Chapter 530: Remorseless
No repentance in her, not even a little, as Sassy's mother was dumped on her knees before the thrones. I kept my magic in reserve, just in case, though I knew Dad would never let the attractive scientist act against him.
Still. Better safe than fighting a power-crazed and desperate demon looking to save her own skin.
"Sekaniphestat, Lady of the Fourth Plane," Dad said, "you are accused of aiding a foreign power in entering our plane and using your influence to assist said power to attack the Node which protects our home." Ameline's little helper. How quaint.
So many dark promises to unravel.
One of Dad's hands twitched as though he barely held back the need to choke her to death himself. "You are also accused of attacking the heir to Second Seat and drugging her with illegal substances for your own gain." No mention of Meira's addiction. She stood solid beside Dad, face a calm mask, so I could only guess what was going on behind the burning in her amber eyes.
If I was Sekaniphestat, I'd have to hope Dad didn't decide to let my sister mete out her own brand of justice.
The scientist sagged just a fraction before her back straightened again as Sassy hissed softly. "I admit my guilt," she said in a voice ringing with passion. "But I only acted to further the power of my Ruler and our world." I knew what was coming before Sekaniphestat tried the oldest trick in the book. "I had no idea the evil Ameline was manipulating me, using power against me to coerce my cooperation." She bowed her head to my father. "I beg you, Ruler, show mercy. I was duped and betrayed by a false demon who promised me your hand." She looked up again, tears artfully trickling down her cheeks. "Who claimed she was your daughter on our first meeting, who lied to me as much as I became a liar. But please, I beg you," she reached out to him, all her false desire on her face, "believe your hand is all I have ever wanted."
Gag me, someone, please, before I said something really, really inappropriate. Or, better yet, gag her and let her choke on it.
"You admit you conspired with Ameline, a witch of the human plane." Dad wasn't softening even a bit.
"I do." Did Sekaniphestat really think she could talk her way out of the inevitable? "By the time she told me who she really was, it was too late to back out. Ahbi was dead and your daughter in prison for the crime." She drew a steadying breath. "The plan was Ameline's from the beginning, to strengthen your position. I brought her across the first time, when she contacted me, using, it turned out, the stolen power of a demon boy." I felt Todd squirm inside me and knew I had to get him and the others out soon. No way was I willing to let three more minds share my head.
Things were crowded enough in there as it was.
"She swore to me I would be a hero of our people once she told me the truth." Okay, well I could buy that one. Ameline was the queen of manipulation. "I accepted because I had no choice, took the risk, only wanting to prove to you, Ruler, Haralthazar," that was gutsy, using his real name, but I guessed she had nothing to lose, "so you would see me for the perfect mate." She crawled forward on her knees, hands clasped under her chin. "Please, my love."
She did not just call my dad her love. Did not. Before I could rip her apart and scatter her disgustingness all over Ostrogotho, fury feeding my need for her blood, Dad sent a flash of magic over her, crushing her to the floor.
I hoped it hurt. A lot. How dare she? Quivering, thinking of Mom and Dad and how much this sucked, I held in my temper, waiting for Dad to finish her.
"And Her Highness?" Dad's magic jabbed the groaning demon where she writhed on the floor.
"Also Ameline's idea," Sekaniphestat wailed through her pain. "I needed access to the princess so I could track Sydlynhamitra." She panted a few breaths, Dad easing up on her enough she could speak again. "It was no end of frustration to her how Sydlynhamitra tracked her movements."
"You can blame that on Grandmother," I said, cold and crisp, keeping the boiling rage I felt behind a thick wall of ice so I wouldn't explode. "And her personal power."
Sekaniphestat's eyes flew wide before she moaned softly. "The horrid old creature," she said. "I should have known she wouldn't let death stop her."
The family sighed, recoiling from the fallen demon, whispering among themselves while Dad pulled himself under control. I found myself comparing him to his mother, and knew he had a long way to go to fill her shoes. Which kind of made me happy.
Hopefully, he never would.
"Sekaniphestat," Dad rumbled, magic rolling over the whole room, silencing the watching demons, "you are found guilty by admission and sentenced to be stripped of your power and then killed." He didn't wait, not even a moment, as Sassafras squirmed in my arms, turning his head to press his nose against my shoulder, Dad's power lifting like a great fist and slamming down on the terrified Sekaniphestat.
I can't watch, Sass whispered as her soul lifted free of her body, jerked loose by Dad's magic to hover over her collapsing form, sightless eyes staring directly at me as she sagged to the floor. I hated her, Syd. But she was my mother.
I hugged him, kissed the top of his head as Sassy's brother stepped forward and lifted the empty body of his mother into his arms before bowing to his Ruler and turning, a group of Guards at his back, before marching off.
Sekaniphestat's magic hovered, still free as Dad turned to Meira. "Her magic is yours, my child," he said. "Accept it, as a gift."
Meira shuddered delicately as the demon's power entered her. I watched the monster flare in her eyes, her struggle to regain control of herself barely visible as Dad supported her on one side and Henemordonin copied him on the other. I almost reached for her, but held back.
This was her fight to win.
It only took my sister a few heartbeats to suppress the creature rising to demand more power, the bane of all demons, the reason stripping others was no longer permitted. I remembered the feeling, how I'd fought off my own monster when I'd defeated Cypherion in this very place, wondering then at the gift Theridialis and Tara had given me by voluntarily relinquishing their power.
Meira's shoulders settled as she took control. "My thanks, Ruler," she said in a voice of steel.
And that was it. I stood there in a sad little daze, heart sore as Dad rose from his throne, Henemordonin copying his son's action, and gestured to the family. The bowed as one before turning and moving off in their tiny, conspiring clumps.
Syd. Dad's mental voice touched mine. Come. You still have something do.
I thought of Theridialis as I met my father's eyes. Has anyone tried this before? I had no idea what to expect, giving up the power I held inside.
No, he said, blunt and wide open. But he's my friend. You have to try.
Like I don't want the same thing. I'm all for it, I shot back. Let's just hope it works.
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