Page 6 of The Gargoyle's Captive

He’s not wrong, but that doesn’t stop me from resenting him for speaking it out loud. My body has finally started to realize that we’re not going to freeze to death, and little tremors work through my muscles, making me twitch uncontrollably. I’m pathetically grateful for the warmth of Bram’s body.

I resent that gratitude, too.

He takes me through an archway nearly identical to the one we used to leave the bargainer demons’ castle. Except this one doesn’t actually have a door attached. He walks down what feels like an endless number of stairs, and I can’t help noticing that the stairs curve around a circular shaft that’s plenty deep for me to fall to my death. Obviously, those with wings prefer not to use the staircase.

Again, I am grateful Bram isn’t flying us to our destination within the castle. Again, I resent that feeling of gratitude. I don’t know this gargoyle, and I don’t plan to stick around for long enough to change that. Each time I appreciate him is just another sticky string making it more challenging to slip out without warning.

We go down what I think translates to two more levels and into a wide, high hallway. There are a handful of arches on either side, and I get a glimpse into the rooms as we pass. They seem normal enough, at least by human standards.

What the fuck am I thinking?

I’m not in the human realm. If I keep comparing everything I find here to that, I’m no better than some prejudiced asshole. I might not be here to learn about these people or live with them in any true way, but that doesn’t mean I have to be a dick about it.

Besides, it will be easier to escape the castle if people aren’t watching me closely because I keep insulting everything about them. Which means I should probably stop touching this man and asking him leading questions about his vulnerabilities. I have no intention of fighting him, setting him on fire, or committing any other kind of violence. Not unless I have to.

He finally sets me down carefully in front of the door at the end of the hallway. His big hands linger on my hips, and for the life of me, I can’t tell if it’s because he likes touching me, or if he really does think I might collapse. It doesn’t matter, because neither of those things is going to happen. I take a small step back, and Bram releases me instantly.

It’s probably the first step in an intricate dance he intends to conduct. Maybe even a seduction. That’s too damned bad. Even if he is big and handsome and incredibly warm. I take another step back, mostly for my peace of mind. The air of the hallway is significantly more temperate than outside, but it’s hardly balmy. Now that he’s no longer touching me, I can’t help shivering in cold.

He motions at the door behind me. “Your room is through there. There are some clothes available, but I’ll have others made after we get your measurements. Dinner is in an hour.” He pauses, as if realizing how brusque he sounds. “I would appreciate it if you would eat with me.”

Spending more time with him is the last thing I want to do, but I’m not going to give him a reason to watch me closely. I’ll have dinner with him tonight, and after the rest of the castle is asleep, I’ll slip out and make my way back to the bargainer demon territory to find the answers I’m seeking. We didn’t fly for days on end so I can’t be more than a week’s travel. Maybe. I need to find a map to verify before I start out, so maybe leaving tonight isn’t the best idea. I’ll have to see what I can source between now and dinner and then decide based on that.

No. Damn it, I’m stalling. It doesn’t matter. I’ve lived off the land before, and even if the bargainer demon territory is a couple hundred miles away, I can make the trek. I only agreed to stay in this realm. Everything else is up for grabs.

I hate the uncomfortable guilt that rises. I’ll come back. No doubt Azazel will be only too happy to ferry me to Bram once I get my answers. And that’sfine. I said I’d stay here for seven years, and I will, but that damned demon knows what happened to my mother and I can’t stand being this close without finding out the truth.

I look up at Bram. “Dinner would be great.”

4

BRAM

There’s something off about Grace’s energy, but I can’t quite put my finger on what. All the other people in the demon realm, regardless of who they call their own, experience the same emotions. It always shows up exactly alike: deep ocean blue for contentment, red for anger, a rich green for jealousy. The energy around Grace feels muted, as if she’s drawn into herself. That sort of thing shouldn’t be possible. I suspect it has more to do with how she processes her emotions than any kind of mysterious magic she’s conducting.

Still, it means she’s hiding something.

Perhaps I should let it go. I don’t imagine humans make deals with bargainer demons when their lives are perfect and well-adjusted. I want to build something between us on trust, to convince her to share my bed long enough to conceive a child and then carry it to term. That won’t happen if I start accusing her of lying to me within an hour of bringing her here.

But I’m not a fool.

The other people in this realm might think humans are the weak ones, playthings to be passed around or bargained for, but I know exactly how dangerous they really are. Gods, one of the first full sentences Grace spoke to me was to ask if I can burn. That’s not a normal thing to think. I just hope Grace isn’t as bloodthirsty as...

No. I’m not going to think about that. This is as close to a fresh start as I can get, and it’s vital I take advantage of it. I won’t get another chance. Besides, Azazel snuck in that clause preventing her from harming me or my people. I’m not exactly certain how it will be enforced, but bargainer demon magic is a strange, fluid thing.

I leave her be and head to make arrangements for dinner. There aren’t many people about, but then there are never many people about these days. The noble families ensure there are enough of them in residence to be properly represented, but their absence leaves the court feeling like a ghost town. I still remember the time when I couldn’t walk down the halls without seeing half a dozen people, when our dinners and events were filled wall-to-wall, when we needed a full staff at all times to ensure everyone’s needs were met.

That was a long time ago.

I only see one person as I head down to the main floor, and they duck into a side hallway before I can identify them. It’s always like this. People scurry out of my way as if even a brush with my shadow is enough to transfer my family curse to them. There was never actually a real curse in play. Just a series of shitty decisions with fatal consequences. Not that they know or care about that.

In the kitchen, I find an unfamiliar person making biscuits. “Who are you?” He seems to know his way around the space, but I don’t remember hiring anyone. “Where is the cook? Where is...” I trail off, realizing I don’t remember the name of the most recent cook. They were good at their job and made really excellent bread, but I had only hired them a few weeks ago. Gods, what is their name?

“Jay quit.” The man finishes cutting the biscuits and places them on a metal tray. “Before they left, they hired me as their replacement.”

I stare at him for several beats. “You have to know that’s not the usual sequence of events.” Though I don’t know if thereisa normal sequence of events these days. I’ve been hemorrhaging staff for years, barely able to retain enough people on the payroll to keep this place running. Jay isn’t the first cook to disappear without a word, but they are the first to hire a replacement before they did.

“It’s a job.” He shrugs. “I’m aware of the rumors around you and this place, but Jay said this job comes with pay, room, and board. And that the pay was good.”

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