Infernal Investigations

I went to my door alone. Bringing Tolman, Alice, or Melissa was likely to spook Varrow into fleeing immediately. Gregory had wanted to come see why his sister was here, but I managed to keep his curiosity barely restrained pointing out that he might make her clam up.

Two additional guests. I was going to brew a pot of tea. Definitely not because the smell of the two guards' tea from down here had been getting to me all morning.

That fey spirit was right, I was addicted. Well, worse things to be addicted to!

Going to my downstairs, Elise and Varrow both looked about the same as they had last time, although Elise had dressed down a little bit. Good move, considering that coming to the Quarter dressed like a noble would have ended in a kidnapping in half a minute.

The simple dress she wore was still very rich for the Quarter. You could still tell she was from a rich family, obviously, but it wasn't glaring like the sun the way the other clothes I'd seen her in were.

They'd somehow negotiated their way past the front door, both just inside flanked by the two Intelligence agents on either side. Both of them were staring at the wreckage still littering my first floor, both clearly reconsidering having come here.

"Elise, Varrow," I said, coming around my countertop. "What brings both of you to my house?"

They just stared at me for a second. Varrow recovered first.

"Harrow, why are you a fish?"

This was going to be my entire day, wasn't it?

"I'm not a fish," I said. "I still have limbs, Varrow. Have you ever seen a fish with limbs before?"

"Yes," he replied bluntly. "On my dinner plate, from the Nover. At least twice in the last month."

I paused. Okay, that actually sounded plausible, outside of Varrow having a plate. Vestigal limb sounded like one of the more mundane and benign things that could happen to any fish unfortunate enough to live in the waters of the Nover.

"You do look more fish-like than you did last time we met," Elise noted. "Did something happen, or is this just biosc-"

"You injected yourself with something and turned yourself into one of those mutant things," Varrow said with a wet cough. "You're gonna try and give me a second head this time aren't you?"

You know, I really needed to find which novel had stuck that idea in his head, given this was the fourth time he had suspicions over it.

"It's something I can't really talk about," I said, keeping in mind that there were two Intelligence agents here. They were dressed roughly enough that these two could easily mistake them for undercover Watch officers. Best not to antagonize Intelligence more than my plans already would.

Varrow coughed, a wet hacking noise that made Elise and the two Intelligence agents take a circumspect step away from him.

"Came here for my medicine," Varrow said, voice weak. "As for the fancy one, I have no idea-"

"My business is private," Elise said, deliberately not looking at Varrow. "If I could have a word in private?"

"I'm dying here," Varrow muttered.

"One at a time," I told them. "Sorry, but my upstairs rooms are already quite full, I can only host so many with my rather limited lodgings. And since Mr. Varrow needs his medicine first, lets get you handled shall we?"

Varrow's broke into a new coughing fit that made his eyes water, but still he tried to backpedal towards the door. "I'll get some medicine later, it ain't that bad."

He hit the two Intelligence agents, who with a quick glance my way prevented him from going any further.

"Varrow, please," I said cheerily, walking slowly since he looked like he was one loud noise from diving out a window. "Your condition is serious enough that regular treatment is required. As your doctor, I'd be remiss if I didn't make sure you get regular care."

Pretty much all lies, after weeks of treatment, he could probably skip a few without his condition worsening too much. I was not a doctor.

He glared at me, clearly considering the risk of trying to get out of here against the risk of whatever I'd ask.

"Nothing too dangerous, and there's pay," I told him.

His eyes narrowed. "Define 'too dangerous'?"

"Nothing that should put you at any risk of direct physical harm," I told him. "I need some supplies bought that I don't have time for today, and what you've heard from the streets as well. Supplies are nothing special, hardly anything you should expect to lose your head over."

He grunted eyeing the other three in the room with us. "If anyone asks where the information came from?"

"A whisper on the wind," I told him. "I don't think you'll need to worry about anyone giving that wind a name."

Even if any of the Intelligence agents or Elise could tell people we'd talked, me and Varrow would talk in private for the actual information. Without specifics, no one could know if Varrow had betrayed their confidence. Not that I'd be asking him for anything too dangerous anyway.

"Good pay?"

"You can always say no," I told him.

He grunted, then the grunt turned to another coughing fit before he got out "Fine."

"Who else is upstairs?" Elisa asked, peering up at the floor as if she might catch a glimpse between the floorboards.

Well, with the right spells, she might. She'd never given any sign of being magically inclined though.

"For later," I said. "If you agree to some simple things before taking you up. Varrow?"

"He doesn't need to agree to them?" She asked, while Varrow dragged his gaze away from the nearest window.

"She knows I can keep my mouth shut," he muttered. "'Specially when I'm likely to eat some Hellfire if I don't keep it that way."

Huh, I actually hadn't forced anyone to eat Hellfire. I wonder what might happen if I did?

***

"You're still alive?" Varrow hissed, trying to back out of the room, stopping just before hitting me. His eyes darted between the two of us, looking like a trapped animal for escape.

"Oh. Joy." Alice said flatly. "Hey Varrow. Remember how you had your little band of psychopaths beat me up and rob me when I was twelve-"

"Enough of that," I said, closing my door behind me and locking it. The click of the lock made Varrow visibly wilt. "Mr. Varrow is going to be helping us with the case."

"How?" Alice deadpanned. "Giving our enemies the cold?"

"Fuck you, Skall," Varrow hissed, looking over the other three. "What is this, a Black Flame reunion event, and a random priest as well? Who the hells are you supposed to be?"

"Gregory Montague," Gregory replied, nonplussed.

"Shite. You're one of those shapechangers, aren't you?" Varrow said, glancing my way. "Harrow, thought you'd have learned your lesson about dealing with those."

"I'm sorry, I'm what?" Gregory asked, eyebrows raised.

"Everyone knows ever since that happened the entire Montagues were taken over by shapechangers," Varrow said, eyeing him suspiciously. "Allowed to eat them by the Crown in return for service."

"You know, I haven't seen him in a while since the end of that case," I mused out loud. "You do act a little different than before perhaps?"

Gregory's eyes flared briefly with light, then vanished just as fast. He chuckled, and I couldn't tell if it was forced or not.

"Good joke," he said. Varrow's eyes narrowed further, but he didn't make a further comment.

"Well, with the question of if Gregory is really Hawkins in disguise," I said. "Varrow, it is time to discuss what I need you to fetch for me before you tell me everyone's little secrets."

He paled, his attention dragged away from Gregory.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to ask too much," I told him, and he paled even further. "I need a pig. Alive, preferably, but dead works as well. Handled discreetly. It probably won't be sufficient to last too long but it just needs to last long enough."

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"Or you could buy your own fucking dinner," Varrow said. "Why's it got to be alive? You gonna eat it squealing?"

A pause during which Gregory was very carefully not looking at me.

"Of course not," I said calmly. "I'm going to do horrific magical experiments on it that potentially break the laws of both crown and nature. Male pig please, and by this evening."

Varrow's eyes narrowed, but he went to haggling instead of refusal. "It'll cost. Especially if you want it by today. That's a lot of food that's going to the slaughter, unless a smaller one will-"

"Full-size hog," I said. I needed plenty of meat for what I was going to do. Hrrm, maybe two pigs. No, there shouldn't be that much waste involved in the process. "I'll pay you fifty percent over the going rate, so your pay will be whatever you can cut from the cost to get it here."

That got some angry muttering from him, but he eventually nodded. The promise of an actual finder's fee for the other goods I wanted helped.

"And a carriage," I told him. "Or a cart, if you have to."

"If you think a carriage service is going to serve Infernals, you really have gone fishy," he told me, then grinned.

"Oh yes, very clever," I said drily, getting my coinpurse out. "Luckily, I have stores of the thing that suddenly make every businesswoman suddenly in favor of equality."

Once a sufficient bribe had been added, I took Varrow to another room, given him his injection after sufficient assurances that no, it wouldn't turn him into a fish. Then Varrow was on his way, and my second surprise guest was on her way up.

"Gregory?" Elise asked, raising an eyebrow as I let her in. "I'm shocked you're here. Strange bedfellows?"

"Life has a tendency for it," he replied. "Why are you here, Elise?"

She didn't say anything, just inclining her head my way, and he groaned.

"They assigned you to this?" he said, then shook his head. "They should know better, this is-"

"I actually asked for this myself, Gregory," she interrupted.

"And what would that assignment be?" I asked her, trying to get in between any possible argument between her and Gregory.

"Right. Sorry"

Elise pulled out a pad of paper and a pencil, clearing her throat. Ah. This is what Gregory had meant when he mentioned her having an editor back at the warehouse with the second ritual circle.

"Ms. Harrow, on behalf of the Avernon Herald, could I interest you in an interview?"

Nothing but silence, mixed with a pained groan from Gregory.

I'd heard of the Avernon Herald. I'd bought an issue. Once. Then had incinerated it as a firestarter after seeing its reports on what had happened at Lord Montague's party.

"Really?" I said pleasantly. "Well, that would be a first, given the last time they wrote something about me they didn't bother at all the last time."

"I was sent with the hope that it would be a little easier for you to accept their apologies about that clearly fake article they wrote," Elise said. "That specific writer has been sacked, especially for the clearly spurious claims made, such as about you biting people's throats out, or threatening to stab my father with a knife. Or that you attempted to corner a member of my family to kiss them."

There were polite coughs from behind me. Definitely people clearing their throats and not trying to restrain laughter. That had not been the only thing claimed in that paper, but…damnations, I'd had the legs cut out of me by leading with things Elise, and probably her accursed editor, knew were actually true.

"Which one?" Alice said, tone deadly in its sudden innocence.

"No," I told her. "You do not get an answer to that, not after everything that's happened."

Quiet now, as our gazes met and everyone else went quiet and still. Eventually she looked away.

"Just curious," she muttered.

Sure. I turned my attention back to Elise.

Okay, why approach me? I was involved in this case, but so was several other people who were more easily identifiable and approachable. Anyone who knew anything could tell Dawes, Voltar, Gallaspie, or Derrick would know more than me. Was it because they thought Elise would give them an in? Barely, I'd known her for a few days and parted ways soon after. I didn't have any particular reason to be inclined in her favor.

Maybe just getting her out of there way? Elise must not have worked their long, this might just be something to keep her busy while the more experienced reporters were off pursuing those more important figures.

"Thank you for the apology," I told her, thinking on it. Even if her boss thought this was just something to keep her busy, or there was some hidden motive, there was a way to use this. "Now, on that interview…"

I glanced over at Gregory.

The expression on his face was clear as day in what it entailed.

We are not conscripting my little sister into this madness you've cooked up.

"Elise," I asked with perfect serenity. "I might just take you up on that offer."

***

Gregory remained polite for the rest of the conversation from that point on. From arranging an interview for later today, with assurances it wouldn't be published until tomorrow, as well as another interview later. I'd squashed any personal involvement in our activities to her disappointment, and then sent her off. Melissa, Alice, and Tolman followed soon after when Varrow arrived with the carriage, along with instructions from me on what to load.

When Tolman left last, as I enjoyed the tea I'd brewed, finally Gregory spoke up.

"Malvia, we are not involving my sister in this," Gregory said, politeness spread thin over those words. "I've already lost one sibling. I am not losing another. Final."

I winced. "I am sorry about Edward, and-"

"Whether you are not isn't really relevant right this second, as much as I'd love to talk about what happened with Edward," Gregory said. "You told my sister yes. Why?"

"Not out of love of the newspapers," I told him. "Not after what they've published about me. Listen, you know her much better than I do. Does she seem like the kind of person to give up on something after being told no?"

A pause, then some of that restrained fire leeched out of him as he slumped into his chair.

"No, she is not," he ruefully admitted. "She'll chase something until she gets it, for better or for worse. No matter what the damn risks are to herself."

"Then this will keep her protected," I told him, tail reaching for the teapot. Collapsing my fins so it could thread through the handle was more difficult than before, but eventually I was pouring more tea for both of us.

"I've restricted her access through us, but also promised enough to keep her agreeable to any demands, say, don't leave my house and you get as much of what's going on as I'm willing to tell you? Will she bite then or will she be obstinate enough to try sneaking out?"

I was not kidnapping her and chaining her in my basement. Outside of the fact she didn't deserve it as much as the others had, I was going to start gaining a reputation if I kept on locking people up in there.

"She might," Gregory admitted, more of the tension bled out of him. "How much are you willing to tell her, though?"

"As much as I can get away with," I admitted. "Probably close to the end of this. I imagine the account will mostly get dismissed as utter lies and falsehoods made up to make myself look better."

If not outright buried by everyone not wanting the true story to come out at the end. By then, that would probably be everyone involved.

"That is not going to go well with anyone involved," Gregory said. "The churches are already trying to make sure this doesn't come out at the risk of Hellgates opening, with even less at stake, some of them will try to silence anyone talking about what happened."

"Again, as much as I can get away with," I told him. "If that means covering up how many churches were willing to sign up with this fool plan, so be it."

Probably would have to be the case, if only because Elise would be targeted as well. Probably why Gregory was so concerned.

"Besides, I don't think they'll be the ones most irritated," I told him. "I'm not working under them after all."

"Yes, that is the other point," he said. "Malvia, if this is kept under wraps, Intelligence is hardly going to want knowledge spread about this case."

"Oh, I'm certain," I told him. "I think my days might soon be numbered anyway though."

"What?" He asked, startled, the teacup nearly dropping out of his hand. With an irritated hiss, my tail moved to steady it before he did actually let go of it. "Why?"

"I've had it heavily hinted that Intelligence is considering removing me from the case," I told him. "I'm not going to say who, but I think the source is pretty good evidence its coming from quite high up."

Gregory frowned. "Why? I mean, with what just happened with you and your attitude coming out of it being so-"

"Happy?" I finished for him. "Positive? Polite? Cheerful? Why does everybody have an issue with that again?"

He paused, clearly weighing his words carefully while I stopped my tail's movement from getting wilder and faster.

"It does come off as a bit strange to people who know you," he said cautiously. "Still it's not like an immediate need and it sounds strange you'd be told it's coming."

"Warned, more than likely," I said. "They want me to know it's coming."

And the why of that was very curious indeed, because it meant someone over Samuel Voltar's head wanted me off this case, and he perhaps wasn't in favor of that. Of course, that just opened up more questions about why they wanted me off the case. Untrustworthiness? Always an option, and Gregory was right about how recent events might put more weight on that.

Of course, if that was the case, why wait at all? Something else was going on.

"I have two methods to make sure I stay on this case," I told him. "I'll need your help on one, if you'll provide it?"

"Of course," he said, without hesitation, but then his confidence in that collapsed a little. "Malvia, you're playing a dangerous game if you don't follow Intelligence's directives. Your life-"

"-depends on them supporting me?" I finished for him. "Of course it does. I imagine it might take a little time, but this might end with perhaps not being dead. In a cell? Yes."

All the fire seemed to have gone out of him by now as he looked at me with a horrified look.

"Malvia, you can't just risk everything for this."

"For stopping hellgates from opening across the city?" I asked him. "It seems to be the kind of thing people are expected to give their lives to stop, isn't it? Have you ever seen the Hells, Gregory?"

"Of course not," he replied. "I've read accounts though, and-"

"Accounts don't do it justice," I interrupted. "Not just because the written word is insufficient for what the mind sees, the mind is an improper tool for seeing what's there. Souls shouldn't go there, Gregory. Not just because no one should be subjected to whats there, but because we aren't suited for it. So it breaks down what arrives. Grinds away the parts that don't fit until what's left is just as twisted, and just as at mercy to the things that have been lurking down there for millenia. I knew people who went there trying to escape the Quarter, decided whatever was down there couldn't be as bad as this. They were wrong."

I wouldn't get into the gruesome details. I'd put effort into that breakfast I didn't want wasted when descriptions of how the Hells made weapons of those who went there made him inevitably vomit. Or made it so you'd contribute to whoever claimed you down there in one way or another.

"The worst place doing this puts me is in the Hells," I told him. "I don't want to go, but it's an already-bought ticket. It might as well be spent doing something instead of finding a place to hide."

***

The carriage hadn't taken too long to load. In the end, I didn't need to bring too much with me, and what I might have brought had also been crushed in the fight. Most of my most valuable alchemical ingredients were securely stored away, of course. But everything in those display cases? Gone. The wards and various tools in my diabolist practice room? Smashed. I had my lab, but I'd wait until later to utilize that.

Everyone on the street pointedly were not looking my way as I trudged through the snow into the carriage. Another problem for later.

"So, where to first?" Alice asked drily as I joined her, Gregory, and Melissa inside. "To the Watch headquarters, maybe?"

"No," I told her. "That will be later. First, you and I are going to take a trip to the Hells' Own."

She blinked. "In disguise?"

"No," I replied, and her expression fell. "Oh don't worry, Edwards won't hold enough of a grudge to shoot you."

"I tried to burn down his tavern!"

"And failed, unlike at least two others, one of whom is still alive."

"Because Edwards considered breaking his ankles with a smithing hammer sufficient punishment!"

"It won't be that bad," I told her, as the others wisely chose to stay quiet. "You worry too much about things."

That got more stares, and a half-barked laugh from Tolman.

"You are going to get us shot!"