23. Quid Pro Quo

twenty-three

The next couple days passed in a sleepless blur. Watchers wordlessly provided Adrian's meals while Jasper himself appeared every morning and afternoon like clockwork to try to coax him into conversation. The seeker obviously wanted something from him—why leave him his aether and daemons except to get in his good graces? But whatever game Jasper was playing, Adrian refused to play along.

During his long hours left alone, he ironed out a tentative plan to escape. However, it depended on his ability to aetherforge daemonic techniques, and that was going…not great. He'd only just begun to understand Kali's relics and Crastley's journal prior to the disastrous feast, and without any of the devices here to study, he had to rely purely on memory.

After two days of fruitless attempts, footsteps reverberated outside his cell. He shoved his current project beneath his cot right as Jasper swept into the room. Hands in the pockets of his billowing white coat, he gave Adrian a polite smile.

"Ah, Adrian! Good to see you."

It was the same way Jasper had greeted him during his other visits. Always before, Adrian had stared at the wall until the seeker left. Today, however, he hesitated. If Jasper really was the head of Project Paragon, a research initiative focused on advanced aetherforging, he must be a preeminent expert in the craft. And he'd made it clear he wanted to talk. Could Adrian pick his brain for valuable information without tipping his own hand?

"G-good morning," Adrian stammered. "W-what can I do for you?"

If Jasper was surprised to hear Adrian break his vow of silence, he hid it well. "I'd hoped to resume our earlier chat. I believe there is much we could learn from each other."

Adrian bit back an angry retort. This had been his idea, after all. "Like what?"

Jasper raised an amused brow. "Nothing sinister, I assure you. I merely wish to satisfy my curiosity. You represent a fascinating enigma, Adrian—one I'm eager to unpack."

Again, he hesitated, torn between acquiescing and telling the seeker to shove it. "You already have Crastley's journal. Am I really so interesting?"

"Notes scribbled on a page can hardly compare to a firsthand account. I'm sure you've seen much to supplement Callum's musings since leaving Hillvale."

In other words, Jasper suspected Adrian was holding back secrets of his own. Which, fair enough. But was he willing to risk aiding Jasper's heinous research in order to learn from him?

As if sensing his reluctance, Jasper sighed and held up his hands, palms out. "No lies or tricks. Think of this as your chance to convince me of the true bond's merits."

Adrian wasn't fooled. The seeker cared about the true bond only in so much as he might pervert it for his experiments. But the last couple days had made it clear that Adrian needed Jasper's know-how…even if it meant he risked falling into the seeker's trap.

"Fine," he said, attempting nonchalance. "Let's chat. You were telling me before about the daemoforged devices you lent Kali. Were those your only prototypes?"

"We gave her some of our earliest and best work, but we've had other successes," Jasper replied without missing a beat. "Though as you've seen, they tend not to last." His gaze flicked to Heartrender. "Hopefully, that will change soon."

Burying his dismay, Adrian forced a nod. "So, you must know a lot about aetherforging, then?" He winced internally at his ham-fisted query. So much for disguising what he was after.

"That would be fair to say, yes. Prior to Project Paragon, I worked on improving the design of watcher armor." He gave Adrian a curious look. "Why? Are you interested in the art?"

Adrian shrugged and tried not to look too eager. "A little, after seeing the wonders Kali had."

Jasper chuckled, clearly appreciating the not-too-subtle compliment. "Understandable. Of course, I can't divulge sensitive information that might compromise Serenity Corp's operations."

Adrian's heart sank. "But you said you'd answer any questions I asked."

A line of displeasure creased the seeker's brow. "I told you I wouldn't lie, which is hardly the same thing. Still, I'm happy to reveal what I can. What would you like to know?"

Adrian told him, and for the better part of an hour, Jasper obliged him with a crash course in aetherforging. Much of what the seeker said corroborated what Freya had already shown him—align your aether to an object's natural channels until it stuck.

Yet, Jasper delved into more advanced topics as well. He talked about aetheric resonance and how aether responded differently depending on your mood, the object, and the environment. He showed Adrian tricks to better control his flow of aether and reduce the energy required.

On daemoforging, however, Jasper remained frustratingly tight-lipped. What little he did say focused on theory rather than practical applications. He must've feared giving away more of their operations than he already had.

By the time the seeker departed, Adrian's head felt stuffed full of new knowledge. He wasn't sure how useful it would prove for his own efforts, but he'd take whatever expertise he could get. Anything to increase his odds of completing his aetherforgings before the airship arrived.

Their discussions persisted over the next week. While Jasper continued his education on aetherforging, Adrian reluctantly answered the seeker's own questions about the true bond. He described how it had felt when the runes formed a link with a willing daemon and extolled the benefits of the true bond compared to bondstones.

He was pretty sure Jasper already knew most of what he said from Crastley's journal and was careful not to give away more than he had to. Still, he disliked the avid glint he sometimes caught in Jasper's eye or the way he'd stare at Heartrender as if measuring the daemon's worth.

It started to feel like a game—learn as much from the seeker as he could while revealing as little as possible in the process. No doubt Jasper was playing him equally hard. Adrian just had to hope that whatever secrets he unwittingly gave away didn't return to haunt him.

When Ghosttear came up in conversation during their latest session, Jasper sighed wistfully. He leaned back in the chair he'd taken to dragging into the stone cell during his visits.

"Such a shame," he said with a mournful shake of his head. "Ghosttear was among our most promising specimens…next to Heartrender, of course." He gestured to the daemon curled up beside Adrian. "She alone remains our sole true success thanks to the purity of her aether."

Heartrender pointedly ignored the man, having decided some time ago that was the best way to show her disdain. Lockrod let out a low, threatening growl.

"Where is Ghosttear now?" Adrian asked, sending his daemons soothing thoughts. He hated speaking with Jasper as much as they did, but it was a necessary evil.

"We brought him from the Enclave when we recovered you. Seemed only fitting, even if his aether is utterly unsuitable for daemoforging."

"Why do you always call daemons by their proper gender?" Adrian blurted. The question had been gnawing at his curiosity since their first encounter.

Jasper frowned. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Most people think of daemons as monsters. The only people I've heard acknowledge their genders are those who care about their wellbeing…or those who possess the true bond."

The seeker's brows shot up. "If you're implying I might have a true bond, I'm afraid you're mistaken. I simply dislike imprecision. It is an observable fact that daemons possess intelligence and personalities. There's little point pretending otherwise."

In some ways, the admission made Adrian despise the seeker even more. It meant he recognized daemons as real creatures with real feelings…but butchered and abused them regardless.

He forced aside his disgust at the reminder of Jasper's monstrousness to focus on the topic at hand. "What makes Ghosttear unsuitable for your work?"

"His inherently unstable aether, of course." Jasper's fingers skittered restlessly against the arm of his chair. "Most of our specimens manifest it, but few as bad as him. Any relic forged from his essence would be at risk of collapse whenever it was activated. Still, he has his uses."

Adrian found the seeker's slight smile unsettling. "Such as?"

Jasper raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet. From your encounter with Kali and what Leda told me of your time at the Enclave, you should possess all the clues you need to piece it together."

What in the name of the spirits did Kali or Leda have to do with anything? Was Jasper referring to the containment device Kali had used on Ghosttear? Which…why had she brought along such a volatile test subject? Knowing what he did now about Ghosttear and Project Paragon, it made even less sense than it had before. Unless…

"That's how you tracked us in Overlin Forest, isn't it?"

Jasper's smile broadened. "Very good. Yes, that's how we found you. All our specimens share an inherent link. Ghosttear's unusual resilience despite his unstable aether, as well as his uselessness for daemoforging, made him the perfect candidate. We simply accessed the link between him and Heartrender and followed it to its source."

The same link Adrian had used to soothe Ghosttear during his meltdown—not quite a bond, but a similar entwining of aether. One that, apparently, extended even across vast distances.

Where did such a connection come from?He considered asking but doubted he'd receive a straight answer. Jasper got cagey when it came to anything related to the daemons' creation.

Then, another question occurred to him. "If you had a compass to Heartrender, why did it take you several months to reach us? And why didn't you capture Callum years ago?"

Jasper shifted in his seat. "Perhaps I am underselling Ghosttear's value. He may be flawed, but next to Heartrender, he's still the best we've managed…and the first specimen we've produced with a strong enough connection to track Heartrender down since Callum stole her six years ago. Even then, however, the link is far from perfect. Kali struggled to find where Callum had hidden her before you interfered, and once you fled into Overlin Forest, the aetheric interference of so many other wild daemons made it even tricker. It wasn't until we felt the echo of a particularly large expenditure of aether along the link that we managed to pinpoint your precise location."

A shiver ran down Adrian's spine. Our second battle against Souleater. That must be what Jasper was referring to. Spirits below, they'd been in even greater danger than they'd realized. Had they not chosen to shelter in Overlin Forest, they'd have been hunted down long before he was ready to face Kali. And had Kali not been so overconfident, she could've ambushed them with an army of watchers whenever she pleased.

Jasper jarred him from his thoughts by leaning forward, resting his hands on his knees. His fervent gaze bored into Heartrender. "Without her and her pristine aether, there is no Project Paragon. That is why we were willing to risk our only other promising specimen, why I myself led the operation to retrieve her…and why Serenity Corp will stop at nothing to get her back."

On the eve before the airship's arrival, Adrian worked feverishly to put the finishing touches on a final Mirror Image charm. His head ached from his tenuous grip on a reverse Surge with Heartrender, but for now, the connection held. Just a bit more aether and…

Done!

Letting out a relieved breath, he broke his reverse Surge. Beads of sweat stood out on his forehead. Even without using a technique, he struggled to hold the meld for more than a few minutes at a time. Still, his earlier hypothesis had proved correct—while not strictly necessary, the reverse Surge made it far easier to guide Heartrender's aether into the needed configuration.

He eyed the trinkets arrayed across the foot of his cot. Three bracelets made from torn bedding—one each to disguise Seymour, Freya, and him as the armored guards that delivered his meals. The illusions would be rough without Seymour or Freya here for Heartrender to refine the anchor points, but Adrian hoped the bulky armor would help hide any imperfections.

Next to the bracelets sat three ceramic shards of slightly different shapes and coloring, including the one he'd just finished. He'd managed to snag them when ‘accidentally' shattering a bowl of soup. Two of these would help cover their escape. His gaze flicked to the shard in the center, larger and rounder than the others so he could easily tell it apart. That was his contingency plan. He had no idea if it would work, and, spirits willing, wouldn't need to find out.

After nervously checking the relics for any obvious flaws, he carefully concealed them in his clothing. It wouldn't stop the guards from discovering them if they looked, but at least they wouldn't stand out at a glance. Besides, Jasper had let him keep his daemons and aether—what were the odds he bothered with more than a cursory search?

As if thinking of the man had summoned him, a click came from the door. Jasper appeared as calm and collected as ever, nodding to Adrian as he settled into his usual chair. He left the cell door standing open behind him. Despite his best efforts, Adrian's eyes flicked to it.

Jasper didn't miss the lapse. He gave Adrian a knowing look. "Something on your mind?"

Adrian tore his longing gaze away and shook his head. "Just thinking about tomorrow."

"No need for nerves, Adrian. Serenity Corp airships are perfectly safe. Besides, you'll have me and over two dozen watchers with you should anything go wrong."

"Somehow, that's not exactly comforting."

Jasper clucked his tongue. "I really wish you'd stop thinking of me as your enemy. After all, we both want the same thing—to build a better society for future generations yet unborn."

Anger burned in Adrian's breast. He knew he should keep quiet instead of rocking the boat so close to his plans for escape, but he couldn't stop himself from saying, "The difference is that my vision for the future isn't built on the eradication of an entire species!"

"No," Jasper replied calmly. "Just an overly idealistic impossibility."

They'd danced around this topic during their previous meetings. Now, though, Adrian found his pent-up emotions bubbling to the surface. "There's nothing impossible about the true bond. You've seen proof enough to know it exists."

"And you think knowledge of its existence alone will undo generations of strife between our peoples?" Jasper scoffed. "Surely, you're not so na?ve as that. Lasting peace will not be achieved until one of us is exterminated, and I intend to ensure it is us that ends up on top."

Adrian narrowed his eyes. "A paradise built on genocide is nothing but a lie. It cannot last."

Jasper shrugged. "Let us agree to disagree. Now then, shall we continue our discussion of—"

"No!"Adrian was surprised at his own boldness. By the way Jasper stilled, so was he. There was a line Adrian had never dared cross with the seeker, and he had a feeling he was nearing it.

"Don't make a scene, Adrian." Jasper's voice remained pleasant, though a harder edge lurked beneath. "I came here for a civilized conversation, but if you'd rather rest, I'll leave you to it."

Adrian considered taking him up on the offer but found himself hesitating. It wasn't only that he wanted to stay on Jasper's good side for the sake of his plans tomorrow. He was genuinely curious to hear what the seeker had to say. This might be his last chance to learn from the mad genius, and it seemed a shame to squander it.

"Apologies," he ground out, his jaw clenched. "Please, continue."

Jasper studied Adrian through his wire-rimmed spectacles. Adrian shifted, uncomfortable at the scrutiny. A panicked voice within him wondered if this was when Jasper revealed he knew about the relics Adrian had forged and his plans for escape.

"I heard you had trouble channeling aether when you were younger," Jasper said.

Adrian was so surprised by the sudden turn in conversation that it took him a moment to find his voice. "Y-yes." He cleared his throat. "Until recently, in fact. The true bond gave me the strength I needed to overcome my flawed aether channels."

Jasper nodded, his expression sympathetic. "It is the unfortunate plight of too many—more than you might think—to be born weak or different. To lack the power to stand on their own." Adrian stiffened, and Jasper made a conciliatory gesture. "Forgive me. I meant no offense. Being weak is no reason for shame. I myself have long struggled to master my aether."

"Really?" Adrian asked doubtfully. "As one of the leading scholars from the Seeker Division, I find that hard to believe."

Though he hadn't meant it as a compliment, Jasper seemed to take it that way, beaming at him. "Serenity Corp selected me for my drive and intellect, not my aetheric strength. Assess me with your aethersense if you like—I'll drop my shroud to make it easy."

Wary of a trap, Adrian did as the seeker suggested and saw at once he was telling the truth. His aether was below Adrian's or even Freya's. Was he purposefully weakening his aura as Adrian had against Kali? Maybe…yet Adrian didn't think so.

After a pause, Jasper continued, his voice soft but passionate. "It was my own difficulties with channeling, in fact, that inspired my experiments. I want to create a world where anyone can harness the power of a daemon, regardless of personal strength. A world of equals."

"Unless you're a daemon," Adrian said.

Jasper nodded solemnly. "Indeed. Unless you're a daemon." He gave Adrian a curious look. "I've been meaning to ask where your concern for daemonkind comes from. Did they not slaughter your parents? You have more reason to loathe them than many in the League."

Adrian could feel old wounds reopening within him. "Some daemons did, sure. But it wouldn't be fair to hold them all accountable for the actions of a few. Besides, knowing what I know now, it's easy to imagine why they fight us. I can't blame them for defending themselves."

Jasper snorted. "Do you honestly believe that drivel? Of course you can blame them. We all have reasons for doing what we do. That doesn't excuse our actions, nor their consequences. Your parents deserved better."

Hot rage set Adrian's skin ablaze. "What do you know about my parents?"

"Quite a lot, actually. I pulled their records once I discovered your identity. I was curious to learn about the heroes that birthed a traitor." Jasper hadn't said the words with so much as a hint of malice. Even so, Adrian winced at the familiar flush of shame. Jasper either didn't notice or didn't care. "I can tell you more about them, if you'd like."

The question hung between them. Adrian let out a shaky breath when he realized he'd been holding it in. Did he want that? All he'd ever received was the Watcher Division's official report, along with his parents' commendations. It did an adequate job capturing the facts, but not the feeling of it—what it was actually like to be there.

He nodded mutely, then cleared his throat and added, "Please."

Jasper gave him a pitying look that immediately set him on edge. Had he played into the seeker's hands? "I thought you might. You've heard the official report, of course. But the reality is somewhat different. Your parents were part of a scouting expedition beyond the Bulwark to monitor movement along the border. The area was supposed to be clear, only a few hours' travel from the wall. But they stumbled on a pack of shrouded daemons lying in wait."

The seeker's words, delivered in a no-nonsense clip, riveted him. He couldn't blink or look away, afraid to so much as breathe in case he missed something.

"They tried to withdraw," Jasper continued. "But in the chaos, the other watchers left your parents behind."

"That's not what happened!" Adrian sat up straighter on his cot. "My parents stayed behind so the rest of their squad could escape!"

"Not according to the watchers who served with them. Your parents simply got lost in the shuffle. Once the rest of the squad realized what had happened, they tried to go back. But by the time they returned with reinforcements to disperse the daemon hordes, it was too late."

"No." Adrian's hands clenched at the coarse sheets spread over his cot. His pulse pounded hotly in his temples. "You're wrong. My parents were heroes."

"Your parents were casualties of war. Nothing more, nothing less."

Adrian surged to his feet and loomed over Jasper. The seeker didn't appear worried. He studied Adrian with a faint hint of regret, as if sorry to be the bearer of bad news. The muscle in his jaw ticking, Adrian fought the urge to order his daemons to attack. Their emotions through his bonds suggested they were more than willing. No matter how shortsighted it was, he might've done it anyway had an image of Leda's charred corpse not flickered before his eyes.

He sucked in a breath and spun away, afraid if he looked at the seeker any longer, he wouldn't be able to stop himself. "Serenity Corp claims otherwise," he said, his voice tight.

"Of course, they do. The truth doesn't make for a very flattering story, does it? So, Serenity Corp twisted the tale into a noble sacrifice when, in reality, there was nothing noble about it."

"Shut up!"He whirled toward Jasper, his body trembling with emotion.

Jasper ignored the outburst, a hard glint in his eyes while sorrow twisted his features. "I'm sorry, Adrian, but your parents died alone and afraid, abandoned by their comrades. Accept this, and it'll make everything else easier."

Adrian sank onto his cot, the fury draining out of him as quickly as it had come. "Why are you telling me all this? What's your game?"

Jasper's face was solemn. "No games, Adrian. I've always found it best to be honest, so here's the honest truth—it's not enough. Despite Serenity Corp's best efforts, more daemons slip past the Bulwark every year, and more watchers die pointless deaths in defense of the League, just like your parents. Your dream of peace between humankind and daemonkind is beautiful, but it's just that—a dream. The only way this ends is with our extermination…or with theirs."

Adrian remained silent, his head bowed, while Jasper took his chair and left. Curling up on his sleeping mat, he resolved to get what rest he could. For the longest time, however, sleep eluded him. His thoughts churned with memories of his parents. Of Freya and Seymour. Of Elana and the rest of the Enclave.

His vision blurred, and he soon found quiet tears streaming down his cheeks. Jasper was wrong. Adrian's efforts, his parents' sacrifice—it couldn't all be meaningless. It couldn't! He'd find another way to change the world—a better way. He had to.