The Moon is Dead

Si'ir shouldered her coat as she locked up the shop, clicking her tongue at the sad state of the plant on display in the window. She was sure she'd watered it. Perhaps her age was finally catching up with her.

The lock slid into place, and a voice broke through the darkness of the street.

"Oracle! A moment of your time."

Si'ir paused, hand hovering over the door handle.

"Please."

That was...unexpected.

"I've already closed up for the night, Kaoz," Si'ir said flatly, turning to face the demon. "You'll have to come back tomorrow."

Kaoz clenched his jaw under the hood of his cloak, but Si'ir knew that the leader of the Hells would never dare argue with her. She hated being an asset.

"But I need you to gaze into the Grey," Kaoz pleaded. Si'ir was too tired to resist a sigh.

"Kaoz. If I had to open my shop for every sibling squabble that people came to me with, I would never leave," she replied.

"But Zereniti banished Bali from the mortal plane."

The keys fell from Si'ir's hand.

"To the Grey? Zereniti can't even get in to the Grey. How-?"

Kaoz picked up her keys, a remarkably kind gesture from the lord of sin. It made Si'ir uncomfortable.

"I know not," Kaoz replied. "That's why I need your help."

Si'ir took the keys from him and unlocked the door.

"Inside; quickly. We may not have much time before Zereniti hides all trace of what she did."

They rushed to the back of the shop and Si'ir muttered some words, filling the room with a dull purple light. In the center stood a large crystal, older than even the ground her shop was built on. She touched it, then invited Kaoz to sit at a table off to the side. The crystals embedded in Si'ir's body started to glow and crackle. She ignored Kaoz's fidgeting as she gazed into the Grey.

"Bali is alive," she said slowly, relieved. "But she's trapped. It seems as though Anodyne is refusing to allow her to leave."

"But she is safe?" Kaoz asked, and Si'ir nodded.

"Yes. Anodyne is making her tend the gardens. The goddess of nature is currently pruning the roses."

Kaoz proceeded to yell some not very nice things. Si'ir removed her hand from the crystal and glared.

"That is as much as I can help you," Si'ir stated, taking a step back.

"Forbruker must hear about this," Kaoz growled as he stood from the table. Si'ir shook her head.

"Don't you remember, my dear?" she asked, almost sadly. "A new moon is approaching. Forbruker will soon slumber, and even you won't be able to awaken him."

"Damn the moon!" Kaoz hissed. "Damn the Heavens and damn the Grey. I'll take care of this myself."

Si'ir didn't flinch as he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.