As soon as they were in Trixan’s office, Pheleraz confirmed her suspicions. He didn’t believe Hellstorm. Hellstorm was hiding something, Pheleraz said. Even if the Draghein was speaking the truth, he was leaving some important things out.

After weighing Pheleraz’s words carefully, she said, “His story was logical. It explained everything from his demon portal to his daughter.” Though she believed Hellstorm was being honest, she didn’t want to completely disregard Pheleraz’s opinion either. She might be biased after all, and Pheleraz was the balance here keeping her objective. She wouldn’t want her judgment clouded. “What makes you think he’s hiding something?”

“Yes, his story made sense.” After pacing back and forth for a while, Pheleraz sat. “But there’s one tiny plot hole in it.” Trixan waited patiently. “You questioned the Vessel, didn’t you?” he asked.

“I did.”

“The Vessel was summoning Izenros.”

“Yes.” Trixan shrugged. Where was this going? “Hellstorm admitted it, didn’t he?”

“Do you not see it?”

“See what?” What was this man on about? Maybe this was just Pheleraz being Pheleraz — a Zoleris hating on a Draghein. The usual. “What’s your end game, Pheleraz?”

“I can’t stand that bastard most of the time, but even I recognize his strength.” Pheleraz sighed. “Royal demons are getting bolder by the second. You think I don’t know that we need all the help we can get even if that help is from someone I don’t like?” Pheleraz paused thoughtfully. “Now forget this is about Hellstorm for a moment and think about it carefully. I want you to realize it yourself. Hellstorm, Izenros, Ziegler. What do you see, Yvis?”

What was there to see? Izenros had tortured Hellstorm. Hellstorm wanted to kill Izenros so he went to Ziegler to summon him. Ziegler tried to summon Izenros. She had been surprised when Ziegler told her he was summoning Izenros for Hellstorm.

“Izenros?” Trixan had asked the Vessel. “Are you powerful enough to summon the Septos? You don’t still have Bezvaros’s crystal do you?”

“Of course not,” said Ziegler. “Your people took it, remember?”

“Then how did you plan on summoning Izenros?”

“Summoning isn’t just about calling a demon to physically appear,” said Ziegler. “That’s called a physical summon and it’s indeed the most difficult type of summoning. I couldn’t possibly do that to a fifteenth-order demon without the help of a powerful relic.”

“So you tried to use a less difficult method then?” asked Trixan. Then it dawned on her. “A medium summon?” Ziegler nodded.

With a medium summon, a demon wouldn’t physically appear. Instead, the Vessel’s body would be possessed by the demon. A medium summon. Trixan’s mind went back to Ziegler’s words. Hellstorm had agreed to a medium summon. I want to look Izenros in the eye before killing him. The words chilled her bones over like a blizzard. Pheleraz was smiling at her widely.

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“Do you see it now?”

“He said he wanted to kill Izenros.” She shook her head. “He couldn’t possibly kill Izenros through a medium summon.”

“Finally.” Pheleraz grinned. “I know Hellstorm. If he said he wanted to look someone in the eye before killing them, then that’s exactly what he meant. There’s no way he could have seen Izenros’s eyes through a medium summon.” Trixan couldn’t argue with that. Hellstorm didn’t mince his words when it came to things like these. But could she say she knew him anymore after this blatant lie? “Hellstorm wasn’t there to kill Izenros,” said Pheleraz.

“He wanted to talk to Izenros,” Trixan whispered.

“Exactly. Perhaps he needed information. Whatever it was, Hellstorm doesn’t want us to know about it.” It was a reasonable conclusion. But why hide this from them? What exactly did Hellstorm want to talk to Izenros about? Did Izenros even torture Hellstorm? Did Hellstorm lie about everything? “I told you trusting him was a bad idea,” Pheleraz interrupted her thoughts. “Now I have to do this my way.”

Trixan raised a brow. “What do you mean?”

Pheleraz chuckled. “You’ll see.” Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. “Ah, right on time. Come in.”

Pheera walked into the room. Trixan glared at Pheleraz. “I told you not to get her involved.”

“I told you I wouldn’t force her to do anything. This is her choice.”

“Pheera,” Trixan turned to the girl, “is everything alright? Why are you here?”

“I’m here to help,” she said.

“There’s nothing to help with. You just have to rest. You’re still — “

“I’m fine, Trixan,” she said stubbornly. “I don’t even need my wheelchair anymore. I feel a lot stronger.”

“You don’t have to do this.”

Pheera paused for a moment. “I want to. I’m the only one here who can make Hellstorm talk.”

“Did you put her up to this?” Trixan sauntered towards Pheleraz. “What’s wrong with you.”

They were now standing face to face, glaring daggers at each other. “We had a deal, Yvis. I’ll let you do what you can to get Hellstorm to talk and I’ll do what I can when you fail. You failed. This is what I’m doing.”

“I told you not to get Pheera involved. Is it not enough you and your family almost ruined her?” Rage was slowly clawing its way from the fiery depths of her soul and for once in a very long time, Trixan didn’t want to control it. “I warned you, Pheleraz. I told you to stay away from her. She wasn’t part of the deal.”

“That’s enough.” Pheera’s voice snapped Trixan out of her maddened trance. “I’m sorry, Trixan. But this is my decision. When I came to Draghein School for the first time, you told me no one would force me to do anything against my will ever again. Do you remember that?” Trixan smiled and nodded. How could she forget that? She still remembered the tortured little girl who was so easily frightened by the littlest touch. How much she’d grown in such a short while. “Please, Trixan. Don’t force me to do something against my will.”

Trixan’s heart sank. This wasn’t what she was trying to do. But perhaps, Pheera was right. Even if she was trying to protect the girl, it still looked like she was controlling Pheera’s choice. What a dilemma. Pheleraz smiled smugly. What had he told his little sister? Had he threatened her? Something wasn’t right here. She sensed it. Yet there was nothing she could do about it.

Trixan sighed. “Fine. You can captivate Hellstorm to uncover what he’s hiding. But as soon as I see that it’s putting a strain on you, I’ll put an end to it.”

“There would be no need for that,” said Pheera. “I can handle it. I promise.”

“Okay,” said Trixan. “But I need you to rest for another two days before doing it.” Pheera tried to protest, but Trixan stopped her. “Please, Pheera. I’d rather not let you do it. But if you insist, then I need you healthy and prepared. Hellstorm isn’t like anyone you’ve ever captivated.”

Pheera glanced at her brother in uncertainty.

“Suit yourself,” said Pheleraz. “I don’t mind.”