Void Domain, Book 04 полностью

“I don’t understand.”

“Your ring serves only to warn others that its bearer is under Our protection. The skull adorning Nel’s necklace serves a similar function, though through it, We are able to perceive what Nel perceives. The skull within Eva’s domain allows Us to view everything within the surrounding area.

“The skull destined for Ali allows that and more. Because of the relative low power of Nel’s necklace, Elysium augurs possess superior tracking methods.”

“And you’ll locate Nel through them?”

Ylva smiled. It wasn’t a murderous smile that Arachne might have upon locating her enemies.

It was polite and regal. Just seeing it made Zoe feel accomplished. She had to suppress her own smile. Understanding Ylva’s plan wasn’t worthy of feeling fulfilled.

“Is there anything I can do, Ylva? I don’t care what it is. I just need to be doing something. Anything that will help Juliana and Shalise. And Nel, I suppose.”

Ylva turned her head, staring off towards her throne.

After a minute of her staring, Zoe said, “I know Genoa feels the same way.” Or she would if she were sober. “We need to be able to see progress and assist in that progress ourselves.”

“We will require her power upon locating Nel. Your strengths lie outside of combat.” Dead eyes turned their gaze down toward Zoe. “There may be one task you are able to perform at this moment. You may not enjoy it.”

“I said anything, so long as it will help.”

“Excellent,” Ylva said with another smile. “Follow.”

For a moment, Ylva looked like she was going to return to the torture chamber. Zoe was pleasantly surprised when the library turned out to be her final destination.

That meant research of some sort. She could do research. Zoe was good at research. If it helped out Juliana and Shalise, all the better.

And in Ylva’s massive library. She couldn’t read most of the books, but perhaps Ylva had a way around that.

Zoe had a feeling she might actually enjoy this assignment.

“Mortals. Free me.”

Juliana stared. It was a stare of pure disbelief. He couldn’t be serious.

She stared for another reason too. The demon before her was utterly and thoroughly ripped. Juliana had only seen one other with as awe-inspiring musculature. That, oddly enough, had also been a demon. Zagan, during his fight with the nuns, had offered a lifetime supply of eye-candy.

Looking closer–without actually entering the cell–Juliana decided that Zagan was better. He was well-defined. This demon was more bulgy than anything. Too inhuman.

Shaking her head, Juliana turned her focus to more important things than some random demon’s body. Namely, the fact that he wanted them to free him.

That wasn’t about to happen.

In her experience, regular demons were volatile enough. And that was with a properly set up shackle. The theater-demon had said it himself, they were basically required to try to kill their summoner.

But this guy was in prison. And not even a regular cell, some kind of fancy cell with a magical shield keeping him in and metal restraints keeping him chained to the wall. Whatever he did must have been something terrible.

Or, a traitorous thought slipped through Juliana’s mind, maybe he did something good–like not killing his summoner–that was seen as bad in demonic society.

No. Juliana shook her head. That’s silly.

“Come on Shalise.” Juliana took a step away from the cell. “Don’t talk to him, it will only encourage him.”

“You are making a mistake,” he growled. The chains rattled as he tugged one arm towards Juliana. “You will be lost in this place for eternity.”

That stopped Juliana in her tracks.

Shalise hissed in her ear. “You can’t be considering it. He’ll kill us. Or worse.”

“Of course I’m not,” Juliana said with a frown. Despite her words, she turned back to the captive demon. “How large is this place?”

“Beyond your comprehension.”

“You’re just saying that to get us to let you out. Give a more reasonable scale for this prison. Where’s the exit?”

He gave a loud, uproarious laugh that made Shalise shudder at Juliana’s side. “What would a mortal know of the Void? Demons cannot die and yet new ones are,” his face twisted into a sneer, “born. What do they do with the repeatedly unruly demons? This place has a constant influx of prisoners; it is ever-growing to accompany them.”

“And just what is considered ‘unruly’ among dem–”

Shalise grabbed Juliana’s shoulder. “You’re ignoring your own advice. Remember? Don’t talk because it encourages him?”

Juliana pressed her lips together. That was true. “But if he isn’t wrong,” Juliana whispered, “we could be stuck in here forever. Or at least until we starve.”

“He is going to convince you into letting him go if you keep talking.” Shalise took a step back, shaking her head. “You got us stuck here in the first place and now you’re going to get us killed.”