"Oh, you're really not who you appear to be, are you, mate?"

The priest's mouth opens and closes like a fish a few times, before he grabs Chloe's arm. "How did this thing come to be here?"

The Other leans back on the pew, resting his elbows on the back and smiling a close-lipped smile. I look between him and the priest. I can't shake the feeling that The Other, despite how casually he's positioned himself, is on edge somehow, his muscles coiled as though ready to take flight at any moment.

"I don't know what you mean-" Chloe starts, but there's no point in pretending as far as I'm concerned. This priest clearly knows that something is wrong.

"I summoned him by accident. We need your help," I say, taking a step forward and drawing the priest's attention to me.

"You summoned an Other?" The priest crosses himself. "God rest your soul. What did you promise him?"

"Nothing," I say, folding my arms across my chest.

"You're horrified I'm here, but I'm horrified that you're here," The Other interrupts us. "What are you? The Emperor? The Devil? Ha! That'd be fitting wouldn't it!"

The priest narrows his eyes. His thick dark hair falls into his eyes for a moment, obscuring them, before he looks around and then gestures to a door to the left. "Follow me. We can't discuss this out in the open."

I share a look with Chloe, but follow regardless. The Other brings up the rear, somewhat sacriligiously blowing out a candle on his way out of the main chamber.

The room the priest has led us to is not particularly comfortable. It seems more like a glorified broom closet with six chairs and a table in. Still, he takes a seat at the head of the table, sagging into it and running his hands through his hair. I realise he can't be more than thirty.

The Other takes the other chair at the opposite end of the table, removing his many layers to reveal the congealed gore underneath. As Chloe and I take our seats, the priest's nose wrinkles in disgust.

"Can you tell us what is going on?" Chloe asks, leaning forward on her elbows with an intent expression on her face. "Why does The Other seem to know you?"

"He doesn't know me," the priest says with a sigh, sitting back. "At least, he doesn't know me personally. It would be more fitting to say that he had heard of me."

"So you're from the Dark Dimension like him then?" I ask, ready to flee from the room at any second.

"Yes," the priest confirms. "They call me The Fool."

I relax. "An Arcana then."

Chloe frowns. "What's that?"

"Big cheese from my world, dear. A trans-dimensional being that makes sure the nasties don't escape and cross between," The Other interrupts before I have a chance to speak. "But Arcana aren't supposed to be casually chilling in the human dimension."

The Fool rubs at his five o'clock shadow. "Neither should an Other, and yet here we both are. Maybe those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones?"

The Other leans back in his chair and shrugs. "Just looking out for my Soren."

"I'm not your Soren," I hiss, causing The Other to laugh.

The Fool rubs the back of his neck, looking tired. "Well, you've certainly got yourself into a pickle but at least you haven't promised him anything. Should be easy enough to send him back. At least he hasn't seemed inclined to eat you. That's usually the first thing these things do when not bound by contracts."

The Other isn't looking at the priest though, he's looking at me, watching my reaction. I keep my face perfectly straight.

"He's not the only thing that broke through," I admit quietly. "Something followed him."

"Oh?" The Fool says, standing up. "Well, whatever it is, we'll deal with it after we've got rid of-"

"It was The Malignant, Father," The Other says, cutting through whatever it was The Fool was going to say.

The Fool freezes for a moment, before resting both of his palms on the table and whispering a short prayer under his breath. It does not fill me with hope to find another creature from the Dark Dimension who appears to take The Malignant as seriously as The Other does.

"It changes things, doesn't it?" Chloe asks, leaning forward. "I can see it on your face. You're not going to send The Other back."

The Fool doesn't look at her, instead he looks at The Other who, for once, is not hiding a smile. There's a hollow look in his eyes instead, like something has gnawed down into his soul.

"I think it's best that you form a Contract for the foreseeable future," The Fool suggests. "It may be the only thing that saves your life if The Malignant has got your scent."

"What?"

"Oh wow, you're on my side on this?" The Other throws his head back and laughs. "Didn't see that twist coming."

"If The Other claims a contract with you, then he'll be able to use his power to protect you until the contract terms are complete. Without that, you're left to his whims and flimsy human defences," The Fool explains, then he turns to Chloe. "You will make a contract with me."

"M-me?" Chloe repeats, looking pale. "But I-"

"Well, love, time to negotiate a deal," The Other says, grinning at me with his spiked teeth.

I ignore him and turn to The Fool. "Is there no other way?"

"This is The Other way," The Other quips. The Fool rolls his eyes in disgust, but he doesn't say anything. His silence makes it clear.

"Fine, what do you want?" I ask, turning to The Other petulantly. "What could you possibly want? To eat me? To suck my soul out of my body? Go on, name your price-"

"No!" The Fool shouts but it's too late, The Other clicks his fingers happily.

"Fantastic, deal done then. One unspecified thing for me in return for my protection until The Malignant is defeated."

"No, wait, I-"

"It's too late," The Fool says, tiredly, sitting down and rubbing his temples. "The deal is done."

I'm doing some recommendations for the rest of October! First up is Tempest's Fangs and Fractals! You can read it on Tapas for free! Link in the description!