She clasped her hands over her ears as a chill crept up the curve of her spine and raised the hairs on the back of her neck. A growl rumbled in Brennen’s throat.
“Oh, to play, would be so very nice,” a sing-song voice rang out from behind her. Her heart thundered as she spun but saw no one.
Beside her Destonne’s eyes widened and the hackles on Brennen’s back raised as another unnerving laugh followed.
“Show yourself,” Destonne called out in an even, authoritative tone.
“You wish to enter the Hollow,” it said. “But first you must pay and play.”
A woman, or what Emmery imagined was once a woman, appeared out of a swirl of shadows, completely nude aside from the blood slathered over her body, her figure distinctly feminine, curvy with full breasts. As the strange female cocked her head to the side, her stringy black hair tangled in her antlers and fell over the pale, thin flesh of her face. Was it a mask or real? Emmery couldn’t tell. The woman ran a black tongue along her fangs then clacked her teeth together as she observed the three of them, before she licked coagulated black goo from a spindly-clawed finger. Between the antlers and mask-like face, she could easily be related to Guardian Kaah. It was the large wings stretched out behind her, membranous like an insect, that set her apart.
Emmery’s stomach bottomed out. Reize had warned them about the demons, the games they played, and it seemed they’d unwillingly strolled directly into one. Beside her Destonne audibly swallowed, though his face gave nothing away, his composed mask locked firmly in place.
“If you want to enter you must pay or play.” She flashed her black teeth, her gaze sliding to Destonne. “You. I want to play with you.”
Unfazed, he surveyed her, calm, calculated, analyzed her every move. “And if we choose neither? I’m afraid I’m not in the mood for games.”
“Then you will wander forever in the darkness. Until your last breath.”
Destonne gave her a bored look. “And your name? Title? Authority over this—” He sneered at the blood dampened ground. “Place?”
The woman giggled behind her hand, amused by the question. “You may call me Senka. I am but a simple demon of this place. Outcast, if you will.” Her milky-white eyes flicked between them as if she couldn’t decide who would make better prey, and if she could perhaps have them all. “You wish to enter the Hollow, yes? It has been some time since we have had guests.”
With a cautious step back, Destonne asked, “And how might we enter?”
They all held their breath as they awaited her reply.
“You must pay first, and then you will play.” She tapped her foot in the clotted blood, her arms crossed over her exposed breasts. A delighted fire lit her eyes. “But if you lose when you play, you cannot stay.” Her wings fluttered as she giggled at her rhyme.
What the fuck did that mean? Emmery opened her mouth to ask, but Destonne spoke first.
“We have no payment,” he said. “Or even the shirts off our backs.”
“You pay with my currency of choice: summon, secrets, or suffering.”
The three looked between one another, but it seemed they had no choice.
“We will pay,” Emmery whispered in agreement. The demon appeared more than delighted by this prospect from the nefarious grin on her face.
Senka stepped toward Brennen first and rested a hand on his head, nestled between his horns. He flinched, but allowed her to touch him.
“You are a strange creature,” she hummed as if feasting from where their bodies joined. “Trapped by your magic, unable tolove like a man.” She cocked her head to the side, and with a predatory smile said, “I require two secrets.”
Emmery glanced between them, sure Brennen spoke into Senka’s mind since the demon’s eyes shone with a new taunting glow.
“First question,” she stated. “What is your name? Yourtruename—”
“Don’t tell her,” Destonne hissed, but Senka’s answering glare stiffened his spine.
The wolf didn’t acknowledge the King, his head lowered in submission. Emmery didn’t know what demons did with names, what power they held, but judging from Destonne’s reaction, it couldn't be good.
Brennen lifted his head, his teeth bared in a snarl, but Senka only clapped her hands overexuberantly. “I do so enjoy secrets. The next I ask is, what is the name of your love? The one you cannot have.”
A beat passed then Senka grinned and patted his head mockingly before she shifted her attention to Emmery. Brennen’s growled warning only sparked a joyful smile on the demon’s face.
Senka stalked with feline stealth to Emmery. She stopped before her and her dark hair spilled over half of her face as she cocked her head, reading her. Then the demon grabbed her hand. Emmery narrowed on the touch, like Senka’s fingers pressed into her skull, reached into her brain, chipped away at her thoughts, chiselled her secrets away, reducing her to pieces. Is this what happened to Brennen?
“I see lust in your eyes. But also guilt. You fear you are hurting the one you love.” Senka’s tone bled amusement. “Who are you betraying, little one? Is there another who loves you so?”