Page 81 of Living Legend

“I was hoping you would just be forthcoming.”

“Your mistake.”

I pushed off the chair and made my way to one side, changing my hold on my dagger and letting my fingers wrap tightly around the hilt. I let the curved point hit his cheek, watching as the skin sunk in a bit at the pressure. I pushed the dagger harder into his skin and watched it pierce the flesh. Blood trickled down slowly, and my skin started to heat at the sight. He winced at the pain, but otherwise kept his same stance.

“Lilith sent you here, correct? She had the Enchanters help her.”

Cullen tried to shift away from the dagger. “The Enchanters are no secret. None of what you say is knowledge unknown to you. I wasn’t sent to do any harm, which may come as a surprise to you.”

I pulled my dagger back, walking in front of him. I hovered over him and watched as he looked at me with attentive focus. Blood dripped down one side of his face. “So, you’re telling me she sent you here with no malicious intent? What about the other demon?”

“That is what I’m saying. I did not harm a single little angelic figure. And let me tell you, it was hard to hold back. Lilith commanded I don’t touch anyone.” He shrugged as best he could while strapped to the chair. “As for this other demon, that’s something else entirely.”

I let my dagger rest on his other cheek, curving the hooked side near his skin. “Something else?”

His eyes sparkled with delight. “Oh yes, quite a mistake, that one.”

I let the curve slice through his skin swiftly. It started leaking blood, but he showed no signs of discomfort. “Care to share?” I sliced another line under the previous one.

“Lilith is quiet in the way she works, you know, waiting for the right opportunity, even if that means waiting. Everything lined up so perfectly I almost can’t believe it.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I used to think she made a mistake with you, but it seems I was wrong.”

“Staying on topic was never your strong suit, was it?” I held my dagger downward and slammed it into his thigh. Cullen let out a cry before regaining his composure and plastering a smile back on his face. I noticed the way dark smoke formed around my feet and legs, crawling up my arms from the dagger. I had to hold out for a little longer. “I’m trying to give you a chance to tell the truth before I have to make you. As much fun as that would be, I’m trying to be nice.”

“We both know you were never your best when you were nice. It makes you weak. You are anything but weak, my dear. Lilith made sure of it.”

“Lilith sent the other demon, but that one got killed. Did it not mean to do harm as well? Were you some kind of test to see if the portal would let you through?” I ignored his words and focused on my task. I kept my dagger in his thigh, applying a slow amount of pressure.

His breath was slightly ragged, but he maintained his composure. “The delightful angels have heard all this before. I am not without information, but there are things that need to play out. Telling you would ruin the fun of the reveal.”

“Lack of information really won’t do here.” I ripped my dagger out from his thigh and slammed it into the other one, closer to his inner thigh this time. I lifted it out and ripped through his skin again near the outside of his thigh. The pressure I felt was growing, almost a delicious suffocation.

He smacked his lips together. “You think you scare me with your torture. I come from the same place you do, love. I take pleasure in watching you work.”

“Tell me what I want to know, Cullen! Tell me who is helping her! Tell me why she’s doing this! Tell me something!” In a swift movement, I took hold of my dagger and let the hooked end hang over his ear before I ripped it from his head. He let out a piercing scream as blood poured from his head. His ear dropped to the floor, and I watched it silently.

Through the pain I saw in his eyes, he started to chuckle through sharp breaths. “I didn’t think you would be what she wanted, but I wassowrong.”

I pinned my dagger to his throat, admitting to myself I was done with toying around. I let the darkness settle itself around his neck like a noose. I watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed against my blade. I wanted my answers, and I wanted them now.

“You will tell me what you know, and you will do it with a smile on that smug face of yours.” I let my compelling power, the power my dagger provided me, surround him. I watched as it seeped into every wound. I waited for the words to spill out of his mouth, for all the truths we had been waiting for to expel themselves from his throat. I waited.

Waited.

Nothing.

The confusion on my face must have delighted him. Even though his face was bloody, Cullen still looked as if he could beam from ear to ear. “You don’t know Lilith at all, it seems.”

I pressed my dagger further into his throat, watching as the skin started to tear. “Tell me!” I could hear myself yelling. Why wasn’t this working?

“That won't work on me, Soul Seether,” Cullen taunted. “Lilith gave you that power, and she gave me the power to withstand it.”

I pulled the dagger away from him, standing up straight, tapping the metal to my cheek. I knew his blood was now smeared on my skin, but I didn’t care.

“That look of pure bewilderment does make these wounds worth it,” Cullen sneered, making my chest heave.

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