Eva seemed confident. She waltzed right in there without a moment’s hesitation. Or her pet demon did, in any case. Did she actually know what she was doing?
Not a question that Zoe could answer.
Her own foray into diabolist activities consisted of nothing more than reading tomes. Tomes that Eva picked out. They were probably far tamer than others in an attempt to ease Zoe into diablery.
Zoe recognized it as an attempt to do the opposite of what she wanted to do with Eva. She had no idea where to begin easing Eva out of diablery. It was so heavily ingrained in her. Not just her hands, or even heritage if that was the case–that would explain her ability to use spells without a focus–but that Arachne creature as well.
The looks she gave Zoe were downright predatory.
Yet she hung off of Eva like a clingy girlfriend.
Zoe wanted to speak with the creature alone. Without her censoring anything because Eva was around. It would be easy as well. Eva told her she was leaving the demon at the prison while the nuns were in town. Zoe could pop into the prison while she knew Eva was away, pretend she was looking for Eva, and strike up a conversation.
She was afraid. Arachne seemed polite enough while Eva was around. If Eva was gone, would she still be so polite? Or would Zoe end up as lunch for the spider.
Bringing Wayne might not be a bad idea. He wasn’t keyed into the wards, but they could speak outside. Now that he knew about Eva, there wasn’t much point trying to keep more secret from him.
Zoe sighed as she slumped against cell house two. She wasn’t sure she wanted to meet with Wayne so soon after their argument. Argument was putting it lightly.
The door ground open. Zoe jumped to a combat stance.
Eva’s head poked out.
Zoe didn’t drop her guard.
“Ylva wants to speak to you.”
Zoe stared at the black-haired blind girl. What was she supposed to say to that. She wanted to say no. Zoe bit her lip.
“I don’t think you should decline. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you don’t make the same mistakes our friend made.”
There was a slight sinking feeling in her chest. “The nun?” Zoe asked. She didn’t know the woman apart from caring for her for nearly three days. That didn’t stop the nun from being pitiful in Zoe’s eyes. “Did–Is she dead?”
“Oh no. She’s alive and will be well hidden from Sister Cross in Ylva’s care. She may have accidentally,” Eva gave a light cough, “entered into a long-term service agreement in exchange for said protection.”
“That… doesn’t sound so bad.”
“It really isn’t, though I wouldn’t want either of us to be in her position if we could help it.”
Zoe couldn’t argue with that. “What did she want with me?”
“Didn’t say,” Eva said with a nonchalant shrug.
“And you think this is a good idea?”
“Ylva is big on politeness and respect. I didn’t say it was a good idea, but I think it is a terrible idea to refuse.”
Zoe sighed. There was a reason she had stayed outside. Lots of reasons, if she was honest. Most revolved around not wanting to be in Ylva’s presence again.
With reluctance and not a little trepidation, Zoe walked through the open door. Eva followed just behind her with Arachne at her heels.
The door slammed behind her. Zoe dropped to one knee.
Eva stayed standing and Zoe was pretty sure she heard a snicker from Arachne.
Humiliating. But she didn’t want to crack her kneecaps if the demon decided to force her to kneel.
“We see you have acquired proper decorum in the time since our last meeting.”
Zoe chanced a glance up. Like last time, a skeleton sat in a great throne atop a platform suspended over a bottomless pit. A ray of light shone down from the tempest above.
Unlike last time, the skeleton was not slumped backwards in the throne. It leaned forwards, still resting its skull on its fist. Its other hand stroked the black hair of a woman sitting on the floor between the skeleton’s spread knees.
It took a moment to recognize the face of the woman through the tears. Nel Stirling. Every time that skeletal hand brushed through her hair, the nun quaked in her seat. The robe Zoe loaned her was missing. A black collar around her neck that was not there before was the only visible clothing.
“Ylva didn’t like the robe,” Eva explained without being asked. “She said she’d find some proper attire after we leave.”
Zoe cleared her throat as a stalling tactic while she tried to overcome her shock. That didn’t sound so bad, she thought back to what Eva had said. Long term service. It looks much worse. She couldn’t help but wonder just how long-term that service was supposed to be.
“I had time to reflect on my actions,” Zoe said. “I apologize for my behavior. I was scared, nervous, and worried due to missing a student at the time.”
“We understand.”
“Thank you.” Zoe didn’t know what else to say.
“You have arrived in Eva’s domain many times. You never visited Our domain. We promised a reward for delivering Our message, something Eva mentioned was accomplished. Do you not wish to be rewarded?”
“I–”
“Don’t decline,” Eva said quickly, “she was offended the last time I declined a gift.”
“I meant no slight,” Zoe said after taking a minute to decide her words. “I presumed you wished to reward my student, as she was the one who actually delivered the message.” Zoe bit her lip. Did I just throw Juliana to the wolves? I shouldn’t have said that.
“Juliana Rivas. We remember. The reward was offered to both for a single task. We offer Our reward to both. Present yourself alongside her within thirty days.”
“I understand.”
The door slid open behind her, grinding on its hinges as it went. Zoe understood that she had been dismissed.
With a last look at the still crying Nel, Zoe turned and tried her hardest not to look like she was running away.
Chapter 013
The end of class chime stopped Bradley Twillie’s lecture on eloko. They were a species of dwarf that prefer forests over the underground mountains of their cousins. A small group apparently lived not far from Brakket.
Curses that they put on unaware explorers and hikers were of particular interest to Eva. The one that caused traveler’s senses to swap seemed particularly interesting. Professor Twillie wasn’t entirely clear, but it sounded like the curse made someone smell sounds, see touches, hear light, and so on.
He also did not mention if they were thaumaturgical in nature or if the eloko used some other magic system. Zoe Baxter might know. Eva made a mental note to ask later.
Eva quickly snapped her notebook shut and tossed it into her bag. Shalise was already out the door along with Irene and Shelby. The wavy-haired brunette had been distant, though not exactly unfriendly since the incident with Sister Cross just over a week before.
Understandable though it was, it grated on her nerves. It wasn’t like Eva attacked Sister Cross. The nun attacked first.
Juliana fell in step with Eva as they walked out of the classroom. “Don’t worry about it,” the blond said.
Eva quirked an eyebrow at her friend.
“Shalise will come around. She’s just getting over the shock of walking in on a life or death fight between her roommate, her teacher, and her,” Juliana paused. She tapped her finger to her chin several times before shrugging. “And whatever Sister Cross is to her.”
“I know. I’m not holding it against her.” Eva flexed her fingers within her gloves. The lack of a cast over one arm felt so much more liberating. If only she could get rid of her gloves without a public outcry and condemnation.