Page 33 of Chaos Carnival

Tess's pulse quickened against my side, and I fought the urge to phase us both out of there. We'd come too far, risked too much to run now.

Before Baphomet could elaborate, the door to the lounge swung open with enough force to rattle the glasses on our table. A woman strode in, her presence hitting the room like a flash of light that made Tess gasp beside me. She was strikingly beautiful, with long dark hair and eyes that seemed to glow with an inner fire—a common demon trait. I'd heard whispers about her during our time there, warnings muttered in dark corners. We'd never crossed paths—probably by Baphomet's design.

“Baphomet,” she said, her voice a mixture of irritation and curiosity. “What do you want? I was in the middle of something.”

Baphomet's smile widened. “Lilith. Perfect timing. Please, sit.” His massive hand gestured to the space beside him. “I have a job for you. Remember that delightful little arrangement I made with some seraphim refugees centuries ago?” His eyes locked onto mine. “It's finally bearing fruit.”

Lilith's eyes narrowed as she took in Tess and me, her gaze like acid across my skin. “A job? Involving a seraph and a human?” She did a double take of Tess, nostrils flaring. “Oh, a halfling. This should be amusing.” Her attention shifted to me, and Tess pressed closer, her fear spiking sweet and sharp. “So you're one of the three my brother helped escape. I always wondered what he saw in you that was worth the risk.” She slid into the booth.

Lilith, sister of Baphomet.

A demon of legendary power and cunning. The same demon Baphomet had warned us about as we'd fled through the sector, bleeding and desperate. “Stay away from my sister,” he'd said. “I may enjoy watching you squirm, but Lilith? She'll tear you apart just to see how you're put together.”

What game was Baphomet playing now, bringing her into this? My hand found Tess's under the table, our fingers intertwining. Whatever it was, I had a feeling I wasn't the only one who would pay the price.

“You see, my dear sister,” Baphomet said, leaning forward until the shifting dark seemed to gather around him, “our friends here face quite the predicament. A wraithshade has bonded with their enemy, and there's a curse at play—demonic in nature, if I'm not mistaken. The kind of dark magic that leaves a unique signature.” His eyes glinted like blood in dim light. “Your particular expertise might prove invaluable.”

Lilith's gaze sharpened as she studied us, and Tess shuddered beside me. “A wraithshade? Here?” She turned to her brother, something passing between them that made my combat instincts scream. “You always did have a nose for curious situations.”

“The wraithshade grows stronger daily,” I cut in, forcing steel into my voice despite the ice in my veins. Tess's hand tightened in mine, giving me strength. “And this curse—it binds Tess's soulto mine across lifetimes. If you know something about either...” I let the words hang, hating how close they sounded to begging.

“A soul curse and a wraithshade.” Lilith's predatory smile widened, her teeth gleaming like razors. “Now that is intriguing. Wraithshades are tricky creatures, especially once they've fully bonded with a host. The way they twist mind and soul together...” She trailed off, savoring our discomfort. “And soul magic?” She glanced at her brother, something atrocious passing between them. “That's old arcana. Demon sector old. The kind that leaves scars across lifetimes.”

Baphomet nodded, his massive frame seeming to expand with satisfaction. “Which is precisely why I thought of you, sister. Few understand the intricacies of wraithshade bonds as you do. And as for the curse...” He gestured toward Tess, and I had to fight the urge to pull her behind me. “Well, your expertise in that might prove enlightening.”

Tess leaned forward, her determination pushing through her fear like sunlight through storm clouds. “You know how to deal with wraithshades? How to stop them?” The hope in her voice made my chest ache—I'd been desperate enough to seek help from demons once before. Look how well that had turned out.

“Oh, I know quite a bit about wraithshades, little halfling,” Lilith purred, her voice sweet poison. “Including what happens when they truly bond with their hosts. The way they feed, how they grow stronger...” Her eyes gleamed with an unholy light that transported me back to the demon sector's eternal twilight. “And yes, how to destroy them.”

The temperature seemed to drop several degrees. “And why would you help us?” I asked, unable to keep the suspicion from my voice. My scars burned with the memory of our last demonic bargain. “Last time your help came with quite a price tag, Baphomet.”

Baphomet leaned forward, his massive hands clasped on the table. “Let's just say I have a vested interest in seeing how this plays out. It's not often one encounters a situation like yours.” His gaze flicked between Tess and me, lingering on our joined hands. “Consider it a restructuring of our original arrangement.”

“A favor from Baphomet and Lilith.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue. “Something I loathe to accept, especially given our history.” Tess's hand covered mine under the table, her touch both anchor and catalyst. This time, I wasn't deciding alone. The thought both steadied and terrified me. Last time, I'd only had my own soul to bargain with.

“Can you afford to refuse?” Baphomet's smile widened, knowing and cruel. “A wraithshade grows stronger by the day, and that demon curse...” He shrugged, the gesture almost gentle. “You've seen how it binds you. Lilith understands wraithshades better than anyone in any realm. And she'll recognize the signature of whoever dealt with demons to create that curse.” He leaned forward, the umbra stirred, pooling in the hollows of his face. “You were desperate enough to trust me once, Maverick. Are you any less desperate now?”

“What exactly are you proposing?” Tess asked, her voice steady even as her pulse raced against my skin. In that moment, I heard an echo of myself centuries ago, trying to bargain for my brothers' lives.

“Lilith shares her expertise about wraithshades and soul curses. She helps you track the original demonic deal that created this curse.” His eyes glittered like blood diamonds. “And in return, we observe. Your situation is unique—a seraph and a halfling, bound by demon magic, hunted by both wraithshade and seraphim. Consider us interested parties.”

“You want to be entertained?” The memory of his laughter as we'd fled through demon territory rang in my ears—the sound had haunted my nightmares for centuries.

“I want to watch you survive.” He spread his massive hands, the gesture almost paternal. “Again.”

I met Tess's eyes, seeing my own uncertainty reflected there. But beneath it—that same fierce determination that had made me fall for her. Baphomet's help had saved my life once, but now we stood on another precipice, and the fall could break us both.

Tess squeezed my hand, and I felt it then—the pulse of our soul bond, the way our hearts beat in sync despite everything trying to tear us apart. Maybe that was the real danger here. Not what we might lose to the demons, but what we'd sacrifice to stay together.

“We need to discuss this,” I said finally, my voice rough. “Alone.”

Baphomet's smile showed too many teeth. “Of course. Take your time.” His eyes gleamed with ancient hunger. “After all, you have so much more to lose now than just your life.”

As we left the bar, Tess pressed close to my side, her warmth a reminder of everything at stake. The neon sign cast eerie shapes across her face, and I realized with stark clarity that I'd do anything—make any deal, pay any price—to keep her safe.

Above us, clouds parted, revealing a sliver of moon. The celestial poison in my veins pulsed in response, a sharp reminder of our more immediate problem. We needed somewhere secluded for the moonlight ritual, somewhere away from both demons and hunters. But in a city this old, this steeped in supernatural politics, finding true sanctuary would be nearly impossible.

Tess looked up at the moon, then back at me, understanding darkening her eyes. “We should go,” she whispered, tugging my hand. “Before you croak on me.”

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