Water's Reflection or Hero's Guilt

Chapter Fifty-One

          “So, Terrance, where is Maya? What task have you given her?”

          He stared at her for a moment, somewhat surprised. Strung up in the middle of the study, he couldn't move. The silver chains kept him from using his hands. He quickly eyed the ring she'd put on his finger. He liked not being a werewolf anymore—or at least, not looking the part. However, he knew he'd have to choose his words very carefully. June smiled as she watched him; she knew the same.

          “She is hiding,” he told her slowly.

          “She's not conspiring to destroy me?”

          He shook his head. “Of course not. As I said before, I am not that stupid. I will not risk you getting hold of her power. She'll be far from all the action.” He met her eye for only a second before gazing over her shoulder at the wall behind her. He refused to look at her scantily clad body, and rather not look at her at all. Her human look, her beautiful voice and soft skin, confused him.

          June liked it. “And her father? What is he doing?” she asked.

          “He is--” Terrance fell silent, as if choking on the words. “He is--” he tried for a second time, to no avail. Again, he turned to the ring and muttered a curse.

          She laughed; a happy, innocent laugh. At least, it sounded like that. The laugh of a young girl, as if he'd told her a funny joke. She came closer and, with her hand on his chin, redirected his gaze to look into his eyes. “Good to know it's working, right? No lies for Terrance. That must be a first for you, right?”

          “I already promised June not to lie to her anymore,” he said and shrugged, feigning indifference.

          “Yes, but this time it's for real.”

          He looked at her with slight surprise. “You did not believe me when I promised not to lie?”

          She chuckled. “Of course not! I know you, Terrance. It's your nature to lie. You lied ever since you met me—you weren't going to stop just because you promised. Really, how old do you think I am? I'm not that ignorant.”

          In disbelief, Terrance muttered, “But June didn't say anything...”

          “Oh, June believed you alright,” the demon said, then shook her head, “but I knew better. You haven't told the truth. Not the entire truth anyway. Have you?”

          “No,” he said.

          “What have you lied about? Or did you not lie, precisely? Did you just forget to mention things, to spare me?”

          He stepped forward to attack her and hung in his chains, unable to reach her, put his hands on her. “I'd never spare you, not for a grain of sand!”

          “But you'd spare the other June, wouldn't you?” she asked with the most innocent smile. She sounded so much like her; he had to remind himself that she was, in fact, not June. She reached out for him and caressed his cheek. “Tell me, what have you failed to mention to her?”