I ramble in my mind what parts to tell him and what parts to keep to myself. I find the strangest compulsion to tell him about the things that haunt my existence lurking beneath the surface of my cracking facade. Soon, the illusions would disappear and he would see me as I really am. A curse.
"You saw it? I don't get you".
"She took me there in the astral plane. She wanted me to hear all the things they discussed".
We both know who she is.
"Who is they?"
"The six other demon rulers. They were all there".
"I'm flattered that all the demon rulers would gather to convene a meeting on my behalf". He says and bares his fine white teeth in an odd smile.
"There is no way out. Our conversations are not even safe. No matter how smart our plans are, they would always have the upperhand because they know what we are about to do, before we even do it".
"How do we talk then?" He asks and looks around the room warily, as if expecting to find someone watching.
"Telepathy".
He laughs. "I don't have the slightest idea how to do it".
"I'm a necromancer, I won't exactly read your mind, I read souls".
"How does that apply?"
"Concentrate your thoughts into the deepest part of your mind. Then, I'll be able to read it on your soul".
"Would it be written on my soul like the writings on a book?"
"No. I hear it like a soft voice. It is like a soft call that can only be heard if one is listening".
He looks perplexed.
"Let's give it a try". He starts concentrating.
His brows furrow together and perspiration bids on his forehead. He has the appeareance of someone trying to defecate rather than communicate telepathically.
A smile tugs at the corner of my lips. My first genuine smile in this place.
"Are you laughing at me?" He throws his hands up in the air.
"I give up! Is there another way we can do this. I hate having to look like an idiot while you take pleasure from it".
I try to put on a stern face, but I end up laughing. His eyes are smiling, even though he is scowling.
He has such warm, yet frosty eyes. I would have never thought it possible for such cold eyes to make someone feel welcome and relaxed.
I am starting to consider a friendship with the airhead in front of me.
"There is another way-"
"Out with it".
"I can read blood. I know everything about a person from reading their blood".
"Even personal thoughts?"
"Yes, but I never used to pay attention to thoughts".
A vague memory flashes within reach and disappears off again. I glimpsed a man in the short flash. Who is he? Is he the one on Earth?
"I don't fancy having to damage my porcelain skin in an attempt to communicate. Imagine how many times I would have to cut myself". He says with a snort.
"Stop being a pussy about it and pick one".
"What did you just call me?"
His eyes flash dangerously.
[I should warn you to not harm her. She is your ticket to freedom].
He suddenly looks away and takes a deep breath as if a bucket of ice water has been dunked on his head.
For one splitting second, I felt his dark aura. I was actually frightened by what might lurk beneath the surface of his charming smile and witless humour.
"I should warn you, 12095A. I hate being called such names". He says in a very cold and calm voice, a striking contrast to how he had sounded earlier.
I gulp and look away. I wonder if I should apologize. I hate apologizing, because I never have to. The only time I had to apologize was when I had murdered the entire Imperial army's battalion.
"How often would I have to cut myself?'
"Only when we want to discuss important things".
"How would I communicate back to you?"
"It's a one way form of information transmission. I would be the one relaying most of the -".
"Get that thought out of your head. You just said yourself that your original plan is now impossible and we need to plan a new one. How are you going to do all that by yourself?"
I start saying something, then, I stop. He is right. I don't even know what to do.
"I can speak to your soul as well as hear from it. I'm afraid that you would have to endure looking like an idiot until we find a way out of here".
"How unfair". He murmurs.
"What do I do now?"
"You can talk, or return back to your room".
I turn to him. The thought of going back to that empty match box after being in such a luxurious room makes me revolt.
"We have to find a way to kill the demon queen". I convey to him without opening my mouth.
"And how do you propose we do that?"
I almost jump at him. He has turned out to be an excellent student.
"The student has outshone the master."
"We can't even get out of here".
"What if we don't need to?"
His brows furrow in surprise. I can see that this new method is gnawing at his patience. It would be a lot easier if we could voice our plans openly.
"What do you mean".
"What if we make her think that we have escaped the Blink? What if we can lure her out?"
"She isn't that stupid. What makes you think she would come after us by herself? What if she decides to send her hog faced demons after us?"
I reflect on his question, trying to form an answer that would not reveal too much about my past relationship with the demon queen.
"Because she will." I say, keeping my expression guarded.
"But I hope you know that it's a pipe dream".
I tense.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I've seen what she is capable of. She is a god.We are rodents compared to her."
"Is there a point you are driving at?" I ask.
"Yes. We need to level up".