The Bird & The Beast

Chapter 7

"You're a fool to show your face here after what happened."

"You certainly are intuitive, aren't you, my good man?" Sáyt'n remarked. "I didn't even say a word and you still knew it was me."

"I have my ways." The man turned his head upwards.

If he had eyes, he would have been staring directly into Sáyt'n's. And that in itself was unnerving.

It was like the man had some otherworldly power that allowed him to see without having eyes.

"What do you want, boy?" Brent asked with a heavy sigh. "What more do you want from me?"

"I was wondering if you would enjoy being my business partner."

"Is this a new ploy of yours to annoy your father?"

"Whatever gave you that idea?"

"You have some gall, coming here after what you did to me."

"Actually, to be honest, I came here because. . ." Something inside his head seemed to switch off.

Why had he come? After all these decades of resisting the temptation, why was he here?

He stared blankly at the disfigured, little man sitting cross-legged before him.

"Ah, yes, now I know! Um. . .well. . .how's it been going?"

"Let's see. . ." Brent didn't move an inch. "Every movement I make sends flames of pain throughout my body, I've heard my face has inspired horror stories, and I can't see a godsdamned thing. All of that aside, it's been going great. Thank you for asking."

"That's good to know. I'm glad you're well."

"You did this to me, you ungrateful bastard," Brent hissed, "and now you have the balls to come around here—"

"I get why you're bitter. You had been an oddly attractive man before the accident."

"You little psycho—" The man trembled with rage and pointed a shaking hand to his face. "This just doesn't happen on accident!"

"Purposefully accidental? Accidentally purposeful? Wait, that didn't make any sense, even for me—"

"What do you want?" Brent seethed.

"I have something for you."

"Even Benarch knows I don't want anything you have to offer," he spat out.

"I think we'll both agree it's something you can't turn down. You're always looking to expand your collection, and well, I have one you can add to it." Sáyt'n reached behind him, pulling the lifeless body into Brent's sight.

Well, if Brent had sight.

"How long has she been dead?" Brent finally asked.

Sáyt'n ignored the eerie fact that Brent knew the gender without even touching the body.

"Less than three hours. I heard after three hours, they're useless. Is that true?"

"It's true," Brent murmured. "You'd be surprised by how much you hear is actually true. I know others will say it's the other way around. . ." He reached out and touched the girl's hair. "The best lies spring from some truth."

Sáyt'n looked down at the girl, at the gaping hole in her chest. He'd specifically asked Damien not to remove Polly's heart.

Just because he knew Damien would, regardless of what he said, and knew that the demon would think he had somewhat of a conscience if he asked him not to remove his ex's heart.