MINERVA

I am pretty sure that this apology token is not enough for you. So I invite you to my establishment on this date and at ten at night, ARS GOETIA to have a proper conversation about last night’s event. And please remember it is a nonviolent place and I wouldn’t like to have any argument with your boss.

Signed with love and sorrow.

Stolas.

The message seemed to be elegant but the head at my table did not make me like the man more. I was surprised that Dolia was here with us now, all shocked by what she was seeing.

She always hated my spiders.

Arsu was there too, restraining his grin as his eyes laid down on the head. Not going to lie, I Was happy too that he was dead.

Pete seemed to try to avoid the head by looking at the spiders and the chemicals I was making.

Mara was sitting on a couch and was doodling as always. As for Nezha.

‘’We are doomed.’’He panicked. ‘’He knows who we are…’’

‘’He might not,’’Arsu stated, hiding terribly his excitement.

‘’He said to keep it a secret and go there unarmed and…’’I restrained my breathing and leaned against the wall.

Dolya shook a no and started praying slowly. It wouldn’t help the situation but now my need for mana wouldn’t either.

‘’I think that he wants to silence us’’ Mara took the turn and walked closer to Dolya, next to Arsu, staring at him from head to toe, and then she looked at all of us. As if for a moment she was a leader.

‘’It seems that whoever is behind all of this is using a specific drug to kidnap people. ‘’ She looked at Dolia and Pete. ‘’And it seems to be someone or something on the road, using drugs to lure people out and make them unconscious. Even pulling people out for a distraction.’’

And she looked at me with a skeptical look.

‘’Go on’’ I frowned.

Mara nodded. ‘’The drug is strong enough to cause illusions and knock people out. That it can also make you lose your mind.’’

‘’And you know that because.’’

Dolya raised her hand and smiled at me. ‘’I love what you did with your hair.’’

I rolled my eyes and looked at the invitation again. Tomorrow. It was for tomorrow

I did not want to even imagine going to ARS GOETIA. But, looking at the empty head on my table it said everything. If we didn’t we would be next.

‘’Well’’I arched my arms and faced Nezha with a smile.

‘’What do we have to lose?’’

‘’Our lives’’ He replied.

My fingers traced my collar and showed it to him. ‘’It is already too late for that’’

I could still see Pete being confused about what I was saying but I did not care anymore.

Nezha kept looking between the letter and the head.

But it seemed that Arsu had his vote. He agreed with me. So did Mara. And for the first time, I was glad she was. If we were in a trap, she would be the first one to know.

Pete slightly raised his hand too.

‘’Maybe my mother is there’’He stuttered.

And last it was Nezha who glared at me.’’ Alright’’He gave up. ‘’The richest men are there so maybe…’’He thought out loud. ‘’Maybe we will get out alive and not empty-handed.

Everyone agreed with a nod but then a harsh knock from the door appeared. And then a rough voice calling Mara.

''Boss needs to see you about today.''The giant said behind the door as he could not see her darting eyes.

Pete was the one who was more confused than the rest of us. He tried to reach for her but she stepped away.

''I will see you later.''Her voice was calm and yet demanding. None disagreed except Pete.

Nezha seemed to take a step in front but Mara lent her hand to stop him.''I will be fine.''

After that Nezha and Arsu left while Pete stayed on the couch, noticing Mara's doodling book. Maybe she would ask Mammon for a new one as she seemed to have finished scratching eyes and peculiar white masks on everything, even the ends of the walls of my room.

I faced the chemicals and the head and then Dolia who kept smiling. Then Pete.

''What did you learn today?''I asked, clearing my throat.

He blinked.''That people lictre mistrel...''He stuttered, letting out words that I couldn't understand. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath.

''I mean about the Garden?''

He gulped out loud as he faced Dolya.

I jerked my head to her side and she walked out of the room fast.

Pete lent out Mara's journal and faced the ground. I was surprised Mammon didn't take any advantage of him yet. Boys like him should have been his interest.

''It doesn't seem that people care about..''Again muttering words that I did not know but I knew what he wanted to say.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

''Lilith is a cruel woman.''I agreed with a nod.

''Is Mara going to be alright?''He cried.''She doesn't seem to like Lilith and then Mammon called her...''

How could I say this to him? He wouldn't believe me. Or he would suggest once more to find a way to call the army. For the rest of the world, we were dead.

''Mammon like things to brake''I forced a smile.''And he hates that people like us don't break easily.''

I walked near him.

''Do you know why?''I asked, getting on my knees.

He shook a giant no.

''Because he is a priest. He needs devoted soldiers like the Spirits need the priest, he needs his people. What happened the last time people defied the Spirits?''

''They fell... He is afraid. Afraid of people that don't break easily.''

It was better to gain scars rather than worse things. Maybe Mara could stop being a pain in the ass and obey. Maybe Lilith would get tired of Nezha, realizing he wasn't worth the money. Maybe Pete wouldn't need to suffer. Not break, not show weakness.

His eyes looked away. ‘’So it is better to stay on his good side, not standing up like Mara,’’ I clapped my hands and smiled gently.

‘’But what if he does it wrong?’’ Pete began thinking.

My brow twitched but I kept grinning.’’It does not matter what if it’s wrong’’My voice did not raise.

'' it is a good thing to be afraid.''I cleared my throat.''Warlocks get burned because they are not afraid. They don't break.''

‘’But if you do nothing then the next warlock might be you.’’

I blinked and pulled away, avoiding him. Dammit.

Pete stood up and moved on the door fast.''Maybe I won't need your advice when I find my mother.''

When. Not IF. When. Shit how determined he was?

After he walked away, Dolya appeared once more.

Standing up, my eyes faced the now stinking head.

I grabbed the head slowly and I found the jar with the spiders I had. I was hesitant before I put it inside it, watching his dark hair, his mark, his flesh being slowly covered with moving legs.

‘’Scary’’ Dolya laughed.

‘’What do you want Charm?’’ I asked her, holding my anger towards her. The last person I wanted to talk with today.

‘’I missed you’’She kept moving at me.

‘’You never liked me’’I turned to look at her. ‘’You never liked anyone.’’

‘’I like Ao Bing’’She tried to remember. She played that she had forgotten.

‘’No, Ao Bing loved you’’I reminded her. ‘’He loved you so much that he paid by his debt so you wouldn’t be a whore’’

Dolia crossed her arms around her body, clenching herself tight.’’ I…’’

‘’He was only a hundred Eke’els t o be free Dolia, did you know that?’’ I started panicking. ‘’He would have left and he was planning to buy us from Mammon, let us free.’’

‘’How is that my fault?’’ She asked. ‘’It was his choice, not mine.’’

‘’ And you betrayed him''I cried.’’And he has gone for a month now.’’ My lips pouted as I felt the need to laugh around the tears.’’Looks why he hasn’t seen you since then.’’

Dolya took a deep breath and laughed.’’You feel good don’t you?’’ She asked.’’That you are not the only one to get ignored.’’

‘’What?’’I frowned.

But instead of answering she just arched her brow and smiled deviously. My eyes twitched and turned my gaze away.

‘’Ao Bing loves me’’She said again.’’He loved me and I hate every part, every thought that he might be in pain…don’t you?’’

I shrugged.’’Ao Bing was never fond of me. Well, he treated me better than Mara but…’’

‘’Not Ao Bing. Nezha.’’

+++

I found Nezha on the rooftop, staring at the veil with his dark eyes. His body shook around the heavy clothing. His hair is dry and harsh around his gentle features. And his gaze was for a minute honest. Confused. Sad.

‘’You look pathetic’’I grunted and sat next to him with a sigh.

‘’Dolya told you.’’Nezha muttered.

‘’It is good thing’’ My lips grinned.’’That Lilith doesn’t pay any attention to her, makes her a good spy.’’

‘’I got four days.’’Nezha broke, facing down.

I let my eyes study him. I have heard him wake up from nightmares, I have helped him shower after every hard night, and I have found some medicine to stop him from screaming and relaxing.

And now, I would like to find Mammon and confront him. His deal was crap, obviously. None would make so much money even in a year, not like a few days. He just wanted to play with him. To make him give up slowly and face reality. His future.

‘’Do you have Mana?’’He asked but I was already prepared, giving him one cigarette as I kept the other for myself.

The headache kept growing but it was nice to stay with Nezha for a while.

‘’I can poison her’’ I suggested having a wry smile.

‘’Mammon will cut your hands.’’

‘’He doesn’t need’’I laughed. ‘’To find out.’’

‘’He always finds out.’’He reminded me.

And that was pressuring me about going to Goetia without him noticing it. I made him some tea with one of the drugs but it was to be a stronger dose. But he also hated every time that I was close to him. His favorites were Nezha and Mara. Well, I am still determining Mara but Nezha always had the cleanest and finest clothing. He always had the biggest share and the best food. And I was happy he was sharing. Such a fool.

I kept looking at him, shaking from what was going to happen.

‘’Hey’’I smiled. ‘’What are you going to do when you walk out?’’ I asked a naive question, mimicking Pete.

He looked at me with a frown.

‘’What are you…’’

I turned to the veil

‘’I wonder if the light is as pretty as they say.’’I sighed. ‘’I want to see if birds and trees are the same as Mara’s drawings.’’

‘’Minerva.’’

‘’I want to become a doctor. A great one,’’ I said after, holding my smile. ‘’Helping people to not get sick. Or a lawyer, a good one to send criminals straight to Naraka and not here.’’I rasped and turned to him.

‘’To put even criminals that are even here to Naraka to have worst punishments.’’

My body started shaking.

Nezha blinked and smiled gently. ‘’First, I will become a soldier.’’He answered my question. ‘’I will become a general fast, and then, I will come back here to take my mother away’’

He kept smiling and faced his fingers. ‘’I will take her to the best hospitals, I will buy the best house for her and I will take a few servants so she won’t need to worry anymore. ‘’

‘’That is nice’’ I said. ‘’Now promise it.’’

‘’What?’’ He laughed.

‘’Promise that we both will get out.’’I almost begged him. Either both of us stay and die or both of us leave and survive.

Nezha’s lips tremble. His dark eyes lit like stars as the book called them.

‘’I promise.’’