Chapter 737: Demon Treachery
Meira activated the lift, the elevator rising toward the top of the Seat. I tried not to look down, though the one glimpse I had was of a ragged shoreline and a vast expanse of black water. We had to be on the other side of the mountain from the Parade and Ostrogotho.
The platform came to a halt not quite at the top.
"This way," Meira said, stalking off on her giant boots, horns catching the light as she stomped her way down the polished stone corridor, torn robes flaring out behind her. I followed, Max beside me, the slowly rousing kidnapper in his hand. I glanced back over my shoulder at the other two unconscious demons still lying on the platform and almost asked Meira what she wanted to do about them.
Held my tongue. The mood she was in, they'd be following their friend over the edge. Besides, I had no doubt she would prefer to track them down at her leisure and show them just how disappointed she was in their behavior.
Hoped they knew how to run.
I'd clearly not done enough exploring of the Seat. I had no idea there was a back staircase up the rest of the way to the top. Filed the information away for later, just in case.
Meira slowed her pace just a little to make sure we kept stride as she hit the top and headed straight for Dad, sideways through the gathered court, family scattering with little shrieks of fear as my sister's power formed a sharp point and shoved them aside.
I stayed behind her, Max at my side, not wanting my presence to lessen Meira's show. Because, knowing my sister, she was about to put on one hell of a performance.
No way she'd let this go without the whole of Demonicon knowing.
Dad surged up from his throne, our grandfather doing the same as Meira burst into the center aisle and spun to face them. Her long, elaborate robe was torn in places, her normally perfect hair hanging from the large clasps holding her curls in place. But she didn't look unkempt to me-far from it. I fought more grinning at the sight of her going all Amazon on our father.
"Ruler!" Her voice echoed in the silence as everyone stared in shock. "I bring charges against Merlotsenilater."
A tall, handsome demon woman flinched, eyes flickering to me, to Max. To his burden. The moment she did, her red skin paled just as she inched sideway as if prepping for flight.
I don't think so.
My power snapped around her, jerked her into the aisle, where she fought and twisted inside a net of maji magic.
Dad sank into his seat again, brow pulled down over his amber eyes. "What have you done, Merlot?"
Meira didn't wait for the demon to answer. "I have only now won my freedom," she snarled, "from a band of kidnappers bent on my death." She spun, pointed one imperious finger at the wretch dangling from Max's hand. Though not much smaller than the drach, he was no match for my new friend's strength or the power suppressing the demon's magic. "This beast was their leader. You shall have the truth from him and no other."
Dad nodded, Demonicon's full power pressing forward as Max released the now cowering demon and squashed him tight in a fist-like grip. "You will confess," Dad said.
The demon groveled, face pressing to the stone floor. "The princess is right," he said. "Lady Merlotsenilater ordered myself and my companions to capture and kill Her Highness."
The demon woman froze, face contorting in fear.
"Haralthazar," she said, voice dripping what sweetness she could muster while my magic squeezed her so hard she could barely breathe. "My love."
Dad turned his head, waved in her direction.
"My daughter and heir," he said, voice low, empty, "take what is your right."
Meira poked me with her power.
My turn, she sent.
I released the suddenly sobbing demon, knowing what was coming, but unable to look away even though I wanted to. Yes, I was still furious at the woman for thinking she could kill my sister. But knowing what fate awaited her still gave me goosebumps.
Meira's power took my place. "You were always unworthy of him," she hissed.
Merlotsenilater's terror died as she snarled, her demon anger answering my sister's challenge. "I would have had him," she said, "if not for you."
Meira's vicious smile gave me chills. "Exactly," she said. And opened her power wide, devouring the other demon's magic to the dregs of her soul.
I was there, in Meira's mind, when the last of Merlotsenilater essence left her, came to my sister. When the monster of need rose inside Meira, fighting to be free, to take on more power, to turn and absorb all the magic in the room, to drain them all.
All.
She didn't really need me, but I was there for her anyway, my maji power steady, comforting as she fought down the curse of all demonkind, defeating the creature inside her once again, absorbing the last of Merlotsenilater's magic.
The demon woman's body fell, eyes empty, staring, her soul gone to my sister. I finally looked away as a pair of Guards marched forward and grasped her empty shell, lifting her up.
"To the volcano," my sister said. "And death."
They saluted with their free hands before spinning and carrying the silent and empty husk away.
From the terrified looks on two other demon women's faces, they had to be Things #2 and #3. I refused to give them any further attention past understanding they were all that stood between Mom and Dad getting back together.
Oh, and the fact my father was Ruler of Demonicon. Right. There was that, too.
Still.
Dad rose from his throne, power crackling around him as Henemordonin stood, my grandfather's amber eyes fixed in a tight frown on Max. The hard-nosed old demon had a tough enough time with new things. Couldn't wait to see what dear old Gramps thought of the fact I knew a dragon.
Snort.
"Court will now disperse," Dad said.
I could tell the gathered family was pissed, hoping for more excitement. Sure, they'd looked afraid earlier, but from the eagerness of their power, the way they whispered together and gawked at me and Max, they would have loved for the entertainment portion of this evening to go on longer.
Me? Not so much. I was tired, suddenly cranky and really just wanted to go home and hug my husband.
After rescuing Quaid and the Zornovs.
Was it wrong I wanted to hug Liam first?
We retreated, not to Dad's office, but to the lab under the Seat where I'd once returned Theridialis's soul to him after the battle over the Node. Sassafras's father turned to smile at us from where he hovered over an experiment, coming to hug me as my body shrank to human shape again now all the excitement was over.
He noticed, from the way his lips pursed like he wanted to ask a question, but Theridialis didn't comment. Oh, I'm sure he would have. Absolutely. Probably would have asked to study me or something creepy. But as he moved to speak, his eyes lifted and landed on someone over my shoulder.
And he froze, mouth hanging open.
I turned, shrugged. "What's the matter, Theridialis," I said. "Never seen a dragon before?"
Dad twitched, spinning toward the tall, diamond-eyed figure while Henemordonin snorted, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
"You certainly have wild notions, granddaughter," he said. Like I needed the reminder. "Apparantelo are simply animals. While he, clearly, is not."
Eyeroll.
"And yet," Max said in his vibrating voice, shaking the room around us, "I am as she speaks, Henemordonin. Though the term is drach, Syd."
"Right." I snapped my fingers. "Sorry, forgot."
Meira laughed when the three demons just stared. "Thank you," she said to Max. "I didn't get a chance to say that earlier. Your help was most welcome."
Max bowed his head to her. "My great pleasure, Your Highness," he said.
"Now wait just one minute," Henemordonin began.
Didn't get to finish.
The air beside Max shimmered, the veil tearing just a little, a crack appearing. And, through it, shone the image of my grandmother. Ahbi's form shivered as she smiled at Max before scowling at my grandfather and shaking a finger. Her power reached out to me, hugged both myself and my sister before she sighed and the slice vanished in a flare of amber fire.
"There now," I said. "Since Ahbi herself seems to believe, I think any further conversation about Max's heritage is moot, don't you?"
That shut up my grandfather. Snap.
I know Theridialis would have pounced on Max with a gazillion questions and more tests for the drach than he could perform in ten lifetimes. Good thing the giant dragon in human form simply smiled at the scientist and shook his head.
"Perhaps another time," he said. "Fate awaits."
And my friends. I really had to go.
So much disappointment on a demon face I had never seen. Caught myself almost laughing-if it weren't for the growing fear and need to get back to the stronghold-even as a familiar figure appeared through the small doorway and eased his way toward us on silent feet. I smiled at Rameranselot as he waved to me with his own grin of welcome.
"Princess," he said. "Congratulations on your marriage."
Oh, yeah. Ram had been in the running there for a while, but we both knew he was the wrong choice. And, as he sidled up to my sister, and I saw how she looked at him, I realized just how happy I was he and I weren't together.
They made a very delicious couple.
"Thanks," I said. Turned to Max. "I hate to break up the party, but we have some asses to kick, do we not?"
He didn't smile this time. "I only know what Fate dictates," he said. "And so, I follow you, Sydlynn Hayle, Light One."
There he went again, all formal and crap.
Whatever. I had a dragon on my side. And until Ameline managed to make it here and pick up hers, I had the advantage. Maybe I'd pay her a little visit.
Wondered if Max could breathe fire.
Heh.
Meira bent, kissed my cheek as I tore open the veil and turned to Dad.
"Listen," I said, crankies returning, "maybe you should reevaluate your mate choices at some point."
Dad sighed. "Nice to see you, cupcake."
Snarl.
I reached for Ahbi, ready to go back to the stronghold, drach in tow, and get my friends back. Realized the veil didn't show stone walls but the basement at home. Turned to frown at my sister.
Just in time to see her face go deathly pale as her body stiffened before collapsing to the floor.
***
