NOVEL NEXT Book 8 - The Demons - Chapter 3
It was dark.
Not pitch black like when we started a floor boss, but like at night without a moon.
"Twice in one day?" Mive snapped his fingers and it began to get lighter.
We were still in the same meadowy landscape that he'd brought us to before.
Sydney hit her knees and put her face to the floor. I guessed her reaction was probably normal for most people. Gods were absolute within their cities and their power was unrivaled by anyone else in those cities. Instant humility might have been my reaction as well if I wasn't one on top of having already been in the presence of three, plus technically Trent, who had the potential to become one.
Mive turned to Whisper and opened his arms like he was going to give the other man a hug. "And…"
"I go by Whisper Err now." Whisper nodded at Sydney. "We need you to do a truth spell on this one."
"A favor?" Mive raised an eyebrow. "And what is to be given in return?"
"I've got a bone to pick with this one and I wanted a private place to do it." The silver man turned around. "This seems like a good place."
Mive shook his head. "That is two favors for nothing… That won't do."
"Look kitty, if she's loyal, then she can help get you out of the city. If she's not, then she helped set us up to keep from rescuing you." Whisper eyed the God. "I don't have any deals with you, which means that I could walk out of here and leave you to those finger-chin things."
A picnic table appeared in front of Mive and the Fox-Man sat down and began to sip some tea. After a few sips he nodded. "You have a point Whisper Err. A deal can be made."
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"Up." Whisper grabbed the back of Sydney's shirt and hoisted her to her feet. He guided her over to the table and sat her down across from Mive. She winced as he grabbed her arm and laid it palm up across the table, then looked at Mive. "Do your thing."
"You didn't need to be so forceful." Mive patted the green woman's hand. "She would have walked over here willingly.
"And taken her sweet time too." Whisper backed up. "The faster she's out of here, the faster I get my answers."
"As you wish." Mive looked at Sydney. "Don't worry, this won't hurt…" He closed his eyes as she winced. After a moment he opened them again. "She knows nothing about the ambush. I imagine it was a trap that she stumbled into." The Fox-Man shook his head. "But she does know that both of her daughters were given the same mark as the one on Astrid, but as far as she knows her husband doesn't have one."
There was shock on her face and she tried to speak, but nothing came out.
"I'm sorry dear. I can look because it is the same seal that holds me. But this is my mind. It has no power over me here." Mive shook his head and patted her arm. "I'm sorry I allowed this to infect our city, I should have been more vigilant."
A tear started to roll down her cheek and then she vanished.
"She'll try to help you get out of the city, but I fear you have a much bigger problem brewing." Mive looked up at the sky.
"And what's that?" Whisper folded his arms in front of himself.
"As they discussed plans and options, I learned a great many things about what their goals are." The Fox-Man looked at me. "Since this may help you free me, there is no need to exchange, though I feel that the coming discourse between the two of you will be quite worth the price of this information regardless."
That did not make me feel comfortable about what I had done.
"Also you should limit your trips here." Mive looked around. "You are like an ant entering a house. How many times can you get in before the owner sees you?"
I swallowed. While it was probably a fair assessment of the difference of power between us though.
"Whatever. I don't plan on being back here." Whisper poked me in the shoulder. "You wanted to know what my problem with you is? Just who are you, because I know for a fact you're not Trent's kid!"