Infernal Investigations Book 2 - Chapter 36 - Nightmares VII

It was a good day to kidnap a Watchman.

I took a sip of water, a little irritated at the taste. Unlike many establishnts in the Quarter, Edwards actually cared about age when he sold his alcohol, and since no one who lived here had any sort of record, that ant it was up to the bartender to judge. I was tall for my age, but it was clear I wasn’t even sixteen yet, so no ad for .

I could just steal one of Daver’s bottles when we get back.

I sat in a corner of the Hells’ Own, sipping my water as the evening crowd ca in, people with the coin they’d either earned or robbed here for a drink and so food to enjoy and let the stress of the day lt off. Raucous conversation nearly overwheld the small band playing in the tavern. Not quite a music hall performance, but the fiddler, piper, and pianist were doing their best to not let the crowd overpower them. Tantalizing slls of cooking ats were drifting in from the kitchen, occasional dishes being brought out to supplent the steady flow of booze being served.

Hell’s Own was in good spirits for the evening, which ant nobody had started a brawl yet. Edwards had only fired his shotgun into the ceiling once, both barrels discharged with a deafening roar to silence an argunt between two drunks in a gambling circle on the floor.

I kept to my corner, occasionally smiling and politely declining the offers of people to sit in the only other chair. Luckily, none of those distractions had taken my eyes off the roughly-dressed human sitting at the bar.

Fool. Yes, draw even more attention to how you were one of the ten custors who weren’t an Infernal. Sure, sitting on the outskirts or a corner would still get people looking your way eventually, but sitting right at the bar? Imdiately noticeable.

He’d made so efforts at blending in, rugged street clothes, days of unshaven stubble on his chin, brown hair filthy, and his nails unclipped, but it was too much and in the wrong place. Anywhere outside the Quarter, oh it would work fine for a lower-class bar I think. But here? Lower-class people didn’t drag themselves into the Quarter for a drink. You didn’t go among the Infernals for a cup of ad when you can get one safely outside. You ca to the Hells’ Own to have a safe place when doing business with Infernals, and even the lowest of those people didn’t wear coats with half the sleeves torn off.

Pieter was working with amateurs like this? My disappointnt in my old friend was growing. It was good he’d tried to bring into this, if only so I could get him out of this. Seriously, he’d decided to go to the Watch, already as good as a death sentence in the Quarter, never mind in the Fla, and he’d picked so of the most incompetent mbers of it?

Ti to reel him out of this ss. He’d approached lowkey enough I hadn’t been sure of what this was. Just little probing questions about how I felt about the Fla, was I really sure about this?

I still didn’t know, but I knew it was better than the alternatives. And certainly better than the Watch. Not that I’d known about that until I’d tailed him one ti and overheard enough. After that, it was straight to Golvar as the lieutenant directly in charge of us. He hadn’t seed shocked, and as I’d explained more of what I’d found out on my own, I’d gotten the sinking feeling he knew all of it already.

Hells of a way to cap off our first three months in the gang.

Speaking of Pieter, he was entering the Hells’ Own, struggling his way through the crowded entrance area, looking around with those wisps of a beard he was trying to grow hanging off his chin.

I didn’t move, hoping not to catch his eye, but his wandering eyes eventually spotted .

The other Black Fla mber was just a year older than , and looked at in shock as he changed course towards , weaving in and out of the crowd.

“Malvia,” Pieter said when he got close enough that I could hear, looking down at . “What are you doing here?”

“Waiting on a pork skewer!” I said cheerfully. “What are you doing here?”

I wasn’t even lying, I’d ordered one a few minutes ago when the sll of roasting at had proved too much. Unfortunately, so many people had ordered it was taking forever to actually get it.

“I’m here to et with soone,” he told , sitting in the empty chair. “Seriously Malvia, why are you here?”

Needed a gentle touch for this, I couldn’t spook him. If I did he might clue off the Watch officer.

“After-job celebration with so folk,” I told him. “You noticed missing at night? Caldredtch, the guy who's the point person on the docks? Got a tip about so illicit cargo being sent across the Nover in barges. Nothing serious, but sothing if it went missing, well, they couldn’t really complain about to the authorities. Been running test runs with a boat we scavenged together. It held up, and we got the goods. So, celebrate whenever Caldredtch cos by confirming our cut sizes. Morder, Kirkenwald, Csizo. All supposed to be coming later. I just ca early because I was getting cooped up underground.”

A job that had been pulled off before, so believable enough, and risky enough to be kept a secret. Infernals weren’t supposed to have boats. Infernals weren’t supposed to be on boats. Either way, a one-way ticket to the Coffin.

Pieter nodded slowly. “I was wondering why you’d been out a few evenings.”

He might have noticed a couple I’d done so he wouldn’t question a story from . Most evenings I’d been ‘out’, he’d been out as well. And probably thought he was much more successful at hiding that fact.

“Yeah. I got a little advance money, and was feeling hungry so figured, been a long ti since I had actual at real people can get,” I said, waving at the crowded Hells’ Own. “Course, so many people are here it's going to be a while before I can get it. Just gotta endure the atmosphere and the air until then.”

I coughed slightly, playing it up, but the amount of cigar smoke building up was irritating. No drugs so it was all a harsh tobacco sll that fought the sll of grilling at for dominance.

“Golvar’s coming as well,” I said. “Wants to discuss arranging a eting with Varrow. Figured might as well do it here so I could gnaw on sothing tasty while we talked. He didn’t talk to you about it?”

Pieter shook his head. “No, although not a surprise. Why do you have any patience for that ragged conman?”

“He gave us work and got us here,” I said. “Considering where so of us started, it’s worth sothing.”

“Not all of us made it here,” Pieter said, tone low. “So of us might still be alive if it wasn’t for him.”

My smile faded just a little. “It wasn’t just him responsible for people not making it here.”

His eyes widened just a little, so of the anger leaking out. “Malvia, sorry, I didn’t an to imply-”

“It’s fine,” I said quietly. “We made it out. We made it here, and it’s a step up. Golvar’s looking at getting a few others out as well, which I think is worth maintaining so connection to the old gang for that.”

Not much of the old gang is left these days. , Pieter, and no one else from our loose group of urchins. Varrow was drawing together a new set to aid him in his pickpocketing and cons. Now that I thought about it, that lie I’d just said to cover for Golvar’s arrival wasn’t sothing that should remain one.

“You’re here for business?” I asked. “Private or related to the job?”

“Private,” Pieter said after thinking for a second. “Potentially job-related, but I need to feel it out first.”

“Anything you want to clue in on?” I asked him coyly. “It’s not that idea you had before we left Varrow’s? The entire Infernal pretending to be a human pretending to be an Infernal idea?”

“No,” Pieter said quickly. “Look, it was a dumb idea.”

“It was a fun idea,” I said with a grin. “Honestly, I’ve heard of so nobles stupid enough they might actually try to look like Infernals, we could have made it work. I’m still ga if we can find sothing that doesn’t make break out in hives this ti.”

He smiled a little bit. “No, but maybe another ti. Doesn’t the Fla have a Biosculptor anyway?”

“I heard they’re looking for one,” I said quietly, keeping my voice low since this was actual gang business. I could trust Pieter with it, we’d have this entire ss cleaned up and he’d be back in everyone’s good graces by the end of tonight. “Boss wants Daver focused on his own craft, sa for most of the other mages. Heard they’re going to start doing tests for magecraft.”

Pieter’s eyes narrowed. “You still haven’t ntioned it to anyone else?”

“I uh,” I shrugged, leaning back, tapping a hoof on the floor. “I will. When it cos up. If Varrow didn’t already tell them, about what I’ve got,”

“It was an accident, Malvia,” Pieter said. “I’m sorry for accidentally prodding the sa wound twice, but you let that get you down far too much. Bla yourself far too much for that. It’s not like you intended to do it.”

“Intention doesn’t matter, I think,” I muttered. “I…can we drop it?”

He nodded slowly. “Yeah. And I think I need to do my eting. Enjoy your pork skewer, Malvia. Talk later?”

“Of course.”

He got up and weaved around the crowd for a bit, and I kept my eyes off him, just sneaking peeks at the Watchman at the bar. After about ten minutes, Pieter finally ended up on the stool next to him.

I enjoyed my water for another five, and cursed the Hells for not letting have my pork skewer when Golvar ca in.

Golvar entered through the front, at the tail end of a group loudly talking with each other as they made a beeline for the bar. He split off, moving towards through the crowd, yellow eyes glaring.

Not the first person I’d recognized tonight coming in through there. Other mbers of the Fla had trickled in individually over the last hour. Even if the Watch recognized any of them, the slow trickle should make it appear to be people coming here on their own to enjoy a drink for the evening.

The Black Fla always had a presence here anyway, so a few being noticed wouldn’t seem unusual. Five of them were currently set up on the far side of the tavern away from the bar, there to provide a nice, easy threat that any additional Watch would need to keep an eye on.

A second person ca beside him as Golvar made his way to . Morder, having co in earlier.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit for the authentic version.

“Heyo,” I said cheerily to both of them. “Sorry, Morder, I didn’t save you a chair.”

“He’ll be leaving soon anyway,” Golvar said, sitting down. “What’s happened?”

“Well, our two targets are here, so is the one Watch partner I know of, and pretty much nobody else who isn’t a regular,” I told Golvar. “Pieter saw , and ca to chat.”

Golvar grunted. “Unfortunate but not much we could do. Did you give him any hints?”

“No,” I said. “And I ca up with a reason for you to be here too, before you ask. He might not have believed , but both he and the Watchman are still there.”

Those two were actually in the middle of a conversation in a couple of glances I’d snuck.

“Knock that off,” Golvar told . “You aren’t anywhere near as subtle as you think, don’t spook them.”

“Sorry,” I said, swinging my gaze back to him.

“Who's the partner?” Golvar whispered to .

“Half-orc in the corner,” I replied.

Pieter hadn’t told much about the Watch mbers he’d t with. Cautious and understandable, especially with how I’d taken to this more than he had. But he should have waited longer to say anything at all. Not when I knew now him leaving during the night wasn’t to et soone else in their cot.

I’d stalked him here, crept into a corner, and made a note of everyone inside, then matched that against the list tonight after discounting people Golvar told were regulars.

Only two matched, and Golvar nodded, whispering sothing to Morder.

“Got sothing planned for him?” I guessed.

“A nice little distraction when we make our move. Could you not look at him?”

The half-orc had swung his gaze our way for the first ti in the night. A nice but cheap suit, which he strained against, muscles pushing against the sleeves, an intense look in his eyes. Honestly, looking at how much that suit showed off what was underneath without revealing skin? Pity he was a copper. He hadn’t paid attention to , his gaze split between the regulars and Edwards. Now his gaze was pointed at Golvar, before flickering to .

I waved at him, earning an indignant look from Golvar.

“Don’t draw attention to us” he snapped.

“I think you being here already drew it,” I said. “Maybe you should have waited outside? Also, I’m just acting friendly, nothing to give us away. Unlike if he can read lips, which would have given it away just now. If you want, I can go talk to him, see if I can play down so of that-”

“Don’t question your superiors,” Golvar said harshly, and I imdiately went quiet.

I wanted to make a good impression. We’d only been here a month, and it ant people who didn’t know about beforehand. A fresh start, new people, and less baggage from before. I would not ss this up.

“Just wait,” Golvar said.

And so we did, and I tried not to tap my hoof as my pork skewer failed to materialize.

Possibly the only place in the Quarter where they could co without looking out of place.Well, unless you dressed like this one Watchman had. If you had business in the Quarter, you ca to the Hells’ Own, enjoyed a few drinks, and waited for whoever you were dealing with to co here. Edwards and his staff kept things from getting dangerous, which ant less chance of double-crosses. Also ant a place non-Infernals could go close to the Quarter’s outskirts and not risk getting stabbed, abducted, or eaten wandering around the the Quarter proper.

Edwards’ reputation would normally ensure you could make it in and out safely. You didn’t besmirch his na and reputation by killing a custor on the way to or from the Quarter. Unless you were us.

Oh, the Fla was probably going to get banned from the Hells’ Own again for this, but we’d been banned before.

Well, I’d heard we’d been banned. I was still new, and this was pretty far above our heads in Varrow’s crew.

“So, they’ve been talking a while,” I told Golvar. “Do you think they’re going to actually head out to talk further? What do we do if they finish their discussion and go their separate ways?”

“Then we snatch them,” Golvar said. “Two separate people, three if we include the Half-orc, is more difficult but still possible. Might even be better to not piss off Edwards, but eh, his temper dies down after a while. And he ain’t a massive fan of the Watch. He’ll forget about it once he realizes what our absence is doing to his wallet. Especially if we start leaning on others to co less. Hold on.”

I glanced at the bar, just in ti to see Pieter and the Watch officer moving.

“Don’t get up yet. Wait until we’ve got so cover in between us…up.”

My stomach growled just a little as I realized what I’d be missing.

“My pork skewer,” I muttered, looking back at the kitchens where that savory scent crept from.

Golvar mouthed the words, looking between and the kitchen, his eyes narrowing.

“Your pork skewer?” He hissed in disbelief.

“I’m actually making money for once,” I explained hurriedly. “Not that I was unsuccessful with Varrow, just not enough to get actual at that wasn’t you know, rat , cave centipede, or those giant roaches that are in the alleys. More than and my mom made in a whole month, so I ordered a pork skewers while I waited for you.”

He stared at one second, then two, then got to his hooves and moved towards where Pieter and the disguised Watchman had disappeared.

I was right behind, hurrying slightly to catch up.

“I know we get food at the hideout every day, but it’s day old and it’s still mostly rat. Not that I don’t mind rat but there’s not a lot of at on those bones. And well, it slled really good when I ca here. I used to have so, before all of this, and I have coin, so I figured why not and-”

“Would you be quiet?” Golvar muttered angrily. “You ordered pork skewers? Did you give them your actual na?”

“Uh,” I said intelligently. Did he an my real real na, or the real na I’d taken since coming here to the Quarter? Because I’d used the latter.

“This is a hit,” he said as we weaved our way through the crowd, keeping his voice low. “You ordered food?”

“Killing on an empty stomach, well,” my mind blanked a little, thinking of tis when circumstances had forced soone to try and co after . So of those had ended in death, but those had always been assholes. Not worth dwelling on.

The tis I’d killed friends were in the past and would never happen again. Sure, Daver might be drunk, and most lessons might consist of fetching him another bottle, but he’d taught enough that the worst would never co to pass.

We’d continued walking now, halfway across the floor.

“Don’t do anything that leaves your na,” he hissed.

“We’re getting banned anyway,” I said. “And does anyone even know I’m in the Fla yet?”

I had the tattoo after one painful session where they’d cut it and poured in the devil’s blade. It felt like fire ignited in my veins and even now there was heat in the traced outline of the flas. I usually kept it hidden underneath a glove unless needed, no need to flash it around like so many others in the Fla seed to think.

“It doesn’t matter if they know or not, don’t spread your na,” Golvar hissed as we continued. Pieter and the Watch officer had just exited the tavern, and the half-orc was getting up.

Golvar whistled.

With a cheery roar, the brawl to distract the other Watchman started. He managed to stay out of it for two seconds before Morder hit him over the head with a chair. As we moved out of the common room towards a side entrance, Edwards was yelling for things to calm down as Morder and two others kept the Watch officer busy.

As we rounded the corner, the sound of Edwards’ shotgun blasting both barrels shot through the room, a hamr blow to the ears.

“We have a couple of minutes at most,” Golvar said. “Tick and Delmonte’s group should keep these two penned in so they don’t leave. Keep your friend under control while we handle the Watchman, and with luck, all of us should be underground without issue. Let it get violent, and-”

“I understand,” I said, sobering up in tone. They were hardly going to stick their neck out for Pieter, not after he tried making this fool deal. I’d arranged a way out for him, but it ant keeping him from pulling iron on Golvar when the ambush was sprung.

Out the side entrance, nodding to a staff mber in rough leather armor keeping anyone from coming in. A problem if this ever ca to an investigation, but it was the Quarter. A copper disappearing would draw a response, but it just ant needing to keep our heads low and below the ground. You learned quickly to always be ready to run anyway if the Watch was ever here in force. Even if they just snatched you because they needed a body to fit the cri, they would stick anything they could prove on your head as well. Might an the difference between having a hand chopped, your horns shorn, a silver nail through the foot, or finally a pair of silver spikes driven through your eyes.

Down the alleyway a bit. They wouldn’t go far. The Watch wouldn’t want to et too far from Hell’s Own, and even leaving the tavern was a risk. Edwards’ protection ended at the door. Sa ti, Pieter wouldn’t want to make any kind of deal in plain language where soone could overhear, and going into one of the private rooms for a eting would be just as suspicious.

A nearby alleyway where most would be reluctant to irritate Edwards by violating the spirit of his rules? Where there might be a Black Fla mber passing through but not the assurance of one like inside the Hells’ Own?

“-the fuck was that? We need to get out of here.”

“Calm down. We wait a couple of minutes for my partner, then we get going. I’m not letting you lead back into a brawl-”

“Wait here, don’t get in the way,” Golvar said as a couple of Infernals moved towards us, assuming a formation with Golvar at the head. “Tick will be on the other end, but if anything goes wrong? Run and get Morder. Alright!”

Govlar let out a shrill whistle, and they rushed forward. Leaving nervously tapping my hoof on the ground. Co on, Pieter, be smart about this. Put any weapons on the ground, and let them deal with the Watch officer. Don’t do anything stupid.

Yells, shouts, and a scream that made my nails press into my skin. It hadn’t sounded like Pieter, but it still made tense. A few more seconds, then Golvar yelled for to get over here.

I practically sprinted down the alleyway, almost tripping over my own hooves as I ca to a halt. The Watch officer was down, trying to yell through a gag while several Infernals held him down. Tick stood over him, whistling as he wiped a bloody knife clean with a rag. Pieter was up against a wall, restrained, Golvar’s own knife against his throat. Golvar eased a blade out of Pieter’s pocket, tossing it at my feet.

“You got ten minutes,” Golvar inford . “Tick, let’s get our new friend stowed away.”

The group left, and the muffled yells of the Watchman carried away with them as Pieter eyed .

“Malvia, what is this?” He said, eyeing where Golvar had tossed his knife at my side.

I leaned down, one eye on him. He tensed as I grabbed the blade, only to relax a little as I just put it in my pocket.

“You weren’t as subtle as you thought you were, Pieter,” I told him, tone somber. “I put it together. Truth be told, I think they might have known ahead of ti and were just waiting to see what would happen. Listen, we should head back. Have this conversation sowhere else.”

“I’m not going back,” Pieter rasped harshly. “You think there is any coming back from this Malvia?”

“You had so doubts,” I said. “We play it like that. The only one who knows the full story is Golvar, and if we bring in the Watch officer, I think they can overlook a bit of doubt in return for the gain.”

“Malvia,” he said, eyes narrowing. “I ain’t going back there.”

“Why not?” I asked him, eyes on where Golvar had dragged off the Watch. “Pieter, you cannot tell you’re a fan of the Watch all of a sudden. They fucking spike our souls.”

“I know,” he hissed. “But you think Versalicci’s way is gonna be better? All he’s going to do is get us killed and make everyone hate us more. He talks a big ga, but I don’t think he plays with a hand worth bluffing with.”

“He isn’t bluffing,” I said pleadingly. “You’ve seen what’s down there.”

“I have!” Pieter snapped. “Devils, Malvia! Do you think that’s going to make things better? Getting those things involved ans a lot worse than the Watch when they find out! It ans the Imperial Governnt, it ans Her Majesty! And it ans anyone who does know is killed before they tell anyone else!”

“Then why would you ever-” I started, only for him to cut off.

“So it’s just them that go down, not the entire Quarter, when this gets found out. I tried telling the Watchn, but they want proof! They were convinced I was bullshitting them for so reward, for a scam, for anything! Said it was impossible for anyone to summon the damn things anymore! But if I proved it, it’s only the Fla that gets destroyed, not the entire Quarter, executed because they wanted to ss around with those things!”

“So you’d bring the Watch on them?” I said. “Everyone would be soul-spiked, at minimum, and you think they’d just stop at the Fla? You think they’d restrain themselves-”

“They have so far,” Pieter snapped, taking a few steps closer to , eyes cold. “You haven’t lived here your whole life Malvia, but you’ve been here enough to know things could get a lot fucking worse. At least the Watch isn’t as bad as it could be! Do you think Versalicci running a devil gang is going to change that? Robbery and smuggling are going to solve things? Or building up a devil army, cause that’s worked brilliantly for our people in the past. You think kicking off a war we can’t win is the way?”

“I don’t know!” I yelled back, pleading. “But we can’t just sit around while they whittle us to pieces either! Do you think they’ll stop at the Fla if they find out the Devils are involved? No, they’ll go after any Infernals until they’re sure we’re all dead! Please, let’s just go back to the Fla, and we can talk this out, Hells, get so answer out of Golvar, out of Versalicci himself-”

“I said I ain’t going back!” he roared, hands seizing my lapels. “They’ll kill , do you not understand-”

His yelling cut off as my hand moved reflexively, reacting as he shoved roughly against the wall.

“I…oh,” I said, staring blankly at the dagger piercing the bottom of his chin.

He stared at , eyes wide, shocked as his jaw opened, trying to say sothing, only for the blade to cut further, warm blood dripping down onto my hand. Then shock turned to anger, and he moved forward, dagger pushed out of his mouth as his jaw opened wide, pointed teeth bared, and heading right for and-

I beat him, teeth biting into flesh, cutting through his neck. The jugular severed, blood flooding my mouth. He gasped and tried to say sothing, but my jaw was already closed, clamping down till they t, and I pulled back.

He collapsed onto the ground while I backed away, breath coming back to .

He lay on the ground, unable to even breathe as blood poured out of the massive chunk I'd bitten out of his throat. Panicked eyes t mine, lips twitching but unable to make a sound as I looked down, his blood dribbling down my chin.

What could I even do? Apologize? Try to stem the bleeding? Finish him quickly so he wouldn’t suffer? Yell for Golvar? I did none of those things.

I swallowed.