Chapter Five: The Kindness of Strangers

While Belos wasn't quite able to read to the extent of most witches, Mary's journals did offer a number of diagrams that, to some degree, looked familiar. Artists' renderings of what revenants may look like (only a few looked remotely close to the real thing), possible origins of their existence, even a picture of the Titan's head as seen from the chest. This one resonated with him particularly, inspiring in him a longing to venture there one day.

After the fire, he had made it to the park with little issue. Beneath one of the trees was a hollow den, left behind by an animal many seasons ago. He was just able to squeeze through the entrance by pushing some of the roots aside, hunkering down here for the rest of the day. A few people walked through the park that day, none of them suspecting that a revenant lay just beneath their feet, even those that walked directly above him. It beat nesting in the sewers, of that he was certain.

Although the journal held Belos' attention most of the time, he also felt a certain comfort at listening to people talk as they passed by overhead. While very rarely did their conversations contain something he recognized, hearing their idle chatter was somehow soothing. He often found himself nursing one of the many bile pouches Mary had left behind, or drifting off to sleep listening to the chatter.

And during the nights or days when he felt particularly restless, he would venture out to explore more of Bonesborough. With Vesh hunting for him, he couldn't risk going out as he was, even at night. Whenever he wanted to leave, he would don the disguise Mary gave him. Nobody gave him more than a second glance, though for some reason he was often referred to as 'Ma'am,' a quirk of the outfit he didn't quite understand. Nevertheless, it did its job, allowing him to venture through the town at his leisure.

Intuition told him to avoid the bazaar, as well as steer clear of the red and white guards that often patrolled the streets. He doubted they would recognize him, but if one of them got suspicious and approached him, he feared his cover would be blown, and he would be back to square one. While his expeditions into the unknown streets did little to clue him in to his true identity, it did offer an opportunity he thought he would never see again.

The streets were crowded that day, so Belos kept to the back alleys and side paths. Back there, he rarely ran into anyone who gave him an odd look for his appearance or demeanor. For that matter, everyone in the city's slums were often far odder than him in both categories. It was here that he first met him.

There was little commotion in front of the shops like there would have been at the bazaar. Comparatively, the slums were downright peaceful: some witches even sang songs from a balcony above. Belos stood below, eyes closed as he let the melody flow through him. He couldn't quite make out the words, but the acoustic guitar filled him with a familiar joy he couldn't explain.

This joy was, unfortunately, interrupted by a ruckus in the distance. A scuffle seemed to be happening; he opened his eyes and craned his neck to see what was going on. Under the song, he could just make out somebody shouting: "...please, I don't have anyone else to turn to! Please, you must help me, please!" Whoever it was, the populace didn't seem to appreciate their desperation, as nobody was responding.

Nobody was responding, that is, aside from the occasional shout of "Get outta here, you nasty thing!" or something similar. The figure responsible for the pleading was soon thrust–or rather, shoved–into view. He looked as pitiful as he sounded, a tiny red imp no taller than Belos' waist. He was dressed in rags that were pulled up to cover his mouth, and his hair seemed to resemble a clawed hand grasping his scalp. The demon got to his feet, continuing to ask for help from anyone nearby. Still, he was ignored.

Seeing this display made Belos feel a twinge of pity for the tiny demon. Still, when he made his way over, his response was the same as all the others. "Miss, please, you must help me! Nobody else will, please, have a heart!"

"Not my place," Belos muttered, trying to nudge away from the demon without outright shoving him. "Can't help." And in a way, he was right. He felt that given his own status as a fugitive, there was little he could do to aid in this fellow's plight.

Yet the demon still persisted. "I beg you, at the very least could you hear my woes before you cast me aside like this? I've asked all over town–you may be my last hope."

Beyond the demon's pleading eyes, this situation brought something else to Belos' mind. He thought of Mary, and how she had sheltered him at great risk to herself, and with nothing to gain. Even to the end, she had protected him, giving her life for his. When she had named him Belos, he promised her that he would be great, just like his namesake. And so he knelt down to speak to this demon face to face. "Tell me."

Although he still appeared distressed, the demon gave a relieved sigh. "Oh, thank you, thank you, Miss, a thousand thank yous! After I escaped I ran as far as I could, asked whoever I could for help, and you are the only one to look at me like I'm not a vile pest! Y-you see, he…" He looked like he was going to burst into tears at any moment. "He has my Kiki!"

"Your what?" Belos cocked his head to the side.

"My wife, Kikimora," he continued sadly. "We were taken together, the two of us. Like so many others, we were taken in the night. He locked us in cages, threatening to sell us, or worse."

"Who?" asked Belos. By now, they were getting strange looks from the populace, as though his helping this man was itself frowned upon. He urged the demon into a nearby alleyway where they could speak in peace.

"I-I'm not sure. Some sort of monster. He's just one of many, who kidnap whoever they can get their hands on. Slavers, organ harvesters…cannibals. I managed to slip out while he was away one night, but I couldn't take her with me! If there is anything you can do, anyone who may be able to help get her back, I will repay you and then some in any way I can!"

Belos asked a single question. "Is he alone?"

"Er, yes, but he is formidable."

Good. So was he. "Then I will kill him, and return your Kikimora." Belos stood up to his full height. "Take me there."

The demon was beaming up at his savior. "I will lead you, follow me!" He eagerly scampered away, almost too fast for Belos to follow. He doubled back, still happily pattering down the roads. "Might I ask the name of the one who will reunite me with my beloved?"

"I am Belos." The revenant had never uttered these words before. The moment they left his lips, they inspired in him a feeling of pride that felt somehow familiar, though the recognition was distant. Just by saying them, he felt as though he had grown three feet taller.

"Belos…" the demon repeated in reverence. "My name is Domovoi. A-and I promise you, I will reward you greatly for your help! We may not have much, but whatever we can give you, it's yours if you only say the word!"

"Good." And although the prospect of a reward was enticing, somehow the prospect of glory and recognition felt even more so. He knew that, hunted as he was, he would never achieve any sort of great status. But still, the way Domovoi looked up at him–he would do his best to fulfill his promise to Mary.

In theory, Alvin's job was easy. Vesh had tasked him with finding "where the revenant would strike next," as he had put it. This meant cross-referencing all the sightings across the city so far with the information in the books he had read. The reason that this was easy only in theory was because nothing seemed to add up.

According to the books, revenants were living weapons, created by the Titans. If this was true, then this one was likely left over from that age, somehow only now surfacing. He shuddered at the thought that his voyage may have been responsible for awakening it, but quickly put the thought out of his mind. No, there had to be another reason. But even if there was, the revenant wasn't acting like a living weapon. There didn't seem to be any cohesion in its sightings, and aside from that woman, it hadn't killed anybody. It was acting more like a wild animal than anything.

He studied the map of Bonesborough before him, the locations of each major sighting marked. "But that couldn't be the case, could it?" he said to nobody. This creature was far too intelligent and crafty to simply be an animal. Perhaps it was operating on specific orders, casing the area before making its move. Or maybe it had a specific target in mind that it was hunting down. Regardless, his job was to find it, and he endeavored to do just that. Partly to prevent anyone else from being hurt, but also because he felt partly responsible for its rampage, it having been his ship the beast rode here on.

He was trying to find some order to the attacks when the door to his study was opened. He knew immediately who it was from the chipper voice that greeted him: "Alvin, old buddy, old friend, old pal! Good to see you working hard!" Vesh had barged in unannounced, but he wasn't alone: he held a strange woman by the shoulder, who looked very much like she didn't want to be there. Alvin couldn't really blame her.

"What do you want, Vesh?" He tried not to sound too bitter when he asked, but he doubted Vesh would care either way. By now, it couldn't be a secret that he wasn't too fond of the hunter.

Vesh pulled the woman with him as he went to greet his "friend." Her features were very sharp, and her long black hair was tied behind her head. "Just came in to check up on my new favorite partner!" he said, snapping Alvin's attention back to him. "So, how's your progress going so far?"

Alvin looked at the woman, then back at Vesh. "Not…not great, exactly, but I have made a little progress. First, it doesn't seem nearly as aggressive as we've been led to believe. It hasn't attacked anyone except for Mary Pembrooke, and Titan knows why it did. Maybe she provoked it somehow, for all we know. If I can narrow down what it actually wants, I may be able to–"

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get there eventually!" Vesh butted in. "Oh, and speaking of, I brought you a new helper!" He pulled the woman closer, who glared at him. "Thought you might be getting a bit lonely in here, too. She can help with both!"

Once again, Alvin's eyes darted from him to the woman, back, and forth. "I was just about to ask about her. And…who is she, exactly?"

"Nobody too important," said Vesh. "Just a thief we found trying to break into our armory. Didn't really feel right to let her join the hunt after that, so I brought her here. You don't mind, do you?"

He did mind, especially now that this had been brought up. "Hold on, you said this woman tried to steal from you? And now you made her work for you? And you have an armory all to yourselves?"

Vesh laughed at his confusion. "Easy there, little buddy, one question at a time! Actually, that's how I get most of my new recruits: they cross me in some way, and I make 'em pay me back with service. Right now, she may be a captive, but in a few years' time, she might just be a top ranked hunter! And hey, working for me is a lot better than the alternative." Still smiling, he dragged a finger across his neck. "Anyway, see you two later! Don't have too much fun without me!" With a wave, he was out the door before either of them could blink.

Alvin watched the woman carefully, who was staring intently at the door. "So…um…hello," he said cautiously. The woman didn't look dangerous, but seeing that she was trying to break into an armory, he couldn't be sure what she wanted or was capable of. "H-how do you do?"

"Fine, thanks," she said, eyes still fixed on the door. Once a few moments had passed after Vesh left, she made her way over, attempting to open it–perhaps unsurprisingly, it was locked. "Figures," she muttered. A few spells proved that he had magically sealed it as well. Instead, she went over to the only other exit in the room, that being the window.

"A-are you sure you want to do that?" said Alvin. "We are on the twelfth floor, after all."

"Oh, I'm sure," said the woman, trying to pry open the likewise-locked window. "I'm sure what you're doing here is very important, but if it's all the same to you, I'd like to get back to my mission." When force proved futile, she fired a spell at the glass. All this accomplished was it bouncing off the glass, and flying around the room like a rogue rubber ball. Alvin cried out in surprise and ducked underneath his desk, while she crouched down and waited for the projectile to fizzle out.

Eventually, it did. Alvin cautiously peered out from his hiding place to make sure the coast was clear. The woman was staring at the window angrily; she punched it, but this didn't work either. She turned around, shaking her hand.

"Sorry about that," she said, looking down. "Welp, guess I really am stuck here." She sat down in a chair on the other side of the room. "And I guess now you are, too."

Alvin shook his head. "Oh, I don't mind at all. To be honest, I felt like a prisoner in here long before you arrived. If anything, I should be apologizing on behalf of my associate. Ever since that revenant showed up, Talus has been desperate to contain it, even if it means hiring a brute like Vesh."

The woman scooted closer. "So, you're tracking down that revenant, huh? Can't say I've seen it myself, but it's not a pleasant sight from what I've heard. Seven feet tall, with teeth like steak knives. You gotta be pretty brave to go looking for something like that!"

"Oh, no, I'm not brave at all," Alvin said. "I just do the book work while others do all the fighting and climbing and trekking. If I do manage to find a pattern, Vesh and the Wild Hunt will be the ones to confront it. Those stories you've heard may have been exaggerated over time, but trust me, the real thing is just as scary!"

She gave him a funny look. "So you've seen it before, huh? Lived to tell the tale and all. What was it like?"

He shivered. "Yes, and it's not an experience I plan on repeating anytime soon. B-but enough about me; you're the one here against your will, I shouldn't be boring you with my story."

"Well, aren't you a gentleman," she said, smiling. "Alright, I suppose there's no harm in telling you. My name's Patience, Patience Van Gheist. Like your friend over there said, I'm a thief by trade. And the reason I was breaking into his armory was to get his weapons: see, my mission I mentioned earlier? I'm setting out to assassinate Lord Baltheus."

A long, loud silence followed this statement. Even when he broke it, Alvin couldn't think of anything to say. "Um…well. Th-that certainly is, erm, something. An assasination of any caliber, let alone one this lofty." Lord Baltheus essentially owned this entire section of the Boiling Isles, consisting of almost the entire waist. Alvin didn't follow politics much, but he knew that most people who had plans like this didn't say them out loud, even if they were feasible.

She chuckled, he sensed to break the tension. "It sure is something, isn't it? Look, you aren't gonna say anything to your boss, are you? He's got enough security as is, I could do without him doubling it on my account."

"Um…well, I'm sure you have a very good reason for that," Alvin said, not wanting to encourage her. "Frankly, what you get up to is none of my business. Although I object on principle, I won't try to stop you." Trying to get back to his work, there was still a nagging question he couldn't ignore. "...Though if you don't mind me asking, why do you want to kill him so badly?"

Patience gave him an odd look. "How long have you been locked up here? Because he's been bleeding us dry! He's up there all day in his castle, enjoying all the luxuries he can squeeze out of us 'lower' witches while purposefully avoiding helping us in any way he can! Everything he has, he's taken from Bonesborough and the other cities he parasitizes!" She sat down after her rant, having calmed down a bit. "Maybe jumping straight to assassination is a bit extreme…but I can't sit around while people die under his rule!"

Alvin was aware of how dire her situation sounded, but something she said made him grin. "So you're saying Patience is impatient?"

She gave him another look, then laughed once his meaning hit her. "Alright, that was kinda cute. But it's not the first time someone's told me to live up to my name, at least not in so many words." She scooted her chair closer, examining the map of the town. "It was just a pipe dream anyway. Even if Vesh hadn't caught me, someone else would have sooner or later. At least here I can be useful, not like in some jail somewhere…"

While Alvin wasn't the best in social situations like this, even he could tell Patience was upset. "You know…you may not be able to stop Baltheus, but this revenant is a problem, too. If we can catch it, it means that many people are going to be out of danger. If you want to help, that is, I know Vesh threw you in here on a whim, I doubt you'd really be motivated to–"

"Yeah, sure, I'll help," she said, much to his surprise.

He blinked. "Y-you will? Are you sure? If it's just because of Vesh, you don't have to be intimidated by him…not like I am."

But she was sure. "Yeah, I might as well, why not? Besides, catching that thing would save a few lives, like you said. Probably doin' more good in here than out there, anyway."

"Oh, um, excellent!" Very rarely did Alvin get the opportunity to collaborate on his projects with anyone, so he was just excited to have a partner. "I've already compiled the creature's recent sightings, all that's left is to find some sort of motive."

The pair pored over his findings in silence for a moment. "Hey, you know what? All this time, and I never asked your name," said Patience. "You do have one, right?"

"That I do," he said. "Alvin Grizzwold, sub-senior researcher of the A&S Guild. But that last part you probably guessed already."

Patience held out her hand. "Well, it's very nice to meet you, Alvin! I look forward to cracking this case with you!"

He took her hand, hesitantly at first, but once his met hers they eagerly shook. "As do I," he said. "I…I'm glad I'm not doing this alone."

The pair had long since left Bonesborough, their path having taken them through a canyonous desert further up the Titan's stomach. Even after walking for almost half a day, Domovoi still eagerly bounded along as he led Belos to where his beloved was being held captive. He seemed determined to reach the place before nightfall, something he made clear to his savior.

"He hunts at night, you see," Domovoi had explained. "We must strike while he is away, or this will all be for nothing! You seem determined you can beat him, but that is a risk I would rather not take…"

Although Belos had no idea who this person was or what he was capable of, not for lack of inquiring, but someone who kidnapped defenseless demons in the dead of night was no doubt a coward. And cowards, with very few exceptions, were not formidable. "Does he sleep in the day? I can kill him while he sleeps."

Domovoi was adamant that this wouldn't work. "He keeps many prisoners, who make too much noise. They will wake him if someone new goes inside. Even though you are here to save them, they will still wake him." While not exactly tired yet, Domovoi seemed less emotional than he had back in town. Neither sad nor glad, simply determined to arrive at their destination.

"How is he formidable?" Belos asked, phrasing the same question in a different way for what seemed to be the hundredth time. "Tell me of his power. What can I do to overcome him?"

Again, Domovoi was quite vague in his description. "He wields a very powerful magic. One that can make you forget yourself, and become one of his thralls. Those he cannot capture, he turns into these minions, forever bound to his will. This is why we must go in at night, so we do not succumb to this as well."

A low growl of frustration escaped Belos' throat. How did Domovoi expect him to help if he couldn't be prepared if he had to fight? The demon was insistent that his captor wouldn't be home after dark, but Belos suspected that things wouldn't be so simple.

By the time the sun began to set, the pair had arrived at the side of a large mountain. "There!" Domovoi stopped Belos in his tracks, pointing out a door built into the mountain's base. The rusted metal made it look long abandoned, enough to not earn a second glance otherwise. "This is his lair. That door is the only way in or out, I'm sure of it."

For now, the entryway was silent. Belos wasn't sure what he should have expected–more guards, for one. But, Domovoi did say this person worked alone. Claiming a secluded area overlooking the door, he began to remove his disguise. He'd need to be prepared to fight if it came to it, which he was certain it would.

"W-what are you doing?" Domovoi seemed more confused than afraid, considering he could now see Belos' real appearance. "We must wait until night! He cannot be beaten, it is better to–"

"Better to leave her alone!?" snapped Belos. He loomed over Domovoi, who strangely didn't seem that fearful of him. "Is your beloved really so important? I can kill him! Why are you still so afraid!?"

The demon seemed to struggle to find an answer. "I…but…I know. You came all this way just to help someone you barely know, for which I am forever grateful. And I believe you can kill him, should the need arise. But trust me when I say you would rather not fight him. He can turn the ones you love against you. I…I am not as strong as you are. I cannot fight, which is how we were captured. If I could fight, even a little bit, I would risk everything to rescue her, but…" He trailed off, looking once again like he was moments away from crying.

Eyes still on the demon, Belos crouched down beside him. "Your beloved…tell me about her. About you both." Domovoi had a point–Belos had come all this way for the sake of a stranger. Although it seemed they were both sure he could defeat the mysterious kidnapper, Domovoi was adamant he didn't. And after all, he did have more experience with him. Rather than try and force answers out of him, Belos decided it would be better to let him talk on his own terms.

A glow coming from his saddened eyes, Domovoi stared off across the horizon. "Where do I even begin? Kiki was…she meant everything to me. Means everything. We are all each other has. It has been just her and I for so long. We own a small farm together, you see, quite isolated. It made us easy prey for…for him…" He trailed off, looking distressed. "I t-think we should get some rest now, while we can. We'll want to be well-rested when we go inside."

His story finished just as soon as it started, Domovoi crawled into a bush and huddled up. While Belos didn't blame him for being tired, the suddenness of this shift was unusual. Reasoning he likely wouldn't get anything else out of the demon, he decided to keep watch. Perching on the end of the overlook, he stared down at the rusted door. The moment the kidnapper left for the night, he would be on him.

After a while, Domovoi noticed Belos' vigilance. "You are not asleep yet?" he said, sitting up in his bush. "You should rest. There is no telling what we will encounter in there."

"Keeping watch," Belos said gruffly. "Besides, both of us asleep means we may be ambushed. Better this way." Domovoi looked at him oddly for a moment, then reluctantly went back to sleep. Belos regarded him; some of his advice was beginning to seem really strange. Putting the thought out of his mind, the revenant resumed his watch.

As the two of them walked through the bazaar, Patience rubbed her sore arm, which now bore a newly applied sigil courtesy of Vesh. "You don't think there's something here we could buy to remove this thing, do you?" she asked. "Or, something we could 'buy?'"

"Sorry about that," Alvin said awkwardly. "This was the only way Vesh would let you come with me. He needs to know where you are at all times, otherwise–"

"I know what it's for, which is all the more reason to want it gone," she replied. "I thought the whole reason you brought me here was to help me get out of there."

Alvin wrung his hands nervously. "A-and technically, you are out, aren't you?" She shot him a look. "I know it's not ideal, but better to have some fresh air than to be cooped up in there all day, right?"

She rolled her eyes. "Also better not to have to go back there, but whatever, I suppose that's not an option right now. Is there anything in particular we're looking for?"

"Anything that can help us," responded Alvin, flipping through a folder of documents. "The guards have likely been through here already, so they probably picked up on any physical evidence left behind. Still, this is the site of the first revenant sighting in the city, so this is as good a place to start as any."

Where exactly they were supposed to start, Patience had no clue. Any evidence the guards hadn't taken with them had probably been stepped into the dirt by this point. And asking anyone about the sighting would be similarly pointless, seeing as there was no way the same people shopping here on that day were the same people here today. However, there were some people who would have been here both times… "Where exactly was this thing spotted?"

Her partner was already on it: Alvin had marked on a map the exact spot on the exact street, in front of the exact stall where the revenant first appeared. He was making his way over that way as they spoke. "Right here," he said, showing her the spot. "His footprints probably aren't still there, but if we can determine the angle of his escape, we may be able to–" Patience went on ahead.

"Let me take care of this," she said. Their path took them directly in front of one of the stalls, a demon selling bile sacs. He was busy restocking his wares, so he didn't see them approaching. "Hey there, old buddy!" He turned around, and was rather irritated to see who was calling to him.

"Ah, you again!" he grumbled. He quickly reached for something beneath his stall, pulling out a magic wand that sparked at the tip. "Don't make me use this thing, lady! You've already taken plenty of my sacs!"

Patience didn't seem bothered by this in the least. "Hey, easy, easy, no need for the hostility. Is that any way to treat a potential customer?"

The vendor waved the stunning wand, causing both Patience and Alvin to back off. "'Customer!?' You haven't paid for a single thing in your life, I'd wager! And I don't wager on a whole lotta things. Not 'cause I'm not a betting man, mind you, it's 'cause I can't afford it. 'Cause some people don't pay what they owe me!"

"Do you…know each other?" asked Alvin, looking between the two.

"Well, not by name, no," said Patience, "but I am a frequent patron of this stall. I've sampled his wares from time to time."

He guffawed. "Yeah, free samples! This bum ain't paid for a single bile sac in all the times I seen her! And now you're just gonna walk up here like we're old friends? I say get lost before I call the guards!"

Patience shrugged when Alvin cast a look her way. "What? They go for a good amount on the black market."

"They go for a good amount on the regular market!"

This man was their first and only lead. Things weren't off to the best start, and Alvin tried to calm them down before tensions boiled over. "Sir? I would like to deeply apologize for my…associate's previous conduct. Her actions in the past speak neither for myself, or for her current situation. Now, if it isn't too much trouble, we'd like to ask a few questions."

His eyes passed between the two. "This is about that revenant thingy, ain't it? What, are you like a reporter now? Eh, better workin' for the tabloids than bein' a common thief. But I already told alls I know to the guards, so if you want something more, you'll have to take it up with them." He went back to restocking his wares, pointedly avoiding looking at either of them.

"Oh, no, we're not reporters," Patience said quickly. "Especially not tabloid ones. Me and my partner are, uh…scientists! Yeah, we're doing research into all the weird stuff that's been happening in town lately. You're a man of science, aren't you?"

Glaring up at her, the man wiped his hands on his greasy apron. "Do I look like a man of science?" he muttered. "'Sides, anything I saw I already told to the guards, so I ain't got nothin' to say to the likes of you. Now beat it!"

Although Patience looked ready to do just that, Alvin opted for a different approach. "I-if it's not too much trouble, I don't suppose you'd rather be compensated for all the bile sacs that have been stolen from you? From my associate, at least. It would be the least we could do as a token of goodwill." Reasoning that Patience wasn't very well-off, given her choice of income, Alvin took out his wallet and placed numerous snails on the table. The vendor looked at them all, flabbergasted. "Is this enough?"

"It's, uh, more'n enough," he said, still staring at the pile of money. He scooped it up into a cloth bag before returning his focus to Alvin. "You sure you wanna pay for all that for her? You don't gotta do that."

"It's not problem, really," said Alvin. "Consider it a business expense. Now, please: if there's anything you can tell us about the revenant that might help us capture it, you would be helping prevent a lot of future injuries."

The man nodded, thinking. "Yeah, yeah, I s'pose I should. But there really isn't all that much to say, really. It came up here dressed like one o' the Whispering Order, and started scarfing down my sacs. His friend showed up to pay for 'em, but he attacked her for some reason, and the rest is history. But hey, she paid, so I ain't gonna complain."

"Hold on, he has a friend?" said Patience. "What sort of friend?"

He held up his hands. "I-I dunno, some lady in a mask. She was wearin' this white robe, and a mask with some big nose comin' out. She didn't seem to know 'im, but it looked like she knew what he was. And the weird thing about that was he didn't scare her one bit, even when his disguise came off."

A woman, disguised in a cloak and mask. Given the revenant's propensity for disguise, the thought that there was a second, female revenant in addition to this one crossed both of their minds. Alvin's doubly so, because he had encountered someone who matched this description just days before. "Eva…" he whispered.

Patience turned to him. "Hmm?"

Instantly, Alvin changed the subject. "Thank you so much for your help, sir. Your information brings us that much closer to apprehending this monster. If anything comes up, don't hesitate to bring it to the A&S Guild." Giving him a respectful handshake, Alvin then returned to his files (after wiping off his hand) and wandered off. Patience followed after him.

"Hey, did you really just give that guy all those snails?" she asked. "Because of me? You didn't need to, it's not like he's the only one I've stolen from…"

Alvin was still rifling through his files. "I did, if I wanted him to tell us what he saw." Because of all the commotion around, Alvin ducked into a nearby alleyway to focus better, Patience following him. "Besides, now we know that the revenant has a potential ally. If we find her, we could find him."

Patience wasn't so sure. "And you think she's gonna be any easier to find? Sure, she was dressed weird, but how do you know she hasn't changed it up by now? I would've! And what else do we know, that she paid for his snacks? I guess that could mean she's rich, but you paid for them no problem too."

Alvin scratched his head as he examined the layout of the scene. "What I don't understand is why he went for bile sacs. If he was hungry, there were vendors selling food all around, way more filling than those. Did you know most predators will actually leave the bile sac alone? It's far too chewy, and the bile is too acidic for most animals."

"Well, maybe he likes the way it tastes," Patience said with a shrug. "Or maybe he needs it to do magic. Isn't that what the books said, that revenants can do magic? Maybe he needs it like fuel."

While Patience had mostly just been spitballing, something she said reminded Alvin of something. "Wait a moment, wait a moment…" He rapidly flipped through the files until he came to one on the woman who had been killed, Mary Pembrooke. It gave her physical information, most of which related to her autopsy, but there was something that stood out: a medical condition. "That's what it was! That woman who died, she had BPDS!"

A brief silence from Patience. "...That sounds like something that should be private," she said.

"No, no, it means 'Bile Production Deficiency Syndrome,'" Alvin explained. "It's not exactly uncommon, but you don't see it in every witch. It means what it sounds like: as a witch gets older, their body becomes unable to produce its own bile, needing periodic transfers."

"So…she would've had this bile in her house?" Alvin nodded. "So the revenant must have found out about it, and raided her place for the bile!"

"Exactly!" exclaimed Alvin excitedly. "The revenant cannot produce its own bile, so it must ingest it from outside sources!" He looked down at the file. "And sure enough, Mary's bile sac was completely empty when it was found, and her bile storage was completely empty! Do you know what this means!?"

"We have a way to trap him!" Patience held up her hand for a high-five, and Alvin awkwardly obliged. "Never thought I'd say this, but…c'mon, let's go see Vesh!"

"Yes, that probably is the best idea," said Alvin. Although they had a plan, actually executing it required a bit more muscle than the two of them together possessed. The pair of them hurriedly returned to the Guild headquarters where their superior-slash-captor waited.

"Mister! Mister!" Domovoi hurried up to Belos, who had been watching the door for almost an hour. "He is gone! I saw him leave, just now! Hurry, now we must strike while he is away!"

"Impossible." Belos hadn't slept at all in this time; he'd barely even closed his eyes. "Did you not say this was the only exit? I would have seen him."

But the demon urged him on anyway. "I do not know, but I saw him anyway! He passed us by, no doubt going to find more victims! Please, we must go now or not at all!" He, apparently unable to wait any longer, slid down the hill towards the rusty doors.

With survival instincts like that, Belos was beginning to understand how he was captured in the first place. But, if his captor was gone, it was as good an opportunity as any to make their move. He followed Domovoi down the hill.

Those rusted double doors were the only thing keeping them from Domovoi's beloved, and whoever else this man had managed to snatch up in the dead of night. He was struggling to open them, unable to move the doors an inch. Not that this dissuaded him at all, at least until Belos arrived. "Yes, yes, now it is time!" he cried in anticipation. "My lovely Kiki, we will be reunited again at last!"

Wasting no time, Belos grasped the doors and pulled them open. The metal screeched loudly as they slowly slid apart, a noise both of them would no doubt have heard if the man had used this entrance. Domovoi hurried inside the moment he could fit, and Belos had to chase after him.

The moon was the only source of light for miles, and its rays shining through the doors was the only thing that illuminated the kidnapper's lair. Little more than a warehouse, the murky room would have been spacious were it not crammed full of cages, most of which were empty. A select few housed an assortment of witches and demons of varying degrees of despondency: some only gave the pair a glance when they entered, while others stayed completely still.

"Hurry, hurry, we must find her!" said Domovoi, scampering into the maze of cages. "Follow, quickly!" Belos tried, but the small demon moved so quickly it was in vain. Instead, he examined all of the captives within the cages: unwashed, underfed, none of them making any effort to escape, or even to communicate with their potential rescuers. Although a bit of despair was to be expected from ones in their position, their sheer stillness, combined with everything else about this journey, made Belos a little uneasy.

Although Domovoi remained unseen, Belos soon caught sight of one who resembled him almost exactly. A demon of his likeness had been placed in a cage not much larger than herself, and hadn't reacted at all to the voice of her beloved come to save her. "I found her!" With that, he made his way over to her. "I am here with Domovoi. We have come to set you free."

Kikimora briefly looked up at him before letting out a sigh. "Another one…" she mumbled, her voice hoarse.

Confused, Belos nonetheless tore the cage door off its hinges. "You are free now. You can be with your beloved." Still, she gave him no reaction. "You understand? Escape! Now! While you can!" he said, beginning to get frustrated.

"You still don't understand, do you?" she said, a touch of pity in her voice. "That's not my Domovoi. My beloved was devoured by the monster who tricked us, just as you soon will be. Just as we all soon will be." A lack of response from her would-be rescuer made her decide to continue. "We were tricked in the same way. A stranger, begging for our help. But it was him the whole time, merely taking her form. We were captured, caged. Forced to watch as he brought in new captives each night. Forced to watch as he…" She trailed off. "It just goes to show you that kindness gets you nowhere on the Isles. Nowhere…but in here."

With her story, everything suddenly began to make too much sense to Belos. Everyone's refusal to help Domovoi. The demon's same refusal to tell Belos about his 'captor.' His insistence that they went in at night, that he rested before they did. This whole time, Domovoi–the one pretending to be Domovoi–had been leading him into a trap.

With the same metallic screech as before, the lone source of light in the room disappeared as the door was closed. Belos whirled around to confront this treacherous soul, but in this darkness, he could see nothing. "Excellent work! You found my dear Kiki, just as I knew you would!" Domovoi's voice echoed through the room, making it hard to tell where exactly he was. "I can't tell you how long I was running through that damned down, begging someone to help me! But you…you were the only one stupid enough to listen!"

Belos' eyes were now beginning to adjust, but it was still too dark to find his foe. "Where!?" he bellowed, leaping atop a nearby cage. He caught a flutter of movement to his left, but by the time he had leapt over to it, there was no trace of anyone.

"That said, you weren't as easy to trick as some of them!" This was a different voice, a woman's. "Most of the time, I'm able to ambush my prey before even reaching my humble abode! It isn't often I have to invite them inside to get the drop on them!"

The relative silence of the darkened warehouse was broken by the noise of several cages opening. Their occupants slithered out, but Belos suspected they were no longer the same prisoners who were placed there. The sounds of this monster's many forms resounded all around him, and he wasn't sure which one to go after. There was no way to tell which one was the real him, if any of them even where.

"I've never seen anyone like you around here before." It had gone back to using Domovoi's guise. Belos followed the sound of his voice, and was stunned to find him hovering several yards above the floor, as though suspended by a rope, gently swaying in a nonexistent breeze. His limp form continued to speak: "I should keep you around, learn more about you, maybe sell you for a high price. I would, but…after that little hike of ours, I'm well and truly famished!"

Domovoi, or the being piloting him, raised his face. His eyes were dull and lifeless, gazing off to the sides, while his mouth only slid open and shut as he spoke, like that of a wooden dummy.

"I think I'll just have a small bit of you for now, just a taste. A meal like you is too fine to eat all at once. I'll consume you little by little, day by day, until there is nothing of you left!" Domovoi's voice had been slowly replaced by another one, one that sounded like a death rattle. It may very well have been his.

Just as Belos lunged at this puppet, it was dragged off into the shadows by the same invisible force keeping it suspended. He hissed, swinging his claws at any movement that came too close. The prisoners who hadn't already been eaten cowered further into their cages, familiar with this display but no less dreading it. Only Kikimora watched the battle intently, too afraid to leave her cage even though the door was all but gone.

The unseen monster taunted Belos with the voices of those it had assimilated. "You wear the clothes of a witch, but you're nothing more than a common beast underneath! Would you be so willing to help those in need if they knew what you were beneath your veil?"

"What's the matter? You seemed so certain you could defeat me on the way here! Were you expecting this fight to be on even ground? Or have you gravely overestimated yourself?"

"Some hero you turned out to be! Of all the people I spoke to, you were the only one willing to listen to my story. And look where it got you! You aren't a hero. Just a simple brute whose desire for approval makes him all too easy to lure…"

"...Like a moth to the flame."

These last words had been whispered right next to Belos' ear. He swung his claw furiously, cutting through the puppet, but not enough to wound its master. A black liquid dripped to the floor upon making his cut. He looked down at his claw; he knew this monstrosity could be wounded. Feeling power well up inside him, his eyes ignited with an icy blue glow.

"I…am…BELOS!" A burst of magical energy exploded from his body. "I WILL BE GREAT!" He followed this declaration by letting loose a reverberating roar before dashing to one side of the building. He could move his puppets quickly, but Belos could leap just as fast. The only matter now was predicting where they would go.

"Oh, I'm sure you'll taste great!" Domovoi's likeness raced towards him from behind. Belos whipped around and slashed at the marionette, but it moved out of the way before his claws could dig in. This had been exactly what he was expecting: a blue glow appeared in his palm, which exploded into a blast of magic fire. An inhuman screech filled the room as the puppet was scorched, rendering one side of it unrecognizable. "You! I'm gonna eat you alive! I'll tear you to shreds with my teeth for that!"

His attack had made the monster lose its composure for only a moment. The half-burnt puppet retreated, pulled away by what seemed to be a fleshy tendil of some sort. Belos gave chase, but was attacked by two more of its ilk. They were much warier of him now, rushing in to attack and retreating before he could counterattack. This also meant that their attacks lacked any substance, and Belos was able to fend them off easily.

From the relative safety of her cage, Kikimora couldn't believe what she was seeing. Weeks, months, maybe years–it was hard to remember just how long it had been since she and her beloved had been taken by that thing. But in all that time, she had never seen someone stand up to it the way this Belos was. And not only was he fighting it–he was winning.

Kikimora had been so thoroughly resigned to her fate that she had become completely numb to all sensation. Even the memory of her husband being eaten alive in front of her had made her feel nothing. But now, now that she was witnessing someone taking a stand to this brutal creature, a seething rage bubbled up inside of her. Hesitantly, she took one step out of her cage.

"COWARD!" roared Belos, sending jets of flame in every direction. "YOU ARE NOT FORMIDABLE! YOU ARE NOT MIGHTY! YOU ARE NOT GREAT! I WILL BE THE ONE WHO ENDS YOU! I WILL BE THE ONE WHO FEASTS UPON YOUR REMAINS!" The puppets were only circling him now, afraid to get close to his rage, but nevertheless taunting him at a distance. The brief flashes of light from the flames lit up the room for a few seconds at a time, but not enough for him to get a bearing on the creature or its location.

Just then, in the brief moments of total darkness following his attacks, a flicker of light caught the revenant's eye. There was Kikimora, out of her cage and on the floor, an orb of light in her hands. "Come on, come on, get bigger!" She was pouring all of her effort into it, severely drained after spending so much time in captivity. While she worked her magic on the light, a familiar face appeared behind her.

"Kiki…Kiki…" She froze. Turning around, she was confronted by the warped face of her lover, suspended in the air above her. "What are you doing? I came all this way just to save you!" It began floating closer, causing her to step back. "Surely you weren't thinking of actually helping this beast, were you? Not after all I've done for you!"
Nearly paralyzed, she managed to squeak out some words of protest. "You're n-not him! He's dead, you killed him! You're just wearing his skin like the sick, sick monster you are!" Her focus dropped from the light, it began to fade, until the only thing visible to her was the puppet in Domovoi's likeness.

The puppet raised itself up, preparing to attack. "Oh, my beloved…I'm as real as I ever was!" Opening a mouthful of fangs, the thing pretending to be Domovoi lunged at his former love. Kikimora closed her eyes fully expecting the end to come.

A roar split the air as a large shape rushed beside her. Kiki opened her eyes just in time to see the revenant's burning claws cleave the puppet in half. Both pieces of it fell to the ground, as buckets of an inky black substance coated the floor. With a shriek, the tentacle that had been holding it retreated. "Finish it!" shouted Belos, preparing to hold off more of the puppets.

Kikimora concentrated every last drop of mar magic into the ball of light. At last, as the puppets closed in around them, she hurled the glowing orb into the air, where it illuminated the entire room. More shrieks filled the air as the puppets were blinded; and now that his surroundings were illuminated, Belos got his first glimpse at his adversary.

Its main body looked like a giant, fleshy tumor, tentacles extending from it like a grotesque perversion of an octopus. Its face was lined with numerous eyes that looked in every direction, and a tooth-filled mouth resembling those of its marionettes. Kikimora shied away from the creature, but Belos was undeterred by its appearance, rushing forward to finish it off.

The monster tried to use its puppets to intercept Belos, who ripped through them with ease. Another explosion of flame left his hands, searing the thing's face. It let out another screech as its tendrils flailed everywhere in a desperate attempt to keep the revenant at a distance. This proved futile, as he leapt onto the creature, tearing into its flesh.

The now-wounded monstrosity managed to grab hold of Belos, injuring itself even more in its attempt to pry him off. But before it could act on its capture, Belos turned the tables, easily slicing through the tentacle. It tried to pull the limb away, but he dug in his claws, tearing it clean off. Adding insult to injury, he hurled the severed tendril into its owner.

The thing wasn't bothering to taunt Belos any longer. It was barely even bothering to fight back, as all its puppets clattered to the ground. Giving one last gurgle of defiance, it tore open a storm drain in the middle of the room, slithering down into the pipes below. Thoroughly drenched in the oil-like ichor, Belos hurled a triumphant howl down into the drain after it. He then collapsed, breathing heavily.

The remaining captives, including Kikimora, were stunned for a moment. Whispers ran between them at the revenant's victory over their captor, something they had been certain was impossible. Kiki herself cautiously approached Belos, her nervous eyes looking between him and the storm drain. "You…you killed Adeghast," she said quietly.

Belos slowly stood back up. "No. Not killed. Just chased away." He turned to her, the look of triumph in his glowing blue eyes indicating that he nevertheless considered this a victory. "He will not come back. Not while I am still a threat."

The creak of a cage door drew everyone's attention. The man inside had managed to pick the lock, and was letting himself out. "Hang on, you could have done that the whole time?" asked another.

"Yeah, but what would have been the point?" he replied. "Making a getaway while he was still here would've been suicide. But now that this guy chased him off…" He gestured to their savior.

But although he had saved them, Belos didn't consider himself a savior. His mind was still on how easily he had been tricked by 'Domovoi.' Perhaps Kiki had a point, about there being no place for kindness on the Isles. Without a word, he lumbered over to the door, pushing it open as he left the warehouse behind.

Gradually, the prisoners began to overcome the fear that Adeghast had instilled in them. Those who could opened their doors, and those who couldn't were aided by the others. With varying degrees of hope, the prisoners made their way outside, disappearing into the cool night. All except one.

As he wandered back to Bonesborough, Belos became privy to the sound of tiny footsteps behind him. He stopped, and so did they. He continued, and so did they. Finally turning around, he was met with Kikimora gazing up at him expectantly. "You're following me." She only blinked. "Why?"

"Well, where else am I supposed to go?" she asked. "Adeghast killed Domovoi, destroyed our home. There's nowhere else for me. But you…you saved me. You saved us all, when we thought there was no chance of ever seeing the sun again." She glanced upwards. "Er, moon. But the point is, I owe you my life! I don't know who or what you are, but…thank you. Truly."

"Welcome." Belos turned to leave, annoyed at the footfalls continuing to follow him. "You cannot! I cannot help you. I…I need to stay alone."

She came a bit closer. "Listen, I know what I said about there being no point to kindness, but if it hadn't been for you, we'd all still be in there, just waiting to be eaten! We didn't even have each other in there, it was only us, every witch for herself. I know what it's like to be alone, and let me tell you, it sucks. I can tell you think so, too."

Belos huffed. He didn't respond, but Kikimora took his lack of an answer as a yes, happily bounding after him. "So, where are we going, boss?"

"Back home," replied the revenant, "or close to a home. …And call me Belos."

"There, that looks like the guy. Good mornin', sir!"

"Good mor…nin'...?" The vendor turned around to be greeted by an assortment of oddly-dressed witches and their spear-wielding leader. It was a motley crew he certainly hadn't expected to be visiting his stall, of all places. "Uh…need some bile?"

Their leader flashed a grin. As a matter of fact, we do. I'd like to make a purchase of every single bile sac you have, and then some. Pay the man, would ya?"

He nodded to his subordinate, who tipped over a barrel. The barrel hit the floor, dumping more coins than the vendor had ever seen near his feet. The vendor's jaw hit the floor, as well.

AN: Remember how I said I was proud of the last chapter, no no no, this is the chapter I'm proud of, especially the climax! I hope you're all enjoying this as much as I am, because I seriously think this could be my magnum opus!