"How wonderful it is to have a conversation with you outside that blasted pen."
Remus had finished reporting all the details of the week. The professor position, beginning the Toll, all the initial steps of the plan they had outlined long ago. He also confirmed that his identity was secure, with Falkin having successfully disrupted the Records Hall and planted his fake documents.
"Good." The queen replied, her voice taking a more professional tone now. "And this shipment you observed, if they are truly bringing another in a night’s time, confirm their cargo. Also validate if another Infernal Kingdom is involved with the delivery ship."
"Of course."
"I will not have vile rats worming their little teeth into that city, it will be mine completely."
"I will validate everything about the situation and report immediately."
"Good." She sighed, raising her head from her palm as her posture straightened. "You have begun infiltrating the City Watch, quicker than expected."
"A stroke of luck, I deliberately demonstrated a type of magic in my academy job interview. Then at the scene of my first crime, I used a complex glyph of the same type. The efficient headmaster made it all happen as I intended."
It did go very smoothly, Remus considered. Their intention was for him to be recruited by the Watch much later in upcoming events. Having an ear and occasional eye behind the legal curtain and setting up connections would prove beneficial.
But naturally, most of all, to help steer the narrative.
"Yes, well done. Quick work indeed." Lilith quipped, pleased. "But really..."
For the first time, the queen leaned forward on her throne. The movement brought her face into the illumination of Remus’s lantern.
A beautifully pale face, sculpted to ensnare the hearts of the weak. Dark lips angled into a small grin, reminiscent of a smug cat. Her sleek black hair was brushed back, black enough to seamlessly blend in with the darkness. The spiked crown, equally as dark, rested on her head as if it were part of her body.
But amidst the unnatural beauty, a stranger would be frozen by her eyes.
Pure black eyes, darker than the gloom around her. Splatters of white dots circled in them, forming an iris, swirling about like blood in water. Her eyes were creased in amusement, but a stranger would have guessed madness first.
"...using the name ’Bell’. For the Toll?"
Lilith’s grin sharpened, as if she were disturbingly pleased.
"As always, you have such a poetic humor, my knight~."
Remus just sat there stoically, contributing nothing. In fairness, he didn’t even consider the symbolism until after the events. The mind is a funny thing sometimes.
"Anyway. That’s the official matter settled." Lilith announced back into her throne, the mask of darkness veiling her again.
"Now, Remus, how goes teaching?"
For the first time, an expression creased the knight’s face. A frown. Thinking on it, Remus realized he did not really have an opinion on teaching. He hadn’t reflected on it at all. He just showed up and did it, another task to fulfill his duties and his own plan of revenge.
"I don’t really have an opinion on it, there have been no difficulties to date. I’m neither eager nor upset about it." The knight answered honestly.
Silence reigned from the dark mirror, awaiting more.
Frowning more, Remus continued, "The students at least are acceptable, weak as they are."
"Any in particular?"
"Well, there are a few standouts amongst them. Duke Barth’s son, Jacob, is an intriguing case, above-average capabilities, dreadful personality though. I suppose the princess is knowledgeable as well..."
"Princess?"
"Yes, the Lux princess, Beatrice," Remus answered. "Knowledgeable and efficient. With a bit of time, I think she could surpass Jacob easily."
A faint groan came from the throne, as the wood strained under intense pressure.
"And how is the princess’s personality?" Lilith asked, her voice much quieter now.
"She seems sweet—"
The faint noise ended with an audible snap, pieces of the throne’s armrest sprinkled onto the floor.
"—and polite."
A sense of foreboding filled the room, one that hadn’t existed moments before.
"I hope you are not getting too close, my knight," Lilith said, her voice the same eerie quiet as before. Her strange tone was something Remus had not quite heard before.
"Considering how you outlined your plan to use her for your vengeance."
Remus’s frown of concern disappeared, the expressionless face returning.
"I have not forgotten, Your Majesty. And no, I have not and will not."
"Good~."
The tavern above was as noisy as it always was, patrons bellowing or singing. Arguments about stupidity or intelligence, equally sharing benches side-by-side. Games of dice and cards here and there, the wagers minimal but heavy.
One booth in particular had several seated figures, some more intoxicated than the other. By one of the unwritten laws of the universe, the smallest one was the loudest, and the most opinionated.
"How long’s that knight been down there then?" Tiny said loudly, cutting into a delicate conversation on haggling wagon wheel repairs.
"Who, Dentes?" one of them replied, the table’s attention now back on Tiny.
"Dentes, why’s that bastard called that?" Tiny asked, swigging from his wooden cup, reaching the dregs of his umpteenth pint.
"Dunno," the person sitting next to him belched. "Recent lads who crossed over, they all call him that."
"He eats us." One man cut in. The table turned their focus to him, scowls and expressions alike.
The speaker leaned in, grimacing, his eyes blooming in faint yellow. "I’ve not long traveled over. I dunno how long you boys have been ’ere. But you’ve not heard of Dentes?"
The group at the table, Tiny included, shook their heads.
"Well, he’s been back there, fucking ages. He eats demons. He bites us. That’s why they call ’em Dentes, that’s why folk are afraid of ’em."
Tiny’s scowl deepened. "What shite." He grunted, slamming his cup down. "If he was in Hell, he wouldn’t fuckin’ be here now, would he?"
"He was!" The speaker argued back. "He fuckin’ was, ask anyone. Close to the Queen an’ all."
Tiny’s little beady eyes bloomed a full yellow, his scowl reaching its maximum potential. "Don’t get me started on her and all, that fuckin’ whore is a—"
But Tiny stopped speaking, reacting to the sudden alien atmosphere.
The tavern was quiet, like all the sound went mute. Looking around, he saw that he had the attention of everyone here. Patrons from all over the building were glancing his way, their eyes wide.
Glancing back at his table, he realized that he was sitting alone. Everyone who had gathered there had disappeared, having hurried off. Tiny had glanced back in time to see the leg of the person he was talking to fall over the booth wall in his haste to escape.
Stunned by what was going on, he looked around in confusion.
But then he realized something. While everyone may be looking his way.
It didn’t mean they were looking at him.
Slowly following their gazes, he slowly turned around for the first time, to find someone standing directly behind him. Tiny followed their feet, looking up their legs, and then to the figure’s face. The man’s dark eyes bored down on him from a great height, calm.
The Infernal Knight.
"What is your name?" The knight asked quietly, his unblinking stare crushing into Tiny’s very existence.
"Gus..." Tiny, not Gus, croaked feebly. "Gus, sir."
"You have some opinions, Gus."
"I-I don’t really-"
"I think you could be of assistance to me, Gus."
"I-I don’t-I’m really useless-"
The knight leaned in slowly. His dark gaze was like a colliding sun to Gus’s pitiful planet.
His mouth opened slowly, smiling into a sharp grin.
More teeth were bared than amusement.
"I’m afraid you don’t get to have an opinion about this one, Gus."