Page 82 of Endless Terrors
Narfu arrived without making a single sound. One moment, the doorway to the bathroom was empty. The next, I noticed something in the corner of my eye, and I turned to find the giant lizard standing there. He watched me with the same petrified expression he’d had last time.
“Hello,” I said cautiously, getting to my feet. The demon cataloged every movement I made, his scaly body tensed and ready. I kept my hands where he could see them and didn’t try to approach. “I don’t think we got to officially meet. I’m Fortuna. And you’re Narfu?”
There was no understanding in his gaze. He looked from me to the room, undoubtedly searching for whatever I’d told Roger needed cleaning. When he turned his head, my attention went back to the collar he wore.
“Do you know what that’s for?” I asked, gesturing toward it.
Narfu just stared at me.
I reminded myself that I’d summoned him to get out of this tower, but even as I thought it, I couldn’t ignore the damn thing around his neck. I moved as slowly as I had the last time, and walked around the bed. Narfu’s big eyes darted up and down, noting my feet and my expression, looking like he couldn’t decide which he found more terrifying. But he didn’t move. I got close enough that I could make out the details of the collar again. Keeping my hands where Narfu could see them, I edged around to his other side, hoping a different vantage point would reveal more.
There was a way to take it off. It rested just to the left of the prongs, out of sight from the angle I’d been looking at it from before. There were three small holes, and at the very bottom of each, I saw the glint of a button or a lock mechanism. The design was unexpectedly simple after all the technology I’d seen here, but still effective—no way was Narfu getting his big, lizard fingers in those holes. Only a soul or a human-shaped demon could reach the release buttons.
Well, only a soul, a human-shaped demon, or … me.
I hesitated for the length of three heartbeats, hearing them in my ears as I paused and considered the potential consequences of doing this. Then I looked at those prongs again, and saw the hardened blood around them.
Since warning Narfu would probably make him panic or move, I stood on tiptoe and fit my fingers into the holes without a word. The collar popped open and the prongs retracted.
Narfu’s eyes flared with pain, and his lips lifted in a hiss. Long, pointed teeth filled my vision and now I was the one to freeze. Then I blinked, and the demon was gone in a burst of scrabbling nails. The only sign he’d been there was the heavy, blood-crusted collar dangling from my hand.
Okay, so maybe Narfu isn’t an option, I thought faintly, unable to shake the sense that I’d just come very, very close to death.
And now I needed to come up with a new plan to get out of the tower.
“Fuck. Fuck.” I let out a breath and swung away, mentally kicking myself. I went back into the closet, where I hid the vile collar beneath the skirt of a voluminous gown. As an afterthought, I finally pulled on a pair of socks. Maybe I’d feel more clear-headed if I wasn’t freezing. Rubbing warmth into my arms, I left the closet and strode over to the fireplace. It had been tended to before I awoke, or sometime in the middle of the night, because the flames were bright and full. Within seconds, I started pacing in front of it. I glared down at the floor, my mouth twisted in thought.
I spent the rest of the morning trying, and failing, to come up with an escape strategy. Every plan I made had holes in it, or failed when I did a mental run-through of possible scenarios. I couldn’t bribe or trust any of the demons in this tower, because they were undeniably loyal to their master. I couldn’t sneak out without the cameras seeing me. This floor was too high up to dangle a rope from the window, Rapunzel-style, and scaling down the side myself would be impossible. Then there was the issue of the terrifying beasts in the lobby. They’d let Blondie pass, sure, but I wasn’t interested in testing whether they’d do the same for me.
Eventually I grew tired of the guest suite, and I went back to the library. Roger accompanied me, of course, and he made more polite conversation during the short walk. He talked about a species of demon who lived in the north, a harmless race that communicated to each other with flashes of light from their antennae and floated through clouds of poisonous fumes like butterflies in a field. I listened to his friendly chatter without any rude comments or interruptions—against my better judgment, I’d started to like Roger.
Once the elevator doors opened, I said goodbye to him and stepped out alone. The library was as welcoming as ever, with a fire blazing in the hearth and warm lights scattered throughout, making the rugs and books glow, or flicker with soft shadows. But tonight, it didn’t have its usual calming effect. I was frowning as I went to a new section and started at the top left, just as I’d done with the others I had gotten through. I wasn’t even sure what I was looking for, at this point. I just couldn’t stay in that bedroom and do nothing, or drive myself insane by going in circles. I carried a stack to the table I often used, the stone surface smooth and gleaming.
After another hour or two, I shoved a book back in a burst of frustration. This one was in English, which should’ve made it more helpful. Instead, I now possessed a vast amount of useless knowledge about a region called the Lowlands. I stared at the shelves without seeing them, considering all my options for the thousandth time. There had to be a way. There was always a way.
It felt like I was on the verge of screaming when I heard him. Heard his strong, gentle voice. Sometimes it’s not about being stronger. It’s about being smarter.
The memory soothed me more than the library ever had. Even when he couldn’t reach me, Oliver was there. Guiding me. Loving me.
I sat there and tapped my finger against the table. Maybe I was going about this all wrong—I couldn’t overpower Lucifer, or evade him. This was his domain and these were his people. His rules.
Instead of trying to get around the devil, I had to go through him.
What did I know about Lucifer, now that I’d been roommates with him for several days? Well, I knew that he valued the promises he made. He liked deals and games. He wanted me to trust him. How could I use that?
The thought was a spark. An idea began to form, and soon enough, it spread like wildfire.
I ran through the scenario, and this time, it worked. There would be variations, of course, and I couldn’t predict Lucifer’s mood or his exact reactions, but it worked. The hardest part would be the role I had to play. I needed to make the devil believe he stood something to gain, and that something was me. I swallowed at the thought.
No time for that. Adrenaline rushed through me now, the heady rush of realizing I might actually pull this off. I started to pace again, this time in front of the window. For the remainder of the day, I prepared. I imagined outcomes. I considered the exact words I would say.
That was how Lucifer found me.
The ding alerted me that someone was arriving, but I didn’t stop. I was nervous, agitated, and I didn’t feel ready for what was about to happen. There were so many ways I could fuck it up.
“Always pacing, Lady Sworn,” that husky, familiar voice remarked. “If you’d like to go for a run, I can make arrangements.”
I finally slowed, then turned. My lungs gathered the smallest, most subtle of breaths, and I thought of my family. I met Lucifer’s gaze and raised my eyebrows at him. “How did you know that I’m a runner? Have you been spying on me?”
