Page 63 of Demons of Eden

“This is a good sign. The child should survive the process if you’re already far enough in to be changing. Though, you can’t seem to hold your partial form very long,” Paimon says, the last part sounding almost scathing.

I glance up at his face, repulsed as I watch the clawed wounds I’d given him knitting themselves back together until there’s no visible sign remaining. He sees me watching and smiles, tightening his grip when I start trying to break free again. Then he’s dragging me towards the strange object I’ve been avoiding looking at since it first appeared.

“Let go of me, you absolute prick!” I scream. “I will fucking kill you!”

“Doubtful.” He picks me up with irritating ease, ignoring my flailing arms and legs as he carries me the rest of the short distance across the room. I fight even harder as he sets me down and begins strapping me into what I can only describe as some sort of gold stasis pod. It looks both ancient and like something from a science-fiction film, its delicately carved ancient symbols contrasting with the futuristic shape of it.

I wonder if it will seal me inside like a sci-fi pod would too.

“I’m going to rip your fucking throat out,” I hiss, after trying and failing to bite off a few of his fingers as he tightens a strap which holds my neck down to the device.

“It really is a shame you met that foolish incubus first. All that rage, you would have made for a wonderful iracae, even a partial one.”

I don’t dignify that with a reply, mostly due to the fact I’m too busy squirming against my restraints. I’m trying desperately to avoid the goddess-damned needles and tubes he’s plucked from the insides of it and seems determined to attach to me. It’s no use.

Once he’s managed to attach the offending things to me, he pulls out a vial of blood and a paintbrush. He brings the blood-soaked tip of the brush to my skin, painting something with it on my face. I try to move, only for him to use his powers to hold me frozen the way he did when he pinned me to the wall before. It’s a horrid reminder that he likely could have simply held me still the whole time.

Did the twisted bastard just enjoy seeing me fight…seeing me struggle?

“Don’t cry. We can’t have you smudging these,” he tuts reproachfully as he finishes the painting on my face. I hadn’t even realised I was crying. “In a few hours you’ll get to meet your child. I’m saving you more than a month of hassle by speeding this up for you. Honestly, you should be grateful. I even took the time to protect your fragile little mind from being damaged by the process.”

I’m guessing he means whatever he’d painted on my forehead. I’d curse him, tell him how little I care, but I can’t even move my lips this time. Apparently he’s done listening to me speak. He yanks up my shirt next, and I try not to let the fear show in my eyes, nor the faintest relief I feel when he leaves it bunched up under my chest. He continues painting, slowlydrawing something large and intricate over my stomach before stepping back and looking over me assessingly.

He nods, apparently satisfied with his morbid artistry.

Then, as if conjured by my worst nightmares, a transparent screen slides out and traps me inside. If I could move my arms, I’d bash my fists into it, but all I can do is glare up at the demon leaning over me as he does something with the device. The pod begins to hum, and a moment later, the blood markings on my skin grow hot, almost burning. I bite my lip, hands clenching as I realise I’ve regained some limited movement. Not a lot of good it will do me, though, strapped down as I am.

Paimon’s face appears right above mine, just the thin transparent screen between us. He looks irritated. Shouldn’t he be pleased at getting what he wants? Where’s the smug act now, bastard? When I get out of here, I’ll find a way to make him pay for this. I’ll find a way to be strong enough that he won’t be able to do this to me or to anyone else ever again.

“It appears I’m being called for, but I’m sure you’ll be fine in here alone for the time it will take me to handle this matter,” he says, his voice somewhat muffled through the screen dividing us. “I won’t be long.”

With that, he’s gone, and I’m left trapped in this fucking hell alone. No, not alone, I remind myself again. I close my eyes and focus on the baby in my belly. I can feel them moving. That's good.

“I’ll get us both out of here. I won’t let him take you from me. No matter what happens, I’ll protect us. I promise. One way or another.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Ican’t see it, but I feel the change in the air as something pops. Something is wrong. I brace, readying myself for Paimon and more of his fucking bullshit. I don’t know how many chances I’ll get to escape before he progresses my pregnancy to the point of labour, if any. Still, I know it will be so much harder to fight the bastard off with a newborn in my arms.

Though, if there’s anything I do know for certain, it’s that he’ll have to fucking kill me in order to take my child.

“Please!” I gasp loudly, acting like I’m in pain. I groan while keeping my eyes shut tight, so my delirious-with-pain act is more believable.

I wantoutof this sci-fi nightmare contraption. While I haven’t been in this fucking thing for very long, I can tell there’s already been a shift. I’m further along than I should be. I’ve avoided watching my stomach change as it happens, finding the process too disturbing to witness, but I could still feel it. I can still feel it now.

“Eden?!” The voice that shouts my name is not the one I was expecting to hear. My eyes fly open and land on Rio as he rushes over to me.

“Eden!” he yells again, and the look on his face is one I’ve never seen from him before.

Is he…worried about me?

The scary, brooding demon hunter genuinely looks terrified as he keeps shouting things at a mile a minute. “Where are you hurt? What’s wrong? One of you fucking get her out of this thing!”

I’m so stunned by Rio’s behavior and clear concern that my mouth drops open. I’m only vaguely aware that Ash, Torrin, and Daion are all here as well because my attention is so focused on him being weird as shit right now. He looks me over head to toe through the transparent barrier while the other three all work to free me from this evil fucking egg.

“Eden? Answer me already; where does it hurt?” Rio places his palms on the outside of my golden prison, and the intensity of his stare is more than my brain can process. I blink at him. His fist suddenly pounding the entrapment shield startles me out of my stupor.

“You’re…saving me?” I whisper, finally looking away from Rio in a daze to see Ash doing something. “How did you all find me?” I frown, glancing back to Rio, whose entire focus is trained on my every word.

---