Page 74 of The Princess and the Demon

The sight makes me smirk.

“I feel generous today.”

I squeeze slowly, tighter and tighter until a crack fills the silence of the void around us. The demon goes limp in my grasp, her eyes rolling to the back of her head.

I release her, watching her body fall limply into the void beneath us.

24

ELORA

Allocer was an amazing host, and I found myself growing fond of him quickly. He was the complete opposite of Amon, with tall lean muscles and a tapered waist. His hair was as silver as mine, and it fell in loose curls just past his chin.

His face was kind, with sharp features and an angled jaw. He had white eyes, and rimless glasses sat on his nose.

His horns weren’t as large as Amon’s, much thinner actually, and they arced towards the crown of his head.

He was handsome, soft spoken, and seemed to have an affinity for cats. I’d seen many as we dined.

The light here was different. It wasn’t as bleak, and although I still couldn’t see the sun, the light filtering through the windows was a lot brighter than that of Amon’s realm.

I was grateful for it and felt my mood improving with each passing second I spent in Allocer’s company. I had come to learn that Allocer was an astrologist.

He told me stories of how he had chosen to teach humans how to navigate by the stars, how to read them, and how to find the stories of time etched in their patterns.

I listened, enraptured. It was amazing to me that his kind had chosen humanity at the expense of their souls.

After lengthy conversation, Allocer excused himself. “Will you be ok? I have to get back to my study.”

I nodded, assuring him I’d be fine.

He’d left me, pausing at the threshold of the dining room to look back at me with an unreadable expression.

I sat at the table alone, fidgeting with the food left on my plate. My mind drifted back to Amon, and I wondered how long he’d be gone.

I decided there was no better time than now to explore. Amon’s castle was huge, and I found myself getting lost rather easily.

Allocer’s was much smaller, and I enjoyed walking the corridors.

The difference was like night and day.

Literally.

So much light and color had been brought into Allocer’s home. The art scattered about the walls reminded me of some paintings we had hanging on the castle walls of Delyra.

I felt a twinge of homesickness at the thought.

I had never felt further away than I did in this moment.

I missed my brother, and my sister, and I was sure Granuail was worried sick. I wondered if my father even worried himself with where I had gone.

I swallow the lump in my throat, refusing to let the tears fall as I turn away from a rather beautiful painting of green rolling hills.

It reminded me of home.

Continuing down the corridor, I stop in front of an arched glass door.

On the other side lies a small courtyard. Glancing behind me, I reach out, trying the latch. The door opens with a clank, and I step outside, closing the door behind me gently.

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