Viktor reacted to Asmodeus’s Eye first. “I knew there was a reason Darmando was focused on a nobody. You didn’t ruin the eye. That would have let it regrow. You took it. How are you not dying?”
“He does things like that,” Sara said with a tone that said there would be a discussion later.
Olidar wasn’t even remotely disturbed. “Bring the eye out. It’s an eye of Asmodeus. If we want to bargain, it’s easy. He can’t help but see. Also, I’m changing my assessment. The second Demon’s Daughter will be close. Very close, probably buried in the flesh of some victim, keeping herself completely masked. But if you have the eye, she’s not going to give up and she’s not going to run away because Darmando can’t afford to let her.”
The Druid to his left raised her hand and whispered as a set of sparrows landed on it, then flew out in a circle. “We’re making adjustments. Viktor, you’ve hunted Asmodeus before. What does he want?”
“His eye back.” Viktor said. “Sometimes I really worry about you Druids. Darmando was a distraction. Should have been attacking the classrooms. Receiving the eye gave him power, a favor to Darmando for losing that form in return for luring Centurions away from the real incursion.”
“That didn’t work out as planned.” Ravena glanced to Kaden and Sara. “Fate put a stumbling stone in their path. Are we thinking this is an even trade? His eye for the Adventures?”
Olidar shook his head. “As Viktor would put it, ‘let’s not be stupid.’ Asmodeus has set foot on the first plane of hell and he knew what that would cost. And he’s stayed. He’s not doing that for nothing. Could there be a Relic of Hell we don’t know about?”
“If we knew about a Relic of Hell, it wouldn’t be there,” Viktor answered. As the Centurions began to argue, Kaden, Eve, and Sara had their own council.
Sara started. “Do you understand that I want to keep you alive? Taking the eye—”
“What were you thinking?” Eve finished. She imitated Ashi’s voice. “Kaden Birch, what have you done? We’re not even at twenty five. Provoking a Greater Demon Lord by stealing his eye is…I keep thinking I won’t see anything worse. And I keep being wrong.”
“Get used to it,” Sara said.
Kaden was lost in thought. There was something here, something obvious that stood out. Darmando had come on orders. He’d sacrificed one Daughter to revenge, but the other was out there. Now Asmodeus had ascended to the first plane of hell. He spoke loudly. Clearly. “Hey. Who’s above Asmodeus? Who would have the power or authority to make him ascend? And what would they gain?”
“Abyss Lords. They literally can’t enter the first three planes of hell,” Ravena said. “Their names alone do a thousand points of damage, so you’ll understand why I don’t speak them around you.”
“Appreciated.” Eve swallowed. “Now, if you’d kindly figure out what an Abyss Lord wants and how you are going to deal with it, we’ll be waiting in our TreeSpace.”
“Who gets the eye?” Kaden didn’t pull it from Inventory.
“No!” The Druid to Olidar’s side shouted. “You do not spread its influence. You are already cut off from Nature. You have already sacrificed your future. You have nothing to lose. We…are grateful for your sacrifice, but you should not ask us to stain ourselves with it.”
“Young druids are the worst,” Viktor said. “You need to get drunk or laid, Osavo. I’ll take it if you want. Not like I’ll ever be a Tree. Or I’d ever want to be a Tree.”
Kaden ignored the glares Osavo gave him. “Same.”
But before he could leave, Olidar spoke. “Forgive my youngest daughter. She is devoted to Nature and while she understands the precepts, she lacks the wisdom. She won’t speak again in your presence. And I am grateful we have allies who are willing to fight alongside us. Gratitude that will be more than words.”
The moment Kaden had removed the eye in his Inventory, he felt the weight of the Demon Lord’s presence and notifications spewed.
Demon Lord Asmodeus has sacrificed _NAN_ Entity Power to Invoke Protocol.
Initiating Protocol (‘Haunted by Demons’) ….
Target Analysis underway.
Selecting attack method
Attack method overriden by directive. Using: Infernal Substitution.
Analysis indicates likelyhood of long term success: 22%
Threshold triggers reselection.
Reselection is denied by override.
Your curse will begin shortly, your patience is appreciated!
Curse operator currently unavailable, please stand by.
If you would like to retain your position in line and receive a curse when a spectral invader is available, select Y. To remain waiting for the next available spectral invader, select N. You are 9,789,213th in line.
Kaden selected Y so the prompt would go away. Viktor had said another Haunted by Demons. “Viktor, what exactly is a Infernal Substitution? Apparently I’m being haunted by demons, and I didn’t even get Haunted by Demons.” Kaden offered to share the logs.
This time, the Ranger didn’t laugh, he just nodded. “Most common way of attacking, and the one I prefer. Way, way better than Infernal Displacement, though that one’s survivable, too. Haunted by Demons means they’ll speak to you. One of them. Doing that has permanently weakened Asmodeus.”
If one kept him up all night, Kaden would wind up grumpy. “I can’t believe a demon lord was so dumb he’d sacrifice power just to haunt me.”
“I can believe it,” Eve said.
That got a chuckle from Viktor. “Override means he burned extra energy to do it this way, even though it shouldn’t work as well. 22% is pitiful. Substitution is simple - you’ll hear them as someone you love.”
“Trella,” Sara said. “That’s absolutely who I would be.”
“One of his parents? No, Trella.” Eve agreed. “It’s not very subtle.”
Kaden smiled. “Any chance I’ll be able to see it? See, I know it’s not Trella. I put her in the preservation chamber myself. And I have some things I want to say to Demons. If you can’t hear them, I may sound a little crazy.”
“You already talk to Trinity like she’s a person. You know a Beast doesn’t understand seasoning, right? She eats wolves while they’re still alive. You trying to coach her on salt and pepper and oregano…” Eve sighed and shook her head. “It won’t be any worse.”
Ravena broke away from the Centurions and approached carefull, spoke quietly. “First, let me repeat Olidar’s apology. Young Druids are so concentrated on their ‘purity’ it makes them intolerable—I was like her, not six centuries ago. Second, you will not be involved with the Abyss Lord. His presence alone would kill you. You have our gratitude, but when you leave, you’ll have something else. Something I insisted on and Olidar agreed to. Something that will make what your party has gone through worthwhile.” Her gaze had dropped to Kaden’s chest. “Get some rest. If Asmodeus meant to kill the Hunting Party, they’d already be dead. If he meant to drag them deeper, it would have happened instantly. That means making the right move is more important than making the fast one.”
Kaden was exhausted, but he wasn’t ready for sleep. “Sara, Eve, you can sleep. I’ve got somewhere to be.”
“Going to see Mr. Dervish? You’ll need me to complete the quest,” Sara said. “Sleep can wait.”
Eve’s happy smile faded to something more fitting her face. “I’m near dead on my feet, but no way am I letting you two out of my sight again.”
“I’m paying for a portal because you need to rest,” Sara said.
Also, Kaden suspected, because Sara didn’t like waiting for bruises to heal.
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They took a Far Portal home. Kaden intended to go straight to Dervish’s Summoning Services, but an Administrator ambushed him coming down the stairs, shouting, “What do we do when Demons raise their ugly heads?”
All four bars on the bottom floor roared back an answer, “We send them home in pieces!”
“I’ve got business—”
Sara pushed him after the administrator and handed Kaden a Corpse Inventory. “Store them here, I’ll do the drop off. This will affect the party if you don’t.”
Kaden reluctantly handed over the monster corpses. He trusted Sara, it was just that he wanted to see for himself. Instead, he followed the Administrator further in to a room where a short, wide woman waited with a scale and gloves that gave off a black aura. Beside her sat a trio of mages. “Seed, please.”
Kaden pulled it from Inventory. Bits of demonic purple still drooled from the edges as he put it on the scale.
“Solid class Two, almost a three. And it looks like you’ll be Haunted by Demons, at least until they get bored of it or you hunt them down. Could be days, years, or when you die.” She looked to the Mages. “Who’s bidding?”
“Class two, pass,” said the first.
The other two conferred privately. “Joint offer, eighteen gold.”
“You’re not going to get better than that.” She handed over the empty Seed and watched them leave. And then began the part of the instruction Eve had never mentioned. Explaining exactly what Haunted by Demons meant. What he should do if the Demon began to make sense. Who he could talk to if he was feeling like, say, summoning a demon. Offering his soul to a demon. Taking a trip to Hell to meet a demon. “No matter what it offers, there’s always someone looking for a strapping young man who won’t tear your soul out and devour it. That’s all I have to say on the matter.”
She recorded his title and ability. [Feared by Demons] wasn’t unheard of, but it was uncommon enough that it would be sought after, for a fee. “Remember that what you do depends on your attribute. If you’re Hated, you stand near others so they can kill the demons. Hounded? Move to a Mage’s tower and they’ll pay you for the constant spawn of demons. Feared, never let someone claim you must kill the demon. You find it, afterwards, it’s up to them.”
It didn’t come with a monthly stipend, but she assured him he’d make more than twelve gold as a locator. Gold was gold. Kaden sat with Vip in his lap and listened to all the ways he’d die if he gave in to demons.
When at last Kaden escaped the Guild, he headed straight for Dervish’s Summoning Services—until Sara’s parrot landed on him. “We need you at the summoning circle in Beast Control.”
He sprinted through the streets and hurdled the customer service counter, ignoring the young man who protested as he burst through the doors and down hallways. [Split Second] let him react as Mistress Scylla reached to halt his charge, and [Moment of Speed] let him dive over the other tentacle she whipped around.
He slammed into a jackaroo, knocking it flat, and leaving him seeing stars.
“Careful, young man.” Mistress Scylla spoke gently. “I thought we were under attack. Sara sent you a message?”
“I did.” Sara’s voice came from within the summoning room.
Kaden stepped through, deeply aware of how Mistress Scylla stood close, her octopi tentacles ready.
Mr. Dervish stood, his head bowed so he didn’t hit the hanging lights. And behind him, the wizend form of Professor Treadle. Treadle hadn’t aged well. His normally sunken skin now looked skeletal, and he flinched as Kaden looked his way.
“One [Kalarak] would have been enough, but more’s better for experiments.” Mr. Dervish said, holding up a pair of glistening crystals that glowed with the same yellow. “Keep your temper, take your place. We’re going to pump you full of refined Kalarak essence. Damn Beasts are almost impossible to bind. Once that’s done, I’ll try and loosen the binding. If it works, one of Jackie’s ‘roos will take your place—and the binding.”
“Ready,” Mistress Scylla said. “They’ll be gentle. Mostly. I doubt this will hurt long if it does, and if it does, and it does last, there’s always wine later.”
Kaden commanded Vip to go to Eve, then, with a thought, shrank his [Needful Cloak] to only a collar. He stepped into the circle, ready. So very ready. “Do it.”
“This smells and tastes like Quillophant piss. Drink it all.” Mr. Dervish handed him an alchemical flask of the same golden color the herd’s vapor had been. “Also, it might make you a little scattered. That’s normal.”
Kaden forced it down in a single gulp. It put the vile in vial, like a stadium full of [Quillophants] had pissed in the tube and then condensed it, and the taste was worse, the aftertaste even worse.
Mistress Scylla flinched, and a jackaroo leaped onto her back to cover her nose, while Sara wretched in the corner.
Eve’s nose was buried in Vip’s fur, which, to be fair, is where she would have had it anyway.
“When am I supposed to feel—”
Kaden’s hands began to tremble and shake. His ankle jittered.
“Activate the circle,” Mr. Dervish said.
Runes blazed with light, and Kaden couldn’t help the feeling that rose up inside him. The intense need to break free. He began to sweat and shake. “Something’s wrong.”
“Nope.” Mr. Dervish watched closely. “Something’s right. Jacky, get the lights, illuminate that binding please.”
“A pleasure.” She turned off the overhead lights and adjusted the runes.
The red mesh that lay over Kaden’s soul was frayed, small red fibers drifting out as his soul shimmered and vibrated. And Kaden couldn’t resist anymore. He threw himself at the barrier, knowing it wouldn’t let him pass but unable to contain the intense need to be free.
“Get ready!” Mr. Dervish said. “Ain’t going to lie, if this part don’t knock you down, you’re a tougher man than I figure. Jackie, I’ll say when. Kaden, hold on.”
He drew a token from his pocket, a green summoning token, but instead of throwing it on the floor, cupped it and blew into his hands. The soul binding fibers flared out and evaporated, leaving him clutching a cluster of red threads.
They whipped out, assaulting the mesh that covered Kaden’s soul.
Agony had only five letters.
A billion too short for the pain that hit Kaden.
[Fortress of Stone] was made for enduring pain, but this didn’t come through his nerves, it started inside him as the mesh dug deeper into him, fighting to hold on. The swarm of red enveloped him, and it turned out, Kaden was not tougher than Mr. Dervish thought. His vision turned gray and if he fell, he didn’t know.
Something struck him, and Kaden went flying limp through the air.
The dark.
The quiet.
The absence of agony was like cold water.
Your skill with Resist Suffocation has increased.
That was it. Kaden took a deep breath. His mouth tasted of copper and his face was wet, perhaps with tears. “Did it work?”
“No.” Mr. Dervish spoke softly. “It’s a good start. We need to adapt the runes so the binding can’t pass. I was able to pull it loose, but when the jackaroo hit you, the binding just trailed along by a few threads and re-attached. Going to take time to remake that. Then we need to figure out what will re-enforce the summoning barrier.”
“Next time, we’ll use Euphorium on Kaden,” Mistress Scylla said. “I have a supplier. It will be permitted.”
“There’s a reason Beasts don’t go ripping the bindings off. Most don’t know how. Those that do know better. Go on, Treadle. Get back to work.” Mr. Dervish picked Profressor Treadle up and hauled him out, while Kaden fought to sit up.
His actual health was still well above a quarter. The kalarak essence, however, made sitting still, thinking, everything hard. And if he’d had hopes, they lay crushed.
*Love.* Vip said, as she forced herself into his lap.
Love fixed everything for her.
Mistress Scylla waited at the doorway. “I see Kaden has a demon title now. They’re impossible to avoid, if you live any amount of time, but I wish it had been longer. What was it?”
“One of Darmando’s daughters. The other one is still loose, and probably still angry with me. Oh, and I pissed off someone called Asmodeus by stealing his eye. I need sleep. Not sure how Sara is still standing.” Kaden forced himself to rise, summoning Trinity to hang on to.
“The Horror doesn’t sleep and can’t grow tired. That translates to me ever so slightly,” Sara said. “We’ll head to the Holding.”
“Would you mind company?” Mistress Scylla asked. “I haven’t been out of the city in days. I’d love to show you the progress we’re making at the zoo, but I agree, it’s best to sleep at home.”
Kaden couldn’t tell how long he slept.
He woke with two of Trinity’s heads laid across his body and the blind head staring down an inch above his face as Sara shook him. “I would let you sleep but it’s urgent. Olidar sent an owl—his actual owl—with a message. They know all of Asmodeus’s demands now.”
“Let me guess, he wants his eye?”
“Correct.” Eve stood at the door of the bedroom, but acted like it might kill her if she stepped inside. “He wants to fight Viktor in one on one combat. He wants his eye back. And he wants you to bring it.”
“What level is Asmodeus?” Kaden asked.
“At least seventy five,” Sara said. “Don’t agree to do this. I see a thousand ways this goes wrong and only one that goes right, and that way depends on a demon’s honor.”
“I really don’t feel comfortable coming into someone else’s bedroom. Especially not yours, Kaden. But I have experience with Demon Lords that may be relevant.” Eve nodded to the table. “Do you mind continuing this conversation in the kitchen?”
Kaden didn’t know what he found more shocking. That Eve had experience with Demon Lords or that she thought his bedroom was some kind of trap, but he joined her at the table. “First off—”
“How do you have experience with Demons, let alone Demon Lords?” Sara asked. She didn’t mask the disbelief in her voice.
“My family…you have some idea of what they are. And trust me, they’ve never been shy about making demands of the Demon Lords. After all, the Lords are always making offers.” Eve said it simply. Like it was expected or normal. “From the time I was fifteen, I was in charge of relaying the messages from Astronocius to my mother. I spoke with sub-lords weekly. I personally negotiated his right to destroy an island. I once sent fifteen knights to their death through a grammar mistake.”
Eve waited for questions.
Kaden had them, but couldn’t tell which was most important. Why would a kingdom willingly allow a Demon rampage? Why would a king and queen expect their daughter to negotiate with a demon? And who the hell was Evelyn Black? But he asked the important thing. “What should I expect?”
“Lesser demons, anything below a Daughter, know neither honor nor logic,” Eve said. “The Daughter we had living with us could be…almost human. Civil. Funny. Cold. Sensual. It was the purpose of having her there, after all. To learn from us.” Eve gave a short laugh as Kaden’s jaw dropped open. “Oh, yes. Most Demon’s Daughters are fostered, raised, loved, taught by human families who believe that love conquers all. That the baby they raise won’t kill every last one of them on her thirteenth birthday for a lack of devotion.”
Kaden looked to Sara. “Did you know any of this?”
“Demons die. That’s all Mom ever said.” Sara looked back to Eve. “Asmodeus. Will he honor an agreement?”
“That’s the hard part. He’s just high enough that the Absyss Lords would take notice. And he’s just low enough that he can still ascend to the first hell. Regardless, I think Kaden was right. He’s doing this for an Abyss Lord.” Eve dipped her head to Kaden. “That was very intelligent. I’m complimenting you. Do you understand the implications?”
Kaden didn’t.
“I think I do.” Sara’s psuedopods rubbed at her chin as she thought. “The only thing Darmando had to offer Asmodeus was his willingness to die as a distraction. The only thing Asmodeus could offer an Abyss Lord is something the Abyss Lord can’t do. Go to the first level of Hell.”
“Or break a deal,” Kaden said. “They think he’s searching for some kind of relic. I’d bet he isn’t. We have to get back to the grove and warn them. Now.”