Sub-lets in Hell, chapter 3. (Patreon)

So, here we are. Please enjoy.

This job was easy. Two classes a day, required reading, and no questions so far. The rest of the job was just hanging out in the classroom or my new office just down the hall, a place where I could work on my own magic and circles so long as I wasn't doing anything too dangerous. The more dangerous stuff was either done in the desert or the basement, if it was some kind of summoning.

I remembered the basement, with its many 'meditation' rooms. I didn't really need to do any of that, but it was good that research was allowed here. The wards made it safe, as nothing summoned into the lower rooms could escape past the choke points, or at the very worst, the upper floors.

Which was good because from what I was seeing here in the teacher's lounge, someone was going to do something stupid. How did these idiots even manage to get posted here? Was someone paid off?

The two idiots in question were very much in the vein of Tweedledee and Tweedledum, in that they were both small weedy nerds in light shirts and jackets, of all things, in the desert. One of them even had those little elbow patches on his. Both were in their 40's if a day, both had thinning brown hair beginning to lighten, and hawkish noses. They could be brothers.

Their real names were doctors Messai and Cope. Messai was from France, and Cope was from Spain, and they apparently liked to hear themselves talk. Even the full house of captains and majors present didn't dim their enthusiasm.

"So, the third eye of the circle here represents faith, and...."

"Faith? From a demon? Don't be stupid, it represents loyalty!"

"Are you mad? Demons have no loyalty at all, while they do have faith. They must believe in the almighty to hate him, after all!"

From the looks on everyone else's faces, this was a normal occurrence.

They were both wrong, of course, but I wasn't going to tell them that and risk them talking at me. The other teachers were all military, and some few were summoners like Clay and I, but aside from introductions, they were keeping their distance from us.

I appreciated them for it.

Not everyone was here, of course, but seven teachers total so far not counting us seemed like a lot, even for as big as the tower was, and how big the recruit field was for us. We (and wasn't that weird to say, even in my own head) trained the entire west coast, barring any special cases.

There was no question of our competence, at least. We weren't in full uniform, but either everyone had been briefed or our service patches were enough. Stateside, we could wear them without a sniper getting ideas, and so Clay was doing it.

If I was told to put anything other than my field patch on my robe, I'd do it, but I wasn't going to wear anything without being ordered.

The coffee in the lounge was passable for motor oil, thick, viscous, and horrible tasting. Still, it was something to drink that wasn't water, and while I should be drinking water - I just didn't want to.

I'd need it for later. The day of learning was done, and my preliminary report filed. Karen was nowhere to be found; I half expected her to be here, scamming the place for free snacks and trading noise with the two chatterboxes here.

"What do you think, captain Numens?"

Huh? They were asking me something? I tried to replay the conversation in my head, I really did, but there was nothing. Clay shook his head when I looked to him, he hadn't been paying attention either.

Fine, I'd go with the tried and true answer: "I think neither of you have been close enough to a demon or the front to be making good theories on anything. If you want, we can help you with that."

The two went red in the face the same way and at the same speed, very interesting. There were some chuckles in the background, before a few of my fellow instructors moved closer.

One of them, a major who looked pretty grizzled and who bore a deep scar on his chin, clapped a single meaty looking hand on either shoulder of the tweed duo in front of me. He couldn't see the wince, but I could, and I'd swear I could hear collarbones creak.

"I told you two, she'd figure you out inside a day."

They both favored him with sour smiles; the Spaniard took the moment to wipe his glasses off.

"Sorry, I'm Major Reynolds. I handle some of the courses here."

Even as a major, even with all his experience, he wasn't a summoner, so there was no ceremony with him. Which was good because I wanted to stay put. The seat wasn't the most comfortable, but I wasn't feeling standing right now.

"Good afternoon Major. I'm known as either Snow or Alice. Not sure which is being used at the moment; you'd have to ask upper management."

There was a nickname for the higher brass, one I'd never use. Some called them the gods, as they gave orders from on high and controlled life and death. It was fitting, but even I found it a little sacrilegious. I sure as hell wasn't giving anyone even implied permission to use my real name - that would be a death sentence.

The man gave me a winning smile, running a paw through his salt and pepper hair. "It's still Alice I'm afraid. How was the first day?"

"A bit underwhelming. I'm trying to figure out if I was ever that clueless. Probably was." This guy wasn't here when I went through basic, so he wouldn't know. The guy behind him could tell me, but he was still keeping his own counsel.

"So, what is the answer then? The symbology?" Dr. Dee - Dr. Messai asked.

He really didn't know? "What you both need to consider is how demons think. For example, the symbol for faith and the symbol for loyalty are the same. This means that demons only have loyalty for what they have faith in, or suggests it."

Demons were angels once, after all. The two concepts had no difference for those.

Both the eggheads were now staring at me, wide-eyed, as if I'd said something profound and not something any blooded summoner would know.

"How would you...?" one even went so far to mutter.

I answered it anyway: "Because I talk to them?"

Now they looked all uncomfortable, as if seeing my robe for the first time somehow.

The other guys were grinning. They knew, so why didn't they set these guys straight?

"You talk to them... and they answer? Truthfully?"

Oh right, my contract was a bit different. I keep forgetting. "Yeah, my demon doesn't really have a choice; he has to answer me truthfully if I ask directly, and much of the magic I know he taught me. None of it would work if he'd lied to me about what the symbols meant."

At least, I don't think it would... I could simply be parroting things, but the spells, circles, and rituals were all based on the very concepts all existence revolved around, as far as the demons were concerned. All existence was based on thought or concept for the faithful... or something. I didn't really get it, but my mind was able to skirt the edges of the idea.

Maybe.

They both leaned in, at the same time. "That's fascinating," Dee, Messai, enthused. He even dragged out a notebook and pen.

Oh hell no, time to nip this in the bud. I gave Clay a look, and he shrugged. No one else to gainsay me here.

"Really? Then I'll bring an expert in. He can tell you all about it. Grex, veni huc!"

The arms wrapped around me as expected, even though I was sitting down. Grex  had formed himself from the flames he'd placed on the ground behind me, in a coming up from the floor effect that was complete vanity.

A clatter brought my attention around; two chairs were spinning on the floor, and my two crowding would-be peers were across the room. One even looked to have gone through another; major Reynolds was off to the side, rubbing a shoulder and clearly amused.

Grex finished with his theatrics and I felt the urge - so I followed it: "Was it something I said?"

Clay groaned quietly beside me.

"I, um..." Dr. Cope stammered.

Whatever. "Grex, these two would like to know answers to symbology questions. Your thoughts?"

Grex gave me the most melodramatic sigh I'd heard from him yet. Just... wow. "My thoughts are you'll have to order it. I'm not telling these things anything I don't have to."

Major Reynolds was made of sterner stuff; he righted himself and his glare was somehow both fierce and laid back. He was also fingering the scar on his chin... wonder if he knew he was doing that.

At least his words were clear, with no waver: "So this is your demon, huh? Easy to see at a glance why you were able to get so much done. Rather urbane bastard, isn't he?"

The good Major knew the word Urbane? My estimation of him rose, just a little. "Yeah, he is. You don't need to worry, he's not going to hurt anyone here unless I tell him to."

"Which you won't do," Clay stated with his own glare.

I thought that went without saying? "Which I won't do."

At most, I'd just go ahead have Grex move people out of my dominion. They couldn't bother me from ten miles away... probably.

"R-right. So, um, Mr. Grex. What does the third symbol on the left side of the standard summoning ritual circle mean?"

Grex just stared him down as if he were a particularly loathsome and stupid insect. Which, was probably the truth from the demon's point of view. "Just answer him, Grex. Truthfully."

The sooner we got this farce done with the sooner I could go back to my awful coffee and poor attempts at socialization. Wait, by having Grex answer for me, wasn't I screwing that up?

Whatever, stupid people sucked. Either one of these guys could have asked any summoner by now and gotten the correct answer.

"I should mention that Alice here is our new magical theory instructor," major Reynolds drawled out.

"Why would you...." Dr. cope started. Then visibly swallowed, and continued. "Why would you summon your demon here?"

"I wasn't told I couldn't. You guys should get used to Grex, you'll be seeing him often."

Right, why was I drinking this swill? I turned back to Grex. Well? answer the man, then go get me some real coffee, with the standard rules. This stuff sucks."

Grex rolled his eyes. "The answer is faith, of course. It is a request from us on the part of the would-be contractor for faith and loyalty."

"Faith for what?" Of course, the inevitable question. I think I asked it myself, way back when.

"Faith in your ability," Grex answered, as he had me about a year ago. "Faith in your intelligence and capability. Without any such faith, the lowest bar of entry, no demon will respect you. Without that respect, no demon will follow you."

There was more Grex didn't mention of course; since you could lose what little respect your demon had for you, and at that point they would actually try to get you killed, orders and their word or not. Grex hadn't told me that, but knowing what I knew now, it was glaringly obvious. The summoner deaths at home and abroad, many of them had a certain pattern.

Almost as obvious as all the veterans I'd dealt with knowing the same thing, and not saying a damn thing about it. A stance I did not agree with.

Grex gave me a look, and I nodded. Clay spoke up. "Grex, if you please, could you get me a coffee without any extras as well?"

Before my demon could say no or just vanish, I sunk the point home. "Go ahead and do it. standard rules."

Grex grumbled and vanished, more for show than anything, I was sure. I was more than half sure that if I hadn't said anything, he actually would have bought two coffees from my favorite shop. Now whether one of those was spiked with something awful when he came back was anyone's guess.

"You... sent your demon for coffee." Dee said.

"From the sound of it, it wasn't the first time." Dum added.

"Yeah, I'm in a bit of a unique position. I've a bit more control than most of us over my demon, and well, he can teleport. So coffee, pizza, booze, it's all on the table. Command hasn't told me no yet."

Then again, I hadn't really brought it to command's attention. But what they didn't know or care to realize wouldn't hurt me.

For some reason, the silence that settled over us was heavy. Anticipation, perhaps?

"So Clay, how was your first day?"

"Fine, fine. We discussed basic trap tactics and how they could show an area was clear, what to look for, that sort of thing."

The basics of the basics, traps stopped many demonic shenanigans before they happened, or at the very least warned our side that something was up.

"So that's what they go you doing? When do you start going practical?"

The return grin I got was pure evil, such as I'd only seen on drill sergeants. "Going to push for tomorrow. Non-fatal traps, of course."

So he wanted to go out into the desert and lead the raw recruits into a trap field to see who got 'killed' that early, huh? For us, it was three days.

Whatever, it wasn't me doing it. "Evil. I like it."

"By the time I'm done, this class will be the best prepped class ever to leave the tower."

I didn't think so, but I wasn't about to tell Clay no. At the very least, it couldn't hurt.

Grex popped back into existence... right between Tweedledee and Tweedledum. The twin jump was something to behold, and even though Grex didn't show it, I was pretty sure he was smiling over it. Yeah buddy, you still got it; whatever it was.

He held out coffee to each of us, and made no reaction at all when I went to grab the one he was holding away from me, other than to say "that one isn't the mocha you love."

Clay took advantage of my hesitation and grabbed it, popping the lid off with a flex of his wrist, then catching it before it fell. "Right, basic here. Thanks, Grex."

"Thank my master, flesh-bag. You live through her sufferance."

Right, time to head off that argument. If there was going to be one. "Now now Grex, it won't kill you to be civil. Clay was just being polite."

"Civility is not for flesh-bags, my lovely Mistress. You should know this by now."

Clay took a sip, and gave me a thumbs up. A little early, but if he said so... I sipped my own; no need to pull the lid off and look, since Grex couldn't poison me even if he wanted to.

It was indeed mocha, and in just the right amount. An iced mocha, perfect for the desert heat. Which reminded me it was time to go. I still had to move in and do the things, and I was expecting company.

"Right, well, it was nice meeting you all, but I need to get going. Got company coming, unless something has changed."

"Right, you grew up here, major Reynolds told me, as if I didn't know. Telling everyone nearby, really, which I wasn't sure about. It wasn't classified, but even so it seemed like an overshare for people I'd just met, and it told me he had in fact read my file.

"Yep. Got family coming, unless their privileges were revoked." Mom was retired, so she could always visit the base, for all she hadn't wanted to. Dad was also retired, of course, but he had fewer privileges. Neither had been able to visit me during basic, of course, but this was different, and unless I'd received a text or missive telling me they couldn't come, they were coming.

They should be already on their way, in fact.

"Right, see you later then." Clay hadn't moved. He was just seated, enjoying the coffee.

He knew, even if he wanted to hang out after hours, that today wasn't the day for it. When Clay's family showed up, I wouldn't interfere either.

"Have a good night."

I stepped out and into the halls, Grex at my heels. I should send him back, but it felt bad to do so after just summoning here to deal with idiots. The halls were mostly empty, and the few people present seemed to care about me and my demon walking the halls.

There was a chance that most weren't even realizing Grex was a demon, since his wings were hidden. In fact, what could only be a secretary, rushing by with folders of paperwork gave Grex a look that I could only classify as lust before moving past with a sigh she probably didn't intend me to hear.

Who would be the real predator in this situation? Probably the demon? Better make sure that doesn't happen.

"Grex, for the record, no...."

Grex interrupted me right away, complete with a hacking sound. "As if I would. Purge such thoughts from your mind. You would not lie with worms, after all. I would do no such thing with lower life."

"Good to know." He would if I forced him... but that was a disgusting thought all by itself, and I should not be thinking such things. Just knowing he didn't want to was enough.

Better thoughts, less disgusting thoughts. The grill was set up, the beer bought, the outside was... stupidly hot, but it'd do with some shade and the proper clothes, all was in readiness. I just needed to make it home.

My own car was in my new driveway. Even with the stupid paint job, I'd missed it. Right behind my car was my Mom's little compact. My mother and father were waiting on the porch, in the shade.

They should have called me; I'd have dropped the whole socializing thing.

All thoughts of being strong and making a joke by greeting the car first flew out of my head as my mother flew down the porch. "My little baby!"

She hit me like a linebacker going for the sack, and buried her head right into my left breast. I managed to brace in time to keep us upright, but... ow.

"Hi Mom. I'm back. Well, sort of."

Dad was much more cool. For one, he walked down the stairs rather than flying down them using some sort of arcane insanity power, and reached out a hand to shake: "Welcome back. We're glad you made it."

Lots of words from the old man here. More emotion from him then I'd seen in awhile. I couldn't pry Mom off, she'd gone full lamprey mode, so I just pulled Dad in close and let him join the hug.

"I made it."

At least for now.