Page 13 (1/2)

"A very complicated ward Took me an hour to er forrocery store what I would be facing

"I a Maiden, the Bloody Mother You will give hi titles on herself I crossed er, the Guardian of Bunut Bolog My uessed right--Hirouant and vain, which meant I had a chance It was a tiny, tiny chance, but it was better than nothing I just had to play the garimace jerked her face "I’ve heard of you, Dali Hariuard him all the time He has to sleep eventually and when he does, I will devour hi with you That’s why I want to offer you a bargain" I held up the piece of paper

Hiroain?"

"A contract You ask me a riddle If I answer correctly, you will leave him and me alone"

Riddles were the traditional way to resolve issues If she truly thought like a demon, it would appeal to her

Hiroet to eat Jier?"

"Yes"

Hiros Saliva stretched down froE

"Three riddles," she said "You answer every one"

"Fine"

I corrected the contract

"What guarantee do I have that you will sub" I put the paper on the ground and pushed it across the ith a stick "It’s signed in n it in your ichor, ill have a deal"

Hiroround and swiped the piece of paper with her hureedy as I hope you to be

Hiromi struck at her side Pale translucent liquid spilled out, carrying with it suer into the liquid and drew it across the contract Magic snapped, clutching at the paper

I took a deep breath and touched the ward It

"First riddle" Hiromi bared her teeth "It rises to the heavens but never reaches thes; it makes you ithout a cause; those who see it stop and stare; it served as my black funeral shroud and it was the only one I had What is it?"

Funeral shroud What did she see as she lay dying? People walking and the city on fire, because of the phoenix birthed by the flare And where there was fire, there was … "S Next"

Hiroround "Men ods crave it; its loss weakens, its appearance threatens; fear chills it, war heats it; it binds faether, and I watched mine leave me"

"Blood You watched yourself bleed out onto the street"

Hiroic, but it didn’t make her smart The blood riddle was almost painfully obvious What else could fear chill except for your blood?

"Last one"

Hiro On the bench Jiu his teeth Hiroround

I pointed at Jim "Stay where you are! Hiromi, we had a deal The last riddle"

Hiros and hissed at me "It has eyes but cannot see; it has ears but doesn’t listen; it has fangs, but it doesn’t hunt; it has a woe but can’t save itself; it will die alone, regretting everything What is it?"

Ha! "It’s me Do you think I don’t know myself, Hiroht, rage away You know you want a piece of et me

Hiromi wailed in helpless fury

She was alh "You are stupid, Hiromi Baka, baka Hiromi You are dumb like a worm"

White substance burst from behind her in wet clu into webs