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On the word “prisoners,” he turned his gaze to us. It was hard and blank, but I could still catch a glint of something I couldn’t describe in them.
“Hand me the cuffs,” he announced to his subordinates. “We’ll need six.”
20
ARCHDEMON
ARIA
Grel didn’t look upset about trapping us in his magical cuffs that inhibited our shifts, but I didn’t miss how he glanced at Sariel cautiously out of the corner of his good eye. Granted, weweresurrounded by his subordinates—it wouldn’t look good for him to let us escape.
Tyler, also cuffed, was incensed. That made sense, considering how quickly Azazel had abandoned him when it’d been clear the fae would win. He was seething, and even the Guardians around him were starting to shift uneasily at his snarling. His surviving wolves were unconscious and set to be transported to the nearest Free Kingdom holding cell, while he himself would go directly to the Free Kingdom like the rest of us.
A muscle in Sarel’s jaw jumped, but I knew he wasn’t as annoyed as he tried to appear. As terrible as this situation was, this was a second chance to convince Mikey to leave with us… assuming we could ever escape again.
“Your brother is safe. He’s in the dungeons but is guarded by my direct subordinates. I won’t let anyone near him,” Grel said, low enough for only Sariel and I to hear. “Our moth—Penelopeis well. Princess Lucia is under watch, but she suffered no real reprimand. Not a public one, at least. Before you ask me why, I don’t know; I have no idea why they’re all still alive, but the King and Queen requested to keep your brother in good health.”
Sariel and I stiffened at that information. That wasn’t good. I mean, it was incredible news that they were alive, but specifically having Mikey be kept ‘in good health?’ They were planning something, and from how Sariel’s mood darkened, he knew it too.
“I’m sorry about this,” he continued. “I don’t have a choice. They’re already suspicious about your escape. Tarragon doesn’t believe I was overpowered, so I can’t let you leave. I’m going to bring you back, but think of something quickly, or you’re going into the dungeons. Or somewhere even worse.”
We nodded jerkily.
“Alright!” Grel announced. “Let’s g—”
“Where are we going?” a new voice interrupted. Our heads snapped to the left, where a dark figure began to materialize. “Not back to that dreaded castle, is it?”
I would know that voice anywhere.
A tail whipped out from the shadowy clouds around the figure, and several of the Guardians were swept back, slamming into the front of the Clock Tower.
Barimuz’s body solidified, and my own body went cold.
“Fuck. We need to get out of here!” Neo snarled at Grel.
“I can’t do that,” Grel snarled back.
We didn’t see Barimuz move—one second, he stood on the other side of the square, and the next, he was in Neo’s face.
“Hello again, old friend,” he crooned.
Bile threatened to choke me at the memory of him leaving Neo’s body slumped on the floor. Neo, however, didn’t flinch as Barimuz’s clawed hand reached out to stroke the side of his face. I commended him; my knees were beginning to shake.
“Still a cesspool of despair and regret, I see,” Barimuz continued, voice cloyingly sweet.
“Step away from them,demon.” Grel spat. His pronunciation of the word like it was a slur made my eyes widen.
Barimuz’s lips pulled back to expose rows and rows of sharp teeth. He cocked his head and observed Grel over his shoulder. The other’s spear was aimed at the back of his neck, its pointed tip already pressing into the skin.
“It’s a shame I can’t play today,” Barimuz lamented. He glanced around the area with a frown. “I must take my friends somewhere more private. We will meet again, though, Commander Grel.”
He snapped his fingers, and a sound like a bomb going off echoed throughout the square.
Sariel dove for me, taking us to the ground with his body. The impact jolted me. Without the use of our hands, it was a clumsy tackle, and I was sure I’d just dislocated my shoulder.
A flash of light—visible even behind my closed lids—went off next. It was bright enough that it might have fried my retinas if they’d been open.
My ears rang, and my shoulder and side ached as I tried to orient myself beneath Sariel’s weight without further damaging myself. Then, all of a sudden, everything… stopped.
