Come, Let Us Reason Together

An excerpt from "Blue as Sky"

I sat down on the bed with a sigh, trying to order my thoughts. Beyond the door, down the hall, there was the sound of another door closing; a booming echo that lingered, and went on far too long. Some trick of the environment transformed it into the low chuckle of sinister laughter—

I froze, even holding my breath. It was laughter. Coming from the mirror.

The laughter ended. “Remember vespers, child. Wouldn’t want to disappoint your keeper, now, would you?”

The voice was different, but definitely that of the Vohan-thing. I wanted to inch back against the wall, to press myself against it so I was as far away from the mirror as humanly possible.

“Oh, come now. We’re almost friends at this point, highwayman. Kellan. Am I recalling your name correctly?”

The things voice was almost good-natured. I worked my mouth, suddenly dry lips sticking together, finally managing to croak out something that sounded like, “Leave me, Vohan.”

“Why would I do that?” The demon chuckled. “And Vohan was the name of the shell I wore. You may call me Abnayel. That is not my true name, of course; but it will do.”

I was starting to find a little of my strength. “I will do no such thing.”

“Ah, but I think you will.” The demon’s voice was suddenly genial. “Come now, and let us reason together. Our goals are not so different, you and I. Despite us getting off on the wrong foot—” the demon chuckled ”—I have considered, and I think I have something to offer you.”

“What?” I shuddered involuntarily, chill fingers running up and down my spine. “No! I will have nothing to do with you, demon! Go back to your warlock!”

“Ah.” The demon drew that sound out. “That is the issue, ser Kellan. Do you think that one asked for my assistance? No. He ripped me from my place, binding me to him, forcing me to accompany him and do his bidding.” He paused. “Much like the magi has done to you.”

That brought anger bubbling up within me. My chills gone, I stop up abruptly. “That is not what happened.”

“Was it not? I apologize. I was under the impression that the Empire took what it wanted. That’s how your magi ended up in their service, wasn’t it?” Abnayel paused. “That is what would happen to you if they found out about your Talent, as well. Don’t deny it.”

“This is what it is to be, then? Blackmail? You intend to hold that over me, making me do your bidding?”

“I will not lie to you. Under other circumstances, that would be terribly amusing.” Abnayel chuckled. “But now? No. I am currently unbound, and unable to interact with your world. It’s only a trick of your Talent, and how you unmade my binding, that allows me to reach out to you now.”

“Good. After seeing you once, and seeing what you did to those girls, I do not want you in this world again at all.” I started edging around the wall toward the door.

“Oh, I agree.”

The overwhelming anger in those words stopped me in my tracks. “What?” The demon was silent. “Speak! What do you mean?”

“I have no desire to be bound to your world. Yet there is one mortal who knows my true name. Whether I like it or not, if he calls, I am constrained to answer, and obey.” The demon spat out those final two words as if they were the vilest poison.

“A simple matter, then. Tell me who it is, and where we might find him. I will clap him in chains, and you can go back to leaving my nights alone.”

Abnayel sighed. “As if it were that simple, child. Unlike you, the warlock took pains to hide himself from me. I couldn’t tell you who he was, or even what he looks like to your mortal eyes.”

“Then why are you here? Why are you haunting me? What do you want?”

“I want him dead.” The anger in the demon’s voice would have stopped a centurion in his tracks. “So long as he knows my name, he may share it. And if you capture him, oh, child, rest assured - your precious Empire will pry it out of him, one way or another. And then they will summon me, and bind me, and leave me trapped for eternity in a prison without walls, until I slowly go mad.”

I edged closer to the mirror and steeled myself.

Abnayel giggled. “Well. Madder. Before that happens, though, Kellan, if you do not help me? I will make sure to let your precious magus know exactly who you are. I will make sure that you share at least a small portion of my fate. Taken, bound, hidden away and cut off from all you value.”

I raised my hand slowly, my arm shaking. My skin crawled at the idea of touching the mirror, yet I reached out until only a breath separated my fingers from the cursed thing.

“So I suppose, yes, I am blackmailing you,” Abnayel said thoughtfully. “And you know what, Kellan? I was right. It is terribly amusing.”