Zoe pressed herself back against Wayne as a dark shape took hold of Foster and both vanished. Her eyes darted, back and forth over the small section of water that had just contained Foster. She looked torn between jumping out of the water as soon as possible and diving in after him.
There was an almost confusing amount of both eagerness and fear in her voice when she spoke. “Is this safe?”
“You should have little to fear regardless of what happens. Few demons would lightly harm you while wearing Our ring. Wayne Lurcher,” the demon said.
Wayne stiffened as he glanced up to meet the demon’s eyes. Relief almost allowed him to relax; her eyes were merely looking, not glaring. “Yes?” he said.
“Our interactions have been few, yet We do not find you distasteful.”
“We would offer a similar ring, yet none exist. We failed to foresee Great King Zagan’s actions and did not prepare adequately.”
Wayne blinked. Was that supposed to have been an apology for not seeing the future? Not for the first time, Wayne was wishing that the hel was a bit more down to Earth. Arachne and Catherine both could at least talk like normal people. Hell, even ‘Great King’ Zagan was more personable–from the few conversations they had had prior to Wayne’s extended hospital visit.
“Thanks for the sentiment–”
His stomach dropped to his shoes. Ylva’s eyes hardened as her ice blue lips pressed into a thin line.
It was stupid to decline. She didn’t even have a ring, there was no need to throw the offer back in her face. He could have dealt with declining later.
The intensity on Ylva’s face died out as quick as it came. With a graceful brush of her hand to one side, she said, “We find your rejection disappointing. Nevertheless, should you wish to ensure your own safety, remain at Zoe’s side.”
Wayne gave a slow nod. He hadn’t been planning anything different. “I can do that.”
“Very well. We do not believe Chance cares about the actions of mortals, yet We wish you luck in your endeavor.”
“Thank you,” Zoe said from his side.
There was the slightest of nods from the statuesque woman before she marched off down the beach, returning to Nel and Ali.
“Alright,” Zoe said to Wayne. She took several deep breaths. At the apex of each, she looked ready to jump in. The breath then deflated as she lost her nerve.
“You sure you want to go through with this?”
“Of course. Shalise is my responsibility. I can’t just leave her.”
Wayne shook his head. He doubted he would be so interested in jumping into Hell after
“Together, then?”
There was a moment of hesitation before Zoe nodded. She held out her hand.
Wayne took it.
“On three?”
“Works for me,” Zoe said with a nod. She started counting and Wayne started thinking.
As soon as Zoe said three, both ducked down beneath the waves.
— — —
Shalise blinked.
Or rather, Prax blinked and Shalise merely took notice of the brief blackness.
Prax’s continuing control of her body was doing a number on it. At least she had finally convinced him to eat something. Only after he had collapsed after not recognizing the signs of hunger.
She was fairly certain that her body had not slept since she woke up in the prison either. Not unless she counted the brief periods of him shutting his eyes in concentration. Shalise did not count that.
No progress had been made towards removing Prax from her body, either. It was starting to make Shalise nervous–as nervous as she could be in her current state. The longer they went without any progress, the more Prax’s thoughts drifted towards killing himself–along with Shalise–to escape.
“Silence, servant. I am considering nothing of the sort. Yet.”
“Someone,” he said, “has entered my domain.”
“You may have some modicum of control here,” he all but growled out, “but this is and always will be my domain.”
Shalise gave him a mental shrug. She didn’t
