“What?”
“Why didn’t you mention that?” Myra asked.
“Hello, blood palms, magic stone, and horn stabbings,” I said. “I’ve been a bit distracted and just remembered it. He said the spell will do something so he can report the crime to me.”
“This is…” Myra glanced at Bathin. “Crazy, right? No one needs to cast a spell to report a crime. Why would he even think that was a thing?”
“Demon,” Xtelle and Bathin said at the same time.
“Leverage,” Bathin added. “Most conversations in the demonic world begin with a threat, then a fight of some sort, leverage is applied, and then the actual matter is discussed, which usually leads to a fight of some sort, leverage, threats, etcetera.”
“Super interesting,” I said, “But can we get back to what the spell will actuallydoto me? Will it kill me? If so, will it be immediate or eventual?”
“Itmight,” Bathin said. “Eventually. But there is no advantage to you being dead. None I can think of. Whatever he wants, he needs you alive for it. You are his leverage.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but he kept going.
“He might say he wants your family, or your town, or maybe even the god powers, but really, it’s you. You are, in many ways, Ordinary’s heart. He knows that. And he intends to use it to his advantage.”
I shivered even though it wasn’t cold here.
“Does it hurt?” Myra asked.
I tipped my head to one shoulder and back, staring at the shifting blue and gold, taking stock.
“It’s not painful. I feel better, actually. Things have been drifting and fading lately, and that’s been driving me nuts. I think it was him.”
“It was,” Bathin said. “Subconscious attachment and manipulation distorts time and reality. Now that the spell has been worked, you should be clearer headed.”
“Good,” I said. “So let’s go find out what crime he’s so determined to report. Myra, I want you to start looking into spell breakers. Xtelle, I’m assuming you will go back to pony form?”
“Unicorn,” she said distractedly. “In disguise,” she added.
Which reminded me. “Why did you come by my house anyway? You’re supposed to be at Hogan’s.”
“I got bored,” she said to her nails.
“You got bored so decided to break into my house and gore me?”
“I needed attention,” she said with a little sniff.
“Well, you got it. So now you can return to Hogan’s and remain bored until Jean takes you out for whatever the two of you negotiate. This is you following the rules like you said you would, remember? This is you learning how the town works and fitting in, remember?”
“I don’t understand what the gods see in this place,” she blurted out. “There are so many other, better towns, better beaches, certainly betterweather.Even the ocean is freezing cold here. And don’t get me started on the shopping options.”
“You can leave any time you want,” I said calmly. “That’s in the contract too.”
“No. There’s something to it. There’s something I’m not seeing. I’ll stay. And…be a good pony.” She showed her teeth in what was probably supposed to be a smile, but it came off a little too wild-eyed and crazy.
Bathin snorted. “You won’t find it.”
“Oh, I will.”
“No. You can’t even understand what you’re looking for.”
“If you can understand it, it won’t be difficult for me to understand.”
He spread those big hands of his. “If you say so.”
