Demonic

13 | SILVER STORM

I FELT THE knife rub against my hipbone as I walked, making me suck in sharp breaths. To distract myself, I focused on the sound of my heels clicking against the marble. My cloak hung on my shoulders as I kept my eyes trained forward on the winding, golden staircase glittering against the sunlight before me.

No one stood in my path, but there was a heavy weight pressing down on my chest as it tried to coax me back down the hall, to retreat. I strained to breath regularly, the paranoia thicker than the blade in pocket could cut. Once I walked up those stairs and made my case, I couldn't go back.

This proposal hung on my future, Opulentia's future. I didn't know what would happen in Parisa's office. I might not return the same. All I knew was what I believed: the demons needed to be cast out immediately.

The staircase grew closer and closer, making my stomach twist and roll in a manner that made me flinch in tune with each of my footsteps. My heels seemed to be singing to me now: turn back, turn back, turn back...

I grabbed the railing to steady myself, clenching my eyes shut as I took a last breath. I needed to be focussed, poised, proper, and ruthless. She had to listen to me, and I couldn't falter under her eyes once.

One time was all it took for her to win. One time. I needed to be as steady as steel if I were to make it through. I had to be strong, not for myself but for my people. They were who needed me most.

Always for the people.

The time it took me to reach her office door up the staircase was surprisingly short, and I felt more worried now at how quickly time seemed to be slipping out from underneath me. Her wooden door waited for me, inches from my face. I gazed at the door handle as though it could bite. My mind was running through all the ways my plan would fail: the threat of being killed by demons, Parisa's punishment of locking me into her scheme, the world ending.

There was the Prodigy to think of as well. Should I still persuade Parisa to go after the Serpent without the demons or let the matter unravel itself on its own? Did we have to be involved? Wasn't there someone more qualified than either of us to take on the Prodigy? Secta, wherever he may be?

It was time to knock I decided, to face the ice storm. Knock, you coward. I raised my hand and banged my fist against the door, a shock running through my body as I bit my lip. Fear was running through me like a crack in a full dam. I rushed to coax it away before it overflowed.

I wouldn't crumble. Not today.

"Come in." Parisa's voice echoed as I took the door handle and let it swing open. My eyes fell on where she stood at her desk before jumping in shock to the two demons reclined in the chairs across from her. I could never escape them.

Their eyes immediately flashed to me, making me wish I would melt into the floor. I couldn't stand these vicious creatures, lurking in the darkness around us all like wolves hunting sheep. Their presence only stirred more anger inside me as I watched Parisa ignore them with a carelessness that appalled me.

"Yes, Cybele? Can't you see that I'm busy?" Her eyes stayed low, focussed on the papers laid across her desk.

"I can, thank you. We need to speak immediately." I replied, making her blue eyes snap up to me. She seemed surprised with me, but she recovered herself just as quickly with a curl in her lips.

"Not now. You may go..."

"No." The word echoed through her office, making Diaboli recline deeper into his chair. Nocen tried to hide a grin behind his fingers as he watched me. 

"No?" Parisa's voice nearly made me shiver, but I only forced myself to straighten my spine. "What has gotten into you?"

"We need to talk, especially after you sign anything they give you." I glanced at the two demons before back to Parisa, making her raise an eyebrow.