Page 35 of The Dark Rises
One of his claws slices across the orange, cutting through the peel into the fruit, and juice runs into his hand. He wrinkles his nose and hands it back to me.
Patiently, I peel it and hand him a slice.
Zesty orange flavor hits his tongue, and his face lights up. “More.”
Handing him the rest of the slices, I watch him dump them all in his mouth at once. “Good.”
“What is he upset about?” I murmur, not wanting Madoc to overhear.
Aamon lifts a shoulder. “Ice. Cold. Leandra.” He leans closer. “Meri.”
I chuckle. “Good.” Aamon’s downcast face tells me there’s more. “What are you upset about?”
“Want to be free,” he says with a sad look on his face. “Madoc say no.”
“It’s not safe for you to be out there,” Madoc spits out as he stalks over to where we’re sitting. “What have you been saying to him?” He folds his massive arms across his chest, but it only makes me laugh.
“Intimidation doesn’t work on me,” I tell him, popping another slice in my mouth. Rancid breath blows across my nose, and I rear back and look at Aamon.
He turns hopeful eyes on me. “More?”
This time, I hold the entire orange out to him. “Carefully peel it. Then eat the inside.” Madoc moves to take it from him, but I wave him off. “He can do it.”
Aamon’s tongue slides out as he concentrates on not squashing the fruit in his hand. Claws slowly peel off the outerlayer. Once it’s gone, he turns to me, and I show him how to open it up and take one slice, which he does.
Aamon flashes his gruesome grin at me, then Madoc. “Good. Want?” He offers a piece to Madoc, who takes it and pops it into his mouth.
“What’s the point of all this?” he asks me, his voice even as he flashes a quick glance at Aamon.
“How much has he learned since you became friends? Quite a lot, I imagine,” I muse. “The traits he’s exhibited in the last few minutes tell me everything. He’s careful with his strength. He’s capable of displaying more complex emotions like empathy and understanding, especially when you’re trying to work something out of your system. He learns quickly. Why keep him here?”
Madoc scoffs. “It’s not safe for him out there.”
“Because he’s a danger to those around him?” I deliberately state.
He stalks forward in a cold fury. “Meri’s more likely to kill someone than he is. Aamon only wants to live. Enjoy life. He doesn’t want to fight.” His pointer finger stabs into my chest. “But he would if they provoked him. Then where would he be? Back in The Below. This time forever.”
“Or we can help him find his path. Come with me to Lucifer’s. Plead his case. Let him assess Aamon himself before Callyx finds him or something bad happens,” I urge him. “You know it’s the only way.”
He jerks away. “No, he’ll send him away.”
Aamon raises his hand. “Want to.”
“You don’t understand,” Madoc tells him. “What if he sends you back?”
Aamon looks at the cave above us and shrugs one of his large shoulders. “Prison.”
Madoc searches his friend’s face for several minutes. Whatever he sees makes his shoulders drop in defeat. “We’ll giveit a try, but if I don’t like what I see, I’m sending you somewhere safe.”
Aamon flashes his sharp teeth in a semblance of a grin, and it sends a shiver down my back.
“Make sure he doesn’t smile when he stands before Lucifer,” I snap at Madoc before turning toward the exit. “No time like the present.”
Following me, Madoc hisses in a furious voice, “If this doesn’t work, I’m adding you to my list.”
“There’s a long line ahead of you,” I jeer. “Although, unlike most of my enemies, you might actually have a chance.”
His scowl slips for a second, and the corners of his mouth twitches, but he quickly pastes it back on. “But then I’d have to contend with Meri.”
