Page 99 of Hell-Bound

“So much worse than death,” Zelaia said, frowning. “No one could be so naive as to willingly violate their contract.”

Ren only partly listened as her eyes looked at Ahdan. He looked so much like Jester but simultaneously, a completely different male—no sparkle in his eyes or the threat of giggles. Whether Azur was a Jester or not, this creature couldn’t be Ahdan either. Nothing remained of whatever he was before.

“Perhaps,” Ren began, “Ahdan didn’t know what it meant to become a sleeper, since he was the first. Didn’t know what he was giving up.”

She thought of herself then, how she couldn’t imagine Renata knowing what she was sacrificing when she surrendered her memories, every speck of her identity.

Yetheknew. Azur knew what it meant, with every arm cut and every contract signed.

Zelaia’s voice was hushed. “Azur comes here, you know—every week and talks to him. Sometimes, he brings food, coaxes him to eat. But most of the time, he just sits.”

“But it’s his fault!” Ren blurted. “It’s Azur’s fault he’s like this, and Azur said helovedAhdan! He didn’t have to take his soul—he doesn’t have tokeeptaking people’s souls!”

“We also didn’t have to come to him,” Zelaia interjected sternly, “but we did. We asked him for something, and he gaveit to us.”

Ren couldn’t accept that. She knew in some ways she was complicit, but she could never understand how Azur could willingly put others in a position to eventually become soulless sleepers, especially someone they claimed to love.

Reaching up, Ren touched Jester’s—Ahdan’s cold, unmoving hand.

“I’m not trying to defend Azur,” Zelaia continued, “gods know he’s made many mistakes and hurt countless creatures. But I also can’t bring myself to hate him. I do think he is more complicated than just a monstrous devil god with no feelings. If what you’re telling me is true, it was Azur who stopped the blight thanks to Ahdan’s contracts. The contract must have—”

“But when is it toomuchZelaia?” Ren snapped. “You said it yourself, he’s hurt countless! When is ridding the planes of a blight merely negligible to his greater sins?”

Zelaia sidestepped the question.

“I’ve often thought Azur retreated into Jester to be free. Even if Jester was a soulless Devil. He is free in many ways that Azur is not. Azur stands with the weight of an entire plane on his shoulders. Right or wrong, that must be heavy.”

Ren scrubbed her face. “He wouldn’t fight me. He could have killed me and kept his throne. But he surrendered.”

She told Zelaia about Xarek, the possession, the contract, and how Azur had saved her.

When she was finished, Zelaia let out a low whistle. “Why in hells would he do that foryou?”she asked, with a genuine perplexity showing on her face.

“What will happen to our souls if Azur is locked away?”

“I’m not an expert in these things,” Zelaia said, stiffening. “Azur’s power is what keeps us and our souls safe. If he doesn’t have those powers—we might all turn into sleepers.”

“To hell with that!” Ren said, jumping up. “I’ve not come this far to lose myself again!”

Zelaia looked up at her, bewildered.

“I didn’t give everything up for it to be for nothing,” she continued, chest heaving, “I’m going to find Xarek, I’m going rip his ribs out of his chest, then I am going to find Azur.”

Zelaia chuckled and stood.

“I didn’t believe Azur when he said you had spunk. I thought you were just another privileged Mortal—honestly, I’m still not convinced you’re not—but…you’re something else, too,” she said, placing one hand on her hip.

“Well, I thought you were just one of Azur’s sex dolls, so I guess we were both wrong,” Ren said, a smirk threatening.

Zelaia snorted.

“Iwish!Do you know how long it’s taken me to break down those walls?” She rolled her eyes. “That male is wound so tight!”

They met each other’s eyes and Ren found understanding there—sympathy.

Zelaia’s breath caught, her body going completely rigid. She opened her mouth, but before words could come, she vanished.

Ren’s arms were reaching out to where Zelaia had been standing.