The Tea is Piping Hot
The winged beast paces back and forth in front of me while I attempt not to die of a heart attack. There is a cave-like room beyond the balcony that’s too dark to make out from here.
“Come,” the monster growls then stalks into the shadows. There is a feline grace to its movements. Though its coloring is reminiscent of Mr. Vandozer’s, it’s much smaller. Possibly feminine? I’ve never seen a female Orizian in demon form, though, so it’s more or less a guess.
If this is Bea, is that good news? Minutes ago, I was prepared to meet with her. Now, I’m ready to sob myself into a puddle.
Another moment of sucking in panicked breaths, and then I finally gather enough courage to follow the demon into the darkness, where I find a cozy room lit only by a few candles with blue flame.
There is a basin of water, a shelf filled with liquids—potions, I assume—a stone table with two stone chairs, and a velvet couch. The latter feels a bit out of place, to be honest.
“Sit,” the demon growls at me with that echoey voice.
I obey, dropping like lead into the stone chair, limbs shivering uncontrollably.
The demon growls in frustration, her wings contracting and flaring several times.
Then, her head falls back, and her spine arches. She cries out as magic shimmers over her body.
Only a moment later, the beautiful, Gothic Snow White stands behind me, panting.
Her lips are painted red, and her pointed eyes are rimmed in dark liner with shimmering white accents. Perfect makeup even in this situation.
“What the hell, Candice?” Bea pants. “Why did you show up like that? Do you know what almost happened?”
I swallow. One look at me should make it quite obvious that I know exactly what almost happened to me. I’m still trembling fiercely from the encounter. “Yeah,” I breathe. “I know.”
She sighs, running her fingers through her hair nervously. It’s then I notice that her hands are shaking too.
“Manuela sent me,” I force out. “She—she didn’t. She said you knew I was coming.”
“Yes, well, you’re early.” She huffs. “Early enough that my sentries nearly devoured you before I even knew you were on your way.”
She looks me up and down, and I try my best not to appear like a weak little human in fetal position. I need to be strong. I just don’t know how.
“You’ve been bitten,” she comments mutely.
For a moment, I think she means by the shadow beasts, but her eyes linger on my neck. My hand rises to Jarron’s bite marks.
“That’s the only reason the sentries paused long enough for me to arrive.”
I don’t respond, mind still spinning.
“We have a lot to discuss, clearly. Let me get you a tonic before you sully my rug with piss.”
I cough, but somehow manage enough energy to be annoyed. “If I haven’t peed myself yet, I doubt I will now.”
She chuckles but doesn’t respond otherwise. She combines a few liquids into a ceramic mug that are steaming in an instant and then sets it in front of me. “Drink. It will calm your nerves.”
I wrinkle my nose both at the bitter scent and the idea that I need help not being a trembling fool.
“Mostdemonswould have pissed themselves if faced by those nightmares,” she says as if she knows exactly what I’m thinking. “Let alone humans. Give yourself credit—you were less fearful than expected.”
“Sure, yeah, that makes me feel better.” Still, I sip the bitter liquid.
“It has been a long time,” she comments, taking a quick sip of her own steaming mug.
I blink, trying to reorient myself. I’m meeting with a possible ally. A girl who has betrayed me in the past.
