Too Many Curses

by A. Lee Martinez

  "But the hound isn't dangerous. Not to us anyway. Why risk your life, your soul, for people that are already dead?"

  "Just because they're dead, that doesn't mean they deserve to be dragged to Hell."

  The Hanged Man struggled but was unable to raise himself with his exhausted limbs.

  "No need to thank me," she said. "Just doing my job."

  "A damn sight more than your duty, if you ask me," said Morton.

  But the castle would be kept. And as she was the only one who could keep it, she would do whatever was necessary to maintain its order and to protect all those, living or dead, who called it home. They could expect nothing less from her. And neither could she.

  SIX

  Nessy spent the next few hours checking each and every volume of the library's metazoology, demonology, and necromancy sections. She found nothing else on hellhounds. Nothing on how to summon them up. Nothing to dispatch them. Nor even a single description of the beast.

  She wondered how the creature had found its way into the castle. She didn't believe it was happenstance. Everything else was here for a reason. But Margle's castle was protected from casual entry by unnatural forces. An underworld creature couldn't just slip in. The hound could only have come from inside.

  Had Margle summoned it from the underworld with a magic so dark and secret that it wasn't even hinted at in even his most prized books? Surely, it must've been here by the wizard's doing, but how had it gotten loose?

  Perhaps Margle had nothing to do with it. Perhaps it was all the castle's will. Decapitated Dan had said it possessed a life of its own. She'd already known that. But with its master dead, had it truly become an evil place, bent on devouring them all? She refused to believe that. Not yet. So rather than focus on things she didn't understand, she turned her attention to the hellhound and its removal.

  Questioning Yazpib the Magnificent proved fruitless. "I'm sorry, but I have little experience with demonology. Too dangerous. Far, far too dangerous." The fluid in his jar paled at the mere thought. "It's no surprise my brother would. He was as devious and scheming as any demon."

  So Nessy had only one place to turn: The Purple Room.

  It was expressly forbidden to enter the room. Nor had she ever had any such desire because this was where a demon lived. If demons truly lived. Not just any demon, but a powerful lord of one of the deepest, darkest hells, bound to the room by Margle's most potent magic.

  Nessy had a healthy caution toward The Purple Room, but she didn't fear it as she did The Door At The End Of The Hall. She passed it often, and it never acted the least bit strange. If she hadn't known there was a demon inside it, she wouldn't have given it much thought. Even knowing, she had always considered it merely a place she wasn't allowed to enter.

  It was habit, not fear, that made her pause before The Purple Room's door. Margle was dead, but she felt some compulsion to obey him still.

  "Changed your mind?" asked Yazpib. "That's good. Because you really shouldn't be going in there."

  Nessy put her hands against the door. She didn't sense any of the danger she'd felt from The Door At The End Of The Hall, and she wasn't surprised. Wouldn't a good demon hide its darkness? It made temptation so much easier.

  Sir Thedeus, clinging to her shoulder, whispered, "If ye change your mind, lass, none would think the less of ye."

  "Get the necklace."

  The bat flew to the cart, snatched a long, daggerlike tooth on a chain, and dropped it around her neck.

  "Are ye certain this will protect her, wizard?"

  "A tooth from the demon's own body should keep him from physically harming her." He frowned, eyes bobbing. "But with demons, it isn't the physical threats you have to worry about. You're fortunate if they kill you."

  Nessy held the fang in both her small hands. It was as long as her muzzle. But she was determined. She reached for the handle.

  Yazpib boiled. "Wait. If you insist on doing this, let me give you some advice."

  "I thought ye didn't know anything about demons."

  "I know a little. Just a little." He collected his thoughts. "Chiefly, I remember that demons never do anything for free. So if he does help, and I'd be surprised if he does, but if he does, he'll ask you for some sort of payment. Whatever he asks for, don't give it to him. Because it will appear to be perfectly harmless, but it won't be."

  "But you just said he won't help if I don't give him something," said Nessy.

  "Yes, but whatever he asks for first, don't give."

  "Okay, then I'll give him the second thing."

  Yazpib laughed dryly. "Oh, I can see this is going to be a bad idea. You can't give him his second request. Because that will appear even more harmless, but will be even more dangerous."

  "She fulfills his third request then?" said Sir Thedeus.

  "Are you insane? The third request will be less treacherous than the second but worse than the first."

  "So is she to agree to the fourth demand?"

  "Of course not. Not if she values her life and her immortal soul."

  "So what is she supposed to do then?" Sir Thedeus's voice grew squeaky with irritation.

  "She's not supposed to go in there." His eyes swirled nervously around his brain. "Understand, Nessy, that my brother was cruel and devious. But you are practical, steady and forthright. Admirable traits, except when it comes to bartering with a demon lord. But I can also see that you're stubborn when you've made up your mind. So please be careful."

  "Aye, lass. Without ye, how are we to break our curses?"

  "Is that all you care about? This courageous creature is about to endanger herself, and all you think about is your curse."

  They started squabbling, but Nessy wasn't listening. She stroked the nurgax's horn, told it to stay, and entered The Purple Room. The door clicked shut behind her. The nurgax moaned softly.

  "Good luck, Nessy lass."

  Yazpib shot a disgusted glance at Sir Thedeus with such force that his eyes nearly jumped out of his jar and rolled to the floor. "Yes. Good luck, indeed."

  The Purple Room wasn't purple at all. It was black as pitch. Nessy didn't fear the dark. She possessed a talent for wandering around while blinded. Stick a kobold in an unlit chamber filled with dangers and only one exit, she'd more often than not find her way to safety. Nessy sometimes closed her eyes and dashed through the castle as fast as she could. Just to keep in practice should she ever return to her people.

  The room was warm, though not uncomfortably so. She took a step forward with absolute trust that if there had been a bottomless chasm before her, her instincts would have held her back.

  She spoke up very softly. "Hello?"

  No reply came.

  She took another step and called a little louder. "Hello. Is there anyone in here?" A perfectly stupid question. Of course, someone was in here. Or something.

  "Hello!" Her voice echoed.

  And then, either very far away or very close, a pinpoint of red and then yellow light appeared. A deep, booming voice filled the chamber and rattled in her ears.

  "You are not Margle!"

  "Margle is dead." She bit her tongue. Perhaps it had been unwise to let this slip. But she was a terrible liar. She would have to think before she spoke. Always a good policy when dealing with demons.

  The light flared, yet offered little illumination. She wondered whether it was an eye. A single, glaring red eye set in a hideous visage that could drive her mad to look upon.

  "Dead, you say!"

  "Yes." No point in lying about that now.

  The demon's voice lowered to merely obnoxiously loud. "How did he die? No, let me guess." The shining eye flashed through a spectrum of colors. "Eaten, wasn't he? Eaten by a nurgax. Am I right?"

  She nodded, and even in the consuming darkness, the demon could see.

  "How did—"

  "How did I know?" The voice became soft and gentle and feminine. "I know a great many things, Nessy. A great many things."

 
; Nessy wasn't surprised the demon knew her name. It seemed a very demony thing to know.

  "Then you must also know why I'm here."

  The demon laughed delicately. "Oh no, my dear. When someone comes to me for my help, I only know what they need when they request it of me. Odd, yes, but those are the rules. And we must all play by the rules."

  The light drew closer, shone brighter. Yet Nessy couldn't see any other details of the creature.

  "You wear my tooth. Do you fear me, Nessy?"

  She thought before she answered, but a lie was unnecessary. The demon surely knew the answer. "Yes."

  The demon chuckled with a tinge of sweet venom. "Very wise. And I see that you are possessed of a noteworthy wisdom along with a generous helping of compassion spiced with a robust serving of pragmatism. A rare delicacy. To measure your soul is to rediscover appetites I'd forgotten, locked away in this room." She inhaled loudly and smacked her lips. "Oh what a morsel you are. That I could pop you in my jaws, tuck you in my cheek, savor you slowly for a thousand or so years." Her voice trailed away dreamily.

  "Alas, you hold my tooth. And my jaws aren't what they used to be." The eye rose high in the air, then low to settle on Nessy's nose. The demon was nothing more than a tiny, shining firefly. The insect was unremarkable, save that her tail was a shimmering tongue of flame. The lick of fire was hot, but it didn't burn.

  The demon's breath was warm and sweet, washing over Nessy as if from a much larger creature. The sweetness was the stench of rotting flesh.

  "You don't know what a treat this is for me. For far too long I've had to put up with that ludicrous wizard. And his soul, as a connoisseur of such, I can tell you is no joy to look upon. As ugly and contemptible as any I have ever come across. A wasted, miserable bauble, it is."

  "Is?"

  The firefly flitted to the top of Nessy's head. "I think we both know that he isn't dead. Not truly. Wretched and despicable as he might be, Margle is a superb wizard. I alone am testament to his power. Do you know how long I have been bound to this room, to flutter about in this purple cell?"

  So The Purple Room was truly purple. Although, one would need a demon's eyes to see it in this darkness.

  "No."

  "Neither do I. Time and its passing are nothing to me because I have always been and will always be. But this is not a boon. Every hour in here is like a year to one such as I. Every minute a forever of itself." The firefly climbed down Nessy's neck and sat on her shoulder. "Countless eternities of solitude, of waiting for Margle to visit and make some demand, of having to listen to him prattle on and on. 'Oh, demon, I want this. Oh, demon, share your secrets. Never forget, demon, I can destroy you. Never forget, I know your true name.' As if he'd let me." She whispered in Nessy's ear. "As if I could."

  The firefly's flame burst into a long, white tail. She flew through the air in fleeting patterns, leaving a trail behind her, a painting in living incandescence of Margle's long, lean, sneering face. The demon howled, sending shivers through every hair on Nessy's furry body. Margle's image twisted into a tortured scream before dissolving. The only light was once again the firefly's delicate tail burning a warm, gentle blue.

  "Enough about me. Though I do appreciate you lending me your ear. I will have my vengeance one day, but not today. Today, we will speak about you. About what you want. About how I will help you." The fire tinted a cold crimson. "And how you will help me."

  Nessy swallowed her uneasiness. She had no doubt that even transformed into an insect, the demon could kill her easily. She clutched the tooth that protected her, pulling it close.

  "What do you want?" Nessy asked.

  "Oh no. That is not how it works. First make your request. Then I tell you the price. Then we negotiate until we find an agreement suitable to both of us. Or, if this is not possible, I simply consume your soul."

  Nessy backed away.

  The firefly chuckled. "I jest, Nessy. You are always free to walk away, free to leave me behind and never enter The Purple Room again. Why would I harm you, leaving me to my loneliness? How could I harm you, such a sweet, lovely, tasty girl? The advantage is all yours, as anyone can plainly tell."

  "You're trying to trick me." Nessy didn't know why she said it, other than that she had a tendency to say things she thought.

  "I'm not trying to trick you. Not yet. I will when the bargain is being struck. Both of us know that, and I'll not insult you by denying it. But the bargain has yet to be struck, and it won't be until you let me know what you need." The demon flew close to Nessy's eyes, and though it was difficult to read a bug's face, Nessy thought she detected a dangerous smile across her mandibles. "Then we can begin the trickery."

  Nessy stepped back. "There's a hellhound in the castle."

  The firefly flitted about. "The hellhound is free, set loose to devour all the improperly deceased things roaming about."

  "You knew?"

  "I know many things. Haven't we discussed this? Secrets are my calling, as tending this castle is yours. I brought the hound here. By Margle's command, despite my advice against it. They are very difficult to contain."

  "Can you send it back?"

  "If only it were that easy, Nessy. If only. But my control over the beast requires it be in my presence. If you could bring it to me, I could banish it back whence it came. If I were free of my own prison, I could easily track it down for you and dispatch it. But neither seems a likely possibility."

  "No."

  The firefly blazed an innocent white. "Oh, no. Of course not. Even if you knew the proper magic to undo my binding, which you obviously don't, you would be a fool to release me. And you are certainly no fool. So what is it you want of me then? Information, I suppose. One of my secrets that I do cherish so."

  "How do I stop the hound?"

  "I must admit a small surprise that you would bother. It isn't a danger to you so long as you leave it to its business. Would you be willing to risk your life for these half-living creatures which by all rights don't belong in this world?" The demon whipped high into the air until she was a mere yellow point. "Don't answer. I see it evident in your soul. You honestly care for them. I'm touched by this. I truly am. And if any demon possessed an ounce of charity, I would be tempted to answer your question for free. Alas, I am deprived of such grace. But I will help you. And as for payment . . ." She paused as if distracted and flew gently lower. "All I ask for is a single lump of coal."

  "Agreed." Nessy didn't even think about it.

  "What?" The firefly landed at Nessy's feet. "My first request? My dear girl, I don't know if anyone's ever taken the time to instruct you on the finer points of demonic negotiations, but you are never to give a demon the first thing she asks for."

  "I know, but I also know that you are far more cunning and manipulative than I could ever hope to be. Trying to outwit you would be a waste of both our time. Whatever you ask will most certainly be trouble later, but I will deal with that when I must."

  The demon laughed long and heartily. "Oh, how wonderful. How delightful. You are a marvelous rarity. Two kinds of idiots barter with demons. Desperate fools who think they've nothing to lose, and arrogant imbeciles who think they can somehow best us at our own game. How adorable to meet someone who is neither. Then it is my secrets for your coal." She took to the air, glowing with a dazzling red fire. Her voice boomed. "The bargain is struck."

  "Shall I fetch the coal?"

  The demon's voice and her glow became light and gentle. "I trust you, Nessy, and earning a demon's trust is a singular accomplishment. As to the methods of stopping this hound, there are several. But I shall only give you the ones that you have some chance of using. If it is exposed to purest sunlight, it will die."

  "There's little sunlight in this castle."

  "I wouldn't know, as this accursed room is all I get to see of it. If you can get the hound to ingest something still alive, this would be most virulent poison."

  "How would I do that?"

  The firefly bo
bbed. "That's something you'll have to figure out on your own. And finally, a sacred weapon dedicated to the art of slaying demons can destroy the beast. And I believe there is just such a weapon in Margle's armory, is there not?"

  Nessy knew exactly what the demon spoke of. It was the prize of her master's impressive enchanted-sword collection. "But I can't use that. Even Margle couldn't use that."

  "Oh, but I think you can. I think you are more clever than you give yourself credit for. I think you can devise a way if you put your mind to it."

  "Are you certain?"

  "Certain? No, not certain. But I do know things, Nessy. And I ask only that you trust in me as I trust in you."

  Nessy walked backward, unwilling to turn from the demon. "Thank you. I'll bring the coal right away."

  The door opened, casting a sliver of light. Nessy slipped out, shutting it behind her. The firefly hovered silently for a minute or two, or perhaps an hour or three. It was so hard to tell sometimes.

  The door opened again but Nessy didn't set foot inside. She tossed a lump of coal across the threshold.

  "Thank you, Nessy."

  "You're welcome, demon."

  "And do remember to be careful with that hound. I'd hate to see anything happen to you."

  The door closed with a soft click.

  The firefly hovered over the coal. "What a lovely creature. I could see growing quite fond of her."

  A second light flared beside her. "Don't get too attached. When the time comes, she will very likely try to stand in my way."

  A third insect lighted. "Truly, a pity. If I had a heart, it would be heavy."

  "How fortunate for me," said a fourth, "that I do not."

  One by one by one, a thousand fireflies banished the darkness. The swarm's beating wings thundered.

  As one, the fireflies extinguished. Their rumble faded. The Purple Room was dark once again. And in that dark, a demon chuckled softly.

  SEVEN

  Many centuries ago, in a kingdom that has long since faded from memory, there was a fracture between the land of the living and the empire of the damned. Monsters of the underworld swarmed the good people and threatened to crush this realm. And from there, the rest of the world perhaps. But this abysmal tale of destruction didn't come to pass because of one enchantress and one smithy.