“You have to be very careful when speaking to fae.” Mr. Heiss chuckled, as if that was somehow funny.
Seymour didn’t get it.
“Now.” Mr. Heiss flashed a cold smile. “In case you haven’t followed, that new opportunity is you.”
“Woo.”
“Now that I am in possession of you, this is what is going to happen. My brothers have something I want. If I loan you out to assist them, then I’ll get it.”
“And what does any of this have to do with me? ’Cause it sounds like none of this is my problem.”
“One, you’re able to see the spirits of the Reliquary, which means you have a connection to the wizard.”
“Yeah, good ol’ Norbert.”
“Yes.” Mr. Heiss made a slight face. “And two, I assume you enjoy living and would like to continue to do so.”
Seymour shivered, grunting as the magical grip holding him in place finally released him. He dusted himself off and grimaced. “Okay. What the hell do you want me to do?”
“My brothers will have a favor to ask of you. Do it. Whatever it is. Making them happy will make me happy.” Mr. Heiss lifted his glass. “See? Simple.”
“Uh, no. Not fuckin’ simple.” Seymour glared. “Who the fuck are your brothers, huh? What are they gonna ask me to do?”
“Do not worry. It will not be anything that will directly harm you?—”
“Directly?”
“Sariel will be your escort. He’ll make sure nothing happens to you.” Mr. Heiss smirked. “Would be a shame to lose such a valuable asset, after all.”
“Wait, wait. No, I ain’t stickin’ around. I do this and you let me go.”
“Or else what?”
Well, Seymour hadn’t thought about that.
“Or else…” Seymour scrambled to come up with a response. “Or else I tell everybody monsters are real! Or ’bout how, how I saw you murder the fuck out of Mr. Talos. Or, you know,anyof the crazy shit I saw.”
Mr. Heiss laughed.
Andlaughed.
“Adorable.” Mr. Heiss grinned. “Just adorable.” He finished off his drink and licked his lips slowly. “Please believe me when I say that while you’re much more valuable to me alive than dead, there are several degrees ofalivein which you could still be useful. Such as not having any arms, legs, ears…”
Seymour wanted to scream.
To fight.
To snap.
Punch Mr. Heiss right in his smug face.
There was probably very little he could do against a demon gangster, but he loathed standing here like a bump on a log.
“But.” Mr. Heiss clicked his tongue. “If you do as I ask and I’m able to acquire what I seek, then I will let you go.”
“Let me go as in let me leave alive and with all my limbs?”
“Yes.”
