Page 8 of Hell-Bound (Pacts of the Infernal #1)

There are few things I hate more than being overwhelmingly curious. It’s an irritation I can’t quite purge. And she—well, she is the most intoxicating of curiosities.

It was completely dark inside as Ren ran up to her room in The Denizen’s Tower, locking herself in.

Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath. She hadn’t been threatened, hadn’t been in danger, yet she felt desperate to escape.

She had encountered something entirely unfamiliar, in both sensation and emotion and had completely lost herself. She had lost control. A thought that terrified her.

Losing control meant losing the little part of herself that she still had—the small memories and names that she held in her mind. She was losing Renata. Doomed to be just Ren for whatever remained of her life.

Even now, she couldn’t rid her mind of what it would feel like to be that pink Devil moaning on top of a sinfully beautiful violinist. Because in that fleeting moment, in his arms, she didn’t care. Ren, Renata…they both agreed. She didn’t want to think. No more war inside her mind. Only feeling. Just body taking over. Embracing pleasure.

No. Stop.

She pushed the heels of her palms into her eyes. She was more than this weak thing. They had told her that. Jamal had told her that.

He was another Half-Elf who kept bar at her favorite tavern in Vergessen. Her feet had taken her there, unbidden, after another heart-wrenching meeting with her parents.

Jamal had waved her over to the bar, and she settled in. If she was going to have another uncomfortable conversation, she was at least going to get a stiff drink out of it.

“Nothing?”

he asked, pain in his eyes.

He had poured her two fingers of an amber liquid, which she didn’t question. She immediately took a big swig and delighted in the rich, honeyed flavor that sent immediate relief through her.

“Nothing,”

she responded, swirling the remaining liquid. She was now on her second.

“I woke up and had no concept of who I was. Or…not the things that matter. And everything is terrifying because everything is a first! The first taste of pastry, the first swim in a lake. You know nothing of yourself, so nothing is comforting—well, except music. I didn’t forget my music.”

He nodded at her, wiry hair bouncing as he did.

“Has…anyone tried to help you remember?”

She bit her lip.

“A little. But it hasn’t been helping. Clara and Atlas just got frustrated. Clara kept showing me things from my past—toys, pictures, the like—hoping it would jog something.”

She noticed that he would not meet her eyes.

“Do you know anything? Any reason why this would happen?”

she asked.

He sucked in some air.

“The thing is, Renata. I don’t know if I’m the best person to help you with this.”

She looked up at him, eyes wide.

“Anything—absolutely anything you could tell me would be helpful.”

He started hesitantly.

“Renata. The first time I saw you, after everything that happened in the mountains, you were different. Stoic—Detached.

“You would come here and drink until you couldn’t stand. Until I had to send for Nephele. But you wouldn’t tell me what happened. You just…sat there. Staring off into space. The only time you seemed to even be breathing was the few times you played your piccolo, and even then, you were…somewhere else.”

She considered this, wetting her lips.

“What happened…in the mountains?”

“I don’t know, Renata. You wouldn’t talk about it.”

He paused.

“I know you came back a hero, everyone talking about how you saved the Mortal Plane. I heard rumors, of course, but you refused to acknowledge them—neither did Nephele. He kept telling me that you just needed time. That war was hard for everyone, but you were recovering.”

She couldn’t remember much else from that night, probably because she had, at some point, lost track of how much liquid amber she had consumed.

Yes, the warmth of whiskey. What a comfort it would be tonight. But getting whiskey meant wandering downstairs and seeing Fred. And honestly, she didn’t think she could face anyone right now.

Feeling defeated, she threw off her dress and the infernal mask, and crawled into bed, holding her one familiar companion close to her chest but not having the energy for a comforting song.

Instead, she hummed to herself until sleep took her into oblivion.

???

The next morning, Ren was startled awake.

“Oooooghf!”

She jumped up from the bed, only wearing her underclothes, and drew her dagger—which she had hidden under her pillow—and lunged for the creature.

“Wait! Stahp!”

he shouted before blinking away into invisibility.

“... Jester?”

The tall red Devil appeared again, this time sitting on her wardrobe.

“In the flesh! For now. Unless you plan to skin me alive?”

“What the hells are you doing here?”

she shouted, still brandishing The Holy Transgression.

“Well, give me a moment, give me a moment.”

He clumsily crawled off the wardrobe and dropped to the ground, giving a flourish despite his blundering.

“I am here to help you!”

She squinted at him, trying to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.

“I told you. No more games, no more deals with Devils!”

“Yeah, yeah, you told me.”

He groaned.

“I’m not here to make a deal! Your patron sent me. He knows you’re here and wants to talk.”

She gaped at him.

“How? How could he know that I’m here?”

“Oh, how could he not?”

He snorted.

“You weren’t exactly subtle last night, and besides, he owns your soul. You’re connected!”

She groaned again.

So much for blend in.

“How do I know you’re not trying to trick me or send me off to my death?”

He shrugged.

“Any other leads, missy? It’s just a meeting, and it will be with your patron. He won’t be able to hurt you while your contract is still valid.”

Ren cautiously lowered her dagger.

“Who is he? I don’t know anything about this…patron.”

“Sure you do! I’m sure he’s been talking to you. Quite chatty, that one.”

“The voice?”

Well that explains that.

“What are you getting out of this? Don’t Devils always want something?”

He smiled.

“You’re catching on. I like it! But no, I’m just here to watch. You were incredibly entertaining last night, and I find myself a bit…bored with the revelry of nobles, and the sleepers aren’t great conversationalists.”

He snapped his fingers and disappeared again, only reappearing laying on her bed, leaning on one arm, his tail whipping back and forth.

“So what?”

she said, trying to keep the anoyance out of her voice.

“Do I just…make an appointment?”

“My dear, he is waiting now! You shouldn’t keep him waiting.”

He waggled his finger at her.

“Of his many attributes, patience isn’t one of them.”

Suddenly anxious, Ren grabbed her tunic and trousers, dressing hurriedly. This meeting could finally mean answers. She slung her satchel over her shoulder and reached for the doorknob.

“Wait…where am I going?”

Jester gave her a pointed look.

“You’re not going anywhere. You just go to him!”

“Do you plan to explain the difference?”

she retorted.

He hopped up and made a small jump on the bed before dismounting.

“I just need an amulet, something to tether you with him.”

“But I thought you said we were already connected?”

He rolled his eyes, losing patience.

“Sheesh, I hate working with virgins. The transportation link is stronger if you have a tether. He’ll be able to summon you whenever he needs you. Where’s your contract?”

“Oh. About that. I actually don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

His eyes widened.

“You have to have your contract on you at all times, or it’s void! And since you haven’t died or become a sleeper, you must have it somewhere.”

Ren ground her teeth together.

“Look, I don’t have it. Search me!”

Ren threw her satchel at his feet and pulled up her shirt to show her waistband.

Jester made a disgusted face.

“Um…no thanks. Soulless female Half-Elves aren’t really my type.

Ren glared.

Sure, and Devils with long nails are so much more attractive.

An image of the pink Devil flashed through her mind.

Fair enough, Renata.

Jester pinched the bridge of his nose.

“What about an item? Something that you have that might connect you to his voice?”

She thought momentarily, and then her hand involuntarily moved to her pocket. The red stone tucked safely inside.

“I have a…gem. One of those that they use for decoration. He spoke when I…found it.”

Jester responded with a wicked smile.

“Oh, yes, he likes to speak when you…find things. But sure, that will do just fine,”

he said, clearing his throat and holding his hand out for it.

Ren felt a tightening in her stomach. She didn’t want to give this creature her stone. It was so…special. What if she couldn’t find another? Couldn’t show it to everyone so they could bask in its beauty and wonder how Ren could possess something so matchless?

My sweet. People will be in awe of you, with or without the vurmite.

“Did you hear that?”

she entreated, looking closely at her hands as they emitted the now-familiar smoke.

Jester giggled and clapped his hands.

“Oh, I do love this part! Ahem. The gem, my dear?”

Reluctantly, Ren retrieved her stone, vurmite, and handed it to Jester.

The Devil twirled it in his hand and sneered.

“Oh, dear, you must have pleased him with your little discovery.”

He emphasized the last with a wink.

Ren glared at him.

He cupped the vurmite in his hands and blew on it, a glow emanating.

She hadn’t thought her little stone could be any more beautiful than it already was, but as his breath touched it, the cuts of the gem seemed to move and reshape. Her eyes widened, and her fingers itched to grab it.

Then the glow was gone.

“There,”

he said, handing it back to her.

She tried not to snatch it out of his hands greedily.

“Just whisper his name into the stone, and it will take you to him.”

She felt the smooth, glassy surface in her hand.

“What? Like now?”

He made a shooing sign with his hands.

“I don’t have all day. I have other assignments, you know?”

“No wait,”

she blurted.

“I still don’t know his name!”

Jester slapped his forehead.

“I take it back. I don’t understand why he likes you. His name is Azur,”

he said cheerily before snapping his fingers and disappearing.

But despite vanishing, Ren still heard the shuffle of his feet and saw the door swing open and close again.

She rolled her eyes.

“Yes, very sneaky, Jester.”

She pulled her satchel back onto her shoulders and secured the dagger.

Here goes nothing.

She delicately fondled the stone before tentatively raising it to her lips, and in the tiniest of whispers, Ren said his name for the first time.