Dantalion of the Goetia: Taste the Obsession of a Demon - Page 57/108

His army of demons followed with us North, Rowan now part of his world. Dantalion allowed us entry past the master sigil, and his thirty six legions of demons were pleased to find his copper seal glowing at the end of the stone hallway, like a beacon. They retreated to their chambers, long awaiting this day of their summoning.

Dantalion placed me down gently, commanding fire from a stone hearth across the room. I could hardly believe any of this was real. I buried myself in an animal fur next to the hearth and started flooding him with questions.

"So what will happen now, with your legion of demons?" I asked.

"We will stay as we are, bound to protect you, here outside the boundaries of the Courtyard. Laurel, remember, I am between the realms of heaven and hell. I am a fallen angel, cursed for all eternity. I have always been here with you all along. Demons are all around the mortal dominion."

"What was the underworld, where I saw you, the night with my friends, when you showed me your past, and again, the night of the waning moon, when I saw you with the red eyed demon?"

"We can frequent places within your mortal realm by shape shifting. That happens to be one of many. I've chosen our safety here, in the forest, beyond the Courtyard's stone borders.

I tried to piece together all the parts of Dantalion's cursed life, and no matter what I still didn't understand about him, I didn't care. I was in love with him.

"Why don't you just stay with me?" I begged.

"I pay allegiance to you. But still, I must govern my armies I have evoked. They only listen to my command and would unleash chaos if not shown restraint. Each army of demons holds different powers. Demons, depending on the intensity of their powers, must listen to their own instincts. Some must feed, others seek to devour our own kind at times, for power. Sometimes we devour humans seeking to overcome our lust. In my case, I was using every power of restraint I had so I would not destroy your love completely!"

"I missed you so much after you left, I tried to bring you back to me by evocation. That's when Gwynnedd was summoned by mistake."

I saw the bronze medallion still hanging from his neck and I wished he would have just thrown it into the fire.

"Why do you still wear it?" I asked him, reluctant to hear his answer.