Page 140 of Between Soul and Vessel
Alright.He didn’t press; he knew me well enough to know I wouldn’t talk—a fish’s watertight asshole had fuck all on me.
Helga took a small sip before she jerked the cup back from her face, causing some to slosh over the brim of her cup and spill on her hand. “Ooh, ooh, that’s hot!” Swiftly, she put the cup down and dried her hand on her robes.
As she did this, Artemesia asked, “What do you know about the sandstorm the Goddess of Knowledge uses to protect her palace?”
“I’ve heard a few whispers here and there—however, it’s going to cost you.” Helga chuckled.
Artemesia reached for her coin purse. “How much?”
Helga flicked her hand, indicating she wasn’t interested in money. “Five minutes with him.” She nodded to Folkoln.
“No,” Artemesia answered firmly, the smallest hint of a growl on the back of her tongue.
Interesting.
“Then, in that case, I know nothing,” Helga said, reaching for her cup again.
“Perhaps,” I cut in as I took a step forward, “we can make a different deal. I can trade you information that will be of use to you.”
Her blue eyes flicked to mine, a hint of surprise in them. “Oh?” she asked. “And what might that be?”
Asserting my authority, I tipped my head ever so slightly, eyes narrowing on her with lethal aim. “How you will die.”
She scoffed. “Impossible. Only Death itself knows when that day will come.”
“Exactly,” I said, my flesh and skin dissolving from one half of my face until there was nothing but iron bone left. I placed a casual hand in my pocket. “Your time is coming faster than you think, but if I tell you, you might be able to escape your fate.”
It was a lie—no one could escape Death.
But she didn’t need to know that.
“Whatareyou?” she hissed, scrunching back. Her heartbeat quickened its pace, pounding her fear into my ears.
“You know the answer to that,” I said as I let my shadows free. They crept up the wall behind me, twisting my likeness, making it more monstrous, with horns and jagged teeth. Some formed arms, reaching around my torso. And then, there were the ones that started to crawl toward her, their heads twisting unnaturally to the side.
Her eyes stretched wide with horror.
Something spicy and sweet bloomed on my tongue, making my mouth water. An invisible chain tugged, and I spared a brief glance at Sage, noting the sultry look on her face. She sunk her teeth into her bottom lip.
You are beyond sexy right now, her seductive voice came through the bond.
I tried not to smirk.
“What will it be, Helga?” Artemesia asked, going along with it. “Do you want the deal or not?”
“Yes, I’ll take it,” she said desperately, still cowering. “Just callthose thingsoff.”
“Wonderful,” I patronized, my face returning to normal as I reined my umbra in. A new tattoo formed on my forearm—a knife swirled in a ribbon of sand. “You go first.”
“Alright,” she replied swiftly. “There is a riddle I’ve heard. If you can find a way to solve it, you might just be able to pass through the sandstorm.”
“What is it?” Sage asked.
Helga thought for a moment before she said, “I’m there at the beginning of life and I’m there at the end. You can see me in the water, but I never get wet. I have no voice, but I’m faster than sound. I am a symbol of hope, especially in darkness. What am I?”
Silence lingered.
“You can take your time to think about it,” she said, her gaze shifting to mine. “Now, about your end of the deal?” She posed it as a question, even though it was something we had already agreed on.
