The Underworld (Rhyn Eternal) by Lizzy Ford Page B

reverse was true. She was sick of it yet too aware of how vulnerable and weak a human truly was.
    “If my twin was brave enough to make a deal with the Dark One, I can work with a demon,” she murmured.
    Past-Death unlocked the door and pushed it open.
    Almost immediately, she was sucked back into her body.
     
    “Excellent, cupcake!” Jared all but shouted.
    Past-Death took a minute to assess her headache and decided she’d just have to deal with it. Jared was rattling his chains, and she feared what happened if Harmony’s men were drawn by the demon’s noise.
    “I need funnel cake,” she mumbled and sat up.
    Her head pulsed, and her stomach growled.
    “Free me!”
    Past-Death eyed the demon as she rose. “You better not make me regret this, demon.”
    “We have a deal,” he said. “Stay out of my way until I find a snack.”
    It wasn’t the reassurance she sought, but she tossed him the keys to his chains. “There are at least two death dealers on the floor above us. Is that enough to keep you from gnawing off one of my arms?”
    “Maybe.”
    She heard the chains fall to the ground. Despite his hunger, the demon moved faster than she could track with her human eyes.
    He gripped her neck and shoved her into the wall behind her, the dark depths of his eyes boring into hers. He was salivating, his fangs dripping, his lean body pressing her into the wall.
    Past-Death gasped, too startled by his speed and burst of strength to move.
    “Do not forget this, human,” the demon growled. “If you think to betray me to your mate, I will -”
    “I … won’t!” she gasped.
    “I know who you are and what you’ve spent the past thousands of years doing.”
    “I swear it. No harm will come to you from me or my mate, so long as you keep your word about helping me.”
    The demon studied and then released her, stepping away.
    “If you hadn’t noticed, I’m not who I was anymore,” she added with some bitterness.
    “You are always who you are,” he scoffed. “You just aren’t immortal anymore.” He faced the door. “Stay here.”
    Past-Death released the breath she was holding. For a split second, she’d seen her death at the hands of a hungry demon. Adrenaline managed to clear most of her headache, and she sagged against the wall.
    Despite all the sleep, she didn’t feel rested, perhaps from the effort of dreamwalking. Or maybe, it was fatigue, another experience she never knew the meaning of before becoming a human. She was tired and hungry, and for some reason, that was making her angry.
    She waited for the demon, too tired to do more than hope he was serious about returning for her.
    You are always who you are . His parting words played over and over in her thoughts, and she chewed on them. He hadn’t meant it as a compliment; that much she knew. The idea behind his words intrigued her tired mind.
    Was it true she was the same person she’d always been, just in a new body?
    Or did being human change the essence of who she was?
    She still loved Gabriel and her underworld. But her life was so much more confusing now. She’d never had to think twice about right and wrong, about emotions or life and death.
    Sooner than she expected, she heard someone hurrying down the hallway.
    Past-Death crept away from the door, in case it was one of Harmony’s sentries. A moment later, Jared poked his head in.
    “Come with me, cupcake,” he ordered. “I’ve had my fill for now.”
    I don’t want to know what that entails. Past-Death moved into the hallway. She tried not to look at the newfound slickness on his clothing that gleamed in the torchlight. The faint scent of metallic blood was in the air around the demon, and the glow of bloodlust remained in his gaze.
    “You know this place. Where do we go?” he asked, starting towards the stairs.
    She considered. “We have a few options. If the dealers haven’t found the passages hidden in the walls, we can use those to move around. There are safe spots where we