His gaze darkens, the navy-blue of his irises deepening to a dark midnight color. “Careful,” he warns.
My nostrils flare, but I don’t push any further. My luck has all but run out, and if there’s any hope of getting out of here alive, then pissing him off won’t help.
He shifts on his feet, the color of his eyes softening to a lighter blue as he watches me. “Anisia will help you prepare for tonight,” Daimon continues, his voice now light as air. “I will be…elsewhere for the time being, but will come by when I can.”
His words are so…normal. As if he isn’t the ruler of a soul purgatory, as if I’m just a guest stopping by while on vacation.
I won’t give him the satisfaction of admitting curiosity about what’s happening tonight, so instead I hold his gaze, silently sending daggers from my eyes. But I wish I had my magic to cling to. Instead, it’s empty inside of my soul—like a string that has been cut, leaving me alone and broken.
“Illuminare,”hewhispers.
A cool breeze brushes against my skin and rustles strands of my dirt-coated hair in its wake. My back prickles with the sensation of being watched, and I whirl around.
What once was a plain, empty wall behind my cage has been replaced with a simple black wooden door.
“Prodire, Anisia.”Daimon’s voice is hushed behind me, the language foreign.
The same prickling sensation itches up my back once more, this time from where Daimon is standing.
I swallow the twinge of fear in my gut and turn back to face him.
There’s no stopping the gasp that pushes past my lips when I see what’s standing beside him—who’sstanding beside him.
Pitch-black eyes stare back at me, framed by navy string bangs and a pixie cut. But her ears are surprisingly round, the trademark sign of a human. Her skin is so pale and translucent that it’s almost blue in color. Thick charcoal rims her eyes, along with sweeping thick lashes.
The girl—if that’s what she could be called—smiles at me.
My face blanches at the row of sharp teeth, pearly white stained red. Like blood. Shadows billow off of her, surrounding her in a dark aura that I can’t look away from.
“Lunaria,” Daimon says sharply, snapping my attention to him. “This is Anisia. She’ll assist you in whatever you may need.”
I slide my gaze back to her, unease slithering down my spine.
“I’m here to help.” She gestures to the door behind me, her voice high-pitched and scratchy. “My room is just there, should you need anything before I retrieve you for tonight.”
Retrieve.
Being alone here might’ve been better. I knew what to expect and how to spend my time before. But now…it’s unknown. It doesn’t help that Daimon is planning something for tonight, and I don’t know what.
With a final glance at Daimon, I ask, “Am I to be your prisoner forever? Locked in a cage until you’re ready to hand me over to Vidaris?”
Daimon smiles, the expression theoppositeof comforting. It doesn’t meet his eyes. “You are my guest,” he says simply.
I reach up and grip the sparkling onyx bars, tapping themlightly. “And these?” I tap again for emphasis. “You give all of yourgueststhis type of room?”
Daimon’s expression remains neutral, but something unreliable flashes across his eyes. “A precaution,” he muses.
My nostrils flare as anger rises, heating my cheeks.
“Wandering around this castle would not be wise, lest you have an interest in meeting my other…guests.”
My eyes narrow as I sift through his unspoken words. There are other people here—maybe others trapped here like me. A surge of excitement fills my chest, and for the first time, I start to hope.
“I think you’ll find I’m more than capable of handling myself,” I grit out through my teeth.
Daimon’s eyes shift to my palm—the one with the freshly healed wound where I sliced it with Nightfall—a curious glint in his gaze. “I will see you this evening,” he responds, ignoring my comment.
Frustration swirls like acid in my chest as Anisia waves her hand in front of me—already muttering about the supplies she’ll need to gather.
