Page 5 of Demonic Division (The Sundering Duet #1)

5

Dagny

We fly for several more hours—or what my body believes to be hours—when my stomach finally decides to make itself known with a deep gurgle that has Cyprien looking down in alarm. I look toward the silver sun, still in the same spot in the sky as it was when we first began our journey.

“What time is it?” I ask, just as my stomach rumbles again.

Cyprien looks over his shoulder, an easy smile on his face. “Light.”

I roll my eyes, sure he’s making fun of me. “I can see that. I meant the hour. ”

Cyprien laughs. “Hours don’t matter in The Far Place. Time ceases to move here, unlike the living realm. There is only light and dark.”

My eyes widen in horror, prompting Cyprien to stop dead in his tracks. “Little one? What’s wrong?”

“Do you mean to tell me it’s always going to be Tuesday while I’m here?” I ask, my voice shaking. “That can’t be true. ”

“I’m not sure what a Tuesday is, but if there’s a way to get rid of it, I’d gladly do so.”

Despite everything, a genuine laugh bubbles in my chest. “No, no, that’s okay… I’m just being dramatic.” Fucking Tuesdays…

We continue traversing the same barren landscape until there’s finally a break in the snowy dunes. The hills fall away to flat, frozen ground, the only signs of life seeming to be several large willow-esque trees dotting the horizon. String-like leaves the color of freshly fallen snow drape from the gnarled limbs of the massive tree, unmoving despite the blizzard plowing through the land. Multicolored light hangs above the canopy, weaving and twisting through the air in a beautiful dance. It casts a rainbow onto the ground beneath the trees, adding to their allure.

“What are those?” I whisper, pointing toward the mighty trees.

Cyprien follows the line of my finger, and his shoulders tense. “Those are Welwig. Possibly the oldest being in The Far Place. You must never go near them.”

“Cool. I think I’ll just stay far away from everything here as a rule of thumb.”

His shoulders shake with a laugh. “Except me and my familiar, of course.”

“Your familiar?”

He nods. “The rabbit. The one you bond—the one you fixed up,” he corrects, his tone strained. “You are safe with the two of us, but that’s all.”

I gaze around, my chest seizing when I fail to locate the little creature. “Where did he go?”

Cyprien shrugs. “To hunt, probably. Your canine friend cut it short in the human realm, I’m afraid. And now that you’re stuck in The Far Place, he’s more comfortable being away from you.”

“Why would he want to be near me in the first place?”

Cyprien opens his mouth to respond, but before any words come out, an ear-piercing screech echoes across the landscape. It rattles and scrapes the inside of my skull, eliciting such a strong flight response that I’m worried my heart will burst.

Despite that, my gaze darts to the source, finding a four-legged creature walking beneath one of the Welwigs. Its skin is pale—helping it blend in with its surroundings—and stretched thin over every inch of protruding bone. Oozing sores pepper its limbs, dripping blue-black liquid down to its rounded, stump-like feet. Worst of all is the horrible sucking pit that sits at the center of its oval-shaped head, lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth that rotate around its lipless mouth like a table saw.

Cyprien turns his head over his shoulder, smirking at my wide-eyed expression. “That’s a Kleptak. You should?—”

“Stay away. Got it,” I murmur, never taking my eyes from the creature. “Maybe we could fly a little faster?”

With a laugh, Cyprien obliges. “I was going to say you should let me take you down to pet it. Kleptaks are actually pretty friendly.”

I take one more glance at the creature, my stomach churning at that horrible sucking mouth. “Nice try. I choose life.”

The demon laughs again, carefree and full despite the harrowing world surrounding us. “How ironic.”

I swallow thickly, tearing my eyes from his smoldering ones and casting them toward the horizon. Something dark is peaking over the frozen hilltop, growing taller with each step Cyprien takes. In a few minutes, the land flattens out, and the structure becomes wholly visible.

A castle made of blackened stone rests in the center of the barren landscape, the foundation contrasting heavily with the cloudy layer of ice encasing the structure. Three massive spires reach toward the silver sky like frozen daggers. Arched doors sit at the center of the castle like a great open mouth, ornate and pitch black with two brass handles situated at the height of my brow. The entire thing seems to breathe in the stillness of its surroundings, the stone walls pulsing with an eerie magic.

There is no gate for us to pass through, no change at all in topography as we near the gaping mouthlike doors, and it sends a shiver of fear down my spine. A structure this large would need protection from outside forces, surely? If not from other demons, then to keep the creepy-crawly creatures out at least…

I sneak a glance at Cyprien, noting the twitching muscle in the side of his jaw. The arms that could crush my bones on a whim, the clawed hands that ripped through walls like tissue paper.

Perhaps he needs no extra protection… and if that’s the case, it means only one thing.

I’m currently captive of the most dangerous creature in this hellish world.

“Welcome to my home,” Cyprien says, shoving open the arched doors. A gust of chill air smacks me in the face, and shivers wrack my body as we step inside the castle.

Just like the outside, the inner walls are mostly bare. Cloudy, ice-coated stone is all that’s visible—no furniture, rugs, or even pictures to break up the depressing interior. I pull the coat tighter around my shoulders as Cyprien takes a left out of the foyer. We move down a long hallway with wrought-iron doors on either side, rusted and peeling with age. Cyprien stops in front of one of the unassuming entrances, his shoulders snapping upright.

“I’m going to put you down now, okay?”

I nod, but Cyprien only holds me closer, closing his eyes as he takes a deep inhale of my scent. “I have to explain our situation to the lord of this… castle. I’ll only be a few minutes, but you have to promise me you’ll stay put until I return.”

I gaze up at him, my stomach clenching at the serious set of his mouth. I want to tell him he should explain our “situation” to me , but I doubt that would go anywhere. “I promise.”

“Okay.” Cyprien lets out a breath, placing me carefully on the ground. “I will be right back, okay?”

I nod, and his joyful smile returns. He leans down, placing a kiss on the top of my head, then disappears through the door. I stare at the spot where the demon used to be, my cheeks flaming.

What in the world was that?

I bring a hand to my face, allowing the skin to heat my chilled palm as I gaze around the hall. Each path leads to a wall of darkness about twenty doors down, leaving me to wonder just how long this section really is. The outside of the castle was large, sure, but there was no way it could house an endless maze of hallways.

The longer I stare into the dark, the more it seems to slither closer, infecting my little circle of light. My heart races as those shadowy fingers reach toward me, coaxing me closer.

The door creaks open, and I nearly squeal in delight at the sight of Cyprien. But my joy dies a moment later when I take in the disgruntled expression on his handsome face. But as soon as he sees me, it morphs into his signature grin.

“Sorry about that, little one.”

“Is everything okay?” I ask, trepidation prickling my spine at the shiftiness in his eyes.

“Of course! We just have to have a little talk with the lord of the castle,” he murmurs, reaching out and brushing a clawed hand down my cheek. “Is that okay with you?”

I try not to lean into his touch, even as a warm rush of electricity pulses from the contact. “Can I… will you take me home after?”

He doesn’t answer for a long moment, and when he does, his voice is tense. “Of course. If that’s what you wish.”

I nod resolutely, and Cyprien lets out a long sigh. “Okay.” His palm wraps around the handle to the throne room, tilting his head to look me in the eyes. “Are you ready?”

“Ready, Cyppy.”

A joyful purr rumbles in Cyprien’s throat. “You’re giving me a nickname? I love it. I will cherish it.”

I hold back my laugh as I face forward. “You do that. Let’s get this over with so I can go home.”

Cyprien grabs my hand and pulls open the door. Bright silver light spills into my eyes as I step into the large circular room. At the center sits a large spiral staircase cast in the same frozen stone as the rest of the palace. A crude throne sits at the very top, carved from a material that vibrates with the same ominous energy as the rest of the castle.

And sitting on that throne is another demon.

The enormous creature perched upon the throne at a glance could be mistaken for a man, but a second look reveals the same inhuman features as Cyprien. Twin horns buried in a mess of raven hair taper straight up toward the vaulted ceiling, the tips ending in sharpened points like snake fangs. Golden fissures spread across the surface of the horns, glowing with each pulse of his heart, breathing with a life of their own. The fissures travel down his face and neck, the brilliant webbing contrasting beautifully with the hue of his skin. Both eyes appear to be encased in gold, with no pupil or iris to be seen. When I look closer, I’m surprised to see faint colors swirling within the void, dancing and brimming with life only to be consumed by the gold in the next moment.

Perhaps more terrifying than the demon is the shimmering head of a massive serpent peeking out from his fur-lined coat. Its predatory eyes meet mine, holding me captive as it peers beneath my skin, poking the thing that’s living there, prompting it to claw toward the surface.

My breath catches in my throat as a slippery tongue flicks out, testing the air. Sampling my fear. And as it does so, the scales along its long, flexible body shimmer with a faint golden light—a spellbinding performance just for me.

I blink, and the snake has lowered itself around the demon’s throat like a golden necklace, leaving me to wonder if that interaction actually took place. If it did, its master doesn’t seem bothered by it. The dark-haired demon regards me, his eyes swirling with hatred beneath a brow chiseled from stone. My posture bends beneath the intensity, but it’s only for a moment. In the next, another demon appears at his side, arms folded as his piercing sapphire eyes survey the room.

The new demon stares down his strong nose with disdain, wiping away a stray strand of cobalt hair that falls over his eyes. Just like Cyprien, his skin is encased in that strange pale armor, swirling with intricate glowing runes that match the color of his eyes—but that’s the only similarity the two share. The blue demon has a narrow face and build, with a severe mouth that seems permanently etched into a frown. He has horns, but they’re so short, I’m only able to make out the rounded tips peeking out from the thick waves of hair flowing from his scalp. Though he’s leaner than the other demons I’ve encountered, he still looks powerful, and the muscles straining beneath his skintight armor are proof of that.

“Dagny Olavera. Welcome.” The voice that flows across the room holds the same severity as in his expression, absent of the cheerful lilt I’ve become accustomed to with Cyprien.

My gaze flits between their expressions as my fingernail digs into my cuticle, carving a fresh wound into the mangled flesh. “It’s… nice to meet you all. But I never told you my name.”

As if I had never spoken, the blue-eyed demon continues undeterred. “My name is Lir. And this”—he gestures to the golden-eyed demon sitting on the throne—“is Lord Kaebl. He has been made aware of the situation with you and Cyprien.”

“Oh. Great… so could you maybe fill me in as well?” I gesture around the room with one hand, trying to breathe past the fist tightening around my windpipe. “All I know is I woke up to a demon at the foot of my bed and was dragged here against my will. Oh, and that you seriously need a space heater in here or something.”

The demon named Lir narrows his eyes, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Lord Kaebl thinks it would be best if you remained silent for the rest of this meeting.”

I gaze past Lir’s shoulder, finding the golden-eyed demon’s gaze fixed on me, unblinking. “Is there a reason he refuses to address me himself?”

Kaebl’s eyes flash red as a small chuckle sounds from Cyprien. “I told you she was special.”

“Kaebl wishes you to be silent as well, Cyprien ,” Lir snaps, to which the yellow-eyed demon answers by sticking his tongue out. Lir sighs tiredly, running a hand over his face to compose himself before turning his attention back to me. “Lord Kaebl is unable to use his voice. Otherwise, he would be the one to talk to you. The others and I are able to hear his thoughts when he wishes, and as his… liaison, I am tasked with interpreting them for your human ears. As for why you are here … ” He takes a deep breath, seemingly pained by what he has to say next. “You have unwittingly entered into a soul bond with Cyprien and his familiar, and we need to sever it.”

My mouth goes dry. “Come again?”

He carries on, unwavering. “I wish I could say I was surprised Cyprien never informed you of this. But I cannot, and we’re all here now, so we must proceed with the facts as they are.” He clears his throat, gazing down his strong nose with a cold indifference. “Unfortunately, we cannot allow you to return to the human realm until we can figure out a way to break this bond. As such, Lord Kaebl has decided you will be kept in the cells beneath the castle until this task is completed.”

My mouth falls open as shock courses through my veins, freezing my muscles in place. Soul bond? Breaking? Dungeons?

“Can we dial it back to the bonding thing?”

“I’m afraid we cannot.”

I clench my fists at my sides as my shock turns to rage, and a scream threatens to break free. “ Why? Why am I being punished for something I don’t even understand? What even is a soul bond?”

Lir looks at Kaebl, frowning at whatever he hears. “We cannot say at this time.”

“What?” I sputter. “What kind of bullshit is that? You have to tell me something ? — ”

“ We do not have to do anything, little human. ” A demonic voice fills the air, distorted with rage. Lir’s eyes flicker with shadows as he stares at me, his canines sharpening to dangerous points and piercing the skin of his lower lip. “ We do not bow to you. You will know what you must when the time is right. No sooner, and no later.”

I shake my head, my eyes filling with angry tears. “I deserve to know why I’m being imprisoned. ”

Lir growls, leaning forward like he means to pounce, but Kaebl shoots a hand out, clutching Lir’s arm and holding him to the landing. His jaw ticks as he turns his multicolored eyes onto Lir, a frown creasing his brow. Whatever he says is enough to calm Lir, and on the next blink, Lir’s eyes are back to their brilliant blue.

“My apologies, Kaebl. I forgot myself…”

Kaebl pats his shoulder, shaking his head once. Another moment passes, and Lir’s shoulders relax. He turns to face me again, voice back to its familiar monotone as he says, “Lord Kaebl wants to know what exactly happened with the rabbit before Cyprien arrived.”

I cross my arms. “Oh sure, I’ll just tell you every little thing you want to know just to be locked in the dungeons.”

Lir looks at Kaebl, then back to me. “He’s willing to rethink the imprisonment.”

“Really? Just like that?”

Kaebl places a hand over his heart, eyes piercing me across the room with their intensity. Lir clears his throat, mimicking the motion.

“Lord Kaebl gives his word. If you tell us what we need to know, we will not force you back into the cell.”

My thumbnail finds the cuticle of my index, slicing deep into the flesh over and over as I survey each of the demon’s faces. “I found Bo, his… familiar in the forest. He was hurt, so I took him home to look after him, and that’s when the weird stuff started happening.” A memory of the rabbit’s eerie shriek echoes in my head, as loud as the moment it happened. “He started making this sound—like he was in pain or just really scared. I tried to comfort him, and then he just jumped up and bit me.”

Lir nods solemnly. “Was there anything else?”

“Just this intense burning on my stomach. But there’s nothing there. I checked.”

“Interesting,” Lir murmurs. “Cyprien, would you mind?”

Before I can react, Cyprien reaches out, gripping my arm and pulling me to his side. One arm wraps over my chest, holding me to him while the other works to shift the base of my shirt up, exposing my lower abdomen to the room. His palm brushes that space below my belly button, and with his touch, that familiar burning sensation sparks to life.

Cyprien’s muscles tense as the heat intensifies, and a gasp fills the air. “It’s there.”

“ What? What’s there?” I demand, trying to wriggle from his grip. “Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?”

He doesn’t respond, but by the look on Lir’s face, I can tell it’s nothing good .

“Demons…? I’m starting to freak out,” I whisper. “Is there something wrong with me?”

No one speaks for several more moments, but when Lir breaks the silence, it’s worse than any answer I could have imagined.

“Cyprien, help me take her down to her cell.”

My eyes go wide. “W-what? But you promised! You gave me your word?—”

“Words mean nothing in The Far Place,” Lir says, stepping to the end of the ledge. “ Nothing matters here. Nothing but power.”

He launches from the top, landing effortlessly on the stone ground without so much as a whisper of sound. I manage to break from Cyprien’s hold and out of his reach.

I shake my head, stumbling away from the two horrible creatures. Cyprien takes a silent step toward me, his arms outstretched. “Calm down, Dagny. This is only temporary?—”

“ Temporary? In a place that supposedly has no time?” My back hits the closed door as panic squeezes my throat, my fingers searching for an escape. “How long will I be down there? Days? Years? I can’t… please don’t make me,” I whisper, choking on my last resort. “Please… please don’t take me down there, Cyprien. Just take me home. Please, I-I want to go home.”

His mouth is set in a grim line, eyes flickering between yellow and black as he scents my fear hanging heavy in the air. “I’m sorry, little one.”

“Stay the fuck away from me.” My hand trembles as I raise it, pointing an accusatory finger at Cyprien. “Especially you. You fucking tricked me. Lied to me. Pretended to care about me and my safety, all so you could—what? Lock me away and let me die slowly in a frigid cell? ”

He shakes his head, his mouth parting slightly, at a loss for words. Luckily, he doesn’t have to speak because Lir materializes at his side a moment later.

He lunges forward, gripping my arm and hauling the door open in one swift motion. I try to pull away, but his grip is like iron as he yanks me, stumbling down the hallway.

At the end is a set of stairs, which Lir wastes no time in hauling me down. I nearly trip on the last step, but the demon is there, anticipating my clumsiness and catching me before I face-plant.

Lir grabs my arm, looking anywhere but me as he yanks me the last couple of feet toward my cell. I don’t have time to ask what the hell just happened as he unceremoniously shoves me inside, causing me to stumble and slam my knees against the damn stone.

Cyprien waits at the foot of the stairs, watching me as Lir slams the cell door shut. He pulls a ring of rusted keys from his coat pocket and inserts it into the lock. There’s an awful screeching of metal as the bolt shudders into place, and Lir pockets the key ring once more.

I stand on shaking legs and race forward, clutching the bars as my eyes plead with Lir’s beautiful blues. “You don’t have to do this. I promise, I’ll stay in the main castle. I won’t ask to leave or even think of it. Please, just… don’t leave me down here in the dark,” I whisper, my voice cracking heavily.

A spark of sympathy ignites Lir’s crystal gaze, but it’s gone in the next blink. He doesn’t respond; he just reaches up, running a single finger down the bars as shadows crowd his vision.

“I’ll see you later, Dagny.” He turns on his heel, making it halfway up the stairs before I can blink. Leaving me alone. Leaving me with the dark.

I close my eyes, trying to convince myself this is just a horrible nightmare. That when I open them, I’ll be back in my bed, safe under my covers.

But when I look, the ominous walls of the dungeon seem to be closing in, the shadows whispering their hateful song. And I’m still alone.