This time, his voice was the sound of the coffin creaking slowly open, to reveal the dirt above where she’d been buried alive. God, it was like some bloody Steven King novel in her head. He was laughing, shoulders shaking, and Martin’s words came back to her. He was trying to scare her, to make her feel weak. It was all an act. ‘And you can’t stop me.’
He moved, without moving, and was right in front of her, glaring balefully down. Her heart was racing, her mouth dry like ashes. She screwed up her eyes, muttering, ‘there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.’ She peeked, and whimpered at the face, inches from hers, top lip curled in a sneer. She hadn’t seen him move.
She bit her lip, the taste of blood bringing her back from the brink. She opened her eyes, and stared back. He hadn’t moved, and she could see the lines that ran from the corners of his eyes, the tiny burst blood vessels that crept spider-like across his eyes. He was old, and tired. She glanced round and saw mum, staring at them with wide, frightened eyes. This wasn’t going to happen. Somewhere, far away, her computer was waiting for her to update her status, and there was no way she was missing the chance to talk about this.
‘You smell of fear and weakness, little girl.’
‘Yeah, and you smell of shit, and old age, and hate, and there’s no place for you in my world.’
His thick eyebrows raised, his snarl growing, but there was something else in his eyes, a flicker that hadn’t been there before. She hoped it was doubt or fear, and not indigestion. ‘We’re leaving here, me and Martin and my mum. You should get rid of the cage now.’
He was going to hit her, like he hit Martin, and he’d rip her head off. She screwed up her face, waiting for the blow. Instead, he spoke. ‘What can you give me for your mother, what do you have to trade?’
‘How about I forget I know your name, once we’re home, and I burn that page?’
The demon cocked his head to one side, nodding slowly. ‘That might be enough.’
Was he bluffing? Martin had said his name was power and… what exactly had he said? Dammit, it was either that she had, like, complete control, or just that it was quite useful. She couldn’t remember which. Sod it. She thrust her chin out and stared at him. ‘How about I say it’s enough, and you say ‘thank you’?’
The demon hissed, raising a hand. She stood still, her legs shaking so hard she expected to topple over at any moment. Then he stepped back, and waved a hand. Mum’s shouts exploded into the room as she charged over. ‘Get the hell away from my daughter!’
The demon turned to her, hand raised again, and time seemed to slow down. Scarlet saw his clenched fist begin to move, and heard her own voice, long before her brain caught up. ‘NO!’ It came from deep within her and carried something, power, like the smell before a storm.
He froze, turning slowly to face her, lips drawn back in a snarl. ‘You dare command me?’
Next instalment: Monday 4 November
