Page 23 of The Misfit Mage and His Darling Demon

Still, this gave me an opportunity. Even if Novus knew I had essence, he didn’t know how to smother the power, orperhaps he believed the bars did the trick. They were covered in incantations. Guess I’d have to test my luck eventually, but first, I needed to properly evaluate my situation.

“Walter.” Novus floated into the room, literally hovering a foot above the ground as he entered through a glowing blue door that disappeared behind him. “Marvelous you could join me.”

“What’s going on?” I asked with a strained, cringy smile. Anything to appear as dumbfounded and simple as he assumed, and quite honestly, accurately assessed since I waltzed right into a caged trap.

His white skin held a glowing hue to it, the light traveling along his skin following a continuous pattern like blood flow. It highlighted the silver armor behind him, the same one from the foyer—exact dent on the chest piece. I doubted Novus lugged a full suit from his foyer to wherever the hell we were. A cellar? A dungeon? Did villas come standard with dungeons? Definitely a construction addon. The armor stood tall—not perched by anything at all—next to a bookshelf, far from my reach, and filled with many expensive collectibles from fresh gorgon eyes, a half-dozen harpy feathers, a petrified goblin egg, leather-bound tomes, and countless other baubles. Not baubles. Illegally obtained artifacts. This must be where he stored all his ill-gotten goods, including mages bound to Diabolics.

“Surely, we can end the pretense,” Novus said, drawing my attention from the vast collection of rarities.

His face had changed. His entire head, in fact, was no longer twice the size as before, less rounded with more sculpted features for high cheekbones and a sloped nose. His smile still stretched long with thin lips, but the curl of his smile didn’t quite reach his ears like before.

“Your face, it’s changed.”

“Ah, yes.” He ran his elongated fingers along his cheeks, rubbing his chiseled chin. “During the Fae Divinity, we oftenattempt to augment into the human form. It helps establish better synchronizing with our audience. Walking in their shoes, so to speak. Their very tiny-footed shoes.”

“Fascinating,” I said, faking enthusiasm. Well, not entirely, because I had no idea they differed from humans so much. “And you thought humans had such large heads?”

“So, we’re still placating? So be it.” He released an exaggerated exhale. “I drew inspiration for the performance from human infants, but I’d forgotten how much larger your newborn’s heads are compared to fully grown humans. We Fae are the opposite, born as vast as an exploding star. Only through temperance, wisdom, and age do we mature into a more confined adult. Whereas all the species in your realm are quite bizarre, growing larger and wider before wilting away over the course of a few seasons.”

“Few have the longevity of the Fae,” I said, grinding my teeth into a smile. “Not all worlds can harness time and space with such ease.”

“Quite the travesty, too. Why even bother with such ephemeral existences? I’ve taken longer naps than most beings on this plane live.”

I needed to keep him talking until I devised a plan of escape. How I’d accomplish such a feat was beyond my grasp, but I had Bez’s essence. Hopefully enough to escape this pentagram keeping me from accessing mana and magic.

“Why are you detaining me here?” I asked.

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Yes. Some attempt to use me as leverage against Bez, though killing Bez wasn’t his intention—otherwise, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

“I can only assume this is because of the Collective,” I said, a weak lie, which hopefully he bought. Didn’t need to tip my entire hand yet.

“You think I’m here for some bounty?” Novus scoffed. “Do you believe me that pedestrian?”

“Then why have you taken me? Why make the phony offer? Why not simply take me from the Fae Divinity performance?” He’d already snatched me away that night, pulled me into another plane of existence which disrupted my connection to Bez much like now. How powerful was he? I scrunched my face. Strong enough to flaunt his abilities, give me fake flattery, and set up this trap.

“With so many eyes on me? No, Walter. As far as any Fae are concerned, I was merely an intrigued member of Court seeking to converse with a notable mage.” He hovered toward the bookshelf, running his hand along the spines of several books.

Books to titles I knew—tomes stolen from archivist vaults across the world. The skill it’d require to break into a vault guarded by a Magus themself. Given how I’d been framed for such an incredible feat, it was difficult not to quake with curiosity and terror at the skill Baron Novus possessed.

“Besides, the best traps require bait and patience,” Novus said, his grating smile unyielding. “I waited three centuries before acquiring my first demon. Surely, I could show some restraint when acquiring a devil.”

“This is about Bez?”

“Naturally. Beelzebub is the only devil to dwell so long in the human realm, left unguarded and now vulnerable due to his romance.”

I hated this. Hated being such a weakness for Bez. Literal kryptonite. His downfall. I had to escape. Stop Novus. Prove I could outmaneuver this trap.

“You’re not the first to try and fail to control a devil,” I said a bit smugly, goading him into talking, revealing his plans, and stalling for time to strategize.

“I do not seek to control the devil.”

“Then what?”

“Diabolics are a brutal species, most thriving on violence and destruction, the very thing that birthed many of their Hells, gave creation to devils, and made way for legions of demons. Quite frankly, I’d rather have nothing to do with such disgusting entities.”

Metal clinked behind Novus, and I looked past him, searching for what moved or fell. Nothing. Wait. Had the suit of armor’s helmet turned? The slits in the visor were vacant yet positioned to stare directly at Novus. I shut my eyes tightly. No. It’d always faced that direction. I was seeing things. Still, the clinking continued.

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