“So Ishim is really intending on rebelling?” Michael asked as he rubbed his chin. His eyebrows were slightly creased as he made eye contact with Raea. “And everything you say is true? There are no embellishments or hyperbole?”“Yes. I swear that everything I just told you occurred exactly as it happened,” Raea said and nodded, turning her head towards Palan as if seeking his confirmation. The demon seemed relaxed, standing next to the couch with his right hand dangling loosely by his dagger, but Cleo knew that the muscles in his calves and hamstrings had been tensed ever since Michael stepped into the room. Palan chose to stay silent as he stared at Michael, ignoring Raea’s gaze.Likewise, Michael didn’t even seem to acknowledge Palan’s existence, keeping his line of sight on Raea at all times. He asked her, “Do you have any proof of Ishim’s collaboration with Anidun? Just the word of a single angel is not enough to proclaim him guilty, even if your old man thinks it is.”“I am an ang

Uzziel frowned as he crossed his legs and leaned back into his chair, staring at the approaching demon. He tapped his chin and tilted his head. “That magic,” he said. Before the words even escaped from his lips, Palan had already stuck his fingers in his ears. “He’s a pride demon?” Uzziel turned his head to look at Raea. Her body was collapsed forward on the bed, unmoving. He clicked his tongue and faced Palan again. He shouted, “Halt!” Cleo’s body stiffened and fell over.Palan took his fingers out of his ears. Blood trickled from them as he continued to walk forward, the wood splintering beneath his feet. Laughter echoed through the room as Tara sat on the foot of Raea’s bed, watching Palan approach her contractor. “He punctured his own ear drums,” she said and smiled. “What are you going to do now, Uzzy?”Uzziel narrowed his eyes as he climbed off the chair and picked up a sword that was resting beside him against the wall. “Why are you acting like this doesn’t concern you?” he sho

“What do you want to know first?” Tara asked as she tilted her head, her hair falling back over her pointed ears.“My powers,” Palan said.“You honestly have no clue, huh?” Tara said and smiled as she uncrossed her feet and lay on her side. “You practically cut your own arm off earlier.”“If I had a clue, I wouldn’t be asking,” Palan said and narrowed his eyes.Tara yawned and rotated her ankle. “A pride demon’s power is the control of gravity. Do you know what gravity is?” Tara asked and smiled. She giggled as Palan scowled at her. “It’s basically the force that pulls you down. Right now, it seems like you can only control the gravity of yourself and the things you touch. That’s perfectly normal. As you grow stronger, you’ll be able to influence things that are further away. Eventually, you’ll be able to control the gravity of people directly, as long as they’re weaker than you.” She smiled. “Just like how I can manipulate your body like a ragdoll.”“So basically, I can make things h

After an uneventful dinner, Raea returned to her room with Cleo and Palan, feeling slightly disturbed by the stares she had received. Palan immediately went to his bed and began to meditate, causing Raea to feel a sense of weakness as her chest glowed blue. “Palan,” Raea said and bit her lip.“What?”“Are you also a … a lust demon?” Raea asked, her voice barely audible.Palan didn’t respond.“Palan?”“I’m not answering stupid questions,” Palan said and snorted.Raea’s eyes widened. “So you are!?”“How did you even come to that conclusion?” Palan asked and furrowed his brow. “I’m not.”“But … you and Tara,” Raea said and scratched her head. “Weren’t you two going to … you know?”Palan’s eyes narrowed as he ground his teeth together. “The only thing I want to do to Tara is kill her,” he said. His bed collapsed underneath his body as he accidentally channeled his power. Cleo let out a squeal as she was flattened against the mattress. She had been tracing the translucent wings on Palan’s

“Hurry up and heal me,” Uzziel said to Raea. His body was trembling and twitching in odd places. Uzziel wasn’t certain that Palan was correct. His body could’ve been twitching because of a placebo, but he didn’t want to take that chance.“I, I can’t move,” Raea said, her eyes widening.“You didn’t drink the stew,” Uzziel said. “Why can’t you … Tara?” He turned his head towards the floating demon. Her eyes were half-open, and she was running her fingers back and forth over Cleo’s scalp.“Do you want me to release her?” Tara asked with a smile. “You can easily command me to.”“Didn’t you say you’d be more agreeable to my orders?” Uzziel asked, his face scowling. He stood up and tried to grab Tara, but the blanket repeatedly avoided him.“That’s your fault for taking a demon at face value,” Tara said and laughed, her eyes twinkling. Cleo’s face was turning green as the blanket continued to make sharp turns combined with sudden accelerations and stops.“Why are you doing this?” Uzziel ask