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I took a step back, my mind reeling with dark possibilities. My father had done this—his one final parting gift was to enslave me to a demon. It figured. "A debt. What sort of debt?" I folded my arms.
"All in due time," Keelian said.
"Okay." I drew out the word. "I do this one thing for you then we are squared away? Done?" I knew the answer before even asking.
"Not exactly. You see, your debt to me extends from beyond the grave."
"What are you talking about?" I demanded.
"Your father and I had a pact. One that involved you and your future offspring."
"Keelian, you ought to know by now, I am not my father. And I will not be held accountable for his debts."
"Even if you signed the agreement yourself?" He smiled again, and it was full of malice.
He sat down on a bench that materialized from shadows and picked up the crumpled parchment. Taking time and great care, he unfurled it.
A juvenile signature was scrawled across its surface. The script was poor and faded, but I recognized it. I had signed it long ago, most likely under duress from my father. Perhaps he'd even forged it. Either way, it mattered not. I had no intention of upholding it, despite the forces of our realm that would hold me to it. Truth was, I had little choice in the matter, and Keelian knew it.
"You see, this is how I know you will fulfill the accord stuck with your father. Because both you and he are as good as your word."
The air resonated with my laughter. "You think you can force me to do your bidding? I invite you to try, Keelian."
His brows furrowed. "I think force is such an ugly word."
I crouched to level our eyes. "So is coercion."
All traces of humor dissipated from his expression. "Let me remind you that my form of coercion leaves a trail of undead souls in its wake," he said venomously. "Is that the amount of blood you wish to have on your hands? For I can tell you it will never be washed clean. You will carry it with you for the remainder of your days."
He was insane if he thought I'd be played for a fool by my father from beyond the grave. My days of bending to his will were long over.
Jaw clenched, I moved around him toward the thin staircase leading back to the woods.
"I am leaving," I ground out. "Do not follow."
"Without the favor you seek from me?" he replied.
I didn't turn around, but I stopped.
"When you sent me the redheaded girl, I was informed she would not be the sole traveler into the human world. That you wished to arrange passage for another before we had the veil sealed shut."
"She told you that, did she?" I folded my arms, not saying any more than that. I needed to know what other information Venus might have offered before proceeding. If I am to enter into another allegiance with the devil, then I would make it worth my while.
"Don't worry. She did not give away all of your wicked secrets." He paced a few steps. "I can surmise much of it for myself. You are engaged, you have broken your alliance with the girl, which has angered mommy dearest, and you want the girl safely returned to her world. Before your mother finds her." He nodded as if he knew he was correct. "And they say there are no codes of chivalry in the dark places of the world." His teeth gleamed as he grinned. "My only question is, why? Why not just marry?"
I truly doubted the leader of the Underworld could hold this much interest in my matrimonial status. I stared at him hard, sizing up his ulterior motives. The Shades always had them. They were as unscrupulous as they came, and while the Fey were merciless for their own personal pleasure, the Shades were driven by an insatiable hunger for power.
He chuckled as I attempted in vain to read his thoughts. "It's alright, you do not have to fill me in on all of your dark secrets. I will grant your request, for a price, of course. But we will need to know one thing. Will the passage be for one or for two?"
"Two," I said, watching with a keen eye.
"Hmm. And if you would permit me one more question for my own personal curiosity..."
The answer would be no, but he did not wait for one.
"I wonder...will you be using the second passage? I ask not only out of curiosity, but because I must warn you. Once you pass through the veil, there will be no returning. Not ever. We never intended for it to remain open permanently, you see."
My lip curled in a snarl. "You think your powers are so unmatched that you can seal the veil at will, without consequence or opposition? You're a fool." The Shades were powerful, but not undefeatable. No one was. If need be, I was prepared to fight, taking out as many of them as possible with me.
"I think there are many who will try to stop us. Many who already have tried. They have failed, and they will continue to fail. We are in control of who comes and goes within this realm now. And we have a very important task to see to. We cannot allow you or anyone else to interfere with that, you understand."
"I understand that your arrogance will get you killed, as my father's did him. But don't take my word for it. And I have no intention of meddling in your plans. I only want what you have offered. Now, name your price. What bidding has my father’s oath committed me to?"
"Come now, Zanthiel." He stroked the length of his dark beard. "You know me. I prefer an open-ended arrangement. I will do this for you, and the time will come in the future when you will do something for me in return. Quid pro quo, I believe your fiancé would call it."
I didn't flinch. Those were the worst types of bargains to agree to. One I would offer myself, were I in a position to do so. Giving the Shades the upper hand was a dangerous game. One I did not wish to play. But what choice was there? She had to be returned home safely.
"Incidentally, you should know that the two human weeks have passed for the redheaded Witch you had me send across. Perhaps you might want to cross over and bring her back yourself. Before King Oberon catches wind of her absence."
My jaw tensed. Wonderful. One more chore I did not have time for. I'd half a mind to let her rot there, were if not for the fact that Sylos would also be punished for her escape.
"At least then perhaps you'll see for yourself I'm a being of my word," he went on. "It’s one small favor, Zanthiel, in exchange for another. Seems trivial to cause such a fuss over. And you know how I'd hate for anyone you cared for to suffer needlessly." He rose, and his chair melted into the floor. Vanished from sight as if it never was.
My thoughts bounced from Lorelei, who needed their services, to Venus who was already using them. "Let us not play the game where you pretend to offer me options as if I truly have a choice in the matter, and I pretend not to know the dire consequence of refusing."
"Since when did your love of the game come to such a tragic end?"
"Since playing it only led to things like this."
He stroked his chin. "Wise. Well, the girl's passage is assured, if you fulfill the debt your father pledged to me. I will not divulge the details now, seeing as how you're pressed for time." His eyes danced with dark amusement. "But know, the time will come."
I folded my arms across my chest. "When do you think we will begin playing this new game, Keelian?"
"We already have."
"Then let's play." I resigned. "Just remember, I will require passage for two, or the deal is broken." I headed back toward the invisible doorway.
"You failed to mention who the second passage was for," Keelian called out.
Curiosity. There was a reason they say it will get you killed. But he wasn't about to let it go.
He materialized in front of me. "One for the girl...Lorelei, and the other is for...?"
Blocking my path, he waited with bated breath, wondering if I'd be sending her back to her world with the Elf. Or if I would return with her myself.
It was for Adrius, of course. It had to be him. He was the one she wanted. The one she had chosen. Yet, knowing all of that, I surprised even myself with my candid reply.
"Honestly, I do not know."