Page 31 of As Above, So Below

It’s always the illusion of choice.

“Kassil has agreed to forgive all your previous transgressions and take you on as his wife.”

Not a beat of silence passes before I voice my opposition. “No.”

Netharis scoffs a laugh, nodding.

“I think, given time, you’ll come to change your mind,” Kassil muses in sanguine tones.

I tense, refusing to look at him. I keep my eyes locked on my father.

“No,” I repeat, my tone firm. “I request to be offered as House tribute in the Abyssal.”

The Abyssal is months away, which is hopefully enough time for me to find the solution to all of this.

Hushed whispers rise from the Layer Lords as Netharis draws in a deep, slow breath through his teeth. Vaelyn’s eyes grow round, and a muscle in his jaw feathers. He shakes his head.

“That is not an option,” Netharis’ tone edges on angry.

“Why isn’t it?” one of the Layer Lords asks.

“If she seeks the void for her transgressions, let her have it,” another adds.

“She will do as I instruct,” Netharis says, his blood-red eyes pinned against mine. “And she will serve her House in other ways.”

“You cannot force me to sign,” I manage through gritted teeth.

Netharis can scream and rage and threaten all he wants, it will not be enough to set my thumb to parchment. Not even Nethariscan break the cardinal rule of the hells—demons cannot use force or compulsion to earn a signature on a contract. Doing so renders the contract void, and the blood magic used to enforce it fails.

“I’d like to draw your attention to your existing contract,” Netharis says callously, as if he were lecturing a room full of students. “Specifically, article four, section one, clause fourteen of your agreement.”

A bright flash of fire flares before my eyes, producing a scroll. It unravels itself, revealing Malbolge runes inked upon its surface. The parchment is nearly two feet long, but I recognize it right away.

It’s my contract.

The scroll curls its excess away leaving the exact place Netharis referred to visible. My eyes fall upon the clause, and I begin to read.

Netharis speaks the words as I read them, “In the event Vestaris Moonshadow becomes incapacitated or is deemed no longer of sound mind to fulfill the obligations of this contract, she will be relieved of her duties and consents to any decisions made by her governing agency. Including, but not limited to, the signing of subsequent contracts on her behalf that are intended for her benefit.”

The words rip through me, a cold, grasping darkness closing around the tiny spark of hope still alive in my chest. It doesn’t matter if I refuse to sign the contract, he can sign it for me.

This doesn’t make sense.

I scoured through my contract before signing it centuries ago.

This clause wasn’t present then. I would remember it.

Wouldn’t I?

Or at least I would havebeforemy time in obsidian.

Another lost piece I’ve discovered too late.

“You have three days to sign the marriage contract with Kassil, or I will sign on your behalf,” Netharis says, giving me a small smile.

I didn’t expect to win this, but I didn’t expect to lose this badly either. I close my eyes as the contract vanishes in another flash of hellfire and smoke.

I sit, motionless. Numb.