I'm really sorry for the long delay. Life happened, as it happens to all of us at one time and another, and I had a good swift kick in the teeth. Hopefully I am forgiven and you enjoy this next part. It is also the last in the series. At least for now. I've lost the flow I had when I was writing it and may come back to it later, but for now, no promises.
*****
They wouldn't tell me what the second trial had been. I had thought both Cora and I were meant to take part together, though I'm not on trial. The room was starting to feel smaller and smaller as I awaited news. Any news would be welcome.
Thio's patience had worn thin and he was spending more time away than with me. I wasn't sure how I felt about it. There were times I still struggled with the bits and pieces I remembered and with what I felt since coming here. Once I opened myself up to my experiences, I was able to enjoy myself. Was it wrong to enjoy myself? I no longer knew.
The door opened and Thio stepped inside. I stopped my worrying, or tried, and sat on the bed. I had been trying my hardest to appear calm around him, though I rarely succeeded.
"The second trial was just barely a success. It seems she does much better when you are not there," Thio informed me, taking his time to unbutton and strip himself of his shirt. He usually just snapped his fingers, but he doesn't now.
"What would it mean, if she were to win the third trial?" I'm not sure I want to know the answer. As soon as I notice my fidgeting, I move my hands under my thighs to control them.
"I'm not sure two out of three will be enough," Thio confessed. He turned away from me and hung his shirt in the wardrobe. His shoulders, once proud, slumped as if he had the weight of the whole dimension on them.
I was too afraid to ask what that meant. It would most likely mean the death of Cora.
Thio grasped my chin and forced my head up. I hadn't even seen him move. "I know what you are thinking. Death is a kindness to the other option. The other option is to return her. Raving mad about demons and hell. She would be committed and in case you don't remember, your people try to brush the crazies under the rug, refusing to deal with mental problems."
I don't remember. The things I remember now are almost all of the times I spent with Cora. Like the vacation we had just after graduation and we couldn't afford to go somewhere warm and tropical, so we spend a week pampering ourselves at a local spa pretending we were somewhere fabulous.
"There is also talk of letting her go. Trying out a contract. Blood has power, even sometimes on people like her."
He wasn't forthcoming with what that meant exactly. Swearing her to silence? Would that stop her? Would she still search for a solution even if she couldn't tell anyone anything more about where she's been and where I am?
"There is one last trial," Thio said, laying down on the bed and pulling me into him. "You might have to participate in that one too, though I've done all I could to prevent it."
Sometimes I wondered why he did the things he did. I knew, deep down, I was kidnapped and brought here to be his toy. There were times that I questioned that and wondered if he really just wanted something more than that.
His hands glided up and down my back softly. We lay on the bed, him on his back and me turned into him. We lay still, not talking further. Eventually I fell asleep to his gentle touches.
When I woke, I was alone in bed though I could hear voices talking low. I was covered in a soft blanket and held it up to cover myself as I sat up. Thio and a demon I had never met before were quietly talking at the table. The room had been rearranged so that the table was further from the bed, giving them a place to talk without disturbing me.
"She's awake," the unknown demon reported. Thio turned in his seat to look toward me.
"Good. Come join us, Ember," Thio said, reaching out a hand for me. He held his hand out as I tossed the blanket aside and stood, naked, and walked to him to place my hand in his. He settled me on his lap so that both legs hung over the same side.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ember," the unknown demon said warmly. "I'm here to deal with this situation."
He didn't offer his name and Thio wasn't inclined to provide it. I was curious as to what kind of demon he could be.
"Thioduhm has offered an interesting alternative to deal with Cora, provided she completes and succeeds in the third and final trial. The solution may apply to you."
"Ember," Thio said, waiting for me to turn my gaze from the demon across from us to him. "What if you could go back home? Forget this place and carry on as if none of this had ever happened?"
What? Would I want that? Maybe at first, but I've come to crave Thio. It was true I'm not always crazy about everything, but I knew I still wanted him. Could I give him up and go back and really forget? Or would a part of me know that I was missing something?
"I-I-I don't know," I stammered.
"Well, you will have time to think on it, as the third trial is about to start and your presence is required," the demon informed me as he stood up from his chair.
I turned back to face Thio. His face unreadable. Would he really give me up? Could he let me walk away?
My thoughts swirled around in my brain as we stepped through the door. What was on the other side jarred me. I looked around in confusion. It seemed like something vaguely familiar, though I couldn't seem to comprehend it. There were demons and their humans seated all around the stage. There were four podiums on one side and one on the other. There was a demon standing at the one, waiting for me, I presumed.
I was still naked. Goody.
Thio led me to the steps before the stage and waited, hand on my arm to keep me steady. A few moments passed before we were joined by another demon, who escorted Cora to the stage. Thio turned me to him, pressed his thumb to my forehead and I felt something happened. I was momentarily stunned as I tried to figure out what he had done.
Together, we were led up the steps and took our place at two podiums. Thio placed my hands on the podium to make sure I was steady before he turned and walked back down the steps. The remaining two stood empty still.
From the opposite side of the stage, two demons entered the room from a door like the one I came through and stepped up on to the stage and took their places at the empty podiums.
"Welcome to the third and final trial. We have two teams, the demons and the humans. I will ask you questions and for every right answer you gain a point. If you answer and it's wrong, you are subject to punishments. Punishments that will start small and get bigger and harsher the more you miss. Good luck."
