by Robin Roseau
“Right,” Poppy said. “We’ll be talking about your language when we get home.” Sue Ellen snorted but didn’t complain.
I held the soul aloft. “This was a young man, nineteen or twenty years old. He was murdered. And while he wasn’t perfect, he wasn’t necessarily any better or worse than anyone else. He’d made his mistakes, but we’ve all made mistakes. But he cursed his murderers. I’m not sure I’d blame someone for that.” I looked around. “Would any of you?”
Some shook their heads. Jake straightened and said, “Hell, no.”
“He got sent to Hell for that?” Kate asked.
“Not exactly. A demon heard, and as he lay dying, the demon promised to carry through on the curse.”
“Shit,” Jebediah said. “The demon killed all of them.”
“No,” I said. “It wasn’t a terribly inventive curse. ‘You’ll pay. You’ll all pay.’ The demon provided evidence to law enforcement, incontrovertible evidence, all of it fabricated.”
Jebediah snorted. “Serves them right.”
“As a member of law enforcement, I would rather evidence be factual,” I said. “But I think I agree with your assessment.” I looked at the soul. “You cursed three others, and you accepted a deal with a demon. But you’ve paid your penance.” Then I looked around. “Does anyone here wish to help me forgive this poor soul?”
“I do,” Jake said firmly. He stepped closer. “Dude,” he said. “Anyone would have done it. Lacey, can you tell how long?”
“No. A while.”
“Years?”
“A few decades, I think.”
“More than enough penance,” Jake said. “Isn’t that right, everyone?”
“Absolutely,” Hyacinth said. “We will forgive you, if you let us.”
They each said something similar, and then I pulled out my badge. My wings spread widely again, but this time I anticipated it, and I didn’t knock Kate in the head.
I felt a connection. “Grace?”
“Teigan!”
“Grace,” I said. “How are things there?”
“Things here are fine,” she said. “Did you find her?”
“It’s going to take longer than that,” I replied. “Grace, the soul?”
“Elisabeth Jane sent it to heaven.”
“Is Beth still there?”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Beth called back.
“I have two more. Can you handle them?”
“The last one took a minute or two before we could corral it,” Grace said. “Can you send them one at a time?”
“We can do that,” I said. “A few minutes.”
“Perfect,” she said. “I love you, Teigan Dove. I love all of you!”
“This might take a minute,” I replied. “Little soul, it’s time to go home to Heaven. You don’t belong here any longer.” I held out the badge. It took a minute and some urging, but then it was sucked into the badge.
“There you are,” Grace said. “Come here, you.”
“We’ve got this, Teigan,” Beth said.
“We’ll be with you in a minute.” I folded the badge case. My wings folded, and I felt a disconnect. I closed my eyes, took a breath, and then turned to Kate.
* * * *
I was at the bottom of the next pit when Kate called out, “Teigan, get up here. Now!” Before I could respond, the guys were yanking on the rope. I had enough time to tell this wasn’t the right pit, anyway, but not enough time to sort through the souls.
Then there was screaming, and I heard Kate issue a battle cry.
I burst into light, and my wings extended. I tucked them in, not wanting to get caught by the walls of the pit, and then the guys gave one last mighty yank, and they dragged me from the hole and forward five feet.
It took only a moment to take in the scene.
Theophania had finally arrived. She was hissing at Kate, who was brandishing her sword and was interspersed between the demon and all our friends.
Then Griffen was there. He hurriedly untied the rope, taking a few precious seconds. And I leapt.
Into the air.
Apparently, I could fly. Well, well.
I dashed ahead, and by the time I passed Kate, Theophania was in the air as well, facing off against me and snarling. “You!” she said.
“Did you miss me, Theophania?” I asked.
“Kneel to me, pet!” she screamed. “Beg my forgiveness.”
“I require no forgiveness from you,” I declared. “And perhaps you haven’t noticed, but I am no longer your pet.”
She glared at me, and then tried to look past me. I shifted, interposing myself. She smiled. “Did you bring an offering? I accept.”
“I didn’t bring an offering, Theophania,” I replied. “I brought an army.”
“That’s no army. I’ve seen armies. Oh, I like armies. They offer such opportunity.”
“I imagine they do.”
“What have you been doing with my souls?”
“They don’t appear to be yours anymore.”
“What have you been doing?” she screamed.
“You have something I want,” Theophania. “We can do this two ways. I can search your realm until I find it, or you can give it to me, and we’ll leave.”
She shifted towards my right, but I shifted with her, remaining between the demon and my friends. She shifted the other way, and I shifted.
“Or we can do it the hard way,” I said. I reached inside my jacket and withdrew the gun. Except it wasn’t a gun. I withdrew a long, gleaming sword and held it aloft.
“Put that away,” Theophania screamed. “Put it away, pet. Now! This is my domain. Mine! You brought power, but if we fight, it won’t be quick. Anything could happen. Perhaps I should release all the souls I control. Do you think you can protect your friends from me and them at the same time?”
“I could destroy you.”
“Perhaps,” she said. “You have come to my home and threatened me. That seems rather evil, Teigan. Put that away!”
“Care to negotiate?”
“Put it away first.”
I considered, shrugged, and then put the sword away. Yes, it was as easy as that, and by the time my hand withdrew from inside my jacket, the sword was my Glock again.
Yeah, don’t ask me. I don’t really understand it.
Theophania smiled, but she also withdrew a dozen yards before settling to the ground. A table appeared, right on the path, with chairs, one on either side, and a pitcher of water with two glasses.
“An offer, Theophania?”
“An offer,” she agreed. “You look a little unsteady there, pet.”
“I’m not your pet,” I said. But I smiled. “First time flying.”
“Nice wings,” she said. “Maybe come down before you hurt yourself.”
I actually thought that was good advice. I just wasn’t entirely sure how to take it. Although I didn’t trust Theophania’s apparent change of attitude. The demon eyed me and then began laughing. “You’re very new at this.”
“How long have I been gone?”
“Nearly five years.”
I stared, and then slowly I settled to the ground. Theophania folded her wings. I tried to make mine disappear but settled with folding them. She was better at it than I was.
“Do you need help with them?”
“They’re kind of new,” I admitted. “Is this an honest offer?” I gestured to the table.
“I don’t want to fight you, Teigan,” she said. “This is my domain. If this is all the help you have, I could drive you out, but I don’t care for the price I might pay, and I really don’t want more attention. It’s an honest offer, but I don’t have anything you might want.”
“I think you probably do,” I said. I stepped closer. She sat down gracefully and offered a gesture. I sat down, far less gracefully, struggling with the wings. Theophania offered another smile.
“We can be civilized, Teigan,” she said. She gestured, and when I looked, there were m
ore chairs behind me, and here and there, more tables. I didn’t count carefully, but it appeared there was sufficient water for everyone.
“I need you to clearly state you will negotiate in good faith,” I said. “And I wouldn’t suppose you could promise the water isn’t a trap.”
“A pomegranate might be more obvious?” she asked, arching an eyebrow. “The seats are an offer of simple hospitality, as is the water. There is no expectation or binding agreement upon acceptance.”
“Kate,” I called. The fae stepped up to my right shoulder.
“Ah, the fae has a name,” said Theophania.
“My lawyer,” I said. “Katherine Everest, this is Theophania.”
Kate inclined her head. “My pleasure,” Theophania offered.
“Teigan, I might be good, but I’m not in the same class as a demon,” Kate said.
“The water is completely safe,” Theophania declared. “Drink it. Don’t drink it. The only difference is that you will have had your thirst slaked, and we will all feel slightly more civilized.”
I considered, then I poured glasses, one for me and one for her. I set hers closer and then lifted my own. Without taking my eyes from her, I drank, and Theophania mirrored me.
“Please,” she said. “Sit. Drink. Don’t drink. But I’d rather you didn’t loom.”
“Guys,” I said. “Keep your eyes open. Kate, pull your chair closer, please.”
“Right.”
I waited until everyone was settled. Theophania smiled, but her tails were quivering behind her, and I didn’t think she was remotely as calm as she was trying to pretend. “Do I make you nervous?”
“You are a very intriguing woman, Teigan St. Claire,” she said. Her tails lifted. “This isn’t nerves. It’s excitement. Whatever happens will be the most interesting thing that has happened since you left. How did you manage that?”
“I will trade certain answers,” I said. “In exchange for what I want and a clear statement from you.”
“Interesting,” she replied. “It sounds uneven already.”
“You had me for two decades. I dare say you got far more for me than you would have gotten from five souls Evaline owed you. You can afford a slightly uneven trade. Or we can do it the other way. I can search each pit until I find what I want. If I stumble upon any more souls that don’t belong here, they’ll be going home.”
“I thought these were good faith negotiations,” she said. “And now you threaten me?”
“You told me a time or two it wasn’t your choice whether the souls were forced to remain here.”
She thought about it. “What is it you think I want to know?”
“To begin with, how I escaped you.”
“Evaline cheated me,” she said. “If I ever catch up to her, we’ll be having words.”
“You agreed I was sufficient payment for her past debt,” I said. “Your business with her is done.”
“We’ll see. Is that what you want? To agree my business with Evaline is complete?”
“No. I want the demon that killed me.”
She stared and then began laughing. “You’re here for justice, Teigan? Why didn’t you say so? You know I like a little good justice.”
“I’m not willing to pay your particular price.”
“I’d take the girl,” she said with a gesture. “She’s cute.”
“She is,” I said. “And she’s leaving with me. They all are. Do you want to talk, or do you want to fight?”
“Oh, I always prefer talking,” she said. “But that isn’t just an uneven trade. It is a deeply, deeply uneven trade.”
I reached into my jacket. Theophania said, “No!”
I froze. “It’s not what you think,” I said. “I’m about to make an offer, not a threat.” She stared for a moment and then nodded, just once. I withdrew my badge case, holding it closed. “Do you know what this is?”
“No.”
I opened it. She barely got a glimpse before she said tightly, “Please close it.”
I did then asked, “Is it painful?”
“I don’t want that kind of attention, Teigan.”
“I didn’t come here to hurt you, Theophania.”
“You don’t want a little justice?”
“No, not really,” I replied. “Give me a freebie.”
“A freebie, is it?” she echoed. “What freebie?”
“Do you like it here?”
“It’s my home.”
“Would you rather be in Heaven?”
She stared, and then she looked away. “That isn’t remotely possible.”
“Perhaps not. That level of forgiveness is well beyond what I could offer you. But if it were, would you ask me for it?”
She didn’t answer for a while then finally admitted, “I don’t know.” Then she returned my gaze again. “Why bring up what can’t be?”
“I don’t believe I am,” I said. “I am simply trying to determine if I know things you may wish you knew. But perhaps you aren’t interested.”
“Information is power.”
“You don’t normally trade that way.”
“Not normally,” she said. She licked her lips. “Could I see it again?”
“Of course.” I opened it. Light poured forth. She squinted, but she didn’t look away. Finally, she nodded, and I closed it and put it away. She stared for a moment then lifted her gaze.
“Such light has never been seen in this place until today. Teigan, I wasn’t horrible to you.”
“You were, sometimes,” I said. “I’m not here to judge you, Theophania. I’m not here to hurt you.”
“You enjoyed belonging to me.”
“Sometimes.”
“A lot of times.”
“Fair enough. Yes. But the bad times were really quite bad, Theophania.”
“I treated you as well as I was able.”
“I think I might believe you,” I said. “Why are we talking about this?”
“Maybe I feel guilty.”
“I doubt it. I think you feel cheated.”
“I definitely feel cheated,” she agreed. “And now you want to take away my only means of justice.”
“It’s not justice, Theophania.” I said the words gently. “Neither of us want this to turn into a fight. But I’m not leaving empty handed.”
“You have to do more than satisfy idle curiosity, Teigan.”
“I believe it’s a burning question, Theophania. I imagine you have spent a significant effort trying to learn how I escaped you. I have an answer for you.”
“It’s not enough. You have to know it’s not enough.” She looked past me.
“I’m not leaving someone behind, Theophania.”
“Not that,” she said. “A girl likes to get out now and then.”
“No.”
“That’s a poor negotiating tactic,” she replied. I was losing control of the conversation. I didn’t like it.
“What is she asking about, Teigan?” Kate asked.
“She wants to possess someone so she can travel to Earth. What happened to the last woman you used?”
“She’s grown old,” Theophania replied. She gave a little shudder. “And I’m looking to the future. Teigan, information has value, but not as much as you seem to think. Perhaps you should tell me everything you want. Speak clearly.”
“I want the demon who killed me. You’ll give her to me.”
“My, my,” Theophania said. “You’ve learned a few things from me. What else?”
“You will help me free the souls who least deserve to be here. We’ll start with that girl from Bavaria.”
She tightened her lips. “How many?”
“We’ll discuss it, but I would accept a good faith negotiation.”
“You would, hmm? Anything else?”
“I want you to agree that after this, we have no further business, and that ‘we’ includes Evaline.”
“And if someone comes to me with business, Teigan?”
“N
o one here is foolish enough to do so.”
“You came here, and you brought all of them.” She made a gesture. “And you haven’t even provided proper introductions, after I offered fine chairs and refreshing water.”
I studied her. “Was that a real complaint?”
“I’m not sure,” she said. “Yes, I think that’s a real complaint. This is my home, Teigan.”
“All right.” I stood, and then, one by one, I introduced everyone. Theophania also stood, and she offered her hand. As I began with Kate, and Kate accepted the hand clasp, the others did so as well. Theophania was actually quite gracious and charming, which I thought was interesting. Then we all sat again.
Theophania smiled. “So much more civilized. Perhaps we should move this somewhere more comfortable.”
“I don’t think we’re going to be here much longer.” I looked past her at the castle, barely visible in the distance. “And it’s a long walk.”
“I suppose it is,” she said. “Pity. Perhaps I should drag out these negotiations until you all grow weary and are ready for a nap.”
“Theophania,” I said. “You’re anxious to be rid of us.”
“Frankly, I’m not,” she said. “Not as long as we’re remaining civilized.” She looked past me and smiled. “I enjoy having guests, when they aren’t waving swords and freeing souls.” Then she sighed. “I imagine you have places to go and all that.” She cocked her head. “Give me a real offer, Teigan. I can evict you, and I don’t have to toss you all out.”
“Maybe you can, and maybe you’re bluffing. But you know I’d be back, and you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”
“But that’s not what either of us want.”
“No,” I agreed. “It’s not. Tell me you’re not curious.”
“I’m beyond curious, Teigan. You’re right about that. Yes, it’s been a burning question. But I can console myself. I need more than that.” Then she gestured to me. “That badge is quite interesting, but I don’t think the information you’re hinting at will prove useful to me.”
“You might be right, but it might be tradeable.”
“Not really my thing,” she said. “Not that I’d turn it away. But this is only simple curiosity. I’m interested in hearing what you want to tell me, but I don’t think the information itself has real value.”
