Page 77 of Hell-Bound

I know it has to be me. I’m the only one who deserves it. I will annihilate anyone who dares challenge my power. My birthright.

Unsurprisingly, Jester, her now shadow, was waiting for her in the small tavern bedroom.

“What would happen if Fred came in here and saw you?” she asked, shutting the door quickly behind her.

Jester jumped towards her, putting up fits.

“I ain’t scared of no soulless barkeep!” he said, pretending to throw punches.

“Fred doesn’t have a soul?”

“Nope! I mean, he wouldn’t be here if he did, would he? That dumb-dumb sold his soul to Xarek for amagical bar.Ridiculous! He thought it would make him rich. Xarek gave it to him, all right. But the only residents here are sleepers, who don’t drink and don’t pay! So he’s basically stuck here waiting around for the occasional Mortal to wander in. More importantly! Are you gonna tell me what your super secret meeting was about?” he asked, crossing his arms.

Ren paused. “Jester. I think I might know a way to free you from your contract.”

The Devil looked taken aback.

“What are you talking about, Ren? I can’t be freed.”

She bit her lip.

“I think you can, Jester. The same people who sent me here told me that they would help—”

“No, Ren,” he said sternly. “Listen to me. Whatever you are doing, stop. Don’t worry about me.”

“Jester, it isn’t right! I know you’ve been with Azur a long time, but—”

“I said no! I don’t need your help, and I don’twantyourhelp. I’ve made my choices. So drop it.”

An uncomfortable silence befell the room, and they stood, not moving or speaking for longer than was comfortable.

“Sorry,” she said quietly. “I won’t bring it up again if you don’t want to talk about it.”

He nodded, crossing the room and unpacking a few things from a satchel he had laid on her bed.

That was her first plan out the window. She had hoped that Jester, having a rapport with Azur, would be able to ask about the location of the Vutar’ka Zhartun. Now, Ren would have to figure out how to ask Azur herself and she hadn’t seen him since their tense dinner.

True to his nature, Jester never stayed down long. He twirled like a ballerina and leaped, landing in front of her.

“You didn’t let me explain my plaaaaan! We go tonight! To get Gabriela! Lord Tight Tushy is going somewhere. Maybe damage control from Wyvryn?”

“Definitely!” Ren said, trying to show enthusiasm. In truth, she needed to feel like she was doing something good for someone. Being in The Hells was, well, hell. It was oppressive in its emotional heaviness, and she craved a bit of positivity.

Her mind began to wander.

You want to do something nice to feel better? That’s so selfish!

The smile on her face faltered.

“Hey, Ren? You in there?” Jester asked, waving a clawed hand in front of her.

She snapped back from her thoughts.

“Sorry, yeah. What’s the plan?”

Jester’s brow furrowed.

“I need you to be at the top of your game tonight. You seem distracted.”