine.
"What do you want?" I swallow hard as terror creeps around my chest like an anaconda and squeezes. What do monsters want from humans aside from blood or flesh to eat? I can't imagine them wanting anything good!
I gulp, my insides twisting as though I've just bungee-jumped off a cliff. Part of me wants to ask a million questions. Like what kind of demons these three are. How they all have horns, but slightly different builds and one has more fur across his skin. But I swallow my curiosity because nothing matters except getting my father back and getting home.
My arm twinges, but when Thorne draws closer to me, it stops.
What the hell? It should be going off like I've jammed fireworks in it to warn me of these monsters. I pull my sleeve up and glance down at the scar marring my arm.
"Is that a warblixk?" Thorne asks, his brow furrowing.
"What the hell is a warblixk?" I stumble over the word.
"It's a magical protection used to disguise something," the bigger one of the trio answers.
"Reis?" the first demon who chased me looks to the one who just answered.
“It looks old whatever it is. I could run a magical probe over it to check it.”
"Ew…no way.” I glance around but it's only the four of us in the bedroom. When he points to my arm, I huff. “I got burned as a child getting too close to a campfire. That’s all.”
Reis grunts, but crooks a clawed finger at me. "We need to collect our payment."
My cheeks burn. I should've known better than to lower my guard or think I could trust demons. They probably want me to sell them my soul or something. Sure it'll be great like I'll have everything I want until the contract runs out and they drag me down to hell.
"If you wish to find your father, you will have to agree to our terms. In exchange for the information, you must swear an unbreakable oath to do whatever we ask of you. Do you accept these conditions?"
"What conditions?" I squirm, suddenly feeling exposed and naked before them even though I’m fully dressed.
"Your blood, for one." Thorne grins, showing his sharp, wicked-looking teeth.
My heart drops into my stomach. I didn't come here to be a blood bag for monsters. But what other choice do I have? I don’t even know where I am. And glancing out the thick glass of the window, I can see that the forest outside doesn’t look like home… or even earth now that I’m not running for my life. The trees are bigger with twisted limbs and gnarled roots. The grass is thinner than back home and more vibrant.
And it's so freaking cold here. Like it’s the middle of winter and not summer like it was before that portal thing sucked up me and my dad. If this place is hell, it's not at all what I imagined.
"How much blood?" I glance back at the three of them, my voice coming out in a raspy whisper.
