Chapter 517: Bring It On
Good thing I was prepared for the worst. Had already begun to gather my power, calling on my healthy paranoia and the fact I was so used to walking around with my shields as a daily wardrobe choice I merely had to boost them with the magic I held in reserve, more than enough to block Belkni's slim, large hand from reaching me.
His power pressed against mine, not as a weight, but a slim blade, trying to slice through my wards and tear them open. I was ready for that, too, had read him like an open book, figured his quiet nature meant a more subtle style. I'd gone up against vampire Queens and Brotherhood sorcerers, demon princes and an Unseelie lord. And though I was well aware how dangerous my grandfather's bodyguard likely was, I was also confident he'd underestimated me.
I was so right. His edged attack failed, skittering over the surface of my wards as I reached under him with my earth magic, Shaylee's green power surging forward to play and pinned him against the wall. Firmly. Not enough to crush anything vital, but hard enough I heard his head knock on stone.
They rushed me, almost as a group, Ram leaping to my rescue, trying to put himself in front of me, but he couldn't reach me either. And as the gathered demons summoned their own power, I showed them what I'd shown my grandfather.
They wanted scary bitch Syd? They could have her.
My shoulders spread wide as I grew in a rush, Ahbi's power showing me the way. The tornado of my family's magic burst around me, whipping my hair around, sending the table flying back, knocking some of the demons aside like a flat, rectangular bowling ball. It would have been funny if the other half of them hadn't thrown their power at me while Henemordonin stood back and watched, Sassy's sister looking desperately unhappy at his side.
Sekaniphestat staring with narrowed eyes, chewing her lower lip as though she'd made a terrible miscalculation.
The attacking magic I simply absorbed, sucking it into my shields to reinforce my power, a little vampire trick my demon happily adopted while she roared her fury at their nerve. I had no idea how powerful any of the gathered demons were, but their combined magic, while no real match for me, did pack a pretty good wallop.
Another swipe of earth magic rippled the ground and sent them tumbling, air magic pinning them to the walls, the ceiling, the crumpled floor.
"Enough!" I turned on Henemordonin and reached out with my power, scooping him up and dragging him forward, though his magic fought me as powerfully as Ahbi's aided me. If I only had her to help me, perhaps he would have succeeded. She knew him well enough, her magic familiar with his tactics she was able to pin him and hold him hostage, but it was the combined magicks of my vampire, Shaylee and the burning blue family power I possessed that put the fight to a very rapid end.
I didn't go so far as to force my grandfather to his knees. Humiliating him would get me nowhere. But I was done being pushed around, kidnapped, betrayed and bullied.
Done.
Henemordonin made a gesture at last, a cutting motion with one hand, and his people fell back. I expected fury from him, outrage. Instead, he laughed.
"Well done," he said. "Haralthazar has raised a most excellent child."
"Miriam Hayle raised me," I snarled. "And a coven of amazing witches." Bitterness toward Dad flooded me. Old anger I thought I'd dealt with already, but clearly hadn't. Maybe the fact he hadn't had the strength to free me in the first place when I was arrested for Ahbi's murder made things worse. Or facing down this arrogant ass who was his father. No matter the reason, I squeezed Henemordonin a little tighter before letting him go roughly, watching him stagger as I regained my normal size, shields still firmly in place and Belkni pinned to the wall like a roach. "And I'm no one's pawn."
Henemordonin's eyes narrowed as he caught himself, his gathered supporters still snapping with fury at how I treated their beloved Leader. Let them. I'd take them all on again, and gladly.
Definitely Ahbi talking.
"Leader, please listen." Avenesequoia clung to the large demon's arm, face twisted in upset. "You cannot win against such might. And Sydlynhamitra," she turned to me, "has proven she has our people's best interest at heart by going after a threat to our safety." She returned her gaze to him. "Our rebellion is already on the move. Surely we don't need to make an enemy of someone who could be a friend when we need her most?"
Clever girl. Too clever? Sassafras was brilliant, so it bore out his sister would be, too. But was she manipulating Henemordonin, or me?
Ah, cynicism and suspicion. My dear, dear friends.
"I believe this threat is as real as the war coming to our people," the little doll demon said. "And thanks to our former Ruler, Sydlynhamitra is the only one who can stop her."
"I also agree," Ram spoke up, the first words out of his mouth since the bridge. "Leader, I've been on this journey with her since I rescued," kidnapped, creeporama, get it right, "her from Ostrogotho. The Ameline she speaks of puts us all in danger." Ram took a step closer to my grandfather, head bowed. "Please allow her to finish her task while we focus on our freedom."
Henemordonin's eyes locked on mine. You understand I had to try. His mental voice was powerful, though the block in the veil made his words echo.
I'm not interested in your stupid rebellion, I shot back. I owe Ameline for far more than killing Grandmother. So you damned well better get the hell out of my way or I will take interest. Capisce?
Henemordonin nodded, ever so slightly before relaxing and smiling at me.
"Accept our gratitude for your vigilance," he said, motioning for the others to relent. Which they did, without question. That kind of unwavering loyalty made me very, very nervous.
My grandfather approached me slowly as I dropped my surface shielding and faced him down. One hand reached for mine, took it gently. "I am grateful for you," he said as he bent to kiss my cheek while I did my best not to shake my head at his arrogance. "Knowing I have such a fine, strong granddaughter makes my choices all worth it."
I bit back a sharp comment while Ahbi's power prodded me with a snarky comment. I could tell she loved him, but if he was this annoying most of the time, no wonder they didn't get along.
"I must oversee the movement," he said, backing away from me. Turning to look at his guard still pinned to the wall. Belkni didn't fight me, just hung there as though he belonged, eyes never leaving me, not an ounce of animosity present. "Your journey will be a dangerous one," Henemordonin said. "I must insist you take help with you, the best I can provide." Belkni's eyes finally showed emotion, flickering to my grandfather with a measure of surprise. "Go with Sydlynhamitra, my faithful one," he said. "Keep her safe as you would me, against all comers."
Great. Saddled with a sociopathic killing machine. Which, in all honesty, described Charlotte, my bodywere back home. Who would right now be going into apoplectic shock because of my absence if she wasn't deep in it already. So no big change there. Except this particular bodyguard wasn't on my payroll, so to speak.
I approached Belkni as my grandfather then swept from the room without a backward glance, Sekaniphestat at his side. She spared me one last look, though her dark humor had returned. I glared at her, hating her for Sassy's sake as well as my own, as my grandfather's entourage followed after him. Only Ram and Avenesequoia remained while I turned to stare up at the lean protector.
"My game, my rules." I tapped his chest with one finger. "First sign of trouble from you, you're entering orbit. Read me?"
He nodded, just able to move his head in Shaylee's grasp. "Leader has ordered me to protect you," he said in his quiet voice, "and I will do so with my life."
Lovely. I asked my Sidhe princess politely to let him down, knowing how much fun she was having and hugging her with thanks when she pouted over not being allowed to crush him to a pulp. I really had to have a chat with the personalities inside me. Their bloodthirsty natures were rubbing off on each other.
The bodyguard bowed to me as though he hadn't just been this close to death by squishing. "You asked me my name and, rudely, I didn't answer." As he straightened, he met my eyes. "I am Belkniatuman, but you may call me Belkni."
"Coolness," I said, turning on Ram. Pushing him hard with both hands on his chest so he staggered back. "You do that again," I said, still pissed, but not as angry as I had been, the residue of his betrayal enough to save his sorry hide, "and you're joining wonderdemon over here."
Ram nodded quickly, real regret on his face. "I'm sorry, Syd. I swear I didn't know he would try to keep you prisoner."
Avenesequoia snorted, grabbing my hand and tugging me away from the other two before hugging me with a fierce strength that made my ribs ache. "Idiots," she said. "But I knew you'd be well." She smiled suddenly. "He trained you to fight, didn't he, my dear Sassafras?"
I grinned back, unable to help myself. "He did," I said. "Has spent his whole life trying to whip me into shape."
Tears welled in her eyes as she linked arms with me and steered me toward the door. "You must tell me everything," she said, "while we search for this terrible infiltrator."
I had my suspicions about who the traitor's traitor might be, but kept silent. I pulled her to a halt while Ram and Belkni joined us at the exit to the room, realizing what she'd said. "I'm sorry?" I hadn't signed up for another passenger.
"I'm coming with you, naturally," she said. "Any friend of my brother's can't go into battle alone."
Oh boy.
I didn't resist as the tiny demon marched me out into the street, nor when Belkni escorted us deeper into the city while I literally followed my gut and the steady pull, though I told myself in no uncertain terms the second one of them screwed with me, I was dumping all of them over the side without a second thought.
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