Page 12 of Her Demon Daddy
“Hooded One?”
“Take her away. I’m bored of her.”
Drar’ran dutifully hurries past me, and I hear the rustling of fabric against skin as he pulls Siara from the bed and leads her from the room. Despite my best efforts, I’m unable to avoid her gaze before she disappears around the doorway.
An emotion I can’t quite read settles on her face, the split second of our gazes clashing seeming to stretch on forever. A useless well of panic opens up in my chest as the door shuts softly behind them.
She’s seen too much, she knows too much, and yet I was unable to do what must be done. I have failed, in every measurable way.
And now, I know that I must pay the price.
7
SIARA
The dungeon doors open, and the King’s servants walk me inside. I barely feel their hard grips on my arms, sure to leave bruises due to my confusion and fear. He could have done anything he wanted to me. He had me, conscious and unconscious, right in front of him, so why did he leave me alone? Why call his aides to take me back to the dungeon?
Fear hits when I wonder if he has something worse planned for me. What if I wasn’t what he wanted, and now I’m going to be killed, anyway? I guess it wouldn’t be much better than if he had killed me, but I will admit it was nice to be out of the dungeons for a while.
The girls look at me with wide eyes and shocked faces. I avert my gaze from theirs, feeling conflicted about my own return. I don’t know why I feel ashamed for being brought back to the dungeons. I should be happy, even relieved. but I feel like I failed somehow. Maybe there was a subtle test he gave me that I didn’t pass.
If there was a visual representation for the questions running through my mind, I imagine it would be like different colors of paint mixing together. A group of colors, and once they all blend together, they make an undesirable brown.
The servants throw me into my cell, and I stop myself before hitting the concrete wall. I look at the wall before me, blank and damning. I wonder if I should have done something different when I was up with the King. Not so that he could steal my soul, but so that he wouldn’t have sent me back here.
I close my eyes and hear the aides leave the dungeon, slamming the door behind them. While I wonder why I’ve been sent back down here, I’m also eternally grateful that the only thing he took from me today was my time and being caged in a dungeon. I have plenty of that to give.
The girls immediately start whispering amongst themselves before Trinity calls my name in a louder whisper than the others. I turn around slowly and walk to the edge of the cell and meet her there. Before I can ask what she wants, the other girls swarm me, and I’m hit with a barrage of questions.
“How did you get back?” “Why did he release you?” “Is it because of what you’ve taught us?” “What was it like up there?” “Did you escape them?” “Are you in trouble now?”
I shake my head and close my eyes, trying to block out their questions. My thoughts are loud enough on their own already. I don’t have the capacity for theirs, too. Also, I don’t know what to tell them. They’re asking me the same questions I’ve been wondering myself.
I hold out a hand to stop them, and they quiet down as I exhale, gathering myself. I look at them and shake my head again as I look at the ground and put my hands on my hips.
“I don’t know why I’m back,” I admit, wishing I had something more exciting to tell them.
“What do you mean?” Trinity asks. “You have to know why they sent you back! What happened up there?”
I shrug. “Nothing, I…” My mouth remains agape as I look at their curious faces. “He just sent me back.”
I don’t want to tell them that the King wanted my soul. These girls don’t need anything more to scare them. Looking at their faces, I realize their eyes look hopeful because I’ve found some magical way to defeat the King.
I purse my lips and walk away from them, returning to my corner as I run my fingers through my hair. My fight with him was useless, but I wanted to ensure he knew I wouldn’t back down without one. I also wish I had the opportunity to ask him some questions other than the ones I did.
The most important one, of course, was what are you going to do with me? I also want to know why he kidnapped so many of us, why he wears a hood over his head, and how he got to where he is today. Also, I would love to knowwhyhe wants my soul.
I sink against the wall and fiddle with my fingers, watching the slow movements as the questions repeat in my head. The girls are still whispering, and I’m glad they are. I don’t want them to ask me any more questions because they won’t get any answers that would satisfy them.
The next day, we’re awakened by the slamming of the dungeon door again. As I yawn, I lift my head off my arm and blink a few times, the memories of yesterday flooding back quickly. They walk toward my cell and begin opening the door.
I should stand up. I know they’re more than likely here for me, but I don’t want to admit that a part of mewantsto return. The curiosity I have about the King outweighs the fear that’s been plaguing me since I arrived here.
When his servants motion for me to stand, I do. I don’t want to find out what the consequences would be for disobeying them. I’m already worried the King will steal my soul. Do I want to be brutally beaten before that happens? I think not.
I walk toward them and let them grab my wrists. They don’t have to, I’m going willingly, but I also don’t want the girls to know I want to see him again. If they think I’m betraying them somehow, it could break them. Not that I don’t have faith in their strength, but I know what betrayal feels like. it’s not something I would wish on my worst enemy.
I’m walked out of the dungeon and back to the King’s chambers. They open the door, and I hold my breath as I’m ushered in. He’s sitting at his desk in an expansive library off to the right. his hood draped over his face as usual. I wonder how he can read with that thing on. It must be tiresome to walk through life when your vision is obscured.