"What are you?" I whispered, widening my eyes.
He tilted his head like an animal and stared silently, his mouth agape in a few moments of hesitation. In that moment I was able to see the tops of his teeth, which in reality were more like rows of tiny fangs and a black tongue that was thin and shaped like that of a serpent. His hands shifted in rapid nervous movements, his eerily bony fingers intertwining in his lap.
"I have many names, most of which you may find unpronounceable to the human tongue, but you may call me is Ray
His voice held an unknowable accent and spoke continuously without stopping to take any breaths in between.
"I am a demon, as you can tell."
He sat up taller and straightened his back so I could get a clear view of his figure. I shamelessly let my eyes roam along his body, taking in his appearance. His skin was a dark blue color with blue ink-like symbols etched into his entire skin. His hair was as dark as ink and cut short to his scalp and spiked. His ears were long and pointed at the tips. I had yet to speak.
"Do they hurt?" I asked, looking suggestively to the thick chains wound tightly around his wrists, ankles, and neck.
"Why do you ask that?" he said and seemed to choose his next words carefully.
"You sit there and stare, but make sign of shock or disgust. I see mere curiosity and compassion. But you must know I am not some creature from an epic, no hero in disguise. I was fashioned through evil and am branded by evil himself. My well being does not matter to you."
"If it did not matter to me, I wouldn't have asked."
My voice was low, even to my ears and I found it amazing he could hear me.
He stared at me unblinkingly no expression on his face. Time seemed to stand still and his silence seemed to transform him into a statue. He seemed to be assessing my words but did not show any sign of understanding. I looked into his eyes and tried not to flinch from his gaze. His eyes were much to big when compared to his other features. His pupils seemed to consume his entire eye and the color itself was indescribable. It was as if all color had been sucked away, leaving deep pits of darkness in its place. He murmured something in an unknown language, his lips hardly separating to form the words. The buzzer sounded and the latches along the doors were open. About five armed men stood near the threshold while two other men in protective suits with helmets that protected their faces and necks walked inside and escorted me out. I stood in line along the opposite wall watching through the two-way glass as the three men re-entered the room. The workers of the Institute stood beside me and watched as the men questioned Rayif. He answered none of their questions. The man closest to me leaned towards me and whispered with no change in expression.
"When he spoke under his breath the first time, he spoke in Greek. He thanked you. And then, before you left, he whispered in Sumerian. He said 'The Raven Mocker'."
I looked at the man and blinked.
"But what does that mean?" I asked.
The man looked at me with confused eyes and a perplexed expression.
"What are you talking about, girl?" said the man in a deep voice. He huffed and straightened, shaking his head. I blinked and fumbled for words trying to explain what he said. The man furrowed his brows and denied ever speaking to me. He said he did not know Greek, let alone Sumerian. He snorted and walked away to the other side of the line. I blinked and looked back through the glass. Rayif was looking at me with a smile across his face. With a murmuring of words he disappeared into nothing.