“Are you two done?” Dumah said as we re-entered the room.
He looked annoyed. Or at least I think he did. It’s difficult to tell emotions under that slime.
“Dumah, we can discuss terms. But how do we know you can make good on your end of the deal?” Rand crosses his arms, trying to look tough, but I bet we’ve lost ground.
“You’ve got no choice. You’re desperate if you came to me for help.”
Rand scoffs at the suggestion.
“You’re stop number 1, mate. Don’t get me wrong, I figured you most likely had the information, but we haven’t knocked on any other doors yet. We’re far from desperate.”
Dumah scans Rand’s face, trying to detect any hint of lies. He shifts to me, almost imploring me to tell him the truth.
“He’s honest. We’ve not questioned anyone else yet. But Rand guessed you’d be our quickest option.”
Dumah sets his drink down and curses under his breath.
“Fine. You want proof?” He reaches into his jacket’s inner pocket, pulling out black smoke. He lays it on the bar.
I step closer, trying to figure out what it is, when Rand puts his hand in front of me.
“Don’t. It’ll make you sick.”
This human is getting on me nerves.
Rand steps forward and holds his other hand out. As he does, a light shines out from his hand, purifying the energy surrounding the item.
The smoke dissipates, revealing a stone totem. Enochian runes are carved into it, denoting a demand for payment.
“Someone is calling in a favor?” Rand asks.
Dumah sighs.
“I don’t know the three demons you’re looking for. But I know who called them. Because he called me too.”
Rand takes another step forward, when Dumah, snatches the stone up and puts it back in his pocket.
“You have my proof. Now I need your word. My person. My establishment. Both under your protection.”
I shake my head.
“I can’t give my word about that. It’s not possible for an Angel to swear to protect a demon, even one as lowly as you.”
“Then you have nothing for me. There’s nothing you have that I want besides to live.”
I’m about to make a threat, when Rand steps in again.
“What if we do?”
Dumah and I are surprised and each of us gives Rand a strange look.
He continues.
“What if we have something you want more than protection for your bar?”
Dumah laughs at the suggestion.
“You’re looking to stop a war, and will probably start one instead. What could I possibly want more than survival?”
His phrasing intrigues me. I’m just here to hunt demons. What makes him think it will start a war?
“A source of true obsidian.”
Dumah stops laughing. I stand up. Rand, you cannot be serious.
“You’re lying.” Dumah is quiet, but curious.
“You could outlast whatever war you’re afraid of. You could outlast even our winged friend here.”
I don’t move. I can’t. How did Rand find it?
“You’re promising me the source of the Devil’s Mirror?”
Rand takes a seat and puts his feet on the table.
“No. I’m offering to get you a piece. A very small one. Enough that you can weather the storm.”
Dumah considers it. Even if he doesn’t use it all, a small piece would be more than enough to buy him a piece of the pie.
I can’t stay here. I start walking to the door, when Rand notices me.
“Alli! Where are you going?”
“I need air. And I have nothing I can offer. Get our information and don’t do anything stupid.”
Rand looks down and back up. Before he can say anything, I speak again.
“You better know what you’re doing. Because if this goes south, it’s on you now.”
I leave the room and cross the club to exit again. The whole building is awash in dark energy and it’s making me sick. I finally make it back out to the alley and take a seat next to the wall. Feels good to breathe again.
The idea of Rand cutting deals feels horrible. How long has he been doing this? Has he given them true obsidian before?
And why do I feel like shit?
I have to wonder if I ever really knew him at all. I’ve lived for millennia and known Rand for only ten years. Why does this feel like a betrayal of a brother?
He isn’t even doing anything officially wrong. If he was, The Presence would have stripped him of his powers. So he has to be doing something right, right?
Damn it, Aluma. Stop being so melancholy.
“Out for a nice stroll, host?” a voice yells in the distance.
That’ll do it. I jump to my feet and look around for the source of the voice.
“Up here!” it calls out.
Up on the building across from me, stand shadowy figures. Looks to be about six of them, though more might be hiding nearby. They’re all low-level creatures and shouldn’t be able to sense me. Dumah barely could and he was suspicious enough to suspect me. Something isn’t right.
“Well boys, you found yourself an angel. Now what are ya going to do?” I shouldn’t be taunting them. It’ll take me a bit to get out of this body. They have the upper hand.
“I think we should play a game. What do you all say?” Vampire was doing the talking. The fact they knew I was here should put me on edge, but all I could do was fight back a smile.
“If you really want to play, I’m game.”
