Ally opened the door and entered the large office. Windowed bookcases lined the walls and a garish orange and purpled carpet lead to a large black desk. A black stone golem stood behind either side of the desk, enscribed runes glowing faintly. On the desk sat a very short man with a large head, and straight wiry black hair. He had on a gold trimmed purple suit, with matching tie, to Ally it brought to mind court jesters or the circus. He had what appeared to be the onyx carved stomach of a man, which he was delicately painting runes onto.
His eyes didn't look up until Ally had walked to the center of the room and announced, "you wanted to see me Lhecr."
He looked up with a unnaturally wide toothy grin. "Oh Miss Alison, Wonderful to see you."
"Oh?" He smiled like he'd just been given a secret, then said in a condescending voice "Sure."
He set down the chest next to him and began, "now I have a mission for you. Top secret! Do you remember Mr Trevino?"
Ally paused, and said slowly, "the reborn man? Who was going to the dead world to get his soul appraised right?"
Lechr nodded, "yep, but it turns out that our members on the other side lost his soul. We don't know, but believe it simply drifted away. I've already had Camille find his location, and now would like you to fetch him." He looked at Ally, swing his feet to dangle off the front of his desk.
Ally looked at him suspiciously, "the oracle is in Quairreth? Surely Camille-"
"Ah but here is the thing!" Lhecr shook a finger at Ally, "his soul was no where near Quairreth. It is somewhere on the 13th Level."
Ally was even more suspicious now, but maybe she shouldn't check the unicorn. "I will fulfill-"
"Before you agree I want to ask you something. And I order you to tell me the truth. What happens to contracts past the 9th dead world?"
Ally felt the sound rise in her throat as her contract urged her forward, "they cease to function."
Lhecr nodded, "if that's true, why am I sending you somewhere that would allow you to betray me as I know you want to."
Ally narrowed her eyes, "I don't know."
"Well I'll tell you!" Lhecr picked up a paper from a large stack next to him and handed it to Ally. It was the title page of a contract titled 'Alastair Z. Trevino, Exchange, Allison T. Wealthrot.' Ally's eyes widened.
Lhecr spoke in his cool suave voice, "your welcome to read the full thing, but I will summarize it for you, in exchange for Mr Trevino's soul, your mothers contract will be voided, thereby releasing you from my service to do whatsoever you please."
Alley looked up to see Lhecr smiling, his horribly long smile. "So you could live your life in the lower level dead worlds, among the despair and the damned. Or you could live the rest of your life up here. Free from me. So, do you accept, Ms Allison?"
Ally didn't even pause, "I will fulfill my duty."