Well, that’s an interesting news flash! But I’m not sure what I can do with it. And ultimately, it doesn’t really matter—especially since Collin is still going at it and doesn’t seem to be slowing.
I jut out my chin. “Yeah, well, I’ve experienced your bargains firsthand. Hard pass.”
The eye behind the barrier whips to Valiente with venom, and another shock of gray tendrils pulse up his neck. Valiente winces and grits his teeth.
“This magical compact wouldn’t be with me,” he says, throat tight. “You’d be making it with the god directly. Ah Puch does not stoop to tricks or subterfuge. He does not prevaricate. He knows what you are and what rules he must follow. He willensurethat I comply. You will get what you’re expecting to get. No surprises.”
I turn to the huge milky orb next to me, and it gazes back coolly. Maybe Valiente’s figured out I’m an incubus by this point—he’s had hours to torture Collin—but with that mention of rules, I get the feeling that’s not what “the great god Ah Puch” is talking about. Is it because I’m supposedly half-dragon?
“Really…” I say, trying to get my head together. “And what exactly does he think I am?”
“He is aware that you think you know the answer to that question, but you do not. However, if you agree to his bargain, he’ll not only reveal to you all that you are, but also how to completely free yourself from the restraints on yourmagic.” Valiente catches my eyes widening at that, and his smirk returns. “Yes, he knowseverythingabout you, Alvin Alonso. Including your desire to be a ‘hero.’” That last word comes out as a sneer. “And to that end, once he is in our world, he will agree to restrain his power to the confines of this building for six full months. That should be more than enough time for you to warn this city of his presence and for the authorities to arrange an evacuation. You’ll be able to make up any story you’d like about how events played out here, and he will ensure that neither I nor anyone in our control will contradict you. In fact, I will do what I can to corroborate it. Fame, respect, whatever it is that motivates you—as the one man who saved San Francisco, all that you desire in that regard will finally be yours.”
There are actually eight million people in the Bay Area, twice as many in Northern California overall, but six months is a long time. With the right story about how I fought my way in here—particularly if I leave out the incubus parts—people might listen to me. Even respect me, like he says. Especially if I could get Stryker onboard. I bite my lip and glance up at Collin. I can’t tell for sure, but his thrashing could be becoming a bit more sluggish. He might be tiring.
Valiente follows my gaze. “The great god Ah Puch also knows the remaining words of the spell you were casting. If you agree to his terms, I will feed those words to the magical vessels in this room. Your ‘friend,’ the Avatar of Knowledge, will be set free. Your promise to him will be fulfilled.”
That’s… a surprising offer, considering. But it is for sure something I want.
Collin is too busy wrestling with the tentacles to react to what’s going on beneath, but even from down here, I can see how much he winces and shudders each time they reattach. The ritual is seriously hurting him. And if he lives through this, he’ll be trapped in that torture box of a watch again. Only now he’ll be in the clutches of the god of corpses. That’s unlikely to be an upgrade.
“Well… that certainly sounds like a sweetheart deal so far,” I say, still trying to stall for time so my tiny brain can catch up. “This great god sure seems to know what’s on my Christmas list. What about the kids? They’ll get to go free, unharmed, too?”
Valiente’s eyes dim. “The magical vessels, unfortunately, must stay in this room, and they will not be…unaffectedby Ah Puch’s power. Saving literally millions of others will have to be enough.”
I look over to Emma, whose expression pleads for release. She just wants to go home to her mom—and Valiente expects me to just leave her and the rest of the kids behind.
“I can tell you have doubts, but trust me, I’ve been fighting evil longer than you’ve been alive. This isactuallywhat being a hero is about, Alvin,” Valiente purrs. “It’s not like the movies. At some point, everyone needs to get a little dirty in service of the greater good.”
Says the vampire king who sacrifices his friends. But it’s not like I’ve got another option.
“Uh-huh. And what’s my part of this deal?” I ask.
“We need the Avatar because he serves as a bridge between the human world and the world of the gods.That’s what allows the ritual to tear apart the barrier. But, considering what you are…”
The realization hits me like a cold splash of water.
“As an incubus, I’m also a bridge between both worlds. So I could do the same thing for you…”
“If you were willing,” Valiente replies. “There are, as I said, rules. You are not caged in a magical artifact. You would have to consent.”
Which is why Savadeva is looking to bargain.
“Say yes,” he continues, sounding much more like himself, “and you will be taught why your magic is different, who bound your power,andhow to use it. You’ll save millions, including your special friend, Collin. My son, Rafa, too, whom you also seem to like. And anyone you choose to tell will know that they owe their lives to you. You will come out of this the man of the hour.” He narrows his eyes. “Considering your current position, that sounds like a pretty good deal to me.”
“And if I say no?”
Valiente’s trademark evil smile returns. “Well, we’ve just been talking about the carrot. If you choose to refuse the god’s generous offer, then the gloves come off.” He gestures toward his wife. She rigidly steps behind Emma and retrieves a shotgun that had apparently been resting on the wall behind her. “This time, I will order my wife to shoot you straight through your brain. And if somehow you manage to survive that, you should know the barrier has thinned enough for Ah Puch to extend his power into this room. You might be strong, but you will not be able to stand against the might of a god. Say no and maybe the Avatar will be able to hold off theritual indefinitely—or maybe he won’t. Either way, the only thing you’ll have accomplished is being the first person to enter Ah Puch’s underworld in over a thousand years.”
Because I’ll be dead. Right.
Deals and bargains. That’s what got me mixed up in all of this from the beginning, and now here I am, faced with another offer some monster thinks I can’t refuse. But even I can recognize this is an opportunity. If I didn’t have some leverage, we wouldn’t be talking right now.
I just don’t know what to do with it. Yet again, I’m flying blind.
Okay, then. Let’s start with what the Vampire King’s not saying.
“You could have had your wife shoot me in the head before. But you didn’t. Your great god Ah Puch doesn’twantyou to kill me, does he?” I ask.
