On the other side of the doors is a wide hallway that seemingly goes on for miles. Lanterns light up the w
ay, black and red tiles pave the floor, and flames cover the ceiling, yet the air is strangely cold.
We don’t remain in the hallway for very long before the fire demon comes to a stop in front of another set of tall, red doors. He opens them up and ushers me inside. Then he walks in behind me, letting the doors close.
I’m not sure what I expected a main dungeon to look like, but this is definitely not it. Like the room I entered this place in, black columns line the dark grey walls, but the ceiling is covered in massive chandeliers, and what can only be described as intricately carved thrones line the room. And at the center of it all is a massive ebony desk and sitting behind it is a woman with sun orange hair is talking on what looks to be an old school antique phone.
She’s not the only… person in the room either. Some thrones are occupied by… people? Honestly, I’m not sure what any of them are, since all of them have either glittery skin, horns, or in some cases, scales.
"Come along." The fire demon signals for me to follow him as he starts up the path toward the desk. "Let's go see if we can figure out why you were sent here."
Adjusting my backpack, I trail after him, trying not to gawk at the people… creatures as I pass by them, worried the whole staring-is-rude police applies to this place too. But I fail big time as my gaze falls on a large, hairy beast-like creature with hooves for feet and eyeballs sprouting out of its head.
What the actual crap is that?
As if sensing my gaze, the beast grunts and blows smoke into my face that reeks so badly that I gag.
“Dude, it’s like she’s never seen a Seeing demon before,” a male voice drifts from somewhere nearby.
It has a musical sound, almost hypnotic, and my gaze magnetizes to it, leading me to a guy sitting beside the beast. He's watching me in amusement, and he looks around my age with sky blue hair and unnaturally looking, but incredibly gorgeous crimson lips. He's wearing a pair of dark pants, a button-down short-sleeved grey shirt, and the look is topped off with a thin tie. While his features seem human-like, his prettiness factor makes him appear otherworldly. And his eyes… They actually sparkle like rubies.
Pretty…
As I continue to stare at him, attempting to figure out what he is, his lips tug into a cocky smile, revealing his perfectly straight … fangs?
I blink in shock, which elicits a chuckle from him. Then he runs his tongue along his teeth, and his eyes flash red as if he's hungry.
Blood hungry.
Holy effing hell. Is he a vampire?
This has to be a dream…
I almost pinch myself again, but I’m too busy staring.
“Stop trying to scare her, Phoenix,” a guy sitting beside him mutters. “We were warned about tormenting the newbies.”
His angelic voice should help me relax, except the guy looks anything but angelic, dressed head to toe in black, chains dangle from his belt loops, leather bands cover his wrists, and his inky black hair hangs in his stormy grey eyes that are currently locked on me.
He briefly assesses me with mild curiosity before fixing his attention on the front desk.
“She looks too old to be a newbie,” Phoenix remarks, glancing at the guy next to him.
“Yeah, well, maybe she’s a late enrollment because she looks way too scared not to be new,” he says in a bored tone.
I’d take his words offensively, but I’m too stuck on the fact that shadows are starting to ripple across his skin.
“Maybe.” Phoenix fixes his gaze back on me. “Are you a newbie?”
It takes me a moment to realize he’s talking to me.
I’m about to reply when another guy comes rushing by me and plops down in the throne beside the guy with shadows on his skin.
He looks around the same age as the other guys, has short, blonde hair, pale blue eyes, and a shimmery glow radiates from him.
“You’re late, Ollie,” the shadowy guy informs him with a heavy sigh.
Ollie trades an amused smile with Phoenix then reclines back in the throne. "Sorry, boss," he jokes with a smirk. "But I promise it was for a good reason." When the guy with shadows on his skin stares him down, his head bobs back and lets out a groan. "Roman, chill out. No one noticed I was a few minutes late." A smile plays at his lips. "Besides, it was for an excellent reason."