Mona stares blankly with confusion at Sitri. Her mind swirls around what he just told her, unable to grasp at it. Her skin was starting to burn again, but she pushed the feeling away from her. He's trying to confuse her, yes that's it. He's trying to turn her against the people who love her. "I don't believe you."
"Why do they always say that? Just because I'm a demon, that does not mean I lie," Sitri scoffs. He sounds genuinely offended to Mona's surprise. He watches her carefully, waiting for her next question.
Mona narrows her eyes and crosses her arms. "Okay, fine. I'll bite. Why did Clara start this? Hm?" Mona wants to shove him out of the bed an on the floor. She wants to stand up and move away from him, but she knows she isn't strong enough.
"Oh that should be easy enough to figure out, Mona," Sitri sighed. Honestly, humans are so inherently stupid. They always strive to see the best in people, even as they're being stabbed in the back by the ones they love. "Think about this now, I know it is hard for you to use that brain though. You and Clara have been rivals in the ballet stage for years, yes?"
"A lot of us are. I don't see what that has to do with any of this. We're still friends." Even as Mona said it she found it hard to believe. Why is she doubting herself? Clara is her friend, they had been friends since they were kids. They had studied together since childhood. They had worked each other through heartbreaks and disasters.
Sitri sighs and begins braiding Mona's hair tenderly. "Yes, but you are better than Clara, Mona. She knew she couldn't beat you without my help. And it was quite lucky that she did call upon me." Sitri finishes braiding her hair and runs his hands lightly over her wounds: Matrem won't like it if they scar. "It was lucky for us because we were going to have to send our lesser minions after you. And that takes too long. So it was lucky that Clara called for me because, then I could easily get to you. It took some time though. After Patricia fucked up her sole job, I realized that this would have to be done my way."
Mona felt her heart breaking slowly. She didn't want to believe Sitri. Why should she believe him? Demons lie, it's what they do. They lie to get what they need. They are only trying to break her down further. "I don't believe you."
"Well, just because you don't believe me doesn't make it untrue." Sitri took the bandages off of Mona's legs and tsked at her wounds. "I should have stopped you from running out in the street. Matrem will have my head on a spike for these."
"Good," Mona snaps, pushing his hand off of her. "I hope she sets you on fire as well." She ignores his chortle the best that she can. Of course that wasn't a threat to him. He was probably used to flames. "Why?" Mona asks quietly, looking down at her torn dreams. "Why me?"
Sitri turns to face her and tilts his head. "Honestly? Because you fit a very specific list of criteria. Matrem is very powerful, she needs a powerful vessel to hold her. You are that vessel. It was written in the stars before you were even born."
"Then I defy you stars," Mona quotes halfheartedly. She doesn't believe in fate. She never has. People make their own destiny. Not god, not the stars. There is no such thing as destiny or fate. People have control-
"People have no control over their fate, my dear. Fate is predestined. Stars cannot be defied. No matter the roads you take, you will always end up where you are supposed too. Just like Romeo," Sitri stated before Mona even stopped her thoughts.
"And so I'm to accept that I will let Matrem possess me? Are you telling me that you were supposed to be a demon?" Mona couldn't hide the sarcasm or the bite in her voice.
Sitri shrugged and leaned back against the headboard. "I think I was, yes. I made my choices, choices I would let go unchanged. So here I am. I think it was written for me. No one knew how I would become a demon, truthfully, I don't remember what I did, but I believe this is what I was supposed to do. I was supposed to serve my lover to the best of my abilities."
"So what, God destines people to be demons?"
"No! Not at all. God does not give a shit what happens to you people. Think of it as…an ant hill. You are the ants and God created you. They don't care what you do, or how you do it, only that you do it. They have no plans for you. I imagine he did at first. Like every parent, they wanted what was best for you, and had your entire future planed out. And then Eve, bless her, ruined it all."
"You refer to God as they, are there multiple?" Mona asks in a confused tone.
"No. God is genderless. Something that powerful does not have to coincide with gender. God has no need for a gender. They are all encompassing. They are both and neither at the same time. God is nature, both nature and God are cruel and kind, chaotic and loving." Sitri looks rather shocked that Mona would think God is a man. Or that God would have a gender at all. Humans.
"So God has no plans."
"Finally you are understanding. We can only influence you, fate has already decided if you will be swayed. And you my dear Mona, will." Sitri smiles widely.
A hard lump is swallowed in Mona's throat at Sitri's words. "And why pray tell, will I?"
"Because it's been written, Mona. And you want to save your friends. You do not wish them hurt. And how long do you think it will take before one of them dies protecting you?" Sitri reads Mona's thoughts carefully. So she thinks she can defeat Matrem. Foolish girl. "I will visit you soon, Mona. For now, I must go." He stands up from the bed and makes his way towards the window. "I look forward to our next encounter."
Mona watches with a sickness in her stomach as he disappears from the ledge. Clara would never betray her. Would she? They were friends, she wouldn't… Her hands cover her face, trying to hide the tears threatening to over flow from her eyes. Could she fight destiny? Does she even believe in destiny? How could something you don't believe in affect you?
Nero pauses outside of Mona's open door, watching the girl think. Her face is scrunched up in pain and anguish. No doubt thinking about the fact that she won't be able to dance again. At least not for a while. "I have something I need to tell you about Clara."
"I know," Mona whispers quietly, not even surprised at the sound of Nero's voice. "Sitri told me."
"Sitri? He was here? Did he hurt you?" Nero barges into the room quickly, but is stopped by Mona's outstretched hand.
"No. He didn't hurt me. They don't want that. Or rather Matrem doesn't. Nero, he said…He said that I'll let her possess me." Fear seeps through her voice despite her desire to keep it hidden.
Nero crosses the room in four long strides to get to Mona's hunched-over form. His body sinks down into the mattress beside her. Finally settled, he wraps his arms around her body and holds her close to him. "You listen to me. That's not going to happen, Mona. You are so much stronger than her. Do you hear me? Nothing is going to happen to you. We are going to figure out a way to stop this. Even if I have to guard you until we're both rotting in the ground."
Mona stays silent for a few minutes before she starts laughing. Uncontrollable laughter that comes bubbling up from her stomach and shakes her shoulders. She can feel Nero's confusion oozing off of him in waves. "That's just…that is the creepiest thing you have ever said to me," she chokes out through her laughter.
Nero chuckles with her, a low rumble in his throat that sounds like an avalanche. It's good to hear her laugh. Even if it is probably out of shock, it's laugh.