MalloS

The universe was determined to foil Mallos’ hard-researched, genius-inspired intentions. On the one hand, this was the closest he had ever come to attaining his goal and to give up now, when he was so tantalisingly close, went against every fibre of his being.

On the other hand, stood in front of him right now was an opportunity like no other. Birch knew the underworld, intimately, and could comment on it without inhibition. Aura was understandably but irritatingly reticent on some matters, particularly where she sensed a conflict between the intentions of the enquirer and her role as guide of the dead. Walking dead were otherwise difficult to encounter; Mallos had already pursued multiple lines of enquiry along that thinking, to be invariably met with dead ends. Right here in front of him was the real deal. Birch could not only expound at length on her experiences of death, reviving her also served as an apt practice run. And now that Mallos knew how to get to the Realm Between Realms, it wouldn’t be too challenging to make a return trip. Surely.

These considerations and more flashed through his mind in the blink of an eye, flying in the face of every instinct which told him to drop the woman and keep looking for his primary target.

The thought process was swift enough to avoid detection and Mallos’ face, as always, was enigmatic.

“Couldn’t be me,” he agreed with a subtle touch of sarcasm, “must be the other divine entity.”

He shrugged and gestured around him, nonverbally pointing out her lack of alternatives. Whether Birch’s parents had meant for Mallos to be her saviour was unclear, but it did seem like a suspicious coincidence that she had appeared within a few metres of him only seconds after his arrival. There must have been something… some kind of system of the realm, perhaps, which deposits travellers together; or perhaps Birch’s parents had a way of navigating this endless grey void. Whatever the answer, this was the most promising avenue he’d come across in years. All he had to do now was secure Birch’s support in any future endeavours.

Here, Mallos was on familiar ground. Safe ground. He wasn’t an idiot; it was obvious she liked him. And he knew exactly how to play this role. Before speaking, he reached out and gently brushed a fleck of grey dust from Birch’s cheek with his thumb.

“I can get you back.” He confirmed, with a confidence which was a complete lie. He had a hunch he could get her back into the Realm of the Living, but that wouldn’t automatically make her start living and breathing again. He was going to have to figure this out as he went. “But my services come at a price.”

He slipped his hands back into his pockets and studied her coolly. This role was second nature to Mallos; he had been conning the world out of its diamonds long before he could even see them shine.

“If I loan you life, it belongs to me.” He asserted. “I can take it away again, and you owe me a lifetime debt of servitude.” He glanced about him and shrugged. “Or you can stay here and wait for another god to stroll by. I’m sure that’s a frequent occurrence.”