Page 85 of Demons Dig Donuts

“No, seriously!” Indy rubbed the ring frantically. “He can’t die, right? He’s already dead.”

“I believe the conflagration exhausts the spirits, but no, it will not consume them.”

“How can you be so sure?” Indy rubbed the ring more desperately. “He saved me. Him and Aodnait both. And Debbie—” He cringed. “Fuck, poor Debbie.”

“What’s a Debbie?”

“He’s that little rabbit monster. He helped me try to escape and told me all this shit about the Ides—“

“The Ides?” Mr. Heiss bristled. “What about them?”

“That they’re the pissed-off rebel faction of the already pissed-off rebel mostri ribelli. That they are responsible for all the nasty crap killing off monsters, like the plague and some weird music thing.”

“What else did he tell you?”

“Uh.” Indy squirmed as he tried to recall. “They want the Artifact to make contact with some guy whose father is named Cobbledick.”

“Johnson Paulet Marshall.”

“Yeah, that guy! Said he went off to find his missing dad, blah blah blah, but he’s super powerful and will kick your butts ’cause Daddy was a super butt kicker or whatever. Still no clue why they have different last names. Weird.”

Mr. Heiss hummed, his brow scrunched in deep thought before he finally asked, “And why did Debbie decide to share all of this with you?”

“No idea. He didn’t get chatty until after I told him Clancy had given me the ring. Seemed like he knew who he was.”

“Clancy Carver was a powerful witch who was known to have had vast knowledge of the Artifacts.”

“Was? What do you mean?”

“He was murdered by who we assumed were the mostri ribelli.”

“Guess it didn’t stick. Also, seriously, he owes me a coffee.”

“What else did he say?”

“Debbie? Uh, more crap about Johnson trying to find his father, the wizard guy, and using the Artifacts to make contact somehow. He didn’t go into specifics, but yeah, by the way, they want him to come back and kick your family’s ass.”

“I had my suspicions.” Mr. Heiss smirked, much more smug than usual.

“What?”

“Cobbledick went into the Other. While he was a formidable wizard, he was still only a human and it is not a realm that can support mortal life. He is either dead or been driven to such madness that he wishes he was. If his son went after him, he met the same fate. Debbie and his little friends will not be able to find him no matter how many Artifacts they acquire.”

Indy snorted. “Are you sure about that? Clancy is supposed to be dead, too, and he was still feeling spry enough to stick a ring on me.”

“Sure enough that I am not concerned.”

“So, that’s why you look extra smug.”

“Where is this Debbie now? I’d like to have a little chat with him myself.”

“I don’t think he, uh, made it.” Indy stared over at the three doors. He hadn’t wanted to, but he needed to confirm Debbie was gone.

But there was no body.

Well, no rabbit monster body anyway.

“I don’t see his body,” Indy said softly. “Maybe he was able to get out… Wait.” His temper spiked. “Which means that little slut left me here? That bitch! I will fucking strangle him—”