I flinched, shifting on the balls of my feet, letting my wings slip out of the column along my spine. I didn’t like her tone. If this Lowerrank wanted to start something, I’d be more than happy to finish it.
“If I remember correctly,” I said, cracking my neck to the left, then to the right. “The gargoyle told me his namehimself. You’d be surprised how much conversation strangers will have when they’re locked away in the same cage.” I waved a hand. “I shared my name; he shared his. You know,” I glared at her, my tone turning icy. I rested a hand on my hip to keep from hurling a firebolt at her head. “Pleasantries.“
The Raephim watched me in curious silence so long she looked frozen.
After some time, Khaziah seemed to connect several dots in her mind.
“He told you his name... himself.” She tilted her head. “Mm. After half a millennium of silence, communicating solelywith our Roi...” A pregnant pause. “Telepathically...”Another pause. “The Gargorèttispokeout loud...” She blinked at me, clearly unconvinced. “Toyou.” She looked at me as if I were going through psychosis. “Are you sure you’re alright? Please, Madame. Won’t you tell me exactly how you currently feel?”
I scowled. My hands itched to draw blackfire and burn her to ash from the inside out. Condescending, ignoramus, rotting...
I could feel steam emotionally burning out of my ears.
“Ifeellike you’re pissing me off, Khaziah,” I sneered. “And those who provoke my anger are often acquainted with my fire.”
I wasn’t crazy.
Delusional.
This imbecile healer wasn’t going to gaslight me into thinking otherwise. Refusing to entertain her any longer, I resolved on figuring out how to get out of this blasted manor.
“I’m ready to take my leave.” I snapped open all seven pairs of my wings. “Now.”
A shadow moved to the center of the bedchamber, slipping out of the walls.
My jaw dropped.
What in the?—
“I’m afraid that will not be possible, Phantimèssa.”
Chapter 7
Nahomie
Knees bent,wings snapped open, blackfire swirling in both my palms, I grit my teeth, ready to unleash myself on the creature slithering closer.
“Madame Nahomie, please!” Khaziah screeched, throwing her hands in the air. “Saundeiah is a friend.”
“Saundeiahwill be taking a trip to the Six Hèls if she gets any closer.”
I glared at the diaphanous figure. Her feminine curves swished left and right as she continued to approach me. The boldness made my blood boil.
I’d heard of creatures like this. Likeher. Granmanmi said they were diabolic and devilish. Cousins of the hèlsborn. These creatures were in the same category as Spirit Harvesters, Stareaters, and Bloodleeches. If I were ever to spot one, I was to attack first and ask questions second.
The creature sensed my intentions and slowed its advance. She looked at me with an unreadable expression. I zeroed in on her. Any sudden movements and I was drowning this entire manor in blackfire.
“Back away from me, spawn of hèls,” I hissed. The hair on my arms stood on end. Tension coiled through my body like thekonda of the Amazaé Forest. Thesethingsshouldn’t exist. More and more I was understanding Papi’s loathing of anything tied to the Everthorns. I never imagined they fraternized with such hèllish creatures.
“Nalyen Princèssa,” spoke the creature. “Your prejudice will only cost you. Drop your presumptions and allow me to introduce myself.”
Was gaslighting a mastered art form in this wretched place?
Leave.
I needed toleave.
I looked past the wispy frame, obsidian in color with glittering starlight illuminating her body from within, glancing at the threshold of the bedchamber that led to the other rooms. If I took my chances and charged out of here, would I be able to find my way out of the manor? I looked back at the creature in her luminous eyes. I shuddered, entirely disturbed. How in the actual rot did I end up in a place like this?
