CHAPTER 20
REMMIE
Well, this wasn’t how I thought this would go.
Tied to a chair in some dark, damp room.
The pain in my head is now a dull ache, meaning I’ve been sitting here for quite a while.
I feel the gentle hum of my gran’s pendant against my skin, tucked away in my sports bra.
I let out a sigh of relief that whoever knocked me out didn’t find it. Alas, the pepper-spray is gone.
I wiggle and twist but the chair is bolted to the ground.
What the hell?
I groan to myself. I definitely ran, head first, into danger. Boo on me for trying to be a thick, mixed Wonder Woman, flying in to save the day. But I know my sweet Shade is in trouble. And no one takes the demon I love and gets away with it.
But first, I have to figure out how to get out of here.
I look around the small space for anything that will help me. There’s only a small cot against one wall and a water bucket in the corner. So, nothing. Great.
I don’t know how long I sit here, humming song lyrics to myself, slowly losing my mind, before I hear noises coming from behind a metal door. I brace myself as best I can and wait to see if someone is finally going to show themselves.
The locks clink on the door as someone opens them and light floods the small space once the door flies open. I blink through the brightness, two figures becoming clearer. What I see makes my heart break.
Dalia walks in, Shade following close behind her.
His look changed since I last saw him. He wears a white button up shirt that would be hot in better circumstances.
Black leather pants hug his muscular thighs and his usually wind-mussed hair is slick back behind his horns.
He looks like what one would think a medieval demon would look like.
Only, that gaudy pink collar still hugs his neck.
Shade looks hollow and empty. Like the spark he always has was snuffed out. My heart breaks in two, seeing him like this. I have to get my smiling, flirty demon back.
Dalia still looks like trash in expensive heels. The joy at seeing me at her mercy lighting up on her face.
“Well, isn’t this a pleasant surprise. You have some big lady balls to come here all by yourself. I told my little Shadey-poo I wouldn’t touch you. But I never expected you to come here, to me. I believe that requires retaliation, don’t you pet?” Dalia practical vibrates with excitement.
Shade’s lip twitches, but otherwise stays silent. His eyes looked beyond me, dark and cold. What did she do to him?
“Hmm. What should I do with you? You don’t have much magic I can steal. But maybe you can be useful in, other ways.” Dalia chuckled.
“I’ll tell you right now, I will not make a good sex slave.” I frown.
Dalia laughs so loud my ears ring. A slap follows after and I groan, my cheek stinging. Shade stands next to her, unaffected. I never want to see him like this ever again.
“Get her up, pet. I want to give her a tour.” Dalia turns, walking out the door.
Shade moves like a puppet, kneeling down to untie my ankles.
I stare at his face, hoping he will look at me.
Talk to me. I know he would have laughed at my joke if he were his normal self.
I never thought I’d miss his smile so much until now.
“I’m going to get you out of here, Shade. I promise.” I whisper to him. His back tensed, the only indication he heard me at all. He pulls me up from my tied wrists, pushing me towards the open doorway, holding me away from him as far as his arm will allow. Like he doesn’t want to touch me.
Wait!
What would happen if I touch him? Would it help dull the magic on him like it did in the bakery? I need one of those cartoon style light bulb over my head, because I have an idea.