by Patti Larsen
But that would have been too easy, wouldn’t it? Instead, she roared in joy and seized on the magic inside the crystal. Amplified by the power of the stone, fed by both Sassafras and I, the demon power surged outward and into me.
I felt the connection between Sass and I disappear as he flew bodily backward, a comical look of surprise on his face as everything seemed to go into slow motion, blurring around the edges. I took a breath to call out to him, only to feel the veil part, tear, open wide. I held back, afraid suddenly of what I was doing. I didn’t intend to go to Demonicon. Just try to find Theridialis. But my demon was shoving against me, pushing me bodily through the rift and with my other two magics temporarily out of commission, I didn’t have the strength to fight her.
And then it didn’t matter anymore. Someone on the other side of the veil grasped onto my power and pulled me across.
***
Chapter Eleven
My stomach heaved as I landed on my hands and knees on a hard stone floor, the deep crimson of the rock suddenly wet with the contents of my stomach. Luckily there wasn't much to come up, but I still expected to see fluttering, brightly winged insects fly out of my mouth.
My eyes flickered over the hands supporting me, taking a long moment to register the color of my skin and nails. Where was my pale complexion? The sideways crescent moon scar on my left hand where I'd been stepped on with a soccer cleat? Long, dark brown nails and red tinted skin replaced the lightly freckled and well-gnawed reality I was used to.
I sat back and looked up, groggy and confused, just as a portly demon bent down in front of me, a huge smile on his round face.
“Hello, Sydlynn,” Theridialis said. “Well done, my dear.”
I gaped at him, wiping at the string of drool left over from upchucking. “Hi,” I managed.
He offered one hand, straightening to his full height, still smiling. “Come on, then,” he said. “Up you get.”
I accepted his help, though as I rose to my feet my strength came surging back. I felt my insides humming happily, though the demon part of me felt entirely integrated now. Not that she didn't on my own plane. But it was now apparent I was in her territory and could barely bring myself to think of us as separate at all.
“I've been hoping to receive word from you,” the demon scientist said as he turned away, bustling further into the room. His deep red robe swayed around his knobby bare feet, claw-like toenails making clicking sounds on the stone. I looked around, still in shock, taking in the half sci-fi lab, half medieval alchemy movie set I found myself in. “I've been feeling stirrings from time to time across the veil, but I'm always too late to act.”
He poured two mugs of some kind of drink into a pair of dark metal goblets before turning back to me. “Come closer, child,” he said, voice gentle, smile fading to kindly. “Whatever has happened to bring you here, and I’ve feared the worst for some time, we'll figure it out together.”
I suddenly felt a whole lot better. I may have been standing on another plane, in my demon form for the very first time, surrounded by bubbling pots and glass vials of horrible looking things, staring at a chubby man with red skin and horns, but his reassurance took all of my fears away.
The glass was cold in my hand as I carefully crossed the room and accepted it. Something squealed and scurried off as I tripped over its soft body, making me wince. Theridialis ignored it all together, sitting back on a rickety looking stool, slurping his own drink, free arm resting on the rounded bulge of his belly as he studied me.
“How can I be here?” My gaze found a window, eyes wandering over the towering dark city outside, taking in the pink sky, the glittering shimmer of futuristic yet ancient looking buildings, the towering mountain range beyond. It was like falling face-first into a movie. “I only meant to talk to you, not cross over.” Panic seized me as I turned back to him. “I'm not trapped here, am I?”
Theridialis chuckled and reached forward to pat my hand. “No,” he said. “You are both demon and human. And Sidhe.” He shook his head with another laugh as if I amazed and astonished him. “You can exist in this world because you are a demon. But you can also exist in yours because you are human.”
“So no statue,” I said, relief flooding me as I sniffed my drink. The scent reminded me of honey and chocolate.
“No statue,” he agreed as he watched me try a sip.
Holy. Freaking. Yumsational. I had to smuggle some of this stuff home with me. I'd make a fortune.
The sweet-faced old demon winked at me. “Now,” he said, “tell me everything.”
I filled up on the delicious sweet/rich/golden/stunning taste of the drink while I spun out the story. My stomach full, I found myself drifting around the room as I talked, unable to keep still, wrapping up the tale as I stared out the window at the demon city. I caught my reflection faintly in the glass, one I recognized. It was her, me, my demon. I knew that face, those amber eyes, intimately.
Theridialis came to my side, flinging the thick glass pane open to the air. I drew a deep breath, taking in the sweet scent of the outdoors, hearing the soft hum of civilization below me. Only then did I realize I was in some kind of tower, high above most of the rest of the city.
Theridialis leaned against the sill, the open window wide enough for both of us to stand there. “I truly expected to hear of Haralthazar’s death from you since I have been unable to reach him,” he said, voice soft and full of relief. “Your father is one of my dearest friends and allies. It has weighed heavily on my heart that I’ve had no evidence of his passing.” I hugged his arm in thanks and he patted my hands with a kind look. “I'm happy to hear he yet lives. Often when one of us vanishes, it means they’ve been murdered, sacrificed. Forever lost. Now I wonder how many are simply trapped as he is, their magic gone, connection to Demonicon broken.” His chubby face crinkled as he frowned, lost for a moment. “This could be a huge revelation for our people, Sydlynn.” He shook his head then, small smile returning as he refocused. “But that doesn’t matter, not now. Not until we’ve figured out how to help your father.”
“I'm sorry to say it,” I told him, hating the bitterness in my voice, but unable to stop it, “but he might as well be dead at this point. He's not only mortal, he's human. Powerless.”
Theridialis nodded. “And we'll deal with that,” he said, so firmly I believed him. “Be grateful he yet lives for us to try. Yes?”
I nodded, feeling tears rise in my eyes. “Yes.”
Theridialis studied me a moment. “You must not judge him,” he said. “Not for the blood magic, nor for deciding to remain human. He has been through so very much...”
He was right. I nodded again, with much more conviction.
“A pity, really,” Theridialis said. “The blood magic should have worked. After all, demon power is often stolen using their blood, by the humans who summon and then kill them. Reversing the procedure using negative magic was a logical assumption.”
I wished I could agree with him. But my aversion to blood magic was ingrained, buried deep in my witchiness and remained no matter how many wards it hid behind or what plane I was on.
Theridialis shook himself at last, round belly quivering as he turned away.
“Your family will be happy to hear of his survival,” he said, his verve returning as he strode to one of the lab tables and stirred a bubbling green concoction with a thin metal strip. It dissolved in a flash of emerald light that made him grunt and grin. He rubbed his fat hands together as he turned back to me. “Most pleased, indeed.”
Wait a second. What did he... “Family?”
He went on as if he didn't hear me. “I'll continue to work on it at this end,” he said. “Though truthfully, no demon has ever returned from something like this. But,” he held up one chubby finger, “typically any demon in your father's predicament would be dead by now and unable to reach us regardless.” His amber eyes locked on mine. “We need to schedule another time for you to return so I can begin testing. And once this
is over, you must come for a more prolonged visit.” He winked at me. “Demonicon is as much your birthright as Earth, my dear. And I'm sure your grandmother would be delighted to meet you.”
Hold the truck of shock barreling toward me at top speed. “Grandmother?”
“Time to go back now, dear. I have much to do and your lovely presence will only distract me.” He approached me, hands outstretched. “Tomorrow, Sydlynn, at this same time. I'll be waiting for you, ready to begin testing immediately.” He gripped my face in his hands and gently kissed my forehead. “We'll find a way to bring him home.”
Before I could ask any more questions, stammer out the million or so I had about his whole family comment, I felt myself falling backward, sliding through clinging energy that seemed unhappy to let me go.
I gasped a breath in shock as I slammed back into my human body, the pink tinted air replaced by the gloom of the basement. The impact rocked me so hard I staggered and would have fallen if Sassafras hadn't been there to catch me.
“Syd!” He hugged me tight, his whole body trembling. “Are you okay?”
I pulled back, meeting his eyes, still gripped by wonder and overwhelmed. I lifted the crystal held tightly in my human hand and looked at it. Amber power pulsed inside, sent a thrill through my fingers.
You mind telling me what this means? I threw the question at my demon.
She just chuffed and preened like it was all her idea in the first place.
For all I knew at the moment, it was. Brat.
I looked up and into Sassy’s worried face.
“Holy crap,” I breathed. “Demonicon is cool.”
Sass's fear for me flashed to a sudden look of absolute fury and loss. I cried out as his hands flexed, the pain of it unexpected, before he stepped away, face settling into a cold mask. “You talked to my father?”
“I talked to your father.” I slid the crystal back in my pocket before rubbing at my arms and the bruises I was sure he gave me. “He seems to think he can save Dad.”
“Of course,” Sass snapped. “He's Theridialis, Demon Lord of the Fourth Plane. He can do anything.”
I scowled at him, the awesomeness of my experience ruined by his attitude. “This was your idea, remember? I'm just glad it worked.” I turned from him, heading for the stairs as my two other powers returned, the wards dropping away. My demon didn't complain. In fact, she felt pretty damned content. “I'm telling Mom.”
I know I should have been a little more understanding. Sass struggled with his own stuff, worthy of my empathy. But I had my father to worry about. When this was over, I told myself I would do everything I could to help my friend, no matter what it took. He’d spent so many years with us on our plane, in the body of a cat for a crime he’d never confessed. If I could save my dad, I’d make sure Sass somehow had his sentenced repealed and regained his old shape for good.
Even if it meant sending him home permanently to Demonicon.
I ran up the stairs, hearing the sound of Sass's feet following me, though his pace was slower than mine. I quickly left him behind, sprinting to the second floor. My knock on Mom's door was met with silence. The house was quiet and dark, only faint light emerging from underneath.
I tried again, knocking a little louder. Someone moved on the other side, approached. The handle turned, the door easing open. Meira stood on the other side, my sister's little face sheathed in tears. She collapsed into my arms and I quickly scooped her up, holding her close as I entered the room and moved toward the bed.
My heart clenched, fear rising as I spotted Mom where she sat on the side of it, hunched over Dad. She looked up as I approached her, her tears matching my sister's.
“Syd,” she whispered. “Oh, Syd.”
I looked down at Dad and understood, from the sunken look to his cheeks, his shallow breathing, the way he seemed to be slowly collapsing in on himself.
“I thought he was okay?” I clung to Meira as much as she clung to me. I heard Sassafras gasp, but ignored him as Mom shook her head.
“So did I,” she said. “But we were wrong, so wrong. He can't be human, Syd. Not if he is to survive.”
The choice he made was no choice at all.
Without his power, my father's body was lost, empty. If we didn't do something, he would die after all.
***
Chapter Twelve
I quickly sat on the floor, Meira still in my arms, and told Mom what I'd done.
Her reaction wasn't what I expected.
“You did WHAT?” Mom was usually pretty pale, her porcelain skin perfect. But now she looked almost ghostly, more like her vampire brother did before he had a chance to eat.
“Theridialis took me across,” I said while Meira stared up at me.
“What was it like?” Her voice was low, soft, but I could hear real curiosity. At least I'd distracted her.
“Pretty cool,” I said. “He invited me to come visit when this is over. You could come too.”
Mom reached out and grasped my hand, squeezing so tightly I jerked free of her with a startled squeak.
“Sydlynn Thaddea Hayle,” she said, voice trembling in fear and anger all swirling together, “you and your sister will be doing no such thing.”
“Why not?” We asked in chorus and for the first time ever I found myself wondering why we'd never thought of visiting Demonicon before, even when Dad was whole and himself.
“Because,” Mom said, the forcefulness leaving her voice as she sat back suddenly, “I said so.”
Yeah. Good reason, Mom.
“Well, I'm going back,” I snapped at her. “In case you weren't listening, Theridialis seems to think he can help Dad.”
Mom shook her head over and over, her veil of black hair swinging back and forth, sending the scent of lilacs wafting toward me. “It's too dangerous,” she whispered. “Syd, please. You can't go back.”
Dangerous? “Not even for Dad?” That made her hesitate. Until he sighed and shifted positions, his eyes opening to meet mine.
“Listen to your mother, Syd,” Dad said. “You're not going back. And that's final.” His gaze met Sassy's across the room where my friend hovered. “What were you thinking?”
Sass started as if Dad struck him. “She wasn't supposed to cross,” he said, tone huffy.
“Theridialis knows better.” Dad sighed deeply and struggled to sit up. Mom tried to make him stay prone, but he ignored her. I reached out without considering my actions and touched his arm, a thread of power moving between us. Dad sighed again, but this time in shock as his skin seemed to fill out, weariness fading a little.
So he was still a demon after all, somewhere deep inside. He might not have access to power, but mine seemed to do the trick in reviving him.
Good to know.
“I'm going back,” I said. “And I'm going to find a way to fix this, Dad.”
He met my eyes for a long moment. “You're too much like your mother,” he said. And smiled. Mom tried to protest, but again Dad ignored her. “Thank you, cupcake,” he said. “Promise me you'll be careful.”
“What do I have to worry about?” I looked back and forth between them before glaring at Sassy. “Well?”
“He'll keep her safe,” Sassafras said, his bitterness still alive and well. “You can count on my father for that much at least.”
Dad nodded slowly, even relaxing a little. “You're right. Miriam, this is my last chance. And as much as I hate to ask Syd to go, as dangerous as it could be for her, there is no one else.”
“There is.” Mom spun on the demon cat-turned demon boy. “Sassafras, you could go.”
“No,” I said. “He’s banished, remember?”
Sass seemed to squirm before shrugging. “Not really,” he whispered. “Not anymore.”
“Your mortal form.” Dad’s voice was soft and full of hope for my friend. That was big of him, considering. “It broke the hold on you.”
Sass mentioned being able to feel his father, but he said nothing about his
banishment being over. “I think so,” he said. “At least, I don’t feel restricted anymore.”
Mom was shaking her head the whole time they talked before spinning back to face me. But I beat her to it.
“I have to do this, Mom. But now that he’s free, Sass can come with me.” Maybe. I wasn't sure, really. Even when I said it, I saw the flash of fearful hope cross his face and wished I hadn’t said anything. He'd been through a lot too, and I'd hate to disappoint him.
“I'll stay with Dad,” Meira said, sliding out of my lap and jumping up on the bed, her back pressed to Mom while she took his hand. “It seems like demon magic can help keep you going, at least for a while.”
It was true. He still looked okay. Not dying at least. But it was a patch job at best, I could feel it. The power was already seeping out of him like he had holes in his soul it couldn’t heal.
Mom's tears were silent as she hugged Meira. I could see the desperate need on her face, how useless she felt. I reached out with my magic and hugged her.
It'll be okay, Mom.
You be safe. Her mind jabbed into mine. Stay in the lab and away from other demons. And whatever you do, you can't stay past their sunset. Promise me.
Was that what I had to worry about? Why?
Just listen to me. And do as I say.
I recalled how it seemed like the veil between planes didn't want to let me pass to come home. Could I be trapped there?
Mom just met my eyes. We don't know, she finally admitted. But I'm not willing to find out.
According to Theridialis, there was nothing to worry about. My human part would welcome me back. But there was more to it.
And my demon grandmother?
Mom's mind shuddered. I hope he's smart enough not to tell her you're coming.
Okay then. Sounded like the makings of a lovely family reunion. Why then did Theridialis seem to think otherwise?