Carmila's face froze and her thoughts stopped for a moment. Zephyr's words sounded a strange thumping in her head as the Weapon Lord herself slowly turned to see the same smiling white mask or whatever it was that replaced his face.
At that moment, Carmilla noticed how quiet it was in this vast hall. No other sounds except their footsteps, and even those had now ceased. Carmilla clenched her palm, but no echo came from the sound.
"No, Lord Zephyr," Carmilla replied a moment later, her voice steady and her expression unchanged, simply nodding in response to the question from Silence. Zephyr didn't even raise an eyebrow—though he didn't have any—and nodded back to Carmilla.
"Then, allow me to ask a more personal question, Mrs. Carmine," Zephyr tilted his head, swaying slightly on his dark blue shoes, tapping his cane against the marble floor. "Do you trust me, Carmilla?" Zephyr didn't wait for her answer this time, gesturing toward her. "Please, speak the full truth," Zephyr pressed gently, as if it were nothing, asking one of the most dangerous questions in this place.
A crooked smirk involuntarily appeared on Carmilla's lips, barely noticeable, while the lids of her white eyes lowered slightly, looking down at the Lord of Silence. Zephyr nodded understandingly, yet without losing the seriousness of his gaze or the relaxed posture and smile.
And the question itself…
The most terrifying, dangerous, and intimate question for every Sinner in Hell.
Trust. Something that is scarcer than anything in a place of Lies, Betrayal, and Murder, something valued as sacred in this godforsaken place, yet simultaneously used daily as toilet paper by everyone.
Carmilla had learned one simple rule early on, a rule that every Sinner could teach for free, simply by demonstrating it firsthand—by taking a soul.
In Hell, a Sinner can only trust their own soul and a Soul Contract with another. If you believe every word, the naive are quickly dragged into slavery, chained, or simply "fried brains," whatever that means.
The "Vessel," as the body is called here, can be deceived by drugs, alcohol, the strength of other Sinners, or the power of an Overlord—if not some demon. But the soul serves as the most valuable currency in this pit.
"And how to answer someone who can tear apart my Vessel, strip me of all strength, or summon a personal army of creatures for my soul…" Not a single muscle twitched on Carmilla's face as she sighed heavily. "Even if I lie, how will he react to it…"
After all, what could such questions mean? Either an invitation to join a family… or disappearance. At the bottom of a river, in a forest, fire, or simply in acid. The former mafioso recognized this tune from the first note, but she had never been on the other side of such an offer.
Carmilla didn't think long—there was nothing to ponder. She was on someone else's territory, where Zephyr held all the power, surrounded by his servants and Sinners who would sooner tear her apart than let her escape the one who provided them with all these luxuries…
In principle, there was only one way out, guaranteeing Carmilla, if not salvation, then minimal losses…
"No," Carmilla exhaled, clenching her large white palm into a fist, her claws digging in, reddening from the drawn blood. Carmilla's eyes carefully watched the figure of Silence, searching for any signs of intent, while her senses were heightened to the limit.
One second. The heart in Carmilla's Vessel drowned out most external sounds, and the moment stretched like minutes.
Another second. Carmilla stared at the still-smiling Overlord, waiting for any reaction. None—he stood like a statue.
Carmilla was about to repeat herself when Zephyr's shoulders twitched slightly, and the corners of his carved smile widened. Silence nodded, his top hat swaying.
"I understand," Zephyr shrugged, causing the blue roses on his left shoulder to release strange ghostly petals. "I'd be surprised if it were otherwise," Silence shook his head, looking at the surrounding walls as if seeing through the darkness of the vast hall.
"Then…" Carmilla began after a moment of silence, looking at Zephyr's oddly carefree figure, who immediately interrupted her.
"Since you, Mrs. Carmine, answered honestly, I will follow your example," Zephyr nodded to her, turning on his heel, his shadow of a smile and carefree tone unchanged. "I like you, Mrs. Carmine," the dark corners of the curved line on his white face widened slightly. "You don't kill needlessly, don't send threats, or arrange dozens of secret checks for checks…" Zephyr's sigh was heavy, clearly more genuine than all his previous words, if Carmilla's instincts weren't lying.
"You have plans for my soul," Carmilla nodded calmly, folding her arms across her chest, her voice quickly regaining its former confidence, her breathing steadying. Her heart still raced, but much less now. The Lord of Silence nodded briefly in response.
His words, tone, and posture didn't suggest he wanted to get rid of her… The situation was simplifying, but a small adrenaline-induced tremor still lingered in her body…
"You see… I need allies," Zephyr tilted his head, looking past her. "Not so much for gaining influence, but for resolving… issues," the Lord of Silence exhaled, looking at her with lowered eyelids, as if the slits in his mask had narrowed. "I'm a busy soul, Mrs. Carmine, and I'd prefer not to be distracted by other Overlords like Alastor, who will inevitably flood the City… Sooner or later."
Carmilla hesitated before answering, quickly gathering all the information she knew about Silence, his activities outside of Silence… Only rumors about the Princess of Hell, his visits to the King and Queen's Mansion… Strange rumors about a battle with the Head Exorcist, which was even more absurd…
Carmilla's claws dug deeper into her white beast-like palms, betraying no sign of her inner irritation at being unable to properly prepare for this.
"...And for that, you need someone you can trust… Lord Zephyr," Carmilla exhaled, staring into the dark empty eye sockets where two blue stars burned. "You want an Overlord on a leash so you don't have to dirty your hands?" Carmilla suggested, already forming new plans based on the fact of selling her soul to a stronger Overlord.
Carmilla hadn't thought she'd stoop to this, especially with someone she knew no more about than a figure from the newspapers, but…
"Oh no, I simply need a trusted individual who will inform me, acting in our mutual interests," Zephyr shook his head, the black curved lines on his mask widening as he looked at Carmilla. "You'll continue doing what you've always done. I won't restrict you in any way, except for requiring loyalty, honesty, and trust," Zephyr nodded, cutting off Carmilla's thoughts, into which… unease had crept?
Such a strange feeling in her chest… As if anticipating deception, sensing a trap nearby… But unsure if it even exists… Carmilla didn't like this feeling of uncertainty and confusion.
"...An incredibly generous offer, Lord Zephyr," Carmilla spoke slowly, staring intently at Zephyr, whose expression remained unchanged. "...But…" Carmilla's words were interrupted by Zephyr's raised dark palm with sharp claws—whether from his gloves or his real hands.
"I understand your doubt, Mrs. Carmine, which is why I wish to make a gesture of goodwill… Consider this my gift to you," Zephyr spoke calmly, running his hand through the air, where…
Spears of Exterminators appeared. A whole set of first-class holy weapons, capable of permanently killing any Sinner or demon. Carmilla's composure faltered, her eyes widening, and a sharp exhale escaped her lips.
"Regardless of your decision, I would like you to... follow your dreams," the black curved line on Zephyr's face turned into a smirk. "A little bird whispered to me that you have an interest in collecting the holy weapons left scattered after the Extermination..." Zephyr spoke softly, and Carmilla's eyes darted to the side, where Silence was staring far too conspicuously.
There, deeper in the dark hall, atop a column, sat a lone black crow, almost blending into the surrounding darkness. It was betrayed by the blue glow on its chest and wing feathers... Some kind of runes, if Carmilla could make out that glowing dot correctly... Blue eyes and a beak? Or was it some kind of magic?
At the same time, painfully slowly, memories of similar birds came to Carmilla's mind—birds she had occasionally seen, dismissing them as Hell's fauna... Carmilla exhaled unevenly, exerting significant effort to keep her inner emotions from showing. She turned to Zephyr, who tilted his head and looked at her expectantly.
An invitation, a conversation, and strange questions... She never really had a chance, did she?
"I gratefully accept your gift, Lord Zephyr," Carmilla exhaled, nodding deeply, to which Zephyr didn't even raise an eyebrow. A snap of his dark fingers, and the holy weapons disappeared in blue lines.
"They will appear in your private office, visible only when you arrive, Mrs. Carmine," Zephyr said, his voice now devoid of any playful tones. His blue eyes remained fixed on Carmilla. "But I repeat. I don't need a slave or a thug. I need a soul capable of solving arising issues, sane enough not to cause problems, and one that informs and trusts me." Zephyr's fingers tapped on the top of his cane, and his smile faded. "Otherwise, you can do as you please, just keep me informed."
"Too good to be true..." Carmilla thought, her heartbeat drowning out the rest of the hall. She sensed a catch. It could be in the details of her future work with Silence, his behavior, or his mood—after all, he might one day decide she was no longer needed...
Carmilla didn't know Zephyr's character, his habits, or his behavior. She simply couldn't predict what to expect from Silence in the coming year, let alone a decade or a century...
"Please, don't take this as an offer to hand over your soul," Zephyr waved his hand, smiling under Carmilla's piercing white gaze. "I won't give orders or demand reports... Hell, even if some Alastor shows up and offers to orchestrate my assassination..." Zephyr spoke slowly, a crooked grin on his face as he watched Carmilla tense up. "...You agree, as a smart Overlord, but then immediately send a message to your good friend Zephyr... You can even genuinely try to kill me, just make sure to warn me first."
Zephyr's quiet chuckle further frayed Carmilla's nerves as she continued to ponder his absurdly generous offer... Searching for a hidden meaning, a possible benefit for the Overlord, who, as if it were nothing, might somehow gain access to Earth or even the royal family of Hell...
After all, it seemed Zephyr simply needed someone on the outside... Exactly as he had said, otherwise Carmilla couldn't make sense of his actions... Not so much understand as accept that...
Carmilla exhaled, pushing unnecessary thoughts out of her mind, regaining her usual clarity and rationality in a matter of seconds. She would think about all this later, but for now...
"Your offer..." Carmilla began slowly, to which the dark line on Zephyr's white face widened slightly, and Silence nodded at her. "How can I trust you?" Carmilla took the risk, staring intently at Zephyr, who remained unfazed. He still had that annoyingly relaxed demeanor. Zephyr shrugged.
"Oh, just take my word for it," Zephyr tilted his head, smiling, his eyes watching her through the barely visible slits. "But we both know it's easier for a Sinner to escape to Earth than to trust a simple act of goodwill..." Zephyr nodded, looking at Carmilla with a more serious gaze than his body language suggested. "So... I'll trust you. I'll allow you to use my services, trusting your soul and mind, should you accept my offer... Discounts on services and personal assistance as a gift!" Zephyr smiled softly at the end, slightly spreading his hands.
Carmilla... truly considered the seriousness of Zephyr's offer. He... really could afford to be someone who could trust others, even someone like her, a wretched and lost soul...
"...This could work... At worst, I'll just need to develop the right kind of holy weapon, which should be enough for an Overlord..." Carmilla closed her eyes, nodding slightly to her thoughts, looking at Zephyr, who was still smiling at her.
Carmilla forced a small smile, finally making her decision...
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