Page 61 of Infernium

I stared at her, suddenly understanding why she was bound for Infernium versus one of the work camps. “Do pacts not go against your vow as a Dra’Akon?”

“I told you, I have no idea what that is. But if I did, no. It wouldn’t.”

“If something were to happen to Farryn, you would suffer incredible pain with this curse. Unimaginable pain.”

“I took a class on econometrics once. Your little blood curse ain’t got nothing on that.” She nodded toward Vaszhago. “Besides, if he’s worth a damn, I shouldn’t have anything to worry about, right?”

“Do we have time for this?” Vaszhago said in a bored tone. “With my balls now tied to your female, I’m a little anxious about who’s guarding her at the moment.”

“The next time you mention your balls and my female in the same sentence, I will sever said balls and feed them to you.” I turned back to the woman and, with impatience, took her palm. “You know the words?”

“I. Vespyr St. James from Dade City, Florida, do solemnly swear to uphold the integrity of the five realms or be at the mercy of my lord for a span of eternity.”

“You remembered all of that?”

Smile stretching her lips, she tapped at her temple. “Photographic memory.”

I carved the same symbol into her palm and bound her to Farryn, just as I had with Vaszhago. As the black fluid oozed out of her cut, she gasped. “That is wild.” She held up her hand and turned to her side. “Is that not wild, Osiris?”

I frowned, observing nothing beside her, except her own shadow. “Yes, well, let’s be off.”

We climbed into the carriage, and as I took a seat beside Vaszhago, he snorted. “Told you.”

“Cap it.”

16

FARRYN

At the sound of barking, I pushed out of bed and scurried across my room toward the window, watching the dogs chase after the carriage where Jericho sat beside a man literally dressed in rags. Through the window, I could see his dirty bare feet, the sight of which made me shiver, given how cold it was outside.

I felt Anya’s presence beside me. “This should be interesting,” she said with an air of amusement. “I wish I knew what it was that made the Master so sympathetic to criminals.”

“How many do you think this one has killed?”

“In a place like Velthrock prison? My goodness, he’d have to be quite dangerous.”

Great. My babysitter, the serial killing demon.

The carriage rolled to a stop, and after Jericho dismounted, he glanced up toward me, flicking his fingers in a gesture for me to come down.

An uneasy sensation twisted in my stomach, but I gave a nod, and with Anya trailing after me, I made my way out of the bedroom and down the stairwell to the first floor foyer, where Jericho had just stepped inside.

Behind him, followed the prisoner.

And behind the prisoner, came a petite young woman, perhaps twenty, or so, with bright purple hair that stuck up in all directions.

The sight of her brought me to a screeching halt, and confused, I looked back to Jericho.

“This is Vaszhago.” He gestured toward the male first, whose face was hidden behind bedraggled black hair that reached his shoulders. “He has agreed to serve as a guard to you and offers his life, if necessary.”

In an act that seemed so utterly strange, I didn’t know how to respond, Vaszhago knelt down, head bowed. He spoke in a language that I didn’t understand, but given the nod of approval from Jericho, I assumed it was respectful.

“You don’t have to–” I started to say and was quickly cut off, when Jericho added, “And this is Vespyr. She has agreed to assist you through the pregnancy.”

The girl followed the same gesture as Vaszhago, kneeling to the floor. Only, she spoke plain English. “It’s an honor to be your attendant, my lady.”

My lady?

---