Void Domain, Book 07 полностью

Ylva’s chair had clearly not been designed with someone of her stature in mind. It was too small by half. Ylva must have done something to it, or it would have snapped under her weight. Not to say that Ylva was overweight, it was just that she had a few feet on the average human. While not in her skeleton form, she had a good amount of meat on her bones as well.

Eva hadn’t gone into the bedroom, but she was willing to bet that the bed would be small even for a human. The apartment complex was just cheap like that.

It took a moment before she remembered that Ylva probably didn’t sleep much anyway.

All in all, Ylva stood out from her surroundings like the proverbial elephant in the room.

Despite the oddity and awkwardness that should be there, Ylva still managed to maintain her regal elegance. She did not, however, manage to retain the slouch that she so often posed in upon the throne in her domain. Her back was straight, poised as if she had an artist creating a portrait akin to those of middle-age royalty.

And yet, as Eva waited another few minutes, Ylva did not pour that elegance into words explaining her decision.

“I understand,” Eva said with a shallow nod of her head.

Ylva was supposed to have been the easy sell. The one who already knew what the treatment was from her times observing. One that knew Eva well enough and the one who Eva had the best rapport with.

That one had just declined.

Standing from her kneeling position, Eva clenched her fist.

Being disheartened was not only beneath Eva, but it was far too early. There were plenty of other demons around town and Ylva had merely been the first. The ritual wouldn’t be ready for an entire week. Plenty of time left. Eva intended to finish the search today in any case.

“I’ll let you get back to your…” Eva frowned. What exactly did Ylva do all day? The television had been on when she had first knocked on the door. The walls were thin enough that she had been able to hear it clearly. But only Nel had been in the room with the television. Ylva had been back in the bedroom standing statue still.

They had traded places after Eva knocked.

“To your day,” Eva concluded. A lame response. At least it was neutral and did not make assumptions.

Ylva stood. Her head avoided scraping the ceiling by mere centimeters. Her back wasn’t as straight as it had been while sitting. Perhaps that was why she sat straight; crouching around the place had put a kink in her back that was only relieved by sitting properly.

How uncomfortable must her miniature form be for her to not be using it here? Though it looked like a child, Eva couldn’t imagine the height impairment could possibly be worse than constantly scraping the top of her head against the ceiling. She definitely had to duck to make it through the doorways.

“Good fortune in your task,” Ylva said with a slight nod of her head. After a brief look over Eva, she strode off towards the bedroom where Nel had hidden herself.

Eva stood, watching. Just long enough to ensure that yes, Ylva did indeed duck to pass through the doorways in her apartment. A small part of her had insisted that the doors would stretch around Ylva to allow her passage. Not because of magic or her being a demon, simply because Ylva was that commanding.

Having been dismissed, Eva took her leave from the apartment.

She had made it five steps down the hall before a pitter-patter of footsteps came after her.

Eva turned to find Nel rushing up to her, anger plain to see on her face.

“Did I forget something?”

“Damn right you forgot something.” She thrust her fists to her hips. A glove covered her withered hand up to her elbow where her robe’s sleeve took over. “You didn’t even bother to give me an excuse this time.”

“Devon wants to perform my treatment in a week’s time. I’ll be ready after that.”

“Right,” she said, pouring a month’s worth of frustration into the single word. “Like you would be ready after your finals. Or after school ended. Or after you got back from your vacation.” Nel shook her head. “What’s next? After summer vacation? After next year? After you graduate? After the world ends?”

Eva crossed her arms and glared at the augur. “Are you finished?”

“I would prefer to have our revenge before it ceases to matter.”

With a light sigh, Eva closed her eyes. She could understand where Nel was coming from. They had both been through the same thing, after all.

“This is somewhat important. Potentially to my continued existence. If you cannot wait a week, perhaps try convincing Ylva to help you again? Or do it yourself.”

Nel continued her glare for a moment before allowing her hands to drop to her sides. “‘A servant of Ourself should be able to handle a solitary necromancer on her own,'” she said, mimicking Ylva’s slightly deeper voice.

“On your own?” Eva glanced down at herself. “That has changed definitions since the last time I read a dictionary.”