Page 91 of Bride of Death
Pip nods, his expression somewhat angry now, like he’s mad that I’ve already spoiled that plan.
“Why not?”
“Because he thinks I’ll escort him back to the Soul Yards,” Maliki says. “Right?”
Pip cocks his head a little, then nods again.
“Maliki isn’t going to do that,” I promise Pip. “I won’t let him.”
The assassin unhelpfully chuckles at that.
“Right?” I say, shooting him a glare.
Maliki lifts his hands in mock surrender. “If you say this soul is your pet, I won’t take him away from you.”
Pip folds his arms in a way that tells me he doesn’t believe Maliki.
“He’s not my pet,” I mutter. “Pip is my friend.”
My little soul perks up at that, the skirt of his cloak starting to sway as he dances.
“And as my friend, I would like you to come with me to the palace,” I continue to Pip. “To stay with me.”
“As a pet,” Maliki adds under his breath.
I cast him another withering look. “You are not helping.”
He lifts his hands again. “Sorry, sorry. I’ll let you tame your friend.”
My gaze narrows even more. “I’ll tame you.”
He laughs. “I think you’ve already started, little mystery.”
I’m not sure what he means by that, so I go back to ignoring him and give Pip all of my attention again. “Can you please come out of the in-between?”
Pip drops his arms, but his movements still appear to be uncertain.
“If you prefer to hide, that’s fine,” I tell him, aware of how that feels. “But will you come with me to the palace?”
My little friend sways, the answer unclear.
“If he’s not agreeing, it’s not because of you,” Maliki says. “He’s probably afraid Hades will send him to the pits.”
“The pits?” I repeat as Pip begins to shake again.
“A place where judgment occurs,” Maliki explains darkly.
Pip starts to float into the wall.
“I won’t let that happen to you,” I promise Pip. “I… I’ll talk to Hades.” The uncertainty in my voice is clear to my ears and obviously to Pip, too. My shoulders sag. “It’s okay, Pip. I understand if you want to hide here. I would stay with you if I could.”
He floats out of the wall again and comes a little closer, seeming to be undecided again. His eyes are so sad. Yet the way he vibrates tells me how terrified he is of everything we’re discussing.
“What if I promise to help you,” Maliki says, his eyes on the door to my bathroom.
I frown.Does he think Pip is over there?
“If you know who I am—which I assume you do and that’s why you’re hiding—then you know my offer is valid. Hades won’t touch you if I say you’re mine.”
