Hell's Bailiff - Chapter 2 Part 2
(last episode on Hell's Bailiff...)
Kana winked at me. I glared at her.
:My dearest Simon..." she said telepathically, :I am a wicked devil, don't you know? It's my job to collect souls, and here was one, ripe for the plucking. Oh, and as I did all the work on this one, I'm sure you'll agree their souls are mine and won't count toward your debt.:
My stomach felt funny in that "growing sense of panic" sort of way.
Hell's Bailiff - Chapter 2 Part 2
:Answer me: What did you offer him?:
She just smiled.
I ran downstairs. When I neared my secret office where I called on Kana's underlings to handle various pacts when she wasn't around, I could hear Bella crying out. But they weren't in my office. They were in my 'dungeon'. That is, that naughty playspace for the kinky.
Oh, dear reader, don't be judgmental. Every large estate has one of these squirreled away somewhere, or at least a pair of handcuffs tucked under the mattress when someone wants to play nuns and bandits or what have you. It's good fun, even if everyone has to keep a lid on it in public. I've got a nice wardrobe of neat costumes in that room...
Bella was being dragged to the stocks at one side of the room. She'd been struck on the head, bleeding a little, and definitely too dazed to resist being locked in.
"Good, you're here," said Jude.
There was that spine-tingling "evil gleam" in his eye that I had seen quite a few times in my thus far ignoble career. He was a desperate and dangerous madman. Somehow, Kana had turned him to the dark side, and utterly so.
Bella struggled futilely.
"Simon! Help! Let me go! Oh, gods, please help! He's mad!"
"You! Listen to me!" Jude pointed his sword at me. "You listen. You're going to help me, or I'll ruin you, I swear! One word from me and the temple guard will be all over this place. They'll confiscate your assets and burn you for devilry -- and for murdering Bella. And all sorts of other atrocities committed on her."
"What?!" both Bella and I exclaimed.
"--Unless you do as I say," Jude continued. "And you WILL do as I say."
:Play along, dear,: Kana whispered in my mind. :Trust me.:
"Oh, I know what your 'Kana' is--What she really is," Jude continued. "And she has promised me much. I just need to give her some payment up front."
"What kind of 'payment'?" I asked.
Kana snuck up behind me and before I could act, she had me in a secure arm lock.
"Why, all you have to do is make Bella agree to sell her soul. You'll have to, ah, 'persuade' her of course," Kana cooed, and nipped my earlobe between her strawberry lips.
"What are you talking about?"
"Torture her! Make her beg to do anything for release. She'll sign anything put in front of her. Once she signs her soul away, my contract will be fulfilled. And then finally I'll have--"
"Tsk tsk. Jude, darling, let's not spoil the surprise, hmm?" Kana interrupted.
"You'll have what?" I demanded.
"Everything," smiled Jude. "You'll see."
From the way he was grinning at me... Kana had offered him everything I had -- I just knew it. Which would void her contract with me, so somehow Jude wasn't getting out of this one with his soul, and definitely not getting what he wanted. With things so wildly out of control, I wasn't going to get out of this one unscathed either.
"Go on. I recommend you rape her. That should take the fight out of her. If that actually doesn't work, we'll have to actually torture her. Branding, maybe."
Bella was so shocked and scared she had nothing to say. She even stopped struggling futilely in the stocks. She twisted around to look at Jude, and saw only madness. Even I was shocked into silence.
Then Bella exploded into tears. "Simon, please, don't! Help me! He's mad! Help me!"
"Forget it Jude! You can do you own dirty work!"
:What?!: Kana just about yelled at me.
Jude smashed me a terrific right cross, sword in hand. I almost passed out, which meant I couldn't avail myself of the fact that the blow had yanked me out of Kana's grasp.
"Well don't kill him! He can't do it if you kill him," said Kana. "Good thing you didn't knee him in the you-know-where. Look, I'll tie him up upstairs and see if I can't do a bit of convincing. You might have to 'persuade' her yourself, though."
"NO! Don't leave me! Nooo!" begged Bella.
But Kana had dragged me out and Jude had shut and locked the door. I faintly heard Bella grovelling. Then wailing.
I was quite recovered when we were on the main floor and I shook myself free of Kana.
"What are you doing?!" I screamed.
:I was doing you a favour. There she was, helpless and delicious. You could have had her any way you wanted. I know you like it rough. Just imagine what it would be like--With no one to stop you.:
I just stared at her.
Damn, but if she weren't right.
I fully confess that despite what I had said to Bella, I did look at our relationship as mostly sexual. Not entirely, though, since there was always a chance that her influence, minor as it was, with the church might come in handy one day (never discount the usefulness of the little guys -- or the damage they could do). And yes, I admit that I was turned on by the rush that came with having sexual power over a woman. I chose the escorts I bought and bedded precisely for that (and, of course, it cost me extra). Even had Bella that way a couple of times.
But this was different. Bella was in real trouble here. Unless I did something, she wasn't going to make it out alive. And once she signed her soul over, Jude would finish her off, if only to silence her.
At some level, this will sound incredibly hypocritical considering all the souls I'd sent to Hell selling them trivial pacts, but just then I cared about Bella. I didn't want her to go this way. To be defiled this way. I hoped she would hold on long enough for me to save her.
But how the hell was I going to get out of this one. It would be Jude's word against mine. Even if they caught him red-handed, events were too suspicious for the church not to investigate. I needed an out.
Kana could see my mind racing.
:I know what you're thinking. I just don't understand why you're thinking that. I've thought this through. You'll come out just fine, with as much fun with Bella as you like, and I'll have my two souls.:
I think at that moment, for the first time I truly realized the fundamental difference between Kana and I. I couldn't really claim any moral high ground for all the things I've willingly done to this point, but she had this utter inability to empathize with some of the most fundamental elements of basic decency and humanity. I don't think Kana was trying to make me choose evil. I think for her the whole good/evil judgment simply didn't apply to whether I should rape Bella for pleasure just as it didn't apply to whether you should have salad for an appetizer.
:Get out of my head.:
She rolled her eyes up in exasperation. But she had to obey--It was in the contract. Her brow was furrowed in genuine puzzlement.
"I didn't have to arrange any freebies for you, you know," she huffed.
My turn to roll my eyes. Then I went to find a weapon. Kristy's room was the most obvious place, and I chose the closest shiny hammer from her collection. If I got so much as a scratch on it she'd probably kick me in the balls, but I'll deal with that when the time comes.
Kana followed at a respectful difference, trying to figure out what I was going to do. Not what I was going to do immediately, which was pretty obvious, but a few steps beyond that, and how she could still come out Aces. That's how she -- how her kind -- think. And she was practiced enough at this chess that it always worried me when she was putting thought into things.
I'm no warrior. The pact gave me some power of a different kind that could generally pass for combat wizardry, but if couldn't put Jude away with a sneaky attack and he got close, I'd have to hope I could fend him off worth a damn. I'm sure he was handy with his sword.
What I wasn't sure of was whether Kana would help, but I was certain she wouldn't see me killed either. I was worth something to her, in that cold devil's soul calculus.
I wish Kristy were here. But then again, I wanted to keep her innocent.
Oh, why the hell was my conscience coming out now?
When I'd gone back downstairs, I didn't hear any more from Bella. I hoped she hadn't been broken so quickly. I did my best to be sneaky and approached the door a quietly as possble.
Kana was a ways behind, walking nonchalantly yet making no sound. Her arms were crossed and her mien annoyed. I was wondering if if she'd figured things out or not -- maybe even guessed what would happen even before they played out -- and then I thought I really had to stop trying to outguess her and focus on the horrible mess I was in.
I inserted the key quietly and turned it. Under the circumstances, the click sounded like an explosion.
"Shit," I mumbled, then flung myself to the side.
The door was yanked open suddenly and a sword stabbed out, thankfully into thin air.
I whipped into the doorway, shoulder-rushing Jude back. Blue fire burned in the palm of my left hand and I unleashed it forth in a beam to wash over Jude. Fortunately this eldritch fire doesn't actually set things on fire, else I might have really made a mess of things, burnt down the estate, and fried us all.
He yelled and rolled away, unfortunately in the direction of Bella, still helpless in the stocks, but now with her pale behind fully exposed and wet between her thighs. With wild eyes she watched us duel.
I hesitated to release a second beam for fear of hitting Bella, and Jude seized his chance. "Vanya smite thee, wizard!" he cried out boldly, and imperiously pointed his blade at me.
Time seemed to freeze. I think he was as surprised as I was when nothing happened.
"Vanya has abandoned you, you bastard!" Bella spat at Jude from behind tearful eyes.
Jude looked wildly at her as that realization sank into all of us.
I could have tried to fight this one out, but honestly, at such close quarters, and with Jude practically armored for war, the odds weren't in my favour, eldritch fire or not.
"Nowhere to run, Jude," I taunted, but still threatened fire in my left hand.
"I just have to kill both of you and--"
"And seize my assets?"
He smiled smugly. Yes, I'd guessed it. I'm sure it looked pretty tidy from his end.
"Right after you explain how you alienated your god after this investigation?"
Jude's smile faded.
"Simon! Thank Vanya you're here. Please save me!"
"Shut up! Shut up!" Jude roared at her, but she would not be daunted.
"I hope you go to Hell and burn!" she retorted, rather boldly considering she was helpless to stop him from murdering her. "Simon, I forgive you for everything! Just save me, for Vanya's sake."
"Jude, put down the sword before you get yourself in any deeper," I tried to persuade, even as I moved slowly to get a better shooting angle.
"You! You've ruined everything! If only you'd just done what I told you to!"
"I think your god abandoned you as soon as you entered into a pact with Kana, Jude. Don't blame me for it."
He just seethed.
"Let me guess..." I took a chance and relaxed, hoping he was now in a more contemplative state of mind. "You made a good impression on Kana and negotiated yourself a sweet deal. You get me to force Bella to sign her soul away, thereby damning myself. Then you'd have to kill me too. With no witnesses, but a summoning circle in the other room to incriminate me, you could tell any story you like. Like maybe how I got the drop on you and murdered Bella. But you luckily escaped your bonds and killed me in, what, rage? Self-defence? Kana arranges a few things behind the scenes to make sure you get a very nice promotion out of this, and you get a chunk of my estate seized by the church as spoils. Close enough?"
"You forgot the part where he gets your personal charisma and social status, plus a night of incredible sex with me," said Kana.
She had appeared at the doorway, leaning in a relaxed yet sultry way. I don't know how she managed to slip into something more demure and carefully stylish so quickly. In any case, I was certain she'd already figured out how to profit from my current predicament and still get Jude's soul. Bella's, I wasn't so certain but I was damned if I were going to let Kana have her.
"Would you like to renegotiate our terms Jude?" she offered, and leaned casually against the door frame.
Jude gave her a murderous look. Then looked at me, and back to her.
"Get me out of this."
"Tsk tsk... I do so hate to take advantage, so allow me to let you retract that vaguely worded request. Now think more carefully about what you'd like. In exchange for your soul, of course. Your reputation? Or are you still looking for wealth and social status? I can arrange anything. Somehow. You'll have to trust me on that last part, I admit."
"Even if you kill Bella and I, how will you explain any of this, Jude?"
Jude clenched his teeth.
"I've been here before, Jude. I know what it felt like. How it felt to be tempted. By her."
A little bit of empathy goes a long way. Helpful when lying. I just hoped Kana would play along. She could spill the truth at any time and make things infinitely worse, and certainly she owed me no favours for ruining Plan A.
"I'm luckier than most, I admit: I have a wealthy business partner who set met up nicely. The rest -- the trades, the status, the connections -- was up to me. The money he fronted helped, of course. Money always helps. But that's me. And no devilry."
"So how do you explain her?" Jude demanded.
"As I said... dabbling in wizardry. She got loose, and now I can't get rid of her. You don't know half the trouble she's caused."
"Darling, how hurtful!" Kana put on a pained expression. "And after all those wet dreams I sent you. For free, too."
"Now we just have to figure you how to get you out of this, Jude."
"You want to help me?" Jude snorted. But his eyes were hopeful. Or maybe desperate.
"He can't help you now, Jude. He's messed it up," said Kana. "It would have worked, this plan of yours. If you kill him -- kill them both -- well, we all know history is written by the victors."
I wasn't sure where Kana was going with all that. Maybe she had a plan. Maybe she wanted to see me suffer. Maybe she wanted to back me into a corner and have me renegotiate my contract. Oh, bloody hell.
"What can you do?" Jude asked of her.
"Hmm... Let's see... Well, for starters, things would be a lot easier if there were less witnesses. But save Bella for later. She's harmless right now, and--"
"Bitch!" screamed Bella.
"Uh, yes, oh helpless one. Now do shut up," Kana laughed.
Bella cast her eyes up in prayer. "Vanya, I know I have had wicked thoughts and done wrong. But please shine forth your divine presence and sear this evil whore from this world!"
"Oh, pour on the melodrama--" Kana began to scoff, but was cut off mid-way when a beacon of light shone squarely on her from above. Before she could curse, it expanded into a blinding radiance. "OW! Dammit! Jude, shut her up!"
Jude whipped around and backhanded Bella. She was out like a candle.
"What are we going to do?" Jude demanded of Kana.
"Yes, well, as I was saying before that little witch interrupted me... you'll need to get rid of the witnesses. Dear Simon included -- sorry, love."
I scowled at her. In hindsight, I realized that I had told her to get out of my head, so she couldn't communicate her plans to me. For her to slip me hints telepathically, I'd have to first verbally tell her she could get in my head again, and, well, just right now that would be a tad too suspicious.
"However, he's no wizard's apprentice you know. I don't know if you'll make it through or not."
"Then help me!"
"That's sort of against the rules, I'm afraid," Kana vaguely dismissed.
"Fine. Then give me the power to kill him! No, wait... Give me powers that are the same as the powers Vanya used to grant me. That way, I can fool those idiots at the church too."
"Oh how clever!" Kana beamed at him. "And, oh, let's throw in a long and healthy life for you, plus you'll do me a favour and let me watch you rip your dear Bella's ass open with your manly staff later while I watch? Do say yes. I absolutely must see her suffer for what she did to me."
"Fine, whatever," he agreed. Then turned to me. "Now, you die."
"So it's your soul now, for power now. And if you get him out of the way, I get you his wealth and status, plus long life, and you also give me a front row seat when you defile Bella. Do we have a deal, darling? You'll have to say it since we're forgoing the contract signing bit."
If. Kana had said "if". That thought flashed across my mind, then the fear of death dominated everything.
"Yes, yes! We have a deal, dammit. Just do it!" Jude hastily agreed.
"And it is done."
"Damn you Kana!" I cried, then turned my attention on Jude.
"Have fun, boys," laughed Kana as she slipped away.
Willing my power against Jude, I brought pain to his eyes and mind and ran out the door while he clutched at his face and staggered toward a corner, instinctively trying to guard his flanks.
"Vanya! Heal me!" he cried.
I saw a bright beacon of light expand before him. I don't know what it did for him, but he sounded not the least fatigued stomping after me as I made for the stairs. Well, it wouldn't have been Vanya healing him now, but that was neither here nor there. The fact was, it probably worked.
I had a good head start and I knew where the front door was. Out I sprinted.
"Help! Help! He's trying to kill me!"
Thank the gods (sheesh, that's ironic, isn't it?) Kristy was there. She didn't ask any questions and opened the gate to the estate to let me out. I threw her hammer to her and she deftly caught it and brought it up to parry.
"Vanya smite thee!" cried Jude. He smote down on her with supernatural force, forcing her back.
With a gesture, I caused blue eldritch fire to rise from the ground, invade his very body, and burn up through his every orifice - the fiercest spell I had so far mastered. He was staggered, but somehow still standing, and ran around Kristy.
I backed off and pulled shut the gate. He stabbed through it and missed, cursed me, and yanked it open. That precious delay was enough for Kristy to recover. She rushed Jude from behind and came in with a low swing behind one knee to take him down. I closed quickly and pressed my flaming palm over his chest before letting loose with a full surge of fire once, twice, then it was over before Kristy could brain him.
(to be continued...)
Kana winked at me. I glared at her.
:My dearest Simon..." she said telepathically, :I am a wicked devil, don't you know? It's my job to collect souls, and here was one, ripe for the plucking. Oh, and as I did all the work on this one, I'm sure you'll agree their souls are mine and won't count toward your debt.:
My stomach felt funny in that "growing sense of panic" sort of way.
Hell's Bailiff - Chapter 2 Part 2
:Answer me: What did you offer him?:
She just smiled.
I ran downstairs. When I neared my secret office where I called on Kana's underlings to handle various pacts when she wasn't around, I could hear Bella crying out. But they weren't in my office. They were in my 'dungeon'. That is, that naughty playspace for the kinky.
Oh, dear reader, don't be judgmental. Every large estate has one of these squirreled away somewhere, or at least a pair of handcuffs tucked under the mattress when someone wants to play nuns and bandits or what have you. It's good fun, even if everyone has to keep a lid on it in public. I've got a nice wardrobe of neat costumes in that room...
Bella was being dragged to the stocks at one side of the room. She'd been struck on the head, bleeding a little, and definitely too dazed to resist being locked in.
"Good, you're here," said Jude.
There was that spine-tingling "evil gleam" in his eye that I had seen quite a few times in my thus far ignoble career. He was a desperate and dangerous madman. Somehow, Kana had turned him to the dark side, and utterly so.
Bella struggled futilely.
"Simon! Help! Let me go! Oh, gods, please help! He's mad!"
"You! Listen to me!" Jude pointed his sword at me. "You listen. You're going to help me, or I'll ruin you, I swear! One word from me and the temple guard will be all over this place. They'll confiscate your assets and burn you for devilry -- and for murdering Bella. And all sorts of other atrocities committed on her."
"What?!" both Bella and I exclaimed.
"--Unless you do as I say," Jude continued. "And you WILL do as I say."
:Play along, dear,: Kana whispered in my mind. :Trust me.:
"Oh, I know what your 'Kana' is--What she really is," Jude continued. "And she has promised me much. I just need to give her some payment up front."
"What kind of 'payment'?" I asked.
Kana snuck up behind me and before I could act, she had me in a secure arm lock.
"Why, all you have to do is make Bella agree to sell her soul. You'll have to, ah, 'persuade' her of course," Kana cooed, and nipped my earlobe between her strawberry lips.
"What are you talking about?"
"Torture her! Make her beg to do anything for release. She'll sign anything put in front of her. Once she signs her soul away, my contract will be fulfilled. And then finally I'll have--"
"Tsk tsk. Jude, darling, let's not spoil the surprise, hmm?" Kana interrupted.
"You'll have what?" I demanded.
"Everything," smiled Jude. "You'll see."
From the way he was grinning at me... Kana had offered him everything I had -- I just knew it. Which would void her contract with me, so somehow Jude wasn't getting out of this one with his soul, and definitely not getting what he wanted. With things so wildly out of control, I wasn't going to get out of this one unscathed either.
"Go on. I recommend you rape her. That should take the fight out of her. If that actually doesn't work, we'll have to actually torture her. Branding, maybe."
Bella was so shocked and scared she had nothing to say. She even stopped struggling futilely in the stocks. She twisted around to look at Jude, and saw only madness. Even I was shocked into silence.
Then Bella exploded into tears. "Simon, please, don't! Help me! He's mad! Help me!"
"Forget it Jude! You can do you own dirty work!"
:What?!: Kana just about yelled at me.
Jude smashed me a terrific right cross, sword in hand. I almost passed out, which meant I couldn't avail myself of the fact that the blow had yanked me out of Kana's grasp.
"Well don't kill him! He can't do it if you kill him," said Kana. "Good thing you didn't knee him in the you-know-where. Look, I'll tie him up upstairs and see if I can't do a bit of convincing. You might have to 'persuade' her yourself, though."
"NO! Don't leave me! Nooo!" begged Bella.
But Kana had dragged me out and Jude had shut and locked the door. I faintly heard Bella grovelling. Then wailing.
I was quite recovered when we were on the main floor and I shook myself free of Kana.
"What are you doing?!" I screamed.
:I was doing you a favour. There she was, helpless and delicious. You could have had her any way you wanted. I know you like it rough. Just imagine what it would be like--With no one to stop you.:
I just stared at her.
Damn, but if she weren't right.
I fully confess that despite what I had said to Bella, I did look at our relationship as mostly sexual. Not entirely, though, since there was always a chance that her influence, minor as it was, with the church might come in handy one day (never discount the usefulness of the little guys -- or the damage they could do). And yes, I admit that I was turned on by the rush that came with having sexual power over a woman. I chose the escorts I bought and bedded precisely for that (and, of course, it cost me extra). Even had Bella that way a couple of times.
But this was different. Bella was in real trouble here. Unless I did something, she wasn't going to make it out alive. And once she signed her soul over, Jude would finish her off, if only to silence her.
At some level, this will sound incredibly hypocritical considering all the souls I'd sent to Hell selling them trivial pacts, but just then I cared about Bella. I didn't want her to go this way. To be defiled this way. I hoped she would hold on long enough for me to save her.
But how the hell was I going to get out of this one. It would be Jude's word against mine. Even if they caught him red-handed, events were too suspicious for the church not to investigate. I needed an out.
Kana could see my mind racing.
:I know what you're thinking. I just don't understand why you're thinking that. I've thought this through. You'll come out just fine, with as much fun with Bella as you like, and I'll have my two souls.:
I think at that moment, for the first time I truly realized the fundamental difference between Kana and I. I couldn't really claim any moral high ground for all the things I've willingly done to this point, but she had this utter inability to empathize with some of the most fundamental elements of basic decency and humanity. I don't think Kana was trying to make me choose evil. I think for her the whole good/evil judgment simply didn't apply to whether I should rape Bella for pleasure just as it didn't apply to whether you should have salad for an appetizer.
:Get out of my head.:
She rolled her eyes up in exasperation. But she had to obey--It was in the contract. Her brow was furrowed in genuine puzzlement.
"I didn't have to arrange any freebies for you, you know," she huffed.
My turn to roll my eyes. Then I went to find a weapon. Kristy's room was the most obvious place, and I chose the closest shiny hammer from her collection. If I got so much as a scratch on it she'd probably kick me in the balls, but I'll deal with that when the time comes.
Kana followed at a respectful difference, trying to figure out what I was going to do. Not what I was going to do immediately, which was pretty obvious, but a few steps beyond that, and how she could still come out Aces. That's how she -- how her kind -- think. And she was practiced enough at this chess that it always worried me when she was putting thought into things.
I'm no warrior. The pact gave me some power of a different kind that could generally pass for combat wizardry, but if couldn't put Jude away with a sneaky attack and he got close, I'd have to hope I could fend him off worth a damn. I'm sure he was handy with his sword.
What I wasn't sure of was whether Kana would help, but I was certain she wouldn't see me killed either. I was worth something to her, in that cold devil's soul calculus.
I wish Kristy were here. But then again, I wanted to keep her innocent.
Oh, why the hell was my conscience coming out now?
When I'd gone back downstairs, I didn't hear any more from Bella. I hoped she hadn't been broken so quickly. I did my best to be sneaky and approached the door a quietly as possble.
Kana was a ways behind, walking nonchalantly yet making no sound. Her arms were crossed and her mien annoyed. I was wondering if if she'd figured things out or not -- maybe even guessed what would happen even before they played out -- and then I thought I really had to stop trying to outguess her and focus on the horrible mess I was in.
I inserted the key quietly and turned it. Under the circumstances, the click sounded like an explosion.
"Shit," I mumbled, then flung myself to the side.
The door was yanked open suddenly and a sword stabbed out, thankfully into thin air.
I whipped into the doorway, shoulder-rushing Jude back. Blue fire burned in the palm of my left hand and I unleashed it forth in a beam to wash over Jude. Fortunately this eldritch fire doesn't actually set things on fire, else I might have really made a mess of things, burnt down the estate, and fried us all.
He yelled and rolled away, unfortunately in the direction of Bella, still helpless in the stocks, but now with her pale behind fully exposed and wet between her thighs. With wild eyes she watched us duel.
I hesitated to release a second beam for fear of hitting Bella, and Jude seized his chance. "Vanya smite thee, wizard!" he cried out boldly, and imperiously pointed his blade at me.
Time seemed to freeze. I think he was as surprised as I was when nothing happened.
"Vanya has abandoned you, you bastard!" Bella spat at Jude from behind tearful eyes.
Jude looked wildly at her as that realization sank into all of us.
I could have tried to fight this one out, but honestly, at such close quarters, and with Jude practically armored for war, the odds weren't in my favour, eldritch fire or not.
"Nowhere to run, Jude," I taunted, but still threatened fire in my left hand.
"I just have to kill both of you and--"
"And seize my assets?"
He smiled smugly. Yes, I'd guessed it. I'm sure it looked pretty tidy from his end.
"Right after you explain how you alienated your god after this investigation?"
Jude's smile faded.
"Simon! Thank Vanya you're here. Please save me!"
"Shut up! Shut up!" Jude roared at her, but she would not be daunted.
"I hope you go to Hell and burn!" she retorted, rather boldly considering she was helpless to stop him from murdering her. "Simon, I forgive you for everything! Just save me, for Vanya's sake."
"Jude, put down the sword before you get yourself in any deeper," I tried to persuade, even as I moved slowly to get a better shooting angle.
"You! You've ruined everything! If only you'd just done what I told you to!"
"I think your god abandoned you as soon as you entered into a pact with Kana, Jude. Don't blame me for it."
He just seethed.
"Let me guess..." I took a chance and relaxed, hoping he was now in a more contemplative state of mind. "You made a good impression on Kana and negotiated yourself a sweet deal. You get me to force Bella to sign her soul away, thereby damning myself. Then you'd have to kill me too. With no witnesses, but a summoning circle in the other room to incriminate me, you could tell any story you like. Like maybe how I got the drop on you and murdered Bella. But you luckily escaped your bonds and killed me in, what, rage? Self-defence? Kana arranges a few things behind the scenes to make sure you get a very nice promotion out of this, and you get a chunk of my estate seized by the church as spoils. Close enough?"
"You forgot the part where he gets your personal charisma and social status, plus a night of incredible sex with me," said Kana.
She had appeared at the doorway, leaning in a relaxed yet sultry way. I don't know how she managed to slip into something more demure and carefully stylish so quickly. In any case, I was certain she'd already figured out how to profit from my current predicament and still get Jude's soul. Bella's, I wasn't so certain but I was damned if I were going to let Kana have her.
"Would you like to renegotiate our terms Jude?" she offered, and leaned casually against the door frame.
Jude gave her a murderous look. Then looked at me, and back to her.
"Get me out of this."
"Tsk tsk... I do so hate to take advantage, so allow me to let you retract that vaguely worded request. Now think more carefully about what you'd like. In exchange for your soul, of course. Your reputation? Or are you still looking for wealth and social status? I can arrange anything. Somehow. You'll have to trust me on that last part, I admit."
"Even if you kill Bella and I, how will you explain any of this, Jude?"
Jude clenched his teeth.
"I've been here before, Jude. I know what it felt like. How it felt to be tempted. By her."
A little bit of empathy goes a long way. Helpful when lying. I just hoped Kana would play along. She could spill the truth at any time and make things infinitely worse, and certainly she owed me no favours for ruining Plan A.
"I'm luckier than most, I admit: I have a wealthy business partner who set met up nicely. The rest -- the trades, the status, the connections -- was up to me. The money he fronted helped, of course. Money always helps. But that's me. And no devilry."
"So how do you explain her?" Jude demanded.
"As I said... dabbling in wizardry. She got loose, and now I can't get rid of her. You don't know half the trouble she's caused."
"Darling, how hurtful!" Kana put on a pained expression. "And after all those wet dreams I sent you. For free, too."
"Now we just have to figure you how to get you out of this, Jude."
"You want to help me?" Jude snorted. But his eyes were hopeful. Or maybe desperate.
"He can't help you now, Jude. He's messed it up," said Kana. "It would have worked, this plan of yours. If you kill him -- kill them both -- well, we all know history is written by the victors."
I wasn't sure where Kana was going with all that. Maybe she had a plan. Maybe she wanted to see me suffer. Maybe she wanted to back me into a corner and have me renegotiate my contract. Oh, bloody hell.
"What can you do?" Jude asked of her.
"Hmm... Let's see... Well, for starters, things would be a lot easier if there were less witnesses. But save Bella for later. She's harmless right now, and--"
"Bitch!" screamed Bella.
"Uh, yes, oh helpless one. Now do shut up," Kana laughed.
Bella cast her eyes up in prayer. "Vanya, I know I have had wicked thoughts and done wrong. But please shine forth your divine presence and sear this evil whore from this world!"
"Oh, pour on the melodrama--" Kana began to scoff, but was cut off mid-way when a beacon of light shone squarely on her from above. Before she could curse, it expanded into a blinding radiance. "OW! Dammit! Jude, shut her up!"
Jude whipped around and backhanded Bella. She was out like a candle.
"What are we going to do?" Jude demanded of Kana.
"Yes, well, as I was saying before that little witch interrupted me... you'll need to get rid of the witnesses. Dear Simon included -- sorry, love."
I scowled at her. In hindsight, I realized that I had told her to get out of my head, so she couldn't communicate her plans to me. For her to slip me hints telepathically, I'd have to first verbally tell her she could get in my head again, and, well, just right now that would be a tad too suspicious.
"However, he's no wizard's apprentice you know. I don't know if you'll make it through or not."
"Then help me!"
"That's sort of against the rules, I'm afraid," Kana vaguely dismissed.
"Fine. Then give me the power to kill him! No, wait... Give me powers that are the same as the powers Vanya used to grant me. That way, I can fool those idiots at the church too."
"Oh how clever!" Kana beamed at him. "And, oh, let's throw in a long and healthy life for you, plus you'll do me a favour and let me watch you rip your dear Bella's ass open with your manly staff later while I watch? Do say yes. I absolutely must see her suffer for what she did to me."
"Fine, whatever," he agreed. Then turned to me. "Now, you die."
"So it's your soul now, for power now. And if you get him out of the way, I get you his wealth and status, plus long life, and you also give me a front row seat when you defile Bella. Do we have a deal, darling? You'll have to say it since we're forgoing the contract signing bit."
If. Kana had said "if". That thought flashed across my mind, then the fear of death dominated everything.
"Yes, yes! We have a deal, dammit. Just do it!" Jude hastily agreed.
"And it is done."
"Damn you Kana!" I cried, then turned my attention on Jude.
"Have fun, boys," laughed Kana as she slipped away.
Willing my power against Jude, I brought pain to his eyes and mind and ran out the door while he clutched at his face and staggered toward a corner, instinctively trying to guard his flanks.
"Vanya! Heal me!" he cried.
I saw a bright beacon of light expand before him. I don't know what it did for him, but he sounded not the least fatigued stomping after me as I made for the stairs. Well, it wouldn't have been Vanya healing him now, but that was neither here nor there. The fact was, it probably worked.
I had a good head start and I knew where the front door was. Out I sprinted.
"Help! Help! He's trying to kill me!"
Thank the gods (sheesh, that's ironic, isn't it?) Kristy was there. She didn't ask any questions and opened the gate to the estate to let me out. I threw her hammer to her and she deftly caught it and brought it up to parry.
"Vanya smite thee!" cried Jude. He smote down on her with supernatural force, forcing her back.
With a gesture, I caused blue eldritch fire to rise from the ground, invade his very body, and burn up through his every orifice - the fiercest spell I had so far mastered. He was staggered, but somehow still standing, and ran around Kristy.
I backed off and pulled shut the gate. He stabbed through it and missed, cursed me, and yanked it open. That precious delay was enough for Kristy to recover. She rushed Jude from behind and came in with a low swing behind one knee to take him down. I closed quickly and pressed my flaming palm over his chest before letting loose with a full surge of fire once, twice, then it was over before Kristy could brain him.
(to be continued...)
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