"What is it?" Nero asked.
The creature's mask turned fully toward him, and for the first time, there was something in its voice that might have been genuine concern.
"Something that makes me look benevolent by comparison. Something that even I fear. Something that, if awakened prematurely, would devour us all before we could take three steps."
Nero's blood ran cold.
"Then why are we even here? Why is your prison built in the same chamber as—"
"Because," the creature interrupted, "the best place to hide a prison is next to something so terrifying that no one would dare come looking. And for a thousand years, it worked. Until you."
The creature clasped its four hands together.
"Now then. Do we have an agreement? Three tasks for three boons. One boon already claimed—waking your friend. One boon held in reserve for later. And one boon yet to be specified, though I suspect you'll want a way out of here once everything is done."
Nero looked back at Arthur and Jacob one more time.
