Return of the Runebound Professor

Vermil’s hands slipped away from Father’s shoulders and his corpse pitched forward, crashing to the stone floor and lying still. Blood pooled, running through the grooves in the floor and staining Father’s shoes.

No matter. The floor has Imbuements to help clean the blood away.

Father knelt beside the corpse, grabbing the body by its hair and studying the wound closely. There was no heartbeat. He pressed his hand to the body, checking several locations.

If it’s a copy of a corpse, it’s a good one. There are a lot of monsters that can replicate human appearance, but very few that can keep it after they die.

Father pulled sharply on Vermil’s hair. The body dragged along the ground, leaving a streak behind it. He shook his head and rose back to his feet.

Not a Skinwalker. Would have deformed.

“You,” Father said, looking up to the second Vermil standing in the room. “Wait outside the room. We will speak again once your proof has arrived.”

Vermil shrugged. Father sent a mental command to the door and it ground open. Vermil stepped through it and the door closed behind him. Father’s shoulders tensed for the few moments that the door was open, but he let them fall slightly once the door was shut and he felt the full protection of the room kick back on.

There were only so many Imbuements one could have to keep his enemies from entering, and most of them only truly worked in full strength when the entire circuit around the room was complete.

Father stepped over Vermil’s body and approached his desk. He picked up the bottle of wine and carefully put the cork back in, setting it back on his shelf. Father flicked his sleeve, dislodging a small pouch that had been hidden within it and catching it in his palm before it could hit the ground.

He dug a fingernail into the thin fabric, cutting the waxy cloth and lifting it to his mouth. A trickle of blue liquid ran out of it and onto his tongue. Energy churned in Father’s body as he swallowed.

The antidote was far from the most pleasant thing he’d ever ingested, but there weren’t many substances that could truly suppress the alcohol he’d been drinking. It had taken him years to build up a resistance to it, and it wasn’t even effective against humans. The poison was short lasting and targeted the soul rather than the body. It was devastating against anything that stole the body of another creature. It should have had some degree of effect against even a weaker Demon, but Vermil hadn't even flinched when he was drinking it.

Father’s stomach clenched, but his features didn’t show even the slightest amount of discomfort. He sent a glance at the half-empty bottle.

I’ll be glad to avoid having to buy this again. It cost ten thousand gold per bottle, and the damn poison only lasts a month after being made. For something that’s meant to rip an intruding soul out of a body, I suppose that’s a good price.

On second thought, I could always run into another person that I suspect of possession. Can’t take the risk. I’ll have another bottle purchased by tomorrow.

Father crossed his arms behind his back and looked down at Vermil’s corpse. It had been three years since he’d last seen the boy. He looked… scruffy. Dark bags under the eyes, long hair – but he was unmistakable.

His body was, at least. From the moment Vermil had stepped into the room, Father had known it wasn’t Vermil in his office. Not only had he failed to say their password, but the gait at which he walked was completely different as well.

Boy’s dead. No matter. He wasn’t going to survive summoning a demon of that strength. He was dedicated, but nowhere near as competent as he believed. Not a major loss. He did his job and died, just as he should have.

It will remain to see if he succeeded, though. If that was a mere possession, the poison would have ripped the monster free of the boy’s body at best or shredded its soul at worst. That means the creature I’m speaking with is truly part of that body.

A demon is indeed the most likely conclusion, then. But an Archdemon? Hm. I should think not. Not once did he actually say he was an Archdemon. He just implied it. Probably means he suspects I can tell if he’s lying or not, so he’s leaning toward half truths to keep deniability.

Father drew on his Runes and sent a mental command to the room around him. Steam hissed from a dozen hidden vents along the floor, letting out a thin layer of fog. It rolled across the ground, washing over Vermil’s corpse.

Blood evaporated at its touch, staining the smoke red. An instant later, there was another hiss. A strong suction drew all the reddened mist out of the room, to a set of vials where it would be distilled so Father could study it further later – though he suspected he already knew what he would find.

The blood will be that of a normal human body. I am quite certain that this is a demon, likely around Rank 4. It was arrogant, but not overly so. The fact it didn’t push back too hard when I got aggressive but still held its ground means that it isn’t trying to get into a pointless fight with something it views as a threat, but it’s still hungry or bored enough to hear me out.

Father grabbed Vermil’s corpse and pulled it up. He sent a pulse of Runic energy through his hand and into the body, turning it stiff as ice. He propped it up next to his desk and smoothed its clothes out.

There are more tests I should perform to ensure that this is a demon, but all signs point to it. Well done, Vermil. I will continue to apply mild pressure and determine just how powerful it is.

When the demon returns, it will make a show of asking for payment for its death. I will put up mediocre resistance before giving in – the initial information it asked for will cost me nothing. Then I shall determine exactly what its true nature is. The demon is hiding something, of course. All things do. It is only a matter of time until I discover what it is.

***

Noah’s eyes snapped open. The jolt of life ran through his new body, joined by a dull, throbbing headache. As before, when he was the one to strike the killing blow against himself, the pain from his death was considerably less.

He couldn’t see anything in the darkness that he’d arrived in. Something sharp jabbed into his back. Noah shuffled around, finding his travel bag and slipping his hand into it to grab a change of clothes from within it.

As he dressed himself, Noah mentally thanked Lee. He’d paid careful attention to the path Sunder had dragged him back to his body through, and knew that he was currently laying in a closet, presumably one that was inside the house that Lee had been delivered to by Brayden. She’d done a great job of following his request.

Noah tugged on his shirt and swung his jacket over his shoulders before reaching out and blindly feeling for the door handle. Finding it, he pressed his ear to the wall for a moment to listen. It was silent.

He slowly turned the handle and slipped out, closing the door behind him. Lee had been given an expensive room for her stay – the bed had brilliant red bedding covered with swirling gold weaving. It was covered with plump pillows and the open door leading to the bathroom revealed beautiful tiles and a marble tub.

Noah closed the closet door and slipped over to the open window. He poked his head out, scanning the street below. It was between several other large houses, cast into shadow by their height.

He climbed out of the window and clambered down the side of the building, dropping to the ground once he was low enough. Noah landed with a grunt, then straightened and strode out of the alley at a brisk pace.

Having memorized the direction back to the mansion that he’d just died in, Noah made good time. Just about five minutes later, he was standing before the path winding through the garden before the mansion.

Noah headed inside and strode down the stairs. He entered the hallway of doors in the basement, where Brayden and Lee both stood, staring at each other. Brayden turned as Noah arrived. He blinked, then rubbed his eyes.

“Am I dreaming?” Brayden massaged his forehead. “Vermil? Why are there two of you? How did you get outside of the room? What is going on?”

“Sorry,” Noah said. “I’ll explain later. It has to do with… well, you know.”

Brayden grunted. “You really can’t tell me? Here? In our own house?”

“Nowhere is safe,” Noah replied with a shrug. “You never know.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Brayden grumbled. He sent another glance at Lee, then walked up and rapped on Father’s door. A moment passed and it rumbled open.

Brayden watched silently as Noah and Lee walked inside and the door shut behind them. Father sat at his table once more. He’d somehow cleaned Noah’s body and clothes from the blood on them and had it standing like the world’s most realistic wax statue beside his desk.

“Hello, Father,” Noah said, pushing arrogance into his voice. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long.”

“You have indeed made your point that you have multiple bodies,” Father allowed. He pressed his fingertips together and tilted his head to the side. “Color me convinced. I believe you are a demon, just as you claim to be.”

He didn’t say Archdemon. Guess that was too much of a reach. I never actually said I was an Archdemon though, so it’s not like he caught me in a lie. I bet he came to the same conclusion, though.

“Then it comes to the matter of my payment,” Noah said. “Information is not free.”

“Why should I pay for what you did to yourself? I did not force you to do anything,” Father said. “I simply spoke. You were the one who cut your own throat.”

“We both know that words and information is just as powerful as a blade.” Noah walked over to the chair and leaned on its backrest. “And the information I am asking you for costs little. You lose nothing by giving it to me.”

“And you lost much with your death?”

“No. So we would be even,” Noah said with a smile. “I think that is fair, is it not? I can always collect my payment in blood. You are well defended here, but I have many bodies and the other Linwicks are not nearly quite so safe.”

“Threatening my family will gain you nothing,” Father said. “I care nothing for those outside of my branch.”

“I did have my suspicions, but I suspect the attention I would draw would be considerably more problematic for you than the actual deaths.”

Father inclined his head. “Perhaps.”

“Then we have a deal?”

“A restricted one,” Father said after a moment. “I will give you some of the information you seek, but I will not reveal all of our Rune combinations or catalogs. There are some that would be too valuable for the services you have already given – and I offer this only in a gesture of goodwill. Part of it will include a discussion on how you may help me with my current goals. Perhaps we will be able to reach a satisfactory arrangement for both of us.”

“We shall see,” Noah said noncommittally. “Who will bring me the information?”

“I will have them arrange to meet you. In the meantime, I will gather my resources and prepare for our true discussion,” Father said. “Brayden will show you to a room where you can stay in the mansion.”

“No,” Noah said with a sharp shake of his head. “I will maintain my reputation as it has been. It benefits me to be seen as the fool that Vermil set himself up as. Keep relations between us strained to the eyes of an outsider.”

An approving smile flickered across Father’s lips. “Very well. You will return to your students, then. Are they also clones?”

“Would I tell you if they were?”

“I could always find out. Cutting hair, yes?”

He’s testing to see how much I care about them. I have to be really careful here.

Noah gave a one-shouldered shrug. “If you’re willing to pay what I charge. My last death was a gift. The children serve roles that will further my own ambitions. If you cut those threads short, then I will expect to be recompensed for all the difficulties you cause. Are you really willing to pay that much for the sake of pointless curiosity?”

“A fair argument. Then, in return, you will avoid meddling in my own affairs. If you can set such rules, I think it only equal that you offer the same as you request.”

“You’re going to have to be a little more specific on what you want me to avoid. I don’t make it a habit of agreeing to things that I don’t fully understand,” Noah said. “Care to elaborate?”

“I can arrange for that. I’m looking forward to our partnership, Demon. What name do you go by?”

I’m pretty sure that’s a trick question. Lee didn’t have a name when she arrived.

“I haven’t had a need for one thus far.”

Father’s expression didn’t change in the slightest, so it was impossible to tell if the question was actually meant to have been a trap or not.

“Perhaps Spider would be apt after your example with webs,” Father suggested. “Until you decide on a better name.”

“Spider it is, then,” Noah agreed. “One more thing – Brayden.”

“He is a problem?” Father tilted his head to the side.

“No, but he is unaware of what happened to Vermil. He will not approve.”

I’m going to have to do something with Brayden, somehow. If Father knows how much Brayden actually cared about Vermil, it’s possible he’ll try to spin things in a way that turns Brayden against me. But, Father should also realize that Brayden will probably blame him for Vermil’s death if it gets out, so he’ll almost certainly agree to this.

“That would be prudent,” Father said with a nod. “We will not speak of it, then. Have Brayden take you to your housing with your students, then. We will speak again soon. I will send someone to give the information you have asked for tonight.”

The door rumbled open behind Noah and Lee, allowing access into the hall.

That went about as well as it could have. Tonight, I’ll finally be able to answer some questions about the world. Just one thing left.

“Do you plan to keep that as a souvenir?” Noah asked, nodding to his body.

“Did you want your cut hair back?”

“Energy is energy,” Noah replied with a shrug.

“Help yourself. I did tidy it up for you, after all. It would be a shame to waste a good body.”

Lee stepped forward, grabbing Noah’s body. Her mouth cracked as it opened wide. Noah held eye contact with Father as she devoured him whole, crunching his bones in her mouth as she swallowed.

“Until we speak again,” Noah said, inclining his head slightly. He and Lee turned toward the door.

“Until then,” Father agreed, completely unperturbed by the scene he’d just witnessed. “I am very much looking forward to seeing what we can do together, Spider.”