Page 21 of The Demon's Tongue

I pull my hand away, clenching it into a fist. What am I doing? This is a human, for fuck's sake. I don't care abouthumans. I use them, manipulate them, but I don't care about them.

But as I watch Geneva sleep, her breaths soft and even, I can't help but admit that maybe, just maybe, I've been wrong. About her, at least.

I shift, trying to put some space between us, but she just snuggles closer, her hand resting gently against my chest. I let out a sigh, resigning myself to my fate. It's going to be a long night.

"You better not drool on me, human," I mutter, even as my arm wraps around her, pulling her close. Her warmth seeps into me, chasing away the ever-present chill. It's not entirely unpleasant.

Not unpleasant at all.

Fuck.

11

GENEVA

Iwake with a jolt, my head spinning as I'm yanked from the warm cocoon of sleep. Derina's sharp voice cuts through the fog in my mind, piercing my eardrums like tiny daggers.

"Up! Now, girl! You think you can lounge about all day?" she barks, her words dripping with disdain.

I blink rapidly, trying to shake off the disorientation that clings to me like a second skin. The lavish bedchamber slowly comes into focus, its opulent furnishings a sudden reminder of last night's events. My stomach churns as memories flood back, shame washing over me.

Why did I let Calix stay with me? Why did Iwanthim to?

Despite myself, my hand instinctively reaches for the warm body I expected beside me, searching for his presence. He would deal with Derina for me, I know he would.

But my fingers find only cold, empty sheets. A pang of disappointment shoots through me as I realize he's gone, leaving me alone to face whatever this new day might bring. I swallow hard, steeling myself for what's to come.

"I... I'm sorry," I stammer, trying to gather my wits. I rub the sleep out of my eyes, confusion still swirling around my head. "I-I didn't mean to oversleep."

Derina's lip curls in disgust. "Spare me your excuses. Get washed and dressed. You have duties to attend to. What? Do you think that you're special because the client stayed with you the whole night?"

Is that what she thinks? I nearly let out an incredulous laugh. I stole the soul out of that disgusting dark elf. And honestly, I should do the same to Derina.

However, I'm too frazzled to think about grabbing another crystal right now.

As I scramble out of bed, my mind races with thoughts of what happened last night. The crystal, the dark elf's crumpled body, Calix's unexpected company—it all feels like a distant dream. But the lingering warmth in my chest tells me it was real.

"Move it!" Derina snaps, tossing my uniform at me. The coarse fabric feels rough against my skin after the silken sheets. "I don't care how successful your night was. You're still nothing more than a slave here."

I bite my tongue, swallowing the retort that threatens to escape. Instead, I hurry to the adjoining washroom, shutting the door behind me.

As my back rests against the door, my fingers brush against the hidden pocket where I keep the remaining crystals. I take them out, holding the duo in my palm. They're still here, a small comfort in this nightmare. But using one has left me shaken. Can I really do this two more times?

I mean, that dark elf deserved it. No one is gonna miss him. Finding another two bastards to do that to can't be that difficult. Right?

"Hurry up in there!" Derina's impatient voice carries through the door. "Master Sylas wants you ready in ten minutes. And you'd be a fool to keep him waiting."

I hear Derina's footsteps fade away from the bedroom, followed by the resounding slam of the door. The sudden silence is almost deafening. I exhale deeply, my eyes fixed on my reflection in the ornate mirror before me. The girl staring back looks scared, confused, and so very lost.

"What's going on with me?" I whisper, shaking my head in disbelief. "Why do I feel this way?" The questions hang in the air, unanswered. My mind is a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, some of which I'm scared to admit I'm feeling.

Despite every fiber of my being screaming in protest, I carefully set the crystals on the counter. They glint in the soft light, a reminder of the power I now wield and the choices I've made. With trembling fingers, I begin to peel the dress off my body. The silky fabric slides against my skin, and I shiver, not from cold, but from the weight of what's to come.

I turn on the faucet, letting the cool water run over my hands. As I lean over, intending to give myself a quick wash to begin the day, a familiar voice breaks the silence.

"Good morning, sunshine."

I jerk upright, water dripping down my fingers and splashing onto the counter. Calix lounges against the door, his crimson eyes crinkling with his smile. But there's a glint of something dark in his gaze that makes my skin prickle. My heart leaps into my throat as I realize I'm completely naked, exposed and vulnerable in a way I never wanted him to see me.

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