The Parisian Codex

47 - New Deal

Zagan disappeared into the dark tunnel, his prisoner slung over his shoulder. Left alone, I began to worry about Romane. I leaned towards the opening of the gully with the idea of calling out, but scrapings told me that someone was crawling along. I stepped back to give the young woman room to get up and ... a puppy leapt at me.

"Deva?" I said.

The Labrador whimpered with pleasure, wagging her tail.

A backpack sprang from the gully after the puppy, then a second, and Romane appeared behind the bags. She was pale and disheveled, but her smile shone like sunshine. She straightened up and took Deva in her arms.

Like a fool, I stood in awe of the duo.

"You've got... Deva..." I stammered.

"It's great, isn't it?"

"I... You brought the puppy back? Like with the pigeon?"

What could have slipped into this animal's body? The spirit of a lion? A dictator?

"Not at all! I didn't'bring her back. Cernunnos gave her back to me."

I opened and closed my mouth several times as I reviewed my possible answers.

"Cernunnos," I finally said. "The Celtic god of nature?"

Romane nodded enthusiastically. "Himself. He's also responsible for the cycle of life and death, and for animals, of course."

"That dog..." I said.

"That puppy," cut in Romane.

"That puppy was sacrificed to the gods in exchange for their help. If the d ... the puppy comes back to life, the deal's off!"

Did we do all this for nothing?

"Not at all. The sacrifices were meant to attract the attention of the gods and the specters. Nothing's off because I've made a new deal."

I staggered, and this time the hallucinogenic smoke had nothing to do with it.

"Deal?" I repeated in a weak voice.

"With Cernunnos."

Had Romane sold her soul to a god as old as the continent? Was it even possible to sell one's soul to a god? Was I too obsessed with soul trading?

Romane raised her hand as if to stop thoughts—which needed it.

"Cernunnos returned Deva to me, and in exchange, I vowed to become his priestess. I also asked for the rooster and the lamb, but he wants to keep them. It's been a long time since anyone sent him animals. You know, he really loves them. He'll take good care of them. The lamb was on his lap, and the rooster had perched on his head in the center of his antlers. It was adorable."

This time I didn't even try to react. I picked up my bag, let Romane explain her plans, and guided us out of the mine and into the streets of Paris.