by Sam Cheever
“Nice trick.”
I ignored him as a fresh spate of memories rocked me.
We were standing in Nerul’s…or Nille’s office space. When last I’d seen it, the walls and ceiling had been fracturing into millions of pieces of rock and crashing down on our heads. The room, along with the court, had been destroyed as the result of my battle with the evil Barbie, Rayanne, King Nerul’s malevolent sidekick.
Looking at it now, it was if the battle had never occurred. Everything had been restored exactly as it was before.
Nille’s decorating habits were more spare than his father’s had been. The only furniture in the room was a large glass-topped desk that was situated in the center of the room and a single leather executive’s chair. I glanced at the floor, which, when I’d been in that office before, had been created from the hair of Nerul’s enemies, complete with the victims’ trapped souls. Releasing those souls to fight on my behalf had given me the edge I’d needed to defeat the evil Barbie. But I was glad to see that the carpet currently in the room was just your normal, everyday high-quality plush. Though ugly, in a garish red.
Slayer’s gaze slid skyward. I looked up too and recognized the stained-glass representation of the devil sitting upon his flaming throne in the heart of his hellish kingdom. Around him, a variety of demons and lesser devils feasted on the unfortunate inhabitants of Hades.
“Gruesome isn’t it?”
“But strangely riveting,” Slayer said with a grin.
I scanned the room quickly, finding the door at the far side of the room. The pulsing green light beyond indicated the passageway we needed. “This way.”
Slayer slid into the passageway behind me, his sword clutched before him, ready for sudden attack. “Don’t you find it strange that we haven’t seen anyone yet, Astra?”
“No. They wouldn’t want to dissuade us before we get well and thoroughly trapped.”
Slayer grabbed my arm. “This is a trap and you know it?”
I looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Of course!” Shaking my head, I turned away, smiling meanly as I progressed down the passage. As Slayer fumed behind me, I did what I’d been dreading. Dialle. I’m in Nille’s court. I’m pretty sure it’s a trap. You might want to show up with some of your guard.
How nice to hear from you, my queen.
Sarcasm. Frunkin’ awesome. I might hate you at the moment, Dialle, but I don’t want you dead or your throne unnecessarily usurped.
I felt Dialle’s smile in my mind. Unnecessarily? If it is necessary you are all right with it?
I’m not sure. I’ll keep you posted on that.
Dialle’s chuckle made my Settling raise its ugly head. I tamped it down quickly, praying it didn’t get a foothold before I could engage myself in some serious ass kicking. I had recently learned by accident that violence helped me fight off the effects of my Settling. With my suspicions about Dialle, along with the fact that somebody was trying to kill me, violence had never seemed a more welcome option.
I had heard that Nille was back, but why would you go there, Astra?
He stole my client. I need to get her back. And since he wishes to steal your crown I figured we might as well kick his ass now and get it over with.
Always practical, my love. And ruthlessly brutal.
I grimaced. Yeah, that part concerned me too.
We emerged from the passage onto a ledge that hung out over an enormous cavern, the walls of which were coated in blood and gore. “It hasn’t changed a bit,” I murmured.
Beside me, Slayer swore. “I need a bigger sword.”
I slid a look over the front of his well-packed trousers. “This is no time for personal insecurities, Slayer.”
He leaned close, his breath hot and sexy against my face. “I have no personal insecurities, Astra. Especially in that area. I’d be happy to show you why if you’d like.” His smug smile made me feel cranky.
I shoved him away, scowling. I should have known better than to try to tease him. He was little more than a human-shaped sex machine. Shame on me for thinking he’d be awed by the fact that he was about to die a horrible death in a blood-soaked underground cavern.
“Pig.”
“Tease.”
“Bitch!”
That last had been delivered in a high-pitched whine that definitely hadn’t come from Slayer. I recognized the snotty tone.
Sighing, I pulled my power forward and turned around. You might want to hurry, Dialle.
“Well look what the cat demon dragged up from the sewers. Hello, Rayanne. I thought you were dead in about a million pieces.”
Chapter Ten
Evil Barbie Rides Again
Imagine our young miss’ surprise, when into the earth she goes,
Only to find before her eyes, that evil Barbie ho!
Rayanne slid her gaze over Slayer, licking her luscious lips. “What is it about you ugly Tweener? You draw sexy men like a magnetic force field. Whatever do they see in you?”
I shrugged. “You’ve never understood my charm, Evil Barbie. Just like I’ve never recognized yours.” I was growing accustomed to the Royals I thought I’d killed showing back up again. Royal Devils are like cockroaches, the more you try to kill them, the hardier they get. They play by different rules than the rest of us.
It was really no surprise that the evil Barbie was back to torture and torment me. Evil Ken was alive and well and sizzling in the bowels of Hell.
She looked just like I remembered her. Her midnight-black hair hung down her back in a thick braid, puddling beside her feet on the rock floor. Her heart-shaped golden face was framed by soft black curls and her small, pointed ears were adorned with tiny gold earrings. Her pink lips were bow shaped and looked pillow soft.
She was barely covered in sheer white fabric. Her outer robe was transparent, falling in gentle folds to her feet. She wore the usual gold-toned Jesus sandals, the straps of which climbed her calves to just below her knees. Beneath the sheer material of her robe I could see the merest triangle of denser fabric that served as her panties and a thin strap of the same material, which covered basically just the nipple area of her heavy breasts.
“So you’ve dumped daddy and you’re sleeping with Ken Junior, eh?”
Her eyes flashed but her lips curved upward, masking her irritation. “I go where the power is, lowly creature. You could learn a lesson from me on that. You’re backing a loser in this fight, Tweener. You always have.”
The air started to pulse and shimmer at our backs and I smiled as said loser shimmered into view beside me. “I’ll take my chances, EB.”
Rayanne narrowed her eyes and I felt the first twinges of pain before my daemon hickey sparked and I pulled my power forward, squelching her efforts to take my knees out from under me.
Rayanne gasped as I sent her power surging back, and stumbled backward a couple of steps, her gaze sliding to Dialle. “I see you’ve learned to work together. Very interesting. But it won’t be enough.”
She started to shimmer and Dialle lifted a hand in her direction. “Stay.” His voice was filled with the impulsion his power meted out.
Her form solidified and her eyes widened. Dialle twisted his hand and she flew sideways, crashing against the wall of the cavern.
Almost immediately the air in the cavern thickened and filled with devilry, Royals and guards and demon pets drew swords and slammed together into battle. Dialle grabbed my hand and started to shift us away.
I yanked away from his grip. “No! This is my fight. I need this fight!”
He stared hard into my eyes for a moment and then nodded. “Very well, my love. I will fight it with you. But this will not truly fill that hole in your belly. Only I can do that.”
A roar behind me ended our tender moment. I crouched and a gargoyle flew over my head, taking my power arrow in its belly and a jolt from Dialle between its beady eyes.
A demon slid up behind Dialle and I screamed, “Duck!” He leapt sideways, rolling to his f
eet with a sword in his hand, and engaged a duel with one of Nille’s guards.
The demon hit me in the chest, its oily skin sliding against my cringing flesh as I reached for its thick neck. The demon raked thick yellow nails down my arm as I sent power into its neck, melting its airways closed before tucking my feet and flipping out from under the ugly creature as it died.
I flipped backward, landing on my hands, and kicked the jaw of a rival Royal on my way by. I felt the Royal’s bones breaking under my heels and grinned, enjoying the adrenaline rush of battle.
I landed on my feet again before Rayanne, who was still pinned against the wall with Dialle’s power. I touched my hickey and she dropped to the ground, making a pretty puddle on the dirty floor.
Before she could engage her power, I pulled mine forward, sending it out in a deadly stream that caught her in the center of her chest, where her shriveled black heart was hiding. She screamed as her porcelain skin melted beneath my power, scenting the air like a backyard barbecue.
I lifted my hands and flung her upward to smash against the chiseled rock ceiling high above our heads. I let her crash to the ground and reached for her, intending to carry her out of that cavern to a place where I could question her without interruption.
Rayanne’s head lolled on her slim neck but she was not out of tricks. Reaching up, she touched a red half-moon shape on her neck and it sparked.
Too late, I realized what it was.
She had a daemon hickey of her own.
Power swelled between us, making the air throb and pulse with menace. I yanked my power forward and flung out my hands, hitting her with everything I had.
Rayanne’s hands came up and my power crashed against hers, shaking the walls in the blood-soaked cavern.
The concussion pushed me back several steps. I set my jaw and leaned into it, straining to hold my own against her assault.
She was on her feet and moving forward, sparks flying from the pale column of her throat. It had to be Nille’s power on the other end of that hickey.
And that couldn’t be a good thing for me.
A snarling gargoyle landed on my back, its massive teeth ripping into my shoulder. The monster disappeared with a yelp and Slayer stepped up beside me. He lifted his hands and sent power roaring toward the evil Barbie to join mine.
She jerked as the added power hit her, and staggered back a few steps.
Then, unbelievably, she bent against the wall of power and pressed forward, as if she was walking into a wall of wind.
Though she appeared to be weakening, she came on, and Slayer and I were forced to retreat a step for every one she managed. Occasionally a demon or a gargoyle fell or was thrown into the power vacuum between us and was immediately turned to cinder.
Suddenly bodies started stumbling into the flow of power between us on a regular basis, leading me to believe they were being flung there on purpose. Each incinerated body sent a jolt through the power tunnel that almost brought us to our knees. We were straining just to stay upright at that point.
I searched for Dialle in my mind but found nothing. Worry made my power stutter and Rayanne gained a few steps against us. Finally, Slayer and I hit the wall at our backs and started to falter.
Slayer hit the ground first, his knees cracking on impact with the rock floor.
I gritted my teeth and widened my stance, determined not to go down under Rayanne’s power.
Even so I was starting to wobble, my power sputtering from my fingertips, when the air changed just behind Rayanne and a familiar form appeared.
Brina threw me a quick glance before reaching around Rayanne and grabbing her throat. Sparks flared and Rayanne arched backward, gasping for breath.
Her power fell away and she disappeared with a pop.
I fell to my knees gasping. “What took you so long?” I snarled at Brina.
She glared at me. “I have had my hands full dealing with the advocate.”
Yeah, I needed to ask her about that. But not right at that moment.
Static in my mind made my head fly up. My gaze searched the cavern for Dialle. The floor was strewn with torn and battered bodies, blood soaking into the dirt and rock beneath us.
I searched the combatants who were still standing and didn’t see him. Gerch was bending over a body in the corner and panic sluiced through me. Dragging myself to my feet, I stumbled toward them.
Dialle was lying on his back on the floor, his gorgeous face pale and covered in a fine sheen of sweat. I shoved past Gerch and dropped down beside him, my hands flying over Dialle in search of damage. “What happened?”
Gerch shook his head. “I don’t know. He was fighting his way through an impressive array of Nille’s guards and he suddenly just dropped. I had my hands full keeping them off him when he went down.”
Dialle’s skin beneath my fingers was cold. It was quickly turning gray. “We need to get him back to court.” I tried to lift him but my strength was too depleted. Gerch pushed me gently away. “Allow me, my queen.” He easily lifted Dialle.
I scrubbed a hand over my cheeks and found them wet. Tears. Damn! I turned to Slayer and Brina. “I’m taking Dialle to the court. You’ll finish up here?”
Slayer nodded. My gaze met Brina’s. “Thank you,” I told her.
She inclined her head slightly.
“We must hurry, my queen.”
I touched Gerch’s arm and pictured Dialle’s chambers in my mind. As the air started to shimmer around us I turned to Gerch and said, “Don’t call me that.” His grin made it possible for me to breathe again.
Maybe Dialle would be all right.
* * * * *
The hardest thing I have ever done, ever, was agree to let Astis heal Dialle. But though I tried to resist, the court healers didn’t have the skills needed to save him. As I paced his chambers for hour after hour, his skin grew cooler to the touch and the warm, golden tones of it turned grayer by the moment.
When his breathing sounded rough and ragged and his broad chest heaved with the effort of dragging air into his lungs, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer. I sent Gerch to get her.
The faithful Gerch led the evil witch into Dialle’s chambers on the end of a golden leash, noticeably keeping her as far away from his body as he could.
I knew how he felt. Just having her in the room made me long for a shower.
He handed me the leash and stepped away, moving just beyond the reach of the golden links but not too far, in case I needed his help.
Astis peered at me through hooded eyes, her smile telling me all I wanted to know about her mood. If she had her way, she would make me beg for her help.
I had no intention of begging.
I yanked the leash and she fell toward me, gasping with delight as the cutting links tore into the delicate flesh of her throat. Her small hands fell to my chest as she landed hard against my body.
Her fingers twitched with the desire to pinch.
“Don’t even think about it, witch.”
She gave me a breathless laugh, already deep in thoughts of pain and pleasure.
I dragged her toward Dialle and stopped, twisting the leash at her throat until she moaned with pleasure. Bending close to her ear I said, “This is the way it’s gonna be. You will heal him quickly and with as little pain as possible. Or I will send you to the pleasure parlor, to be petted and pampered and touched in the gentlest of ways for an entire month.” Astis shuddered at the thought. “Are we clear?”
With a stuttering sigh, the witch bit her lip and nodded. “There’s no need to get nasty, Tweener.”
I loosened my grip on the leash and she frowned. “I think there’s every need. Now, get busy.”
Astis dragged the covers back from Dialle and I gasped. His flat, hard stomach was a mottled black and blue. It looked as if he’d been beaten severely. Astis reached out and pressed her fingers into the area, causing Dialle to cry out and surge upright, his pretty black eyes spiraling with the greens and browns of pain.
I gritted my teeth and reached for her, gently stroking her arm until she cringed away. “I need to test his injuries.”
“And I told you not to cause him unnecessary pain.”
Sighing theatrically, Astis placed her pale hand over Dialle’s stomach and the air around it shimmered.
Dialle’s head thrashed from side to side and he groaned.
“What’s wrong with him?”
Astis slid me a sideways look. “He has been poisoned. As you were.”
I was stunned. I’d assumed I’d been poisoned by the creature in Betty Davis’ house. Dialle hadn’t been anywhere close to the dog-like creature. “Do you recognize the poison?”
Astis’ expression looked fierce, her pale skin covered in a light sheen of sweat. She ignored me and I let her get away with it. I knew it had taken nearly everything she had to heal me. I didn’t know if Dialle was worse, but I wasn’t willing to risk him by distracting her when she was trying to heal him.
So I stepped back, handing the leash to one of the healers standing by. Turning to Gerch, I met his worried black gaze. “Do you know a Royal named Brina?”
He frowned but nodded.
“Bring her to me. I need to speak to her.”
I could tell Gerch was more than curious at my request but I wasn’t ready to explain or share my relationship with Brina yet.
Hades, I didn’t even know what my relationship with Brina was yet.
With a final worried look in Dialle’s direction, Gerch strode away. I turned back, watching Dialle and feeling helpless. If only my healing skills were stronger.
The air beside me shimmered and Slayer appeared. “How is he?”
I just shook my head, too upset to say the words. He wasn’t good. In fact he was really bad. But I felt that if I said it out loud, his dire circumstances would become a reality. I just wanted to pretend he’d be fine.
Slayer stood beside me frowning. I knew he wasn’t all that fond of Dialle so I had to wonder what he was upset about. Before I could ask, the door to Dialle’s chambers opened and Brina strolled in, her rapier strapped to her hip.