"Because I need the contents translated."
"But I told you—"
"No," I interrupted. "You told me what you thought I needed to know. But there was more than just an incantation in there, wasn't there?"
He merely lifted an eyebrow. I snorted softly. The reaper, like everyone else, was looking after his own interests first and foremost.
"So what is in there?" Tao said, propping his butt on the table and pushing my burger forward.
I took the hint and picked it up, taking several delicious mouthfuls before answering, "According to my father, it'll tell me what the keys are."
Ilianna's gaze jumped to mine. "You talked to your dad? What's he like?"
"Ghostly."
"As in dead and just a spirit?" Tao asked with a frown.
"No. He's alive, but the ability to take on flesh has been taken from him."
"Oh." Ilianna began slathering a thicker, smellier cream over my feet. "Why don't you just ask the reaper what the keys are?"
"Azriel is my name," he said, voice holding a slight edge. "Not reaper. And you can ask me questions directly."
She glanced at him in surprise. "Fair enough. So tell us, Azriel, what do the keys look like?"
"I do not know, because there is no such description in the book. Maybe Hieu lies."
"He said I was reading it wrong, so maybe you were, too." I winced as Ilianna's cream began to sting, then added, "He wants these keys found as much as anyone else. Only he wants me to find them."