The Demon’s Tongue (Worlds of Protheka)

9. Calix

9

CALIX

I observe with amusement as Geneva successfully traps the soul of the drunken dark elf into the crystal. I'm quite impressed with my dear human.

Look at how far she's come. From a scared little thing, desperately begging me to help her, to a young woman swindling a dark elf's soul and depositing it into my crystal. A sickening satisfaction fills me. In a way, she feels like my protege.

Once the dark elf's body crumples to the floor, I casually materialize in the room, lounging on the lavish bed as if I belong there. She sits on the edge of the bed, breathing heavily, her eyes never leaving the limp body.

"Look who's embracing her darker side," I drawl, a smirk playing on my lips.

Geneva whirls around, her green eyes wide. Her chest heaves with rapid breaths, the revealing garments accentuating her figure in a way that's hard to ignore. I don't try to hide the way my eyes trail down her curves.

"You!" she hisses, clutching the crystal tightly. "Where were you? I could've—he almost?—"

I wave a dismissive hand. "But he didn't. And now you've got your first soul. Congratulations."

She glares at me, those green eyes of hers practically sparking with fury. "You were watching the whole time, weren't you?"

"Guilty as charged," I admit, not bothering to hide my amusement with the situation. "I had to see if you had it in you. And I must say, I'm pleasantly surprised."

Geneva's jaw clenches. "You're a bastard."

"Demon, actually," I correct her, sitting up on the bed. "But I'll take the compliment."

I watch as Geneva's eyes narrow, her chest heaving with each angry breath. The fury radiating off of her is palpable, and I can't help but find it deliciously entertaining.

"I can't… I can't fucking believe you!" she hisses, her fist clenching the bedsheets underneath us. "You didn't lift a finger to help me! I called out for your help!"

I raise an eyebrow, my smirk never faltering. "Oh? I thought you wanted to prove yourself. Isn't that why you summoned me in the first place?"

Her knuckles turn white. "Prove myself? I could have been—" She chokes on the words, her eyes darting to the lifeless body on the floor.

I hush her, lifting my finger to my lips. Then, I lean forward. "You handled it beautifully. One soul down, two to go."

"That's not the point!" she snaps, her voice rising. "You left me alone to face that... that..."

"Piece of shit?" I offer helpfully.

She glares at me. "Yes! You could have at least given me a clue or something! I thought… I thought you abandoned me."

Rolling my eyes, I'm slightly irritated by her dramatics. The powerful scent of her fear and anger is intoxicating, though. I'm enjoying it. "Listen, my dear human. You wanted out of this situation, didn't you? Well, this is what it takes. I'm not your knight in shining armor. I'm a demon, remember?"

Geneva's lower lip trembles, but she doesn't back down. "I thought we had a deal. I thought you were supposed to help me."

"And I am," I say, my voice low and dangerous. "By letting you find your own strength. You think trapping souls is going to be easy? You think I'll always be there to hold your hand?"

She flinches at my words, but the fire in her eyes doesn't dim. "I didn't ask you to hold my hand. I asked you to not abandon me when I needed you most."

"Abandon you? I've been here the whole time. Watching. Waiting. Making sure you didn't fuck it up. And guess what? You didn't. You passed the test with flying colors."

My eyes never leaves Geneva's face. I can't help but push her further.

"Demonhood isn't for the weak, my little human. Did you think we've gotten this far with our notoriety with hugs and kisses?" I remark, a teasing glint to my words. "If you can't handle trapping the soul of one drunken dark elf, maybe you should stick to being someone elses property. It's safer that way."

Geneva flinches, her eyes dropping to the crystal in her hand. The silence stretches between us, thick with tension. I can almost see the doubt creeping into her mind, and for a moment, I wonder if I've pushed too far.

But then she looks up, her jaw set and her eyes blazing. "I can handle it," she spits out. "I'm not weak."

I lean in even closer, close enough to feel the heat radiating off her skin. So that our noses are nearly grazing. "Are you sure about that? Because from where I'm sitting, you look pretty shaken up."

She doesn't back down. Instead, she relishes in the fire I'm throwing at her. And matching it with some of her own. "I'm sure," she replies firmly. "I didn't come this far to give up now."

A slow smirk spreads across my face. Damn, this human's got a fighting spirit. I like it. "Good girl," I purr, letting my eyes roam over her body. "I certainly hope you can handle it. Things are only going to get more... interesting from here."

Geneva's breath catches, her eyes widening slightly. I can see the way her pulse quickens at my words, the way her lips part ever so slightly. The air between us crackles with tension, and not just the angry kind. No, there's something else there too—a spark of excitement, a thrill that courses down my body, down to the spot between my legs.

I wonder why this human elicits such a tempting reaction out of me?

"What do you mean by interesting?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. Her gaze flicks down to my lips for just a moment before meeting my eyes again. I can practically taste her anticipation on my tongue.

My breath ghosts over her ear. "Oh, I think you know exactly what I mean, little human," I purr, relishing the shiver that runs through her body. "The question is, are you brave enough to find out?"

Leaning away, with my fingers gliding along her chin, I savor her reaction.

Her cheeks flush, but she doesn't look away. "I can handle temptation," she insists, but there's a slight tremor in her voice that betrays her uncertainty.

"We'll see about that," I murmur, my eyes locked on hers. "I have a feeling you're going to be quite the challenge, Geneva. Now hand me the crystal."

Her palm opens, revealing the shining stone. I reach out, plucking the crystal from Geneva's trembling fingers. It pulses with a faint, otherworldly glow, the trapped soul within writhing like smoke. Perfect. It's just what I needed.

"I'll take care of this little problem," I say, nodding towards the lifeless body on the floor. "You can enjoy the rest of your night unbothered in these luxurious chambers. Quite an upgrade from your previous accommodations, I'd say."

Geneva's eyes dart between me and the corpse, her brow furrowed. "And what exactly does 'taking care of it' entail?"

I smirk, tucking the crystal into my pocket. "Best not to ask questions you don't want answers to, my dear. Let's just say our friend here will be... indisposed."

She shivers, wrapping her arms around herself. The revealing garments do little to hide her discomfort. The rise and fall of her chest call attention to how her nipples poke through the fabric. "Will you... will you be staying? With me?"

My eyebrows shoot up in mock surprise. "Why, Geneva, are you asking me to spend the night? I'm flattered. I didn't realize you were so eager for my company."

Pink spreads along her cheeks, but she doesn't back down. "I didn't say that. I just... I don't want to be alone."

My tongue swipes along my teeth, brushing over the sharp fangs within my mouth. "Admit it. You'd love for me to stay, wouldn't you?"

To my surprise, she doesn't deny it. Instead, she meets my gaze, her green eyes filled a gentle vulnerability. "Maybe I would. Is that so wrong?"

I chuckle, trailing a finger along her jawline. "Wrong? Oh, dear human, you have no idea how deliciously wrong it is. Temptation strikes when you least expect it. But then again, that's what makes it so... enjoyable."

Geneva swallows hard, her pulse quickening under my touch. "So, will you stay or not?"

I pull back, enjoying the way she leans forward, chasing my touch. "Now, now. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I have a body to dispose of, remember?"

She nods, disappointment flashing across her face. "Right. Of course."

"But," I add, unable to resist teasing her further. I relax against the pillows, somewhat enjoying how they feel against my body. "The night is young. And we could have a little fun in the meantime."