“If not, then you must think I am incredibly simple, since I doubt you’ve heard any thoughts since you entered.”
And you can hear them, too? he thought, obviously testing me.
Correct, I responded.
He smiled again and knocked on the doorjamb. “When you need something, broadcast the thought. I will have an attendant outside this door at all times. When you are able, leave this room at will. You are not a prisoner of this castle.”
“Just this world?”
His smile was sly. In answer, he winked before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.
“You and he are now playing a game,” Cahal said after giving Lucifer a few moments to adios. “He means to manipulate you into wanting to stay. Forever. You will need to fight for your freedom before the siren call of your heritage changes your life forever.”
“Jesus, man, are you always so dramatic? First you were talking about me owning my heritage, and now you want me to be wary of it?” I rubbed my eyes, but the pain in my fingers made me wince, so I eventually just dropped my hand. “Give me the snake. I need to get better, and then I need to get out of here.”
“You need to train. The only way you’ll ever be free is if you fully realize your power and no one can keep you a prisoner.”
I closed my eyes, suddenly exhausted. “Fine. That still requires getting better. Get that snake.”
Three
“What do you want to eat?” I asked Cahal. Two days had gone by, and I was feeling much better. Those snakes really did work wonders. They didn’t even try to get into any orifices, which was probably the greatest news. I’d been a little nervous I’d end up with a reptile enema.
“It doesn’t matter. The food here isn’t great.”
He turned a page in his book. I might be allowed to wander the castle, something I wasn’t in any shape to do yet, but he wasn’t. It certainly seemed like there was bad blood between him and Lucifer, but he got evasive every time I asked about it. The good news was that Lucifer seemed to have an incredible supply of books. Whatever either of us asked for, we got, hand-delivered by a creepy little demon that didn’t seem to like either of us very much.
Hamburger. I blasted the thought for Cahal’s order, like yelling through the walls. With lots of French fries.
“That’s just because you got used to Darius’s cooking when we were on the island,” I replied, swinging my feet over the edge of the bed. The white hospital gown I’d been wearing to recover rode up my legs and split open along the back.
And my clothes, please. Bring my clothes. I’m ready to check this place out.
“Very likely. He is exceptional.” Cahal turned a page.
“Has this place changed much since you were here last?” I asked, rotating my ankles. Only a small twinge of pain vibrated up my calves.
“Some things. Not others.”
I stared at him for a moment, knowing he wouldn’t offer any more information, and contemplated whether I felt like dragging it out of him. But really, what help would it be? It was all new to me regardless, except for the outskirts I’d already seen.
The door started to open but stalled halfway through. The hunched little creature I’d grown accustomed to peered around the wood, its bald and leathery head coming to about thigh height. Its large yellow eyes sighted in on me, and I could just see the edge of the tray it carried.
“Come in,” I said, rolling my shoulders and then my head. “What about my sword?” I asked Cahal, ignoring the demon. If you showed it too much attention, it wigged out and curled up into a ball until your focus went away. I was pretty sure its function was to be neither seen nor heard as it carried out its duty.
“What about it?” Cahal replied.
“Is it still with the elves? Did someone grab it?”
“Yes.”
I waited for a moment. When nothing else came, I scowled at him. “You’re torturing me because I cannot physically beat your ass, is that it?”
“You could magically beat my ass, if you were so inclined.” He licked his finger and then turned a page.
“Gross, you’re getting your spit all over someone else’s book.” I lifted a leg so I could bend and straighten it, working my knee. The demon froze, its long fingers wrapped around the edges of the silver tray, halfway to the desk at the side of the room where I’d given it a mental push to leave the food.
“No one is noticing you,” I told it.
Its head turned very slowly until its chin was even with its shoulder, looking straight at me. When it saw me looking back, it slowly swiveled its head away and then crouched down a little lower and froze.