“Does it matter?” You ask, throwing as much snarky attitude into your voice as you can to cover up how nervous you really are. “You wanted it, I got it. Now are you gonna make good on our deal or what?”

The figure across from you tilts his head to one side, peering at you. It makes your skin crawl and you can’t help but squirm in your seat. He chuckles. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t impressed with you.”

“I’d be lying if I said I gave a shit what you thought.” Your bravado is all false and you know it. What’s worse is you suspect he knows it too.

You hear what you can best describe as a cross between a laugh and a scoff come from him. Your muscles have never felt more tense as he rises from his chair and walks over to the table behind him.

His body covers his movements but you crane your neck to try and get a better look anyway. He turns back around and you stop. You act like you weren’t just trying to sneak a peek and pray that he doesn’t notice.

He eases himself back down into his chair, as he does he holds out a small, folded up, slip of paper to you. “The key, as promised.”

Your eyebrows furrow as you take it from him. “This is it?”

The hood in front of you moves in what you perceive to be a nod. “Recite the incantation,” the hood nods toward the paper in your hand, “and the access to the temple that you seek will be granted to you.”

“That’s it?” You look from the figure to the paper, not entirely sure that this isn’t some kind of trick.

The figure raises his gloved hands, palms facing up, out to the side in a gentle shrug. “That’s it.”

Though you can’t see his face, you can her the smile coating his words. The thought that he’s enjoying any part of this sets you be on edge. You can’t shake the feeling that you’ve been had.

He must see the uncertainty on your face because he laughs. Your eyes flick to him and you furrow your brows. “Don’t look so morose.” He tells you. “You delivered what I wanted and I delivered what you wanted. We’re square.”

You glance from the figure back to the paper. “Okay.” You stick the paper in your pocket and hesitantly get up from your chair. You start toward the door you entered through behind you. You cast one last curious glance over your shoulder but he does nothing to stop your departure. When you finally reach the door he calls out to you.

“Be careful once you reach the temple.” You stop once you hear his voice and turn around to face him as he lowers his hood. “You might wind up with more than you bargained for.” He has a scar running from the bottom of his right eye, up through the eye and over his head. There is no hair on the top of his head and you can see the deep scar the wound left behind. There are four more deep cuts on his left cheek that have healed over with time as well.

The sad smile he gives you makes your insides turn. You don’t like the implication of what he said but you have few other options. Before he has the chance to say anything else, and before you can talk yourself out of it, you turn and push open the door, walking away into the night.