Page 41 of Hell-Bound

Fred’s eyes widened and gave the smallest movement of his head.

She drank. When the iron taste hit her throat, she almost spewed it out. Fred reached across the bar and slapped a hand roughly across her mouth.

“Drink!” he half-whispered, half-shouted.

Her entire body convulsed in disgust as she swallowed the revolting liquid. Itwasblood. Then she heard him—Leo—in her head.

“Renata! Oh, I am glad to see that you are okay!”

In front of her eyes appeared the incorporeal version of Leonardo. He was wearing his white robes, looking a bit more haggard than when she had last seen him.

“Leo! What the hell was that?!” she spluttered, wiping the remaining blood off her mouth.

Leo smiled sheepishly. “I am sorry, Renata. I always forget to warn people of the holy water. A pure liquid giftedfreely to Nainaur, which can be blessed. For now, we can use it for communication.”

“Leo. I’m really getting tired of surprises.”

“Oh yes, well. Everything is likely to surprise you these days. I won’t insult you by treating you as a child.”

Ren pursed her lips.

“Am I to assume you didn’t make any progress with the relic last night?”

Ren smiled sheepishly.

“Actually, no. I looked—but it was a bit…complicated. It’s just that—I wasn’t fully prepared.”

Leo gave her a pitying look.

“That’s not surprising. While we hoped that you could retrieve The Vutar’ka Zhartun on your first night, we knew that it was unlikely.”

“I plan to look in…another area soon. I think I have a lead.”

Leo’s image shifted, taken aback. “I must say that I am relieved at this unexpected news.”

Ren paused, considering. “Yeah, I…heard some Devils talking of a large collection of artifacts collected somewhere close by.”

It technically wasn’t a lie.

Leo furrowed his brow.

“Really? I haven’t heard of any collections in Ogriazeth, but then again, I have never visited the city myself. Very well. We will contact you in a few days. Fred knows what to do.”

Ren looked back at the barman, and he lifted his own glass to Leo, “Good ter see ye, Lee.

Leo bowed his head. “May The Almighty protect you.”

Without waiting for Ren to respond, he disappeared.

Ren squinted her eyes and tried not to heave at the lingering metallic taste.

Reading her expression, Fred said, “Yeah, it’s not the most enjoyable flavor, is it? It is useful, though.”

“What about your mute wards? How was I able to talk toLeo?” she asked.

“Oh, you were still muted. I couldn’t hear nothing yous was sayin’.”

Fred reached behind the counter and produced a small brown bag.