Bittersweet Magic to-2

by Nina Croft

  “Mind your own goddamned business.”

  “I’m guessing no, and you know why?”

  “No, and I’d really rather you didn’t bother me with your pathetic theories.”

  He ignored her. “Because, darling, you wouldn’t have come on to me quite so strongly if you weren’t so desperate.”

  “Piers, you’re a pig.” It was Tara who spoke. Roz was too busy glaring at him.

  Hell, he’d been called worse things.

  The truth was he’d almost forgotten the others were still in the room.

  Christian pushed back his chair and stood up. “I think it’s time we left.”

  Roz glanced around as everyone rose to their feet except him. “So am I free to go?” she asked.

  Piers opened his mouth to say no, but Christian beat him to it. “Why don’t you stay here for a while, at least. As a guest of the Order.”

  “Well, I’ve not been too impressed by the guest facilities so far.”

  Christian glanced at him, one eyebrow quirked.

  “She’s been in the cells.”

  Christian shook his head. “Ever the gentleman.” He turned to Roz. “We have guest quarters above ground. They’re very comfortable.”

  “And I’m not a prisoner. I can come and go?”

  Well, you can come, and frequently, Piers wanted to say. On the other hand, going wasn’t an option. But maybe he’d leave that bit of information for now. “Why don’t you stay a while, work with Jonas, identify this demon, and we might be able to get him off your back without finding this Key. Jonas can also tell you something about what goes on here and maybe what you are and what you can do.”

  “Okay, I’ll stay.”

  “I’ll show you to the guest quarters,” Tara said. “Get you settled in.”

  Piers almost protested at that—he wanted to get her settled in—but Roz was looking a little dazed. Maybe she needed time to adjust to what was happening, and he had things to do. Trying to locate Andarta, for one.

  Roz nodded, her relief obvious. He got up and followed her to the door, halting her with a hand on her arm as she was about to follow Christian and Tara out. He leaned in close and whispered in her ear. “I’d like that vibrator back—any relief you get is going to come from me.”

  She shot him a filthy look. “Piss off.”

  Chapter Ten

  Roz’s mind was reeling.

  She was immortal.

  The Order had no plans to kill her. They would never have killed her. But her father’s people might. Whoever he was. She’d told the truth; she only had the vaguest of memories of him.

  She gave Tara a quick sideways glance. Tara was half-fae, and she reminded Roz of the few hazy memories she had of her father. He’d been blond, with green eyes, just like Tara. But maybe that was something all the fae shared.

  Except her. She’d gotten her looks almost exclusively from her mother.

  She swayed and balanced herself with a hand flat to the cool wall. There was too much to take in; plus she reckoned she’d drunk about half a bottle of scotch in there, and she was feeling the effects.

  Lack of sleep.

  Worry.

  Scotch.

  Relief.

  All were milling together in her mind.

  She had an overwhelming urge to lie down in a darkened room and pass out. Soon, she promised herself.

  “Come on,” Tara said from beside her. “You look about ready to keel over.”

  Yeah, that about summed it up.

  She glanced at the other woman curiously. This was Asmodai’s daughter—it was hard to believe. Impossible, really. Tara was about her height—which was no height at all. She had bright blond hair cut in a blunt bob and grass-green eyes, which were returning Roz’s inspection.

  She grinned. “Hard to believe, isn’t it?”

  “What is?”

  “That I’m half-demon. I take after my mother. Come on, we’ll get you settled in the guest quarters, then you can have half an hour asking questions—I can see you’ve got tons. I was the same.”

  They were heading toward the elevator when Roz stopped.

  “Sister Maria—we have to go get her. She’s still in the cells.”

  “We called down, and someone is taking her to the guest suite. She’s probably already there.”

  “Oh, good.” Behind her, she could hear the murmur of voices and knew it was Christian, Piers, and the warlock. She really couldn’t take any more of Piers right now—she wasn’t feeling strong enough to counter his barbed comments. At the same time, some inner voice whispered that she couldn’t allow him to see her as vulnerable in any way, or he would use it. “Come on, let’s go.”

  Tara glanced behind her and smiled as if she could understand exactly what was going through her mind. Maybe she could? What a horrible thought.

  “They can be a little overpowering,” Tara murmured.

  “They can be total assholes,” Roz countered.

  Tara laughed. “Christian, not so much, but Piers….Yeah, I’d say asshole covers it. It comes from getting his own way too much.” She stopped by the elevator and pressed the button. The doors slid open and she gestured inside. “He needs someone to take him down a bit.”

  “Well, don’t look at me.” She let out a sigh of relief as the doors closed and the elevator swept them upward. “So you’re a newlywed?” she asked.

  Tara smiled. “Six months.”

  “What’s it like being married to a vampire?”

  Tara opened her mouth to answer, but the doors opened and she paused. They stepped out and directly into the guest suite. Through the tall windows opposite, Roz could see the lights of the city of London spread out. They were high up.

  “We’re in the penthouse,” Tara said.

  Roz gave her a sharp glance. “Can you read my mind?”

  “No, but your face is very easy to read, when you stop trying to hide what you’re thinking.”

  Roz rubbed a finger between her brows. “I’m too tired to hide. It’s been a busy few days.”

  Tara reached out and rested her palm on Roz’s forearm. “You don’t have to hide from me. Whatever you are—it makes no difference. It’s what you’ve done that matters.”

  Roz shrugged free and stepped away, moving closer to the window to stare out into the night. “Well, that’s a total bummer, because I’ve done some pretty bad things in my long life.”

  “I’m betting not so bad.”

  She swung around. “You know nothing.”

  Tara shrugged. “Look at how you’ve taken care of Sister Maria.”

  “I couldn’t get rid of her. Clung like a bloody burr.”

  “Of course she did. That’s why you wanted to get her out of the cells just now.”

  At that moment, one of the doors that led off the reception area swung open, and Maria stood in the doorway. Wearing a fluffy dark blue robe that covered her from head to toe, she was rubbing at her short hair with a matching towel. She looked almost like a normal human being, and Roz smiled at the thought.

  “Hi,” Maria said. She even sounded human. Maybe there was life after the convent.

  “You okay?” Roz asked and Maria nodded.

  Tara stepped forward. “Hi, we haven’t met, though you’ve met my husband, Christian. I’m Tara.”

  Maria took the outstretched hand and shook it a little tentatively.

  Tara turned to Roz. “Why don’t you go shower and I’ll make some coffee. Afterward, you can ask your questions and then get some sleep.”

  That sounded so good.

  She stripped off the heavy habit for what she really hoped was the last time. Standing under the spray of scalding water, she let some of her tension drain away. Maybe freedom wasn’t beyond her reach, and she could come out of this with everything she’d dreamed of. And more.

  She no longer had to fear that she would be killed for what she was. With that realization, a huge weight dropped away from her. She felt almost light, as though bubbles we
re rising up inside her.

  Asmodai, the selfish bastard, had lied, and she understood why. He’d aimed to keep her under his power, and what better way than to make her believe that everyone else was out to kill her? That she had no friends anywhere in the world?

  Well, what had she expected? He was a demon. He’d never pretended to be Mr. Nice-guy. But somehow, she had come to trust him, and it hurt to know that he had isolated her in such a deliberately premeditated manner.

  Now, she would have to decide what to do. She still had the Key. Or Ryan did. Should she hand it over to Asmodai and gain her freedom? Or should she put her trust in these people, who she really knew very little about?

  They claimed they wouldn’t have actually killed her themselves, but they wouldn’t have stood in the way if her father’s people had tried to do the job. She closed her eyes and tried to remember her father, but the memory remained nebulous. It was as though there was a curtain in her mind, hiding the memories. A curtain she couldn’t draw back. So she stopped trying. For now. Instead, she switched off the water and worked out what questions to ask Tara.

  What she’d really like to ask about was Asmodai. But at the same time, she was unwilling to reveal who her demon protector was until she had decided what to do, whether or not to hand the Key over to him. Surely, that wouldn’t be so bad. After all, Tara and Christian were related to the demon. They could stop him doing anything bad with the Key.

  She hoped.

  Roz also wanted to know about the fae. Her father’s people. Who apparently were as bad as demons but better at hiding it.

  And what else was there in the world? What other monsters were there, that she had believed were mere myths and legends?

  After drying herself quickly, she pulled on a robe—hers dark red, going nicely with her pale skin. She rubbed a towel over her hair, ran her fingers through it, and went back into the lounge. The welcome scent of freshly ground coffee greeted her.

  Tara and Maria were sitting, facing each other, on opposite sofas with a coffee table in between. A tray stood on the table, and Roz pounced on it. She poured herself a cup, added cream and sugar, and settled herself on the seat next to Maria, so she would be able to see Tara’s face while she talked.

  “So,” she said. “Are you allowed to talk to us, tell us things?”

  “You’re one of us now, and Sister Maria already knows about demons…I reckon she isn’t going to be telling any tales.”

  No, maybe not. Maria would probably go back to an enclosed order and never speak again. “Okay then,” Roz said. “Tell me everything.”

  Tara laughed. “I don’t know everything. I’m still learning myself.”

  “So tell me what’s important.”

  Tara thought for a minute. Took a sip of coffee and thought some more. “They’re good people. Here at the Order. They may come across as a little…” She hesitated as if searching for the right word.

  “Bad?” Roz supplied for her.

  “Yes, they may come across as bad, but they do a job that needs to be done.”

  “And what is that exactly?”

  Tara studied her, head cocked to one side. “What do you know?”

  Roz shrugged. “Nothing.”

  Tara laughed again, the sound musical. “Okay, I’ll start from the beginning.” She relaxed back against the cushions. “Years ago—more than a thousand, I think—demons and the fae pretty much did what they liked. The two don’t exactly get on, though demons are fond of fae women, which probably didn’t help matters. Anyway, they fought a lot, and there was a real danger that they would end up destroying the earth and all of mankind. So the Shadow Accords were set up.”

  “Who set them up?”

  “The vampires.”

  There was a little squeak from Maria, and Roz glanced toward her. Her eyes were wide, her mouth open.

  “Vampires?”

  It occurred to Roz that no one had mentioned vampires to the sister before. It was bound to be something of a shock. She patted her arm. “I’ll explain everything later.”

  Tara continued, “Obviously, vampires have a vested interest in the continuation of mankind.”

  “Food?” Roz guessed.

  “Exactly. They were also one of the more powerful factions, and from what Christian told me—”

  “Was Christian alive then?”

  Tara shook her head. “No. He’s actually about the same age as you—around five hundred, give or take a few years.”

  There was another high-pitched squeak from Maria. This time, Roz ignored the sound. She would explain everything later. Or not.

  “Now, Piers was around—”

  “He was? How old is Piers?”

  “I’m not sure, but Christian said he’s the oldest vampire he knows. So I’m guessing very old, but I don’t think he was particularly interested in politics back then. Or now, either. Anyway, they sort of forced the Accords on the other races.”

  “But what did the Accords do?”

  “They’re really a set of rules, but the main one is that the demons would remain in the Abyss, the fae would stick to the Faelands—which they were happy to do—and the vampires would make sure they did.”

  “So the Order of the Shadow Accords was set up?” Roz asked.

  “Exactly. The Earth was always the fighting ground, mainly because a demon can’t enter the Faelands and the fae can’t enter the Abyss.”

  Unless they had a Key. But she didn’t speak the words out loud.

  “Vampires can travel between worlds, but they’ve always been seen as neutral. The only other beings that can move freely are those with mixed blood, and it has to be strong. That’s why the fae had the right to kill those with mixed blood written into the Accords. It’s why they sought to kill me. Why my mother had to pay Jonas to make a spell to keep me hidden.”

  “He can do that?”

  “Oh yes, he’s a very powerful warlock, though he doesn’t come cheap. Anyway, I had to be hidden because I’m half-demon, half-fae—”

  “Okay, that’s enough.” Maria slammed her cup down onto the table and glared. Her gaze shifted between the two of them, finally settling on Tara. “You’re part demon?”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t know what’s happening.” Poor Maria sounded bewildered. “I know I should believe in demons, and I did see those things at the convent, but…” She stared at Tara and shook her head. “You don’t look evil.”

  “I’m not. I don’t think.” She grinned. “To be honest, I’m still learning what I am. But one thing I do know is that even demons have free will, and they can choose how they behave. What they don’t tend to have—at least not as humans see it—is a conscience.”

  Maria tugged on the belt of her robe and then clasped her hands together on her lap. “I don’t know anything anymore. I mean, where does God fit into all this?”

  Tara shrugged. “Again, I don’t know. Maybe a true demon could tell you.”

  Maria shuddered, and Roz didn’t think she’d be chatting to any demons anytime soon. Not if she could help it anyway.

  “Go on,” she urged Tara.

  “Because of my blood, I can go to either the Abyss or the Faelands—so the fae see me as a threat.”

  “What about the demons?”

  “They don’t care who visits the Abyss—the more the merrier, as far as they are concerned.”

  “Do you know your father?”

  A closed expression came over Tara’s face. For a second, Roz thought she wouldn’t answer, but she shrugged again. “I only found out who and what he was about six months ago when I went to Christian to find my family. Christian was a private investigator. I didn’t know about the vampire thing back then. Hell, I didn’t even know they existed. I had a bit of a strange childhood, but I won’t go into that now. Anyway, I only met my father once, when he helped Christian fight off the fae. He saved my life, but he’d also done things I don’t think I can ever forgive him for.”

  “What about y
our mother?”

  “She died when I was born.”

  Damn. It didn’t appear as though she was going to learn much about her father’s people from Tara. “So you don’t know any of the fae?”

  “I met the Walker.”

  “The assassin Piers mentioned.”

  “Yes—he’s also my uncle, and he’s a complete bastard.”

  Roz studied her. “Does it worry you? What your parents were? What you might be?”

  “Sometimes, but Christian has made me see that I can be anything I want to be, and it’s pointless trying to hide what you are. You can maybe hide from other people but never yourself. Okay, your half hour’s up. One last question.”

  Roz thought for a moment. “What else is there out there?”

  “Everything. Everything you’ve ever heard of. All the creatures of your nightmares. You haven’t met Carl yet—he’s a werewolf.” She grinned at Roz’s no doubt stunned expression. “And on that note, I’ll leave you to sleep.”

  She rose to her feet. Roz still had a thousand questions, but she didn’t try and stop her. Exhaustion was tugging at her mind. She followed Tara out into the hallway and waited while the elevator came. As she stepped inside, Tara turned to her.

  “In answer to your question earlier: it’s fantastic being married to a vampire. You should try it sometime.”

  “Ha. Never going to happen.”

  She waited until the door closed then leaned her forehead against the cool metal as an image of Piers flashed through her mind. The taste of him flooded her senses, and she forced the image away.

  Bed.

  Maria was still on the sofa. She opened her mouth, but Roz held up a hand to silence her. “I’m going to bed. We’ll talk in the morning.”

  Maria closed her mouth and nodded.

  But as she snuggled down in the wonderfully comfortable bed, her head on the cool cotton pillows, and closed her eyes, it wasn’t Piers she saw in her mind, but Jack. And he was furious. He was back at his house; she recognized the room. He’d come for his Key and it was gone. Rage filled him. But beneath the rage, she could sense his underlying fear.

  He’d failed his mistress and she would not be pleased. She would devour him and spit out the pieces.