all. He lifts the metal cover from the plate and the smells hit me almost instantly.
“Is that…?” I start and he laughs.
“Country-fried steak, mashed potatoes and collard greens with gravy,” he says and I eye him warily.
“Why are you being nice to me?” I ask.
“We’re all just trying to survive here. Casualties of war aren’t really my thing. I don’t buy into all their madness I’m happy here.”
“Where is here?”
“The Shadow Realm. Level six to be exact. Greed.”
“That makes total sense, and yet none at all,” I say, raising my eyebrows.
“Come on, eat, you’ve got to be hungry after the abysmal food they’ve been giving you.” His smile makes me want to trust him, he’s not been cruel or anything when he’s been coming in here, but if we are in the Shadow Realm, that means he’s a Demon, which doesn’t exactly inspire trust.
“I swear it’s not poisoned,” he says, holding up one hand, placing the other on his chest.
“Of course you’d say that!” I roll my eyes, as my stomach growls.
“Traitor,” I whisper, looking down at my stomach and he laughs.
“Okay, how about we start fresh? My name is Deacon, I’m a lowly servant to the higher Demon who looks after this level of the realm. I also occasionally wolf out a little when my inner Demon gets a bit ragey,” he tells me, sitting at the table, crossing one leg over the top of the other. “Come on, let’s talk and eat.”
“You’re a werewolf?” I ask, moving towards him hesitantly.
“No, Lycans, werewolves, they wish they were like me.” He winks. “I wolf out, but I’m not a slave to it. I think the name for what I am is lost to humans, though they get their information wrong about us anyway. Plus I have extra nifty little tricks too.” He waves his hand in the air, and a circle of fire appears, through it, I see Remy and her guys, in some weird cave.
What the hell?
“I can show you what you most want to see,” he says, and I wonder why it showed me what it did? Unless Remy is my way out, because right now, that’s what I want. To escape from here. I keep the hope that blooms in my chest from my face. I knew she’d figure it out, my bestie is a badass.
“Can you see it?” I ask, and he shakes his head.
“Nope, stupid balance. Only you can see that which you wish to see. Now come on, eat before it goes cold.” He motions for me to sit, I hesitate for a moment, but fuck it. I’m hungry.
I sit and pick up a fork, taking a bite of the steak and gravy, trying not to groan. Fuck me that tastes good.
“Good right?” He questions, and leans back in his chair, like he has nowhere else to be and nothing to do. Completely at ease.
“It is,” I tell him, careful not to thank him. I don’t know much about Demons, but I know not to thank them. Selling my soul is so not on my to do list while I’m stuck here. I try to eat slowly, but my gurgling stomach tells me to forget my manners and I practically inhale the food. Deacon doesn’t interrupt me while I eat, he just sits there, watching, which is creepy as fuck, but I’m too hungry to care.
“That was amazing,” I say as I wipe my mouth on the napkin when I’m done.
“I’m glad. Now, any more questions before I head back to work? It’s nice in here, and the company isn’t bad either, so I’m happy to bunk off.” He winks at me and I roll my eyes.
“How long have I been here?” I ask, trying to get a bearing on everything might help me later.
“Today is day twelve, though, time moves differently here to what it does on Earth, so your friends probably only think it’s only been a few days.” He tells me openly.
“Who is your boss?” I lean forward, eager to get more information.
“My boss is Greed himself. He is the guy in charge on this level of the Shadow Realm.”
“Why do you need me?”
“We don’t not really, but the Hunter, he needs your friend to do something for him, he thought you’d be the best way to… encourage her. No-one wants your pretty little head to roll.” He smiles, taking a strand of my hair and tugging on it gently.
“I’d rather keep my head where it is,” I snark. “What does