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I jerk my head at the chilling voice of stanzas and leap back against a tree branch at the sight of apeculiar, dark figure swinging in a hammock within the very body of these trees.
“Who are you, and how do you know me?” I wonder to the creature who leaps from the hammock and lands directly before me. My eyes scramble all over him, unsure where to look.
Dozens of honeybees buzz around him, some occasionally settling. In this darkness, they glow, reminding me of humming fireflies. He’s some sort of demon meets vampire meets monster—as if he’s a compilation of all. Three sets of massive bulging horns protrude from his head: one highest pair curling out, another corkscrewing up to overlap the apex one, and a lower third pair coiling down on each side of his neck to wind over his pointed ears.
My eyes wander along his face, which is long and diamond-shaped with a sharp, angular chin, flattened nose, and hoodless eyes of shimmering pearl orbs. His mouth, a thin crooked line, grins from ear to ear—unopened but still exhibiting two long and impressive fangs.
The creature steps toward me, cornering me against the tree’s body. Overwhelmed by his mass, his strength from his skin of blackwood and iron, much like these tree gates, and his lower half of herculean muscle…and hoofs, I do my best not to cringe or cower. Fear still threatens to cave in my chest.
The demon croons to his honeybees, “Little angel birthed from heaven…desires to know our true confession.” His voice is a paradox of a deep lilt. I shudder like I’m some wild animal this demon is just waiting to cage. “How shall we greet this star-blessed human…whose soul needs someprotection?”
I cover my lips and slam my eyes shut, cringing at the enormous, unashamed demon member that thrusts from his nether regions beyond his fur. Not like Neo with his desire to be comfortable or to tease me. No, when this monster does it, it’s to provoke an…emotion.
“Yes, glowing girl of heart and soul…Violentones are my control!” A taloned finger swipes my cheek as he leans in to coo in my ear, “From panic to love, how they collide…especially in Destruction’s tempting bride! That heaven-scent upon her breath…enough to tempt our Reaper Death!”
“Ugh…” I wince when he rubs himself against me, invoking that panic to skitter up my spine. Triggered, I unleash my whips, my chains, and my throwing stars, but this maddening creature only laughs before all my weapons dive back into my chest in a wild hysteria. Hands quaking, I clutch my stomach as more fear rips through me. How can he command me like that?
“What do you want?” I demand, wishing to get as far from him as possible, wishing to find Thanatos.
“Answer my riddle, little saint…I’ll let you go with no constraint. I’ll grant you a boon, a sweet little kiss,…or I’ll reap all your violent bliss!” That taloned finger sweeps down the center of my chest as if threatening to rip what little chemise I have left.
“Death will—”
A rumbling laughter puffs from his nostrils, transforming into more honeybees. “Sweet, sweet, sweet, she does contrive! As gold honey straight from heaven’s hive!”
I bite my tongue hard, more comfortable with that pain instead of his enormous length prodding my sex. Ugh. Now, I regret tying up Syn and leaving her.
“Death, Death! Lost his flames to frosted breath! I amolderthan Death, Halo-bearer…I don’t answer to him, but I love games, Star-wearer. Do you enjoy games, honey sweet?…I’ll make it easy for your blessed heartbeat!” He circles that phallus.
“Oh, foremothers, tell me your riddle and be damned!” I almost sag, doubling over, but force myself to listen even if all I can seem to remember is my own name:Elysia.
“The beginning of eternity
The end of time and space
The beginning of every end,
And the end of every place.”
As soon as he finishes, I deadpan with a grin because my name was what I needed. All the demon could manage to take from his talons sinking into my mind right after I’d agreed to his riddle. That is his power. Control of the mind for a mere moment in time. I’d felt it. Like an invading glimmer. A silent, predatory ripple of pain. Now, I reveal the answer, “The letter E.”
“Oh, tsk, tsk, tsk…” he immediately sheathes his dick behind his fur while my shoulders sink in relief. “Very well, dear Haloed heart…time for you to depart. Go and tempt Death with my kissing boon,…and please enjoy yourhoneymoon.”
That grinning mouth kisses my cheek. It feels like nothing more than a bee sting. Not wanting to linger, I battle my way through the remaining branches and don’t look back once at the conniving trickster of a demon.
To my great relief, on the other side of the Tree Gates, a walkway leads into open air with no railings and no sides, encompassed by branches. But those branches clear to unveil the Court of Death!
My whole body pitches, and I stumble, taking a few moments to breathe it in. Shimmering tears burn my eyes at the Court presented like a scintillating offering to bless me. Dazzling as only Death can. Fused together, hundreds of billions of ice crystals form a Soul-scraper of a cathedral tower twisting into that tremulous dark haze that can’t hope to smother Death’s ice. It’s like staring at a host of pearls kissing diamond lovers. Like staring at clarity and purity. I whimper, I sob, fingers shaking with emotion.
Holy foremothers!
Getting a hold of myself, I pinch my arm and shake my head with a laugh. “I’m going to deal him so manyFrozenreferences!” Game. Set. Match!
Oh, heavens! You’re here…His rapid breath ofviolent emotionresounds in my ear like a Death drum.
Pulse thrashing in my veins, I beam from ear to ear, thrilled at how I’ve stunned him.
Thanatos? Where the hell have you been?I keep going, keep walking down that path toward the ice crystal tower, my steps quickening until I’m practically gliding, though the path narrows.
