Chapter 35: Despair

Hiyori was back in the office of Everlong, sitting on the couch, reading a thick, old book, going through the steps, once again, of how to exorcize a demon. The pages were filled with recollections, coming directly from Everlong, detailing his methods of dealing with them in artifacts or inside humans, how to lull them into a false sense of security or how to go about obtaining their true names. After dealing with Ezrothel, he brought her to four others, all similar shops and grotesque, malformed cherubs as he systematically banished them back into Hell just the same. None of them knew what hit them, all thinking he was here to shop and they only realized their own impending doom when it was too late. Now, Everlong was sitting at his table, writing up reports on his typewriter, ready to compile it and be sent to the local government. It was paramount to make a detailed, full report about the demons, violating the Rules of Asylum and why they have been banished. Both the Imperium and the Sigil Bearers looked at the Asylum seekers as precious resources, direct access to the ‘other’ realm.

 

“I did not know it came with this much paperwork!” closed the book Hiyori, turning towards him, laying forward on the couch, feeling really comfortable back in his office. She was playfully paddling with her bare feet, wearing her new skirt and her now a bit more loose, white blouse, its sleeves tucked further up, right until her elbows. 

 

“I told you, your country loves bureaucracy!” stretched, cracking his fingers. 

 

Hiyori was about to say something when a loud shout, echoing the detective’s name, came from the outside, followed by steps rushing into the building and up the stairs.

 

“EVERLONG!” roared Troduc, slamming the door open.

 

He wore only a faded, olive colored coat, gasping for air, his greenish hair now flowing loosely, disheveled and his eyes were blazing in the yellow fire of desperation and pain. Even more… he was clearly crying! Hiyori just looked on, blinking, her pupils growing wide as she did not expect to see something like this at all. A demon… bawling his eyes out? What the…?!

 

“Hm?” looked up Everlong from behind his typewriter, looking more annoyed than afraid “What? It’s close to midnight, stop shouting, you are going to lend me in the mess of a noise complaint!” 

 

Hiyori could not help herself from chuckling as the office was at the shoreline, way off from any significant neighbors, not to mention the residential part of the town.

 

“Why did you do it?! Are you insane?!” cried out with a voice, soaked in pain, ignoring his remark and tone. 

 

“What are you talking about?” smiled Everlong, resting his chin on the top of his crossed fingers, watching the thin, sulfur smelling demon quaking before him.

 

“My shops! My merchandise! My babies!” grabbed onto his own hair, pulling on it, tearing out chunks, right from his own scalp.

 

“Oh? You mean your cherubs? I sent them back where they belong for betraying the official agreement. I’m just finishing the report so the officials can document it down properly and archive it! If you want, you can file a report at one of the Agency’s outposts, at the local governmental building, but you need to file it for the correct section! Don’t forget, few of the humans are aware of us! Oh, and yes, you can try and bring a Sigillite here if you have connections! If you can get them a permit they can be resummoned to the human plane of existence! Of course the reestablishment of Asylum is going to cost more and is going to have stricter rules after what just happened!” explained patiently sounding like a pre-written email from the City Hall.

 

“Who cares about them?! I’m talking about the shops!” screamed, surprising Hiyori as her eyes just turned into small slits, smiling sarcastically, tilting her head, unable to hold back her thoughts from coming to the surface.

 

“A demon alright!”

 

“Oh, the shops?” leaned back in his chair Everlong “Well, no permit, no businesses on official grounds! I burnt them all!” clapped with a playful smile. “Contraband is contraband! If I am unable to securely hold onto it then I am permitted to simply destroy it! There were soooo many stuff in those illegal shops… I had no other choice!” smiled at him with a sincere, apologetic look.

 

“You want to bankrupt me?! Damn you! Fuck! FUUUUUCK! Do you know the damage you caused me?!”

 

“Nope.” shook his head “And I don’t care.”

 

“I should sell you out to all of those who want your head!” stomped in place, just like a kid, huffing and puffing, filling the room with the smell of ammonia, prompting Hiyori to walk to the window, opening it and letting in the cold, chilling air. As it hit her skin it was like drawing a sharp knife across it but it was still better than smelling the air, coming from Troduc. 

 

“As if it is a secret I operate here!” scoffed Everlong “You didn't learn anything through the years?” shook his head, standing up and opening his cabinet, getting a bottle of brandy out, pouring to himself while Hiyori watched on with a smile, leaning against the table of his, trying to mimic Everlong’s confidence and style. His question made Troduc flinch, calming him down quickly. The cold wind blowing past him helped to cool his head even more, a rare occasion when he welcomed something that felt cold. As the pain that gripped his heart, after learning five shops of his were completely destroyed, was eased a little, his rationality finally had a chance to return. 

 

“And you think after this I am going to help you?” pulled the coat Troduc tighter on himself, battling the chill he so heavily detested. The welcoming of its touch from before was already gone and it was getting irritating instead. Troduc hated everything that was associated with it. He tried straightening out his posture, looking confident, keeping an ironclad expression up but the air that helped him recover now started to get in the way.

 

“You better be!” put down his glass Everlong, sitting back into his chair “Or I’ll take my partner here straight to your warehouse!”

 

“...!” flinched visibly, feeling fear, watching his blue eyes, knowing he was not lying. That place should be a secret! Not even any of the major forces knew where he operated from. Could he know about it? No… that should not be the case. This has to be a bluff! Or… what if it was not?

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“So… as I said…” pulled out a drawer Everlong, placing a letter at the other end of his table “I need something. I am still willing to conduct a business, fair and square.” explained, not even looking at Troduc, lighting up a cigarette between his lips “You should be happy! I could have simply gone and robbed you!

 

“...” hesitated Troduc, watching him first, then the envelope, then Hiyori before releasing a defeated sigh, walking closer, picking the folded paper up. But before reading it, he looked at Everlong again as he blew the smoke out from his nostrils. “Are you even sure I have what you need?”

 

“Read it.” nodded towards his hand.

 

Hiyori was extremely curious as to what her boss wanted for himself, that he was willing to cause this much trouble for. Could it be some ancient artifact? Related to some legendary figure? Maybe the spearhead Jesus was stabbed with? A strand from Muhammad’s beard? The Buddha’s tooth? But she held back from asking. At least for now. Troduc on the other hand, as soon as he read the few words, burnt the letter into ash.

 

“Don’t have it!” 

 

“Lies.” leaned forward Everlong with a cold look and his smile was gone. “Name your price, demon.”

 

“...” Troduc fell silent, even his trembling was gone as he looked on, maintaining eye contact with Everlong. Hiyori slowly took small steps backwards, walking behind her new boss, her partner, feeling the heavy air descending down on the room itself. It felt like getting big, cement filled bags put on her back, trying to crush her alive. She was quickly reminded that the other party is a pure demon, originating from Hell. A being that probably easily could tear her apart with its bare hands.

 

“I’m waiting.” spoke up Everlong, not even blinking and his steely, blue eyes were as deep as the ocean. Even Troduc felt like the waves were crashing against his own psyche, getting swallowed whole by Everlong’s gaze. His presence, even sitting behind his huge desk, reminded Troduc of some unpleasant memories, getting chilled by a blue flame that could freeze even Hell itself if it wanted to do so. 

 

“You treacherous bastard…” blinked the demon in the end, whispering under his nose.

 

“The pot calling the kettle black.” smirked Everlong, hearing him clearly.

 

“Money won’t cut it. I need something of equal value!” shook his head Troduc, his voice bland and monotone.

 

“I have a quill.” said Everlong and even as his voice was soft, Troduc flinched. “Yes. That quill.” nodded as affirmation, seeing the understanding in the demon’s eyes. Still, he was hesitating, thinking for a minute straight but Everlong just let him, already sure of the outcome. 

 

“It is not… an equal trade.” spoke the demon but his voice was not exactly as firm as he thought it to be.

 

“Not for others but it is for you.” countered Everlong, not letting him overthink it. “Yes or no? Decide as I don’t have all the time in the universe!”

 

“If I refuse, you would rob me of it anyway!” shook his head Troduc in the end.

 

“You Goddamn right I would!”

 

“I need a few weeks to prepare and deliver it here.”

 

“Sure. But remember!” said, raising his voice as Troduc was about to leave “Fuck me over and I’ll not kill you. I won’t even send you back to Mammon! But I am going to raid every fucking shipment you have, torch your warehouse! I am going to sabotage and ruin all of your dealings! I am going to come down on your businesses like God’s wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah! Are we clear?” 

 

“We are.” answered, not turning back, simply leaving the duo there.

 

When Hiyori finally closed the window, holding her arms, rubbing them for warmth, watching her breath lingering in the air before her face. It was unnaturally cold in the room, seeing thin, icy layers formed on Everlong’s desk and on the floor, hearing it cracking under her own feet as she walked forward. She had many questions swirling inside of her head that she wanted to ask him about. Yet looking at the side face of Everlong she felt it was best to just remain silent for now. She knew, there were times when words and thoughts had to be swallowed back, when what mattered was one thing; the quiet.

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