A Glimmer of Hope (The Avalon Chronicles #1)(47)

“It’s okay. After what you went through, I wouldn’t trust anyone either. I just need to make sure that Tommy gets the information. How many elves and ogres?”

“One ogre. His name was Brako. I only saw a few elves, so I have no idea how many remain.”

“Brako?” Diana’s question was filled with the hope that she’d heard wrong.

“Who is he?”

Diana sighed. “He’s an exceptionally dangerous individual, and someone we really don’t want to meet again.”

“Again? You’ve met him before?”

Diana’s nod was small. “We crossed paths a few years ago. Both of us escaped that meeting with our lives, but both of us were hurt. Ogres are incredibly strong and fast. And on top of that, they like causing mayhem.”

“He’s the one who killed my friends at the depot. He reveled in it.”

“He’s vicious, even for an ogre. There aren’t many of his kind left, so it’s probably for the best that it stays that way.”

“And the blood elves?”

“They’re a long story, for another time. I need to go speak to Tommy, and if I start telling you about the elves, I’ll be here all day. Just know that they’re incredibly dangerous. Even more so than the ogre, I think. They’re not as strong, or fast, but they fight in groups, like rats. Where there’s one, there’s usually a dozen more waiting to stab you in the back.”

“One of the spirits inside of me killed two of them.”

“They are monsters, and with or without the spirits, you had no choice. Doesn’t mean you’re becoming a killer, but it might not be the last time you’re put in a situation where you have to fight for your life.”

“I might have to kill again?” Images of Chloe cowering before a demonic Layla flashed into her head.

“Maybe. But let’s try not to let that happen. Unfortunately, that’s the world we live in. Too many things want us dead to think that we won’t have to step over that line. Just take care of how easily you cross it, because doing it for the wrong reasons sometimes leaves you on a side you can’t return from.”

“The spirits said something similar.”

“Smart spirits.” Diana turned and walked back to the door. “I need to call Tommy. I’ll be right back.”

Layla nodded and looked out of the open window.

Have you decided to accept me yet?

The voice sent a shiver up Layla’s back, but she refused to look back at the demon. “You told me if I accepted you, I’d murder my best friend.”

And if you don’t, you’ll murder a lot more people. Not a choice I’d want to make.

“Do you get off on causing misery?”

Yes. Humanity has so much optimism. Did you know that? I get that there are wars and strife and bullshit even demons couldn’t think of coming up with, but under it all, you’re an endlessly optimistic species. I like to poke that optimism with a big sharp stick. I like to make it bleed a little, to pick at it until it’s an open wound. He paused. I’m sorry, I lost my train of thought for a second. Oh, yes . . . essentially, I like to ensure that whatever optimism you people have is crushed under my boot. It’s fun.

“I won’t let you win.”

The demon laughed. My dear, I’ve already won. You’re just too stubborn to see it.

Everything in front of Layla’s eyes burst into flame as the screams of people reached her ears. It was only there for a second, but a second was all it took for her to scamper back from the window.

You’ll be mine. That woman can’t help you. And your friend, Chloe, she can’t help you either. And if you think those spirits can help you, then you’re just deluding yourself.

Layla turned around to face the demon, who was leaning up against the bathroom doorway, its arms crossed over its chest. The demon’s appearance was the same as before, except it was now considerably more female than it had been when she’d seen it in the cage. The demon wore a black suit, which did little to diminish its fearsome appearance.

“You’re a woman now?”

“I can change as I feel the need. Our sexes are fluid; we change with a mood, or just because we can. It’s weird that so many of you here are so rigid. Besides, I look damn good in this suit no matter my sex.”

“I wasn’t criticizing,” Layla snapped defensively.

The demon laughed. “I don’t care. I give exactly zero shits about the thought process of a human.”

“Umbra.”

“Umbra? You’ve accepted that, have you?”

“If you’re not here to show me anything else horrific, you can just go.”

Terhal shrugged. “You can’t make me. Not until you’re strong enough. Until then, your mind is my playground.”

“So, you’re going to try to kill me?”

“Oh, my word, no. If you die, I get to go back into storage for the next however long. No, I don’t want you dead. A dead you is a bored me. Can’t have that.”

Layla climbed onto the bed and lay down. “One day we’ll be on an equal footing, and then we’ll see who wins.”

Terhal’s laughter reverberated through Layla’s skull. “Oh, I’m going to enjoy this.” She walked over to Layla, her face was only a few inches from her. “I can smell the fear on you.”