It was the sounds of dripping.

Soft.

Close.

Cold.

So cold.

Ivy didn’t want to open her eyes, as though if she kept them closed then she would wake from this dream.

But she did open them.

Because it wasn’t a dream...

It was a nightmare.

And she would have to face it on her own.

This hadn’t been the first time that she’d been brought to a cave by a devil.

And just like the first time, though she knew she should be afraid…

She wasn’t.

The girl blinked, allowing her vision to adjust to the new world around her before focusing on the stalagmites that jutted out from the ground in front of her, reaching for the stalactites above, trying to become one. The drops of water slipped from their pointed ends and fell in small, nearly black puddles all around her. They would have been impossible to see if not for the torches on the walls that lit the dank area, casting shadows and giving the illusion that the sharp forms were dancing all around her.

Just as she had been.

How long had she been here? How far down was she? How intricate the tunnel system? Would she be able to find her way out?

No, she wouldn’t.

She circled her foot, the metal clasped around her ankle digging uncomfortably against her flesh. There was no point in trying to pull away. She knew that she was trapped.

It would probably have a lock, but she had nothing to pick into it. And even if she did, she had never done it before and wouldn’t even know where to begin. It would be sheer luck if she was able to manage opening it to free herself.

And then what?

Run?

Where?

Blindly through the maze of mineral deposits that had formed on the cave floor before coming to a flattened area where she would then have to decide which of multiple paths to take that may or may not lead her to the surface?

That is, until the devil quickly caught her once more. She would never be able to be faster or stronger than him. The girl couldn’t even fight off a human man of smaller and weaker stature when they had been attracted to and grabbed at her those times before. She would be a fool to think she could out beat a devil physically.

How had Zero’s mother survived?

The thought made her sick. Made her want to curl into herself and die right there before the same fate could possibly be hers.

She had been feasted upon.

She had birthed the devil’s child.

A child who had grown into the man she loved.

She just wanted to see Zero. To hear his voice. To hold him.

What if she never got that opportunity again?

It lit a spark inside of her.

Ever so slight.

An awakening.

“How long are you going to lay there pretending to be unconscious?” The voice was deep and hoarse and raspy, as if his vocal cords were hardly ever used. It lacked any bit of warmness, holding only icy reservation in its notes. Cruel, void of even the slightest hint of ever having experienced joy.

She breathed deep.

Time to face her captor.

The girl pushed herself to seated, looking up at the devil who sat on a large rock above her, one leg dangling while the other was wrapped in his arms with his chin resting on his knee. His crimson eyes glowered down at her, pushing against her gaze.

The color was similar to what she already knew, but these ones were so different.

Rage.

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Hate.

Hunger.

She didn’t look away.

He lowered himself from the stone and onto his feet. “Are you going to scream? I very much dislike the sounds of your screams above all other beings.”

Other beings?

“What would be the point?” Ivy asked, following his movements as he made his way to her. Leisurely. As though he had all the time in the world. “I’m sure no one would be able to hear me.”

“There wouldn’t be one. It seems you’re at least smart enough to realize that you’re not getting away this time, and it would be smart for you to accept that. Things will go smoother that way. For both of us.” The devil crouched down before her, the sword on his hip clattering against the ground. “I didn’t think I’d ever find you again. It was foolish of you to stay on the land. But I’m glad you did. I haven’t found any more of you since that day. I assume all but you went back. Why didn’t you go back with the others? Or did they actually stay?”

She had no idea what he was talking about. Where was she supposed to go back to? When had she met him before? Who were these others?

“No.” He answered his own question. “If they had, then you wouldn’t have been with that fox woman and angel and white-haired devil. I’ve never seen a devil with white hair or one that traveled with others. But that one seemed a bit... different. His blood certainly smelled different.” He tilted his head, looking over her shoulder with a newfound interest. His hand followed, fingers creeping over and down her shoulder blade, the touch like ice against her skin. “Where are they? What did you do with them?”

What did she do with what?

“I know you still have them. Are you able to conceal them? The same way that angel conceals his?” The devil paused, crimson narrowing in consideration while a claw tapped against the bone. “I suppose it doesn’t matter. Whether you have them out or not, you’re still what you are. Hiding them won’t change that.”

Hide what?

What was she?

Why did he want her?

He took her chin in his hand, moving it side to side as her eyes followed his, refusing to look away. “You’re even prettier than the other ones were.” He inhaled deeply. “And you smell so much nicer. They only smelled like flowers. But you… you smell like…” His nose followed her neck from her collarbone to her ear, breathing her in as he sighed with satisfaction. “Everything. You must be someone special to them. A little princess or whatever arbitrary titles they have. Probably why that one sacrificed herself rather than running away with the rest of you. She didn’t want me to have you. Little good that did in the long run.”

Someone sacrificed themselves?

For her?

Why would someone do that?

“What did you do to her?” Ivy asked, knowing she didn’t want to hear the answer. Knowing she had to.

“Do your elders no longer tell stories of devils since all of you went into hiding? Too comfortable in your safe hiding space to warn those who have to venture out to gather those human men for your survival of what to be fearful of?” He twirled a lock of the girl’s amethyst hair between his fingers. “How naive. I’ll tell you since they didn’t. I ate her. I drained her of every last drop of blood, and then I consumed her flesh. The most delectable of feasts.” He caressed her cheek. “But don’t you worry, I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t be so reckless with you. I’ll make sure to savor you, only take a little at a time.”

“You’re not going to kill me?” she asked calmly.

“No. At least, with any luck, not for a very long time.”

“You’re going to drink my blood?”

“I am.”

Just as Zero’s father had done to his mother.

Ivy considered it, her curiosity overwhelming all other reasonable emotions. “Do devils enjoy the blood of angels?”

The devil sat back, perplex by the sudden question. “What kind of question is that?”

“Do they?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Do they?” she pressed further.

He was silent, deciding on whether or not to entertain the girl and her strange inquiries. “No.”

“Why not?”

“The blood of angels is putrid and unpalatable. No being would want that bitter taste on their tongue. However, you don’t need to concern yourself with that.” A tongue snaked out from behind his lips, wetting the parched skin. “As my guest, I’ll give you first choice of where I take my first drink. Left or right wrist? Don’t be afraid, the pain won’t last long if you behave.”

Afraid.

Why ever would she be afraid?

The spark within her began to smolder and take flame, growing stronger and hotter in her chest and bubbling out of her mouth.

Laughter.

The devil quietly observed the hysterical girl with unease, unable to reason with her irrational behavior. “Are you not in your right of mind? Why are you laughing?”

Ivy leaned forward, palms pressing against the freezing stone below her, violet eyes cast at the devil above, the most beautiful of all smiles gracing her rosy lips, a perfect vision in the gloom of the cave. “Because it won’t be my blood that spills,” she giggled, the loveliest melody. “You’re just too foolish to realize that.”

He raised his brow. “You realize that your magic doesn’t work on me? You’re in no position to be making such threats.”

The girl’s smile grew as the song rose from the blazing inferno in her belly and erupted from her lips, heightening in pitch until it was nearly too high to hear. The devil clasped his hands over his ears in an attempt to block out the sound that rang through his brain, his body, his soul, ripping at every fiber of his being.

“Stop!” His roar drowned out by the song. His hand shot out, locking around the girl’s mouth and silencing her cry. “What was that? What did you just do?!”

Ivy lunged forward, her surprise momentum knocking the devil onto his back, her fingers attacking and trying to dig into his eyes as her nails tore down his face, his blood rising and pouring down his skin. He released the hand around her mouth and tried to capture her wrists, allowing the call to spill from her tongue once more, eating away at his senses and discombobulating his mind. Quickly, he covered it again, pushing the girl off of him and onto her back.

“Enough!” the devil snarled with frantic crimson, rage emanating as he squeezed her face, a warning of the extent of damage he could do to her if he so chose.

But it wasn’t enough for Ivy.

And she had learned that when all other paths were blocked, there was still one last option.

The girl wrapped around the devil’s arm, pulling it down enough to allow her teeth to sink deep into the flesh between his thumb and index finger. Hot blood gushed into her mouth, encouraging her to clamp down harder, tearing further into the tissue until her jaw was nearly completely closed. He tried to pull his hand away, but she held on with all her might, her eyes burning into his.

Violet flames.

A prophecy.

A promise.

A fate unavoidable.

The devil’s free hand went to his sword and unsheathed it, unwilling to accept what he saw. “Don’t look at me!”

Ivy watched it raise above his head as her teeth connected, and she claimed a piece of him just as the pommel came down against her skull.

And everything went dark.