There was a tense moment of silence.
“Give it a chance, Cullen.” He murmured. “I know you hate me right now. I know you hate it here. You probably even hate that I took your things. But…” He hesitated. “I have made more of an effort for you to enjoy your life here than I have ever made for anyone or anything before. Doesn’t that count for something?”
His jaw gave an irritated twitch as it clenched. Stupid guilt-tripping bastard.
“I don’t know.” He mumbled. He hated that it was true. It angered him, yes, but having these things here…itwasa comfort. And he could not find it in himself to begrudge it too much. “I want to see the rest of the…palace.”
He could feel Leviathan’s relief more than he could hear it. “As you wish.”
And he showed it to him. There was another big room that was decorated with lounge chairs and long dark sofas, his bedroom–Cullen refused to walk back into it–and then he took him back to that terrible throne room from before. Cullen grimaced at it–and then quietly asked what the point was of having a throne room in your own secluded house.
“For parties.” Leviathan murmured, sounding amused. “I hold them semi regularly. Or…at least I used to.”
“Parties?” He echoed, confused. “Demons have parties?”
“Of course.” He grinned and led the way across the room. Cullen followed him warily. “How else would we pass the time?”
He shrugged but said nothing. He hated parties. Walker had forced him to go to so many–though he had never once stuck close to his side afterwards–and each time he went it all felt very loud and close and the reek of booze and sweat never failed to make him sick. A demon party…what fresh hell would that be?
“And the throne?” He asked quietly. “Why have that?”
Leviathan chuckled darkly. “Because I am a god, pet, and I will not have anyone forgetting that.”
Cullen said nothing to that. Nothing as that invisible weight settled on his chest again.
A demon. A god or close to one. Obsessed with him. Holding him hostage… He shook the thoughts away and looked up at him. With the throne of bones rising high above him and that never ending aura of death and evil that surrounded him…it was very easy to imagine him standing above the world while it burned.
He cleared his throat and let his gaze fall off to the side. “Show me the rest.”
“That is everything.”
“It can't be.” He scoffed.
“But it is.” He chuckled. “All that’s left is the world outside. A dead, boring land, full of rock and brimstone. It’s hot and smoky and devoid of life.” He paused, frowning. “I imagine you wouldn’t like it.”
Slowly, Cullen turned to look out the nearest window with a soft sigh. “No.” He agreed quietly. “I wouldn’t.” Even though it would be smart. He could try to find a way out, a direction he should go if hediddecide to run…But how dangerous would it be? What if there were creatures out there? Monsters? What if other demons found him and did unspeakable things to him? Maybe it would be better not to even try. Hadn’t he already decided not to anyway?Better to die here,he reminded himself gently.
With that in mind, he made no argument as he followed Leviathan back to his room.
They hovered just outside the door and Cullen shifted uneasily, surprised by how awkward it felt. He wasn’t surehow to say goodbye without being too nice or too mean. A dumb concern when facing an immortal demon who had kidnapped him. There shouldn’t have been a sliver ofnicein his head. Just when he finally opened his mouth, Leviathan spoke.
“Is there anything you wish you had?” He asked softly, a surprising kindness in his voice, in those unnatural, snake-like eyes. “Anything at all? I have full control of this world, Cullen. I can give you anything you want.”
He blinked, surprised by the offer. After a short hesitation, he shook his head. “No. There’s nothing I want.”
Leviathan frowned, clearly displeased. “Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure.”
He flicked his eyes away with a scoff, looking irritated. Cullen fought the urge to grin at the sight.
What the hell was wrong with him?
“You liked to work out.” Leviathan insisted, turning back to him. “How about a training room?”
He couldn’t keep the surprise from his face. “What, you’re going to build me a whole training room overnight?”
Leviathan grinned and gave his fingers a quick snap. Cullen gasped as a door materialized behind him.
