Page 25 of A Game of Monsters

Willingly. Duwar was speaking on consent as if he gave Duncan that choice. Or did he? Erix had said that what he saw was not contention or aggression. But even if Duncan accepted Duwar into his body, it was only because he thought he was conversing with me.

One thing I knew for a fact: Duncan was dying. Duwar was killing him. My hesitation was killing him. We both would lead to his demise, unless I acted soon. I would lose Duncan forever, and as much as I pretended to be strong, I knew – and so did Duwar – that I’d never let that happen. Which was exactly why I had to speak to Rafaela and understand the binding of a person in labradorite before I gave Duwar my answer.

“It’s time you get some more rest, Duwar.” I moved for the chest of drawers, fingers brushing over the box that contained the syringe and Gardineum.

“Is this conversation over already?” Duwar asked. “When we last conversed, you bound this body in chains and kept me locked away, but there was still love in your touch.”

“I do love–”

“But today you are cold, closed off.”

Because I’m arguing with the demon possessing the man I love.

I looked up, aware of the demon’s scrutiny. From his winning grin, it already believed it had the answer. “I do not owe you anything but this, Duwar.”

Duwar ignored the syringe closing in as he pressed me further. “It is your guard. Erix. You have realised that you can let Duncan die because you have someone else to fall back on–”

“That isn’t true,” I snapped. I wished nothing more than to claw the demon out of Duncan with my bare hands, to exorcise the presence and free him without giving myself up. “You were the one who brought Erix here.”

“No.” Duncan’s head tilted like an inquiring mutt. “That wasallDuncan. Once again using my potential to show you the world in which you could live, if only you accepted me. Your love for them both has no bounds, Duncan understands that. He accepts that, somewhere deep down.”

“Shut up.”

Duwar ignored my command. “You know, I could give you them both. I promised you everything, and everything is what you will get, if you just give yourself to me… the transference works on a willing participant. When –if– you give yourself to me, my power will be yours.”

“Your lies have no sway over me, Defiler.”

I lowered the loaded syringe toward Duncan’s body.

“Wait,” Duwar snapped, eyes drowning in panic, knowing his last moments of consciousness were fleeting. “Before you do that, ask yourself why Altar created keys knowing that, if used again, it would one day open my realm and set me free? Why did my potential put two gods to war?”

My silence was enough of a response for Duwar to continue.

“Because they knew what I could give them, and they ensured a way that if the time came, I was reachable. You called my realm a prison, but it was merely a waiting spot, a place to bide my time until I was required again. But we do not always get what we want, do we, Robin?”

I shook my head, pushing myself to standing. The conversation was over. I didn’t want to hear any more, only because my mind ached with what he just said.

If Duwar was the demon, and he was imprisoned for reasons we will never truly know. WhywouldAltar make keys? Keys are to be used…

“I can sense you finally opening your mind to what I have to say,” Duwar continued, taking pleasure in spreading his lies. “Keys were made because even Altar desired a failsafe. He knew that he would need me one day. Just as he tore me out of the ground, using my power to create his children, the fey – Altar knew a time would come when that power would be required. Likely to beg for my forgiveness for his treatment. Maybe to require my assistance in punishing the god the human’s call the Creator – thetruetrickster.”

I steeled my expression, refusing to give weight to what Duwar shared. “One of these days you’ll understand that I’m not so easily convinced.”

“Duncan was convinced. He understood the potential.”

“I amnotDuncan,” I said.

“No, that you are not. But you are running out of time.”

I hated hearing Duwar speak on Duncan as if he believed him to be anything more than the demon he was. “I’ve heard enough–”

“Let me die then, sacrifice Duncan as a result of your hesitance. I suppose it is a fair price, to save the world from the monster you have all been told I am. But will you truly risk letting him perish, if you have even the slightest belief that I am telling the truth?”

“I don’t believe you.” I could barely contain the anger in my voice. “I witnessed what you did with Aldrick. I saw, first-hand, the creatures that follow you like hounds. Every time I look in a fucking mirror I see a demon. My perception of you and what you will do to this world is made in the image of your actions thus far.”

“As you have just said, your perception of me. You see what you think you know.” Duncan tensed his arms, pulling at the restraints. For someone so weak, I was certain I felt the spark of lightning in the air. If it wasn’t for the iron, Duwar could conjure a storm in the room.

“Actions speak louder than your plea.”

---