Chapter 226: Fracture XXXI

    "We''re going to need more than that." Maya tapped her foot. Behind her, the regiment continued to unpack their horses. Bringing the animals into a filthy environment littered with all sorts of debris likely to cause scrapes and abrasions would be a death sentence for half of them at least, so the plan was to leave them behind.

    "Can''t give you more." Ozra shook his head. "Technically, what I''ve already said could be judged to be in violation. If the judge was biased. Which they always are."

    "Violation of what?" I asked, growing exasperated.

    Ozra mimed sealing his lips shut.

    I clasped the cold amulet on my neck, summoning Vogrin. The demon appeared, his stark visage drawing several gasps as nearby members of my regiment stared, then went on about their business without comment. Yet even now, no one was paying attention to Ozra.

    "He''s being coy." Vogrin said, rubbing his chin.

    "Seems like a scouting opportunity." I suggested.

    "Indeed." Vogrin rotated in mid-air, growing almost translucent as he approached the gate.

    "Really wouldn''t do that." Ozra called out.

    Vogrin halted mid-flight, hand on the gate, twisting around to glower at Ozra. "I''m contracted. Even if there''s something inside capable of killing me, my contract holder could bring me back within the hour."

    "And if your sustained existence was my primary concern, you''d be correct in that assumption. In fact, I might even encourage you." Ozra stage-whispered to me. "He gets so very prickly when he dies."

    I could relate. "Respectfully, Arch-fiend, is there any way you could be less circuitous?"

    "Absolutely not. But if you all insist on smattering me with questions, let’s take this to a more private setting.” Ozra snapped his fingers, and the outside world grew hazy, trails of gray smoking separating me, Maya, Annette, and Vogrin from the rest of the regiment. Again, they didn’t seem to notice. An uncomfortable reminder of how powerful the arch-fiend was.

    "Believe it or not, this is my lord and malefactor at his most generous. He seems to be in a magnanimous mood thanks to his vacation. These are all hints... frustrating as they are." Vogrin said tiredly. "So far we can draw the conclusion that there is a serious threat still lingering within the sewers, scouting is pointless, and permanent or temporary, my death is not the issue."

    Ozra held up a finger. "A quick correction. I never said that scouting wouldn''t help."

    "You–" Vogrin bit off an angry retort, then rubbed his chin, mulling the new information over. "Ah. Scouting is not the issue. Me being the one to carry it out is where the problem lies."

    "I tend to advise against strategic actions that will achieve nothing at best."

    "If there''s something in there, I will find it." Vogrin countered. Then frowned. "Yet my thoroughness is an attribute you''ve always valued. You''re aware of that. So again, my aptitude is not the problem."

    Ozra scanned the group expectantly.

    It hit me later than it should have. "It''s a safe assumption, based on context, that the arch-fiend is acting in good faith." When both Ozra and Vogrin scoffed, I amended. "Acting in as good of faith as a demon is capable of." That seemed to go over better, so I continued. "Considering his mood and demeanor, and the fact I don''t think he''s boorish enough to fabricate a problem where none exists, we can extrapolate that there''s a real threat, he knows exactly what it is, and while he believes you''re capable of finding it, you would---for some obscure demon reason---not be able to report it. ''Achieving nothing at best.''"

    "I am anything but boorish." Ozra agreed.

    "My mind went there as well." Vogrin agreed, growing visibly irritated. "But nothing connects. Soul-bound contracts favor the binder by design, that''s the point. There''s no temptation in a bad deal. Our contract supersedes almost any agreement or pact the asmodial legion holds."

    Ozra nodded condescendingly. "What precise and accurate wording."

    Vogrin''s mouth opened, then slammed shut, the deathly pallor of his face growing lighter. "You can''t be serious."

    A fetid breeze ruffled Ozra''s hair, and he closed his eyes, savoring the moment. He held out a hand that was mostly human, save the long needled nails, and held it palm up. "I''d like to inspect the necklace, if you please."

    Maya slowly withdrew the amulet that housed Kastramoth, her hellhound summon.

    "Not that one, infernal."

    The reaction was instantaneous as Maya froze. Painstakingly slowly, she withdrew the locket that housed a shard of the enchanted mirror. "You were watching me. In the sanctum."

    "Long enough to realize that at the pace you were going, you were not long for this world." Ozra opened one eye and peered at her. "Did you really believe that gaggle of idiots you saved from the wyvern were grateful enough to search the entire hoard for the one legendary artifact capable of keeping you alive?"

    "Demons do not gift freely." Maya''s complexion flushed. "This is a lie. A cheap trick."

    "My tricks are priceless. And I was only watching over you because someone asked me to." He cast a meaningful look at me. "The locket, please."

    Maya gripped the locket tightly, grip finally slackening as she handed it over. Ozra popped open the locket and withdrew the shard, discarding the housing and holding it up to the sun. "Even in this sad, diminished state, it pains me to hold it. I always wondered. Did you know of its divine origins, before putting it to the uses you did?"

    "Yes." Maya stared at the ground, her voice hollow.

    Ozra stared into the shard, thoughtful. "You speak as if I''ve never seen you, expatriated from your loyalty. But I know exactly who you are once severed from it. When I imparted this, I expected the rage was a fugue you''d wake up from. Instead, I watched, spellbound, as you stripped away every weakness, amputating every inconvenience, forging yourself into---"

    "A monster." Maya spat, bitterly.

    Ozra shook his head slowly. "No, infernal. A masterpiece. Or the very precipice of one. A perfect fusion of brutality and efficiency, constantly iterating and evolving. And as there is no greater tragedy than an artist denied her brush..." The arch-fiend snapped his fingers, and a whirlwind of reflective mirror fragments assembled around the shard.

    Maya''s eyes widened. "It was dust. Nothing left but that single shard."

    "It''s been something of an undertaking. But I believe the time and effort will be worth it. Unfortunately, the divine energy held within it is long gone," Ozra''s face was a mask of focus, as he reconstituted the mirror, the spider webbing cracks disappearing slowly. The mirror—once cloudy and light—gained clarity as it changed tone, growing darker by the second. On the ground nearby, the locket melted, floating dots of liquid gold floating up towards the mirror, forming a thin frame. "Thankfully, there''s a convenient substitute. Just as powerful, and far less picky about the manner it is used."

    "Stop." Maya held out a hand. "This was to satisfy my curiosity. My soul was never on the table. No matter what you offer, that will not change."

    "There''s that word again." Ozra chuckled. "Make no mistake. I never intended to ransom this. Nor to extort you over certain details I''m all but certain were glossed over in the retelling." Maya recoiled and stared at the ground again. "But we both know there''s something only I can give you. Something you would trade your soul for in an instant. Consider this a loan, lent without interest, due the day you decide you''re ready for that conversation." The now complete mirror floated out of Ozra''s palm and hovered in front of Maya.

    Reject it. Tell him you want nothing to do with it.

    I urged silently, hoping my feelings would reach her. As far as I could tell, there wasn''t a trap. But if Maya accepted it, it meant Ozra had his foot in the door. As much as I wanted to argue, it wasn''t my decision to make. It was hers.

    "And if that day never comes?" Maya asked, taking the mirror and studying her own reflection.

    "Then I have returned an artist her brush, and will consider it my good deed for the millennia." Ozra sighed. Then suddenly changed tact, perking up. "And of course, there''s someone truly special. A soul that brought new magic into the world, after centuries of stagnancy, one that I have heard no end of." His gaze landed on Annette.

    My sword leapt into my hand, propelled by wind, as demon-fire ignited the blade. I pressed the point against his neck, and when I spoke, my voice was raw.

    "Enough."

    He chuckled, never looking away from my sister. "How long have the nightmares plagued you?"