Chapter 392: Visit With Ruler
Sleeping wasn't an option. Every time I lay down on the bed my head started spinning with so much information the only way I could quiet it was to rise and pace around the room. At least the pajamas I'd dug out of the closet the size of my bedroom at home were kind of normal. Some kind of black silky stuff that felt like I wasn't wearing anything. A little freaky, but the full-length pants and long-sleeved button up shirt looked so much like normal clothes I couldn't resist them.
When someone knocked on my door, I lurched to answer it just to shake myself out of the constant whirl of my thoughts. It wasn't until I had the door half jerked open I realized I should have been more cautious.
Saved by the aide. No battle-seeking relative on the other side to worry about, just Pagomaris, dressed in a long black robe of her own, a smile plastered on her face. She was no longer wearing the giant platform boots she'd forced me into all day and I was surprised to note she was actually shorter than I was.
"Your Highness," she bowed deeply to me. "Ruler would like to see you." When she straightened, there was so much pleading in her face I felt terrible for her. I certainly wouldn't want to work for my grandmother, from what I'd learned so far anyway, nor for anyone else in the family.
I knew Sassafras would be furious with me, Dad too, but I couldn't stand staying cooped up any longer. Besides, it was the middle of the night and I was on my way to see my grandmother. Surely no one would be lurking around-or risk her displeasure if I was late arriving.
"Of course." I closed the door behind me and followed the suddenly fawning Pagomaris out into the hall.
"Excellent, thank you, Highness," she said. "This way, Highness."
Okay, her new attitude was getting old very fast. Clearly she'd expected me to turn her down and was dreading going back to tell Grandmother I wasn't coming.
Then again, maybe I could use Pagomaris's extreme gratitude to my advantage.
"She could have just summoned me." I slowed my pace, forcing her to as well.
"Oh, no," Pagomaris said with a look telling me I'd just suggested sacrilege. "Mental communication is frowned on in the higher planes." I guessed frowned on was an understatement. Which meant Sassy was taking risks when he spoke to me.
Interesting.
I was about to ask her why when the truth hit me. No one trusted anyone else. Touching the mind of another meant a certain level of exposure. Yes, it was possible to shield unwanted thoughts, but it was simple for the connection to be exploited.
Even more interesting. And definitely an advantage if we could keep it in the down-low.
Speaking of which. Um, whom.
Where are you? Sassafras's panicked tone told me volumes. I caught a flash of an image, his view of my room, my bed rumpled, but empty.
Grandmother sent for me. I showed him my own location and felt him swat at me in rage.
You idiot, he snapped. What were you thinking?
You would rather she sent guards to drag me in chains? I tried for cold and logical and succeeded not too badly. Enough at least Sassafras's temper eased.
Be on absolute alert, he sent. I'm staying with your sister. If you need me... oh, Syd. His mind hugged me fast and hard, the fear behind his anger showing. Don't do anything stupid.
He cut off, leaving me shivering, and I almost ran into Pagomaris's back from the distraction of our conversation.
Her smile was as wide as ever as she gestured at the large double doors flanked by two huge guards. "Enjoy your visit," she said before turning and scurrying off.
Abandoning me outside my grandmother's door. Was there more to this invitation than I knew of? Um, duh, Syd.
Time to take Sassy's advice and pay attention.
I doubled up on my shielding, feeling my demon writhe and churn inside me as she prepared for the worst. The guards ignored me as I stepped up to the massive entry, both panels thick with carvings, as high as I was tall twice over, large metal handles in the shapes of screaming demon's faces.
Pleasant.
I raised my hand to knock only to feel power slide through the doors as the handles turned on their own and both swung inward.
Creepy. But a little magic show wasn't going to shake my resolve to stand up to my grandmother.
A wide entry greeted me, opening into the biggest bedroom I'd ever seen. If it could be called that. Full of statues, a hearth the size of a tractor-trailer, two massive desks covered in what looked like paperwork, sofas, chairs... the bed was stuck off in one corner, giant in its own right but dwarfed by the size of the room.
All black décor, all the time, aside from the occasional gold accent. It might have been opulent, but I'd never seen anything so freaking dreary. If I had to live here, I'd be depressed in about a minute.
Everything went away when Grandmother rose from one of the desks and faced me. "Sydlynhamitra," she said in her deep voice. "Welcome."
I was surprised she was alone, fully expecting a small army of attendants to show up at any second, making me pause at the top of the three steps leading down into her quarters. "Grandmother."
That made her smile. Okay then.
She gestured, coming out from behind her desk, dressed in a simple black robe of what looked like the same fabric I wore. Her muscular arms were bare, biceps flexing as she motioned for me to join her. She looked like some old-fashioned female body-builder who refused to let time take away her Miss Universe title. Honestly, I was a little in awe-okay, a lot in awe-of her and found myself stumbling down the first step.
Did I mention how much I love my demon? She caught me, steadied us, pushed me forward with confidence to join my grandmother where she stood next to the fireplace and a comfortable looking seating area arranged before it.
Fire crackled with power in the deep cavern of the hearth, the scent of smoke only faint as magic or engineering swept the climbing cloud away.
Grandmother towered over me, much like Dad did, and I wondered if he got his physique from her. So funny, I'd always assumed he would look like his own father. Showed what I knew. And while I was still guarded, the smile in her eyes was genuine and I felt my demon relaxing somewhat, though neither of us was willing to release our hold on the shields I'd reinforced.
Don't trust her. Sassy's mental tone was very faint and I could only imagine Grandmother's quarters were warded against power use. Ever.
When she reached for me, I took her hand, feeling the heat of her skin, the firm grip of her touch. She guided me to sit next to her on a wide sofa, turning to face me. The pressure of her power was almost more than I could handle, making me grateful for the shields. Refusing to be intimidated, I added strength to them and raised my chin.
She laughed. Did she know what I was feeling? Likely. But I hadn't pissed her off yet, so I figured it was so far, so good.
"Some nectar?" Grandmother poured from a large pitcher, filling two shining goblets with the familiar drink. I'd had some with Theridialis when I'd come across the first time and craved it ever since. My demon's desire made my mouth water and, though drinking it had to be a bad idea, I took the offered cup from my grandmother's waiting hands and let the warmth of the liquid inside the mug heat my hands.
Grandmother sat back with her own, eyes never leaving me. "I've been looking forward to meeting you, my dear," she said. "Your father speaks very highly of you."
The scent of the nectar, that mix of honey and chocolate and pure deliciousness reached my nose, making it twitch. Fine, one sip.
Yummers to the gazillionth power. I felt myself relax a little as the stuff settled in my happy tummy.
"He should talk," I said. "He's pretty amazing himself."
"I understand it was you who returned him home." She didn't move, just watched me, and for the first time I felt the predator in her. So, the open smile was a mask. I was seeing the real Ahbi behind the welcoming grandmother. Good to know.
"No," I said. "That was Sassafras."
"Indeed," she said. "But it was a clever insight on your part that made it possible."
The crystal. How did she know about it? There was no way Dad would have told his family about it, the sorcerer's crystal I'd taken from the evil Demetrius Strong after he'd stolen my demon. The power of that crystal had been enough to transform Dad's statue into indestructible diamond and given Sassy's sacrifice of his life the push it needed to send Dad home.
"Dad and Sass managed it," I said. Wanted to say more. Felt my tongue tingle with the need to keep speaking, but I held back, sipping at the nectar even as my mind begged me to spill everything.
What was wrong with me?
Don't be an idiot, Sassy sent. Stop drinking that crap.
The nectar. Oh hell no. I felt the glass slip in my hand as the shock of understanding flexed my muscles for me. I set it firmly aside and noted the flicker of annoyance in Grandmother's eyes before she discarded her own with a thump.
End round one. Ding ding.
What followed was an intense question period that left me shaky and sweating a little. Not that my grandmother asked me anything I would deem a touchy subject, as in things I'd be unwilling to answer, but they were deeply personal in a way, questions about my life at home, my friends and the coven. I was more stressed out I might let something slip I shouldn't than I was about the actual interrogation itself.
"Your mother left you to rule your coven at a very young age," Grandmother said. "How are you coping?"
Zing. "No problems," I said, struggling to keep the ice from my voice.
"Ah yes," she went on, eyes narrowing slightly. "You have your human grandmother to watch over you."
Double zing with a punch to the gut for good measure. "Gram and I co-lead," I said. "Much like you and Vandelarius."
From the twitch of her lips, I finally scored.
But my tally against her didn't get to rise very far. It was an interrogation, no question, hidden behind her smooth, deep voice and her guise as my caring grandparent. There were moments when interest lit her up, times my responses made her close off and ponder before she dove at me with another question.
I have no idea how long it took, but I was grateful when she finally sat forward and stood.
"I've enjoyed our visit," she said. "Perhaps you'd like to get some rest now."
A dismissal if ever I'd heard one. I hadn't had anything from Sassafras in a while and could only assume Grandmother figured out what he was doing and cut him off. I reached for him, felt an impenetrable wall in my way and knew I was right.
I paused at the door, unsure. I had no idea what awaited me on the other side. Instead of just leaving, I turned back and faced Grandmother.
"It was nice to finally meet you," I said.
Her eyebrows arched slightly. "Good night, Sydlynhamitra," she said.
I drew a breath, tightened my hold on my power and strode out as if I owned the place.
And almost ran right into Sassafras and Meira waiting on the other side.
"What are you two doing here?" I scowled at Sass while my sister pushed past me.
"Grandmother wanted to see me," she said before disappearing through the doors. I turned to go after her only to have them thud shut with finality in my face.
Rude.
Angry did not begin to describe how I felt as I paced the next hour or so away outside Grandmother's doors. Worry for Meira and stress over the whole mess we were in didn't help much. Neither did Sassy's total silence as he glared at the entry. I reached for him at one point and felt his entire focus sharpened to a fine point, aimed directly at the power surrounding the chambers beyond.
No wonder he was so focused.
Eavesdropping was intense business.
But when I tried to insert myself into the subterfuge, he slashed at me with a snarl before refocusing himself.
Jeeze, everyone was being nasty tonight.
When the doors finally cracked open and Meira emerged, I had a tension headache the size of a watermelon banging its way around inside my head, looking for a way out. But she was grinning, bent to lift Sassy into her arms and hug him, smiling at me like everything was okay so I let myself relax as she took my hand and turned me toward our quarters.
"Did you drink it?" Sassy met her eyes.
"No," she said. "Just pretended to like you said."
The nectar. "Nice of you to warn me about it," I groused.
"I didn't think you'd be wandering off in the middle of the night," he snapped back.
"What is it?" The thought brought the yearning back and I had to shut my demon's desire down quickly.
"Nectar has it uses," Sassy said, the grudging tone of his voice making me wonder what kind of history he had with it. "As a mild narcotic, it can boost power and help the user work past certain limitations." That was nicely vague. But he was continuing so I filed further questions away for later. "The problem is, it tends to make the demon more pliable. Willing to speak what shouldn't be spoken." He glared at me, but his expression softened. "You did very well."
"Thanks." I hugged myself as we walked, hating how wound up I was. "Nice of her to drug me."
"She just wants to get to know us." Meira's fingers squeezed mine. "I like her."
Uh-oh. "Meems, she's manipulating us."
She shrugged. "I know," my infinitely wise little sister little sister said. "But once you get past that, she's really nice."
Even Sassafras laughed at that. A laugh choked off in a hiss. I looked up, startled, distracted. Just like he'd warned me not to be.
Didn't look like the demon blocking our path had the same problem.
***
