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Of course. Wings that can appear and disappear whenever he wants. That makes perfect sense.
About as much sense as any of the rest of this monster realm.
We fall in step together, making our way to the end of the hallway, where the mouth of a staircase awaits us. Azarius takes the lead, the dark wooden steps creaking under his weight as he descends, and I follow behind while Elio brings up the rear.
The staircase ends in a wide foyer with a black floor so polished I can see our reflections in it as we move—like a giant demonic mirror. Ornate columns run up the walls to the high ceiling and are separated by slate-gray walls. A chandelier made of skulls—with and without horns—dangles from the ceiling, glimmering like a beacon of imminent doom.
My throat tightens at the sight. It hits me that I’m about to meet the nastiest monster I’ve yet to face. And that Malev was pretty scary.
I don’t think I’m ready for whatever Rafe is.
“Let me do the talking,” Elio says as we make our way across the foyer. Silence is wrapped so tightly around us that every footstep, movement, and breath feels offensive.
Can Rafe hear us?
Is he watching us?
A chill wiggles up my spine at the thought, and I clamp my mouth shut.
“You?” Az scoffs. “You didn’t want to bring her here in the first place.”
I glance in Elio’s direction—he isn’t paying me any attention—and he shrugs. “True, but you’re practically famous for letting your mouth get you in trouble. Remember the deal with Pearson?”
Azarius huffs. “Yes, that wasn’t—”
“And last week when we met with Anderson,” Elio continues.
“That’s not fair. I was just trying to—”
“And the time before that with Ross? Face it, Az. You suck at negotiating.”
We’re headed for a set of double doors at the end of the foyer. They’re taller and wider than any doors I’ve seen before, and they almost blend in with the slate-gray wall except for a pair of huge silver handles.
My heart is racing in my chest, blood pounding in my ears. I don’t have to be told that Rafe waits on the other side of these doors. It’s almost like I can sense his sinister power seeping through the wood, but I know the feeling is just in my head.
Isn’t it?
At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if the monster in me was calling to him. And I’m not entirely sure that it isn’t.
“Az,” I say, my voice hardly more than a whisper. “Maybe we should trust Elio on this one.”
They stop short and turn to stare at me, which only makes my heart beat harder. Azarius narrows his eyes in my direction and opens his mouth to argue, but then he snaps it closed again.
Elio’s obviously the best shot we’ve got at convincing Rafe to let me live.
We all know it.
“Fine,” Az snaps and crosses his arms over his chest.
I take a step forward and catch Elio’s gaze, pointing a finger sternly at his chest. “But if you get me killed, I’m kicking your ass.”
The corners of his lips curl into a lopsided smile.
“Of course.” He then reaches for one of the door handles, his copper-colored skin contrasting starkly against the metal. “Shall we?”
ChapterSix
Devyn
