The siege of Sukhdol does not pass without loss. Saving Sam, Henry himself received a fatal wound and could not live to see the much-desired victory. Dying with the thought that he had not even had time to taste his own happiness, Henry closed his eyes forever with the thought that he was ready to give his soul to the Devil himself just to look at his lord one more time. No matter how noble your actions were during your lifetime, when your soul is already open to God, that last wish is always the most sincere. So, having experienced suffering on earth, Henry endured the torments of Hell in order to be reborn into something that would be able to become his master's dog until the end of time.

Time completely lost all shape when Henry realized that he was no longer burning. That he was no longer a formless intangible called a Soul. Now he is a demon, tangible, visible with an incredible hunger to sow evil with his existence.

It was as if there was an itching desire under his skin to do at least something, to cause at least some problems, so that he could enjoy the dissatisfied lamentations and outrage of others. But Henry only watched from the shadows, trying to figure out how visible he was to others, how easily he could be recognized as a creature of hell. As a result, he hid long enough for his obsession to come to him on its own. Hans. His Hans, with a look of immense sorrow on his face, walked the familiar path from the upper castle to the tavern, where he washed down the incomprehensible bitterness with wine. It seemed like enough time had passed to recover from the loss of his friend. There are points of support in the form of subjects and family, but something did not give, something inside at first painfully suffocated, and then slowly corroded the heart, preventing him from thinking clearly as before.

Seeing Capon’s condition, Henry, hiding in a dark corner of the tavern, averting the eyes of the few customers, understood that it was necessary to correct the situation. And the most obvious step wasn't the smartest. There was a slight haze hiding demonic features, and an old friend sat down at the table in front of Hans Capon. Henry smiled awkwardly, pouring wine into a second mug, which stood alone almost on the edge of the table.

Hans stared at him for a long time with a slightly unfocused look, and then, frowning, he spat over his shoulder. Before that, he had imagined that a familiar voice had suddenly called him, or that he had seen the face of a dear friend in the crowd. But this? Hans could only say bitterly, ”you're not here,” and empty his mug in two gulps, squinting either to clear his mind or because the wine in this tavern seemed disgusting today.

They sat like that all evening. Hans, who was losing focus more and more, whispered softly about how he missed Henry and his friend silently pouring out a new portion of wine, feeling something dark and powerful was waking up in him with every sip. With his light hand, Sir Capon succumbed to the sinful temptation and got so drunk that he had to stay in the tavern overnight.

Only the morning did not bring any hope for a new dialogue. Hans, remembering who he had been talking to all night, was horrified that he had completely lost his mind, and since then he had not touched wine even at dinner in his own castle. He was sure that he was just confused by a demon. He came for the soul of a sinner who had led another to sin. Hans had doomed Henry’s soul with his confession, and now the dark forces were taking advantage of it, and Hans could only pray for forgiveness for his sins and for the salvation of Henry’s soul, who was innocent, that his lord who had corrupted someone who believed him.

Burned by Hans’ prayers, Henry did not dare to show himself to Capon after such a thing. Just saying his, demon now, name in supplication to the Almighty caused such pain that he wanted to run away as far as possible. But Henry was tied to this place by an invisible chain. Before his death, he wanted to see Hans, he could only exist near him, otherwise a very young demon would just die forever for wasting his wish.

Over time, this turned into torture, because at first Henry felt his strength leaving him with every Sunday prayer, and then he began to feel painful cramps in the middle of the week, until every day turned into a test of prayer burning his insides. It seemed to Hans that he would not be able to atone for his sins even if he left everything and became monk, if he prayed to God every second of his miserable life. But just the thought that he was responsible for the fact that Henry’s soul did not ascend to heaven made him bow down before the altar again and again. And then the architects arrived in Rattay.

Henry thought he was going to be torn apart as he clawed at the floors in Pirkstein's secret passages, howling in agony. In order to atone for his sins, Hans Capon built a new chapel in Rattay. In memory of a dear friend and hero, whom everyone remembered only with a kind word and from time to time whispered a prayer for the repose of his soul.

It seemed that lord's obsession bothered everyone around him, everyone tried to walk next to him on tiptoe, exhaling only when they were far enough away. Relations did not go well even with his own son, Hynce, who preferred to explore the secret passages under Pirkstein to his father's company, presenting himself as a brave knight on secret missions. In such circumstances, Hynce found a friend to whom he finally confided his thoughts and worries. His friend did not show up for a long time, remaining only with the glint of his eyes in a dark corner and the quiet clop of hooves on the stone floor, but at least he gave better advices than “pray and everything will be fine.”

At first, Hynce thought that it was one of the servants who was just too shy to show up, but one incident finally revealed who the mysterious shadow was. The young lordling went hunting with his teachers, whom, to be honest, Hans chose carelessly. A small company of two experienced hunters and a child only reached the bend of the river near Ledechko and made a camp. The unfortunate teachers preferred wine to lessons, and young Hynce decided to go hunting alone. He already held the bow firmly enough in his hands and considered himself old enough to shoot down a few hares, and maybe even a deer.

Childish self-confidence and the uneven shore played a cruel joke. When Hynce heard the crackling of branches, he thought it was his prey, and just a moment later he found himself in cold water, which was carrying him straight to his death. His guardian angel must have taken the day off, because it was none other than the real demon who saved him. With hooves, horns and very sad blue eyes that looked anxiously at the chilled boy as soon as they were on the shore.

It seems only his childish trustfulness and flexible mind saved Hynce from realizing that he was touched by evil spirits, because first of all it was his friend Henry, with whom Hynce spent hours in basements, hiding from babysitters and listening to stories about adventures.

Since then,with Hynce Henry could not hide, could not be ashamed of his new appearance and hoped that Hans would one day look forward to meeting him in the same way. But so far, all he got was a sharp burning sensation in his chest when his name came out of Capon’s lips in prayer for the repose.

Every time Hans prayed for the best, he did not even suspect that he was causing his only friend pain, taking away the strength to exist and the hope of a welcome meeting. In order to restore himself and continue to pave his way to his lord, Henry had to succumb to sin, feeding on it, reveling until it felt like blood was flowing in his veins again. Rattay has never been a city of saints, but even here it was necessary to adjust well to find the right approach. And Henry knew how. The main sin after Greed is Lust.. And Henry fed on it, finding loopholes in other people's dreams, giving solace in the dark corners of the city to drunks who were sad about their fate. Feeding on sin, Henry thought only about how he could finally find enough strength to get at least into the dream of the only one whose touch did not cause only pity and disgust, with which sin felt like a blessing.

But Hans Capon surrounded himself with so many crucifications that there would be enough for a new city cemetery, and the protection of the Lord did not allow Henry to get in, did not allow him to see, at least to hear the much-desired voice that his soul longed for.

Luck came from where he didn’t even hoped, and one day, hearing that Henry was being prevented from seeing his friend, Hynce went to his father himself for the first time in a long time. Ask how he's doing, find out about things in the city and about his well-being, about his plans. And steal one of the crosses unnoticed. His father went so far in his faith that for young Hynce, crosses became comparable to ancient idols. The Lord takes the soul after death, and Hsns from Pirkstein gave it away during his lifetime, which alienated him from his own family. Helping Henry get rid of the crosses seemed like a reasonable idea. One by one, Hynce’s father didn't even notice, there were so many of it. And some time later, Henry finally was able to visit Hans in his dreams.

Sure that for his Hans he would be just another silhouette, a faceless ghost, Henry did not expect to hear his name outside of prayer again. It was broken, painful, spoken through tears, but with a love that made his heart bleed. The pleas not to leave hurt his ears, the requests to return, the tears that even in a dream made voice crack from the onslaught of emotions. It seemed that they were both literally entwined into one, but it was just a fragile obsession that disappeared with the dawn. Henry only managed to ask him to stop praying.

From that day on, there was hope. Night visions that crossed all the boundaries of what was allowed, memories of that last night together and that first kiss, an outpouring of the soul about how difficult it is to be alone, how lonely and there is no one to tell. The most valuable advice is to return yourself to the family and not let a son feel lonely with a living father.

One morning, Hans woke up and realized that he had gone too far, allowed too much, and the last person alive and dear to him was suffering from it. That day, for the first time, Hynce did not steal the cross. And Hans promised him that he would personally teach him how to hunt.

It was supposed to be their little adventure. They remembered how to treat each other, how to speak not in dry phrases, but to trust a loved one. Only Hans was worried sick. Hynce knew more than Hans had ever told him. About the necklace lost at dice, about the stupid bow competition. Boar hunting. Hynce seemed to have read all his memories of Henry and knew his whole story.

A chill ran down his spine when he asked how his son knew all this, Hans received the answer that a friend had told his son all of this. Hans  didn't know any of Hynce’s friends, but it was unlikely that boys his age could have caught the time when a stubborn Henry was trying to throw Hans out of the tavern.

Only a suspicious sound could calm the growing wave of new questions and worries. Too close for a wild beast, Hans immediately pulled the bowstring, aiming between the thin trees, looking for danger. All I found was my son's concern and a request not to shoot his friend. promises that he's good. And a loud “Henry, tell him!”

Henry couldn't be here. He died trying to save people from starvation in Sukhdol. But then why is there something peeking out from behind a tree with eyes that can only belong to him? Something dark, unclean, blasphemous. But looking at it with such longing and pain. 

Hans was sober, but he felt drunk. It was as if he was imagining that his Hal was standing there among the green branches like a red spot, almost comically twitching his unnatural ears and wagging his… tail?

It was a demon. A real demon in the flesh, and Hans could only pull Hynce closer to him in an attempt to protect his son, but the child continued to claim that this was not an infernal creature, but friend. A friend who found horns in the afterlife for his sins. Hans wanted to run away, close his eyes, so that everything would disappear, because this could not happen, this should not happen! But no matter how much the Capon tried to ward off the delusion, the creature still stood, humbly lowering its gaze.

He was driven away only by a silent prayer. Henry (no, it's not him!) ducked behind the trees as if scalded by something, and Hans only managed to pick up Hynce and run as fast as he could to the horses, in order to get to the new chapel, where the two of them would pray until dawn of the next day.

It was only in a dream that Hans saw his friend again and could understand that his Henry really  had not become a guardian angel. His Henry had gone through hellfire just to come back, just to see, feel, and hear again. In the fog of a dream, he was on his knees, asking to believe him, swearing, promising to do anything just to be closer.

By lunchtime the next day, Hans Capon bought a chain from a blacksmith in order to sprinkle it with holy water. The hellhound needs to be kept on a leash. And if this creature will manage not to be burned in holy fire for its lie when Hans will ask for his real name, then Capon will be able to think that he’s not gone mad, that’s just fate itself. 

The chain was put on without the slightest doubt the next time Hans saw the creature, preparing to throw on it the entire bottle of holy water. A soft hiss rang through the castle cellar, and a grimace of pain was reflected on his beloved face, distorted by hellish features, as if he were being branded. Hans remembered the brand on Henry’s neck, which hurt his heart, but he would not dare to feel sorry for the demon. In the night silence of the city, the quiet rattle of chain links seemed to be louder than usual. Hans held on tightly, until his fingers turned white, clutching the metal sprinkled with holy water and heading towards the chapel. Only when he crosses the threshold does he notice the tension of the chain and a quiet child's voice encouraging him. The demon, who has almost dug the ground with his hooves, looks at the door arch in horror, either trying to enter, or break off the chain and escape. An unexpected guest, young Hynce, quietly encourages him and asks him to prove to his father that Henry is real and alive, that he can be trusted.

Hans was about to splash holy water on the twitching creature when the hissing finally reached his ears. A request to drag him inside, a confession that he has no control over himself in the presence of the Lord and the body does not obey, trying to escape.

A bottle of holy water fell to the floor, forming a puddle, when Capon took the demon by the horn in a firm grip, forcefully dragging him over the threshold and ordering Hynce to lock the doors. The demon immediately convulsed, causing the warm flames of the church candles to tremble with its movements.

It was like torture. To watch something with a beloved face literally twist in pain, under the demand to tell its name before the Lord. As his own voice trembles, Hynce’s cries in the corner of the chapel, asking to stop all this, not expecting his friend to be tortured.

“Henry! My name is Henry of Skalitz!” There is a howl and a clawed hand in another painful spasm beats against the shaky altar and the cross falls on his chest, causing an inhuman scream/

Hans bites his lips, practically whines, realizing that there are no more excuses left for him. He pulls the demon towards him by his dark palm, pulling up and picking up an unnaturally light body and tends to the exit, fortunately Hynce has already opened the door and asks him to hurry up.

This is Henry. Unable to lie under God's eyes, he uttered only one name, and Hans, although he still did not believe, could not stop himself. Pull the evil spirits out of the chapel and hold them all the way to the castle, feeling the smell of burnt flesh hitting his nose.

“Hans,” Lord heard a low, almost inaudible appeal that made his heart ache, “Let's steal wine from the basement of the rathouse?”

Hynce just chuckled softly, remembering how every Sunday his friend stole a barrel of Red Monastery Wine from the basement of the castle, only to open it with a displeased face and wave his tail like a wild cat, muttering something to himself about fools and their prayers.