Page 64 of Fated to Monsters

“We tried. She kept evading us, and the threat to other realms was too great.” Balial shrugs. “You should be thanking me.”

“Why not open the realm, give the demons a chance to escape? You left them there to die.” Wren shoves my arm. “Don’t touch me right now, Bo.”

“Prania cannot be opened until Parla is dead. What happens to those demons is no concern of mine, not in the grand scheme of things. Eventually, she will run out of demons to feed on and her immortality will fail. It’s only a matter of time until there is nothing left of both Parla and Prania.”

“And if I kill her? Then you’ll lower the barrier?”

Balial hovers toward her. “You know.” He takes another breath. “I thought I caught a whiff of something else on you.”

Wren holds her ground, not moving with his advance.

“You’re an Oliver…but you’re also a…hunter.” Balial latches onto her neck and yanks her toward him.

I lurch forward and am met with a powerful forcefield keeping me glued to the ground. “Let her go,” I yell at him.

Willow plants her arm to the side, a ball of magic forming in her fist. “Don’t make me hurt you, Balial. Release her.” She readies herself to throw it at him.

But Balial complies and drops Wren from his grip.

She clutches at her neck and gasps for air. “What the hell,” she mutters.

Willow rushes to her side, holding her shoulders. “Are you okay?”

I remain stuck in place.

"There are many secrets between you. Ones that will tear you apart. You cannot withstand neither the truth or the lies. Both will be your demise." Balial looks directly at me. "You are not fit for that world, son. You have a place here." He motions to the vast expanse around him. “An endless supply of flesh to feed on. Whatever you want is yours for the taking. Under my command, obviously.”

“No one wants to join you here, Balial. Give it a rest.” Willow stands. “Why do you think you’re alone? You’re a bully.”

“My love, what sweet words your delectable lips mutter.”

“You’re an asshole.”

Balial grins. “Like music to my ears.”

Willow glances back at me. “We’re done here.”

“Ah, yes,” Balial says. “Such a short visit.” He snaps his fingers and Willow and Wren disappear, leaving me here with the prince of hell. “Now that it’s just us boys, we should chat.”

“I have nothing to say to you,” I tell him.

What’s the phrase I’m supposed to say to get home?If I could break the hold he has on me, I could reach into my pocket to press the button on the device.

“That’s very well.” Balial hovers closer. “You know, that marking was quite clever.”

“Where did you send them?”

“Your concern is misplaced. I would never harm a hair on Willow’s beautiful head. Not again, at least.”

“That doesn’t answer my question. Where are they?” I grit my teeth.

“Back with the witch that cast the spell to send them here, I suppose. Sydney? Unless they’ve already abandoned you and moved on from casting another to retrieve you. That’s the sinking pit in your gut right now, am I correct?” Balial exhales. “You sure are insecure for such an influential creature.”

“You know nothing about me.”

“No?” he taunts. “Not even that you’re afraid she will no longer desire you if you remove the mark? But that if you do rid her of it, you’d ensure she’d be yours forever. What a predicament.”

I swallow harshly. How can he be aware of such things? The things I keep hidden deep within me.

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