Chapter 7
Isabelle
Looking at myself in the mirror, I have never missed my ripped jeans and old, stained shirt more.
Oziel’s idea of everyday wear leaves much to be desired.
The dress was difficult to figure out, and on more than one occasion, I seriously contemplated just leaving naked.
Surely that would be easier than stuffing myself into this contraption he set out for me.
Granted, I did kick out the maid who brought up the dress for me to put on.
She offered to help me get dressed, and I refused. I regret that decision now.
The dress is mostly black, of course. I’ve yet to see much of any other color besides red, and I’m starting to wonder if color personally offends the demon king.
The bodice is form-fitting and adorned with intricate embroidery resembling swirling flames and shadows, stitched in fine silver thread.
The neckline sweeps into a heart shape with delicate black lace, teasing the tops of my breasts.
The skirt cascades from the waist in dramatic layers of velvet and chiffon, each layer edged with glimmering thread.
The shoes, at least, are the most sensible part of this ensemble.
Plain black heels with enough cushion to help me forget I’m wearing heels in the first place.
I opted not to wear the red choker Oziel placed with the dress, my only small act of defiance.
I would feel too much like a leashed animal.
“Is this to your liking?” I sneer when he returns exactly thirty minutes later, as he said he would.
Oziel’s golden eyes scan every inch of my body, lingering on my chest. I swear his eyes darken, and his pink tongue licks his bottom lip.
Thoughts of other things I could put his tongue to good use for plague my mind before I can stop them.
The crude image forming has me squeezing my legs together, and I curse my lustful thoughts.
The fantasy shatters when Oziel opens his mouth and reminds me why I can’t stand men. Demon men are no exception.
“You look satisfactory. Follow me.” He turns on his heels, black coat tails flapping behind him, and storms out of my room as if he didn’t just insult me.
Satisfactory? Satisfactory?
Satisfactory, my ass. I didn’t just spend the last thirty minutes battling layers of fabric to be seen as satisfactory. I’m fucking hot, even if I look like an extra member of the Addams Family. Not that I care if my future husband-to-be finds me attractive… I don’t care.
I don’t care at all.
Mostly.
“You’re a real asshole, you know that?” I’m certain he does, but I need to remind him.
“I’ve been called worse,” he says over his shoulder.
Not wanting to be left behind, I reluctantly follow Oziel down the hall.
The lack of windows makes it hard to decipher what time of day it is.
It’s disorienting living in shadows, especially when the shadows feel alive.
Invisible eyes feel as if they are boring into my skin, quickening my heartbeat.
Blood rushes to my neck and cheeks as I fight to keep my fear at bay.
Despite the pounding of my heart, the castle is eerily quiet and desolate.
I know nothing about keeping an estate of this nature running, but it feels as if there should be more people walking around.
Cleaning. Catering. Discussing. Unless Oziel has commanded everyone to stay away.
Seems like something he’d do—isolate me so I have no choice but to talk to him.
There’s nothing save for an occasional demon adorned in crimson armor, standing as still as statues.
Some stand taller when Oziel walks by, but all take the time to study me.
There’s nothing friendly in their gazes either.
It’s hard not to feel like a sheep in a hungry lion's den. I wonder if they knew of my arrival? If they didn’t, they certainly do now.
I stand out like a proverbial sore thumb.
I hurry my steps, falling in line right next to Oziel. A twitch of his lips is the only indication he senses my discomfort. “You won’t be harmed here.”
I scoff. “Yeah, okay.” I don’t trust him.
Oziel’s brow twitches up as he tilts his head to study me. “Do you take me for a liar, Miss Sinclair?”
“How can I take you for anything if I don’t know you? And from my experience, you can be harmed anywhere by anyone. Even by people you should be safe with.”
Oziel doesn’t reply immediately. The pregnant pause ticks by agonizingly slowly as I dare a glance over at him. His lips are pursed together, jaw slack. His demeanor feels…heavier. Like he’s consumed by his own thoughts.
Just as I write him off, thinking he won’t respond, Oziel says, “I suppose you would know how to handle yourself pretty well.”
It’s my turn to hold my tongue. Oziel doesn’t know my reason for signing the contract, according to Ender, so he would have no way of knowing just how accurate his statement is. I’m not afraid Oziel will scorn me for what I did.
I fear he’d enjoy it too much.
We walk the rest of the way in silence. I recognize the place he takes me to immediately.
The courtyard where we met, the one filled with strange-looking statues.
Perhaps it’s my mind playing tricks on me, but there appears to be more than before.
Two new statues surround the forgotten fountain.
Both wear a similar expression of pain and confusion.
“You really like your statues,” I murmur, reaching out to touch one. My fingertips glide over the cold stone, enthralled by how lifelike it is. When my fingers trail over the statue’s chest, something pulses, sending shockwaves into my hand. I gasp at the unexpected sensation and pull away.
“You felt it, didn’t you?” Oziel’s voice comes from behind me, hot breath singeing my neck. I shiver, though there’s no chill in the air.
“What was that?” I move away from the statue as if it burned me. My back hits a solid chest of well-defined muscles. An impenetrable force. Oziel.
“The curse.” Oziel makes no move to pull back. Instead, I feel gentle fingers against my hips. Gentle and Oziel don’t seem to go together, but his featherlight touch scorches my skin.
“C…curse?” My voice comes out far too breathy, and Oziel takes notice because a deep laugh reverberates in his chest, churning something low in my belly.
“You know nothing of why you are here, Miss Sinclair, do you?”
My face flushes. “I’m here to help you win a war.” Even as I say it, the words don’t hold the conviction I want them to.
“A war you know nothing about.” His tone is that of scolding a child.
My face heats in embarrassment. I pride myself on being knowledgeable, understanding every angle of a situation. When I went to Ender, my mind was occupied with a murder plot. Still, perhaps I should have paid better attention to the finer details. What use am I if I’m ignorant to the problem?
Ender also wasn’t forthcoming with information, so he’s partially to blame.
“Demons like torture, Miss Sinclair.” Oziel pulls away from me. I immediately feel the absence of his warmth. “We’ve perfected the art of torture. So good, in fact, other kingdoms send us their vilest creatures for us to play with. And you know what makes our power against them even stronger?”
I shake my head.
“Possessions. Any possession of any value to the poor soul we are torturing. We can easily get the job done without any item belonging to them, but it’s so much more fun when we have it. You should thank me for burning your things. Best not to tempt fate.”
I ignore the last comment, still planning his murder for what he did to my possessions. “Why are you telling me this?”
Oziel’s head snaps up at my question, once-golden eyes now black.
“Because you must know.” Even though we are outside in the courtyard, his approach feels like the world is crashing down around me, and I’m rooted to the spot.
He stands a foot taller than me, and I have to tip my head back to see him.
“Six months ago, I received a strange item at my doorstep. A vase full of roses. A vase that once sat atop my dining room table. Curious as to why it was there, I picked it up and brought it inside. I felt an odd, albeit weak, power emit from the flowers. At first, nothing happened, so I lost interest. Admittedly, I forgot about the entire thing.”
“But?” I hear myself asking.
“But.” Oziel hums, bringing his hand up to my chin, tipping it up even more. “Then the first petal fell. The server bringing my dinner turned to stone right before my eyes. And then it happened again. Another petal fell—”
“And another turned to stone,” I finish for him, looking up at the statue near us.
“Clever girl.” Oziel drops his hand from my chin but doesn’t move away.
“They were once alive, and now…they’re trapped in stone.
When you touched the stone, you felt the pulse of their heart, didn’t you?
That’s how I know my demons are still alive, trapped in a stone prison.
I couldn't imagine a worse fate. To be frozen but able to see and feel the world around you. These deadly roses are a reminder of the curse they cast upon our kingdom.”
“Who are they?”
Oziel’s handsome face contorts into something hideous and nightmarish. Cold fear works its way through my body, reminding me I’m no longer among humans. No, this man before me is a demon, the king of demons at that, and he’s showing me just how powerful he can be.
“Are you afraid, Miss Sinclair?” His voice is low and gravelly, more monstrous than before.
“No.” My voice wavers, giving me away.
A wicked smile spreads across his lips, showing off his white teeth and two prominent fangs. “Then allow me to show you something even more nightmarish than me. Then you’ll understand.”