Page 37 of Her Demon Daddy
What a flattering man,I think, as I remain stoic. My fear and rage are intertwined. Part of me wants to dash out the door and scream, even though I know no one will help me, and the other part of me wants to chew him out.
I decide to go with the latter in a more subtle manner. “What is going on?” I ask demandingly. “Where is Asmodeus? What’s going to happen to him?”
His response is chilling, as he says nothing. Instead, he looks at me and remains silent as he stands by the bed for longer than I’m comfortable with. “My name is Vag’thimon.”
I decide to play his own game and stand still as I look at him. Yes, I’m terrified, but he doesn’t have to know that. He laughs and walks around the room slowly as he sighs.
“You have much to learn of courtly manners, human.”
“And why would I need to learn those?” I snap back. “Aren’t I just going to be imprisoned or executed anyway?
He turns around, faces me head-on, and speaks to me like I’m a child. “I will answer your questions once we can have a civil conversation, and you tell me your name.”
“Siara,” I respond begrudgingly.
Vag’thimon motions to a table and two chairs that sit next to the fireplace. I walk over with him and sit in the chair across from him, crossing my legs and arms tightly. I don’t know if it’s more of a protective stance or if I’m trying to make myself as small as possible.
“Trawlinn!” he bellows toward the door. “Bring the food for the human!”
I just told him my name, but I guess I’ll take the title of ‘the human.’ It’s better than being dead and having no title at all.Dead, what if Asmodeus is dead?I shake the thought from my mind as bread, meat, and cheese are brought to me. I’m surprised demons know a damn thing about charcuterie.
“Did you know Asmodeus was a celebrated war general, Siara?”
I nod as I skeptically bite into a slice of bread. “I did.”
“Yes,” he continues as he crosses his legs. “He was quite capable when he was here with us.” He sighs. “But even as a child, he always had this…” He raises his long, dark gray fingers into the air like he’s painting a picture. “Horrible craving for power, mine, especially. I often wondered if it was due to his low breeding of his mother because he was so prone to fits of passion and sullen nature. He was strange, but we accepted him anyway.” He looks at me gravely. “At least that’s what Ithoughtfamily stood for before his betrayal.”
I bite into the meat and nod as I listen to him talk. I hate that I’m interested in what he has to say, but I have to admit, I want to know more about Asmodeus. I want to hear it from someone else, someone whomighttell me the truth about him.
I look down at the fork I’m holding with the meat on it, and the most jarring thought I’ve had yet hits me like the quake hit the castle on Galmoleth.Am I in love with Asmodeus?I freeze, not caring whether Vag’thimon is looking at me or not. It would make sense if I was. After all, he’s done to me and all the lies, I’m still constantly thinking and worrying about him.
The better question is since there are so many sides to Asmodeus, which one do I truly love? Do I love who he was before the quake, or who he was in the streets with his hood being ripped off and the demons screaming at him?
“What do you know of the war?” Vag’thimon’s deep and slow tone breaks my thoughts.
“Only that it’s between demons and angels,” I respond as I chew.
He laughs heartily, which makes me jump. “I like you already, Siara, calling them angels. Oh…well, the xaphan have their hands in every continent except Ikoth. We’ve always refused their righteous and moral help, more concerned with preserving our society and traditions. The shiny promises didn’t take hold with us simply because we’re too smart to believe in such glamor.”
Wow, and he’s humble. How touching,I think as I hold back rolling my eyes and take another bite of cheese.
“The xaphan weren’t pleased with our lack of trust, so they attacked us, ambushed us, and wore down our kind. Well, the weak ones of us, you could say. It took decades for the war to end, actually, but I’m sure Asmodeus wasn’t able to give you that information, seeing as how…” He holds out his arms, motioning to the room. “He wasn’t here.” He smiles with a grin that could make the happiest man frown with disgust. “After Asmodeus and his battalion were ambushed, we assumed they were dead. They never reached the distress signal, and we mourned.”
Vag’thimon’s eyes look at the ground, and he stares solemnly at the carpet. I squint my eyes slightly and watch him. He seems almost sad as he’s telling this story like he reallydidmourn Asmodeus. If he did mourn that hard, a part of him must care for Asmodeus, but I don’t know if it would be enough to save him from his crimes because demons, Vag’thimon in particular, arewaytoo proud a species.
“Why didn’t Asmodeus die?” I ask, the words slipping from my mouth. He looks at me, almost shocked and angered that I would ask such a thing. I lean forward, my heart pounding as I clasp my hands together and continue, despite my better judgment. I have to know. “If he and five hundred other demons were involved in such a destructive and bloody battle, how did they survive, let alone make it out alive on an entirely newplanet?”
He gives me that bone-chilling grin again and sits back in his seat, clasping his long, bony fingers together. He exhales and cocks his head to the side, looking at me the way a mother would a newborn. The gaze makes me sick.
“This is precisely why I wanted to speak with you, Siara,” he says as he stands up and walks slowly over to me. His height and stance are intimidating, and I lean back in my seat and cross my arms and legs again as I wonder if I made a mistake opening my stupid mouth.
He walks behind my chair and places his hands on my shoulders. I feel him lean down over me, and I look down at my gown, happy the opening to my chest isn’t broad. I don’t want him to see any more of me than he has already. I feel his breath on my neck, and his long fingernails scratch my shoulders slightly as he leans down and whispers in my ear.
“If you play your part…” he says lowly as he pushes a lock of hair off my ear. “There might still be a chance you and your Asmodeus can make it out of this…alive.”
21
ASMODEUS