"You know this place. Where do we go?" he asked, starting towards the stairs.
She considered. "We have a few options. If the dealers haven't found the passages hidden in the walls, we can use those to move around. There are safe spots where we can hide, and of course, the armory has the thickest walls and doors of the whole palace."
"Armory?" Jared stopped and turned to her. "That's where we need to go."
"You realize that's the most dangerous place to go, right? Harmony will have it well guarded, and it's on the main floor," she said skeptically. "I can't imagine a demon like you has a plan."
"I don't need a plan. I need weapons."
"To do what?"
"Find the other cupcake and leave."
Past-Death said nothing, uncertain what to feel. Deidre had run off with someone else and left her. Even so, she didn't think she had it in her to abandon the human-turned-demon once more. "She doesn't know the palace. It'll be hard to find her."
"We'll use your secret tunnels." Content with the solution, Jared started forward again.
I owe it to her to try. Not much else worth living for now. Past-Death trotted after him. "I need food, Jared."
He lifted a bag she hadn't noticed he carried. Blood dripped from its soaked bottom onto the stone floor. "I saved you a hand."
"Human food."
He gave an exasperated sigh. "What does that consist of? Wood?"
"They eat a lot of bread, vegetables. Funnel cakes. I miss funnel cakes so much," she replied.
"What is a funnel cake?"
Past-Death debated for a moment, uncertain what it was. "It's a vegetable," she decided. "Not sure what kind of tree it grows on."
"Fucking plants. How can you people eat leaves?" Jared grumbled.
"We eat cooked animals, too. Never raw humans like you savages."
"You just capture and put an animal in an oven?"
"Sort of, yes."
"How can you enjoy the taste that way?"
"I've never seen the full process but it comes out good." She shrugged, admitting silently it did sound strange. "I'm sure the dealers have food here somewhere."
"It would be much easier if you'd just eat this hand."
"I'm not going to eat a hand, Jared."
They started up the stairs.
"How do we get to the armory?" he asked. "Where are these hidden tunnels?"
"Relax, demon. There will be one about halfway down the hallway." She slowed as they approached the room where the guards had been. Blood was splashed into the hallway, a sign of how frenzied Jared had been when he claimed his meal.
He walked by the door without a glance.