“Dar, is that really necessary?”
“Dariola, we discussed that already before we left.”
“We did, but—”
“You know that it’s for Riolon...”
“I do! But it’s so hard...”
“Dariola...”
Nothing clear was said after that, only tears from one side and consolations from the other. I didn’t suspect anything, of course. I even felt a little bit sorry for her. What if she had a lover back in Riolon? And here I was and she had to marry me for her country. She was a princess, after all, even if she wanted love.
I promised myself not to hurt her. Imbecile.
We got married and right that night...oh yes. No need to wait, really. She was quite human, I knew that, and I also needed an heir.
In bed, Dariola was surprisingly proactive and passionate. She scratched me, bit me, moaned loudly... Well, why not? At least we could agree on something.
Not the other stuff, though. The celebration came to an end, the Riolonians left, and only then did she show her true colors. You see, Dariola turned out to be an expert on feigning piety. I hated how she condemned all that went against the dogma and I hated even more how she tried to box everything—and everyone—around her into the framework of the Church doctrine.
Church and etiquette determined everything—clothes, food, leisure, walking, talking, having friends, even going to sleep. In bed, however, everything seemed fine...until I heard that in honor of some martyr, intimacy was forbidden. Just imagine, you come to your wife, and she says, Sorry, dear husband, today my servitor does not wish for me to procreate, as today is the day that Sizarde the Immaculate was beheaded. I suppose that was the exact reason of Sizarde’s...misfortune, really. She didn’t put out or did it with the wrong guy, or whatever...
What was I to do? At first, I agreed with my wife. The second time as well. The third, however... I told her she was right and left—right to the brothel.
I didn’t actually do anything improper there, I just talked to Eliza, but my wife was promptly informed of that. And that triggered a real scandal.
Dariola yelled so much that I thought her eyes would burst. How could you do that! You have dishonored me! That was a real sin! I should be praying on my knees!
She wished.
I did let her finish, proving to myself yet again that tying the knot was tying the knot. Then I respectfully told my wife that her problems were her problems. As for me, each night that I had to spend away from my wife’s bed due to her religious convictions, I would spend in the brothel. Those were my convictions, my faith.
Dariola started to shriek three times as loud and I turned on my heels and left. As the ghosts told me later, she was crying, raging, breaking all the dishes and trinkets... But the next day, she said she was sorry and never repeated those religious antics again.
Martha didn’t like that one bit. Tommy had married and gone to Torrin to introduce his baroness to his family. Rene was terribly busy, so I was left to my own devices.
My wife? I can’t say that we lived together, really. We were basically co-existing in different universes. She had her business, and I had my own.
And then, our paths finally crossed and clashed like swords, striking sparks and burning each other’s flesh.
***
After Martha told me that my wife was likely with child, I wasn’t even surprised or worried.
She isn’t saying anything to me? There could be lots of reasons!
Maybe she didn’t know so herself or wanted to make sure. What was there to discuss? I just had to charge the court healer with a task.
Alas, I was wrong, and I had to pay for that mistake sooner than I had expected.
Two days later, I found myself on the way to a small town called Livaren. I was still traveling around the country so the officials I had appointed would stay on edge. When the king shows up on your doorstep and demands an answer...or just shows up...it can really shake you up.
Bad news came from Livaren. Somebody destroyed ten of my ghosts. I had to visit and figure out what was happening there. That was exactly what I did. I was used to nobody ever standing in my way. Have I already mentioned that sometimes, I can be a real idiot?
The mayor, Baron Fagin, was cheerful. He had clearly screwed up. But considering that I arrived right during the ball in celebration of his daughter’s coming of age, I couldn’t refuse, could I? Fine, I’ll attend it.
It was there where I met Liana Rattern. She was a noblewoman, not quite wealthy, but truly gorgeous. The same fiery hair as Carlie’s, deep blue eyes, a voluptuous figure—and a clear interest in me.
I have to admit, I couldn’t resist her charms. Who could? A few dances, hurried kisses in the balcony and the garden, and we arranged a date.
I went there. I knew that cheating was wrong, but...I really wanted to. Just imagine a clear night, the moon shining from the sky, a nightingale singing...
Fine, I’m lying.
There was no nightingale, and it was a new moon, so the night was as dark as a dog’s guts—no romantic atmosphere for us. I noticed that Liana was a bit nervous, but thought nothing of it, and soon, we were in bed. There, I discovered that she wasn’t really red-haired everywhere, but that didn’t make her any less passionate. Enthusiastically, we proceeded to fornication. One time, two times...
We didn’t get a chance to make it three, as people entered the room from four directions: the door, two windows, and a secret passage, twelve templars in total. Liana squealed and ran toward them at such speed that I didn’t manage to catch her.
Instead, I asked them, “To what do I owe the pleasure, gentlemen?”
I didn’t even grab my sword. There were twelve of them and one of me. I could either change shape—and then, the sword wouldn’t matter, my claws would suffice—or...or not and simply wait for an opportunity.
If they wanted to kill me, they would have riddled me with arrows straight away.
“Alexander Leonard Radenor.”
“You won’t believe it, but that’s me, all right.”
The templar wasn’t in the mood for jokes.
“We have tolerated your transgressions for two years. You have humiliated the Church, you—”
“Deprived it of unlawful income, stopped the witch hunts, and generally forced it to benefit people. What exactly displeases you so much?”
The man’s eyes flashed.
“For your misdeeds, the Church has sentenced you to death.”
Yet, they had no weapons. So?
“You will die a horrible death. Let it serve as a warning to those who decide to follow in your footsteps.”
I concentrated, getting ready to pounce on him. No dice. The templar raised his hand, and something big, round, and shiny flashed there.
“Tahharn!”
Pain pierced my body, tying it in knots, overwhelming me, making my eyes pop in agony. If I were human, I wouldn’t have been able to even think. Yet, my demonic part quickly helped me get to my feet.
I couldn’t change shape, it was too painful, yet...
The templars were standing in a circle, surrounding the bed, Liana was sobbing behind their backs. Oh, I will get you, just you wait, you traitorous bitch! The silver disk in the man’s hand was blazing sparks.
Rene’s lessons jumped right to my mind.
Why don’t mages resist? Why do they allow themselves to be burned? And not just some hedge-witches, real mages, skilled, powerful? It’s because templars first drain their strength, just like vampires. They use it to replenish the Church’s energy reserve, so as to prevent any trouble. Otherwise, it would be too dangerous to burn a fire mage. If you start a fire, they could snatch the control from you, and who knows who would burn in the end.
And they were thinking I was just a common mage, just draining me, drinking my power. Nobody had any idea they were attacking a half-demon.
I couldn’t call for help, not really. Or, rather, nobody would have come, or the templars
wouldn’t be so calm.
Fight them? Definitely! But how? Well, it’s not like I had any other options...
The next moment, a half-demon rose from the bed.
Switching to demonic form was easy for me. Now, I had claws, fangs, and a tail. Two templars died instantly—I reached the first with my claws and the second, with my tail. The spell cackled evilly and dissipated for good. Maintaining it required twelve templars; that was a law. The main bastard, who, unfortunately, was still alive, was standing farther away. I threw back the second body and attacked the third man. He met me with his sword.
I was fast enough to dodge and grabbed a candelabra next to me, drunk on rage and power.
I will wipe the floor with you, curs! Your church will cry bitter tears!
As my claws became drenched in blood, I parried the blows and hit another attacker with my tail. He really should have tried to backstab me. Somebody dropped dead, somebody leaped at me, all of this accompanied by Liana’s shrieks.
I underestimated those scumbags.
Another templar collapsed and I started looking for the leader, but he was already standing in the corner, watching me with a smirk on his face.
And in his hand...
Oh no, not that, please!
“I banish you from this world, demon! By the power and the will of the Church...”
Words fell on my head like rocks, and the crystal symbol of the Church gleamed in the templar’s hand. Apparently, he was a powerful exorcist who was never parted from the tools of his trade.
“By the blood of the servitors and their sacrifice...”
I felt that I was being pushed out of the world, literally. It was as if a vortex was pulling me in, and all I could do was to helplessly try to catch hold of something.
I won’t give in! I’ll never leave! It’s my world! My home! I am a half-demon. I am the king! I—
The force grabbed me and dragged me into the unknown. I saw only lines: black, blue, scarlet, with the latter getting more and more numerous, weaving together into strands and trying to envelop me.
I was fighting back with all the energy I had left, slashing at them with my claws. The bedroom had long since gone out of sight, and I was hanging between the sky and the ground, exhausted. In a few moments, I would lose consciousness...
A thin blue thread flashed in the darkness around me: clear and bright, like heaven itself. For a second, the scarlet strands recoiled, and I rushed toward it, grasping it with my claws and the last ounces of my strength, and finally yielding to its mercy.
Whatever will be, will be.
***
Surprised, Innis stared at the demon who had appeared in her pentagram. He wasn’t quite what she had expected.
Visually, he seemed a proper demon: claws, scales, and a tail. But should he really be all bloody and unconscious? Grandpa’s diary never said anything like that. Too bad I couldn’t find any other notes.
But...what am I to do with it? Try to call him? Shake him awake?
No, reaching inside the pentagram was forbidden.
What if I poke him with a stick?
He can’t just lie there in my tower, can he? I have enough problems on my plate without a dead demon!
***
I was in agony.
Every bit of my body that was still there was emanating with pain, even my tail. And also...
“Demon, are you alive? Demon! Damn you, you’re a rascal, not a demon!”
It was clearly a girl’s voice. She seemed young and quite upset. She had a throaty contralto, clear and singsong, like hot chocolate. I definitely wasn’t in a temple.
Where then?
I focused and tried to prop myself on my elbows, then open my eyes. Yeah, they had given me a good thrashing.
My eyes were full of blood—somebody had probably caught me on the head. Bastards, if it leaves a scar, I will nail them! At least I didn’t have to be afraid of a concussion, as half-demons had thicker skulls. Some of us even had our brains in other parts of the body. Maybe so did I. I clearly hadn’t been thinking with my head.
“I’m alive...”
The girl seemed pleased. Or was she? Because her next words were...
“Hey...demon, what’s your name?”
With an effort, I turned my head. How about that...
A girl was standing across from me. She was young, barely more than a child, maybe ten years younger than me. Was she pretty? Not really. Too thin and pale for my taste.
She had black hair, black eyes, prominent cheekbones, and wore a plain black dress.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Innis.”
“And I’m Alex.”
“A-alex?”
Right, that wasn’t a proper demonic name. Demons should have other names, terrifying, secret, steeped in legends... I smirked.
“That’s the short form.”
“What’s the long one?”
“Why do you want to know?”
The girl fluttered her eyelashes but was quick on her feet.
“I have an offer.”
Meanwhile, I was trying to get up on all fours, then sit. I did rather well, considering my weak limbs.
“Tell it, then.”
I wasn’t even thinking about refusing her. If I got thrown out here, I should really establish contact with the locals. And by the way...where exactly am I?
“My name is Innis. I am the heir of Andago County.”
Andago?
It sounded familiar...
“What country is this?”
“Riolon.”
I shook my head, confused. How?
“I—”
“Wait a second...”
I rubbed my temples. That’s right, I was attacked. First, they tried to drain me, and after I changed forms, to banish me. They even succeeded: I clearly was gone from this world, I was sliding somewhere beyond it.
But how? And why?
I looked at the girl closely. She wasn’t even...
“You’re no necromancer.”
“No. I’m an air mage.”
“Why did you perform the summoning, then? It’s dangerous. Even necromancers fail at them half the time.”
“Are you going to teach me?”
“Somebody should if your parents neglected your education...”
And then I felt like a pig. Innis suddenly wavered, grasping her shoulders. That subject clearly made her uncomfortable.
“My mother is...gone.”
“And your father?”
She raised her head.
“I’d rather he did the same! At least you can take pride in the dead! And he...what a bastard!”
A stream of complaints poured upon me, but I got the gist of it—the girl was in a bad spot. It was easier for men. We came of age earlier and had more rights. Where could she go? No surprise that she turned toward necromancy. And her grandfather was a necromancer, too, which meant that he might have had a library that I would have to peruse.
“What’s today’s date?”
Innis answered without a hitch, and I breathed out in relief. It was the same day. It could have been different... Oh yes, it could. I might have spent a decade in that space between dimensions. I got lucky.
“All right, Innis, let’s strike a deal. What do you want from me?”
In the meantime, I was testing the pentagram, directing my magic outside. It seemed to yield easily, but...
Nothing was simple. It was yielding because I wasn’t a demon, and also because I didn’t wish Innis harm, at all. I even liked her.
She was elegant, smart, and serious. And she actually had prepared for the summoning, at least her pentagram was painted with her own blood—top choice for a protection spell.
Innis looked at me, calm and cold.
“I don’t want to get married. I want to become Countess Andago. Can you help me?”
“I suppose I can, but not while I’m sitting in this...actually, where am I sitting?”
“In my
family’s castle, inside one of the towers.”
“Not bad. Anyway, we have to decide what you want to get.”
“What do you mean?”
If I were a true demon, I would have used the situation to my advantage. The girl had never been educated, unlike me. She didn’t know anything about necromancy or magic, she wouldn’t last a day after becoming a countess. She had never mentioned that she wanted a long and happy life, after all.
But I took pity on her, and this is why...
“See, you’ve summoned me, and that’s already something.”
That said, it was a question who had summoned whom. Her call had become an anchor; she had nowhere enough power to summon an actual demon. Maybe I had caught onto her spell myself, as I wasn’t far, in the nearest layer...I would have to think about that. Meanwhile, I continued.
“Now you have to decide what you want from me.”
“But I’ve said—”
“Innis, sweetie, there are lots of ways to become a countess. You can kill your father and the others in the castle, you can petition the king, you can get married in short order—that would make you a countess as well. Do you understand me?”
The girl did. She nodded, biting her lip.
“Then let’s start from the beginning. I don’t want to get married. How can you help with that?”
“I can kill the groom, your father, his father...”
“And without killing?”
“We can marry you to somebody else.”
“But my father...”
“His approval shouldn’t bother you anymore. If you’re old enough to summon demons, why does your father have to choose a husband for you?”
Innis blushed, just a little bit. It was pretty cute, actually.
“And what if I don’t want to get married at all?”
“If you stay the eldest in your line, the king could grant you autonomy. You’ll become his direct vassal. He could let you inherit the land and the title earlier, but you’d have to earn that first and prove your ability to rule.”
“I can do it.”
Half-Demon's Fortune Page 3