Page 30 of Hell-Bound

She looked up at him, eyes wide. “Anything—absolutely anything you could tell me would be helpful.”

He started hesitantly, “Renata. The first time I saw you, after everything that happened in the mountains, you were different. Stoic—Detached.

“You would come here and drink until you couldn’t stand. Until I had to send for Nephele. But you wouldn’t tell me what happened. You just…sat there. Staring off into space. The only time you seemed to even be breathing was the few times you played your piccolo, and even then, you were…somewhere else.”

She considered this, wetting her lips.

“What happened…in the mountains?”

“I don’t know, Renata. You wouldn’t talk about it.” He paused. “I know you came back a hero, everyone talking about how you saved the Mortal Plane. I heard rumors, of course, but you refused to acknowledge them—neither did Nephele. He kept telling me that you just needed time. That war was hard for everyone, but you were recovering.”

She couldn’t remember much else from that night, probably because she had, at some point, lost track of how much liquid amber she had consumed.

Yes, the warmth of whiskey. What a comfort it would be tonight. But getting whiskey meant wandering downstairs and seeing Fred. And honestly, she didn’t think she could face anyone right now.

Feeling defeated, she threw off her dress and the infernal mask, and crawled into bed, holding her one familiar companion close to her chest but not having the energy for a comforting song.

Instead, she hummed to herself until sleep took her into oblivion.

???

The next morning, Ren was startled awake.

“Oooooghf!”

She jumped up from the bed, only wearing her underclothes, and drew her dagger—which she had hidden under her pillow—and lunged for the creature.

“Wait! Stahp!” he shouted before blinking away into invisibility.

“... Jester?”

The tall red Devil appeared again, this time sitting on her wardrobe.

“In the flesh! For now. Unless you plan to skin me alive?”

“What the hells are you doing here?” she shouted, stillbrandishing The Holy Transgression.

“Well, give me a moment, give me a moment.”

He clumsily crawled off the wardrobe and dropped to the ground, giving a flourish despite his blundering.

“I am here tohelpyou!”

She squinted at him, trying to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. “I told you. No more games, no more deals with Devils!”

“Yeah, yeah, you told me.” He groaned. “I’m not here to make a deal! Your patron sent me. He knows you’re here and wants to talk.”

She gaped at him.

“How? How could he know that I’m here?”

“Oh, how could henot?” He snorted. “You weren’t exactly subtle last night, and besides, he owns yoursoul.You’re connected!”

She groaned again.

So much for blend in.

“How do I know you’re not trying to trick me or send me off to my death?”