Any initial hesitation that the demons or humans had toward Vermil was blown away by the promise of power. For the residents of the mortal plane, it was a chance too great to pass up. Runes from the Damned Plains that had never been seen before... no noble would ever pass that up.

    Every single person that had a rune Vermil wanted rejoiced. They all bid without reservation. After all, it was easy. His asking prices weren’t measured in gold. Trading away relatively average runes in exchange for his offerings was an incredible deal.

    The demons bid with equal fervor. They could actually read the runes — and when a high ranked Demon Rune came up for auction, none of them could afford to pass it up. His requests were just too perfect.

    Vermil had every single person in the room dancing in the palm of his hand. In the span of just a few more minutes, he managed to auction off nearly a dozen Demon Runes of varying ranks.

    Jalen watched on, literally twitching in anticipation. Nobody else seemed to have noticed the growing forces of Inquisitors outside the auction house. They were getting ready to break in, he was sure of it.

    If Vermil hadn’t been so confident his people would have no trouble against Inquisitors, then I’d be getting Lee and the others out of here. Would have done it ten minutes ago. Well, maybe five. Or three. Can’t be missing the action — but the point still stands. Keeping them around with a sea of bloodthirsty ball-fondlers outside is hardly the move of someone with a nice and wrinkly brain.

    Linestra stood beside him, drooped over the railing like a wilting flower. She’d tried to make a run for it the moment he’d revealed the presence of the waiting Inquisitors, but he’d yanked her right back to the platform.

    They were going to need at least one survivor from the auction to figure out just what it had been that the demons had been planning. Jalen hadn’t missed Vermil’s expression when he’d killed the prick in charge.

    The demon had mentioned someone by the name of Orlen as he’d been split, and Vermil had flinched in response. He knew something about that name... and if he’d been unsettled by it, then it was probably important.

    “Please,” Linestra said, hope binding her tone. “Just... let me go. I don’t want to get killed by the Inquisitors.”

    “Where do you think you’d go?” Jalen asked, arching an eyebrow. “We’re surrounded. There is no escape. Relax. You’re probably in the safest position in this entire room. Spider knows the Inquisitors are here. Just sit your ass over there and keep bidding.”

    “That’s the worst part! I am bidding!” Linestra threw her hands up. “And I lose every time! This is humiliating! What’s wrong with my Runes? My offer was better than the one Spider chose! Why would he pick trash over me?”

    “Maybe you smell bad,” Lee offered.

    “He can smell me? From all the way over there?” Horror gripped Linestra’s words. She sniffed at her armpit, then frowned. “I smell fine.”

    “I think Lee was joking,” Aylin said. “You taste normal. Just a demon.”

    “I taste — what?” Linestra stared at him. “When did you taste me? And what do you mean just a demon? I can see your horns, you little brat.”

    “We are not the same,” Aylin said. “You are a demon. We are something more. Lord Spider has made us greater.”

    “That didn’t answer my first question.” Linestra slowly brought her hand up to her mouth and touched it with the tip of her tongue. “I do taste normal. What is it you mean by greater? And what is Spider?”

    “He is Spider,” Aylin said.

    Where did Vermil find this little straight-faced guy? I can’t tell if he’s fucking with Linestra or not. It’s hilarious. His expression is about as flat as a dinner plate.

    Linestra let out a heavy sigh and slumped back over the railing. “Can I please leave?”

    “No,” Jalen said cheerfully. “You haven’t won a rune yet. Keep placing those bids.”

    “I can leave if I win?”

    “No,” Jalen said. “But I figured giving you a goal would keep your mind occupied. Just relax and enjoy the moment, would you?”

    “This is blackmail. Don’t you have any shame?”

    “Right,” Linestra said dryly. “Forgive me if I don’t believe that for a second. An army of Inquisitors? I’m dead. I’m barely Rank 5. More than enough to deal with one or two of the wretched corpse-desecrating bastards, but more than that? We’re all done for. I’m just going to sit here and enjoy the flavor of everyone swearing vengeance as they get killed. At least I’ll get a meal as I die.”

    “You’re depressing,” Lee informed Linestra. She took the half-chewed arm and shoved it into the other demon’s mouth, silencing the surprised protests by pushing it in further. “Here. Eat this. It’s tasty.”

    Linestra managed to choke the arm down, coughing and sputtering. Then she went as stiff as a rod.

    “What was that?” Linestra whispered. “What did you just feed me? Why did it taste like—”

    A brilliant crash ripped through the room. Light carved through the darkness like glowing blades. Screams echoed out as hooded figures dropped from the ceiling and burst in through the doors.

    “Ah,” Jalen said, reinforcing the protection of the energy dome he’d put up around the platform. “Would you look at that? Here they are.”

    “This is an Inquisition,” a voice boomed. “There are demons present upon the premises of this building. Anyone trying to escape will be treated as a demon and put down accordingly. Do not leave your seat. Remain still. This will not take long.”

    Ice gripped the entire room in a vice grip as the temperature dropped like a rock. Jalen let his domain activate, grinding the magic away before it affected the platform they were on. Everywhere else, aside from small patches in the room where other mages were using their magic, frost spread across the ground.

    The Inquisitors had a powerful mage with them. Someone around Rank 6.

    “Fuck,” Linestra breathed. “I was really hoping you were lying to me.”

    “Sit straighter,” Jalen said, leaning forward in his chair with a delighted grin. “The fun part is only starting. You don’t want to miss this.”

    And then another voice tore through the air.

    Not from the Inquisitors, but from the lone mage standing in the center platform of the auction house.

    “Gentlemen, please. Calm yourselves,” Vermil called. Dozens of Inquisitors turned toward him as one. He didn’t even miss a beat. “I’m trying to hold an auction here — and you’re late.”

    “That’s definitely a demon. Deal with him!” an Inquisitor ordered.

    Another cloaked man sprinted for Vermil. His sleeves flapped back to reveal a large, bone rosary clutched within a hand. The Inquisitor lifted it into the air and it ignited with burning white light.

    Linestra’s teeth gritted in pain — but not a single one of the other demons on the platform even blinked.

    The Inquisitor skidded to a stop before Vermil, arm lowering in surprise.

    “What?” the man asked, his voice faltering. “He’s... not a demon?”

    Vermil’s laughter echoed through the auction hall.

    “And now, the final item of this auction...” Vermil grabbed the Inquisitor’s hand in a vice grip and brought the man’s glowing rosary right up to his face. He held it there for a moment before shoving the Inquisitor back and lifting his hands into the air. “My name is Spider, and I offer every demon in this room freedom. Freedom from Inquisitors. Freedom from yourselves. I offer you the chance to never fear again — and the only price I ask is your loyalty.”

    Jalen’s eyes widened. For once, he was so taken by surprise that he couldn’t even be delighted by the stunned silence gripping the room like a hand around a throat.

    Vermil wasn’t just trying to weasel a few runes out of people.

    He was recruiting an army.