“We can go wherever we want down here, and we’re treated well by others, even higher-ranking demons, though they are suspicious of us given Auri’s wily nature.”
“Wily?”
“He’s cunning. What you see is not always what you get. As I suppose you’ve also learned.”
“Yeah.”
“A demon can’t break his word, so if Auri promised you that he would let you go after you fulfilled your contract, he will, but it’s not written here.”
I rack my brain, recalling my conversations with him. That moment in the strange bar, there was no preamble and I didn’t ask any clarifying questions.
“He promised me…” I squeeze my eyes closed. “Respect. Purpose.” I open my eyes. “He never promised anything else. Shit.”
“Don’t fret. He has released some of his pets in the past.”
“He has? For what reason?”
“That’s between them, but there have been situations. Many, in fact. Perhaps they’d served their purpose but weren’t a good long-term fit. Or Auri felt moved by their desire to leave. Only Auri knows why he does what he does.”
I rub my forehead. “I asked him why he wanted the amulet.”
Drax’s big eyes stretch even wider. “Very brave. What did he say?”
“He said it wasn’t any of my business.”
“That’s normal. I know better than to ask why, but I imagine some of the others have tried and failed.”
“Is Auri evil?”
“Evil?” Drax looks left and right, like he’s searching for the meaning of the word. “I’m not sure I can answer that. Human morality and ethics are immaterial in the underworld, but by our standards, Auri is neutral.”
“Neutral?”
“Yes. He causes no real harm to this world or the human realm. He merely uses human greed and desire to his advantage, and that is smart, not evil.”
“But he kills his pets when they don’t live up to his standards?”
“Allegedly.Again, we all have our reputations to uphold.”
I nod, hoping it’s just lore. My track record of living up to expectations is poor at best.
“Okay, well I guess all I can do right now is figure out where the mage who took the amulet is.”
Drax perks up again. “Yes. We should go to the library. I was researching it before you came in.”
“The library can tell us where he is?”
“Last known whereabouts.”
“How does it work? Who’s documenting all this information?”
“Hmm. How do I explain?” He taps his chin. “We’re all connected to it. Every interaction a demon has is automatically archived in the library.”
“But what if a demon hasn’t interacted with this particular mage?”
“Impossible really. Demons are everywhere in the human realm, and particularly for those with abilities. Certainly, a mage has called upon a demon or two in their time.”
“That’s fair.”
