A Devil in the Dungeon: Divine Courtesy

Divine Courtesy

The Apollo Familia estate was exactly what Tanya had expected from an organization named after a sun god: excessive.

The mansion sprawled across a manicured lawn, surrounded by lush fields that were as green as could be. A fountain sparkled in the main courtyard, spraying arcs of water high into the air to catch the afternoon light in a spray of rainbow that was honestly quite beautiful. An ornate fence surrounded the entire property, leading to a gate emblazoned with the Familia’s crest.

It was something one would expect from high nobility, or at the very least, an extremely wealthy family. It was clear the Apollo Familia had resources, and they weren’t afraid to flaunt them.

A single guard stood at the entrance. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and possessed strikingly sharp features. Electric blue eyes narrowed as she approached.

“State your business,” he said in a tone that was clearly meant to be formal, though not unkind.

“I have an appointment with Apollo,” Tanya replied. “My name is Tanya Degurechaff. I was told to expect a meeting this afternoon.”

The guard studied her for a moment, his eyes moving over her. Whatever he saw seemed to satisfy him, because he stepped aside and pulled the gate open.

“Head inside. Someone will escort you to Lord Apollo. Don’t wander around.”

“Of course,” Tanya nodded and passed through the gate, her boots clicking against the stone pathway. She could feel his eyes on her back as she walked away, and did her best not to fidget at the stare.

As she had been rather focused on hemorrhaging any unnecessary spending, Tanya didn’t exactly have access to the most robust wardrobe. She wasn’t exactly the type to have anything more than four or five outfits at any given time anyway, but in this world she was lacking even that. Her current outfit was not exactly what one would wear to a formal event.

Consisting of a simple white button-down and a pair of black pants not tailored to her petite form, she didn’t paint the picture of someone meeting divinity. Not that Tanya cared, exactly, but she had spent enough time rubbing shoulders with the upper crust of the Empire to understand the importance of proper etiquette, even when meeting with a potential enemy.

Which was why she had forgone her armor and saber. Her knife, the only weapon she carried, was strapped to her arm underneath the baggy sleeves of her shirt. The weight was a comfort as she walked into the proverbial lion’s den.

The main hall was somehow even more ostentatious than outside. A grand chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling, scattering light from the windows. The floor beneath Tanya’s boots was polished marble. Paintings and tapestries lined the walls, depicting tasteful portraits or scenery or scenes of glorious battle.

Ahead of her was a large staircase, and waiting for her at the top was an unfamiliar figure. He was tall and slender, with features that bordered on feminine. Long, rust-colored hair fell past his shoulders, framing a pale face and narrow blue-grey eyes. He wore a white cloak with his Familia’s emblem embroidered on the lapel, and a sword hung at his side, easily in view.

“You must be Lord Apollo’s latest fascination,” he said. His voice was high for a man, with a nasal quality. “Tanya Degurechaff.”

A fascination. We’ve just met, and already this one is not too fond of me, Tanya’s eyes slid over his sneering face. I must admit, the feeling is mutual.

Tanya retained a respectful air, nodding once. “I am.”

The man’s sneer grew, and Tanya wondered exactly what was going through his mind at that moment for him to regard her with such an expression.

“I am Hyakinthos Clio.” He said his name as if it should mean something to her. When she didn’t react, his lip curled slightly. “Captain of the Apollo Familia. I have been tasked with the responsibility of escorting you to the meeting with our Lord.”

Tanya got the distinct impression he wasn’t happy about that fact, but kept silent.

“Follow me,” Hyakinthos said, turning on his heel without waiting for a response. His white cloak billowed behind him as he descended the staircase and stepped past her.

Tanya fell into step behind him, her eyes scanning the corridors as they walked. They passed a hallway that branched off into a mess of other hallways, and she spotted many other members of the Familia as they went about their business, cleaning or chatting amongst themselves. Some of them waved as she passed, while others merely stared with knowing eyes.

As they moved through the estate, Tanya began to notice a disturbing pattern. Namely, every single familia member possessed an attractiveness that far surpassed the normal citizens of Orario. She wasn’t sure she had seen a single person she wouldn’t consider conventionally beautiful or handsome.

Many of them were quite young too, some even approaching her own age which was... Rather concerning. Tanya frowned as she caught the gaze of a boy maybe a year older than her. He looked away almost as soon as their eyes met.

“Lord Apollo has granted you a great honor in agreeing to meet with you,” Tanya turned her attention back to Hyakinthos as he spoke. “Outside of banquets, people outside of the familia rarely get to speak to him face to face.”

“I suppose I should feel honored,” Tanya replied, unable to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

Hyakinthos glanced over his shoulder, his blue-grey eyes narrowing. “Most would be. A personal audience with a god is not something to be taken lightly.”

“Then it’s fortunate I’m not taking it lightly.”

Far from it, Tanya thought, tilting her hand just so to nudge her knife.

Hyakinthos stopped at a set of ornate double doors, their wood surfaces carved with the skill of a master. A very expensive master. He turned to face her, his expression one of barely concealed contempt.

“Before we enter,” he said, his voice low, “Let’s get one thing clear.”

Tanya raised an eyebrow, waiting.

“Lord Apollo’s interest in you is unusual,” Hyakinthos continued, his eyes boring into hers. “I find it to be frankly ludicrous, but it is not my place to question him. You’ve been given a great honor, and most in your position would understand that and show the proper amount of gratitude.”

“I see,” Tanya said carefully.

“Do you?” Hyakinthos stepped closer, looking down at her with an expression that bordered on hostile. “Because from where I stand, all I see is a brat stupid enough to dive into the Dungeon without a blessing, somehow survive, and continually rebuke the incredible opportunity she has been offered. Many would kill to be in your position, yet here you stand, trying to find a way out of it.”

Tanya met his gaze without flinching, utterly unbothered by his anger.

“I’m aware of my position,” Tanya said, her voice calm. “Unfortunately, hiding an attempt to coerce one into servitude behind the act of a good samaritan does little to endear one to any of the parties involved. I haven’t taken the measure of your god, but so far, I am quite unimpressed.”

Hyakinthos’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, Tanya thought he might say something more. But he seemed to remember himself, and he straightened.

“Lord Apollo is waiting,” he said, his tone clipped. “Do try to remember your manners.”

He pushed open the double doors without ceremony, stepping aside to let Tanya enter first. She swept past him without acknowledging the slight, and stepped into a sitting room with only a single other occupant.

The sitting room was smaller than Tanya had expected, given the grandeur of the rest of the estate. Intimate was the word that came to mind. The walls were painted in soft browns and creams, and the furniture was arranged to encourage private conversation. A window let in the afternoon light.

And seated on a plush couch in the center of the room was the man responsible for all of her trouble thusfar.

Apollo was a classical beauty. Red hair fell in loose waves around a picturesque face, with high cheekbones, a straight nose, and full lips. His eyes were orange but seemed more gold in the light. He wore a toga draped across one half, a red cape falling over his form as he lounged.

“Welcome, my dear Tanya,” Apollo spoke, his voice slipping into her ears like a warm melody. He rose from the couch with fluid grace, spreading his arms in welcome. “Please, sit. Make yourself comfortable.”

Tanya remained standing for a moment, her eyes tracking the god’s movements with thinly veiled hostility. In return, his eyes moved over her slowly, like a collector eyeing their newest piece.

Not a piece of her went unexamined. Tanya felt her skin prickle with disgust as his attention lingered on the neckline of her shirt, sticking to the skin of her collar where it met her neck. It was as if he was trying to peel back the buttons with only his mind, and it took every ounce of discipline Tanya possessed to keep her expression anything approaching friendly.

As I thought, Tanya ground mentally. A pervert. Perhaps even worse, if that boy I saw was as young as I thought he was.

“A drink?” Apollo gestured to a low table beside the couch, where a crystal decanter and two glasses sat waiting. “I had the servants prepare a fine wine. It’s a vintage from the Far East, very rare.”

“No thank you,” Tanya said, her voice carefully polite. “I don’t drink.”

“Nonsense,” Apollo smiled, and it was a beautiful smile, Tanya had to admit. “A little indulgence is good for the soul. Please, I insist.”

Tanya looked at the decanter, then back at Apollo. The crystal caught the afternoon light. The wine inside was a deep, rich red.

In situations such as these, the host offering you a drink was a sign of favor or simply welcome. Accepting was only polite, and refusal normally brokered offence or perhaps worse. But offense was better than whatever else might lay at the bottom of that glass. 

Tanya plastered an apologetic smile on her face. “I’m sorry. I really can’t partake. I plan on returning to the dungeon later, and I need to stay sharp.”

Apollo’s smile didn’t waver, but a brief shadow of annoyance flickered behind his gaze. He lowered himself back onto the couch, one leg crossing over the other in a pose that was clearly meant to appear relaxed.

“Very well, suit yourself. Please, sit,” Apollo said, his eyes never leaving her face as she sat across from him. “I’ve heard of your work in the dungeon. An adventurer as young as yourself, braving the depths without a Falna or party to speak of... You’ve captured quite a bit of attention, my dear.”

“I do what I must to survive,” Tanya said, her voice light but her gaze heavy. “The debt you’ve placed on my head requires considerable resources to clear.”

“Does it?” Apollo tilted his head, examining her. “You could simply join my Familia, and the debt would vanish entirely.”

Tanya shoo her head once. “I prefer to handle my own obligations.”

“How admirable,” Apollo said, and the words dripped with false praise. “But surely you must see the wisdom in accepting help when it is offered. Orario can be a dangerous place for a young girl with no Familia to protect her. The Dungeon is unforgiving, and even the strongest adventurers can fall to unexpected dangers.”

The veiled threat was eerily similar to the one she’d faced in the dungeon only a few days ago. Even now, she could see the similarities between this god and the woman, Azalea.

“I’ve managed thus far,” Tanya said. “And I will continue to manage. The debt will be paid within the month, as agreed.”

Apollo leaned back, drumming his fingers against the arm of the couch. “You’re quite determined, aren’t you? What an... appealing quality in one so young.”

The way he said the word made Tanya’s skin crawl.

Apollo rose from his seat and moved around the low table, settling onto the couch beside Tanya without permission. The cushions dipped under his weight, and she found herself acutely aware of how close he had chosen to sit. The scent of expensive perfume wafted from his person, some kind of sweet fragrance that burned her nose.

“Tell me,” Apollo said, his voice soft. “What do you know of my Familia? Of what we offer?”

“I know that it is wealthy and powerful,” Tanya replied. “Your members are well-equipped and numerous. In terms of resources, I’m sure your organization is quite desirable.”

“Then you understand why so many would jump at the chance to join us.” Apollo’s fingers found a strand of her hair, twisting it between his fingers as she sat there, still as the doll he was treating her as. “I take care of my familia. Beautiful things deserve to be protected, nurtured and given the chance to bloom.”

Tanya reached up and gently removed the strand from his fingers, letting it fall back to rest among its fellows. Her entire body burned with the desire to reveal her knife and separate his head from his shoulders, but she withheld the desire with everything she had.

“I’m not interested in being protected,” she said, her tone clipped. “I’m interested in clearing my debt and continuing with my life.”

Apollo’s smile flickered, irritation at her rejection showing itself before vanishing. He withdrew his hand, settling back against the couch, and sighed. “You wound me, Tanya. I offer you a place in my Familia, protection, resources, and you act as though I’m your enemy.”

“Are you not?” Tanya asked, her voice carefully neutral. “You piled debt upon me with the intention of forcing me into servitude. Those aren’t the actions of a friend.”

“Force is such an ugly word,” Apollo waved a hand through th eair. “I prefer to think of it as encouragement. An incentive to make the right choice.”

Tanya’s eyes narrowed fractionally. “The right choice for whom, exactly?”

Apollo laughed, a warm sound that felt entirely too intimate for the conversation they were having. “You’re delightful! Most mortals would have accepted my offer by now, yet here you are, fighting tooth and nail for the privilege of remaining alone and indebted.”

Apollo leaned forward, and Tanya was somewhat horrified to find a vibrant blush on his cheeks. “I find your independence quite stimulating. It makes me want you even more.”

The implication behind his words sent a chill down Tanya’s spine. She kept her expression carefully blank, her hands folded in her lap to hide the fact that they had curled into fists.

“Lord Apollo,” she said, forcing civility into her tone. “I must ask that you remove yourself from my personal space. We are having a civil conversation, but I did not give you permission to be so familiar with me.”

Apollo’s expression flickered, the warmth in his eyes cooling by several degrees. For a moment, the mask slipped, and Tanya caught a glimpse of something beneath the beauty. It was ugly and possessive, the look of a man who was not used to being denied.

“Very well,” Apollo said, rising from the couch. He moved back to his original position, settling onto the cushions across from her with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “My apologies. I sometimes forget that not everyone is as comfortable with intimacy as I am.”

Tanya doubted that very much. She suspected he knew exactly how uncomfortable he made people and simply didn’t care.

She took a slow breath, using the moment to calm the anger burning beneath her ribs. Killing him would be satisfying in a way few other things were, yes, and it would also do her the service of clearing her debt.

But it would also result in his entire Familia descending upon her within moments. She had seen the grounds, the guards, the sheer number of beautiful faces that filled the halls. Even if she managed to escape the estate itself, she would be hunted across Orario by a small army of adventurers who possessed divine blessings that she did not.

No, killing him would have to remain a fantasy for now. A pleasant thought to revisit later, perhaps, but not a viable course of action by any stretch of the phrase.

“I assumed this meeting was to discuss my debt,” Tanya said, steering the conversation back to safer waters. “Was I mistaken?”

Apollo’s smile returned, though it had taken on a more businesslike quality. He folded his hands in his lap, regarding her with an expression of calculated interest.

“Not mistaken, no,” Apollo said. “But I had hoped we might discuss more than just dry financial matters. Your debt is, after all, a simple thing to resolve.”

“Simple for you, perhaps,” Tanya replied. “For me, it represents a considerable investment of time and effort.”

“Time and effort that could be better spent elsewhere,” Apollo countered. “Consider what you could accomplish with my backing. The Dungeon’s depths would open to you. Resources, equipment, training from my most experienced members. All of this could be yours, simply for accepting my patronage.”

Apollo spread his hands in a gesture of false benevolence. “And in return, all I ask for is your loyalty, your service, and perhaps on occasion… your company. I enjoy surrounding myself with beautiful things, and my divine eyes can tell that you have the potential to become something truly exquisite.”

The way he said company made Tanya’s stomach turn but through years of careful discipline, she managed to keep it from showing on her face.

“I’m afraid I must decline,” Tanya said. “I prefer to maintain my independence.”

Apollo sighed, the sound heavy with disappointment that Tanya suspected was entirely theatrical. “You continue to refuse me. I must admit, I find your persistence both admirable and frustrating.”

“I’m not trying to frustrate you… Lord Apollo. I’m simply making my position clear,” Tanya bit out the word. “I will not join your familia.”

Apollo stared at her for a long moment. His golden eyes moved over her face, searching for something that Tanya wasn’t privy to.

Finally, he smiled.

“We shall see,” he said, his voice soft. “We shall see.”

He reached towards his crystal decanter, pouring alcohol into a glass. “Hyakinthos will show you out. I’m afraid I have other matters to attend to, but I thank you for indulging me in this enlightening conversation.”

The dismissal was clear. Tanya rose from her seat, offering a stiff nod that was the bare minimum of courtesy.

Apollo waved a hand, already turning away as if she no longer mattered to him. It was a move that Tanya had seen many times before from ones sure in their victory.

The door opened behind her, and Hyakinthos stepped into the room.

“This way,” he said, his tone clipped.

Tanya followed him out of the sitting room, leaving the god’s presence behind. The hallway seemed colder than before, or perhaps that was simply her imagination. That entire conversation had left her feeling unsettled, but it had also been enlightening.

He is not going to give up, Tanya thought. He may have seemed amenable to the idea of the debt being paid, but he has no intention of giving up this chase in any shape or form. Even if I manage to pay it back in full, he’ll just find an additional thing to hold over me, or otherwise abandon the pretenses altogether.

Apollo wasn’t accustomed to being denied, that much was clear, but he hadn’t openly threatened her or tried to force her hand outside of some subtle remarks. That spoke of experience. It was clear he had done this before, many times over. The debt was simply his opening move.

Tanya had no intention of giving him what he wanted, of course, but this was a problem she would need to be careful about dealing with. She didn’t know the full extent of Apollo’s power or his influence within Orario outside of his Familia’s prominence. She didn’t know what his status was among others like him, and she didn’t know how far he was willing to go to acquire a new addition to his collection.

Hyakinthos led her through the grand hall, past the chandelier and the paintings and the silent servants. Tanya kept her eyes forward, mind racing behind her calm expression.

The walk through the estate was mercifully brief. Hyakinthos led her through corridors and down staircases, past servants who bowed their heads as they passed, and through the grand hall where they had first met.

They reached the front doors, and Hyakinthos pushed them open with a gesture that was just shy of rude. Tanya ignored the gesture and stepped out onto the stone pathway without so much as a nod, and he returned the favor by slamming the door the moment she was through them.

Childish, Tanya thought, but didn’t linger. She stepped through the gates of the estate and began to head back into Orario proper.

Up in a high window, eyes the color of a smoldering hearth watched her go. As she disappeared from view, a tongue darted out to swipe across grinning, rosy lips.

“Such wonderful fire,” Apollo chuckled, eyes glittering in the midday sun. “But like all others, you will be mine in due time, my dear.”

And when she was, he would be sure to hold her close.