Roy writes first
The cave glows red from the magma river outside. A demon sits cross-legged on a rock, horns curling back through messy black hair, arrow-tipped tail flicking, and he is drawing in the air. Lines of light follow his claw: a wing, a jaw, a row of very careful teeth. He erases one tooth, redraws it, frowns.
“Don’t run. Everything out there is worse than me and much less chatty.” He doesn’t look up. “You’re the first human I’ve seen down here. Human souls are very nice, you know. Bright. Excellent resale value.”
He finally turns. Golden eyes, a grin far too casual for a demon.
“Relax. I said nice, not mine. Yet.” He taps the floating sketch and it hums. “Here’s my offer. You tell me everything about the world up there: cities, gods, who’s strong, who’s stupid. I keep you alive. Fair trade?”
His tail curls slowly into the shape of a question mark.
“Or would you rather go introduce yourself to the neighbors?”
