Soul Fire (Darkling Mage 8)

Romira smirked. “Sort of runs in the blood, the arrogance.”

Bastion reddened and looked away. He cleared his throat, but said nothing.

“Then there’s nothing you can tell us that would help, Grandma?” Prudence folded her arms, her lips twisted in disappointment. “I thought for sure that you might be able to tip us off.”

Madam Chien scoffed. “Please. Even if I did know, do you truly believe that I would have told you where to find the Great Beasts? To send my only granddaughter into the jaws of death? You’re more foolish than I thought.”

“Grandma,” Prudence grumbled warningly.

Madam Chien barked back in Mandarin, and that set them off. I couldn’t begin to tell you what they were arguing about, only that I was really glad I wasn’t caught in the crossfire. I broke off with Romira and Bastion, and we went into our own little huddle, over by a shelf stacked high with jars of colorful powder.

“So,” Romira said. “Any ideas?”

“We ask an entity,” Bastion said. “Someone who knows about these things.”

“Interesting proposition,” I said. “Except that even Loki himself didn’t know where the Beasts hang out. I mean, wouldn’t he have told me if he knew?”

“So, again, we ask an entity,” Bastion said, his jaw clenching. “Someone who’s good with secrets.”

Romira’s eyes flitted between us, and she licked her lips, as if hesitating to speak. “Or someone who’s good with animals. Big old animals. The biggest.”

I shook my head. “The last time I talked to Artemis, Chernobog showed up to pull my heart out of my chest. Remember? As for secrets, I’m not sure I’m still on good footing with Arachne.”

Romira nodded. “That’s one option. Or we could go bigger and check with Hecate.”

Bastion nodded, too. “Even better. Goddess of magic, probably knows more about lore than the others.”

My eyes fell on a bit of dust on the floor. Behind us, Prudence and her grandmother were still arguing.

“I haven’t heard from her in ages. You know, I never had to use a communion to find her, after that first time.” The first time being the night that Bastion, Prudence, and I went to seek out the Greek goddess of magic and very nearly got killed. “She just kind of showed up whenever she wanted. Wait. Romira. Aren’t you linked to ?Cerberus?”

?Cerberus was her patron, a simplistic way of saying that Romira had a contract with the Great Beast, one that gave him ownership of her soul in exchange for the gift of arcane power. Romira cocked an eyebrow at me and scoffed.

“Yes, but it’s not like he can help all that much. He’s a three-headed dog. Some of the Beasts can communicate, I’m sure, but ?Cerberus is all grunts and growls. He appeared to me to offer patronage, not the other way around.”

“What, like he just showed up in your apartment or something? Clouds of smoke and fire?”

“Basically, yes. Scared the shit out of me, but he got his point across. It’s hard to describe, but I guess it was like a sort of – emotional telepathy? I understood.”

Bastion sighed. “So, in short, you have no idea where your own patron is tethered? No way to communicate with him?”

She rolled her eyes. “Nope. It’s not like I’m in any hurry to see him again, you know. He’s kind of holding my soul for collateral. I’m not gonna lie, I’m more than a little wary of entities since then. I can fake being polite for the most part, but yeah.”

“Is it weird?” I asked. “You know, not having a soul.”

Romira tossed her hair and grinned. “I feel great, honestly. It’s not like someone pulling out your wisdom teeth. My soul’s still right here, in my body. I mean I might change my tune when it’s time to collect, but for now? I’m on top of the world.” She flashed a grin that stretched too wide, one with far too many teeth. I tried not to shudder.

“So,” she continued. “We’re going to have to decide who we consult, then pick up the right offerings for a communion. Maybe Prudence will have some ideas, too, just as soon as we get out of here and have a chance to ask her.”

Bastion cringed and sucked air in through his teeth. “Yeah, that’s assuming she makes it out alive.”

I followed his line of sight. Prudence and Madam Chien really did look like they were inches away from a brawl, their faces pressed so close together, standing on the balls of their feet. Then, out of nowhere, Madam Chien’s features softened, and she bent in to take Prudence’s hands. Prudence’s face fell immediately, her eyes filling with tears. Wordlessly, they hugged.

“What’s – what’s happening?” I muttered.

“Shh,” Bastion said. “Shut up. Shut up. They’re having a moment.”

“Aww,” Romira cooed.