Sympathy for the Demons (Promised to the Demons #1) - Lidiya Foxglove Page 0,26
are we in Etherium?” I asked. “You’re a demon. Shouldn’t you bring me back to Sinistral?”
The demon’s red eyes sparked a warning. “Obviously, I would, if I could.”
“But—“
“Do not question me. Find or build us a shelter.”
“Do I look like a pioneer?” I threw out a hand at the wild fields around us.
He seized the front of my shirt and lifted me off the ground. “Figure out something, scum.” He dumped me back on my feet. I caught my balance and danced a step back.
“I have a home here,” I said. “I could just bring you there. I have a bed, a fireplace, a stove, fresh water…”
I saw a flicker of hope in the demon’s eyes. “Lead the way.”
“Why should I?”
“I am your master now,” he said. “You live and breathe to serve me or I will snuff you out with no more thought than pinching a candle flame between my fingers.”
“If you know a place to sleep on your own, I guess you might as well,” I said.
I wasn’t afraid of this demon. If he was trapped in Etherium, then he was still on my turf. Despite his appearance, muscular and massive, with impressive horns, fangs and claws, he also seemed lost. He wasn’t going to get rid of me right now. I wasn’t even sure he was capable of actually hurting—
“Ah!” While taking another step back I ran into the lump of another body in the grass, bleeding from the stump of his hand. It was Helena’s awful cousin Piers. That was the last thing I expected to see. “Is—is he dead?”
“No,” the demon said. “I devoured his soul as well.”
“He needs healing or he will die.” I dropped beside Piers and cast a quick spell just to seal the wound. Piers was white as a sheet, barely breathing. Then again, considering he had attacked Helena, maybe I should just let him die.
“Hm,” the demon said. “I see. He is dying. Normally I wouldn’t care, but I suppose I might need him for something, although his body looks very useless. I have his soul trapped here.” The demon waved his hand and a black shadowy form appeared in his palm. It solidified into a jet black, scaly lizard of some kind, but with eight legs like a spider, and two big golden eyes almost like a cat. At the same time, Piers’ body vanished.
Convenient. Now we didn’t have to lug him around.
“Uggh,” I said. “Why does it have eight legs?”
“I turned him into a avornax. They are good for eating house pests,” the demon said offhandedly. “I’m not sure he is useful for much else.”
“It keeps getting worse,” I muttered.
The creature started hissing in panic as if it had just been brought into an existence of horrors. Well, that was definitely some karma for Piers.
“Hush,” the demon said. “That form suits your personality much better, beast. Show me my new house.”
Seeing how he handled Piers shook me slightly, at least enough that I realized I was dealing with a monster, but I could still use a monster, if he was on my side.
“I would love to bring you there,” I said. “But before all of this happened, I took on an apprentice. I’m not sure I can find the house without her because it is also her home now.” Lying casually was one of my talents, although I’m not sure why, since I rarely had a reason to lie.
“An apprentice,” the demon said. “I don’t care about an apprentice. Why do you need her to find your own house? Perhaps if I bit your hand off, you would be more willing.”
Piers was shivering in the demon’s hand. I guess he was remembering. I wondered if he was still capable of speech. Then I wondered if this demon could turn me into some hideous creature if I resisted.
“She’s not just an apprentice,” I said. “She actually swore an oath to do what I tell her to do for seven years.”
I might be making a selfish mistake. Maybe Jenny was better off with her family than she was bound to a demon. I would just feel much better if she was at my side.
“Bound to serve you for seven years?” Now the demon laughed. His laugh was low and amused. “You are a crafty one, aren’t you? Not my usual sort of servant… But that means she must also serve me now. I will bring her here if you will show me the house.”