Chapter 397: Theridialis's Admission
Meria was so fast I barely followed her. Within thirty seconds of her first attack, the young demon she fought lay prone on the floor, groaning, while she grinned at me, amber eyes flaring with new power, as if this whole thing was really funny.
I wished I could agree with her.
My heart clenched as she absently strode over her fallen attacker as though he wasn't worth further notice, an arrogant tilt to her head, shoulders back so far I thought she'd crack in half.
"This is too easy," Sassy muttered as we followed her. "You're winning far too quickly for a pair of amateurs."
Meira turned and glared at him, just outside my door. "I kicked his ass!"
My demon agreed with her one hundred percent, but Sassy just swatted at her on the way by, muttering to himself.
I spent the rest of the night in and out of sleep, tossing and restless, waking from dreams of my sister attacking me while she laughed. Unsettled and twitchy, I met Meira and Sassafras for breakfast, grunting at Dad as I flopped into a chair across from him.
He very intelligently ignored my attitude as he sipped his coffee. Or what passed for coffee on Demonicon. It smelled the same with a dose of cinnamon and some kind of fresh flower thrown in for good measure. "Theridialis wants to see us in the lab," he said. "Up for a road trip?"
It felt like I'd been trapped on the mountain forever. "Absolutely." Funny how the idea of a change of scenery perked me up. Until I remembered our arrival. "Please, no parades."
Dad chuckled, handsome face kind. "No parades," he said. "We'll take the train from the fiftieth level."
"No veil riding?" I sighed in disappointment. "We could be there now."
"You know it's against the rules," Sassy snapped, head lifting from a bowl of white creamy stuff mixed with chunks of meat.
Rules. He didn't want to hear just how sick I was of rules.
At least I didn't have Pagomaris around to dress me in some ridiculous outfit. Obviously, she considered her job done, having delivered us to Grandmother. Aside from our nocturnal journeys to visit Ruler, the anxious and overly smiley aide was nowhere to be found.
Which meant I dressed myself. Three quarters of the outfits in my closet were what I would term so outrageous they weren't really clothes and I had no sweet clue what to do with them even if I did want to try them out. In thirds, the remainder were: Halloween Material, Wouldn't be Caught Dead and I Can Live With It If I Have To.
From the final category I chose a pair of black-I was so sick of black I wanted to scream-pants so tight they squeezed my butt and made it look sexy, actually. Hmm. A sweater thing with gauze, some kind of feathers I could wrench into a shape suiting me and-would wonders never cease-a pair of flattish shoes only two inches platformed, and not bad.
Would do me.
As I emerged into the hall I had to grasp my chest with both hands as I gasped and almost fell back. A whole phalanx of guards-like I knew what a phalanx was, but this had to be it-waited for me, filling the hallway with very large, very intimidating bodies.
I spotted Dad in their midst flanked by Meira and the very annoyed looking Sassafras and moved to join them, keeping my distance from the muscle-bound men and women who stared straight ahead and looked dangerous.
"Um," I said. "What gives?"
Dad rolled his eyes before bending to kiss my cheek. "Escort," he said like he was as irritated as the cat at my feet before turning and pushing his way through them. Well, it looked like he'd have to. But the moment Dad began his motion the guards shifted, making a perfect column of protection around us.
Felt like being guarded by a football team. If said team's members were all about seven feet tall and moved like programmed robots.
The very crowded elevator deposited us at a large station while I tried not to hyperventilate, certain all that weight was going to be too much for the platform to support. I'd not noticed the rail line running from the mountain into the city, probably because I'd done everything I possibly could to not look down. But now I hovered near the edge, a glowing amber shield between me and the long, long drop to the rock below, waiting for the train and wishing I could just ride the damned veil already.
Our transportation came humming along the line toward us from deeper in the city, a long, thin platform, this one contained and with seating ever present. I chose to perch on one of the rather comfortable chairs built into the wall and keep my eyes locked on my feet in an effort not to throw up.
I really had to do something about this phobia when I got home.
The train slowed after a short journey, the only indication we were coming to a halt Sassafras's impatient tail swish. I looked up in surprise to find we'd arrived at another station and had to disembark. Finally on more solid ground on the elevated platform, I recognized Theridialis's tower only a short distance away.
A platform rose and we were herded onto it, before one of the guards activated the console standing at the back and we whipped through the air toward the tower without even a whisper of air passing through the protective shield. I wanted to feel better, knowing the wards were there to keep me from falling, but irrationality won.
Cold sweat sucks.
The platform deposited us on the top level, the same as the lab.
"Wait here," Dad ordered the guards before striding off into the tower. I didn't bother to check and see if the automatons obeyed, but followed him quickly, breathing a sigh of relief when stone closed around me.
"Chicken," Sassy said with a soft clucking sound.
You betcha.
It was clear from the look on Theridialis's face when we strode into the lab his news wasn't good.
"I'm sorry," he said, perched on the edge of his stool, thick hands folded over the round paunch of his middle. "I've tried everything."
"So the girls are trapped." Dad slumped a little.
"That's the thing," Theridialis said, voice testy. "They shouldn't be."
"Sorry?" My dashed hopes gave way to confusion.
"As far as I can tell," Sassy's father said, "there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to go home. You energy is in tune with your home plane. Your power is sufficient to break the barrier between. But for some reason I can't uncover, the veil simply won't part for your physical forms to pass."
"Physical." Dad hesitated. "How about spirits?"
Theridialis looked sad. "Yes, indeed," he said. "That should be possible."
Was he suggesting we cross over and tell my mother goodbye?
"Miriam will want to speak with you," Dad said, confirming my fears. "I can be the catalyst for your crossing at least." He held out his hands to us. Numb, I took his right while Meira took his left. I felt Dad reach for the veil as Sassafras came to perch on Dad's feet.
We crossed over together before I could collect myself, before I could come up with something to say. Too late, my heart in my throat, I felt my spirit leave and slide through the veil, tied to Dad. It was the weirdest sensation, being disembodied, and for a moment I worried I'd lose myself.
The basement looked different, an amber haze over everything. Even Mom seemed softer, more mortal to my view. She paced the pentagram, coming to a sudden halt as we crossed over, a low cry emerging from her throat as she rushed toward us.
Stopped. One hand rose to cover her open mouth, eyes full of tears.
"Harry," she whispered. "What's happening?"
Someone howled, feet thudding on the wooden stairs as Charlotte hurtled herself at me, barreling through me like I wasn't there.
Which I guess I really wasn't. Clinched it for me.
She snarled and tried again, lovely face twisted, wolf in her eyes. She shook all over, hands clawing to reach me.
"Charlotte," I said. "It's okay, Charlotte."
A second pair of feet raced down the stairs, Gram's fluffy striped socks distinctive before I even caught sight of the rest of her. She approached the weregirl with a frown on her face, though I could see the concern in her eyes when her gaze met mine for a moment.
"Didn't work out the way you expected, did it, Harry?" Gram's arms went around Charlotte.
Dad's grim scowl deepened. "No, Ethpeal," he said. "It didn't."
Mom drew a breath, visibly pulling herself under control, though her hands fisted around large chunks of her velvet skirt as though she needed the contact to keep herself steady. "What's being done to correct this?" All Council Leader, my mother. Not that I blamed her.
Coping mechanisms came in all shapes and sizes.
"We're doing everything we can," Dad said.
"We're okay, Mom." Meira beamed at her. "It's kind of fun. And Grandmother is really nice."
Mom's lips trembled as she smiled at Meira. "That's wonderful, honey," she said.
"You're in danger." Charlotte shook like a leaf, still trying to reach me, madness in her eyes. "All the time, you're in danger."
"I know," I said. "I'm sorry, Charlotte. But I swear I'm winning."
She bobbed her head, swallowed hard. "Come home," she whined, the whimper of a kicked puppy.
Working on that.
"We don't have much time." Dad glanced sideways at me. "But we won't stop until this is over and the girls are home safe. Remember, we thought it was impossible for me to return to my own plane and a way was made."
"Hopefully this time I won't have to die." Sassy's dry wit broke the thin veneer of control Mom held. Her hands covered her face and she sobbed.
I couldn't stand it and was grateful when Dad released his hold on his effigy. The crossing back to Demonicon was almost cleansing, though I struggled with the memory of my mother so distraught, my bodywere being slowly driven to madness.
But the worst was my last vision, the fear in Gram's eyes as if she never expected to see me again.
***
