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“Not really.” She smiled. “I’ve gotten used to Underworld’s weather.”
“I wonder what the weather is like in the Realm of the Dead.”
She ground her teeth, glancing through the bars at the demons scattered throughout the makeshift camp. “Judging by the look of them, I expect it’s hot. Their skin looks like sandpaper, all dry and rough.”
“You insulting my skin?” the Master quipped as he rounded the cell to peer in at them. “Because, to me, yours looks all puffy and soft.”
“I was just making an observation.” She cocked her head. “Is it not hot in your world?”
He leaned against the bars. “It is. Hotter than even your human realm, I suspect. We don’t have bathrooms, either, before you ask.”
Bree stiffened, and the demon cracked a smile. “That’s right. I overheard you plotting. You think you two could say anything in this camp without one of us listening?”
“Does that mean you aren’t going to let me out to pee?” she asked through clenched teeth, her heart galloping out of her chest. None of the demons had been anywhere near the cage when she’d been speaking to Taveon about this, but...she should have guessed. Fae had enhanced hearing. Demons must have that ability, too.
“When you actually need to go, then maybe.” His smile widened. “Unless you piss me off even more.”
Taveon leaned forward and spoke his first words to the Master. “What do you plan to do with me?”
The Master cocked his head, considering Taveon. There was something in his eyes, a hint of curiosity and a little bit of fear. Bree wondered what that was about. These demons did not look as if a dinosaur could scare them. Not even a T-Rex. They’d just smack the ancient beast aside and carry on as if nothing had happened.
“All right.” The Master finally nodded. “I suppose there’s no harm in telling you what’s to be done. Basically, we need your blood. We spill it on the gate, and it’ll keep it open permanently.”
Bree sucked in a sharp breath and stared. The Master turned to her and smiled, as if he expected her to argue. But she had no words. They’d all fled from her throat.
“But why?” Taveon asked, frowning.
The Master shrugged. “There’s not much left in our world. We need a new home, but one not too far from where we live. Unfortunately, we can’t survive on the oxygen here for more than a month, so we’ll have to regularly go back into our realm to top up. That’s why we want the gate permanently open.”
“You want to...live here?” Bree blinked at him. “Because you’ve destroyed your own world?”
“I wouldn’t say we’ve destroyed it. There’s just not much left. Besides, it’s easier to get to the human realm from here.” At the look of pure horror on Bree’s face, he rolled his eyes. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand.”
With a tsk, the Master shook his head and wandered away.
Bree turned to Taveon. He gripped the bars, gritting his teeth as he stared out at the demon camp. His thoughts were a jumble of words and emotions that were difficult to read, but she understood the core of it. More guilt. More shame. The demons wanted to use his blood to create a permanent gate, one that would never close, so that they could use and destroy this realm. And they’d be able to do it, too, all because of him.
“Blood is strong,” Taveon said bitterly. “Too strong.”
“I know. But it doesn’t make you who you are.”
He sighed and closed his eyes. “Then why can’t I rid myself of it?”
Bree drew in a breath, eyes flying wide. She suddenly understood exactly what they needed to do, though the idea scared her. If she was wrong, if they did not do this right, she could lose Taveon. But she’d lose him anyway if they failed.
The flare of feathers caught her eye, and she turned toward the bars to find a raven swooping toward her. It cawed and tossed a key inside the cage before shooting off into the skies. A smile curled her lips. She quickly closed her fingers around the key and turned toward Taveon, her heart thundering.
His eyes were bright. He’d seen everything.
But Bree did not dare speak of it out loud.
Hope surged in her chest as she slipped the key into her pocket. Rafe had done the impossible, and he’d gotten them a key. And if she was right, they might be able to close the gates once and for all. They just had to get out of this cage without being seen.
Did demons sleep?
