The Cost by R. W. Holmes

Author:R. W. Holmes [Holmes, R. W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2017-11-17T18:30:00+00:00

Half an hour later, Gael, with his mirror, mercury, olive branch, cinnabar, and dagger, sat in the center of the common room surrounded by everyone aboard the ship.

“Right, let's do it” Gael said as he passed the dagger to Zinerva.

“You do it this time” Zinerva said as she then went on to pass the dagger to Cypress, who had, by the mercy of Emily's matter printer, ended up in better fitting clothes once more.

Cypress obliged by cutting his palm, and then cast the dagger into the bowl as Gael returned the mirror to its place atop it and poured the mercury onto it.

“Lord of the bloodthirsty, sire of war dogs and anguish alike, cry out from the fire of the first circle and speak with me!”

The mercury shimmered slightly, and the image reflected within turned reddish as it displayed the brilliantly deep red walls of War's palace.

“Still alive” War said approvingly. “That's good. Victories create respect, and respect from one's enemies creates breathing room.”

“Yeah, about that still alive part...” Gael started awkwardly. “You remember Angelica, right? Because she's alive again.”

Angelica maneuvered around the room so that she was visible to the reflection and waved nervously.

“Is that a future thing?” asked War. “Because-,”

“No, that's what I'm calling you about” Gael interrupted. “Death sent her back, and now he says she owes him a favor.”

The corner of War's eldritch lip twitched slightly as he repressed a scowl. “That is not good” he said plainly. “If Death knows, then the other horsemen know. Avoid contact with them at all costs, or they'll start tempting you with things when you're desperate.”

“Is that what he did to me?” asked Angelica. “What does he want?”

“I don't know” War replied honestly. “But it is more than you want to pay. Death is an extraordinarily smart thing when it wants to be, so I don't imagine you'll realize what you've given up until far after you've done it.”

Emily scoffed and shook her head. “I still can't believe you give all of this for free.”

“As long as Gael is alive, there will be more like him” replied War. “That's good enough for me. Pestilence and Famine and Death may want it all, but I am not greedy.”

“To be fair, you all have been roped into a war” said Cypress.

“I'm almost a little disappointed that Angelica has returned” War continued nonchalantly. “That baphomet spawn of hers would've been wonderful to torture, what with there being a purpose for it for once...”

“I had no way of knowing!” Artemis bellowed fearfully. “You told no one of-,”

“Shut up!” hissed War. “You have evaded being made an example of for now, but rest assured: if Angelica ever returns to Hell before her proper time, I will see to it that you waste away in agony.”

Gael leaned back where he sat, putting his weight on his arms as they stretched back behind him, and sighed. “Somehow I was hoping you'd have something to say about how we could get the R'lyehans and The Fae to fuck off.

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