“You’re being ridiculous,” Lux shook his head. “I’m a peccati. You shouldn’t care what happens to me or risk anything. I’ve lied to you. I’ve gotten you in danger. Your life was so much better before you met me. You need to forget me and get out of here.”

“No.” She stepped closer to him, her eyes unwavering. “You’ve probably done horrible things, maybe even things that I could never forgive. But I know there is good in you, more good than you even know. You are worth saving and you are worth loving. I’m not leaving unless you leave with me.”

A laughed echoed behind them, and they turned back to see Ira standing there.

“Isn’t that sweet?” he asked. “It’s too bad that I’m going to have to finish the job I started back in the Necrosilvam.”

20

Scelestus wrinkled her nose and glared at her little manservant sitting next to her in the coach. Jinn stared up at her meekly, not sure what he’d done wrong, but from the look on her face, it had to be something bad.

“You disgusting little hobbit,” Scelestus said as they bounced around in the back of the horse drawn carriage. “How dare you pass gas in my coach!”

“It wasn’t I, my Lady,” Jinn said. “I would never do such a thing!”

“Then what is that wretched smell?” Scelestus demanded, and she still wasn’t convinced that it wasn’t Jinn.

“I’m not sure, my Lady,” Jinn shook his head. “Perhaps it’s sulfur. We must be getting close to Valefor’s lair.”

“It’s about damn time,” Scelestus muttered. “We’ve been traveling in this cursed carriage for what feels like forever.”

She leaned over and pulled back the black curtains so she could peer outside. Valefor’s red tower jutted up on the horizon only a mile or two ahead. Scelestus smiled and settled back in the seat.

Since she’d gotten word from Valefor that Lily and Lux had gone missing, she’d been unable to speak to him. She’d tried sending messages or speaking to him through her cauldron, but he was either ignoring her or too busy. Either way, Scelestus needed to make things right with him.  He had a protective spell around his lair, so Scelestus couldn’t teleport anywhere near his tower, and she’d been forced to travel by horse and carriage to meet with him.

After years of suffering as the Lady of the dull Insontia, she’d finally found her way out. In exchange for that useless step-daughter of hers, she would be granted eternal youth when she took the role of the invidia. But since she’d been unable to deliver Lily to Valefor, she would just have to find something else that he wanted. There had to be something she had that would be worth turning her into a peccati.

“How do I look?” Scelestus asked Jinn.

“Ravishing, as always, my Lady,” Jinn smiled up at her. She sneered at him when he said that, and he was never sure what was wrong with that. Everything he did, he did to please her, but it never seemed to be good enough.

They rode the rest of the way to Valefor’s in silence. The sound of the dirt road under the horses’ hooves changed to the wooden sound of a bridge, and then the horses stopped sharply. An ogre grunted outside, and Scelestus motioned for Jinn to get out.

Jinn spoke very little ogre, but he did as he was told, the same as he always had. Scelestus waited in the carriage, smoothing out her hair. She pulled out a mirror that she always carried with her and made sure that her makeup was good. Everything had to be perfect for when she met with Valefor.

“What’s the hold up?” Scelestus shouted out the window when it seemed like Jinn was taking too long.

Jinn hobbled back to the carriage and opened the door.

“I’m not completely sure, my Lady,” Jinn said. “There seems to have been some trouble here earlier today. The ogre at the door doesn’t want to let anybody in. He doesn’t trust.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake.” Scelestus rolled her eyes and pushed Jinn out of the way. “I’ll do it myself.”

Gathering her dress, Scelestus climbed out of the carriage and nearly knocked Jinn down. The sun was beginning to go down, but the light shined brightly past the tower, nearly blinding her. Scelestus squinted and walked around to the front of the carriage.

A one-eyed ogre stood guard in front of the door, looking irritable and confused. Next to him was a statue of another ogre, and Scelestus looked at it curiously. Perhaps it was meant to be some sort of gargoyle and scare people away when they approached the door, although Scelestus didn’t find it all that intimidating.

“You there,” Scelestus shouted up at the ogre. “Let me in. I need to see Valefor.”

“No pass.” The ogre shook his head and grunted. “No pass!”

“He wants to see me,” Scelestus lied.

“No pass!” The ogre shouted this time and balled his fists up.

“It’s about the girl,” Scelestus said, deciding that giving the ogre a reason would be helpful.

“Girl?”

“Yes, the girl,” Scelestus smiled and did her best to sound sweet. “The girl Valefor has been looking for. I have information on her that Valefor would be dying to hear.”

The ogre furrowed his brow in deep concentration, but he couldn’t seem to figure out what would be the best course of action. She sighed and waited, afraid that if she pushed him he would attempt to squash her with his fists.

The decision was taken away from the ogre when the door behind him slowly opened. It didn’t open all the way, but it was wide enough for a thin man to slip out. His skin had a faint greenish hue to it, and his eyes were too large for his face.

“What’s going on?” the thin man asked.

“Girl,” the ogre grunted and pointed to Scelestus.

“I’m here to see Valefor.” Scelestus smiled at the thin man. “I know something about the girl he’s looking for. I’m sure he’d really love to see me.”

“Who are you?” the man asked, narrowing his eyes at her.

“Lady Scelestus.” She curtsied a bit when she said it, even though the man looked like he was way beneath her station. His clothes were dirty, and his hair was a mess.

“Ah.” The man smiled broadly at her. “Yes, I’m certain he’ll want to see you.”

“I knew it,” Scelestus said, and she beamed genuinely at that.