Chapter 499: Warnings
Again, it seemed like forever went by while I discarded urge after urge to break out of my cell and go hunting. I only succeeded in keeping my demon in check thanks to the combined power of my vampire, Shaylee and my witch magic, even as the urgency of the imposed oath slowly built in pressure until I felt certain my chest would explode.
More voices behind the door spun me around, eagerly reaching for Dad, lurching to the exit. Only to find myself clutching, not at my father, but the sadly smiling Theridialis.
"Sydlynn, dear girl," he said as he hugged me to his portly body while the door closed on us. "How are you holding up?"
How was I holding-?!? He was lucky I had a firm grasp on my demon or he'd be prone on the floor and likely unconscious for a very long time.
"I take it that means you're not here to let me out." Clenched teeth served me well yet again. At this rate, I'd be wearing dentures by the age of twenty-five from all the grinding I'd done over the years.
"I'm afraid not." He released me, sagging, round belly a wave of jiggles as his head fell forward, mouth pulling down at the corners. "Things are not going well, Sydlynn. I came to warn you."
Um, what? "Dad has proof I didn't kill Grandmother," I said.
"While that is true," he said, "there is other proof being presented before the tribunal, a great deal of it, in fact. And since your father's word can't be unbiased..."
"He's Ruler," I snapped. "His word should be good enough."
"I agree." Theridialis sighed, sitting gingerly on the edge of my metal bunk, the bolts holding it to the wall groaning under his weight. "But there are many who oppose your father, Sydlynn. Who see him as weak, no true replacement for his mother. And who now circle like kaftaka with fresh blood in the water."
I didn't know what a kaftaka was, but sharks and razor teeth seemed to fit the bill.
Theridialis burst into tears, chubby hands covering his face. I tried to sit beside him, but didn't want to risk the bunk collapsing beneath us. Instead, I patted his back, feeling very weird I was comforting him when it was my ass on the line.
"My own ex-mate," he choked at last, "speaks against you." He looked up, amber eyes bloodshot and glowing in his grief. "I know not why she lies, or what her agenda is, but my heart is broken, Sydlynn. Sassafras's mother and I have known each other for centuries. This is a betrayal of all we've ever stood for."
Considering in what low esteem Sass held his mom, I found Theridialis's reaction odd, but continued to pat his back. "Does she have a lot of sway?" This could be very bad.
"She does," he said. "Though never with Ahbi herself. With other demons who have craved Ruler's power for a very long time."
"Her word against mine." I shook my head, trying to calm my pounding heart. "I'll win, Theridialis."
"That's just the thing," he whispered. "She showed us the murder, Sydlynn. And it was your magic that killed Ahbi."
Excuse me, please? "Hell, no."
"Hell, yes." He snuffled, wiping his face on the sleeve of his elaborate robe. "Let me show you." One hand clamped over my wrist as Theridialis's mind opened and I found myself thrust into the same familiar scene.
But this one was different. My grandmother stood at her desk, reading something she'd etched in fire before her. I felt a surge of magic-witch magic, definitely-watched as Ahbi stood with a smile, gesturing as she cleared her working space and approached the window, the veil tearing open.
I stepped through the gap, power flaring in my hands as I crossed, impacting Grandmother's chest. She cried out, reached for me as she fell. I approached her, kicked her with one foot until she rolled on her side, and then her face, groaning.
Grinning, I spun and left the scene.
"Wait!" I jerked my hand free of Theridialis's grip, lungs collapsing as I fought for air, more sobs trying to surface while I struggled with what I'd just witnessed. "That wasn't me."
"I know it wasn't," he said. "But it looked like you, and the witch magic made it feel like you. To the tribunal, that could be enough."
"This is a trick." Fiery anger finally surged and I let it, feeling it engulf me as I spun away from the unhappy demon, my own howling her fury. Almost time to let her out. "Ameline set me up."
"Your father mentioned this witch you've fought in the past," Theridialis said. "And that you think she is the cause of Ahbi's death?"
I turned back, hardly hearing him while I tried to formulate a plan of escape. I couldn't stay here any longer. I'd done this song and dance one too many times and wasn't sure even my particular invincibility would protect me if it came to a guilty verdict. Humans might burn witches and vampires drain their own dry, but demons had particularly dark hearts and I had no desire to be stripped of my magic, turned into a drooling, empty shell and disposed of in the heart of the mountain's magma core.
Nope. Nope. No thanks.
Theridialis still waited for an answer to his question. "Ameline did this," I said. I know she did." My eyes met Theridialis's amber gaze. "I need to talk to Dad." This was nuts. No more sitting around. Ameline might have pushed me into a corner, but no way was I letting things go any further.
The grief and shock holding me hostage shattered as I let my demon out.
But Theridialis surged to his feet, shaking his head, horror on his face. "No, no, you mustn't." He glanced at the door, as though knowing what I was thinking, hands grasping for me while he turned back to face me. "Please, you mustn't."
"I won't let them strip my power and kill me for something I didn't do," I snarled.
"Nor will I," he whispered. "Or your father. But if you flee now, before you can be heard..." he shook his head, jowls trembling, eyes pleading with me, magic too. "You must think of your father."
To hell with politics. Dad was a big boy and I wasn't going down for this, no way, no how. But the fear on Theridialis's face made me sigh, stuff my demon back down while she cursed me and kicked at the other magicks holding her in.
Just a few minutes more, I sent her, barely enough of a consolation to calm her, as I clenched my fists around a double handful of Theridialis's robe, reaching for Dad myself only to meet a solid wall of nothing.
"Shields." More teeth clenching. My jaw was getting a wonderful workout. Fine. Whatever. "Tell Dad," I said, since I couldn't do so myself, "he has an hour."
The portly scientist nodded quickly. "I'll tell him," he said. "Once I've cleared the prison level."
And the shields. Lovely.
Theridialis left me to fume. Now that I'd broken free of the dark melancholy and horrible weakness, the oath Ahbi instilled flared to further life, driving me to pace in stomping steps. My feet ached from the impact on the floor, hands clenched so tight I couldn't feel my fingers from lack of circulation. I knew the geas had to be reaching its pressure limit from the tingling racing through me, demanding I pay attention, go after Ameline at once. I had to act soon or, according to my demon, die.
Dying was not on my agenda for tonight.
When the door opened the third time and three Guards marched in, crowding my little space, I released a relieved gust of air and almost smiled, not in happiness, but because things were finally moving ahead.
"About time," I said.
"It certainly is," one of them answered. And closed the door behind him.
***
