Void Domain, Book 07 полностью

Eva’s face twisted in confusion. “Aren’t most demons created by–”

Two fingers shot out and pinched her lips shut. “From and nothing are the key words there. And don’t interrupt me.”

He released Eva’s lips.

She nodded.

“After the seventy-two, demons were created from a sort of template. Every demon is based on one of us in some form or other. None as unique. None as powerful. None as handsome,” he said, stroking his chin.

When he winked, Eva just rolled her eyes.

“Others were born. Not all demons can get pregnant. Not all demons can sire children. Those that can will have demonic children. Too similar to their parents to be called unique. Often less powerful than their parents as well.

“So no. The answer to your question is that I was not born. I was created.”

“Alright,” Eva said with a nod as she digested the information. “But what about me? Arachne and Hel too?”

“Arachne?” He shrugged. “Lackluster. I am not impressed. The mages behind her transformation were amateurs in the most pathetic sense of the word. Hel may have been able to make something of herself. Death got his claws into her before she became a demon, unfortunately. If she truly can be considered a demon; she resides in Hell and even has her own domain, but there is just something off about her in comparison to the rest of us. You’ve noticed that with your friend, yeah?”

Eva frowned. She hadn’t really. Though, now that he mentioned it, Ylva had always been in a league of her own. More akin to Zagan than any other demon that she had met.

Zagan’s grin split across his face. “You, my dear embryonic one, have us all very excited. We expect great things of you. You weren’t born a demon. You’re not created from a template. Not even created by Void himself. What will become of you?”

“Does Arachne not count as a template?” Eva asked, latching on to the one thing he said that didn’t carry mind bending implications. “She’s been my partner in the treatment since the start. Wouldn’t such a ‘lackluster’ demon create a lackluster demon?”

“I would need to see the exact method of your ‘treatment’ to know for certain. However,” he took a deep breath before smiling at her. “You don’t smell like Arachne. I believe that she has given you a foundation. Your actions, desires, thoughts, and feelings will shape you into what you will become.”

“Let me get this straight,” Eva said after a moment. “I’m going to become a demon no matter what. So this treatment is unnecessary?”

“A building will topple without the proper foundation, yeah?”

“Then it is important.”

“Vitally so.”

Eva let out a long sigh. Their discussion felt heavy. Enough to physically exhaust her. She shot a brief glare at Zagan.

I wish I had an invisible wall to lean against.

But she didn’t.

Pressing her forehead against the relatively cool window worked well enough. Being summer time, it was hot outside. Eva liked the heat. The humidity in Florida had bothered her, but the heat had not.

The cold of the window served to shock Eva, in a manner of speaking. A quick jolt to clear her thoughts.

Zagan moved up to the window alongside Eva, staring out into the woods of the Infinite Courtyard. He didn’t speak.

Eva didn’t say anything either.

They just stood, staring outside in a peaceful silence.

It was strange. She hadn’t expected to meet with Zagan. At least not so soon. Neither had she expected him to agree to help her essentially without any kind of payment.

Least of all, she hadn’t even imagined herself having a cordial conversation with him. Yet they had a conversation. An informative conversation. One that didn’t even have veiled threats or him shoving off his responsibilities onto her.

He wasn’t even causing problems. At least, not at this particular moment. He hadn’t caused problems for a short while as well.

It was almost too good to be true.

The other shoe had to drop at some point.

A shiver ran up Eva’s spine. Or maybe it already had.

His earlier words ran through Eva’s mind. You have us all very excited.

Who was ‘us all’? The other pillars?

Did she have seventy-two of the most powerful beings in existence keeping an eye on her? They were excited about her. Worse, they had expectations of her.

You’re destined for far greater things than a puppet of the puppet-master. The words of Void, the Power. Words that she had assumed were out of boredom. Void spoke with her friends and other demons, so there was nothing strange about it.

At least, that was what she had thought. Now…

Forget the seventy-two. She had a legitimate Power following her actions. What did He expect of her?

Eva didn’t even realize that she had been hyperventilating until Zagan placed a hand on her shoulder. She glanced up to meet his golden eyes, wondering just what words of advice he would offer.

“If your actions will determine what sort of demon you will become, I wonder just what inaction will mean.”