Bok.
Leila went back to preening. Drew turned and walked back to the pallet, then spun and walked back, drumming his fingers on his thigh as he went. He was sobored. There was nothing to do, and they’d been here foragesalready. Couldn’t they have been left a book or a crossword puzzle or something? He was itching for his phone so he could while away the time scrolling through his socials. Why didn’t he bring it? He wouldn’t have reception, but a few of his games he could play offline. It would kill his battery, but at least until it died on him he’d not be dying of boredom himself.
Sighing dramatically, Drew pivoted once more to make another circuit of the cell. Andras was lounging on the pallet, arms behind his head, andhis pale grey eyes closed. They cracked open, and he pulled a face at Drew. “Would you stop that? It’s very annoying.”
“What else am I supposed to do?” Drew demanded.
“Sit down and relax?” Andras suggested.
“How long do you think we’ll be stuck here? The waiting is torture!”
“It’s been literally twenty minutes since Orias left,” Andras observed. “You can’t be bored already.”
Drew gaped at him. “Twenty minutes! That can’t be right. It feels like we’ve been here forhoursalready!”
The demon rolled his eyes. “You Gen Zs really need to learn how to embrace boredom.”
“How do you even know what a Gen Z is?” Drew demanded.
“How long have you known Zachariel? I thought he would have told you we keep pretty up-to-date with trends and news from Earth?”
“Well, yeah, he did,” Drew admitted. “But that still seems a pretty specific bit of Earth culture to know. I mean, most Boomers don’t even know who falls under the Gen Z banner.”
Andras narrowed his eyes. “Did you just call me a Boomer?”
“Aren’t you a littleoldto be a Boomer?” Drew countered.
“I’m toocoolto be a Boomer,” Andras told him loftily.
“Whatever, dude,” Drew huffed, and threw himself down on the end of the pallet, half crushing Andras’s foot as he did so.
“You’re a bit of a brat when you’re pissy, aren’t you?” Andras observed with a smirk, as he withdrew his foot from under Drew’s butt. “You must keep Zachariel on his toes.”
“’M not a brat,” he whined, crossing his arms.
Andras laughed, loud and joyful. “Yes you are. But you’re adorable, so you get away with it.”
Deciding to take the high ground and not fire a retort back, Drew changed the subject instead. “Do you think we shouldtry to escape now?”
“Who do you think you are?” Andras asked. “Andy Dufresne? Have you got a rock hammer hidden up your shirt?”
Drew glowered at him. “There’s no need to be rude. I’m just trying to figure out how we’re going to get out of here.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I can see if I can get my magic to work, despite the bracelet.”
Andras waved towards the bars. “This isn’t some shoddily designed prison, Drew. We’d need to break through the lock on the cell door, then get through the main door, somehow get past the two guard demons, then make it all the way through the palace without being seen, cross the grounds where there are even more guards, andthenget far enough away without being seen or recaptured. It’s not something I think we’re capable of, even if youcansomehow access your magic.”
“Fine, when you put it like that.” Drew slumped down against the wall. “So, what? We just have to wait and see what Lucifer has in store for us?”
“That’s about the sum of it. At some point, we might find ourselves in a different part of the palace where a couple of those obstacles are removed. You can try your magic then, but for now, we wait.”
“Joy.”
Drew didn’t have long to wallow, as the outside door to the cell block opened and one of the demon guards entered. “You,” he said, pointing at him. “With me.”
“Me?” Drew asked, pointing at his chest. It wasn’t that hewantedAndras to be dragged off and tortured, but he didn’t know why they would want to take him instead. Lucifer hadn’t looked twice at him. Were they hoping to use Drew as leverage against Andras? He didn’t think it would work but maybe they wanted to try and see?
“Yes, you,” the guard said. “Come on. You don’t want to keep the prince waiting.”
Drew threw Andras a terrified look, but then the cell door was being opened and he was being beckoned out. His feet felt like lead as he followed the guard, and he looked back over his shoulder to see Andras lookingworried. Strangely enough, Leila didn’t seem too concerned at all, and Drew tried to take a little comfort from that.
