Page 54 of Hell-Bound

Ren grumbled, striding forward.

The tunnel was barely tall enough for Ren, and Jester had to stoop to make his way through. Humidity was thick in the air, and small dripping sounds echoed at intervals.

“There should be a hole in the wall not too far from here,” Jester whispered.

Ren felt a brush against her leg and jumped back, almost crying out.

“What in the nine hells was that?”

Jester paused his march, almost causing Ren to run intohis back.

“That was just mytail.Why are you so jumpy? It’s like you haven’t broken into the castle of a magical Devil lord before!”

“First of all, I’m pretty sure Ihaven’tdone this before, and second, I can’t see a bloody thing!” Ren spat.

A pause.

“You can’t see in the dark?”

She gaped.

“No, Jester! I’m completely blind in here!”

“Oh. Well, that’s inconvenient. I’m going to touch your shoulder and lead you there, okay?”

He gently placed his long fingers on her shoulders and guided her.

“Mortals are so weird,” he muttered.

At that moment, Jester reminded Ren so much of Benji. His stories—his good humor—and how he didn’t mind helping Ren, even when she was a bit bumbling and clueless, though she’d never admit it to Jester, and he’d likely never admit it in turn.

“Here we are!” he said, squeezing her.

They arrived at a large crevice in the wall, which she could only see because there was a light shining from another grate further down.

Leading the way, Jester crept silently towards the light, ears twitching slightly.

The two arrived at the second grate above their heads. This one was round, and there was an identical grate directly below it.

Jester signaled to Ren to check for traps and then pick the lock. Ren reached around but couldn’t feel anything.

“I don’t think this one is locked,” she said, leaning to whisper into his ear. “I think it’s some kind of drain.”

He waved his hands silently, communicating,hurry up and open it then!

She narrowed her eyes and pointed her fingers at him,noway. You touch it first.

Pursing his lips, he looked up and placed the smallest tip of his sharp nail on the iron.

Nothing.

They breathed out in unison. No traps.

“Transport us up there. This thing will make too much noise if we try to move it.”

“I can’t transport through walls or solid objects, Elfy! We’ll just have to risk it.”

Ren screwed up her face in exasperation but grabbed the grate with Jester, regardless.