An hour or so later,her slave finally lost the ability to fight back, and Paimon grew bored. She had won their battle of wills, but she didn’t feel satisfied.
Her Hunter had lied to her.HerHunter and no one else’s. The wrath bubbled inside like an active volcano, and she knew she needed more blood, more violence, more screams. More, more, more.Always more.
She stood suddenly, stretching her wings. Beside her, Shaheen lifted his head and blinked in question. He, too, had become bored by the spectacle and craved more exciting violence. Mishetsu may have lost this round, but his stubborn silence kept her from reveling in her victory.
Dropping the chain connected to the Hunter’s cuffs, she approached his still form. Halting beside his head, she saw his yellow eyes blink groggily up at her. Not fully unconscious, then. Her lip curled with annoyance.
She lifted a boot and placed it on one of his delicate wing bones. And then she stepped down. The bone’s snap echoed through the cavern, and Mishetsu exhaled a low groan of pain.
Still not enough.
With a sigh, she beckoned to a nearby slave who hastily approached. Sensing his mistress was in a volatile mood, the gargoyle bowed deeply, careful not to meet her gaze.
“Yes, my unholy queen?” His bow was so low, his snout scraped the ground. Her servants all had remarkable hamstring flexibility.
“Drag Mishetsu through the castle by his chains. Make sure he is seen by all in this state.” She kicked at his side idly. “Perhaps that will take his pride down a notch.”
“Yes, Mistress.” The gargoyle remained folded at the waist, his wings submissively tucked against his body.
“On your way, spread the word that he’ll be thrown in the Pit. Wait until he’s healed enough to put up a good fight and the crowd has gathered, and then do it.”
She didn’t miss the stiffening of the gargoyle’s spine. Yes, anyone in the room had heard her make the threat when Mishetsu refused to talk, but she supposed they doubted she would actually dispose of her most valued servant.
“Yes, Mistress.”
“I want everyone there, do you understand?”
“Yes, Mistress. Your will be done, Mistress.”
She narrowed her eyes at the slave’s back a moment, disgusted by his meek subservience. This was why she had always favored Mishetsu. He was compliant and loyal, but he had a brain and could think for himself. Why had he felt the need to use that brain to betray her? He’d ruined everything.
She remembered a time after the branding ritual was completed that he’d tried to defy her, but she had eventually broken him. She’d drilled into him over and over that disobedience was punished and rebellion was never worth the consequences. He existed to serve, and he had always known it.
Until now.
She kicked him again. “Get him out of my sight.”
The gargoyle hurried forward to collect the length of chain and then heaved with all the might in his stubby body. Mishetsu barely budged. Eyes bulging with panic, the gargoyle heaved again, and this time, the Hunter slid forward… several inches.
Paimon’s nostrils flared with irritation. Now sweating profusely, nervous gaze flicking between her and Mishetsu, the gargoyle yanked again, gaining but a few more inches.
“What the fuck is taking so long!”
The demon lurched, trembling. “He’s h-h-heavy—”
“I didn’t ask for excuses, imbecile!”
“Y-y-yes—” The gargoyle set about his task and again, proved himself useless. Dispensable. Disposable. Was there no one left to serve her who wasn’t just wasting air?
With a shriek, she snatched up the slave and buried her fangs in his squat neck. She drained the creature into a withered husk and then ripped his body into several pieces, tossing them across the room to hit the walls with a hollow thud since there was no blood left to squelch or spray.
Boring.
“You’ll have to do it, Shaheen, since you’re the only one without a rock where your brain should be.”
Shaheen rose gracefully and approached, picking up the chain in his teeth and striding towards the exit, the Hunter dragging behind him.
“You lot,”—she pointed to the remaining slaves cowering against the wall—“go with him and assist in spreading the word. Do not anger me or you’ll join Mishetsu in the Pit.” They began to bow customarily, and she snapped, “Now! Get the fuck out of my sight!”
