RE: Monarch

Chapter 47: Enclave XVII

It almost worked.

I approached her with practiced ease, as if my first instinct hadnt been to run from the room. Instead, I bowed low.

I apologize, Lady Persephone. My master is in the market for an information broker. Someone gave me your name, but they did not warn me. I let the words hang in the air between us.

After a pregnant pause, she closed on me in a blur of motion, pinning me against the door. A long black finger extended to a needles point, drawing a bead of blood from my throat. Her tone was dangerous. Warn you of what, little elf?

Of how utterly breathtaking you are. I looked up at her then, attempting an expression that past lovers had referred to as a smolder. I was careful to focus on the human side of her face, attempting to take the demon side of her face out of focus.

Her mouth quirked, and she nearly fumbled her glasses, gawking at me. Then she started to laugh. It was a light, easy laugh. For the second time that night, I felt my cheeks growing red beneath my mask. She wasnt buying it. I scowled and looked away.

Oh, no. Please. She wiped tears out of her eyes. Im not laughing at you, little elf. Well. I am. But more due to how earnest that was. Perhaps it is the mask confounding my senses, but for a moment, it sounded like you actually believed it.

But I do believe it, I said, not having to fake feeling wounded. I languish in the golden deluge of your hair, the low music of your voice, the secret smile at your lips.

And what of my other side, little one? Persephone asked quietly.

It uh fills me with starless excitement and longing. The promise of a night fulfilled, and a whisper of a danger treasured.

Damn it.

Her lips turned downward at that and I knew that I had erred. The disappointment was clear on her face. She gave off the energy of a predator, finally boring after toying with me for entertainment. So, I would damn well entertain.

I jumped back in before she could speak.

But I am not finished. I took several steps forward. Persephone rolled her eyes, clearly tired of the game. Your true beauty is held in neither side, just as assuredly as it is held in both.

Oh? Persephone raised an eyebrow.

Your true beauty is held in the dichotomy between. You are both danger and gentleness, darkness and light, green and blue. I looked between the blue eye of an asmodial demon, and the green one. There are many people in this world that can claim to be any of those things. Yet, very few that manage to be both.

Interesting. Most men tend to focus on one side or the other. They play up my beauty, or my demonic nature. You are the first to attempt to take me at my whole.

Then they are fools, I said, vehemently, my elven accent thickening with manufactured irritation. Then, I waited, my breath held.

Persephone removed her jagged finger from my throat, slowly. She replaced her spectacles and smiled. I suppose Ive toyed with you long enough.

I let out an audible sigh of relief. Thank Elphion for that.

Thats what you get for showing up in a ladys chambers uninvited.

If you say so. I rubbed at my throat. Can I get a water or something?

Of course. Never let it be said that the owner of the glistening gate is a poor host. She sauntered to the table and poured me some water and herself some brandy. I took a seat on the couch, trying to still my nerves.

You know, at first, I took you for a child. Persephone crossed her leg over her knee in a graceful movement.

Oh? I said carefully, lifting the mask just enough to take a sip from my glass.

The height threw me. But you dont sound like any child Ive ever met. Not to mention the distinct lack of wailing and crying when I tested your resolve.

That was an interesting way of putting it, I mused darkly.

Well, my mother was a pixie, so relatively speaking Im actually quite tall.

Persephone chuckled into her glass. The logistics of that must be complicated.

Out of sheer petty spitefulness for the scare shed given me, I waited until shed taken a drink.

They say it was a difficult labor.

Persephone coughed, covering her face and glaring at me suspiciously.

I shrugged. Thats just what Ive been told.

And what did this mother name you, then? She asked.

Sontar, the word slipped from my tongue automatically. Though, like yours, that is not a name shared with many beyond my immediate circle.

Mysterious, Persephone said. Her eyes looked me up and down, and I was once more glad for my cloak and mask. Let us dispense with the pleasantries. Generally, people who come to see me are interested in one of two things. And despite your silver-tongue, I somehow doubt you are interested in the first. That leaves information. Likely in regards to my heritage.

I cleared my throat awkwardly. Of course, I would never presume that you have the answers to my questions merely because of who you are.

Stop talking in circles and get on with it. Persephones voice was curt, as if to let me know she was only humoring me and I should damn well take advantage of it while I could.

I laid out the same story Id told my newly growing information network, careful to keep the details the same in case the word spread. I had no idea who Persephone was, or who she was working for, but Id talked to enough people that evening that gossip of an elf working for a mystery individual looking for knowledge around asmodials would likely spread quickly.

Persephone listened, but there was something strange in her face. As if she was listening to a joke and waiting for a punchline.

So, to be clear, your master is looking to locate an asmodial to bind. There was a quiet, high-pitched singing of crystal as she wound her finger around the tip of her glass.

And barring that, knowledge.

Well, Sontar, the only useful information I can draw from your story is that your master is a fool.

That gave me pause. How so?

Persephone shrugged. Youre an outsider. How much do you actually know about the act of binding a demon?

I thought back to the Everwood. That there are different types of binds. Some temporary and weak, others more permanent, such as a blood-bind that lasts generations. Some legions are much more likely to offer them, while some offer them rarely.

So, you know nothing, then. She observed.

I bit back a quick retort. Persephone wasnt going out of her way to be rude. It seemed like the sort of thing came naturally to her, like the way my face changed when I was focused.

She picked up after a brief silence. Perhaps that is too harsh. As weve already established, you are an outsider here, though why your master would send you stumbling through the streets blind and uninformed is unknowable.

Persephone leaned forward, placing her glass on the table daintily. The fabric of her dress hung from her shoulders, her moderately modest neckline made decidedly less-so. Im not generally one to gawk, but down the center of her chest was the jagged text Id come to recognize.

Her eyes locked on mine and I flushed, realizing shed caught me looking. Oh. Perhaps that poetry you spouted wasnt out of survivalism after all. She smiled crookedly as I sputtered.

Im fascinated by inscription magic. My apologies. I pulled at my collar.

Do you want to see it? Persephone purred.

I reeled in my awkwardness, leaning back in my seat. I thought you said you were done toying with me.

No fun whatsoever. Fine. Persephone sat up straight and adjusted her neckline, and I felt the tiniest sense of loss. What you are missingwhat I suspect your master left out on purposeis the fact that no one in their right mind would bind an asmodial.

Why? I asked.

Because they are monsters, even amongst their kind, Persephone said, matter-of-factly. I had no idea how to comment on that, given her appearance, so I said nothing.

Demons do nothing out of charity. It is as alien to them as if I asked you to stop breathing. If a binding is completed it almost always favors the demon, in terms of benefit. Demons of the Vephar legion incur some degree of sickness in their host, feasting on their misery and draining them of vitality. The hellhound legion favors loyalty, thus they are likely to require some degree of exclusivity with the infernal they bind with, known to renege violently if the agreement is even remotely eroded. The Beleth Legion is obsessed with acquiring the souls of great musicians and artists in general, thus they are bonded rarely.

I had a suspicion that I knew where this was going. And the asmodials?

Persephone stared at the wall, her voice filled with hate. They are the wings of death and chaos. They care for nothing beyond violence and domination. All they seek is to engorge their power and feast upon the blood of their enemies. They do not stop, they do not suffer fools, and they cannot be bought or bargained with.

There was more baggage in that simple statement than I could begin to unpack. I didnt have to fake being shaken. Her words were very much in line with everything I had seen.

I notice you say them, not us. Is there significance to that?

Persephone shook her head. I am weaker than the average asmodial. But that does not change the fact I could skewer you where you sit, eat the eyes out of your head, and feel no guilt for it. If anything, Id wonder why I hadnt done it sooner.

A cold chill swept through me at the casualness with which she said the words. From anyone else, it would have sounded like an idle boast. From Persephone, she might as well have been describing the weather.

Still, I had to ask. So, why havent you?

Perhaps it is because Ive learned by now that pointless murder brings more trouble than it is worth. Or perhaps, it is because you lie so well, my dear Sontar. The edges of her eyes crinkled. If I killed you, I would find myself unable to peel the layers back and discover for myself what makes you tick.

A long, uncomfortable silence passed.

Can I get some more water?

Certainly. Persephone refilled my glass.

I tapped my finger against the cup, feeling the coolness of the condensation against my bandaged fingertip. There was no question that the woman before me was a threat. Id seen what those shadowy claws could do to a person. It was doubtful that an aegis would stop them for more than a moment before shattering. But something was wrong with my mind. It was like the part of my me that felt terror was still numb from everything I had witnessed before the reset.

I needed to be careful.

As if reading my thoughts, Persephone spoke. Youre not afraid of me.

I grinned, falling back into Sontars cockiness. I can think of worse ways to die than at the hands of a beautiful woman. Much worse ways.

Vacuous.

Unabashedly.

Persephone leaned forward. This time, I did not look down. Having heard the truth, are you sure you wish to continue along this path? Assisting your master with this doomed task?

It is out of my control. I leaned forwards, mirroring her. I need gold to leave the enclave. My wages are hardly fair, but there are not many here willing to pay my kind at all.

She sighed. It always comes down to money, in the end. And here I thought you were interesting.

I shrugged.

Persephone crossed the room and sat next to me, uncomfortably close. She smelled like freesia and something else unidentifiable. I can ask aroundits certainly within my purview, but this information will not be free.

It didnt surprise me, but I grimaced all the same. The fund issue needed to be resolved as soon as possible.

My master is happy to pay, of course. Depending on the sum, it might take some time to

You misunderstand me, darling. Persephone traced a line down my arm, ghostly needles of her black arm scratching lightly against the fabric. I fought the urge to run for the door. I could use an outsider in my line of workand from what I understand, you have a bit of a monetary issue. Why not knock the price down a bit and kill two birds with one stone?

It was the last thing I wanted, and normally, I would have never agreed to it. Agreeing to put yourself at the mercy of someone literally tied to the enemy. But realistically speaking, this was exactly the sort of risk I could afford to take. It never mattered when I died in the Everwood, as long it was before the cutoff point. I always ended up returning to the same moment. It was a dangerous way to think. But my options were limited.

What do you need me to do? I asked.

Come back in a few days. I should have something for you.

Persephone gave me the information for several inscribers in case I was interested in acting on my interests, then stood and returned to her desk.

Feeling that our meeting was over, I turned back towards the door.

Your accent is off, by the way.

I froze.

Not by much. It was bothering me for most of our conversation, and I only just put my finger on it. Its got all the trappings of Derile, but the vowels are off, too elongated, closer to rustic Paredor.

I let Sontars irritation flood to the surface. My family was from Derilian plains, but we didnt stay there. Mother and father led a traveling bazaar, acquiring folk from many tribes along the way, with many manners of speech. Not that its any of your business.

Persephone smiled, though she did not look up from her book. Not a moments hesitation. Angry, but not over the top. Yes. I think well get along just fine.

Once a suitable distance from Mayas home, I ducked into a nearby alley to remove my mask and cloak. The artificial sun had begun to rise. I felt drained and exhausted. I pushed it away, walling off the exhaustion in my mind. There was something I needed to do.

Nethtari and Kilviuss face flashed in my mind. Maybe it was a bad decision, but I didnt want to hide things from them any longer. This was too big for me.

It was time for a family meeting.