Chapter 40: The Debt

The doorbell rang and we did not move.

I stood rooted to the spot by the window, palm pressed to the cold glass. Kael hung by the desk, arms crossed over his chest. Jenna clenched her fists around the metal rod until her knuckles went white. Dorian tried to raise himself from the bed, but only managed to fall back on the pillows with a muffled groan.

The doorbell rang again, lingering, buzzing throughout the apartment walls.

Kael exhaled quietly and turned toward the door. "I will get it." He walked slowly, counting the steps in his head. Kael opened it.

In the snowy porch stood a tall woman with black hair, pulled tightly, the part so white you would see it. Her black coat was caked with snow, but she did not seem affected by the cold. Her silver eyes were completely silver – no white, no pupil, just two coins staring into Kael and then into the apartment.

Behind her two more figures were waiting for her turn. A man with shaven head and scars running from his earlobe to his jawline. Hands stuffed in his coat pockets. And a woman with red hair and a very bored expression, as if she had preferred staying anywhere else.

Seraphine entered without any invitation. She walked across the apartment, making wet squeaks on the floors with her boots. "Kael." She still did not look at him. "You've been busy."

"I guess." He closed the door with a snap. "Seraphine. What's wrong, you're early?"

"What's wrong, Kael?" Seraphine turned toward him and leaned in slightly. "I know about your deal, nephew. Your plan about using your daughter to please the council." She smiled coldly. "Very ambitious. And very stupid. The council does not share."

"What are you talking about?" Kael stepped back.

"I am not coming with empty hands. They do not give. I had to take." Her attention moved to Jenna, who immediately positioned herself between Seraphine and the bed. "Warden. Do not make me repeat myself twice. Move."

"No way."

Seraphine looked at the scarred man and he acted quickly, grabbing Jenna's wrist and bending it behind her back. The rod fell loudly and Seraphine picked it up. "The grimoire, Vance. Give me the book."

"It's too late. I don't need to give it," Vance responded hoarsely.

"Hm?" Seraphine's interest was piqued. "Too late or you won't?"

Red-haired woman stepped next and snatched the book from Vance's hands easily. "The girl. Seraphine."

"That witch is of interest to me." Seraphine opened the book and flipped through pages, covered with old ink. "The binding spell. I'll take it." She closed the grimoire and put it in her pocket. "Now the witch. You're coming with us."

"No."

Seraphine chuckled coldly, but it did not touch her eyes. "You do not have a choice."

"Seraphine!" Kael stepped between me and the envoy with raised hands. "We have a deal. I scouted for you, found it first. Why are you here?"

"Because it takes longer to wait for you to finish scouting. And I do not want the council to think I am incompetent." She walked towards me, and I involuntarily took a step back. Seraphine smiled and turned her gaze towards the man in the corner. "You see the problem? This boy is of no use for us. I would recommend you to give up, Dorian. You were serving us for decades. You can still serve us."

Dorian tried to get up and walked a little bit toward her, swaying slightly, one hand resting on the bed and another holding his side, dripping dark liquid. "But… Seraphine, I'll come back to the council. I promise. Just… let her go."

"She is of greater use to us. She can read the grimoires." Seraphine turned her gaze back to me. "And you will serve us. The rest of you can go."

Mira rose to her feet in a panic.

Her legs trembled, knees knocking, Zoe rushed forward and grabbed her, but Mira pushed herself away, jaw set firmly. She walked towards Seraphine and stopped, looking at her determinedly.

"You do not have to take her. Take me instead." Mira's voice trembled along with her legs. "Raze is inside me and his spell bound with my blood now. My price is higher than her bloodline."

Seraphine's attention focused on Mira and she studied her face and body carefully. Then she stepped towards Mira and grabbed her face with one hand, tilting it to the light. "You speak the truth. The demon is indeed inside you."

She let her face drop back and looked at me. "I'm taking the girl. The others are free to go."

"No, wait!" I grabbed her sleeve, but she threw off my hands easily.

"Yes, I am doing this. Please." Tears welled up in Mira's eyes and rolled down her cheeks, but she did not let the woman touch her again. "Let me do this."

The red-haired woman grabbed Mira's arm and started to drag her toward the door. "Come along, girl. And try not to struggle."

Raze's screams burst from Mira's mouth. His voice was so piercing that it seemed to split the air in half. "You are making a terrible mistake! Don't do that! I will burn everyone alive from the inside!"

Seraphine did not even blink. "We shall see."

She dragged Mira toward the door and the rest of us watched in horror how she disappeared from sight and how Zoe started following after her. Dorian fell on the bed and passed out, Jenna held her back.

But before Seraphine and her men could get out of the room, something happened.

Growl was heard and everything stopped.

A man appeared from the darkness in front of the stairs. Big, broad-shouldered, with a huge chest that seemed to be able to break any ribs in case of a fight. Golden eyes glowing in the dimness, scars cutting his face. Leather coat, scratched and worn out. And boots that made no noise at all.

Kael stepped forward and his face changed colors. "That's the Warden Commander. Jenna's boss."

"Stop them!" Jenna exclaimed.

But the man did not hear her, because he walked inside and took a step toward Seraphine. "I will let you take the witch with you. But only if you take your people too. Get out of my apartment."

Seraphine looked at him and then at Mira. "That's none of your business. This does not concern Wardens."

"Everything concerns the Wardens. In 10 seconds you are leaving with the girl and her demon, if they wish to leave."

Seraphine's face remained emotionless, but golden eyes noticed slight change in her posture. "Or what?"

"Warden Commander, you are pushing too far," Jenna said.

The man ignored her. "10. 9. 8."

The grip of the red-haired woman on Mira's arm tightened and Mira's tears started dropping heavily.

"7. 6. 5."

"Now I know why you hate us so much." Seraphine looked at the Warden Commander. "I am not afraid of the council's anger."

"Then you are not afraid of burning in hell for eternity. 4. 3."

The woman released Mira's arm and she walked forward, Zoe catching her on the way.

"2."

"Out!" The man opened the door and the envoys walked outside, boots squeaking.

Seraphine looked back at me and her silver eyes turned into ice chips. "This is not the end. We will come for the witch." And the woman closed the door behind her.

Warden Commander turned back towards me. "You have just saved yourself one life debt." Golden eyes gazed intently at mine and the man turned and walked out of the room.

Silent snowflakes were tapping the windowsill.

Mira sobbed loudly into Zoe's shoulder. Dorian was lying unconscious on the bed. Jenna leaned against the wall, holding her sore wrist.

And I still couldn't believe that Kael had been right. I made a deal with the worst of them.