CHAPTER 423: THE CHILD OF DEMON-II

Rella— the demon within the mirror— glared back at her. Arabella’s own reflection twisted grotesquely, her face contorting with such vicious rage that it startled her to see just how hateful her features could become when consumed by fury. The demoness’s lips curled into a petulant pout, her eyes burning with a venomous light as she stamped her foot against the glass, as though she could break free.

"FOOLISH GIRL!" Rella’s voice cracked like a whip, the glass vibrating with it. "What in Hell’s name were you trying to do?! To kill yourself?!"

"To kill you!" Arabella shouted back, her throat raw with anger. She wanted nothing more than to reach into the mirror and drag the creature out, to snap her by her own hateful words. "Tell me— what have you forced Cassius to promise you?!"

Rella only smirked, a lopsided grin that both mocked and taunted, as though savoring Arabella’s fear.

"Ask him," she said with deliberate cruelty. "I despise liars more than anything in this wretched world. But do you know what I loathe even more?" Her eyes gleamed, cruel and knowing. "Those who break their promises. They are filth beyond redemption."

She leaned closer to the glass, her voice dropping into a hiss that slithered down Arabella’s spine. "So tell me, little girl... your foolish vampire— does he even know what he’s promised? Has he broken it already? Or—" her grin widened, vicious, "—is he about to?"

"You also took his life force?" she demanded and at that, Rella frowned as though wronged.

"Your mother told me to do it. Take enough without killing him," Rella said with a bored shrug, her reflection’s smile a slash of amusement. "It’s one life for another. Someone who claims they’ll spend their life with you should be willing to trade it away, shouldn’t they? Isn’t that what love is for humans?"

"I’d rather die than make him suffer," Arabella said, voice iron- quiet, the declaration a blade she pressed into the glass between them. "Hear me. I’d rather die than see him harmed. If you want to live, then let him go."

Rella’s laugh was a cruel thing. "If you force me to break the promise, he will die sooner than fate intended." Her grin widened into a cackle— delighted, wicked. "Did you think I fashioned the curse without thought? I expected this. I knew you would try to kill me so you could kill yourself and take me with you. Here’s the tragic bit, sweetling: if you force my hand, he dies on the spot. Pray he remembers his vow. Pray he never breaks it."

"You demon!" Arabella slammed a fist against the glass. The sound rang hollow and useless. Rella merely smiled, unshaken, violet eyes glittering with savage delight.

"Of course I’m a demon," Rella said, almost pleased. "I survive by bargains. If he hadn’t met you, he wouldn’t be paying any price."

"Can’t you take something else? Half my soul— anything but him." Arabella’s plea scraped out of her, raw and frantic.

Rella’s reflection paced as if she had legs to walk with, each step a mockery. "Your mother wanted you kept safe. She begged. I was bored. I took pity. I bound you because the thought of meddling in mortal lives amused me." Her tone softened only to become more savage. "You were never meant to be. She called; I answered. So I protected you."

"Protected by killing him?" Arabella’s laugh was broken, horrified.

"Ask him, then," Rella purred, leaning closer until their faces nearly met across the glass. "Would he rather you die— or would he rather die?"

"That doesn’t mean I want to live at his cost!" Arabella cried.

"Fair," Rella said, with an infuriatingly pleasant tilt. "But I cannot do what you ask." The words were flat politeness that was, in truth, cruel mockery.

Arabella’s hands shook. Rage flared, then sharpened into a brittle, desperate thing. "No," she whispered. "If it’s his life you want, then I’ll drag a way to stop you by any means necessary."

Rella’s smile widened, delighted at the notion of the game. "Do try. But be aware as you might only make it worse for him."

Arabella glanced at the shard still cupped in her palm. The cut on her wrist still bled bright, reminding her of the running out of time she has.

She slammed her fist against the glass again, harder this time— hard enough that tiny cracks raced outward like spiderwebs. Rella’s face rippled with annoyance, not fear. "You are so theatrical," the demon sneered. "Such drama. Very mortal."

Arabella pressed the fresh wound to the cold surface, letting a bead of her blood run down the glass until it pooled where the crack spidered. She breathed a low chant under her teeth— old language, the very same Lastor had taught her for binding, not for wiping curses but for opening the truth she wanted to hear.

At first nothing happened. Then the glass under her palm shivered. The little pool of red drank in light and drew the cracked lines like veins. Rella recoiled as if stung, violet eyes narrowing. Her smile slashed into something thinner. "Clever," she hissed, haughty as though unbothered. "You know odd witchcraft. How very very interesting."

"Tell me," Arabella demanded, harder. "What did he promise you? Tell me now— or I will break you down until I find the answer."

The demon’s laughter wavered.

"You can try," Rella then answered without caring, "If I die, he dies. Don’t forget that. You can torture, push me out, but then your beloved, oh dear, dear, dear he’s going to meet his end faster again all because of you."

Tsk.

Arabella want to bring this demon out as much as possible but she can’t.

The first thing she has to do then was to find Cassius, ask him if he remembers what promise he had made her.

She believes in him, believes that in no way he would allow himself to break promise with her.

But demons are full of tricks. She didn’t want to put trust in the demon’s mercy when they have none.

So rushing out of the servant’s mansion, Arabella ran toward the castle, a little far from the servant’s quarter that had now turned into mostly debris. On her way, Atlas, Xavier, and Lastor saw the blood that dripped from his wrists.