The Child of Light and Shadow

A Risky Maneuver

JONAH

"Calm down, would you?" I tell the djinn woman who just burst into the tent. "Deep breaths. Tell us what's happening?" Though I remain calm, Obi is already digging for the daggers he left somewhere. How'd we get to the tent, anyway? The last thing I remember was the bath... Ah, I guess I fell asleep.

"One of the devils has come to Wyrwood Village," Ishtar says. "He claims to be here to negotiate, insisting the devils have no quarrel with the djinn."

Truth be told, I should have sensed as much already. Now that I'm paying attention, it's easy to feel that dark, malicious mana all around us. It's strong, too – far stronger than the devil I killed in the Labyrinth. This one is a royal, though I can't quite tell which one from here. It isn't Nyarlathotep, which is somewhat positive. If it comes to a fight, Isthar alone should match them. "What does the devil look like?"

"Like his father fucked a cat."

"Risk." I turn toward Obi immediately. "He probably already knows we're here. Find Yukiji, Snow and Marcus. We'll need to get a move on if we're planning to run from him."

"I don't think that's gonna happen."

"What?" I don't get what he's about. "What are you talking about?"

Summoning his bow in preparation, Obi plays with it a bit, testing out to see if it'll work. "Patrick lost his arm to Risk, remember? They're gonna want revenge."

"If they're stupid enough to try and fight him, they deserve the death he'll deliver. We need to move. He'll be able to sense my mana, but yours is low-key compared to the djinn, so you go and search. I'll go and talk to Risk."

"We will not fight them," Ishtar says, crossing her arms. "If they truly have no quarrel with us, then I will not be the one to start it. So long as they leave those I care for alone, I'll not battle the devils. Besides, we understand fully how the betrayal of humans stings. We're trapped here because of them, just as the devils were."

Wait. This is new. "Didn't the fairies trap them?"

Isthar seems genuinely surprised by that, and moves aside to let Obi through. "Who fed you such a lie? The fairies were extinct before the devils were imprisoned." I clear my throat at that. "Almost extinct." That's better.

"Wait, so it's possible for humans to beat them?"

"Do you wish to stand around and chat, or are you going to start helping with the escape?"

She starts walking away, and I hurry after her. "Wait! If you know of a way for us to seal them away again, you have to tell us!"

"I have to do nothing of the sort. You have the entirety of Heaven on your side. Have them tell you."

"But you're here now!"

She whirls on me, her mana just as dangerous as Risk's, revealing the anger she's been barely containing these past weeks. "If I tell you, they'll assume we are making them our enemies. It is not my concern whether humanity survives or not. As far as we're concerned, you deserve everything that comes your way. This is just the turning of the Wheel. The season of humanity is over. Perhaps it is time for the devils to be on top. I'll tell you nothing, Jonah, and you will take that nothing and flee with it. You are no longer welcome here."

I bite back a retort. She's not incorrect, but that doesn't mean she's not wrong. I'm still not about to anger her, however. On her word, we could all be surrendered to Risk, and God help us then. "I understand."

Nodding, she turns around and keeps walking. I catch up to her, knowing there's a discussion we must have. "Raksha."

"I am thinking," Ishtar replies. What's his role in all of this? We promised to help each other, but so much has changed since then. Is he gonna want to go with us? Is his mother even gonna allow it? Would he even be capable of crossing the barrier again?