Bryce

“Thea, are you sure this is right?” This was way worse than I had been expecting, and I honestly wasn’t sure I could make it work.

“Yep, that’s the pair.” Thea was smiling up at me as I stared down at the pair of heels. They were listed as three hundred iron coins. Which, based on the conversion rate I had checked before coming here, was the equivalent to just over thirty-thousand credits. That was nearly enough money to buy an entire ship, and while it wouldn’t be a particularly good ship, it would probably still fly.

“That’s completely ridiculous.” I shook my head and Thea switched her smile to a pout.

“You promised to buy me a pair that are exactly the same, and here they are. Same store, same heels, and exactly the same price I paid.”

“That promise was made under duress. So, it doesn’t count. Besides, you didn’t accept until after the station exploded, at which point the whole arrangement was voided, because there were no heels.”

“You were totally willing to make good on your promise until you saw the price tag. So, you can’t pretend like it wasn’t valid. Besides, I warned you that they were super expensive before you offered to replace them, and I know you can afford it.”

“Is there perhaps another way I can make it up to you?” I took a step towards her with a raised eyebrow, only to be met with a glare.

“Nope. Nuh-uh. No way, this is exactly what I was talking about earlier.” Thea crossed her arms and redoubled her glare. “You can’t just seduce your way out of arguments when you’re losing.”

“Okay, fine, I’ll buy the damn shoes.” I left to go find a store employee. One shoe fitting, and savings draining payment later, and we were leaving the store with Thea’s brand new heels.

We were going to meet Esme outside Vurdex’s casino, but had some extra time. Which led to us stopping by a designer shoe store so that I could finally make good on my promise to replace the heels that Thea had left on my research station in orbit around New Eden.

I still wasn’t entirely sure that I owed it to her to replace them, but I could afford to do it and it made her happy. So, I wasn’t going to complain. Well, not any more than I already had.

“What now, princess?” Thea asked with a big grin on her face. “We still have a bit before we need to meet Esme. How about we go grab a late breakfast?”

“Um, sure, but we should probably try to find someplace that’s out of the way and not so busy.” It was still early in the day, so the streets weren’t nearly as packed as when we had first arrived in Hades, but it turned out that being a mantle candidate had side effects.

Mostly, they were positive. I had a lot more energy, I felt stronger and more durable, I seemed to be able to process things slightly faster, and I even had nearly ten percent more mana. So, overall, it definitely felt like a good thing, but it also attracted a lot of attention.

I didn’t feel like a god, and from what Thea had said, I didn’t look like one either. There was still something different though, and people were definitely noticing. Nobody approached me, not yet, but a few of the looks I got were more than a little menacing.

“Yeah, that seems like a good idea.” Thea agreed while looking around. “We can probably handle any trouble that comes our way, but I’d rather not risk a mob. Besides, I know a small cafe not too far from where we’re supposed to meet up.”

~~~~~

“Hey Esme!” Thea waved as we approached our meeting spot about half a block from the casino. The cafe turned out to be something of a hidden gem where we could eat in relative peace only a few blocks from the casino. Which meant we were able to arrive just in time to meet Esme.

“Thea, I’m surprised you made it on time.” Esme paused to look me up and down appreciatively. “Bryce, you clean up well.”

Vurdex’s casino was apparently a fairly high-class establishment, so Thea and I had taken time to dress up before leaving that morning. She was in her favorite style of black dress, and I was wearing one of my tailored suits. Of course, Esme was also dressed in a beautiful purple dress that showed off every inch of her figure.

“Esme, don’t tell me you’ve joined the winning team. You know I’m already taken, right?”

She rolled her eyes, but still managed to smile good-naturedly. “I wouldn’t dream of getting in the way of your relationship. You and Thea clearly deserve each other.”

“We do, don’t we?” Thea put her arm in mine before leaning her head against my shoulder. I leaned down to kiss her and Esme, the ten thousand year old greater demon, made a gagging noise.

I couldn’t help but laugh, which caused Thea to laugh, and Esme was just left standing there shaking her head. “If you two are done, then maybe we can discuss the plan?”

“What’s there to discuss?” Thea cocked her head as she looked up at me. “I mean, we’re just going to go in, give Vurdex a gift, maybe threaten him a bit, then head out, right?”

“Yes, but I still don’t know what gift Chorus provided, which is going to make negotiating hard.” I looked towards Esme expectantly, and she nodded before explaining.

“First is an early edition of a book that Vurdex has been trying to get his hands on for a few decades, and second…” she hesitated for a moment before shrugging. “And second is me, for the next three centuries. Although, the actual length of time is negotiable.”

“What? No, that’s so unfair! I was the one who got caught, not you.”

“Do you have any idea how much the book is worth? Or what’s in it?” I asked over Thea’s protesting.

“I think it cost my father around two-thousand iron, but I’m not sure what’s in it. You can take a look at it if you’d like.” Esme produced a rather plain looking black book. It wasn’t exceptionally large, or encrusted with gems or anything that would make it seem particularly valuable.

I frowned as I took it and tried to read the cover. Only to discover that it wasn’t written in a language I recognized. “Thea, do you know what language this is or what it says?”

I handed her the book, and Thea narrowed her eyes as she started to flip through the pages. “I’m not sure what the language is, but it feels a bit like… Well, everything.”

“What do you mean ‘everything’? And can you read it?” Now I was getting curious. A book worth more than two-hundred thousand credits was definitely one that I wanted to read.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Exactly what I said. It feels like everything. There are hints of just about every language I know, along with a few that I don’t, but it’s weirdly all the same language.” Thea continued to read through a few more pages before flipping back to the title. “It’s called The Flaws Inherent in The System, but as far as I can tell, the book is about plants and flowers. See, look, it even has pictures.”

She opened the book to a random page, and sure enough, there was an illustration of a red lily along with a number of charts and graphs.

“Is it possible that it’s written in code and that’s why it looks like so many languages?” Esme asked from over Thea’s shoulder.

Thea shook her head. “If that was the case, then I wouldn’t be able to read it.”

“Is there an author listed?” I asked.

“Umm… let me see.” Thea flipped through a few of the earlier pages before landing on what looked like a title page. “It says ‘written by Plumeria Hamamelis.’ Do you recognize that name?”

I was about to say that I didn’t, when Esme answered. “They’re flowers. Plumeria is usually used to represent new beginnings, or rebirth… and hamamelis, well, it’s better known as witch-hazel. It symbolizes magic.”

I really wanted this book. “Esme, if I were able to negotiate Vurdex into accepting our apology without offering him this book, do you think Chorus would be willing to sell it to me?”

“I don’t see why not, but if you’re planning on doing that, then personally, I’d prefer you offered the book before my freedom.”

That was fair, and as much as I wanted the book, I could probably buy another copy. Whereas Esme would never be able to get three hundred years of her life back. It was obvious which one was more valuable. “That’ll make things more difficult, but since we’re doing this after having already met with Orrid, we do have a lot more leverage than I was originally counting on. I might just be able to make this work without a gift.”

“At the risk of sounding too predictable here…” Thea looked up at us as she handed Esme back the book.

“No, we can’t just kill him.” I shook my head. “Vurdex is a lich, which means his soul isn’t stored in his body. Even if you kill him, then he’ll just be back in a few days, even angrier than before. Besides, you’re still mostly unpowered from the fight with Orrid, and we haven’t talked about what we’re going to do with the pact yet.”

“Alright, fine. We won’t fight Vurdex,” Thea seemed to deflate. “But don’t give him Esme. If one of us is going to work for him, then it should be me. I was the one who got caught, and he probably doesn’t even know she was involved. So, it’ll be an easier sell, anyway.”

“Thea—”

“Nobody is going to work for Vurdex,” I interrupted. “If we have to, then we’ll give him the book, but I’m also going to try to avoid that. So, if there aren’t any other questions, then how about we go on in?”

Thea looked towards Esme and shrugged. “Alright, let’s go.”

~~~~~

Vurdex had clearly done well for himself in the gambling business. His casino was built mostly of black glass and accented with bronze metal. While it was large, around four stories tall and half a block wide, it mostly stood out because there weren’t any other buildings near it. Instead, the casino was surrounded by hedges and a neatly manicured lawn. The whole thing felt out of place in the middle of a bustling city, but it was a rather impressive show of wealth.

The interior maintained that theme, with incredibly high ceilings and expensive looking chandeliers hanging from them. All of that was contrasted by the sounds of slot machines paying out and the loud cheering across the main floor. We were there early, probably around three in the afternoon, but there were still enough people milling about that the place felt far from empty.

It didn’t take long for our arrival to start attracting attention, and a floor manager rushed to greet us. “Hello Ladies, you three are looking most fine, if you don’t mind my saying. Have you made arrangements for this evening, or is that something I could assist you with?”

The human man was wearing a fashionable suit and his short silver hair was cut into an asymmetrical style that actually made him look unexpectedly attractive. He was directing his question towards me, and I was able to return his smile with surprising ease. “Actually, we were hoping to speak with the proprietor. We don’t have an appointment, and the matter isn’t necessarily urgent, but it is important and somewhat overdue.”

“Oh, I’m incredibly sorry, but Mr. Vurdex isn’t—”

“That’s alright, Salik. I’ll meet with them.” The voice came from our right, and it caused a chill to run down my spine. I turned to see Vurdex standing only about a meter from us. His face was an emotionless mask of mummified skin stretched tight to his skull, and his skeletal frame was wrapped in a white three-piece suit that likely cost as much as the book that we had brought him.

“In that case, I’ll take my leave. Have a wonderful evening, ladies.” Salik bowed deeply before sprinting off to be literally anywhere else. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched the poor man leave.

“This feels like the sort of discussion to be had in private. Please, follow me to my office.” Vurdex turned to leave before we could respond, so we followed him a short distance to a hidden door near the casino entrance. We had passed right by it without noticing when we arrived.

The lich’s office was bone chillingly cold. A white mist cascaded off the walls and coalesced a half meter above the floor. The only furniture in the room was a white wooden desk, and a white leather sofa with a pair of matching chairs set across from it, with a coffee table in the center. Vurdex sat in one of the chairs, and I took the couch with Esme and Thea standing behind me.

“I recognize Ms. Esmer and Ms. Salinthea, but I’m afraid I don’t know who you are, young godling.” Vurdex smiled as he spoke, which probably should’ve been creepy coming from a lich, but he somehow managed to look inviting.

“Of course, I apologize for my rudeness. I’m Bryce Virra, but please just call me Bryce. Thank you for being willing to meet with us on such short notice.”

“It’s no trouble at all. Thank you for tracking down these two troublemakers for me. I thought they were going to remain outside my reach for some time. I had even heard that Ms. Esmer was dead, but I’m happy to learn that such tales were greatly exaggerated. It’s far more difficult to collect what you’re due from a corpse.”

“That’s actually what we came here to discuss.” I leaned forward on the couch to return the lich’s growing smile. “What exactly are you due, and what would you accept as recompense?”

“There are three matters at hand, and each must be accounted for fully.” Vurdex leaned forward slightly to make the barest effort of mirroring my own poster. “First, there’s the matter of paying out Mr. Malvoch. He was understandably furious when Ms. Salinthea disappeared with his rightful winnings.” I felt the temperature start to rise behind me, and Vurdex’s eyes shifted to Thea as he continued his explanation. “Second is the matter of punitive payment from Ms. Salinthea herself. I cannot abide cheating, and the punishment must be both public and severe.”

The heat was continuing to rise, so I reached back to hold Thea’s hand and look her in the eyes. She took a deep breath before nodding to me that she was okay, so I returned to the conversation. “And what’s the third thing?”

“It’s just a minor thing, a trifle really, but the game took place at our VIP table and the pot rake was set to be five percent. Which included the estimated value of non-monetary stakes, which were to be decided by the house.”

“What did the house estimate the pot value to be by the end of the game?” I wasn’t big on gambling, but what Vurdex was describing didn’t sound like standard business practice to me. Especially not for a game where the stakes were this high.

“The total pot value was estimated at just over two-hundred and eighty-seven million iron, which would put the house cut at a little over fourteen million. Of course, I can provide a transcript along with an itemized list, should you require it.”

That was an obscene amount of money for a single poker hand, twenty-eight billion credits, and it took every ounce of my willpower not to react to it. I somehow managed, which seemed to disappoint Vurdex somewhat.

“I’ll trust your numbers are accurate, although I believe it’s worth us taking a step back in order to ensure we’re all on the same page. I had one point in particular I was hoping you’d be able to clarify.”

“I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.” Vurdex leaned back into his chair, although his smile faltered. It seemed like he didn’t like having his story questioned.

“Were you aware of Malvoch’s cheating when you went to apprehend Thea?”

“I should remind you that Mr. Malvoch is Prince Orrid’s most trusted lieutenant, and an accusation like that could cause you a lot of trouble down the line. Especially for a soon-to-be goddess who is looking to spend her time in the hells.” His smile turned to a scowl, and when I didn’t respond to the thinly veiled threat, he continued. “No, I wasn’t aware of any foul play beyond that which Ms. Salinthea committed.”

“He’s lying.” I could hear the predatory grin in Thea’s voice, and I did my best to match it as I continued to stare into the lich’s eyes.