Page 11 of Demonic Division

I take one more glance at the creature, my stomach churning at that horrible sucking mouth. “Nice try. I choose life.”

The demon laughs again, carefree and full despite the harrowing world surrounding us. “How ironic.”

I swallow thickly, tearing my eyes from his smoldering ones and casting them toward the horizon. Something dark is peaking over the frozen hilltop, growing taller with eachstep Cyprien takes. In a few minutes, the land flattens out, and the structure becomes wholly visible.

A castle made of blackened stone rests in the center of the barren landscape, the foundation contrasting heavily with the cloudy layer of ice encasing the structure. Three massive spires reach toward the silver sky like frozen daggers. Arched doors sit at the center of the castle like a great open mouth, ornate and pitch black with two brass handles situated at the height of my brow. The entire thing seems to breathe in the stillness of its surroundings, the stone walls pulsing with an eerie magic.

There is no gate for us to pass through, no change at all in topography as we near the gaping mouthlike doors, and it sends a shiver of fear down my spine. A structure this large would need protection from outside forces, surely? If not from other demons, then to keep the creepy-crawly creatures out at least…

I sneak a glance at Cyprien, noting the twitching muscle in the side of his jaw. The arms that could crush my bones on a whim, the clawed hands that ripped through walls like tissue paper.

Perhaps he needs no extra protection… and if that’s the case, it means only one thing.

I’m currently captive of the most dangerous creature in this hellish world.

“Welcome to my home,” Cyprien says, shoving open the arched doors. A gust of chill air smacks me in the face, and shivers wrack my body as we step inside the castle.

Just like the outside, the inner walls are mostly bare. Cloudy, ice-coated stone is all that’s visible—no furniture, rugs, or even pictures to break up the depressing interior. I pull the coat tighter around my shoulders as Cyprien takesa left out of the foyer. We move down a long hallway with wrought-iron doors on either side, rusted and peeling with age. Cyprien stops in front of one of the unassuming entrances, his shoulders snapping upright.

“I’m going to put you down now, okay?”

I nod, but Cyprien only holds me closer, closing his eyes as he takes a deep inhale of my scent. “I have to explain our situation to the lord of this… castle. I’ll only be a few minutes, but you have to promise me you’ll stay put until I return.”

I gaze up at him, my stomach clenching at the serious set of his mouth. I want to tell him he should explain our “situation” tome, but I doubt that would go anywhere. “I promise.”

“Okay.” Cyprien lets out a breath, placing me carefully on the ground. “I will be right back, okay?”

I nod, and his joyful smile returns. He leans down, placing a kiss on the top of my head, then disappears through the door. I stare at the spot where the demon used to be, my cheeks flaming.

What in the world was that?

I bring a hand to my face, allowing the skin to heat my chilled palm as I gaze around the hall. Each path leads to a wall of darkness about twenty doors down, leaving me to wonder just how long this section really is. The outside of the castle was large, sure, but there was no way it could house an endless maze of hallways.

The longer I stare into the dark, the more it seems to slither closer, infecting my little circle of light. My heart races as those shadowy fingers reach toward me, coaxing me closer.

The door creaks open, and I nearly squeal in delight atthe sight of Cyprien. But my joy dies a moment later when I take in the disgruntled expression on his handsome face. But as soon as he sees me, it morphs into his signature grin.

“Sorry about that, little one.”

“Is everything okay?” I ask, trepidation prickling my spine at the shiftiness in his eyes.

“Of course! We just have to have a little talk with the lord of the castle,” he murmurs, reaching out and brushing a clawed hand down my cheek. “Is that okay with you?”

I try not to lean into his touch, even as a warm rush of electricity pulses from the contact. “Can I… will you take me home after?”

He doesn’t answer for a long moment, and when he does, his voice is tense. “Of course. If that’s what you wish.”

I nod resolutely, and Cyprien lets out a long sigh. “Okay.” His palm wraps around the handle to the throne room, tilting his head to look me in the eyes. “Are you ready?”

“Ready, Cyppy.”

A joyful purr rumbles in Cyprien’s throat. “You’re giving me a nickname? I love it. I will cherish it.”

I hold back my laugh as I face forward. “You do that. Let’s get this over with so I can go home.”

Cyprien grabs my hand and pulls open the door. Bright silver light spills into my eyes as I step into the large circular room. At the center sits a large spiral staircase cast in the same frozen stone as the rest of the palace. A crude throne sits at the very top, carved from a material that vibrates with the same ominous energy as the rest of the castle.

And sitting on that throne is another demon.

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