“I wouldn’t think we’re welcome anywhere in the Nether.”
The king smiled. “Too bad you have seraph blood or I might actually grow fond of you too.” He guided me back to the throne room where Charlie’s shade already awaited us, flanked by two guards.
Charlie stared at me, mute and wild-eyed.
“Go on then, Cassia,” the king urged. “Pass your judgment on this young shade. Might as well get in the practice. This role might one day be yours.”
“Charlie shall return to the mortal realm in the same body he left,” I said. That way he would get another chance in this existence. His mother would get the chance to see him thrive at the academy and Charlie would get the future he deserved.
The king began to sputter. “I never said you could revive the dead.”
“You never said I couldn’t,” I replied smoothly.
The king’s coppery eyes blazed with anger but also a hint of something else—admiration. “Very well. You’ve earned the right to pass any judgment you choose. The boy will be restored to his former existence.”
Charlie seemed to understand our agreement and the fear in his eyes subsided.
“Can he leave with us?” I asked. I would take him to the academy myself so that I could be sure no harm would come to him.
The king waved a dismissive hand. “Consider him under your protection.”
Charlie’s incorporeal form began to solidify. He held out his arms and gaped at his resurrection.
“You have my blessing to leave the Nether without interference,” the king said. He snapped his fingers and Du handed him a red feather. “Should anyone attempt to stop you, you simply show them this feather and you shall be free to pass.”
“That’s it? A feather?” I took the feather and slipped it into my pocket next to the stones.
“It isn’t simply a feather, tender heart. It’s as good as my seal of approval.” His expression softened. “Promise me you’ll return. It is a rarity to find someone I have an interest in knowing better. To know that you are one of my own only makes the knowledge that much sweeter.”
“I’ll try, but my life in the mortal realm keeps me busy,” I said. In truth, I had no intention of returning here. As fond as I was of Yara and as much as I wanted to meet my father, the Nether struck me as far too dangerous. If the king ever discovered the truth about me—that I didn’t belong to Yara but to his son—his fondness for me would come to an abrupt end. And so would I. The prophecy said that I was destined to kill him and I wasn’t willing to tempt fate by spending any more time here than necessary.
Yara pulled me in for a hug. “It has been so good to see you again, child.” She kissed my forehead.
“Thank you for everything,” I said.
“Farewell, Cassia,” the king said. “I am proud to call you granddaughter.”
I thought about what happened to the village and knew that I wasn’t able to say the same.
I looked at Charlie. “Are you ready to go home?”
“Yeah, cool. I’d like to see my mom.” Charlie smiled and I noticed the sliver of space between his two front teeth. The Elders would have to get him braces. Oddly, it was a comforting thought.
“And I know she’ll be thrilled to see you,” I said. How I would explain his resurrection, I had no idea.
The boy rubbed his stomach. “Any chance we can stop for tacos on the way? I’m starving.”
It wasn’t the answer I expected to hear, but then again, I didn’t have much experience with boys his age. “Sure, Charlie. You can have as many tacos as you want.”
Rafe laughed and the sound was music to my ears.
Chapter Eighteen
Charlie and I stood in the tunnel in front of the academy portal after two pitstops—one for tacos, of which Charlie ate a shocking number—and one in Manayunk, where Charlie was briefly reunited with his mother. I tried my best to explain to Maria what had happened, but I knew it would be a lot for her to digest. To her credit, she seemed to take the story in stride. She couldn’t stop hugging her son, and I couldn’t keep the teardrops from sticking to my eyelashes.
“What about the other winged dude?”
“Rafe can’t come with us, not to this place,” I said. “It’s too special, even for him.” But I promised Rafe I’d be back to see him tomorrow. I needed to tell him about Jessup. It didn’t seem like the right topic of conversation in front of Charlie. All the way to back to the portal, I made an effort to keep the conversation light and positive.
“I’ll be safe in this place?” Charlie asked.
“Domus Academy is the safest place there is,” I assured him. “The Elders specialize in kids like you.” It couldn’t be easy, being raised from the dead and shipped off to a hidden academy in the sky.
I noticed the hint of a smile. “There will be other kids like me?” Charlie asked.
“Half demon and half human,” I said. “You bet.”
He examined me. “Will I grow wings like you? They’re pretty badass.”
“Sorry, I don’t think so.” I pricked my palm and pressed the blood against the portal. “Ready to start your new life, Charlie?”
He beamed. “Ready.”
I took his hand and we entered the portal huddled close together. A whoosh and a stomach drop later and we were in the main spire. Charlie’s color was slightly off, but he seemed otherwise okay.
“I’ll get you a peppermint tea from the kitchen and you’ll feel better,” I said.
“Cassia?” Elder Kali hurried down the corridor toward us. “You’re alive!”
“And I brought a new friend,” I said. “Charlie Mancini, meet Elder Kali.”
“She bought me tacos,” Charlie said.
Elder Kali scrutinized the boy. “You make friends wherever you go, don’t you, my dear?”
I shrugged. “I do my best.”
Elder Kali crooked a finger at Charlie. “You look a rather pale shade of green. Let’s see what we can do about that.”
“He’s been dead and in a Nether torture chamber, so I think he could do with a cookie and peppermint tea,” I said.
Elder Kali’s brow lifted. “Well now, that does sound serious.”
We turned right at the corner and then left to enter the kitchen, where I was immediately engulfed in a hug.
“It’s good to see you, too, Elder Bahaira,” I said, my voice muffled by her cloak.
“This is Charlie,” Elder Kali said. “Cassia has brought him back from the Nether.”
“And the dead,” Charlie added enthusiastically. “But I’m not a zombie.”
“Thank the devil for that,” Elder Asago said. “We don’t admit zombies to the academy.”
“Tell us everything, Cassia,” Elder Alastor said. He always wanted to know every minor detail of my interactions outside the academy. I was surprised he didn’t equip me with a body camera.
“There’s a lot to tell,” I said. “I imagine you’d like a written report.”
“Naturally, but we’d like an overview now.” Elder Alastor poured tea from the pot into his favorite chipped cup. It was a strange affectation for the demon, to favor a damaged teacup, yet it was always the one he chose.
I took a deep breath, preparing to deliver the news about my family first. The Elders deserved to hear the truth from me. After that, I’d go straight to Spire 10 and tell my kenzoku. I didn’t want to be afraid anymore, not of my own identity. It would also help explain why the king chose not to kill me.
“I should start with the most important piece,” I said. “I know what kind of demon I am.” I raised my shirt to reveal the blue star birthmark on my torso. “Apparently I’m a shakti demon. My father is a prince and my grandfather is the King of the Nether.”
Charlie’s eyes popped. “Whoa. Is that why you were able to spring me from that hellhole? That crazy evil dude with the bone necklace is your grandpa?”
“Yes, Charlie. That crazy dude is, indeed, my grandpa.”
No one else react
ed. At first I thought it might be shock and horror, but then I realized it was worse than that.
“You already knew.” It wasn’t a question.
Elder Asago shared a guilty look with Elder Bahaira.
The words got stuck in my throat. “Raise your hand if you knew that I was Nether royalty.”
Elder Sam took a step closer. “Cassia, let us explain.”
I withdrew out of reach. “You lied to me.”
“We thought it was best not to tell anyone,” Elder Alastor said. “The information was, and still is, too dangerous.”
“And you thought that extended to me?” Anger bubbled beneath the surface. “You told me you tested me and that you had no idea. All these years.” My head began to spin. The Elders knew.
They knew.
“I’m sorry, Cassia,” Elder Sam said. “We decided it was for the best.”
“How long have you known?” I demanded.
More sheepish looks. If guilt had its own energy, we could’ve powered a whole city right now.
“Why does it matter?” Elder Alastor asked. “You know the truth now, and we’ve acknowledged that we also know. No further information is necessary.”
Easy for him to say. “Did Mariska know?”
Silence. That had to be the most painful revelation of all.
“I need to sit down.” I staggered to a chair at the table and dropped into it.
“This cookie is delicious,” Charlie said. “Kudos to the chef.”
“Maybe someone should escort Charlie to his new room,” Elder Alastor said, in a tone that it made it clear that that someone would not be him.
“I’ll take him,” Elder Sam offered. He seemed eager to escape the uncomfortable conversation.
Charlie gazed at Elder Sam in wonder. “Your scars are awesome, dude.”
Elder Sam patted the boy on the back. “I’m really glad to see you alive, Charlie.” He cut a quick look at me. “I don’t know what you did there, Cassia, but good job.”
If only he knew.
“I promise not to set the academy on fire,” I heard Charlie say as Elder Sam guided him out of the kitchen.
“We have tools to help you with that,” Elder Sam replied, and they disappeared.
“Here’s a cup of tea, dear.” Elder Bahaira delivered a porcelain cup with painted flowers spilling over with peppermint tea.
I ignored the tea and rested my cheek on the cool surface of the table. “Why was it too dangerous to tell me?”
Elder Bahaira pulled out the chair beside me and sat. “Because you were young and you might’ve slipped and told someone. We couldn’t risk it.”
“Why keep me apart from the others then? If I didn’t know the truth, what was the risk in joining them?”
More hesitation. I would’ve thought the Elders were better prepared. They had to know this day would come eventually, didn’t they?
“We didn’t know what kind of powers you’d manifest,” Elder Kali said. “Your line is incredibly strong. We couldn’t risk a training exercise going awry.”
Elder Asago chimed in. “But you’re old enough now that you can control…”
I bolted upright. “Are you kidding? Did you miss the part where my headache obliterated a wizard and I blasted a Whistler into oblivion with my hands? I didn’t know I could do those things, let alone control them.”
The Elders suddenly seemed preoccupied with their tea.
“What happened in the Nether, Cassia?” Elder Kali finally asked. “Did you meet your family?”
“Not my father. And the king thinks I’m the daughter of Yara, my aunt.” I wasn’t in the mood to share anything else, not after this enlightening conversation. I stared at my tea, debating whether to stay and drink it. No. I couldn’t swallow anything right now or I’d be sick. “I’m going to my room.” I didn’t even get to tell them about Jessup, which was fine by me. I wanted to share that news with Rafe and Liesel first anyway. Jessup was one of theirs, so they deserved to decide how to handle him.
No one stopped me as I headed to the hatch and flew to my room in Spire 10.
“How was the interrogation?” Sage asked, shooting off the bed when I entered.
“You look pale,” Rylan said.
“I’m not feeling well,” I mumbled. “I need sleep.”
“I think we all need a good coma,” Sage said.
Barris rubbed his hands together and magic sparked. “I can arrange that.”
“Hardy har.” Sage smacked his hands. “Are they going to interrogate us too?”
“They haven’t already?” I asked.
“Only a little,” Rylan said. “They were too worried about you.”
“There’s something I need to tell you all,” I said, and proceeded to share the truth about my father. I showed them my birthmark and they stood around me like doctors hovering over a patient.
“Wow. That’s so cool. What did the Elders say when you told them?” Rylan asked.
I bit my lip. Just because the Elders had broken my trust didn’t mean I had to spread the negativity to my kenzoku. “They seemed to take it in stride.”
Zeph's eyes popped. “Really? Because I expected them to freak. It’s kind of dangerous to have you around, you know? What if your grandfather decides he wants you in the Nether?”
“For what—a family picnic?” Sage asked. “He’d kill her.”
“Only if he knows the truth about my father,” I said. “As long as he believes Yara is my mother, we’re okay.”
“You know the Elders,” Rylan said. “They probably waited to have heart palpitations once Cassia left. I bet Elder Alastor dipped into his secret stash of smelling salts.”
I smiled in spite of my sick feeling.
“Do you think they’ll kick you out?” Zeph asked.
Sage’s eyes flashed with anger and irritation. “Why would they do that? Cassia didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Because she’s a risk to the academy,” Zeph said.
Sage draped an arm across my shoulders. “Cassia isn’t a risk. She’s a reward and we’re lucky to have her.” She planted a wet kiss on my cheek.
“I think I missed it,” Barris said. “Can I see that kiss again?”
“You’re ridiculous.” Sage licked my cheek and laughed.
Rylan hugged herself. “I don’t mean to be the negative one in the group, but what if we’re wrong? What if the king decides to come looking for Cassia and finds the academy?”
“How?” Zeph asked. “We’re completely warded and cloaked.”
“It didn’t stop Mephisto,” Rylan said. “What if the king decides to kill everyone here?” Anxiety was her worst trait, but I knew she couldn’t help it.
“He’s the king of demons,” Barris said. “He shouldn’t want to kill us.”
Rylan gave him a pointed look. “He shouldn’t want to kill his own granddaughter either, yet here we are.”
“That’s only because of the prophecy,” Barris said. “There’s no prophecy about the rest of us.”
I put my hands over my ears. “I’m all done with this conversation. If you don’t mind, I’m tired. I’d like to go to bed.” I began peeling off my clothes to hurry them along.
“You heard the princess,” Sage said. “Out.”
Barris and Zeph reluctantly vacated the room. By the time Sage and Rylan were ready for bed, I was already half asleep.
It didn’t take long for me to regret falling into a deep sleep. It should’ve been no surprise that I’d find myself in a nightmare after what we’d witnessed in the Nether, but still.
I immediately recognized the horrors of the village and realized I was alone. No kenzoku accompanied me in this dream. As if on cue, the village sprang to life. Families went about their day, oblivious to the catastrophe yet to come. I watched a woman draw water from a well with a small child playing in the dirt at her feet. Smoke wafted across the ground—the first sign of impending doom. I wanted to run and yell, to somehow save them, but I knew it
was in vain. These demons were long dead. I was only reliving their nightmare.
The soles of my feet warmed and the earth rumbled. Something was coming. My grandfather and his warriors? Would they slay me where I stood?
Fire streaked from the sky. The woman at the well screamed as a fireball landed next to them. I could hardly breathe as the smoke thickened and more fire rained down on the town. The mother crouched in front of the well, holding her child against her chest.
I turned away from them, moving in what seemed like slow motion toward the center of town. Fireballs slammed into the ground beside me and narrowly missed my wings. My lungs burned. I felt no fear for myself, only for them because I knew the outcome. Complete annihilation.
The town was turning to ash before my eyes and there was nothing I could do. Demons melted as their screams pierced the air. I glanced at my wings and noticed with a start that the feathers had caught fire. I dropped to the ground and rolled in an effort to smother the flames. Smoke billowed around me. I knew this was my imagination at work—I was impervious to elemental fire—and yet it still felt horrifying real.
A little boy stood at my feet and held up his hands for inspection. The fingertips were stained black.
“Charlie?” I asked from my position on the ground.
The boy didn’t answer. Fire sparked from his fingers and he took aim at a family trying to escape the flames.
“No!” I yelled. “Charlie, don’t!”
Elemental fire streaked from his fingers. I sat up and looked at my own hands. I’d seen energy blast from my own hands and fire had streaked from my forehead, but I don’t recall it looking the same color. Elder Sam had said it couldn’t have been fire—that it had been some sort of demonic energy blast.
“Charlie, please stop,” I begged. “You’re hurting everyone.”
The boy looked directly into my eyes. “Like you.”
Blue light shot from my head as pain exploded behind my eyes. Charlie disintegrated in front of me, leaving only a pillar of salt.
Demonspawn Academy: Trial Two Page 18