Broker

Chapter 136

Ishtar watched as Saleh and Mephisto left the great hall, leaving her alone with Erebus. She rest her hand on a pillar before glancing towards him. The old man turned young by one of her paper contracts watched the door shut and lingered for a moment. She crossed her arms and leaned against the pillar lazily as complicated emotions warred on his face. She glanced back at the door again, “You love that boy,” She said finally, “I’m a little sorry that I tested you with him. That must have been difficult for him, his father selling him like that.”

Erebus looked down at his hands for a moment and clenched them into fists, he glanced back at Ishtar and met her eyes, “A cruel mercy,” He admitted, “Part of me almost wishes you had taken his ability. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about him so much. I could hide him away, forget about him, pretend that he wasn’t worth my time,” He said before lowering his hands and letting out a sigh. “He is my young Prince, though, he will inherit the family over his brothers. Of that I have little doubt.”

Ishtar stepped away from the pillar and turned to face him, “You wanted to make a deal concerning the boy? His future I imagine? Do you want me to look out for him or something?”

Erebus shook his head, “Your alliance with the family is enough in that respect,” He said, “No, I have higher concerns,” He looked her in the eyes, “I am not a fool, Ishtar, youth comes at a price and it belies immortality. I am fully capable of death, it will come for me one of these days. Just like any person. I suspect even yourself.”

Ishtar huffed out a small laugh, “We’ll see.”

He snorted and shook his head, “I wish I had your confidence,” He crossed his arms behind his back. It was good to see him let his guard down a little now that there wasn’t an audience. Only the two of them. He turned away and walked towards his throne, resting his hand on the rail leading up to it for a moment. He glanced back at her, “If you can strip powers, I wonder,” He said after a long pause, “Can you transfer them upon a condition?”

She put her hands on her hips, “I’ve never tried it, if I’m being genuine,” She admitted, “Would you like to be my case study, Erebus?” She asked with a touch of humor in her tone. She had an odd feeling about the direction of the conversation. She knew what he was getting at and her instincts had mixed reactions. The little ‘voice’ belonging to Broker seemed almost jubilant while her own villainous instincts recoiled. It was a mixed feeling that she didn’t quite understand. Her lips formed a thin line and she pushed the instincts down forcefully.

“Yes,” He said flatly.

She narrowed her eyes behind the mask, “Be specific.”

He walked towards her, “My wish is that when my time is up, my ability and that of Augusts, should we acquire it, be transferred to the boy as part of his inheritance.”

“Are you asking me to officiate a will for you?” She asked.

“Yes,” He confirmed.

“I don’t do anything for free, Erebus,” She said coldly, tilting her head to the right. “What is this worth to you? No tests this time. I must extract a payment in exchange for my services. It is how it works.”

He chuckled, “I’d sell my soul for my son.”

It was Ishtar’s turn to be blunt, “That can be arranged.”

He looked up at her, his eyes going wide for a moment. He searched her mask for a moment, her stance, the way her fingers flexed and the way she leaned towards him just a little. She watched his eyes as the wheels turned in his head and he closed them for a moment. “Will payment upon delivery suffice?” He asked, “I didn’t realize I was truly dealing with the devil herself. I figured you for a very powerful villain but…”

“Give me your hand,” Ishtar said, extending her own. He looked at her for a moment before nodding, he took her hand. “Let me see…”

<Broker Deal: Deal Ready!>

<Party: Spice King Erebus, will surrender all abilities to party Saleh Abbas upon death. In exchange for this favor, Spice King Erebus will surrender his soul to Party: Sonya Chernovna upon his death.>

<Checking… price paid is sufficient to act as payment.>

<Would you like to designate the Inheritance of Saleh Abbas as an investment? All abilities transferred to Saleh Abbas will be returned to you upon his death if he does not choose to will them to another party in a subsequent will.>

Ishtar’s hand twitched a little, Fascinating. It responded so readily. I knew I could take souls as payment but this… why was it so natural? It even suggested a way to ensure that the abilities weren’t lost if something happened to Saleh. Why? Is it trying to preserve them for some reason? She wondered for a split second, considering the possible reasons but not settling on anything concrete, only that it felt eerily right to do this for Erebus. Have I been underestimating the capabilities of Broker?

She looked up at him, “I can make it happen,” She said after a pause.

“Then please,” He said with a nod, “Let us not waste time. I have a dinner party planned.”

Yes, insure the inheritance and proceed.

There wasn’t a charge between them this time, no spark up her arm, no sensation of tingling. Rather it felt like a warmth passed between her and the man. It caught her momentarily off guard and she pulled her hand away, concealing the momentary frazzling with playful steps and a wave of her hand, “It’s done.”

He looked at his hand for a moment then back at the door, “I felt it. A connection with him, for a moment, it was so strange,” He let out a relieved sigh, “With this my legacy is secure,” He took a moment to bow to Ishtar, “Thank you, Queen of the Villains.”

“I’m just doing my job.”

–

When the Spice King had said that he had a dinner party planned, she didn’t know that she’d be invited. It was a little annoying seeing as she normally wore a helmet that didn’t allow her to eat anything. There were options she could pursue, of course, and she took advantage of one of them while she stood in the bedroom that had been set aside for her. Mephisto paced quietly off to the side, rubbing his chin as he thought over what she’d told him about her second deal with Erebus. 

“You said the ability reacted differently? No charge?” He murmured, walking past the television as the news rambled on about local updates.

Ishtar took off her helmet. It still felt strange to feel the air on her skin. For so long she had been barely more than a state of mind for Sonya, but now she was fully realized, an identity of her own. Not that I want to be, stupid girl, She thought as she glared down at her reflection in the helmet. The small smile that the tiny reflection sent her way set her heart at ease, she was doing this for her. She could carry the burden a little longer until she was ready. She sighed, “No, no charge, warmth instead,” She said and he glanced her way, “What?”

“It’s strange seeing you without your mask,” He said, “Not Sonya I mean but, you.”

She narrowed her eyes, “We are one and the same,” She said warningly, “Don’t separate us in your mind. It’s not good for her.”

He paused and cleared his throat, “R-right,” He chuckled a little, “You know, you act like a big sister.”

Ishtar blinked at him for a moment and raised an eyebrow. She felt something on her face that was unusual, a sense of warmth. She chuckled once and then cleared her throat and looked away, “Don’t be stupid,” She said before raising her hand to her face to hide the small smile that bloomed there. She used her illusory ability to create a false helmet around her head and experimentally reached through it to touch her own face. It was easy enough to maintain and would conceal her identity while she ate.

When she looked back at him he was grinning at her. “Big Sis Ishtar?” He said cutely, blinking long lashes at her.

She snorted, “And you kiss Amos with that mouth?” She said with mock disgust.

“Every chance I get!” He laughed.

She snickered before tilting her head thoughtfully as she walked for the door, “When was the last time I gave you a vacation?”

“You gave me a week for the nobel prize ceremony,” He pointed out, walking alongside her.

“Oh yes,” She said with a nod, “Take another one after we’re done here. Drag that man of yours off somewhere nice. He needs a break too, I think,” She said as he moved to open the door for her, “How about the Alps? They’re quite beautiful.”

“Not a fan of the cold,” He said with a playful bow. She smirked at him and lifted herself a few inches off the ground, drifting forward instead of walking. This new flight power was delightful.

“Oh? How about a tropical island getaway?” She asked, drifting backwards before reclining in the air as they moved down the hall.

“I’m not staying at your place,” He teased, “I know what you do there.”

“The guest bedroom is fine!” She shot back.

“I was thinking New Zealand actually,” He said with a dark smile.

She narrowed her eyes, “It’s not a vacation if you’re working, Mephisto.”

“If I happen to run into anyone worth making a deal with during my vacation, it’d just be a happy accident!” He said with a laugh and dramatic shrug, “Not my fault!”

Ishtar rolled her eyes, “Very well, New Zealand is your next travel destination, you have two weeks with your darling to do whatever your black little heart desires,” She said as they reached the elevator.

He stopped next to it and hit the button to call it before sweeping down into a dramatic bow, “Your wish is my command, oh Queen.”

They stood there for a long while as the elevator came up, both in utter silence until neither could hold it any longer. They burst into raucous laughter as the elevator opened. Ishtar hanging upside down in the air and Mephisto leaning against the wall as young Saleh stared at the two of them in confusion. “Oh that was the cringiest thing I’ve ever heard you say!” She cackled, “Damn it Mephisto!”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! The opening was right there!” He wheezed before glancing up and clearing his throat. “Oh! Saleh! Come up to get us?”

Ishtar turned to look at the boy for a moment and he looked back at her with some hesitance in his eyes. He’s scared of me. Of course he is. She remained silent as she shifted back to a right-side-up stance in the air and drifted towards him a bit, landing in the elevator as Mephisto joined them.

“Yes,” Saleh said after a breath, “Master Mephisto, Mistress Ishtar. My father is expecting you,” He said before pausing and looking at Ishtar, “We are having dinner.”

Ishtar reached up and slid her hand through the illusion of her helmet, “Not a problem, dear,” She said before crossing her arms behind her back and tilting her head, “You have a good father, did you know that?”

“He raised me well,” Saleh said hesitantly, “Mistress Ishtar.”

She cracked a grin, “We’ll go with that,” She said as the elevator doors shut.

–

Back in the room, the television continued to play. The reporter shifted in his seat and gestured to the right as an image of a young man with brown hair in a floral shirt posed next to a Pandora Committee prisoner transportation vehicle. “In international news, the Hero First Wind has made another grand showing for himself, securing six dungeons for his guild and assisting in the arrest of over twenty uncommon-to-epic tier villains in the past month. While there has been some question about the collateral damage resulting in his activities, a spokesperson for First Wind stated that the costs have far outweighed the results.”

A number of scenes played out on the screen with the young man standing next to several portals one after another and shaking hands with another man in a black suit wearing a Pandora Committee pin. More images came of First Wind posing with fans, taking selfies and waving as he got out of a limousine. A clip then played from a liquor commercial with First Wind sitting on a beach with a brand-name bottle in his hand and a mysterious smile on his face. He took a sip and pulled down his sunglasses. The logo appeared joined by his smooth voice, “Smithford, for the Good Days.”

“First Wind has already signed with the Langrey Corporation based out of Sidney and through them has landed several advertising roles as his reputation continues to grow,” The reporter continued, “Langrey has put out a statement in regards to their support for First Wind, quote: ‘First Wind has the potential to be one of the most powerful and influential heroes in the world and it is our privilege to support him as he grows. His ongoing battle against the Supervillain Blight is just one of the many arenas that we will back him in and we are looking forward to seeing his rise to international status.’ end quote.” 

The reporter cleared his throat and continued, “First Wind is rumored to be on the short list of heroes expected to get an invitation to the International Team soon, and it is likely that he is already being given probationary assignments,” The reporter went on before gesturing to the right again as another face appeared. This time a young chinese woman with dark hair in a green cheongsam. She was standing stoically on a wall overlooking a horde of monsters. The caption at the bottom read, ‘Qilin in Dharan’.

There was a pause and then the woman gestured, almost lazily. A ripple ripped out from her and the creatures began stumbling into one another, tripping, falling and crashing into the ground. She gestured again and several men and women leaped off the wall wielding weapons and abilities, their bodies glowing faintly. The woman herself didn’t move, but instead watched from afar with a bored look on her face. They crashed into the stumbling and confused tide of monsters before the screen cut out and the reporter reappeared.

“Across the ocean from First Wind’s activities, the Hero Qilin has been sent from China to the front lines in Dharan to assist in the growing effort to suppress the fallout from the dungeon break.”