Page 187 of Just One Little Bargain

I frown. “Even for this?”

“For anything that carries permanent or indefinite punishment. Hell enjoys procedure almost as much as suffering, and apparently someone centuries ago decided that condemned demons should be allowed to object.” She adjusts one cuff. “Usually at great length and with very little success, but the right exists.”

“That seems surprisingly reasonable.”

We continue down the corridor, the passage widening around us as the tribunal wing draws closer. Voices drift from somewhere ahead now, muted by thick doors and distance. A pair of clerks hurry past, carrying stacks of red folders against their chests.

My mother stops just before the entrance. She turns to face me, one hand lifting to adjust the collar of my sweater.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Quickly.”

“I was technically summoned by a cat using a toy Ouija board.”

Her hands falter. “A cat?”

“Yes.”

“It doesn’t matter who performed the summoning. The contract attaches to the mortal with legal possession of the property and the animal responsible for the invocation.” She gives a quiet scoff. “So unless you’re planning to argue that the cat owns real estate, your agreement was with the woman.”

“I know, that wasn’t my question.”

“Then what was?”

“The cat was unusual.” I lower my voice as another clerk passes. “He could talk. And he knew my demon name.”

Her hands drop to her sides. “Your full name?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“He wouldn’t tell me.” I study her. “Do you know what he could be?”

“A talking cat alone could be any number of things. A curse. Witchcraft. Some form of possession or transformation.” Her expression gives nothing away. “But knowing your full given name without being told narrows the possibilities. Hell may be involved.”

“Involved how?”

“There have been punishments involving altered forms. Bindings. Transformations.” She adjusts one cuff. “They aren’t well recorded.”

That does very little to reassure me.

Mother straightens. “If Hell was involved in the summoning through an unidentified supernatural intermediary, the Tribunal might grant you another chance. It could warrant an investigation. They’d have to keep you out of the Furnace while they review the circumstances.”

“No.”

She blinks. “What do you mean, no?”

“I don’t want another chance. I’ll take the punishment and be done with it.”

“You realize what you’re saying.” Her fingers curl once against the side of her robes before she stills them.

“Yes.”

“The Furnace, Zavian. Indefinitely.”

“I know.” But fear doesn’t make me take the words back. “I meant what I said before. I don’t want to keep doing this.”