Chapter 40

The door of the cage flung open and a man, of average height with broad shoulders walked up to me and grabbed my arm. Sometimes I wonder how fragile I am cause in their arms I feel weightless. I held Luna with my other hand trying to stay strong as he led me out of the cage.

 I'm ready for anything this is going to bring to me. I was in an helpless situations under his hold with the hilt of his sword right beneath my throat, I can't take chances. Trying anything silly would only endanger my throat if not my life. I just knew no matter how fierce this war might look, it isn't going to last too long. One party will have to surrender. But if surrendering to this delusional beings means death of either my spirit, soul or body , I will not.

***

I was in the grand hall again, chained to the iron post, the same position where I proved their mightiest possession ordinary and filthy. There were thousands of demons sitted all around me and the king's stool stood few feets away from mine. As he walked in , a younger man marching behind him, the room fell silent.The demons really respect their leaders but was this respect gained or forced? 

I'm very sure they'll be willing to betray him at their slightest opportunity of freedom. They believe in laws, sees their king as their god and... their punishments are usually grave. I wish i knew how it felt to see one's skin burn due to the impact of a mere liquid.

Flock of 'nuisances' if there is a word like that.

 I'm still trying to believe that this kind of beings exist. They've only existed in books i've read.That part of me sucks anyways, I'm not a good reader. I only read once in a while and the existence of this kind of beings have been a rumour that i got from a book i didn't get to finish reading.

"Katrienair."I heard a deep croaky voice call out my name. Well, It's their king. What is he up to this time? Throw me into the lake of fire? Then he wants more damage cause i won't go down without a fight. What am even saying?What have i done to deserve death?

" You are not a runaway, are you?"

I was silent because there was nothing to say. Wait, What is he saying now? A runaway?

 huh...that's a new word

No more, "to whom do you belong?" Wow!

" You are not a spy either?" He obviously intended to ask a question but it seemed like he knew the answer already. His voice betrayed him. I didn't say a word so he continued.

"But you have committed too many offences. " He said. " First, you breached our territory. Second, you killled a soldier. Third, ..."

"Enough!" I shrieked, cutting him short. Loud gasps filled the hall, another offence. I've had enough. Spelling out my offences makes me feel vulnerable, that might be his purpose. But by interrupting the king, I got myself surprised too. The room fell silent in no time and i had to continue what i've started, at least i've gotten piled up offences already.

"I know them. You do not need to list 'em out for me." I said trying to sound as confident as i could."They are my offences. So what?"

The king broke into a long scary laughter. Scary because that same laughter got the earth beneath my feet tremble. That same laughter sounded like the roar of an hungry lion at th siht of his prey. I felt like I was going to be swallowed by it.

I just... prayed.

"Dear Lord, help me stay strong. I owe you a lot already."

He stopped with a wide grin on his face, then I knew he did that to scare me.

" You have guts, Katrienair"

He pronounced my name like he was rolling it around his tongue. «Caht-rin-nin-nah »

"You seem too bold to be here." He scoffed. "I presume you know the consequences of your actions, each of them. Cause I will break you myself."

I ignored his last words cause some part of me says 'it's possible'. By the way, I'm in his territory and he can do whatever he wants to me. He can 'break' me if he wants to.

"I know everything." That's a lie. I know them not. I know nothing at all.

"You will have to face them all."

That might mean dying a thousand times. I was surprisingly no longer scared. It's death or death, that's all my life in this damn territory has been all about. I might be dead already. It might be my ghost talking now. I smell death every where and it's suddenly become a mere thing to me.

" Or we could negotiate"

***

What?!

 Am i dreaming?! Is the almighty king of the demonic territory, the ruler of the earth and the underworld asking me, a mere asthma-freak for a negotiation? Wow! What can be more surprising?

 But hei, am I still an asthma-freak? Oh no i don't think so. I haven't had the slightest chest pain since i got here and that's looking like years already. 

Aargh! I'm exaggerating. Whatever...

But did i just hear negotiate, definitely not. I might have developed hearing issues in the caged. How worse?

"Did you say negotiate?" I asked

Uhm, this could be another offence. I realized after it has spilled from my mouth. I just questioned the almighty king again. My punishments would really be grave. And if anything I've come to learn about these people, it is the fact that they love to see people hurt, especially ones like me. This king would be the happiest in the world if he sees a tear drop from my eye. But it's amusing now that he's giving me an option, very amusing.

"You choose your punishments or a negotiation. We've got no time."