Page 2 of The Demon's Delight
My pulse beat like a hummingbird’s wings as I made the decision to take the risk. I leaned heavily to the side, hand stretched out. The leather felt smooth as I snatched it up between the tips of my first three fingers on either hand just as I was tugged out of the room. I sucked in a breath, praying I wouldn’t drop it as I wiggled it between my palms.
Dr. Lang walked ahead of me on the stairs, the bodyguard at my back. I clutched the spell book as tightly as I could between my hands, braving a quick glance to be sure it wasn’t visible.
Once I was seated on the bed, Dr. Lang sent the bodyguard down for my evening meal as he rearranged my bindings. When he knelt to swap out my leg irons, I stuffed the little book under the neckline of my shift. He glanced up, and I covered the motion by putting my hair behind my ears. His eyes glided over me, but didn’t linger. I could barely make myself breathe until he turned away.
I gratefully accepted the skin of water he offered as he slid the tiny table close enough for me to eat from.
“You did well today, Jane,” he praised, though his words were meaningless. “I feel we’re getting rather close to a breakthrough.”
I said nothing, heart in my throat, pulse thrumming so fast I could taste blood.
He removed the ropes from my wrists and crossed the room, squinting at me again before leaving, closing the door behind himself.
I sank into myself, tears prickling behind my eyes. I’d just stolen the councilman’s spell book. If they figured out it was me, there would be no amount of apologizing that could get me out of a punishment I probably wouldn’t survive.
But it was a chance to escape, and I had to take it.
Chapter 1
Hailon
There was a demon in the middle of my room.
He was tall and solidly built, but also quite beautiful, which surprised me.
I’d been expecting unconventional features at the very least, perhaps eyes with vertical pupils and hooves. But this demon could pass for human. Well, perhaps he could if he disguised the prehensile tail that was thumping along the floor in a manner that reminded me of a big cat.
“Hello,” I demanded, pulling the shabby coverlet up higher against my chest, nudging the little spell book I’d liberated from my captor under my leg. It had taken me a handful of days and many tries, but the instructions inside it had worked. “Can you understand me?”
His head tipped to the side, russet-colored waves spilling over his shoulder as it tilted. “Yes. I can understand you just fine.” A smile spread across his mouth, revealing two extra pointed teeth on either side of his canines as his gaze caressed my face thoroughly. So much for passing as human. He patted his hands over his body, as if checking that all his parts were intact. “I’ve never been summoned directly out of Hell like thisbefore. It’s quite an odd feeling. Why have you summoned me?Howdid you summon me?”
I tucked my knees under my body and straightened up, trying to increase my size. He still towered over me, but doing so made me feel a little less overpowered. I’d been desperate enough to try summoning a demon for help, but now I found myself completely unprepared to manage the consequences of it having worked.
At my lack of response, he made a thoughtful noise and stepped closer to where I had drawn my hasty summoning circle in carefully pilfered fireplace ashes on the floorboards. The demon smiled again as he leaned down, head nearly inverted. The tips of his hair brushed along the floor, his hands precariously linked behind his back as he examined the writing, all but folded in half.
“Ah! This rendering is quite good. You’ve used an old sigil of mine, but one of mine all the same.” His head tilted to the side. “If I might make a little critique? This line here? And this? Those are unnecessary, but a nice artistic flourish.” He erased a few things with long, tan fingers. The black lacquer on his nails shined in the light though it was chipped in several places. I focused on that detail as he scooped up the few meager drops of blood I’d used to seal the circle with his finger. “Other than that, it’s all excellently drawn.” His tongue flicked out, and he licked the blood from his fingertip. Then he stood up straight, that smile that somehow seemed charming despite what he’d just done focused fully on me. I flinched when he stuck out a hand. “I’m Seir.” He frowned as he processed my reaction but didn’t move.
To be polite, as I didn’t want to offend a demon, I shook his hand. His palm was warm, calloused in the way hands that frequently wielded a sword often got. The slight contact with hisskin made my pulse pound, a faint feeling of electricity passing between us.
“I told you mine, now will you tell me yours?” he suggested, eyebrows raised. “I promise I won’t do anything inappropriate with your name.” His voice dropped to nearly a whisper, and he winked. “I’m not fae.” Then his smile returned, wider than before, like he knew a secret.
“Derne,” I offered.
His head tilted to the side, and he gave a brief nod. “Pleasure to meet you, Derne.”
My aunt Sal had taught me what she knew about things like demons, angels, and fae, but her knowledge was limited. I did know that giving my name, for example, should be avoided if possible for my protection—but not at the cost of a lie. This much was true for anyone asking, though, humans included. Giving my family name was skirting the actual intent of Seir’s question, but still a valid answer.
He stared at me again, that odd grin on his mouth while I tried to find words with my heart thumping wildly behind my ribs. “So, Derne. Why have you summoned me?”
“I need your help.”
“I see. How can I be of service?”
A door slammed downstairs. I jerked, wincing as my chains rattled against the iron bed frame.
The demon cocked his head and squatted down low to the floor. With nimble fingers, he lifted the corner of the sheet to find the place my leg irons attached to the bedposts.
He frowned, studying my unusual confinement. “Why oh why is a little thing like you chained to the bed?” A spark came to his eye, and he smiled broadly, all but leaping to his feet. “Are you dangerous?” His excitement was palpable. Suddenly his face fell. “Or is someone else the danger?”
