Scarab considered for a moment, and then nodded. "I don't think I have to warn you that I won't be happy, if this doesn't do what you're promising. And I'm not a man you want to make unhappy."

With that final warning and a polite smile that belied the threat, Scarab left the cell to find Sanguine waiting outside. He didn't try to hide a shudder and a look of disgust; it didn't matter how useful they could be, Remnants were among the purest evils in the world. Scarab doubted even Mevolent himself would have enjoyed needing their help.

"He's done?" Sanguine asked skeptically.

"So he claims." It still didn't feel right, not having a way to verify that claim. Scarab had never been big on trust, and it certainly didn't sit well now, but he wasn't going to let Sanguine catch wind of that fact. "We have no reason to doubt him. Get Dusk, and bring Gabriel over here."

"Dusk?" Sanguine's lip curled. "I can handle a mind-reader."

"We don't know that he's a mind-reader, Sanguine. As you yourself pointed out, he's not even from our world. I know nothing about his magic, and I'm not willing to take any chances. Dusk is the only one we know he has an adverse reaction to."

"He had an adverse reaction to me," Sanguine muttered, but he turned around and did what he was told, so Scarab didn't have to snap at him. That was good. Ever since Scarab's voice had grown weak and croaky with age he shouldn't have, he'd disliked having to raise that voice for any reason. It tended to have the opposite effect of what he intended.



Billy-Ray paused outside Gabriel's cell door and knocked, three times in quick succession. "Wakey wakey."

Dusk stood a few feet away, looking as bored as ever. Billy-Ray pointedly ignored him right back.