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“Why did she expire so quickly?” Deruthel asked, his anger barely contained.
Halak’s claws twitched at his side. “The blood of the priestesses is weak. That one was mixed with the Bokor’s but it seems to have had an adverse effect.”
“The Bokor’s blood should have strengthened the bond. Why would it lessen the result?”
Halak focused on the pool dripping from the dais. “Hakim was duplicitous. He may have sabotaged his blood before he died.”
Deruthel hissed. “The king will deal with him. You need to strengthen the solution. Don’t use the Bokor’s blood in future experiments.”
Halak’s eyes rested on Riley. “Now that she is here, allow me to try with a fresh batch.”
Deruthel’s eyes roamed over Riley. “Bleed her.”
Halak left the room.
Riley huffed. “Well, it didn’t take you long to sacrifice me.”
“You won’t die, but weakening you too much may not work to my advantage.”
Halak returned with an IV apparatus and a syringe.
“Doctor demon, really?” she said snidely.
Halak pointed to her arm. “This is the most effective blood extraction device that we have come across. Your species is quite ingenious. Now, allow me access to your vein or I will beat you, strap you down and take it, anyway.”
While these were not the demons of biblical lore, they possessed a common trait. Neither was capable of love. The offhand way in which they explained their tactics, beatings and death was lacking in emotion. There was a drive to fight. To conquer, but nothing else. They were demonic locusts. She extended her arm, allowing Halak to insert the needle.
Deruthel inspected the blood collecting in the bag. “How much do we need?”
Halak touched the bag. “Until we secure a second source, I recommend we not bleed her dry.”
“We need blood for the portal; but if we take too much, we will be incapable of breeding her,” Deruthel said.
Halak glanced at Riley. “Will the portal not take precedence?”
“We need the breeders first. The shadows have proven more combative and resilient than anticipated.”
“My Lord, we are in the initial stages of recolonization. It takes years to set up the breeder pool. Surely the king and our fellow first generations take precedence. If we lose the portal, we lose everything. The breeders have nowhere to go. They are here at our choosing.”
Riley lay on the cement step as the room began to spin. Her eyelashes fluttered as time was measured by the fullness of the crimson bag. Or was it bags? How many had they taken? She couldn’t lift her head when Halak removed the needle from her arm.
He leaned down inspecting her features. “She is pale, but she will live. She will need time to restore what she has lost. I recommend we feed her.”
Riley sneered. “You’re going to die, and I will spit on your graves.”
Deruthel joined Halak. “She is more venomous than anticipated. She will make an excellent breeder.”
Riley pushed herself to a seated position, as Deruthel leaned toward her. She spit at him once he was in range.
He grabbed her throat, squeezing it till her airways closed off.
“Go ahead. Kill me,” she croaked.
Deruthel released her before wiping the spit from his face and licking his fingers. “Trying to beat me won’t work. You are not the first female to choose death, but all end up at my feet.”
Riley willed the room to stay in focus. “Because you poison them with your blood. No one chooses to be with you. You’re sick and pathetic. A bully who needs constant attention from those around him.”
Deruthel snarled. “This world has been more troublesome than anticipated, but the rewards will be greater. It can sustain us much longer than any before.”
