Beyond His Evil

THIRTY-TWO.

~~~~

He tensed.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about her. I'm sorry."

"It's fine," he said after a pause. "I met Octavia when Safe Land was still being built. She was beautiful, powerful... She drew me in completely. I fell for her."

He let out a dry, almost bitter chuckle. "She was a demon."

My heart skipped.

"I thought she loved me. How foolish? I snuck out of Safe Land to see her and risked everything. She never wanted to come here, which was understandable. Said it wasn't safe. She'd hide in the forest nearby."

He stared into the distance like he was back there like he could still see her.

"I didn't notice the red flags, or perhaps I did, choosing to ignore them rather than take action. The odd questions... where the tunnels led, how many hunters guarded this place, and whether we kept a map."

My stomach tightened. "And you told her?"

He sighed heavily, his shoulders dropping. "Every detail. I thought if she knew she'd feel better about staying here with me. I thought I was saving us."

"What happened?"

"One night... they came. Vampires. A whole army. And she was leading them."

I stared at him. "What?"

"She stood right in front. Didn't even flinch. Looked me in the eye like I was nothing." His voice cracked. "We fought them off. Barely. But people died. Hunters. Humans. Friends."

A lump rose in my throat.

"I killed her," he said. "Had to. She smiled when I stabbed her. Said, 'Didn't they teach you never to trust a demon?'"

I swallowed hard. "I'm so sorry."

He nodded but didn't look at me. "I still see her in my sleep."

"You never told anyone?" I mumbled, surely he'd get punished if he did.

"No. We made it look like she was just another vampire. The General helped cover it. If people knew how close they got because of me... Safe Land would crumble. Starting with my existence."

Silence.

"We were told during the orientation that there's never been an attack."

"If people knew, no one would trust these walls."

Another beat of silence.

"Just... stay away from that demon, Kira. Devon is up to no good."

"Why do you say so?"

"I remember when we found him. Barely alive. Said vampires attacked him, but they don't leave demons alive." He scoffed, " Those fuckers hate demons more than we do."

"Maybe he escaped... teleported," I supplied weakly.

"Then why didn't he teleport when we showed up? We're just as dangerous to him as vampires. He just... waited. Like he knew we'd save him. Bring him here."

I didn't reply. My stomach was a knot.

"Octavia worked with the vampires. Devon acts just like her. Too good. Too clean. He's hiding something."

His words echoed in my head.

Devon is hiding something. Of course, he was. The question was, what?

We reached our rooms. I hadn't realized we had.

"Thanks... for everything," I said.

He shrugged. "No problem."

I gestured to my illusionary body. "What about this?"

"Disappears when you step inside."

"Thanks."

He was already walking away. "Maybe the gods wanted me in the room across from you."

I smiled a little. "Maybe they did."

His dimple flashed. I hadn't noticed it before.

I stepped into my room and shut the door. The illusion vanished instantly.

I felt disappointed.

Before I could think, I heard it.

"Don't worry. Your boobs will grow when you hit puberty."

I froze.

"Rya."

She was lounging on my bed like she belonged there, ankles crossed, calm like she wasn't completely insane.

"You're here."

"I see they let you live," she said, scanning me like I was under inspection.

"They? Who's they?"

She didn't answer. Like always.

"I heard you've been looking for me," She said instead.

"How do you know that?"

She smiled faintly, not answering. Again.

"I want answers."

She arched an eyebrow. "Do you even know what you're asking?"

My fists clenched. "I know something's wrong. I feel it. I smell it. I know."

Rya stood up in one smooth motion. She was suddenly inches from my face. I flinched.

"Then ask."

I hesitated, everything jumbled in my mind.

"What did you mean when you said-"

She scoffed. "I thought you were smarter. He really has you wrapped around his finger."

"Who?"

"Don't play dumb."

"Devon?"

Her expression twisted. "I don't have time for this."

She turned to leave.

"Please," I said, grabbing her wrist. Her skin was cold-ice cold. "Help me."

Her eyes dropped to the necklace.

Her voice wasn't spoken this time. It was inside my head.

They're watching us.

I blinked. "What?"

She looked at the necklace again. "You look too smart to be this dumb. Follow the signs."

She vanished.

I rushed into the bathroom. Stared at the mirror, heart hammering.

Follow the signs.

The woman at the hut stared at my necklace as Rya had as if something was wrong with it.

Without thinking, I yanked the necklace off. It snapped.

Pain exploded in my head. The air buzzed.

I grabbed the sink. My breath came fast.

Then Rya's reflection appeared beside mine in the mirror.

"That necklace is enchanted," she said. "They've used it to watch you. Everything you said. Everything you did. Everything."

I turned to her. "What... what are you saying?"

Her gaze sharpened. "You really don't get it?"

"Rya, just tell me! Please!"

"Devon," she said voice like ice.

"For God's sake, Kira-
Devon is working for the vampires."

The world tilted.

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