Hour of Mischief Read Online Free PDF Page B

much.”
    “On the contrary, you can,” the man said. “Because I can get you out of here.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Oh, yeah? How?”
    “I can do that sort of thing.”
    “You’re going to want to consider getting more specific really fast, bastard.” I raised my metal fist again. I itched for another good punch, preferably one to knock the smug expression off his face. “How can you expect to get me out of one of the most heavily guarded prisons in the human realms?”
    The man’s green eyes twinkled. “Because I am the God of Mischief, little human.”
    Now, just to make something clear, I can be accepting of a lot of things and am generally good at keeping my calm in even the most outlandish situation. But in that moment, my jaw dropped, and I blinked dumbly. “You’re. . . .”
    “Itazura, at your service.” The man gave a low bow.
    I stared, closed my mouth, and then punched him in the face again.
    I was playing that punching card
a lot
today.
    “You expect me to believe that?” I snapped.
    “Great Abyss, girl! Stop using your left arm.” The supposed God of Mischief rubbed his cheek. “And I’m not lying. I got into this room without opening the door, didn’t I?”
    I paused and dropped my fist ever so slightly. He had a point. That was pretty weird.
    “And if you need more proof,” Itazura said, reaching into his pocket. “I also nicked the keys.”
    I stared at the shiny, beautiful keys dangling from the man’s fingers, and I lowered my fist the rest of the way. Here’s the thing about stealing keys from a vigilant guard: You can’t do it. Believe me; I’ve tried and it almost ended very badly. They get these operations in the center ring of Fortuna to improve their senses. Robotic ears, enhanced vision, and mechanical limbs much fancier than my arm. Plus you couldn’t even become a member of the vigilant squad unless you passed an exam testing your skills of observation. Bottom line: you can’t steal keys from the vigilant squad.
    Yet here this man stood, dangling a glimmering set of keys in front of my face. If he had managed to snatch them, he had to be the God of Mischief.
    Oh gods. . . .
    “I just punched a god,” I muttered, taking a step back from him. “Holy Abyss, I just punched a god.”
    “Yes. Twice.” Itazura nodded, an amused expression on his face. “It happens to me more than you’d think. People just don’t appreciate me.”
    “Maybe because you’re annoying.” I scowled.
    Itazura laughed. “You know I’m a god, yet you still insult me. Oh, I really like you.”
    “Glad to hear it.” I crossed my arms. “So, are you getting me out or not?”
    “Wait, wait, little human. I have conditions,” Itazura said, holding up a finger.
    “Great.”
    “Oh don’t look so miserable.” Itazura leaned against the wall. “I just require the assistance of a human for certain matters. No, no.” The god held up his hand, when I opened my mouth to interrupt. “Don’t tell me to be more specific because I won’t. I will explain after you agree.”
    “This sounds like a questionable business deal to me,” I muttered. “What’s the catch?”
    “Catch? Whatever do you mean?”
    “You know, for a god who’s supposed to be good at lying, you are
terrible
at it.”
    Itazura tilted his head to the side. “Not when I don’t want to be.”
    “So let me get this straight,” I said. “I agree to help you and then you help my friends and me escape?”
    “No, no.” Itazura shook his head. “I’ll help you escape first and I will only help your friends escape when you have done what I ask. I’m not so foolish as to trust someone who calls
me
their patron god.” He rested a hand on my head and I swatted it away.
    “You expect me to abandon my friends here and go around doing all of your dirty work?”
    Itazura shrugged. “It’s the only way you can save them, little human. Whether you like it or not, no one else is going to bail you out.” He shook the keys and