The Devil You Know (Jacob Graves Book 3)

by Sean Stone

  ‘You are both forgiven,’ the Fae said. ‘Cheirvorn awaits within.’ With a flourish of its concealed hand, the brambles behind the Fae wriggled and writhed as they slowly parted to create a small doorway for Jasmine and me to pass through.

  ‘Remember everything I told you,’ Jasmine hissed under her breath. I nodded once and then stepped into the dome.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  It was dark inside the dome of brambles, like somebody had blocked out the sky with a massive blanket. The space was vast and empty. A small orb of pale light hung from the top of the dome. The faint light enabled me to just about see the dry, mud floor beneath my feet.

  ‘Stand under the orb,’ Jasmine said in a respectfully hushed tone.

  I walked forward and as I did I noticed little yellow pin pricks around the edge of the room. We had an audience. It was unsettling to have so many pairs of eyes on me and try as I might, I could not make out any other features whatsoever. The eyes could have been suspended in the air for all I could see.

  I reached the centre of what I assumed was some kind of reception room and stopped. The light hung over my head casting my elongated shadow right across the floor to the edge of the dome. It looked like a twisted monster looking for prey. I wondered if that was what we were surrounded by.

  ‘Don’t worry. You’re under my protection,’ Jasmine whispered, her cool breath causing my ear to tingle.

  ‘Indeed you are,’ said a slow melodious voice from the darkness. The voice did not resemble a nice melody, but the kind of things old people complain about their grandchildren listening to. ‘Jacob Graves, welcome to our home. And many welcomes to you, Princess… Sanguis.’ He took a moment to consider which name to use as if he had heard the conversation that Jasmine had had with the doorman. Or would it be doorfae? How confusing these things were.

  ‘Thank you for granting us an audience, Cheirvorn,’ she said, bowing her head slightly. Wow, Jasmine could show some small signs of respect after all.

  ‘Yes, thank you for seeing us,’ I added, less elegantly than Jasmine.

  ‘Two visits to our domain in less than two months. Should I feel honoured, or annoyed?’ Cheirvorn asked. He still had not entered the light so I could not see who I was talking to.

  ‘Neither. I’m not here to honour or annoy you. I’m here because I believe we can help each other out of a sticky situation. I’ve got myself into a war with a powerful foe who I’m having some trouble defeating, and you are on the brink of a war that, I’m pretty sure, you don’t want to get into. I think if we work together we can solve both our problems at once. Two birds, one stone.’

  I saw Jasmine shaking her head at me out of the corner of my eye but I had no time for her way of doing things. Sure, my speech was inelegant and to the point, but I was on a deadline.

  ‘So, you have come to propose a deal?’ Cheirvorn asked, the gleeful intrigue lighting up his words.

  ‘No. Not exactly,’ I said quickly, remembering Jasmine’s warning about making deals with the Fae.

  Silence was his response.

  I heard the rustling of foliage moving in the darkness and then the light, almost soundless, footsteps approaching across the dirt. A shadow stood at the edge of the light cast by the floating orb. I saw Jasmine tense just a fraction out of the corner of my eye and I knew this figure was Cheirvorn. He was tall and slim. Hair stuck out from his head untidily like some kind of retro eighties hairstyle. I could not make out any details about his clothing or face, he was shrouded in darkness. The only feature I could see was his yellow eyes that shone like headlights from the blackness.

  ‘Perhaps,’ he said slowly, adding a little hiss to end of the word. ‘You do not understand how these meetings work. When you are granted an audience with us you are expected to offer a gift, or accept a deal. Surely Princess Sanguis has not allowed you to come before us empty handed.’

  Hisses rose around the dome as the hidden audience announced their offence at the mere suggestion of me coming to them with nothing to offer. I felt Jasmine’s fingers lightly touch my forearm. I wasn’t sure if it was a warning or a reassurance. She’d already guaranteed my safety so surely there was nothing to fear. The worst that could happen was I could ruin diplomatic relations between humans and Fae for generations to come. No biggy.

  Luckily, the Fae leader was wrong.

  ‘I do have something to offer. I offer you a solution to the impending war. A way to force Dorian to sign the new treaty.’

  ‘Jacob,’ Jasmine said sternly with no attempt to quieten her tone.

  ‘Ah,’ Cheirvorn said, full of glee. ‘The Princess is concerned that you are overstepping. This matter is being handled by her younger sister, the Lady Sorrinel.’

  I cast my eyes Jasmine’s way and saw the steely warning. I was on thin ice.

  ‘This does not overstep,’ I assured everybody in the room. Jasmine in particular. ‘This is simply a step toward the treaty. Le… Lady Sorrinel still has the arduous task of obtaining everybody’s signatures. That is a job I would never dream of taking from her.’ More because of the work involved than because I didn’t want to cause offence. Annoying Leah might actually make her come and see me if only to tear me a new arsehole.

  When Cheirvorn spoke again the humour was gone from his voice and he was all business. ‘What do you propose, Jacob Graves?’

  ‘Dorian will not sign the new treaty because he claims there is a rival human faction, is that correct?’ I asked. I needed to be sure of the details before laying out my plan.

  ‘Yes,’ once again he ended the word with a hiss, this one of displeasure. ‘This Magraval, has apparently fractured the human faction into two. This means either both factions sign the treaty or the signature of one would only hold half the value. The treaty would be worthless. It is to my understanding that Magraval burned the original treaty which means he is the instigator of this impending war. He must be dealt with before any peace can be agreed.’

  ‘And that is what brings me here today. Despite Dorian’s difficult nature, he too wants Magraval dealt with.’

  ‘Is there a proposal coming or do you mean to deliver a history lesson on human affairs?’ Cheirvorn demanded, his voice icing over.

  ‘Magraval is using Fae magic to evade me. He has created portal keys to escape constantly.’ The entire dome filled with angry tittering and anguished gasps. My words had struck a nerve but I couldn’t tell if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

  ‘Tread carefully,’ Jasmine whispered. She drew close to me so that our arms were lightly touching.

  ‘And how did he come by the means to wield our magic?’ Cheirvorn said each word with painstaking slowness, throwing each syllable like a dagger.

  ‘Two of your people were recently found dead by the river, yes?’ I took the silence that followed for confirmation. ‘Magraval has perfected the ability of sucking out a being’s life-force and converting it into magic. I believe he killed your people and converted their life-force into magic. Fae magic. He is using that very same magic to create portal keys. A spell that only Fae can cast.’

  ‘Jacob Graves, you have just told us that a human is responsible for the murder our kind and you believe that this information will lead to the aversion of a war between our species?’

  ‘Ah…’ I had not been expecting that response. It seemed that I was inadvertently about to ignite the fires of war rather than suffocating them for good.

  ‘Let him finish,’ Jasmine said calmly, her voice the one of reason on this rare occasion.

  ‘Magraval does not represent the majority of the humans. He alone acted against you. Do not judge us all on his behaviour. Instead, show your commitment to peace by helping me, and the other humans, stop Magraval. With him eliminated the treaty will be signed and we can all go back to how things were.’

  Cheirvorn laughed girlishly. ‘What would you have us do, march across the river and apprehend this miscreant?’

  ‘Well, no. Although, with the treaty bur
nt that wouldn’t be breaking any rules so you could very well do that. Dorian could hardly claim umbrage if you were there to help his cause.’

  ‘That will not happen. If your proposal is that we do your job for you then I am afraid I must decline.’

  I shook my head and took half a step forward before Jasmine grabbed my wrist and dragged me back. ‘Sorry,’ I said, bowing my head in respect. ‘It is a natural thing to want to see who one is talking to,’ I explained. ‘I moved on impulse.’

  ‘You have caused us no offence, Jacob Graves. You will see us when we will it. If we ever do. Tell me your proposal and please, be succinct, our stomach begins to growl.’

  I heard no growling but knew better than to contradict him. ‘Help me to stop Magraval from escaping via the portals. Or help me intercept the portals so I can follow him. Give me a way to eliminate his advantage. I will kill him and then Dorian will have no reason to refuse to sign the treaty.’

  ‘Oh, Jacob,’ Jasmine said in despair. Her head dropped down.

  ‘What?’

  ‘That, Jacob Graves, sounded an awful lot like you were asking for a deal,’ Cheirvorn said. ‘If we help you intercept Magraval on his way through a portal then you promise to end his life.’

  ‘Erm… Yes. That is what I said,’ I confirmed, failing to see what the problem was.

  Cheirvorn’s arms rose and I saw the silhouette of sharp clawed fingers which he ran through his hair slowly, enjoying the texture of his mane. ‘This we can do, however—’

  ‘No,’ Jasmine said quickly before the Fae leader could continue. ‘Jacob is not asking for a deal. He is not asking for your help. He is offering help. He is offering a way for you to avoid a war. The war means nothing to him. He is a simple contractor in this affair. Helping him would be more beneficial to you than not helping him.’

  ‘Hardly,’ Cheirvorn scoffed, tossing his hair over his shoulder with a flick his head. ‘To avoid war all we need do is nothing. Dorian Gray is forbidden from opening hostilities against us. Were he to do so his immortal life would be forfeit.’

  I narrowed my eyes with intrigue. That was interesting. ‘Why?’ I asked.

  ‘We are afraid that is a private matter, Jacob Graves.’

  ‘Look,‘ Jasmine said briskly. ‘Dorian might not be able to start a war with you but if he wants one he will find a way to manipulate events. Magraval can start a war and he’s already taken two massive steps in that direction. He burned the treaty. He killed two of your own. It is in your interests to stop him before he takes the final step.’

  Once again silence ensued. This one dragged on for an unnaturally long time. Even the other Fae in attendance seemed to grow restless waiting for their leader to speak. Finally he did and when he did his voice was quiet, almost cowed.

  ‘Very well, Princess Sanguis and Jacob Graves. You have made a compelling argument. But this still constitutes a deal.’

  ‘One without consequences in the event of failure,’ Jasmine said. It was not a request.

  ‘One without dire consequences in the event of failure,’ Cheirvorn amended.

  Jasmine turned my way. Her expression conveyed the seriousness of the situation. Gone was any semblance of playfulness. She was all business now. ‘This is your choice to make, Jacob. Listen to the consequences and assess whether the benefit outweighs the risk. And remember my warning, making a deal here is not a wise move.’

  ‘We’re offended, Princess Sanguis,’ Cheirvorn said, sounding the complete opposite.

  ‘What help do you offer and what will the consequences be if I fail to uphold my end?’ I asked, turning back to the Fae leader.

  The figure of the Fae leader raised his arm and I saw a pale hand with black claws enter the light. He pinched his thumb and forefinger together and between them appeared a small green raisin-like object. A portal key.

  ‘Will that take me to Magraval?’ I asked hopefully. That one little raisin could solve all my problems. I’d call Simon, and all the others who wanted to fight the Prime Wizard, and take the battle to Magraval once and for all.

  ‘No, Jacob Graves. We do not know where Magraval is so we cannot open a portal to him let alone create a key to access his own portal. This key leads nowhere because it is connected to no portal.’ He drew the key back into the shadows and held it before his face. I couldn’t see much more than outlines in the darkness but it looked like he was blowing on it. The colour of the key lightened and gradually morphed into a vibrant daffodil yellow. ‘Now this key has value. If you were to throw this key into a portal, any portal, it would instantly close the portal. It would not just close that opening of the portal but the portal in its entirety.’

  ‘So if I threw that at Magraval’s portal it would close and he’d never be able to open it again?’

  ‘Correct, Jacob Graves. Magraval would have to create a whole new portal. Which he would be unable to do on the spot. Now, we will give you this and in return you will end Magraval’s life.’

  ‘That seems like a fair deal.’ I looked at the key greedily, eager to get my hands on it and use it to end the turmoil that was ripping the city apart.

  ‘Within a time limit of course. Without one you could kill Magraval a decade from now and still be in accordance with our deal. You must kill Magraval within twenty-four hours of using this key. Failure to do so will result in consequences.’

  ‘Non-dire consequences,’ Jasmine reminded him. His head turned briefly in her direction before returning to me.

  ‘Non-dire,’ he agreed. ‘Should you fail to uphold your end of the deal you will owe us a service. We will ask of you one thing, only one, but it can be anything of our choosing and you will be bound to comply.’

  ‘And what if I don’t comply?’ I asked.

  ‘You die.’

  ‘There’s no way out of it,’ Jasmine said quietly into my ear. ‘Once you sign the contract, you will be magically bound to its terms. If you refuse to adhere to them then the magic will turn on you and kill you. The only way to stop it would be to burn the contract.’

  ‘Which we will keep right here with us,’ Cheirvorn added, proving that he could hear Jasmine no matter how quietly she whispered.

  ‘If I don’t kill Magraval in twenty-four hours then I’m pretty sure he’ll kill me. If he doesn’t then Dorian will have me killed so I don’t see much risk in agreeing to this. However, what if you fail to uphold your end of the deal?’ Drew always taught me to check every clause of a contract before signing. I wasn’t going to let Cheirvorn impose penalties on me without doing the same to him.

  ‘We will give you this key as soon as you sign the contract. That is all we need to do.’

  ‘And what if the key doesn’t work? Magraval can do things I didn’t know were possible. He’s barely human anymore. He might be able to overcome your key. What then?’

  ‘The key will work,’ he said, his voice cut through the air like an icicle.

  ‘But what if it doesn’t?’ I pushed on, determined to get a concession. ‘I agreed to consequences if I fail, now you need to do the same.’ Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jasmine smile with pride.

  ‘Very well, Jacob Graves. If the key fails then we will owe you service. Anything you ask for will be given.’

  ‘Sounds fair. Where do I sign?’

  Cheirvorn stepped forward into the light at last. He was almost sickly thin. His grey skin clung to his bones and had a bark-like texture to it. The yellow of his eyes was the only colour on him and his dark pupils were slitted like a cat’s. Thin black lips stretched unnaturally long across his jaw. His hair was blond, almost white, and looked like a retro style, unintentionally I was sure. His hair kind of reminded me of David Bowie in Labyrinth, only shorter. In one hand he held the yellow portal key, and in the other was a rolled up sheet of parchment. He stopped a couple of feet away from me and extended the hand which held the contact.

  ‘Sign at the bottom. Feel free to read it first,’ he said.

  I took the parchment
carefully. It was heavier than normal paper and felt like velvet beneath my fingers. As I perused the contract I saw that it was an actual piece of parchment and not just a posh piece of paper. Clearly the Fae had not moved into the twenty-first century. It also meant that I was holding a piece of animal skin. I’d held worse things.

  I raised the contract up to read it but found that the entire thing was written in a strange language, one I’d never seen before. If they were using actual parchment instead of paper, I wondered what they’d used to create the black flowing ink.

  ‘Everything you agreed has been written. There are no dubious clauses or fine print catches. The deal is stated in plain terms in the Faery language,’ Jasmine said, looking over my shoulder. Yet another bonus to bringing her along.

  ‘This must already have been written. How did you know what we would agree?’ I asked the Fae leader. He shook his head in disagreement.

  ‘It was written as we spoke. Place your signature below ours,’ he said, producing a strange wooden fountain pen. He let go of the parchment and it hung in the air of its own accord. He pressed the pen to the bottom and left his signature behind before passing both the pen and the parchment to me.

  I looked down at the bottom and saw a looping green signature. The ink he’d used had a strange crusty texture to it, as if I could pick it off with my fingernail if I so wished.

  Looking about for something to lean on I had to resign myself to squatting down and resting the parchment on my leg. I put pen to parchment and scrawled my signature quickly, only nothing appeared on the page. ‘Your pen is out of ink.’

  ‘You have to fill it yourself,’ Cheirvorn said, staring down at me with all the keenness of a vulture looking at a corpse.

  ‘Fae contracts are bound with blood magic,’ Jasmine told me. I needed to fill the pen with my blood to bind me to the deal permanently. I should have expected that. ‘One final word of warning, Jacob. If you sign that you will be entering into a private agreement with the Fae. Even after the new treaty is signed you will not be protected by it.’