Chapter 531: Restored
I followed Dad and my grandfather, Meira between them, Belkni gliding on the far side, to the back of the throne room and a private elevator I'd not seen before.
Ram stepped from the shadows, bowing to Dad. "Ruler," he said with great respect.
"Rameranselot," Dad said. "Mother told me about you." My father glanced at me before returning his attention to Ram. "I take it your loyalty is not in question?"
"Never, Ruler," Ram said, vibrating with tension.
"I wish that were true of me," Henemordonin said, a little sullen.
Ram didn't flinch, facing down the new Second Seat. "Ahbi saved my life," he said. "Raised and trained me as though I were her own. I owed her everything." His eyes met mine. "As I do her granddaughter."
Don't tell me he'd fallen into some kind of hero worship. Not after I abandoned him back at the Node.
My grandfather grunted softly and sighed. "She was a wretched old creature," he said, "but I loved her still." He set one hand on Ram's shoulder. "And I understand completely."
Dad motioned for Ram to join us. "I take it you've seen to the preparations?"
"I have, Ruler," Ram said, all official. Where was the smirking, wise ass I'd spent so much time with? He turned to catch my eye and winked.
There he was.
Snort.
We dropped into the darkness, Sassafras still in my arms, the lift stopping after only a short trip, a narrow hallway leading to a rough, wooden door. Dad swept it open with magic, the portal echoing hollowly as it impacted stone. Soft yellow light on the other side welcomed us into a lab, much like Theridialis's, but this one windowless and more compact.
I didn't need to be asked or directed, going right to the silent scientist, the round of his portly belly rising and falling with steady breath as he stared, empty, at the ceiling. Sassafras hopped from my arms, settling on his father's chest as I pressed one hand to Theridialis's forehead and drew a breath, calling on his power while Dad hovered over my shoulder.
Would have been easier without the extra pressure, but I guessed I didn't blame him.
It was surprisingly easy, in the end. Theridialis's magic left me as quickly as it had come, oozing out with a snapping sound like a breaking rubber band as it separated from mine and settled back into his body. He blinked a few times before drawing a great gust of air and turning his head to smile up at me.
"Well done, my dear," he said.
I sagged, not from weariness, but in relief as I offered my hand to help him sit up. Sassafras settled in his lap, purring and rubbing his cheek against his father's hand as Theridialis stroked his fur.
"I say," the scientist said with a bright smile, "that's quite the family you have inside your head. However do you wrangle them all?"
I giggled, uncontrolled, feeling my alter egos squirm as they stretched themselves out into the cavity he'd left behind. "You have no idea," I said with a long-suffering sigh even as my demon, vampire and Sidhe princess all protested.
Tara was next, as easy, if not easier, than Theridialis. Her small soul left me in a flash of joy, flooding her body again and, within a moment, she was sitting up, hugging me tightly.
"Thank you," she whispered. "I like your vampire. She's nice."
A delightful child, my vampire sent.
Softy, I sent back before lifting Tara from the slab where she sat. "Ready to go home?"
"Yes, please." Tara rested her head on my shoulder, reminding me so much of Meira when she was little, I found my gaze drifting to my sister who stared at Tara with what looked like fury.
So, she wasn't okay. Not really. I just had to trust Dad to look after her. As much as that sucked.
"Haralthazar," Theridialis said, setting Sassafras down as he faced his ruler, clearly troubled. "We need to protect the Node. This Ameline has proven our methods aren't serving us any longer." Like the rest of the mess in this place.
"I know," Dad said. "I've already appointed you the new head of the monitors. If you'll accept the job. But it will mean even more change, my friend. Like allowing your Ruler to join the order."
"There will be those who fight against it," Theridialis said, resolution crossing his face. "But there are many things about our world that are broken. And it's time to start fixing them."
"The Dead Stone?" Dad's eyes met mine. "What happened to it, Syd?"
Oh yeah. "It's in the Node," I said. "With your mother's power." I hugged Tara, thinking of Ahbi and how she was the real hero in the end. "You don't have to worry about it falling into the wrong hands again." And then, I laughed. "You do realize this means Ahbi's magic is in the Node. And that it's possible her presence will affect it."
Dad grinned. "I have no doubt my mother will somehow find a way to make her presence known," he said. "And it would tickle her completely to be part of the greatest power of Demonicon."
So true.
Dad turned to the right and raised one hand, the veil slicing open easily now that Ameline's control over it was gone with her control of the massive magic of the Dead Stone. "Go home, cupcake," he said, bending to kiss my forehead. "Let us deal with this mess then come for a visit. We have a lot to talk about." I'm so proud of you, he added mentally.
Thanks, I sent. Dad, I'm really worried about Meems.
I know, he answered as I set Tara down and waited for Sassafras to rub against his father's leg one more time before he joined the smiling girl at the lip of the veil. I promise I'll take good care of her.
Before I could cross, Ram closed the distance between us, brushing past his Ruler to grip my face in his hands and kiss me.
And kiss me. Fire burned between us as he opened his magic and let me feel his heart. And the truth of his feelings for me.
Oh dear.
I'm here, he sent. When you're ready. Sydlynhamitra.
I caught Dad grinning when Ram stepped back, leaving me breathless, while my grandfather and Theridialis pretended to look elsewhere.
Like I needed more complications. And yet, I smiled at Ram and blew him another kiss on impulse before taking Tara's hand and crossing to the family basement.
***
