Ch. 125: Miss Sin’s Wager
I sat at a small round table, gazing at an array of drinks that she had called beer. But one look at the eyeballs bobbing up and down in each bottle, and I knew for a fact this wasn’t the kind of brew you’d find at an everyday retail shop. The stench alone was enough to turn even the strongest stomach.
Arman sat across from me, his lips twisted in a deep frown as he glared at the situation in front of him. He looked really dissatisfied by her— Me? I was busy preparing my taste buds for what I assumed would be the worst decision of my life.
The old hag, who was a sorceress and a serpentine didn’t bother with a seat like we did. Instead, she perched on a high throne, towering over us like a queen surveying her subjects. Her tail— the damn thing— it stretched on forever, curling and slithering, always moving as if it had a life of its own. It unsettled me, the way her presence seemed to fill the room with a strange tension, a creeping feeling that there was more to her than met the eye. The air around her was thick, murky, heavy with something I couldn’t quite name— danger, maybe. Uncertainty for sure.
I grabbed the cup in front of me, the one filled with what had been poured from one of the suspicious bottles, and sipped carefully. To my surprise, it was sweet, intoxicating even, slipping down my throat like honeyed wine.
“Mmm,” I let out a soft sound before I could stop myself. She noticed, of course. She noticed everything.
Her tongue darted out, wetting her cracked lips as her eyes sparkled with amusement. “I’m glad you love that brand,” she purred. “It’s very hard to come by.”
A little too late, I felt the regret creeping in. Still, I asked, knowing full well I probably shouldn’t have. “And why’s that?”
Her smile twisted, taking on a sinister edge that made my skin crawl. “Because it’s made from Minotaur sperm and a few other… special liquids.”
I choked, nearly spitting the liquid back into the cup as I gagged on the spot. Arman, who had been reaching for his own cup, froze in place, setting it back down with deliberate slowness, his eyes flicking to me with something that might’ve been pity.
“You… you could’ve warned me!” I spluttered, reaching for the pitcher of water on the table and pouring it down my throat, trying to wash the taste out. “You bitch.”
For a moment, her eyes flashed with anger, something sharp and dangerous. But then she leaned back, still smiling like a snake that had cornered its prey. “Please, call me Sin,” she said smoothly. “Miss Sin.”
I nearly choked on the water. “That’s an… interesting name. It really says a lot.”
She laughed, a low, throaty sound that grated against my nerves. “Does it now?”
I didn’t bother answering. I needed to shift the conversation, fast. “So… back to business. How much will it cost to send us to the black market?”
Sin’s eyes gleamed as she hummed to herself, clearly enjoying the tension in the room. She tilted her head to the side, as if calculating something in her mind. “Death’s Gaper, you say? Hmm… let me see. Normally, I’d consider giving a discount to fresh faces, new customers and all. But today…” She paused, drawing out the words like a slow poison. “Today, I’m not feeling particularly generous.”
She was stalling, toying with us like a cat batting at a mouse. Arman’s patience was wearing thin, and his voice came out sharper than usual. “You know what’s at stake here.”
Sin’s smile dropped, her expression turning cold, deadly. “No,” she said softly, her voice slicing through the air like a blade. “I don’t. You are the one with something to lose, not me. I’m the one who stands to gain.”
Her words carried a weight that made the air grow still. For a moment, it felt as though the entire world had been swallowed by silence, her eyes locking onto us with the intensity of a predator. The atmosphere shifted, thickened, and I could feel something dark stirring beneath the surface, a cyclone of malice and blood that sent a shiver down my spine.
I shifted in my seat, trying to keep my voice steady as I asked, “And what exactly is it that you want to gain?”
Sin leaned forward, her eyes glittering with something unreadable. “Money is easy,” she said, waving a hand dismissively. “No, what I want is something more valuable than that. Something that will cost you everything.”
Arman tensed beside me, but I kept my gaze locked on Sin. “What would that be?”
Her smile widened, revealing sharp, pointed teeth. “A favor,” she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “You two will owe me… a favor. And not just any favor— something binding. Something that will ensure you won’t be able to weasel out of it. A blood vow.”
Arman’s reaction was immediate, his voice rising in protest. “A blood vow? Are you out of your mind?”
I felt the tension in the room rise another notch as Sin’s gaze slid back to me, watching for my reaction. “A blood vow,” she repeated, her tone casual, but the underlying threat was clear. “It’s a sacred ritual that binds us together. None of you will break it, and if you do…” Her smile turned cruel. “Well, you’ll die. Horribly. But not right away. There will be… squealing. And moaning. It’ll be quite fun to watch.”
My stomach churned at the thought. This wasn’t a deal anymore; it was a trap. A dangerous one. I could feel the walls closing in, the weight of the decision hanging over us. On one hand, I could refuse her offer and risk losing any chance of completing our mission. On the other hand, agreeing meant binding myself to her whims— something that could very well lead to our demise.
Arman spoke first, his voice low and controlled. “I will agree to the blood vow, as long as you stay away from my people.”
I could see the conflict in his eyes, the way he weighed the risks against the need to move forward. But I had already made up my mind.
“No,” I said, standing up. “I won’t be handing over anything to you. Whatever game you’re playing, it ends here. We’re leaving.”
Arman stayed silent, knowing I was right. Sin, however, was not pleased. Her eyes darkened, and her tails coiled tighter around her throne, hissing softly as they moved. “No one comes into my domain and leaves without patronizing me,” she hissed.
“Then maybe you should lower your prices,” I shot back, my tone flat.
For a moment, it seemed like we were teetering on the edge of a fight. Her tails slithered faster, curling and uncurling, ready to strike. My hand twitched toward my weapon which was the black book hidden away in my jacket, but before I could make a move, Sin’s expression changed. She relaxed, laughing softly to herself.
“You’ve got guts, just my type,” she said, shaking her head. “I like that. Fine. I’ll help you. But you’ll owe me an obscene amount of money.”
Her laughter echoed through the room as she leaned back in her throne, her eyes never leaving mine. She might have dropped the act, but I knew one thing for sure—this wasn’t over. Whatever game she was playing, we were still caught in the middle of it.
For now, though, the storm had passed. But how long until it came back with full force?
If I revive a magic castle I will mass release 10 chapters
