I’m afraid we can’t afford to play around at this point in time,” Hansa said. Velnias measured each of us from head to toe, occasionally narrowing his eyes—as if assessing us on an individual basis, and trying to figure out our strengths and weaknesses.

“I have to say, I’m already impressed,” Velnias replied, turning his chair around to face us and resuming his seat in a casual pose. There was something about him that I truly appreciated—this quiet, but equally blaring way of asserting his position. One could tell, just from his uniform and confident half smile, that he was pretty much in charge of this place. Aligning him with the pacifists was nearly impossible, unless he personally confirmed it. Everything about him said “budding authoritarian sociopath,” not “Iman-hugging pacifist”.

He played his part with thespian dexterity, and that was probably what I liked most about him—his ability to seamlessly blend into a society that thrived on spilling the blood of innocent creatures, just to secretly help and free said innocent creatures.

“I’m with Velnias on this one,” Zane added with a smirk. “It’s not every day that you see outsiders infiltrating a daemon city not once, but twice, even after they were discovered and nearly neutralized.”

“Agreed. You people are either brilliant or downright suicidal,” Velnias said, his appreciation perfectly noticeable.

“We had no choice,” Hansa replied with a shrug. “We were brought here as part of a sick farce. We thought we were helping the Maras defend themselves from your kind when, in fact, we were just being tested and skillfully prepped for dinner.”

“The Exiled Maras sorely underestimated us,” Jax muttered. “Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do until we get the swamp witch back. She doesn’t belong here. Her magic has already caused irreparable damage to the current ecosystem of Neraka, and we need her to bring down the shield that’s blocking our communication with the outside world. Once we get the whole of GASP down here, this whole daemon and Exiled Mara alliance will come to a very abrupt and painful end.”

“I take it you have an army or something, eager to come over and spank us unruly daemons?” Velnias shot back, crossing his arms with a grin.

“A handful of dragons alone will do the trick,” Hansa replied. “Our core mission is to restore peace and balance in this world. That means subduing the daemons into a less corrosive position and facilitating a peace treaty between your species and the others inhabiting Neraka. A treaty that we would closely monitor, once everything is said and done.”

“A treaty that will not include the Exiled Maras,” I added.

Velnias nodded with keen interest, then smiled at Caspian, who stood by my side, his hand discreetly resting on the small of my back. “And is that something you’re amenable to, Lord Kifo?”

“Absolutely,” Caspian said firmly.

“The Exiled Maras were given the chance of a new, better life on Neraka, and they chose to do worse than the carnage they were nearly wiped out for back on Calliope,” Hansa replied. “They’ve willfully renounced any chance that they had at redemption.”

Zane raised an eyebrow, wearing an incredulous half smile. “So, what, you’ll just wipe them all off the face of Neraka?”

“Obviously not all of them. Judgment will be made on each individual, and those who tried to live a peaceful, non-murderous life will be granted amnesty and allowed to try again, under careful monitoring, this time around,” Hansa said.

“The same will happen to the daemons,” Jax replied. “Those who continue to resist and assault the innocent will be jailed, or executed, in extreme cases. Neraka needs to be a tolerant society in order for it to rebuild itself and find its balance.”

“You sound quite intolerant for a bunch of people advocating tolerance.” Velnias grinned.

“Unfortunately, it’s a paradox we have to enforce. We must be intolerant of those who are intolerant, in order to create a tolerant society,” Jax said. “Otherwise, this will continue, like a vicious and bloody circle. It all needs to stop. Too many innocent creatures have died. Too many lives have been ruined. We do not like having to resort to such extreme measures, but we have no other choice.”

“I get it,” Velnias replied, stretching his arms out. “And, as much as it pains me, it’s true. It’s time for a good old-fashioned cleansing in this place. I just need a guarantee that the pacifists, and the daemons who align with us, will be spared. Then I’ll help you.”

“I think everyone will be subject to a review, but those who want peace will have nothing to fear,” Hansa declared. “However, I recommend resuming this part of the conversation once we bring the shield over Neraka down. Until then, our promises are useless, with daemons and Exiled Maras hunting us down.”

Velnias stood, scratching the back of his head. Zane continued to watch us with slight amusement—and a hefty amount of interest, particularly in Fiona. That daemon had the hots for her, and, judging by the way Fiona was trying not to steal glances at him, the feeling was mutual. I smiled inwardly, then gently nudged her toward him.

She gave me a brief frown, and pursed her lips when she noticed my mischievous half smile. We didn’t need words between us. We’d basically grown up together, and Fiona was perfectly capable of reading my expressions. She exhaled, shaking her head as if to express some kind of faux disappointment in me, then moved slowly, almost unnoticeably, toward Zane, while the rest of our group focused on Velnias. I figured she needed a few minutes closer to the guy, given our current circumstances. Who knew when she’d see him again—or if she’d see him again. Maybe we should get Zane out, to join us.

“Fair enough,” Velnias replied. “However, I don’t know where they’re keeping the swamp witch.”

Disappointment kicked me hard in the stomach, but I’d yet to lose hope. “I thought you were well connected in these parts,” I said.

“Oh, I am. Just not well connected enough to know where they’re keeping the still-living-and-breathing grand prize,” Velnias sighed. “She is, by far, our kingdom’s most prized possession, and that’s shared with the Exiled Maras, who are particularly protective about her. Only the higher-ups know where she’s being held, but the rest of the Druid delegation might have a clue, too. I can take you to them.”

“So the delegation members are still alive,” Vesta breathed. I could see the hope blossoming in her heart. The longing to find out what happened to her parents burned deep red around her.

“Most of them, yes. It’s been a long time for them in these private cells, though,” Velnias replied. “They’re not what they used to be. Heck, I wasn’t even born when they crash-landed on Neraka. All I know are the tales. They were fearsome. They fought back hard against the Exiled Maras and their devious plans. But, once the daemons figured out how much they stood to benefit from an alliance, and from the swamp witch magic, they were done for.”

“If we manage to at least free some of them, we’ll get more of an upper hand until we do find the witch,” Hansa mused, pressing a finger against her lips, then smiled at Velnias. “Yes. Take us to them. I’m sure that, regardless of the state they’re in, they’ll be pleased to see us. They’ll have some hope, at least. I can only imagine what it must have been like for them. What’s it been, ten thousand years?”

Velnias nodded slowly.

“Sheesh,” I murmured. “Long freaking time to spend stuck in a meranium box. Speaking of which, we should take Zane with us. Assuming he’s not interested in hiding behind his daddy’s skirt.”

I gave him a sideways smirk, which he playfully returned. Yeah, I can see why Fiona likes you.

“I’d love to, but I can’t let him loose until Cayn goes back to Infernis,” Velnias muttered, gritting his teeth, visibly displeased.

“Once we get him out of here, no one will be able to track him down,” Fiona insisted, then looked down at Zane in his bed. “Surely you’re capable of keeping a low profile.”

“Oh, I absolutely am, as you already know,” Zane replied with a soft smile. The daemon was smitten with Fiona, and I found that oddly refreshing. “But Velnias is right. If I get out now, Cayn will get word of my escape. Velnias won’t be able to keep it under wraps for more than a few hours without getting himself in hot water. And that’ll just open another can of worms, given his side gig with the pacifists.”

“It’s best if Cayn gets out of Draconis first. It’ll be easier to orchestrate an escape then,” Velnias added. “If we do it now, Cayn won’t leave the city until he finds Zane, and you’ve all seen and heard the moron. He’s a persistent, frustrated oversized worm.”

“You really dislike him.” I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You have no idea,” Velnias breathed. “Now, do you people have a safe meeting spot outside Draconis?”

“We do,” Vesta said, and I remembered the library in the Imen city above.

“Don’t tell me. Tell Zane,” Velnias replied. “That way, once he gets out, he’ll know where to find you or track you. I can’t know. I’m afraid that if I am captured, they might force it out of me. I’m not susceptible to Maras’ mind-bending, but there are some excruciating swamp witch spells that the likes of Cayn wouldn’t hesitate to use on me to get to you all, and Zane.”

“Fair enough,” Fiona agreed, then whispered into Zane’s ear. His gaze darkened as she got close to him, and he took a deep breath, as if to memorize her natural scent. Judging by the clouds gathering in his red eyes, Fiona had quite the physical impact on him, and he didn’t bother to hide it at all. I wasn’t sure if Fiona was aware of it, but I made a mental note to ask her later—preferably when we were no longer infiltrating the enemy’s lair.

“Good. Everyone ready?” Velnias asked, looking at us.

We all took out our batches of invisibility paste and swallowed enough to last us for about six hours. “We should definitely stock up along the way,” Jax said, checking his pouch with a slight frown. “Just in case. I think we have enough for another six-hour session.”

Velnias then glanced at Zane. “Your Grace, I’ll be back for you once that pest of a brother of yours is out of Draconis. I hope that will be sooner rather than later. In the meantime, however, you’ll be locked here, and guards will be at your door. I’ve arranged for a shift to come in soon enough.”

“That’s fine, Velnias, thank you,” Zane replied, then gave Fiona a most mischievous smile. “I’ll kill some time thinking about the little vampire while I wait.”

Oh, wow, he does not beat around the bush.

Fiona lit up like a stoplight, her cheeks unnaturally crimson. She gave him a weak nod, gradually vanishing due to the invisibility spell. Once we were all under the radar, Velnias fumbled through his tunic pocket and took out his red lens. “I don’t like wearing this often—it hurts my eye—but I’d hate to lose track of you crazy kids,” he said, fitting it over his right eye.

He then walked over to the door and opened it wide for us. Carefully checking both ways for other red lens daemons, we got out into the main street, while Velnias locked the door behind him.

“I’ll take you to Cells 5 and 6, where some Druid delegation members are being kept, as they’re part of my daily route as the High Warden for this block,” he said, then walked up the road. We quietly followed. “Provided the conditions are convenient, you may be able to get at least one of them out of here without anyone noticing until the morning. Either way, I’ll give you all the cell numbers for the entire delegation, just in case. Assuming your safe spot is actually safe, you could very well do multiple extractions and get them all out.”

“Can you help us get some more invisibility paste, while we’re here?” I whispered.

“Sure. I’ll write down the recipe for you, too. You can fetch the ingredients yourselves,” he replied, giving me a sideways smile.

Whatever came next, we were fortunate to have someone like Velnias on our side. Mose, bless his heart, was old and retired, forced to the outskirts of Infernis because he’d outlived his usefulness in the daemon society. But Velnias was strong, and very much engaged. His position as a High Warden was an unexpected surprise, and a tremendous advantage.

For the first time, as I walked with Caspian by my side and the rest of our team behind us, Velnias leading the way, I had more than just a flicker of hope. I had the conviction that we were definitely going to achieve our objectives in this place, and that the daemons were significantly closer to the end of their era as the dominant species of Neraka.

Most importantly, I knew for sure that we were certainly closer to kicking some serious Exiled Mara ass—they more than had it coming, at this point.