Chapter 34

When they opened the oak door, I was stunned. The room was enormous. Shaped in a huge circle, it was lined with hundred-foot-tall stone columns, ornately decorated. It was well lit, torches placed every 5 feet, all throughout the room. It looked like the Pantheon. It looked ancient.

As I was led in, the next thing I noticed was the noise. It was a huge crowd. I looked around and saw hundreds, if not thousands, of men and women dressed in black, moving quickly all about the room. There was a strangeness to how they moved: it was so fast, so random, so…inhuman. Demons really exist. I took it all in and was completely, uttterly, shocked. Demons did exist. Am I one of them? I pray not. They led me to the center of the room, chains rattling, my bare feet cold on the stone. I was led to a spot in the center of the floor, designated by a large, tile circle. As I reached the center, the noise gradually died down. The motion slowed. Hundreds of demons took positions in a huge, stone amphitheater before me. They were more orderly than I expected. It looked like a political assembly, like the Pictures I'd seen of the state of the Union address—except, instead of hundreds of politicians, these were hundreds of demons with glowing eyes and long nails all staring at me. Their order and discipline was impressive.

Within seconds, they were all perfectly seated, quiet as can be. The room fell silent.

As I stood in the center of the room, held in place by the attendants, Abraim stepped off to the side, folded his hands, and lowered his head in reverence. He was still holding Luna like a chunk of meat and I could see her trying to wriggle out of his hold. I felt pity for her. Whatever she's facing now, it's my fault. «stop struggling Luna. There's nothing you can do to help. Not now.» I sent to her and I knew she got it she whined.

Before the assembly sat an immense stone chair. It looked like a throne. I looked up and saw that seated in it was a demon who looked older than the others. I could tell that he was absolutely ancient. There was something about his cold, blue eyes.

They stared down at me as if we've seen 10,000 years. I hate the feeling of his eyes on me. They were evil itself.

"So," he said, his voice a low rumble."This is the one who breached our territory," he said. His voice was gravely and had absolutely no warmth in it. It echoed in the huge chamber.

"Who is your coven leader?" he asked.

I stared back, debating how to answer. I had no idea what to say.

"I don't have a leader," she said."And I don't belong to any coven. I am here by myself."

"You know the punishment for trespass," he stated, a smile growing at the corner of his mouth. "If there is anything worse than immortality," he continued, "it is immortality in pain."

He stared at me.

"This is your last chance," he said.

I stared back, having no idea what to say. Out of the corner of her eye, I scanned the room for an exit, wondering if there was any way out.

I didn't see one. I was surrounded by thousands of demon. No way to run.

"As you wish," he said, and nodded ever so slightly.

A side door opened, and out came a immortal in chains, dragged by two attendants. He was dragged to the center of the floor, only feet from where I stood. I watched in fear, unsure what was happening.

"This brethren broke the rule of mating," Roger said. "Not as severe a violation as yours. But still, one that must be punished."

He nodded again, and an attendant stepped forward with a small vial of liquid. He reached up and splashed it on the chained demon. The chained demon started shrieking. I watched his skin bubble up all over his arm, welts appearing immediately, as if he were burned. His shrieks were horrific.

"This is not just any holy water," Roger said, staring down at me,"but fire, it's holy fire as much as it might look like liquid. From the Vatican. I assure you that it will burn through any skin, and that the pain will be horrific. Worse than acid."

He stared long and hard at me. The room was completely silent.

"Tell us where you're from and you will be spared an awful death."

I swallowed hard, not wanting to feel that water or rather fire on my skin. It looked horrific. Then again, if I am not truly a demon, it should not harm me. But it's not an experiment I'm willing to take. I pulled again at the chains, but they did not give way.

I could feel my heart pounding, and the sweat raising on my brow. What could I possibly tell him? He stared at me, judging me up.

"You are brave. I admire your loyalty to your coven. But your time is up."

He nodded, and heard the sound of chains. I looked over, and saw two attendants hoist a huge cauldron.

With each pull, they raised it several feet in the air. When it was high, about 15 feet off the ground, they swung it over, so that it was directly over my head.

"There were but a few ounces of Holy fire splashed on that demon," Roger said. "Above you sit gallons. When it washes over your body, it will give you the most horrific pain imaginable. You will be in this pain for a lifetime. But you will still be alive, immobile, helpless. Remember, you have chosen this."

Roger nodded, my heart pounded ten times the speed.

The attendants at my side hooked my chains into the stone and ran, rushing to get as far away from me as possible.

As I looked up, I saw the cauldron tilting, the cauldron of fire, the fire-coloured liquid begin to pour. I looked back down and closed my eyes. This is my death.

Please God. Help me!

"No!" I screamed, my scream echoing through the chamber. And then, I was immersed.