Chapter 402: Unrest
"Welcome." She stood near the sofa as usual, dressed in her silken robe, arms open to Meira who rushed forward to hug her. I took a seat before such a welcome could be offered, though I thought a hug for me would be a long time coming. Meira perched next to Grandmother, helping herself to the snacks spread out on the low coffee table.
"You're aware Vandelarius is trying to usurp you?" Yeah, she knew already. All of our speculation was dead on from the small, smug grin she suppressed. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, falling into grumpy.
Grandmother didn't seem to mind the lack of small talk. In fact, her amusement grew into a full-grown smile at my pronouncement, sitting back with one arm over the back of the sofa, Meira sliding back to snuggle beside her.
"Of course," she said. "He spoke to you earlier."
Not a question. "Told me the civil war going on in one of the cities is our fault."
Grandmother snorted, still amused. "I'd hardly call it civil war," she said. "There has been some unrest, yes. But not over the two of you."
Meira looked up at her. "Then why, Grandmother?"
"I'm afraid it's my fault again," she said. "I've been Ruler too long, the longest of any Ruler in Demonicon's history. My own father stepped down centuries before his time. But I'm not prepared to hand over control of the assembled planes to just any demon. And certainly not to someone like Vandelarius."
"Then why did you make him Second Seat?" My anger rose again and forced me to my feet, to pace in front of the vast hearth. "So no one would want you to step aside?"
It was a big accusation, and I wasn't sure she'd appreciate me calling her a manipulative bitch, or at least implying it. Instead she stroked my sister's hair like she owned her. "I'm certain you know to keep your friends close," she said in answer, "and your enemies closer."
"Mom tried that once," I said. "With a witch who betrayed us all." Even now, almost a year later, my rage at Celeste Oberman and her attempts to undermine and overthrow Mom still burned strong. Especially knowing not booting her sorry ass meant the deaths of witches I loved.
"And how did it turn out?" Grandmother seemed genuinely interested.
"Not so well," I said. "We lost some very good people because she wouldn't act." Okay, not exactly fair. I had the chance to rid us of Celeste too but let her stay, thinking the way Mom did. Keeping Celeste near meant keeping an eye on her.
Yeah, not so smart.
"You have to trust me," Grandmother said, "that I have many more years of experience at this than your mother does."
Fair enough. Still.
"You also need to do the same," she said. "Though the more I get to know the two of you, the prouder I become."
That was a shocker.
"Thank you, Grandmother," Meira beamed.
"I am thousands of years old," the demon Ruler said. "I've birthed hundreds of children, all from different mates, searching for the perfect progeny." She sighed, looking suddenly tired and old. It was strange to see her vulnerable for even a second, and of course it didn't last. "None have been up to my standards, nor the standards my own father set for me. Conniving, petty, small minded, all of them. Until your father was born and I knew, I knew he was exactly who I'd been waiting for."
The idea she'd discarded her own children in the search for the perfect ruler made my skin crawl. Still, I'd met some of her kids, at least been under their judging eyes, fought their children and I had to agree with her they weren't the nicest bunch.
"I worried your human blood would ruin you," she said as my anger rose again. "But I am pleased so far. You are both worthy of my bloodline."
Even Meira looked uncomfortable while my fury let loose.
"You don't own us," I snarled. "We're not creations, we're people. And we choose what we do and for whom."
I'd seen her blank and cold. I'd seen her tired and old. And I'd even seen my grandmother smile as though she meant it. But until she rose from that sofa, her power surging around her, amber eyes full of fire, I'd never seen her angry.
Oh boy.
"You must learn," she said, voice booming thunder, magic crackling around her in a storm ready to strike me dead, "if you are to take over my Seat."
So Sassy was right. She wanted me to rule.
"Thanks," I said, refusing to back off despite the fact I could feel how much more powerful she was, that the briefest touch from her magic in that moment could have crushed me like a bug, "but no thanks. I already have a job."
She pushed. Hard. And I pushed back. Held my ground. Barely.
Oh, just barely.
"I need you, Sydlynhamitra," she said, voice softening as her power ebbed. "Your world needs you. Your father."
"No," I said. "My coven needs me more."
She stilled a moment, shrugged at last, her power retreating. "Perhaps," she said. "But what about a century from now? Two? Will you not grow bored of leading lesser beings as time goes on?" Her amber eyes burned me up as I processed what she said. "What will you do then, my child?"
Um. Whoa. What?
"What?" My brain swirled, contracted, fought. No. Freaking. Way.
"I assume then your father, in his stubbornness, didn't tell you everything." Grandmother shook her head. "He is a fool, and yet, these very traits are those that have produced so much power in the two of you." She fixed me with her blank Ruler stare. "During the experimentation, when Theridialis attempted to find a way to return Haralthazar to Demonicon, he uncovered the truth about you, my dear. The fact you are as long lived as I am. As your demon cat. And as your father."
I heard Meira gasp, but couldn't look away from the huge demon before me. "You're lying."
Grandmother smiled. "I'm not," she said. "And though I know you don't trust me, or believe me, it is the truth. You are far more demon than human, Sydlynhamitra, despite your appearance on the other plane."
And just what did she know of me on the other plane? Where was she getting her information?
"What about me?" Meira's little voice squeaked the question while my heart clenched and all of my thoughts liquefied, running out of my head in a fearful rush.
Grandmother's smile turned sad. "You will live a very long life if you remain here," she said. "As long as any demon, because of your blood. But if you choose to live on any other plane, your human side will dominate. How odd, the two of you-one who appears a demon, but is human, and the other her opposite." Grandmother reached down and touched Meira's cheek. "If you decide to return to what you call your home, you will grow old and die like any human."
Tears trickled down Meira's cheeks, and I found she wavered before me as my throat tightened, a hand of ice crushing my soul as my mind aged my sister in a spinning whirlwind, turning her into Gram with horns and faded red skin.
"No," I whispered. "It's not fair."
"Fair." Grandmother's voice was full of bitterness. "If only there were such a thing, my child." She straightened and faced me again. "I am willing to wait for you to grow bored of your little coven," she said, "if that's what it takes. But you must learn to survive here if you are to rule in my place someday."
Her bitterness was catching. "Well, I'm trapped here, aren't I?" I turned from her, arms over my chest, but resisting the urge to hug myself. I would not show further weakness.
"You are," Grandmother said. "Which means you'd better get used to the idea."
Round three.
Ding, ding. Damn.
***
