Riley watched Plench as he walked and slithered to his bed. He had known Plench was an efficient healer and knew that Riley had rarely experienced the sight of a vaunted demon annihilating his enemy. It wasn't the brutality that left him feeling cold. It was what he knew in his heart that Plench had done.

The kind man had killed those men for his own nefarious reasons and for Riley, that was unforgivable. As Plench stopped at Riley's bedside, Riley scowled and let out a rough growl.

"The curse," Riley said softly. "Haven't I suffered enough?"

"And to think, I had you believing there was nothing to fear." Riley huffed. "But it was all lies."

"No lie, just a misunderstanding, I know that."

Riley groaned and curled up in the fetal position. Plench felt a pang of guilt and wondered if he would ever truly know the answer