“He is terrifying,” she whimpered.
“No, he’s angry – very uncharacteristically so, might I add.” Though Raxx was sure his assurance fell on deaf ears, he still felt a compelling need to rationalise his king’s behaviour. All they had been telling the princesses for days was how level headed and reasonable Zelrus was, and the first time they meet him is when the king decided to hurl a candlestick at them. It was going to take a lot of persuasion to bring those faeries back around.
“How could he imprison Lephas, one of his own men? I thought you said they were friends?” Faye asked, shuffling to sit with her back against the stone wall and pulled her knees to her chest.
“Friends is a bit of a stretch. They have – or had – a good working relationship. The king trusted and relied on Lephas. He’s disappointed to have an unforeseen problem to deal with.”
“Is that all my sister and I are to you demons? An unforeseen problem?” the faerie asked.
“Yes.” Seeing Faye’s scowl deepen, Raxx hurried to elaborate. “Lephas undertook this mission expecting to return with Lori as a prisoner of war. We knew nothing of your suffering. Tell me, Faye, what would your father have done in Zelrus’s position, if one of his captains had returned with a demon princess lover?”
The expression on the faerie’s face was answer enough. Raxx began pacing around the cell as a moment of tense, thoughtful silence passed.
“It’s so dark in here…” Faye whimpered, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms right around them as she shivered.
Raxx stopped his pacing to glance over at the princess. He took a moment to weigh up the pros and cons before cautiously taking steps towards Faye once more. He knelt in front of her, making sure to keep a safe distance to avoid any unwarranted contact.
“Do you remember that spell I taught you in the woods?” he asked, clicking his fingers together. A shock of violet flames erupted at his fingertips.
Faye’s eyes locked on them immediately and Raxx allowed the flames to travel into his palm. He extended his hand towards her and the faerie shot him a puzzled look.
“Hold out your hand,” he instructed.
When the princess obeyed, Raxx tipped his palm and, as if he were pouring water, the flames slid from his hand into Faye’s.
When the majick made contact with her, sparks shot across the cell and both Raxx and the princess jerked back. White flames entangled with the violet of Raxx’s spell, hissing and spitting. It seemed their majick was just as volatile outside of their bodies as it was inside.
Raxx watched curiously as Faye’s majick seemed to fight against his own. Without his power to fuel it, the violet flames were overtaken, eaten away by bright white tongues of fire.
When all but a few scant streaks of violet remained, Faye’s majick settled into a gentle flickering in her palm.
“Hold it tight, don’t let it go out. I wouldn’t imagine the guards will be patrolling this wing again tonight before sunrise, but keep the flames hidden. They should keep the cell bright and you a little warmer.”
Faye sniffed and nodded. Her eyes sparkled with grateful tears in the dim light of the flames as she cupped her hands protectively around the majick.
“I’ll be back to check on you as soon as I can.” The shadow demon got back to his feet and prepared to disembody.
“Thank you,” Faye whispered.
Resisting the smile at his lips, Raxx shrugged awkwardly before disappearing into the darkness.
* * *
Raxx arrived across town, outside the Lady of Fortune inn, within a matter of minutes. He hurried inside, surprised to see the usual bustling bar silent and empty. He hesitated in the doorway.
“Tabitha will see you now, Raxx.” One of the large doormen greeted him, holding back the thick, velvet curtain leading toward the witch’s office.
“How did she— never mind. What’s with this place?” the shadow demon enquired as he passed by.
“Tabitha instructed us to empty the bar about an hour ago, that’s as much as I was privy to.” The demon man shrugged. As Raxx folded in his wings and ducked beneath his arm, the demon allowed the curtain to fall closed behind him.
There was a flash of light and Raxx blinked as he found himself standing in Tabitha’s dishevelled office. The witch, however, was nowhere to be seen. The large leather chair behind the desk was vacant, albeit curiously smouldering. Faint tendrils of smoke swirled up from the seat.
“Tab?” Raxx called out, turning to glance around the room.
“A sight for sore eyes as always, Del’Raxxin.”
The shadow demon whipped his head back around. Tabitha, adorned head to toe in gold body jewellery and not much else, sat in the once empty chair. Her legs were stretched out in front of her, with heels resting on the desk.
