I shrugged, looking down at my nails for something else to do. “Or because death is such a frightening concept that people are worried that even remotely referring to it will bring the same shadow over them.”
“Cowards, the lot of them.” Verena got comfortable, letting her legs fall in front of her until she sat like a discarded doll. “You don’t strike me as someone scared of a little death, Hector Briar. Is that assumption correct?”
“I welcome it,” I lied.
That fact used to be true, but nowadays not so much. I supposed I had found something to live for…peopleto live for.
“Which brings us to why you are here,” Verena said, directing the conversation back onto a comfortable path. “I watched Tomin empty your pockets. Not a single weapon on you. Not thatit’s too surprising, considering you’re pretty adept with your old magic now. Unless that piece of paper he took out of your pocket was a well-written plea that you hoped would soften Tomin’s blackened heart…”
Being reminded that Tomin was in possession of the paper made me smile a toothy grin. “I hope he treasures it. Keeps it close.”
“That man treasures nothing more than his own desires in life. Tomin, a little bit like you, he doesn’t fear death either. He thirsts for it. Odd, isn’t it. How simple life would be if Tomin finally got his wish and died. Except, reading between the lines, I think you’ve worked out that that wouldn’t exactly be true.”
My smile only grew wider. “I don’t think you need to worry about that anymore.”
“Which brings us back to why you are here?”
I focused on my inner voice, calling out through the tether in my mind.“Emon, you can come out now.”
Once the link between me and the demon was opened, his grumblings came rushing out.“I have waited for what feels like a lifetime for that order. Next time, do not even think of banishing me. You were in danger. I could have helped.”
“Aw, my darling. Are you worried about me?”
The shadows in the corner of the room shivered, uncoiled and began to slither across the floor towards Verena. She sucked in a sharp inhale as she noticed my demon, scales as dark as Hades’ soul, reaching towards her.
“You’re safe, Verena,” I said before she could give in to those dark thoughts plaguing her mind. “I didn’t come here with any intention but getting you out of here. Reuniting you with your daughter. In fact, if you wouldn’t mind, I’m going to need something of you before you go.”
“Go?” Verena barked, eyes not leaving Emon for a second. “Go where?”
“Anywhere but here of course.” I didn’t care about the chains, in fact, I never had. Soon enough, they would break and my final play on this chess board would be made. But for that, I had to save the queen to get to the king. “Tomin has kept you because he needs a witch to win the Witch Trials. Except we both know that you would rather die than let that happen. You haven’t come this far in life, sacrificing so many things to protect Romy, just to throw it away at the last moment. But you see, I’m a fool dealing with fools. I must win. I need the power Bahmet offers to secure a world that has been, as you said, poisoned by Tomin. We need a cure, one of equal demonic nature.”
“I can see all of that in your eyes, Hector. My question is how.”
“For starters, Emon here is going to reunite you with Romy. Then you are going to help Kai, the young man currently petitioning rather successfully for her heart, with getting them all out of these twisted games.”
Verena was quiet for a moment, no longer shying away from my fanged companion. “You want us to leave the Witch Trials?”
“Absolutely,” I quipped. “I do indeed. And soon. Preferably before Tomin works it out.”
Her eyes narrowed, the colour darkening as she regarded me. “I was right about you.”
“Explain?”
“You being like your mother, that is. Putting yourself in the line of fire before considering the implications for those she is shielding. I admire it. It’s why I’ve done what I have, made the choices before this moment. All because I took inspiration from her. And now I see it was inherited, which would make her proud.”
A lump clogged my throat. I attempted to clear it, but the grief had taken root once again.
“Then you’ll let me ask one more favour,” I said, holding back my treacherous tears.
“That would depend on what it is this favour consists of.”
I rubbed my hands together like a greedy banker staring down a pile of gold. “When we get out of this… and we will, you will sit me down and tell me everything you know of my parents. Not a detail missed.”
“I would give you the moon, Hector. All because you have reunited me with Romy. I hope you know that.”
“Now that challenge is far from over,” I said. “Romy’s going to need?—”
“Time,” Verena admitted. “I know. And if she needs that, she can have it. Because for once, time is a concept that I have to offer in return.”
