Chapter 11 #2
“And then we’re going to take care of Eclavistra,” said Harald. “Alabenthos has tasked us with destroying an outpost of hers on the 41st Level. You’ll help us strike at her forces.”
“The 41st?” Vic blanched. “That’s not an outpost.”
Harald paused. “What?”
“That’s her home base.” Vic glanced from one member of the group to the other. “Oh. Did ol’ Alabenthos not mention that?”
“Her home base?” Harald inhaled deeply, then held his breath, allowing that truth to hit home. Finally, he exhaled. “He’s sending us to fight Eclavistra herself?”
Vic shrugged apologetically.
“A problem for another day,” said Sam hurriedly. “Seraphina made it clear that we can’t strike at the outpost—home base—till we’ve journeyed through the levels between the 33rd and the 41st.”
Nessa’s tone was arch. “But she didn’t mention we’d be facing Eclavistra herself?”
“I… no.” Sam’s shoulders slumped. “Perhaps they don’t know?”
“Possible,” agreed Vic. “Eclavistra, powerful as she may be, is easily the weakest of the demon siblings. She’s survived by misdirection and avoiding attention.”
“No matter. This is what we’re doing now.” Harald centered his thoughts. “We quit the cathedral, and leave you here. Then we’ll have twenty-four bells to figure out a plan. You hang tight, play it as you’ve been doing, and trust that we’ll come up with something.”
“Because we have to,” agreed Nessa.
“Right.” Sam’s tone hardened again. “There’s no way we’re going to let this mess you’ve made consume the whole city.”
Nessa snorted. “And here I was, thinking you cared about all the poor innocents. Innocents you were about to hand over to a demon.”
“It was not—!” Vic bit off his words, twisting his head to the side as he did so. “I mean… fair. I was a purblind idiot. No denying it this time. But fine. I’ll play the sybaritic simpleton a little longer. But…” His eyes widened. “Please come up with something amazing? I’ll do anything. Anything.”
“Don’t forget you said that,” snapped Sam. “Honestly, they’re going to have to convince me not to banish you along with the demons.”
“Ha,” laughed Vic weakly. “Funny. Yeah. Rough humor amongst best friends.”
“Let’s go,” said Harald. “Lead the way.”
“Sure.” Vic turned and faced the door. Took a deep breath, then unbolted it and strode out with a boisterous laugh.
“… that was a fun time, and to think we could go there right now and commandeer their entire inventory! Alas, I’m a little busy taking over Flutic, and just don’t have time for regular debauchery. ”
Harald led the others back out into the cathedral. He scanned the velvety darkness around them. If the Handmaidens were going to attack, it might be now as they emerged.
But Sythryxa and her companions were lounging by the throne, looking relaxed and bored in equal measure.
Still, Harald scanned the dark depths. His growing familiarity with the shadows allowed him, not to see, but to sense knots of power. And there were clear presences hidden about them, lost in the swarming blackness beyond the candlelight. Perhaps another ten?
“Oh, come on.” Harald forced himself to sound exasperated. “We’re only back in town for a night. You’re seriously saying you can’t take an hour away?”
“I would!” Vic turned to walk backward, hands spread out apologetically. “But then who would pleasure these lovely ladies in my absence? No, I’m sorry. Even ‘old times’ won’t cut it. Try me after I’m king.”
“Fine.” Harald stopped, letting Vic make his way alone to the apse and throne. “Then we’ll catch you next time.”
“Unless we catch you first, right darling?” Vic dropped into the throne and turned to run a finger under Sythryxa’s chin.
“Whatever you say, master,” purred the demon.
One of her sisters leaned down to lick the side of Vic’s neck, her tongue impossibly long.
“Not while they’re here, please,” protested Vic. “It’s like making out in front of the family dog.”
Nessa snorted with disbelief and turned to stride away.
Harald raised a hand in parting. “Have fun, Vic. Be seeing you.”
“Oh, I will.” Vic laughed loudly. “Just say a prayer for my hips, will you? At this rate, I’m liable to dislocate them.”
Kársek shook his head as he followed Sam after Nessa.
Harald held Vic’s gaze for a second longer, and for a moment saw despair and terror in the depths of his friend’s eyes. But then Vic laughed again and gave him a wink.
Harald inclined his head, aware that Sythryxa was watching him closely with her luminous purple eyes, and turned to walk away.
* * *
They strode down the Avenue of Penitence in silence. Assured that they were being watched, they waited until they’d left the cathedral far behind, crossed a number of different streets and finally stepped aside into a blind courtyard.
“Wait for it,” whispered Harald, summoning the Scourge into his hand. “If they’re going to strike, it’ll be soon.”
Their group went back to back and watched the rooftops around the tiny enclosed courtyard. Dusk was rapidly becoming night. The sounds of Flutic were muted. It felt as if the city were holding its breath.
But nothing happened.
“Perhaps they believed Vic,” said Sam at last.
“Only if they’re complete idiots,” said Nessa. “More like they don’t think we’re worth the trouble.”