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I roll my eyes and redirect my attention to the king. He examines me once more before returning to his throne, placing his long, skinny arms on either side of the oversized chair.
“How did you come across this coin, girl?”
I pause as I try to collect the words before Systorak nudges me. “I, uh,” I stammer. “I worked at a tavern, and a customer paid me one night. I touched the coin, and it just,” I pause, looking down at the gold circle in my hand, “stuck to my hand, more like buried itself in it, and I couldn’t get it out no matter what I did.”
The king nods slowly. “Well,” he beckons over a small creature, measly in size and malnourished.
The creature walks to the king slowly with difficulty, bringing him a goblet. The king takes it from the beast and sips. My heart sinks as a red liquid is left on his lips. I find myself wondering whose blood that must be in his cup.
“You are either quite fortunate,” he glares at me, “or incredibly unlucky.”
The room laughs again, and I brace myself for more projectiles. None hit me this time, and my shoulders relax slightly.
“She is all yours, sire,” Systorak remarks, taking a final bow.
I glance at him with fury. “You can’t leave me here,” I exclaim in a whisper.
He locks eyes with me and smirks. “Good luck, gorgeous, it’s a shame,” he lifts a finger to my face and brushes it slightly, “that we didn’t meet under,” he pauses menacingly, “different circumstances.”
Rage lifts in my chest as I imagine meeting him somewhere else. Given that he looks like a strange spider, something about him is magnetic. I shove the thoughts out of my mind and react fiercely.
“You’re not leaving me here,” I demand loudly.
The room goes silent, and the king chuckles. “Such fire for a little one,” he mocks.
“Look,” I say, approaching the king.
The room gasps, and two guards rush to my side, grabbing my arms … the king motions for them to let me go.
“Thank you,” I say with distaste. “Systorak is the one who brought me here, and he hasn’t stopped talking about the danger I’m in because of this stupid coin.”
“Stupid?” the king barks. “Girl, you have no idea of the value. Demons have sought that ‘stupid’ coin for centuries.”
He rises from his throne, throwing his goblet on the floor. The blood spills out, and the little creature scurries to clean it up. I feel Systorak tense next to me.
“And you are in danger,” the king continues. “Do you really think you can take on any demon who wishes to possess your newfound trinket?”
“Of course, she can’t,” a voice calls from the crowd.
Everyone turns to see a giant demon step forward. He is dressed in golden robes contrasting against his dark red skin. He has three eyes on his forehead and horns protruding from his neck. I cringe at the open wounds on his face.
“In fact,” the new face pauses, “maybe it would be good for her to have protection.”
The king strokes his chin and looks at Systorak, smiling. “Maybe you’re right, Count Drayken.”
Systorak looks at the king and points to himself. “Me?” he exclaims angrily. “Sire,” he chuckles. “Surely you can’t …”
The king holds a hand to Systorak. “Surely,” the king pauses and leans forward, smirking at Systorak, “I can.”
SIX
SYSTORAK
“Sire, there’s no way I can …”
He cuts me off, pointing a claw at me. “You will do as the count suggests.”
I stick my tongue in my cheek and nod, disapproval surging through my veins. “Where is she to be housed?”
