12. Dance for the Devil

Dance for the Devil

My demon places a hand on my waist and murmurs soothing words in the dead language they speak here. I feel like I've been here long enough I should know more of it than I do.

But my nerves crackle with ugly anticipation as he twirls me around the edge of the Devil's dance floor.

Only two other couples dance, both of them too enamored of each other to carry any part of my worries.

"She will be here in a moment," he says, kissing my scarred palm.

And he's right. Between one blink and the next, the floor fills with saints and sinners.

My demon takes the halo from me and kisses my throat before he releases me to search through the throng on my own. "I'll wait for you on the stairs."

The dancers move around us both like rocks in a stream and I watch him go, but only for a moment.

He is mine and no small separation will change that.

I scour the saints, ignoring every poor soul with a cage clamped around their head

God may not have reclaimed all her power yet, but the dance is a ritual the Devil has no desire to disband.

He and Keres twirl past me and she says, "Middle of the floor." before they sweep away.

I go without question, and Skye is there

Alone in the middle of the swirling crowd, Skye searches, her eyes only on the sinners.

Her dress is green and her hair is short, but it's her hair. I drag her into my arms the moment I reach her and she hugs me so tightly the boning in my dress creaks.

"I thought I'd lost you." Her words are a whisper against my ear and I squeeze her tightly too.

"You didn't. Miracles just take time."

She pulls back from me, holding me at arm's length and looks me over. "What's happened to you?"

More than I'll ever tell her. "Let's get off the dance floor before a devil tries to make you dance."

I take her hand, and after a few steps, she squeezes it and gasps.

"I'm not tired…" She hurries closer, walking at my side instead of two steps behind. "Why am I not tired? Am I dead?"

"I'll explain. I promise, just once we're out of this place." I'm glad the stairs are closer than I thought. "You're going to have to make a choice."

My demon waits for us at the top of the stairs, and Skye freezes at the bottom, she looks up at him with eyes as wide as saucers and I whisper. "Don't worry, he's mine. He won't hurt you."

She lets me lead her up the steps, but she asks, "How can you be sure?"

"Because I love her," he says, smiling down at me.

"And I love him."