Hell Raiser

Fire Pact

Black chains rattle in the darkness. My body is locked in a statue like state, my chest tight.

Grey stone blocks encase the cell, with wrought iron bars separating the cells from the long corridor I used to patrol.

A soft movement reaches my ears, a scrape of smooth skin on a silk collar.

Kasey's voice whispers through the cell. "Rhodamus, Crash, Hell Raiser, or whatever you call yourself now." He tuts loudly. "What happened to you? You used to be so calm, your head in a book for most of your days."

"Why?" He knows what I mean.

"You were causing a problem on my road, and the counsel told me to take you given the chance. I hadn't a clue that you were that stupid." He enters the cell, the black silk shining in the dull light.

"Have you heard from Kane?"

His brows narrow. "No, I can't say that I have. What does this have to do with anything?" He is getting impatient.

"He was slaughtered." I watch him stagger back a step, face going very, very white. "A video was sent to me, as cliché as it was. He was killed to get to me. I don't know who did it, but—"

Kasey cuts me off. "ENOUGH!! Listen to yourself! You sound crazier than a gwattang." He sighs, leaning back onto his heels and rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"You have no reason to trust me, nor do I ask you to. But please, I need to see his son."

"What do you want with Gabriel? You don't know that he'll listen to you."

"Sounds like you believe me."

"Don't flatter yourself," he ground through his teeth.

I turn my face serious. "Where is the Prince? I seek his audience."

"As fucking if. I have no intention to tell him th–" He's cut off by the sound of footsteps, steel clinking as someone descends the stairs at the north side of the corridor.

As they approach, I see the meagre light flash off a crimson scale. Coming to a stop outside the cell, he is dressed in a plain white shirt and steel plated pants, his boots shining chrome even this far down. Above his head is a crown of fire and blood. His wings are furled behind him, shifting when he saw me, the only sign of emotion he portrayed. But it was the way he looked at me, once an ally, and a friend, now nothing more than a common criminal waiting to be hung.

"Why is this traitor here, Sir Kasey? Should he not have been sent to the Ruined Castle immediately?" he whispered.

"My lord I—" An invisible hand clamped down on my mouth.

"Only speak when spoken to, traitor. You're father would be very disappointed."

My fear flared to rage. My father wouldn't give a shit, he didn't before.

"He brings news, Prince. Kane has been executed, in a brutal fashion, I'm led to believe." Kasey breathes deeply. "We should find out who did it."

A look of disgust on the usually grinning face. "He lies. Kane's assistant has kept uninterrupted correspondence with my Vizier."

"Brother, he is a traitor, a thief, and a murderer, but he is not a liar."

An evil grin. "Not been reading the paper lately, brother?"

The Prince has sharpened his tongue.

The band of magic on my mouth relaxes. "What do you have to say for yourself, Traitor Prince? Do you indeed seek an audience with Kane's son, after his alleged murder?"

"I you assure he is very, very dead, and that I do wish to speak with Gabriel."

A thoughtful look paints itself on his face. He grunts, as if saying, Fuck it, let's see where this goes. "You claim to have proof of his death?" I nod. "Very well." He walks into the cell for the first time, and walks right up to way I lay unmoving, the membrane of his wings whispering with the movement. "I will release you, to retrieve this proof. You have two days, that should be more than generous, since you have it prepared.

"In two days we will meet at his parents home. Bring what you will need to show us this evidence. If what you say is true, then I will personally escort you to Gabriel. If not..." He leans in close, a finger length away from me. "If not, then the Ruined Castle can have whatever is left of you."

The chains drop to the stone with a crash. "Deal?" he asks, his voice dripping venom, hand out.

Begrudgingly I reply, "Deal," and shake his hand. I instantly feel the pact band sear itself around my forearm.

"Remember," he said. "Two days." Then the stone cell disappears as I fall to the Gold City.