They both chuckled.
A waiter wandered by. “Good afternoon. Tea?”
“Yes, please, two,” Charlotte said, smiling charmingly. “And I’ll have the bread and the soup. Thank you.”
The waiter glanced at her expectantly, and Elizabeth said, “The same for me, thanks.”
“Of course.” The waiter inclined his head and swiftly returned with two cups, a teapot, and a tray with cream and sugar.
Charlotte fixed her tea and took a sip. “So, Lizzy, is he truly a demon?”
Elizabeth took her time, adding cream and swirling her tea with a spoon. When she looked up, she nodded firmly once. “He is. I also met a witch and saw many things I would have never believed.”
Charlotte paled and leaned forward in her seat. “Lizzy, listen to me. Demons are not people. Everything I know about them says they only avoid glutting themselves on blood if they have a damn good reason. It’s not possible that a demon offered you a houseroom because he was feeling charitable.” She paused. “There’s something else he wants from you, and you need to be really, really careful.”
Taking Elizabeth’s hand between hers, Charlotte looked at her with dread in her eyes. “Demons don’t befriend humans. They kill them for sport.”
Her grip tightened and didn’t let go. Charlotte looked like she wanted to say something else, but she restrained herself.
Drily, Elizabeth said, “Charlotte, I just told you, I’m slowly selling my belongings and trying to make it out of this mess. I hadn’t realized it would put me in so much danger, but I agreed to stay the course of three months. I signed a contract I can’t back out of now.” She gently squeezed Charlotte’s hand, patting it with her other. “It will be alright.”
Charlotte pursed her lips. “And before we catch up, I will first tell you that you’re an absolute idiot for making a deal with a demon when you have friends who care about you.”
Elizabeth grinned. “Oh Charlotte, I have so missed your way with words.”
“I’m serious! He could have killed you. You don’t want to know what they do to humans.”
Elizabeth shuddered, the meat locker flashing behind her eyes. “I can assume well enough.”
Charlotte looked at her for a long moment. “Why did you leave?”
Elizabeth stilled. “He—” She swallowed and forced herself to say, “The very worst rumours we heard about Duke Howard were true. He tried to—” She paused and wrinkled her nose. “I’d quite literally rather die than become his wife.”
Charlotte’s face fell. “You’re not serious? Don’t tell me he tried something? You’re not even married yet.” She blustered, “Duke Howard wouldn’tdare.”
“Well, he did dare, and if it wasn’t for the demon—” Elizabeth let her statement hang in the air, her expression frank. “He saved me, Charlotte. Friends and family did not protect me that day. The demon did.”
Charlotte’s brows knit. “And you’re not coming back? Not ever? Surely if your parents knew—”
Elizabeth lifted her chin. “Until my father releases me from my engagement to Duke Howard, I won’t set foot in Rhodea again.”
The waiter brought two bowls laden with soup and a plate of crusty bread. The aroma of fresh bread wafted up from the basket. She inhaled deeply and tried a piece—it was still warm from the oven.
“Anything else for you, dears?” The waiter asked kindly.
Charlotte’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “That’s everything, thanks.” As soon as the waiter stepped out of earshot, she whirled on her and said hurriedly, as if the words leapt off her tongue, “So, what are you going to do now? Stay with the demon forever?” Charlotte leaned forward. “It’s far too dangerous. You should leave as soon as you can.”
Elizabeth bit her lip. “I don’t have a choice. I’m trying to do what I can to make sure I’ll have enough gold to leave and find accommodations for myself after the three months are over. Other than that—” She shrugged. “It’s no more dangerous than anything else would be right now.”
Elizabeth blew on a spoonful of soup and tasted it. The hot broth felt comforting, like a warm hug. She took strength in it and took another sip to steady herself.
Charlotte tore off a crust of bread and looked at her with a pitying expression. “I think Caspian is a high-level demon, and I think you need to be careful.” At her raised brows, Charlotte explained, “I know a little about them. My mother … thought it best for me to know enough to have my wits about me in this world.”
Charlotte paused and bit her lip. “I don’t know much, mind you, just a hair more about witches and demons than our governesses told us. My mother’s doing. She didn’t want me to get hoodwinked by a witch or demon because I was ignorant of what they were capable of.” Charlotte’s eyes widened, and she said seriously, “Promise you won’t tell anyone? She made me swear to keep it all a secret.”
At the revelation that Lady Harrison knew anything about demons, Elizabeth could only stare. “Of course, but how—how much do you know about them?” She gave Charlotte a wry smile. “I’ve been hunting through old books to try to find out everything I can. All I remember from the lessons with my governess was that demons are creatures of unspeakable evil who live in the Seven Hells. Most of her teachings were on how the gods came to be, and on legends and stories where angels came to Asteria to help a human in need. We didn’t talk much about demons at all.” Elizabeth chuckled. “I think my governess was more focused on instilling modesty and piety in me than on instructing me in demon lore.”
Charlotte snorted. “Lizzy. I’ve never seen you pray to the gods, except on the high holidays.”
