Azzie took a mental breath, the kind he always took before embarking on one of his really big lies. As he drew in that mental breath his genius and all his faculties took heed and helped him into the role he knew was needed.
“Ylith,” he said, “it’s very simple. I love you.”
“Oh, really!” she said, scornfully, but not closing off the conversation. “That’s rich! Tell me more!”
“I have always loved you,” Azzie said.
“You sure acted like it, didn’t you?” Ylith said.
“I can explain why I never called,” Azzie said.
“I’ll just bet!” Ylith said, waiting.
“There were two reasons,” Azzie said, not knowing at the moment what they were but saying there were two in case one wasn’t enough.
“Yes? Let’s hear them!”
“I’ve already told you I was in the Pit.”
“And you couldn’t even send a postcard? I’ve heard that ‘I was in the Pit’ excuse before!”
“Ylith, you must simply believe me. There are some things a man can’t speak about. But take my word for it, things came up. I could explain if there were time, but the important thing is, I love you; the bad enchantment has ended at last, and we can be together again, just as you have always wanted and as I secretly have wanted, too, though I said otherwise.”
“What enchantment?” Ylith said.
“Did I mention an enchantment?”
“You said, ‘Now the bad enchantment has ended.’ ”
“I said that? You’re sure?”
“Of course I’m sure!”
“Well, I shouldn’t have,” Azzie said. “One condition for ending the bad enchantment was that I never speak about it. I just hope we haven’t set it off again.”
“What bad enchantment?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Ylith drew herself up to her full height and glared at him. He was really the most impossible demon. Demons are expected to lie, of course, but even the worst would occasionally tell the truth. It’s almost impossible not to tell the truth sometimes, by accident. Except for Azzie. But that was not because he had a lying heart. No, it was because he was trying so hard to be really bad. She couldn’t help but feel for him. He still appealed to her. And it was not the amusing season in Athens.
“Promise you’ll never leave me again,” she said.
“I promise,” Azzie said. Then, realizing that he had capitulated too soon, added, “Under normal conditions, that is.”
“What do you mean, normal conditions?”
“Conditions that are not abnormal.”
“Such as what?”
“How would I know?”
“Oh, Azzie!”
“You must take me as I am, Ylith,” Azzie said. “It really is nice to see you. Have you any ideas about those eyes?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do have an idea or two.”
“Be a doll and rush off and get them,” Azzie said. “I’m running out of ichor and I don’t dare resurrect these creatures before I have eyes for them. It might change their development.”
“They’ll have to wait,” Ylith said. “Two special pairs of eyes aren’t come by quite as fast as all that.”
“We will all await you, my queen!” Azzie said.
Ylith gave a raucous laugh, but he could tell she liked to hear that stuff. Azzie waved, Ylith twirled, turned into a rotating column of violet smoke, and then disappeared entirely.
Chapter 6
She had been content for many years to hang around in Athens, enjoying parties and good times, having many lovers, and redecorating her house. Witches grow lazy with the passing of time, and tend to rest upon their laurels. The sins that witches try to make people commit turn up later to haunt them. They lose their knowledge bit by bit, forgetting what they studied in the great witch schools. Ylith had been vegetating for a long while, before she was called up by Azzie.
Her reaction now was surprise at herself for volunteering to find eyes for the young couple. Was this really what she wanted to do? Did she love Azzie so much? Or was it more a matter of trying to find a duty to perform, to serve something greater than herself? Either way, she felt the need for advice when it came to the second pair of eyes.