Once I was certain they were gone, I stepped out from the shadow of the wall. But the mont I took a single step forward, my entire body collapsed and I fell to my knees.
The headache hadn’t faded it had gotten worse.
I pressed my hand against my head. I couldn’t stand. I could barely even lift my head. Everything around was spinning. I stayed like that for I don’t know how long. Maybe minutes, maybe hours. Eventually, the pain started to ease, little by little.
When the headache was nearly gone, I tried to stand, leaning against the wall for support. My legs could hardly hold , but I forced myself to move. The sll of blood hit my nose instantly mixed with the scent of burned wood.
I walked forward until I spotted the cook sitting on the floor, his back resting against the wall. His skin was completely burned, his eyes half closed, as if he was barely keeping them open. I approached him, and when he saw , his eyes widened.
He coughed violently, and a few drops of blood spilled from his mouth before he spoke in a raspy, broken voice:
"You’re... still alive."
Then he let out a laugh, trying to make his tone sound playful:
"I thought a useless spy like you would be the first to die."
I didn’t answer. Normally, I would’ve snapped back at him, but at that mont I didn’t have the energy to bother with such nonsense.
"Do you rember when you talked about that demonic being?"
He raised his head toward with difficulty.
"I was just rambling. Nothing more."
I shook my head.
"I don’t think so. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have said it with that much confidence and seriousness."
His eyes widened further.
"What did you just say?"
"You heard . I don’t think I need to repeat it."
He drew a deep breath, closed his eyes for a mont, then said:
"Looks like he’s planning to start a new show."
"What do you an by ’a new show’?"
"Listen... do you rember when I told you before about a demonic being? I was completely serious. There’s a creature of unimaginable power controlling everything that happens in the Lower District. It manipulates the gangs like puppets, controls emotions, twists minds it can even turn people into empty shells and control them. That’s all I know about it, but I’m sure it has far more abilities."
"Are you joking right now? Because this really isn’t the ti for jokes."
"Unfortunately, I’m being completely serious."
"Then why were you so shocked earlier when I told you I thought you were serious about it?"
"I’ve spent years trying to convince people it exists. Everyone just ignores it or forgets everything about it soon after. The only ones who truly know of its existence... are those it chooses to play with."
I spoke quickly:
"You and Diana knew about it. Are there others?"
He shook his head.
"There were a few others once, but they all died when their roles in the play ended. I don’t know if there are more."
I asked:
"And how did you find out about it in the first place? Did it reveal itself to you?"
"I saw Garrod summon it myself."
"Garrod the leader of the Bloody Fang?"
He nodded.
"Yes. It was a long ti ago. I don’t rember every detail, but I do rember that he found a strange book filled with ancient symbols. He perford a series of rituals written inside, despite my warnings and that’s when the being appeared and offered him a deal."
"What kind of deal?"
"I don’t rember."
"You expect to believe that?"
"You already do, don’t you? You’re part of the demon’s play now. Congratulations."
He paused for a mont, then added:
"I just hope you’re one of the side characters destined to survive."
Despite all the nonsense he’d just said, the strange thing was I believed him. Completely.
Even so, there was sothing about all of this I couldn’t quite place a strange, uneasy feeling I couldn’t explain.
I paced in circles around the room for a while before stopping and turning toward the cook.
"What are we going to do now?"
Roland lifted his head toward .
"What are we going to do?"
"Yes, we have to save Diana. She was taken by those bastards from the Claw!"
"You can’t be serious. You still plan to go there?"
I snapped sharply:
"Why not? And why do you look so surprised? Are you planning to abandon her?"
He let out a long sigh and turned his face away.
"I advise you not to. If you want to stay alive."
"You an I should run? Leave her in the hands of those monsters?"
He answered in an icy tone:
"Yes."
His words ignited a wave of anger in .
I grabbed him by the collar and yanked him toward until our faces were inches apart.
Then I shouted in his face:
"What the hell are you saying? You want to leave Diana to face her fate alone?!"
His face twisted in annoyance.
"If you go there, you’ll die. It’s that simple. I’m not underestimating you but that’s exactly the scenario that demon laid out. You’ll go searching for her, you’ll finally find her in one of the Claw’s prisons, and when you try to free her... that’s where it ends for you."
"How do you know all that?"
He lowered his head, his voice heavy and bleak.
"That damned creature tells everything that’s going to happen. It taunts challenges to try and change it. For years I’ve tried, but it’s useless. Even when I manage to alter small details, the outco is always the sa. Old David’s death, Garrod’s death, and now... this. I tried, and every ti I failed."
He struggled to stand, coughing up a mouthful of blood before wiping it away with the back of his hand.
"This is my final warning to you don’t go after her. If you try to save her, you’ll die there."
"Will I be able to save her?"
"What did you say?"
I raised my voice.
"I said will I be able to save her?"
He turned his back to and said:
"Those feelings you have the desire to save her they might not even be yours. Maybe they were just planted inside you."
"Simple question, Roland. Just answer it. If I try to save her will I succeed?"
He was silent for a mont, then let out a deep sigh before brushing my hand off his shoulder.
"Yes. You will."
I smiled.
"Then that’s all that matters."
He looked at , then bent down and picked up the small leather pouch of silver coins Grivus had left beside him. He opened it, took out a handful of coins, and tossed them toward .
I raised my hand and caught them before they hit the floor.
I saw a faint smile form on his face but he quickly turned away.
"Look for the masked man the one who wears a white mask with a sad black expression painted on it. He might help you. Give him these coins."
After saying that, he turned his back to and walked out of the restaurant. I remained standing there, staring at the silver coins in my hand.
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