He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t show fang or dig his claws in further. Instead he sighed, let go and rubbed his forehead.

If he’d yelled she could’ve, would’ve, continued snarling. Instead she was tongue tied.

“Whatever you think of me, I do care about what happens to you. To just about everyone who’s ever stepped into my Circus. Some of them I’ve had to let go. Some I’ve given up on-”

“You’re rambling.”

He winced. “The point is, do you know why you were allowed to go in there with me today?”

She snorted and lifted her chin. He was standing too close. She could almost feel his body heat radiating off of him. “My job is to serve Diana Veran. I go where she goes. Most of the time.”

“Are you usually allowed into secret meetings?”

She opened her mouth and closed it.

“Exactly. They wanted me distracted so they could slip something into that meeting.” He glanced back down the dark hallway. “I was so worried about you I know I missed something. Something important.”

Now the fear came. She drew the light up to her chest. As though it could ward off whatever disaster was coming.

“Something about the black dork?”

He shrugged, expression troubled. “I don’t know.”

“But- do you think it’s for humans after all?”

“I doubt it. Usually there has to be at least an overall understanding of the Contract for it to be binding. So no hidden clauses. And I saw nothing to give me alarm.”

She bit her lip. What was the Chief supposed to do with half the information? Her hopes of ending her spying by tomorrow was beginning to die.

“So, I repeat, I think you should leave.”

I can’t, she thought miserably. Not yet.

“Why should I?”

“Because if Aridon thinks he can keep using you against me, he will.”

She huffed and pushed past him. “So you want me to leave to make you comfortable? No. I have a Contract that keeps me safe. I think you should give up whatever delusions you have of being my protector and stop letting them bother you.”

“Lita-”

“I’m done talking about this.”

For a moment she left him in darkness, marching up the tunnel without him. Then he rushed to catch up and fell into step beside her. Neither of them spoke again until they reached the open doorway and Taiken turned to close it. Stones tumbled and flowed into place.

Lita raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment on the face Taiken formed with the stones over the doorway.

It was sticking its tongue out at them.

“At least promise you’ll try to stay out of trouble.”

She sighed. Right. She’ll stay out of trouble when what she needed to do was to snoop. She felt suddenly exhausted.

“Will you leave me alone if I do?”

“Only if you actually stay out of trouble.”

She gave him a vicious grin then hung up the lantern. “Then no promises. Come on, Master Taiken, I’ll show you to the door.”

***

Stubborn Lita!

He sighed in resignation as he followed her through the Palace. It wasn’t really surprising. Her brother was just as stubborn. Though not about the same sort of things. If he’d given the warning to Sheldon, Sheldon would’ve listened.

He was trying to think of something else, anything else, to bypass her stubbornness. But, whenever he looked at her hard expression, turned away from him and refusing to look him in the eye, hope withered.

Like a sunbaked flower.

He could see the last stairway ahead now and hastily ran through other options.

Like getting her kicked out.

It might be the only choice. But, Diana Veran would need to be brought into such a scheme. And Diana… he honestly couldn’t decide where he stood with her. Sometimes she was helpful, even friendly. Other times… not so much.

“Vaughn?”

He started and spun toward the demoness. She’d been standing at the entrance of a corridor right next to the staircase.

Her expression was puzzled. And that smell. He knew that smell. Cautiously and casually he stepped in front of Lita. Then took the demoness’s hand and bowed over it.

“Good to see you, Elisha.”

She smiled. “Are you making a delivery?”

“I haven’t delivered to you in a long time. I’m not allowed here, remember?”

She frowned, again puzzled. Then she looked around and tried to shake off her stupor. “Oh, yes, I remember. Since you’re here, will you do a touch up?”

“My invitation has expired-”

She waved away his excuse and turned around. “Harv will cover for you if I ask.” She took a couple of steps and paused when she realized he wasn’t following. Half turning back, her face twisted into a pleading expression. “Please.”

Taiken glanced back at Lita. Who was watching with too much curiosity.

How did he get himself into these positions? He didn’t usually have to protect two people from each other, though. That, at least, made it interesting. “I need to return my escort to her work.”

“Veran won’t mind.”

“I do.”

Elisha laughed. A lovely laugh. If there was a demon songbird it was Elisha. She appeared just as fragile as one, too. But, he knew better. He knew what she was capable of if she chose.

Or if she forgot.

That smell was getting stronger.

“Lita, I’ll find my way out. Thank you for your help.”

“My mistress will be awhile. I could-”

“No!”

He didn’t mean to snap and grimaced when she tilted her chin up and turned away.

“Don’t blame me when you get lost on the way out. Good day, Master Taiken. Mistress Elisha.”

“A little snotty,” Elisha murmured when Lita was halfway down the stairs and out of hearing range. “You really should let that one go.”

He shot Elisha an irritated look. “Does everyone know she’s one of mine?”

“Is she?”

Absently the demoness turned away. With a sigh, Taiken followed her. Back the way he’d come. Then up another set of steps to a corridor facing a line of windows.

Every time they passed another demon he avoided looks of disgust. Any moment he expected one of the Brethren to be summoned to get rid of the ‘pest.’

Elisha didn’t seem to notice and started humming under her breath. She looked over her shoulder at him and stopped dead, startled.

“Vaughn!”

Yes, he’d been right.

“You asked me to do a touch up.”

“Did I? They do need it. Did you agree?”

“I did.”

Thank the Void I sent Lita away, he thought as she rearranged her thoughts and calmed down. Her face softened and her shoulders drooped tiredly.

He followed her into her room and paused to look around. Had he really done that much? He’d forgotten.

Every surface was an explosion of color. Bright colors and pastels, nothing dark or neutral. Pillows, blankets, tapestries, filmy curtains. The drabbest things in the room were the rugs and Elisha herself. Though her features and form made dark gray almost bearable.

As soon as they’d entered Elisha started to calm down. The smell lessened with every heartbeat. He deliberately took his time examining the room, allowing Elisha to recover. When he finally faced her again the smell was nearly non-existent.

“What do you think?”

“Most of this should be good a while longer. I can see a few that are faded enough to justify a touch up.” He waved toward the bed. “May I?”

“That’s what you're here for?”

There was a slight question in her voice but he tactfully ignored it. Walking boldly to the bed he picked up a throw and concentrated on it. The faded purple and blue patterns slowly brightened.

It would have been easier with a written spell. All magic was easier with a written spell. But, he had so little training in making those. Which left brute force and it took all his concentration. Picturing the correct shades by drawing on memory.

When he put it down she was shyly holding out a pillow.

“And this?”

Three items later he was sweating. This time she held out the picture. Embroidered on a handkerchief it depicted a funeral scene.

Funeral scenes shouldn’t be so happy looking.

It was a funeral she hadn’t actually been to but he knew she relished it.

“This- I won’t be able to do more after this.”

He started to focus on the blue threads when she snatched it back. She clutched the picture to her chest, tears welling like diamonds in her eyes. They didn’t fall, just sat there and made her eyes glisten.

“I- I can’t do it anymore.”

“Elisha?” he asked cautiously.

She looked down at the picture and didn’t look up when her curtain abruptly was pushed aside. A tall demon entered. He glared around the room until he focused with a scowl on Taiken. The scowl didn’t sit well on his normally cheerful face.

Taiken cautiously lifted both hands and stepped further away from Elisha. Harv’s face darkened further and he let the curtain drop behind him.

“What are you doing here, unnatural?”

At least he asked before attacking me, Taiken thought uneasily.

“I invited him.” Elisha put the picture back on her dressing table and sat down. Ignoring Harv’s scowl she turned to Taiken. “You offered once to remove my memories. What would you take as payment for that service now?”

It was an unexpected request and he hesitated with a quick glance at Harv. Who had stilled and suddenly didn’t seem inclined to interfere at all.

“Suppress. Not remove.” He glanced again at Harv, reassuring himself that the Brethren member really wasn’t planning to do anything. Then fixed his eyes on Elisha. “I’d have to do a full exchange for removal and I don’t have enough memories for that. Even if I were willing to walk around with what’s in your head instead of mine.”

“Suppress then.”

He let out a long sigh and looked around. “We did all of this because you didn’t want to forget.”

She looked down at the floor, her red hair falling in streams around her lovely face. “I changed my mind. This room… has become a prison. I can’t leave it without an incident now.”

Taiken rubbed his face and turned around.

“If Elisha cannot pay your price, then I will.”

Taiken forgot what he was going to say as he barked a bitter laugh. He turned around to glare at the Brethren member, clenching his fists in the same movement.

“You? Really?”

“Really.”

“I don’t know why I should.” With another laugh he pointed at Elisha. “As soon as I set up this little refuge of yours you ignored me. What’s it been? Fifty years? One hundred?” He pointed at Harv. “And you. Any time I see you, you treat me like slime smuk. The only time I'm treated civilly at all is if you want something. At least Aridon has the nerve to always treat me the same.”

“If you’re so unwilling, why come?” asked Harv coldly.

“He was afraid I’d abuse the human.” Elisha looked old and tired sitting there, with her shoulders drooping. Without looking up she uttered a soft, “Please, Vaughn.”

Exasperated with himself, unable to resist the pull of that pleading ‘please’, Taiken sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

“Fine. Fine, I’ll do it. But, this is my price. You, both of you, will not call me ‘unnatural’ anymore. I have a name. Use it. I don’t care who you’re with, use it.”

Harv growled. “Anything else, Taiken?”

“I’d appreciate an escort out. So no one will bother me.”

Harv hesitated, wrinkling his forehead. “That’s it?” Then his chin snapped up and his eyes flashed. “I won’t bind anyone else to that. Not without their agreement and not for a private matter.”

Taiken pulled off his shawl and tossed it onto the bed. It was about to get very hot.

“Did I ask you to bind everyone with the Oath? Just you two is fine.”

“Thank you! Oh thank you!” Elisha stood up, clasping her hands and interrupting with her joyful exclamation. ”Here, I’ll write up the Contract.”

Smiling, Elisha eagerly turned to her dressing table to start pulling out parchment and ink.

“No. Just give me your word.”

He waited for Elisha’s eager agreement and Harv’s hesitant, suspicious one. With a decisive nod he looked around and pointed.

“We’ll sit on that bench. Get comfortable because it’s going to take awhile.”