Page 6 of Hell-Bound

He lifted his chin proudly.

“Why would you think that this happened to me? No one in Vergessen mentioned anything like this.”

He nodded sympathetically.

“The Gilded Triangle has access to many resources. We recently had an operative enter The Hells, and he overheard that a Devil had signed a new contract—an important one. With you.”

Renata’s eyes widened.

“No, sorry. You must be mistaken. EvenIknow that it would be foolish to sign away my soul to the service of a Devil.” She scoffed. “There must be some other explanation. Devils are known to be dishonest, right?”

He took a moment and looked at her, probing for something in her expression.

“Renata, please do not disrespect my time by lying. The Gilded Triangle is not in the business of working with the soulless, but I am afraid we have no other choice. Even now, I can smell the infernal scent on your skin.”

He wrinkled his nose.

Renata felt momentarily taken aback by his harsh words while simultaneously resisting the urge to smell her pits.

“Excuse me!” she sputtered, feeling her face redden. “If I have ascent,it would be the six weeks of travel on that ship I took to get here to listen to your insults and ridiculous theories! What a waste of time.”

She moved to stand.

“I’m sorry, please,” he said, raising his hands apologetically, face suddenly worried. “I didn’t mean to offend.” He paused. “I realize I can sometimes be severe—but I want to help you—and I hadn’t realized that your memories were part of the contract. In truth, my colleagues and I assumed you were feigning forgetfulness to hide your involvement with the Devils. But this certainly complicates matters.” He scratched his chin pensively. “Renata, I need you to be as truthful as you can. Is there anything you remember from your time in The Hells? I won’t judge you. I am here to help, as my lord commanded.”

Renata, face still warm, clenched her jaw, trying to keep the anxiety from rising. Had she really been so stupid? That other woman, the real Renata, was a stranger to her. She felt like an entirely separate person. What if shewasthat stupid? What an embarrassing thought.

“Are you saying that I did this to myself?”

Her breath faltered, panic tightening in her chest.

“Why would Iwantto forget?” she asked, confused. “I don’t remember The Hells or…a contract, and I’m…absolutely miserable—are you sure one of the Devils didn’t just curseme or…something?”

“No, no, Renata,” he said, shaking his head for emphasis. “We are absolutely certain that you have a contract. I must insist that your soul is lost, and this is most likely the reason for your current…state.

“But either way, there is an easy way to prove this. You should have your contract.” He glanced at her satchel, still clutched in her hands. “I’m sure it’s there.”

Her eyes shot to her bag.

“No, I’m sorry, but you’re wrong. There isn’t anything in there besides some letters and other…personal effects.”

Again, she tightened her grip on her bag.

“Renata, these contracts are magical. You cannot escape them. It may be hiding in your pocket or bag, and you haven’t even noticed. They aren’t always obvious. They sort of…follow you. You might try to tear them, throw them away, burn them, but they always come back, eventually.”

“I’m telling you.” She spoke through gritted teeth, getting impatient. “There is nothing in my bag.”

The man breathed out steadily, also seeming to lose a bit of his decorum.

“I’m positive we can find it.”

He tried to give a small, encouraging smile, but it looked strained.

Renata wracked her brain. She had been through her bag hundreds of times—reading letters from her family and Nephele—playing her piccolo.

“Maybe look again?” he asked cautiously. “Now that it knows your intention to read it.”

His forehead furrowed determinedly.

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