Page 8 of Taken to the Shadow Realm

“You want one?” she asked, her voice unsure.

I gave her a nod. I needed money. I had other tricks up my sleeve, but the last thing I wanted to do was show my cards to a room full of potential enemies.

“I have enough money for one or two rounds, but not more.”

“Too bad they don’t take that god-awful glitter that falls out of your ass,” Oros commented, her words hitting my chest like an annoying stab to the heart. I imagined taking the same knife and ramming it between her well-filed horns.

“Why do you need a human all of a sudden?” Aris asked, her words cutting through my bloodthirsty haze.

“I want a companion,” I admitted.

Oros let out a laugh that caused a few of the demons’ heads to turn. They were laughing at me.

That’s fine. They could laugh all they wanted. When the souls of their companions finally made it to my realm, they’d be hoping I would not be able to glean any information that would harm their ruling.

“If you want a companion so badly, just fetch one of those demons your estate employs. I’m sure they’d jump at the chance to get a mouth full of?—“

“Once you run out of money, let me know,” Aris said, cutting them off.

She’s kind. A kindness I would take advantage of.

“Thank you,” I replied and sank back into the shadows so only my face and claws were showing. Aris’s face went through a flurry of conflicting emotions before the crowd roared to life when lights flooded the stage. A small, winged demon with brilliant white hair and red horns took center stage.

Madam. Older than me and all the souls in my realm combined.

“Who’s ready to purchase some humans?” she asked, a wicked smile spreading across her face, showing off all her sharp teeth.

And then I felt it.

Her.

Iris

“It’s been too long. Maybe we should wake her?” I whispered, taking a look at our newest addition.

“The longer she sleeps, the better,” Eve said, crossing her arms and looking at the sleeping girl with a scowl.

It had been a few days since we were both forced into this small room. There had been others, but slowly our numbers dwindled until it was only us. The girl lying there on fluffy blankets was new to our group.

Eve might act harsh and unaffected, but she cared about each and every girl that came through here. I could tell from the color of her concern, painting the room in light orange as it floated off her.

“But maybe we can think of a way to escap?—“

“You know that’s not an option,” she hissed, giving me a look. “Just let her be blissfully unaware of our situation. I’d join her if I could.”

Never in my life had I felt such an insane need to escape. Even when Father had been forcing me into marriage. Even when the men he gave me to raised their hand to me. Even when Mother looked the other way.

All of that had been hard, but I could endure it. But this? Ever since I woke up in this room, I knew I had to run.

The room itself looked harmless enough. The walls might show exposed brick, but they were draped in beautiful tapestries, and the floor was covered in rugs made of a similar material. A large chandelier hung above us, its light reflecting off the fabrics.

Gorgeous. Expensive. I had seen enough material like it to last me a lifetime, all of it in my father’s pristine mansion.

But the emotions that had soaked into the fabric over time were enough to make my stomach twist.

Lingering emotions weren’t a constant thing. But when they did happen, they always gave me the chills. And since they had brought in another girl, I was getting more and more worried that our time would come soon.

“What if they come?—“

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