Chapter 401:Second Seat
We were almost back to our rooms, Sassafras still in my arms, his weight actually becoming a burden, when Pagomaris appeared with two guards beside her. She looked uncomfortable, as though she was about to do something she really didn't want to, but her smile smoothed out as we approached.
"I hope you had a wonderful tour," she said, tone bright as ever.
"Would be better if we knew why it was cut short," I said. No need to be careful what I said to her, at least.
Pagomaris hesitated, her smile faltering before it returned full beam. "You've been summoned," she said to me. Meira took a step closer, but the tall demon aide smiled sadly down at her. "Just Sydlynhamitra."
I wasn't expecting Grandmother to call on me at all, let alone without my sister. Not after the snarky family comment she made. But the look on Meira's face was even more unexpected. She actually seemed furious with me as she spun and stomped her way into her room, slamming the heavy door behind her.
Sassafras squirmed enough I let him down. "I'll take care of it," he sighed, silver tail quivering as he went after her, power easing the door open just enough he could slide through before letting it fall closed again.
I scowled at Pagomaris as I spun to go to Grandmother's room. "If her plan is to turn my sister against me, she's got another thing coming."
Pagomaris grabbed my arm as the two guards stepped in front of me, blocking my way. When I met her eyes, there was fear in hers.
"This way, Princess," she said, a soft tremor in her voice.
Okay then.
"What's this all about?" I tried to catch her gaze again, but Pagomaris kept hers locked on the floor ahead.
"I surely wouldn't know," she said, glancing over her shoulder.
The guards. Nice to know they really couldn't be trusted. But that also meant because of them I wasn't getting the information I needed, and that made me testy. They followed so close I felt them breathing down the back of my neck. Testy times a million.
They didn't want me testy times a million.
I finally stopped dead and turned to glare at them. And while I didn't say anything, exactly, I did let my demon out for a moment, really out. She tended to be pretty scary, even for a demon.
Needless to say, the big boys backed off.
"Dish," I hissed at Pagomaris as we approached a doorway. On my right was a full wall of nothing but city in the distance, the left solid stone. I kept to the inside, grateful for the demon aide beside me blocking the view. But as she spoke to me, my eyes couldn't help by wander over the world far below.
"Be cautious," she whispered so softly I barely made her out. "Not your grandmother."
That was all the warning I had before the door in front of me swung open and I was led inside.
While Grandmother's quarters were opulent and dark, they now seemed reserved compared to the garish and overly bright space I found myself in. Not quite as big as Ruler's, just close enough I knew it had to drive Vandelarius crazy. His clear lack of taste was reflected in the clashing colors and bling bling everywhere. I suddenly wished for the tinted glass of the car dome as Pagomaris bowed low and presented me to Vandelarius.
He squatted on a large chair-might I say throne?-perched on a pedestal in the center of his chambers. He obviously thought the whole getup intimidating. Or maybe it reinforced his need for a sense of importance. Either way, I just thought he was pathetic. I'm sure it showed on my face, because his tightened, eyes flashing fury as he gestured with anger at the guards behind me.
"Your Highness," Pagomaris said at her most bright, "Her Highness, Princess Sydlynhamitra, as requested."
I hope he wasn't waiting for me to bow, because we would both be in for a really, really long wait if that was the case. Or maybe he just thought glaring at me was getting him somewhere.
Whatever.
"I'm here," I said. "What do you want?"
Pagomaris hissed ever so softly next to me, but no way was I taking crap from this guy if I wouldn't take it from my grandmother. Not when I knew he wasn't nearly as powerful as me.
Seemed I was more demon than I'd first thought. All of a sudden, power was everything. And I knew, could see it in how his body hunched, how his nasty little eyes narrowed, he understood just what I thought of him.
"I hope you and that bratling sister of yours are happy," he snapped.
"Not really," I snapped back. "We have to put up with the likes of you, don't we?"
Again the hiss from Pagomaris, this one more obvious.
Vandelarius leaned forward, power pushing out before him. "I'm sure Ruler hasn't informed you in some foolish attempt to protect you, but I have no such worries for your wellbeing." I felt certain he didn't care about anyone but himself, so that wasn't much of a shocker.
Though what he came out with next absolutely was. "Because of you and the threat you both present, one of our cities is in civil war."
Um, what?
"Nuneresh." I made the connection, glancing sideways at Pagomaris who nodded just a little. Holy. Civil war-over us? Why?
Vandelarius sat back, smirking now. "That's right. And if the pair of you remain much longer, revolution is likely to spread to other cities."
"And why exactly is that our fault?" No way was this pudgy demon playing princeling going to blame civil unrest on me or my sister.
"Because," he snapped, "they've been calling for fresh rule, for a new family to lead them. And with you two here, with your father's advancement, the people now know your grandmother never intends to release her hold on Demonicon."
Why then did Grandmother insist on the opposite, that our family needed to hold on tight, that Demonicon needed us? She'd made no mention the rest of the populace wanted new blood to lead them. Well, if they wanted another family, it made sense she'd be fighting tooth and nail. But there was no way the pus bag sitting on his fake throne before me was a better alternative.
"Hear me, daughter of Haralthazar," he said, "the throne is mine and belongs to my line from now on. When the old bitch dies, my family will be in control, my son Second seat." What little I'd seen of Cypherion didn't make me feel any better. "And nothing will stand in our way."
"Okay," I said, going for casual. "Knock yourself out. I don't want your stupid throne anyway. I'm going home-remember?"
"Deceitful child," he snarled. "I know better."
Call me a liar, will he? "Listen," I said, "let's get something straight. You're the one all hot and bothered over the succession. Maybe you have a reason to be worried. Maybe you don't. But if I catch you threatening my family again, law or no law, you'll see what real magic can turn you into."
It struck me then, with his beady eyes glaring at me, exactly who had set us up. He was just enough of a moron it had to be his plan.
"And if you want to kill me," I snarled, taking a step toward his little throne while the guards rustled in concern behind me, "do it face to face, you coward."
"How dare you address your Second Seat in such a manner!" He surged to his feet, pointing at me with one disgusting finger. "Guards, seize her and have her charged with threatening her ruler!"
I felt them moving, shoved them back very firmly with my power, a sense of recklessness taking me over. "You want to give it a go, Vandelarius?" I let him feel my demon as she stretched and pulsed with power. "Feel like challenging me?"
He glared, face crumpling, and I knew he considered it even as my brain screamed at me I had lost my freaking mind.
"Your Highness." Pagomaris broke our moment, stepping forward, bowing at the waist, smiling, hand on my arm, pulling me back. "There has been some misunderstanding. Her Highness understands completely the weight of her position, the strength of yours." Her fingers tightened in warning. "Completely."
Vandelarius sagged back in his seat, eyes still smoldering, but I was sure he was happy she'd given him an out.
Total douche bag.
I turned and left without another word, shaking in anger, wanting more than ever to just go home and get the hell away from these people and their insane way of life. I knew I'd end up on a short fuse for weeks after spending so much time on the edge of my rage, but it was the only thing that seemed to keep me going so I embraced it.
Pagomaris hustled along beside me, the two guards no longer following at least. We were almost to my door when she reached out for me again, pulling me to a halt. She smiled widely, too widely, fake and strained.
"I will see you soon, Highness," she said. And hugged me.
I almost pushed her away, especially when her power surged around us both.
Listen carefully, she sent in the tightest beam I'd ever felt. He will kill you if he can. And your sister. Your father. Do not challenge him unless you are ready. He appears weak, cowardly, but he is Second Seat for a reason.
She let me go, still smiling. "Be well, Princess."
Pagomaris left me there, stewing, but with food for thought, to turn and go inside alone.
Sassafras waited for me, Meira beside him, perched on the bed. My sister looked chagrined as the demon cat spoke.
"Wasn't Ahbi, was it?"
I sighed heavily, throwing myself down beside him. "Stupid Vandelarius," I snarled. "Jerkwad."
"You can say that again." Meira slid over to me, snuggling against me. "I'm sorry," she said. "I was really jealous."
"Tell you what," I told her, "next time you can go. Okay?"
She giggled. "No thanks. You can have him."
I sat up, pulling her along, Sassafras squashed between us. "It was Vandelarius who tried to kill us," I said."
Sassy nodded. "I figured it had to be," he said. "He's the only one who could command the guards to abandon you."
Meira pulled up her legs and hugged her knees. "What did he say?"
I filled her in on the civil war while Sassy hissed.
"It's not your fault," he said. "At least, not the way he told you. Your grandmother's speeches about unity and all of demon kind coming together aren't quite accurate. There has always been unrest. Discord. Those who would see the planes broken apart again, or at least given their own rulership, something they lost when the present system came into play."
"Poor Grandmother," Meira said. "It must be really hard to rule this whole place."
I didn't agree with Meira's emotion, but her sentiment was accurate.
"There's a reason she has such a useless ass as her Second," I said, reality dawning.
Sassy sighed. "I have to agree," he said. "It's likely Ahbi assisted his rise to ensure no one would support him if he chose to challenge her."
So freaking sneaky. I might not have liked her much, but my respect for my grandmother went up several notches.
"So she advances the worst possible choice so the people would have no choice?" I threw up my hands, pacing again. "I thought she wanted Dad beside her."
"She's pushed him, yes," Sassafras said, "but considering the incredible power your grandmother wields, I've always wondered why she's never forced your father to take his place. Now it's beginning to make sense."
"She wasn't ready." Meira nodded, a firm, sharp motion. "But now she is."
"She's sown the seeds of his rise," Sassy said, "but it wasn't until now, for whatever reason, her timetable is imminent."
"We're sure it's not Syd?" Meira met my eyes, worry in hers.
I shuddered. No way in hell could anyone convince me to take over this place. Then again, there'd be some changes. Even better. Or worse.
Sassy's tail flicked as he considered. "I have no idea," he finally said. "Ahbi is a mystery even to me. But you can be certain whatever her plan, Vandelarius is not part of it."
"And if she's underestimated him?" I stopped my pacing. "Is that possible?"
Again Sassy paused. "I wouldn't put anything past any one of your family," he said.
Just lovely.
I so had to get out of here.
My demon spurred me up. "Let's go wander," I said. "I can't stand speculating and the air in here is killing me."
Meira's answering grin probably shouldn't have made me smile. Especially knowing what we were purposely walking into. Not that I was looking for a fight, mind you, but I had a big wad of pent-up anger energy burning a hole in my gut and I couldn't stand to have it there another minute.
Four battles for me and three for Meira later and I was feeling much better. And stronger, which probably helped a lot. Sassafras's continued sharp discontent with my fighting ability did nothing to quench my satisfaction. I won. That's all I cared about.
After dinner with Dad, quiet and uncommunicative despite my pointed questions, I'd had enough. Sassafras left with him, supposedly to get answers, though I knew the demon cat knew more than he was telling. Unwilling to be a pawn any longer, I proposed a plan to Meira, one she immediately accepted. That night, rather than waiting for Pagomaris to retrieve us one at a time, my sister and I went together to visit our grandmother.
The guards at the door looked startled to see us, but when I knocked the doors swung wide easily, welcoming the two of us before closing on the unhappy guards.
***
