Zoe shot Juliana a disapproving glare as she slipped the ring on her middle finger. Juliana didn’t care. She didn’t want to wait. In fact, it was dangerous to wait. Accidentally dropping the ring and having it roll off down the giant pit in the center of the room seemed like it might insult Ylva. Juliana didn’t want to risk any ‘slights’ against her.
The metal tightened around her finger, though not enough to cut off circulation. Juliana could feel a pulse in the metal every time her heart beat. An odd sort of feeling, but it went away after ten or so pulses. If she concentrated, she could feel it, but only just.
Despite her glare, Zoe plucked her ring off of the pillow.
Ylva’s attendant tucked the pillow in the crook of her arm and stepped backwards behind Ylva.
Juliana watched her professor’s face turn to one of surprise as she held the ring. Zoe tossed the ring in the air, catching it a few times. “Fascinating,” she said. “What is–” Zoe cut herself off as her eyes turned back to Ylva. She quickly cleared her throat and said, “sorry.”
“It is void metal,” Ylva said. “A type of metal only denizens of the void can fabricate.” Her eyes flicked over Juliana’s shoulder for a brief second. “Some denizens of the Void.”
“Hey,” Arachne called out, “I could–”
“Arachne,” said Eva in a quiet voice. “Not now.”
“The rings offer a modicum of protection,” Ylva said, pointedly ignoring Eva and Arachne. “A great number of beings will recognize the emblem and leave the bearers alone where they otherwise would not.”
Juliana let out the barest hint of a sigh. It wasn’t quite what she was hoping for.
Ylva apparently noticed. “Does Our gift displease you?”
“No, no. I was trying to guess what it might be. I didn’t even think of protection.” Juliana bowed to the towering woman. “I extend my thanks.” That sounded suitable for Ylva.
Zoe actually followed Juliana’s lead. She bowed and thanked the demon as well. The thanks that she gave came out more as a mumble than any kind of sincere thanks.
Ylva didn’t seem to mind. Her head slightly inclined in a sort of nod. “Until I require your assistance once more.” She turned on her bare heel and started walking back to her throne.
“Come along, Juliana,” Zoe said in a whisper. She started walking back to the door, examining her ring without even watching her surroundings.
After taking a step or two to follow after her, Juliana stopped. She turned back to the demon. “Mrs. um, Ylva.”
Everyone froze. Zoe spun back around as she hissed something under her breath that Juliana did not catch. Ylva and her attendant both stopped and looked back. Only two among them looked more or less calm. Eva and Arachne, though the latter sported a maniacal grin.
Ylva did not question Juliana. She merely stared. Her cold eyes seemed to pierce Juliana’s very being.
Licking her suddenly dry lips, Juliana said, “I was wondering if I might ask a question or two.”
“Juliana,” Zoe hissed, “we should be going now. I don’t think we should,” Zoe paused for a second as she glanced at Ylva, “take up any more of her time. I am sure it is very valuable.”
“We do not mind.”
A deep, almost disappointed sigh came from Zoe.
Juliana ignored it. “Alone,” Juliana said. She quickly added, “if possible.”
The sigh from Zoe turned into a sharp breath of air. Before she could protest, Eva said, “Juliana is a friend of mine. I’d ask that you do not make any sort of arrangements similar to what you made with Nel, Ylva.”
Ylva didn’t mull over the request for even a second. She turned to Eva and immediately said, “We possessed no such intentions. However, We request an unrelated, minor favor to be served at a later date.”
“Oh?”
“A minor issue regarding Nel’s needs. We do not believe you will find it problematic.”
“So long as I can veto this favor if I deem it unreasonable or beyond minor, I accept.”
“We acquiesce.”
“Zoe Baxter and I will wait back at my place. Come find us when you’re done.”
Eva had to drag Zoe out of the room. To be fair, Zoe wasn’t fighting too hard. Juliana got the feeling she was still scared of Ylva. The two were whispering to each other just quiet enough that Juliana couldn’t make out a word they were saying.
A resounding clang of metal echoed through the massive chamber as the door shut.
The attendant got on her tippy-toes yet only reached Ylva’s shoulder. She was only a head taller than Juliana, yet Ylva towered over the both of them. It took a lot of her willpower to keep from looking too cowed.
Ylva bent over slightly as the attendant began whispering.
“Acceptable,” Ylva said as she rose to her full height. “Nel will lead you to a side room where we may converse at length. Unless you had a scant few questions that are possible to discuss in a very short length of time.”
“I don’t know how long it is going to take nor how long you’re willing to entertain me.”
“You find Us entertaining?”
Juliana hoped that wasn’t offense leaking into her voice. “I’m sorry. It is a figure of speech.”
