The demon’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. He stepped forward, his fist raised. His companion touched his arm and murmured something in his ear.

‘She says you’re telling the truth,’ my cell-mate informed me.

At this, he scratched his head. He looked as if he’d been given a simple sum to complete that somehow wouldn’t add up. He wrinkled his nose then lifted his knobbly shoulders. He yelled a few words, wheeled round and they both left.

I frowned after them. ‘Didn’t he want to know what my Gift … I mean, my magic … is?’

The pixie didn’t seem to care. ‘He already knows,’ she replied carelessly. ‘He told the others to make sure the arena fliers are overhead and at all the exits to stop you.’

‘Stop me from what?’

She glanced at me as if I were slightly mad. ‘Using your Gift.’

Now I was even more confused. Of course, they were under the impression that my Gift was something other than stealing. Last time I was here I’d used that strange dark cloud magic to make my escape. I’d used other magic too but, as far as the demons were concerned, that was the one they had evidence of because they’d seen me use it. Perhaps they thought Byron had created the Illusion of his body still in chains so he could fool them for long enough to run away. I couldn’t see how some winged demons would make a difference against a heavy choking poisonous cloud, however. I didn’t recollect it doing anything other than skimming the ground and rising up perhaps three or four metres. Some odd, nebulous thought tugged at the back of my mind, demanding attention. Unfortunately, before the idea was fully formed, it vanished again. Stupid synapses.

‘What does the brain do when it sees its best friend?’ I asked.

The pixie looked at me from under her eyelashes.

‘Gives it a brain wave.’ I smirked.

Instead of laughing, she looked dejected. ‘You’re not the one we’ve been waiting for at all.’

Everyone was a hater. ‘Guess not,’ I mumbled.

Outside, the arena crowd gave a roar. This time it was so loud I felt the vibrations beneath me. ‘We’re getting close,’ she said. ‘They’re building up to the main event.’

I licked my lips. ‘Us?’

‘Yes.’ She stared into the distance. ‘I suppose I should be proud that they’re putting me out there with you, even if you’re not the saviour. They only hold these events twice a year so there are a lot of fights and executions to get through. I’ve been kept waiting for a long time.’

I put my arm round her little shoulders. Poor thing. She deserved better than my jokes. She deserved better than this. ‘What did you do to end up here?’ I asked softly, not really expecting a response.

The pixie answered, ‘Stabbed three Fomori and drank their blood.’ My mouth dropped open and I pulled away. She shrugged. ‘I was really hungry.’

I leaned my head against the stone wall of my new prison. The illusion of control indeed.