Nick walked towards the Hall of the Hogs, a grin on his lips and pep in his step. His conversation with Lily had been a good one and she had been very relieved to find out that Nick had managed to solve his Paige problem alone. Lily had told him about the strange commune she was living in, it was filled with Shamans who were all rather eccentric people and then a number of people in similar situations to Henry. Friends and family who had stuck around to make sure their Shaman companions didn’t forget to eat, sleep, or clean themselves in their varied pursuits. His dad was doing well and had apparently met a few like-minded chiefs and they were already planning to start their own kitchen of sorts. Overall, it sounded like his family was settling in well in the few days they’d been there.

Part of Nick wanted to just run himself over and settle down with them but he had to save Benny. Then he could get the whole family back together and work out whatever problems they’d be facing next. When he’d explained the plan he was cobbling together he had almost felt his sister’s sigh through the text he was reading. She hadn’t been surprised that Paige wasn’t keeping up her end of the deal and explained that she and Abby were already working on getting her abilities to a point where she could try and scry the location of Benny. Lily was happily able to include Nick into her plans, which she hadn’t so far because neither she nor Abby had expected him to be able to escape the clutches of Paige, at least this quickly. After setting his plan with Lily he felt a lot better about it, while he couldn’t trust in his own planning abilities, he definitely trusted hers.

He had avoided telling her about his new overarching goal for the time being. Mainly because he knew she’d definitely laugh at it, and he wanted to be there to see her face when she did. Also because it was such a basic and rudimentary plan at this point that it wasn’t worth mentioning. Of course, Lily likely already had half a dozen plans to work out a way to escape the Complex and get back home, Nick would just attempt his own before it inevitably fell apart and Lily came in to help him develop the most kick-ass plan imaginable.

That’s why Nick was grinning. Nick knew that while he might not be able to plan the perfect revenge on everyone that had taken advantage of him, he had a sister that definitely had the capabilities to do so. Nick knew his limitations and was content with being the blunt end of the beating stick in whatever plans Lily cooked up. Once the family was back together, there would be hell to pay. Tony, Jacob, Reggie, Paimon. They were going to get what was coming to them and Nick didn’t entertain a single doubt about it for a moment. He’d handle the brawn and Lily would handle the brain.

Unable to wipe the shit-eating grin off his face Nick practically skipped into the Hall of the Hogs and found Bell where he usually was.

“How we doing Bell?”

“Tired,” the boy answered.

“Classic. Say, if I wanted to meet with Kim, could you arrange that for me?” Nick asked.

“Yeah. When?” Bell yawned, he must have been extra tired today.

“Hmm. Let’s say 40 minutes? I should be able to get all the cleaning done by then,” Nick nodded mainly to himself.

Bell just nodded back at him and walked off, presumably to find Kim. Nick then went back to the storage cupboard, pulled out the cleaning supplies and got to work. It was surprising how clean the bathrooms still were after a whole day. For a place that looked like a giant frat house, the people living in it seemed rather respectful of its facilities. Other than some toothpaste stains and a few faded skid marks, Nick found the whole ordeal a breeze. It was even kind of enjoyable, which Nick never expected to think about cleaning toilets. The simple monotony of the task let his mind wander and he eventually found himself moving in flow with his internal energy. Before he knew it, he was done with all of the bathrooms and was taking all of the cleaning equipment back to the storage cupboard. He then sat around the reception for a while, trying to start a conversation with Bell until the meeting time came around. Bell wasn’t very receptive though, he really must have been extra tired as he only responded in single words most of the time. Eventually, Kim came down the stairs and called out to Nick, leading him into an office of sorts.

Nick was almost knocked to the floor by the sheer opulence of the office. Even without activating Treasure Sense, Nick could feel the skill compelling him. The room was filled with gems and crystals carved into figures or intricate designs. Each of the carvings filled Nick with a deep sense of greed, which he barely kept suppressed. Kim sat down in a large chair on one side of a thick wooden desk and Nick sat opposite him. Nick took a vial out of his bag and placed it on the table between them.

“Paimon wanted me to slip this into your drink,” Nick explained.

Kim scratched his beard and hummed, “why didn’t ya try laddy? How have ya stopped yaself from trying?”

Nick tapped his nose and grinned, “trade secrets.”

“Why botha telling me this?” Kim questioned, “iss not tha first or last time tha bitch has pulled this.”

Nick leaned back in his chair, “I’m leaving Agoetia. Got some stuff to do. You’re a cool dude, I wanted to give you a heads up if you didn’t know. I also wanted to ask you some questions.”

Kim laughed loudly, “Thars tha catch. Well laddy, ya ask ya questions, we’ll see if I answer.”

Didn’t plan to draw this process out, now that he had decided to get out of Agoetia he knew he needed to dip as fast as he could. Paimon had some sort of vested interest in keeping him under her watch, which means she wouldn’t let him run if she caught on.

“What’s going on with Bell? Is he a slave?” Nick asked, maintaining steady eye contact.

“Nah. Little laddy’s mum came ‘ere one day, looking fa something. Normally we’d turn a wretch like her away, but she offered Bell for a trade. Was looking for a new receptionist at tha time, and ‘ere one was. Bell ain’t no slave lad. He can leave any time he wants, he gets paid and works whatever hours he decides. Little laddy’s just convenient to ‘ave around. Damn good at his job he is,” Kim explained.

Nick watched the man’s eyes and they didn’t waver. Nick wasn’t sure how much he could believe of Kim’s story, but it seemed to make sense. Nick’s mind filled in the gaps for him, making it easier to digest. Maybe Bell was always tired because he worked as much as could. For the money, for something to do? Only Bell would know, but it made sense to Nick. Other than the fact the boy couldn’t have even been 10 years old, it all added up. Nick just had to accept it, for now, it wasn’t like there was anything he could do for Bell right now anyway.

“Why are the Hogs still part of the Executioners? You don’t seem to be part of their goals at all.”

Kim grinned. “Cause we ain’t laddy. They gave up trying ta control us years ago. We give ‘em tha occasional class gem or trinket and they leave us in peace, ‘cept tha bitch Paimon,” Kim spat into a bin near his desk, “bitch won’t give me a moment of peace.”

“Wait, so you’re pretty much just renting the land here in Agoetia?” Nick asked.

Kim seemed to think on it for a moment, “Aye, not a bad way ta look at it lad. ‘Cept, they couldn’t kick us out even if they wanted,” Kim finished with a grin.

Nick nodded and then got up. He reached over the desk and offered his hand to Kim.

“That’s all?” The man asked, taken aback.

“Yeah. There’s a heap of questions I have, but I’ll work it out. Those two were the only ones that I couldn’t work out and actually mattered.”

Nick and Kim then shook hands and that was all. Nick left the hall and said goodbye to Bell. If he ever came back, he’d make sure to get to the bottom of whatever had happened to Bell, but right now Nick had his own family to look after, let alone the strange boy that seemed mostly safe. It was as Nick stepped out of the hall and was greeted by three familiar people that Nick realised that he wasn’t going to be escaping as scot-free as he had hoped. Paige stood in the middle, on her left was the tall female Vamp Paiton, on her right was the scowling specimen of a bloke that was Paine.

“Hello there folks. You wouldn’t be open to stepping out of the way and letting me go on my merry way would you?” Nick asked with a smile.

Both Paiton and Paine smirked at him while Paige’s face remained blank. Nick let out a long sigh, it couldn’t have just been an easy day could it? Without having to utter a word Nick started walking with the group toward the cathedral. He did consider making a break for it, but he knew first hand just how as fast Paige alone was. He had no idea about the capabilities of the other two, but Nick didn’t think he’d be able to outrun Paine. The man’s calves looked like pistons, Nick might be able to beat him in endurance but pure speed? Not likely. Nick quickly tried to work out what he could do, what options did he have? With each passing step, Nick racked his brain. He mentally tried to remember if he had anything useful in his bag but came up short. He didn’t have much of anything in there after selling it all off.

As the group moved through the cathedral in silence Nick took and moment to once again reaffirm his belief that Vas really had messed up the interior. It was such a disappointment compared to his own house. Then Nick ran through his mental list of skills, was there anything at all that could get him out of here? Hasten could give him the edge in running, but it wasn’t sustainable. He didn’t want to fight, while he thought his Brawler skills were awesome, he really doubted he’d stand a chance in a physical confrontation. Jeer could do something, but its effect could be negligible. He really did need to meet a fellow Brawler to talk about the skills a bit more.

After crossing his skills off the list Nick turned to information. What information did he have to work with here? He knew Paimon was working for a man named Dantalion, or Dante, who ran the shop around these parts. He was reclusive these days but Paimon had mentioned that Nick was somehow involved in Dante’s vision or something. Nick wasn’t sure how much contact she had with her leader. That was something he might be able to work with. The idea struck and Nick started putting something together. Once the group made it to a staircase Nick was all too familiar with he had little more than a vague plan, but it was better than nothing. Nick took a deep breath and cleared his mind. This was the make or break moment. He needed to be as cool, calm, and focused as he could possibly be.

Paine stepped forward and opened the heavy door for the group. As Nick stepped through the door he saw Paimon leaning against her desk, long legs on full display. Nick knew the first thing he said was going to set the tone of this meeting. He needed to assert himself before Paimon could take the reigns.

“Holy damn you’re hot. Anyone ever told you that? Like wow. You are something else Paimon.”

If she was even slightly phased by his comments she didn’t show it, Paimon simply flashed him an almost blinding smile.

“Three days. Three meetings. Many people would kill to see me this much Nick,” Paimon purred.

Nick felt her words trying to weave their way through his ears, he felt her aura try and creep its way into his. Nick was ready though, he knew how to circulate his aura to defend himself properly. He let her words flow over him and straight out of the other ear, Nick was proficient at ignoring people when he needed to be.

“So, what’s this all about huh? I was having a lovely day and now I get to add this meeting to my list of fun meetings for the day,” Nick asked, laying the groundwork.

“I heard about that. I’m sure Vassago had a lot to say about me. Kimaris as well,” Paimon’s eyes took a sharp glint.

“Well, neither of those were the most interesting. I met someone else on the way to Vassago’s, it was a short meeting but the most interesting nonetheless,” This was the gamble.

Paige had likely gone straight to Paimon after he left with Chloe, or at least Nick was banking on it.

“Oh? Who did you meet?” Paimon asked with a raised eyebrow.

Nick strunched his eyebrows, trying to look like he was genuinely trying to remember something, “Dan? Danny? No, I think it was Dante? Interesting bloke he was.”