Lie

“Uhh yeah, I did like you said.”

Cecilia changes demeanor on a dime. She gets in closer and looks at you very intently, as if she doesn’t believe you, and you swear you see her eyes shift color for a moment.

“How did it feel?” Cassius asks.

“Cold”

“Yes yes I know, but what was it like to be nude right in the middle of the park? I mean, hundreds of people go to that fountain every day.”

You don’t know how to respond. You weren’t fully nude, but being **** to do it was still terrible and humiliating, if also somewhat exciting. You decide that stoicism is probably your best bet for getting away with both your lie and your dignity.

“Uhh yeah, it was whatever.”

The female devil smiles, and her eyes are bright red now. You don’t remember what color they were before, but you’re pretty sure they weren’t red.

“Oh, it was just whatever, huh? No problem for you? Should we step it up for the next assignment?”

You start to get a sinking feeling.
“Well it was embarrassing, obviously”

“Was anybody out?” she asks.

“Hey, what happened to your eyes? And what--”

“Answer!”

“God, chill. No, nobody was out.”

She steps back slightly, surprised at something. These two seem to play on an entirely different ballfield, and for all you know they could be telepathically communicating.

“I thought you were going to be nicer than your partner or whatever. But no, you’re both fucking insane.”

She ignores you
“Did you strip right at the fountain?”

“Well no, I -- there was a bathroom nearby and I decided to stash my clothes in there first.”

She smiles again.
“Ahh, I see. Very good.”
Then to her partner: “She stripped in the bathroom.”

“Haha, that one almost got away from you, Cecilia. Are you getting rusty?”
Then he looks to you.
“I’m afraid we didn’t tell you quite the whole truth, Mira. Cecilia here can detect just about any lie. Tribunal grant -- ehh, don’t worry about it.”

Shit!

“She was there, but she didn’t strip. That’s why I was getting mixed signals,” Cecilia says.

“I never doubted you, hun.”

“I got in the fountain and everything you fuckers wanted. And I even came back here, c’mon.”

“And what were you wearing, dearie?”

You stay silent.

“We warned you that trying to pull anything on us was a bad move. And you did it anyway. Now I think the only question is what to do with you,” Cassius says.

“If you would have just been honest we could have been softer on you. Well, a little softer,” Cecilia says.

Something inside you breaks as they casually debate what they’re going to do with you. In a burst of energy you leap from your seat and sprint for the door, but you barely get 3 steps away before you’re frozen again. This time you were moving quickly enough that you topple over, but the male catches you by the waist with a dexterity and strength he hadn’t shown thus far.

“That one I did expect,” he says with a grunt as he puts you back on your feet.
“Look, if you just cooperate and tell us the truth it will be so much easier for you. And I tell you that for your sake, because hell knows I will be enjoying what’s coming next.”
“Okay?”

You feel your neck muscles loosen suddenly, telling you they've been temporarily freed. You nod solemnly.

Cecilia turns to her partner.
“We might as well do this one together, huh? She’s proving to be a little more of a handful than I expected.”

“I was just about to ask! Sounds like a plan,” he says.

“Alright, through here, Mira,” she says.

“Wait! Tell me what we’re doing! You both pretend like you’re on my side and then just spring all this shit on me.”

“Let’s just get started and we can explain as it happens, okay?”
“After you,” she says, gesturing to a second hallway.

You look at them warily, but obey anyway. You knew it was going to be hard to get even an inch from them.