“Thank you,”Isay, and step past him into the mansion.
For a moment,Ithink thatTheronwon’t come with me.Butfinally, with a frustrated growl, he enters.
“Very good.”Thedemon closes the door behind us.
I blink for a moment, trying to get my eyes used to the dim interior.Isee we are in a grand but gloomy entrance hall full of polished wood and portraits of other demons in gleaming gold frames.Thereare lamps here and there but they’re very low, not throwing off much light at all.
TheFireDemonhimself is the best source of illumination in the whole place.Hisburning skin glows reddish-gold in the dark hallway.
“Welcome to my humble abode,” he says, turning to me andTheron.“Myname isSalazar, by the way.MightIknow your names as well?”
“I’m—”Ibegin.
“A priestess of theNatureGoddess,”Theroninterrupts me.“AndI’maDrakeshifter—just as you thought when you first saw us.”
“Mmm, soI’msimply to call you ‘priestess’ and ‘Drake’?”Salazarshakes his head.“Ah, a shocking lack of trust,Ifear—not to mention a shocking lack of manners.Nevertheless, come with me.”
He nods for us to follow him and continues down the hallway.TheronandIstay a few steps behind.IwishIcould ask him why he didn’t want to give the demon our names, butIdon’t dare—I’msure thatSalazarwould hear us.
He leads us through the mansion—which is rather like a maze.Wego through so many grand rooms decorated inBaroquefinery thatIlose count of them all.Thereare music rooms filled with instrumentsIdon’t recognize, sitting rooms, studies, libraries, and a beautiful arboretum with a glass domed ceiling filled with flowering plants and trees all encircling a beautiful fountain bubbling with crystal clear water.
The sight of water makes my throat feel dry—or maybe it’s the curse still working on me.Ican still remember the taste ofTheron’sseed—sweet cinnamon candy—andIwishIcould have some more.Buthe seems to think that if he even gets too close to me, he won’t be able to control himself.Thoughwhy he’s having these difficulties now, when he was able to keep from taking me on numerous other occasions,Idon’t understand.Ifhe would just?—
“Ah, here we are.”Salazar’ssmooth voice interrupts my thoughts, andIlook up to see we’re in a kind of sitting room.It’ssmaller than the other rooms in the mansion—almost cozy.There’sa low leather couch across from an ornately carved wingback leather chair of the same pattern.Toone side of the furniture is a small fireplace.
You wouldn’t think you’d need a fireplace in a mansion situated in the middle of a hot, arid desert but it’s surprisingly cool here, soIdon’t mind a bit whenSalazarwalks over and touches the tip of his index finger to the wood already laid out in the hearth.
The flames from his finger crawl to the dry kindling and in no time a friendly little fire is crackling to life and setting the cozy sitting room aglow with warmth and light.
I’m surprised that the fire is so tame—isn’tHellFiresupposed to be frightening and all-consuming?Well, not in this case, apparently.Everythingseems homey and comforting.Ifind myself relaxing, even thoughTheronis still on the alert, his tarnished silver eyes darting all around the room, as though he’s looking for hidden traps.
“Please my dear priestess, do have a seat,”Salazaroffers, nodding at the brown leather couch.“AnddearDrake,Ipray you shall seat yourself beside her and get comfortable.”
I sit gingerly on the couch, which is immensely comfortable—neither too firm nor too soft andTheron—after a final wary look around the room—settles himself beside me.
“Now then, you two want a favor of me andIassure you,Iwant to grant it—reallyIdo,” the demon says.“Butfirst, who’s up for some refreshments?”
“We don’t want anything,”Theronsays at the same timeIsay,
“I’d love something to drink.”
“Something to drink—something nice and cool to ease your parched throat, no doubt,”Salazarsays, giving me a knowing look and ignoringTheron’sglare.“Giveme just a moment to nip into the kitchen and get you something.”
“Oh, but don’t you have servants?”Iask, surprised.“Imean, in such a big mansion?—”
“They’re shy,Ifear.”Salazarmakes a mournful face.“They, too, are demons, you see—lesser demons.Nodoubt they sense yourDrake’sfire, and it frightens them.Soas long as you’re with me,Ishall do the little domestic duties myself.Idon’t mind,” he adds, turning towards the door.“Irather like being domestic.”
Then, with a wink of one glowing golden eye, he turns and leaves, shutting the door behind him.
50
THERON
Elowen turns on me as soon as the demon leaves the room.
“Why wouldn’t you tell him our names?Thatwas rude when he’d already given us his!”
“I didn’t give him our names because he might try to use them against us,”Igrowl.“Demonsare treacherous creatures.Theless he knows about us, the better.”
