Page 75 of The Misfit Mage and His Devilish Desires

“Fine, fine, no need for the theatrics.” Abe gestured his surrender.

“Now that we have your attention, I have a few questions.”

“Honestly, if you wanted to torture me for information, you should’ve just started up with lectures first.” Abe huffed. “Nothing more grating than listening to you drone on about bullshit no one cares about.”

That hurt Wally. Visibly stung him because, in all his time working in the archives, he’d only found two people willing to listen to him discuss his findings: an unwilling demon trapped in an orb and the magus who always conversed so delightfully when presented with Wally’s research. To learn it was all an act, a lie, a façade meant merely to elicit what Abe sought… I understood Wally’s pain in a way much, much worse.

“I’ve never experienced Hell, but I imagine it’s a lot like Walter’s lectures.” Abe laughed. “Must be why Beelzebub enjoys your company so.”

I growled.

“Oh, relax. It’s merely a joke.”

“You studied the Diabolic orbs, correct?”

“I might’ve had a book or two noting my research.”

“Really?” Wally asked wide-eyed. “Did you ever learn of their origins?”

“You’re asking if I know about the Fae manipulation?” Abe scoffed. “The audacity they thought they could turn Abraham Remington into a meager case study.”

Wally and I simply stared. He didn’t know about the specifics. About Baron Novus.

“The Fae were discreetly revealing these contraptions to mages, witches, other skillfully magical beings. Nothing based in intellect.” He eyed Weather.

Sunny yapped. Cloudy huffed. Stormy growled. I petted his heads with my tails to calm the little beast. He wasn’t base in intellect; he was the smartest Cerberus out there.

“You didn’t even learn of Baron Novus’ involvement?” Wally asked. “This is useless. He knows even less about the Diabolic orbs than we do.”

“Send him back.” I shooed Abe’s spirit. “We’ll fix the orbs another way.”

“Baron Novus? Is that the Fae behind the orbs? Never learned a name or a motive. But I did find several of the Diabolic orbs scattered across our world.” Abe raised his eyes. “Learned quite a few things. Even how to restore them. Might’ve jotted that down in a book or two.”

“Liar.” I barred my teeth.

“Not a lie. Needed to prepare for any possibility of your escape. Also, my hope was to eventually find a way to harness your essence while keeping you bound to the orb itself. Pity.”

The same thing those damned witches wanted. Power hunger mortals and Mythics always searching for a way to exploit Diabolics.

“Despite everything you learned, you never knew that fairy whispered commands in your head, urged you onto this mission,” I snapped. “You were just a puppet, Abe. A useless puppet who played his part.”

“Aah, so you’re wondering if my actions were a result of the Fae’s suggestive whispers? Everyone in authority knows the Fae manipulate from the shadows. Only weak-willed fools fall prey to their intrusive thoughts.” Abe rocked his head disapprovingly. “I’d been researching ways to contain, control, or kill a devil the day you stepped into Seattle. This Fae noble you speak of merely provided a tool to trap an even easier tool.”

I snarled.

“Back to your books,” Wally said, an edge in his voice. “What’d they say about repairs?”

“How am I supposed to know?” Abe scoffed. “Unlike some people, I don’t sit around memorizing every word I’ve read so that I can parade trivial facts about as if it’ll make for an interesting conversation starter.” Abe smirked at Wally. “I actually know how to make small talk.”

“Knew,” Wally corrected. “Past tense. Because you’re dead.”

“Still the life of every party I attend.” He pointed around the store. “Case and point.”

“Where is the book? The one with your notes?”

“Went missing some time ago.” Abe’s eyes shifted around the room, landing on Mora, who’d propped herself on a stool with her legs kicked up on the front counter. “Mora Mayfaire, always so lovely no matter who you’re wearing.”

“Remington.” She smacked her lips together, applying a fresh coat of gloss as she prioritized redoing her makeup during the ritual.

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