She lifted another spoonful of pudding, only this time, she poked it through the bars.
"Say 'Ah!'"
Cass did not.
She clicked her tongue.
"Still don't trust me?"
She crammed the spoon in her mouth.
"Keeping secrets from me…The training period is gonna be rough at this rate. My personal servant must be disciplined."
Cass rolled his eyes.
"Right. After your grand escape?"
"That's right."
"Talk or chew, please. Don't you have etiquette in demon society?"
"Not in prison."
"Well you seem very adept at prison living."
Her eyes narrowed.
"You're worn out. What happened today?"
"Why do you think that? Do I look that bad?"
"No, you're as handsome as ever."
Cass shifted.
"But your energy is depleted."
She was right. He had used up most of it in his final attack against the spider.
"Believe it or not, I saved someone's life and killed a razorleg today."
"Impressive. A genuine knight in shining armor."
"There was no princess there, I assure you."
She grinned.
"Oh? A princess you say? Looking for one?"
How can a smile be that smug?
"Hell no! Who wants one of those stuck up bitches? I've always been more partial to humble maids, personally."
She looked unamused. Cass paused for a moment, then asked.
"What do you plan on doing when you escape?"
She stared at him.
"Isn't it obvious? Conquer humanity. What? Don't give me that look. Isn't that humanity's goal? Conquer demons. You aren't trying to act high and mighty are you? Isn't that why you joined the army?"
Cass actually hadn't joined the army, but for the sake of the trial he played along.
"Honestly? I'm not sure why I joined. If I had things my way, I'd be at home lounging around all day while the most beautiful woman in the world cooked me the most delicious meals in the world. Unfortunately, my family is at home. So that dashes any hope of peace I'd ever find there, even if I could live that way."
She looked perplexed.
"You're telling the truth? Don't you have any ambition? Even if misguided?"
"I haven't had much luck with ambition, I'm afraid. At one point, all I wanted was to live in a small house with one of the family maids. No inheritance, no glory; they could keep their stupid surname as far as I was concerned. But even that was taken from me."
She tilted her head, the spoon still in her mouth.
"I find it hard to believe someone like you doesn't have something they're after. I can see it on your face; you're very easy to read. I'm also an excellent judge of character, you see; and reading people's intentions. For example, I can tell by a glance every soldier on this base who wants to sleep with me. Men and women, by the way. Want me to tell you which category you fall into?"
"Something I'm after?"
Cass clenched his teeth. He wasn't sure why he'd grown so agitated. Something she said? Was it the events of the day? The fact that he was still stuck in the fog while Cadeyrn was out there getting even stronger? Or maybe being separated from Misha for so long had finally taken its toll.
"I want to kill someone. My brother, actually. More than anything in the world. I want him to suffer unimaginably. It's all I think about these days. Every mission I go on, every second I spend training, or studying; all of it is to ensure that he dies the most horrible death imaginable."
Cass leaned back and laughed.
"And let me just say, whatever you're scheming…However you plan to use this information to convince me to let you go, or whatever deal you hope to strike in exchange for granting my desire, spare me. I have no interest. Unless I tear out his heart myself, it's all for nothing. Unless I'm the one to cause him and everyone who'll miss him to suffer, it's wasted effort."
Ariayah studied his face closely.
"As I've stated, my plan is to escape and take you with me to the demon realm as my personal assistant. Murdering a random human interferes with my schedule-"
"Do you eat humans?"
She paused and looked a bit incredulous.
"Many demons eat-"
"Do you?"
After a moment, she answered.
"Yes."
Cass chuckled.
"Ah man. I knew that was coming."
He'd been very interested in the answer. But for some reason, couldn't bring himself to ask. Until now. He took most things she said with a grain of salt, but this one he knew was true.
"So, what? I'm like a walking pudding cup to you?"
"Humans taste much better than pudding. I've often heard it compared to making offspring, by some of the more crass demons."
Cass didn't have a frame of reference for such a comparison. He understood, nonetheless.
"I guess I appreciate your honesty. Not the most tactical choice if you planned on using me to escape."
She shrugged.
"It is odd. I never planned to use you to escape. Even so, I had planned on keeping that a secret. I've told everyone else that my subordinates were the only ones that ate humans. Savage, uncultured barbarians and all that. You're just easy to talk to, I guess. Strangely so."
"How nice. I'm still not letting you out."
"You sure bring that up a lot. I'd almost think you wanted me free more than I do. Eager to start your new job, demon boy?"
Cass scoffed. Her face grew serious.
"Do you know how many soldiers around here I could have at my beck and call? Most in less than a few minutes. I could have this cage open and be out in no time."
"Then why don't you?"
"That lowly general is still around. Until I devise a plan to deal with him, I'd just be walking to my own death. And as capable as you are, demon boy, I don't see you stopping me, even with these chains on. Never mind taking him down in my stead."
Cass bit his lip. She was probably right. If she got out of her cell, she'd get some of her power back. The shackles would keep most of it sealed, but he doubted he'd be able to stop her.
"So you see, you aren't part of my grand escape plan. I simply wanted to see you. Don't take it personally, if I could think of a way to use you, I'd put you on the top of my list. I'm a very loyal woman, I'll have you know."
Don't be happy about that, idiot!
The day he first spoke to Ariayah, he had a clear delineation between human emotions and demon deception. At least how it was presented in books and documents. He was confident he'd be able to devise a simple method of discerning the two. However, it was the opposite. It had all been jumbled together. Or was there any delineation to begin with? Was it all just in his head? Ideas placed there by years of lessons? One thing was certain, demons ate humans. Could humans start eating demons to level the playing field?
"Now…if you're done being a jerk. Guards don't come by until 04:00. Could you stay until then?"
She leaned her face against the bars.
My god, what a diabolical woman. Cass looked down the long, dark corridor and rubbed his neck. He could go longer without sleep now, thanks to his partial blessing. Most of his effort in a day was from training…
Wait, why am I even considering this?
Before Cass could finish his thought, a loud crash erupted at the end of the hall. Dust and debris came billowing towards Cass.
"What the hell!?"
Ariayah's expression darkened.