“Why in the world would someone do that?”
“I have no idea. Can you just see if anyone has ever heard of it before?”
“Sure. Anything else?”
“Do you know any old ones? I need to find out anything on the angel’s Ruling Council that I can. Anything is helpful, but specifically the names, titles, responsibilities, and strengths of the members.”
Dar laughed. “Mal, I know everyone. How dare you doubt my social reach?”
Dar called me “Mal Cogita,” which he claims means “bad fuck” in Spanish. I’d been hoping to ask someone if that was true, because Dar often inflated his knowledge, but I hadn’t had time.
“Of course I can find that out, but even so, any information I get is going to be really old. Like almost three million years old. I’m sure the original angels are dead by now.”
“I don’t think so. They don’t die like we do. The one I deal with was in the war, and I know he’s got brothers just as old who are probably on the council too.”
“Still, they may rotate members. Or maybe they vote on them. I really can’t see how dated information is going to be helpful.”
“It will better than nothing, which is what I’ve got now. Besides, knowing who they were during the wars, what their titles were, will help. Even if they’ve swapped out council members, they’re probably similar in power and skills.”
“Okay. I’ll do what I can,” Dar replied.
“But don’t ask Ahriman,” I added as an afterthought. I’d not responded to his breeding petition. Although I intended to decline, I was hoping to keep him warm on the back burner as a kind of emergency, desperation, get–out–of–jail–free card. Under the protection of Ahriman’s wing, no one would fuck with me. But the price would be high.
Dar snorted. “Ahriman? He wouldn’t give me the time of day!” Dar paused then continued, his tone thoughtful. “Although I do think he is a bit obsessed with you, Mal. There is a rumor he presented a breeding contract to you, and he does seem to keep close tabs on your situation.”
“He has petitioned me.. I wonder if I hint that I may accept, if he’d pressure Haagenti to back off.”
A shout of laughter filled the room. “Mal, you idiot. You’ve been hanging out with humans too long. I’m willing to bet that Ahriman is spurring Haagenti on. Just think for a moment, Haagenti grabs you, tortures you mercilessly, and Ahriman swoops in to save the day. If you didn’t jump at his proposal right away, he knows you’re reluctant. What better way to overcome reluctance than to orchestrate a kidnapping. Desperate and in pain, you’d leap at the chance to take him up on his offer. In fact, he could substantially change the terms in his favor and you’d probably still accept at that point. Ahriman isn’t one to take rejection lightly. Or stalling. He gets what he wants.”
Shit. I’d never even thought about that. Maybe Ahriman was behind this whole thing with Haagenti. It would explain Haagenti’s over–the–top reaction, and his persistence, as well as his deep pockets in trying to haul me back. Now I was even more reluctant to return. Torture from Haagenti I might be able to face, Ahriman I couldn’t. He was too strong, and I wouldn’t put it past him to force me unwilling.
“Crap, that puts a wrinkle in something else,” I told Dar. “I need to meet with an elf lord. Taullian in Cyelle. It’s by the Western Red Forest over where we grew up. The Columbia gate puts me near, but it’s west of Cyelle.”
“Yeah, from that gate you’d either need to go through the Elven kingdom of Li and into Cyelle, or skirt the edge of Li in the demon lands to the Maugan swamp, and the Cyelle border. But the problem is going to be the gate. Haagenti knows you’re partial to that gate and he has it watched constantly. Your only chance would be to dash through and into Li before they nab you.”
“That high lord hates my guts.”
“You could come in by Klee,” Dar suggested. “I don’t think Haagenti has anyone watching that gate.”
“Uh, no. That’s through four different elf kingdoms, and every single one of them would be happy to see me dead. Haagenti’s torture would be like a spa day by comparison.” Besides, to get to that gate, I’d need to fly to Mogadishu, and I didn’t think there was quick and easy air travel there right now.
“There’s no way you’ll make it past the Seattle gate either, the one that comes out in Dis. No way. That gate is wall–to–wall demons. You’ll just need to find another entrance.”
I sighed. There was another gate: the elf gate on the C&O canal towpath. But that came out into another high lord’s lands, and even though we were on decent terms, elves didn’t take kindly to trespass. There was always a cost if you were caught on their lands. I was going to have to risk it though. Just as soon as I was sure Wyatt was safe.
Mulling over the best way to go through three elven kingdoms without offending anyone or being snatched up by demons, I ended my call and headed out to meet Candy. Korean food and the company of a good friend would put everything in perspective. And if that didn’t do it, hot wings and a night curled up in Wyatt’s arms would.
5
Michelle’s aunt appeared to be in her sixties, a voluminous woman in a voluminous bright–blue dress. She glared at me, clearly disappointed.
“This is no Satan,” she announced. I felt rather ashamed, as if I’d defrauded her. “This is not even a Loa. She is a minor servant of Eshu of the Yoruba. She is of no use to me.”
She’d insisted that her wall needed to be constructed at night, and had raced up from Ellicott City in her sporty little BMW convertible. I’d had to interrupt my girlfriend time with Candy and hot–foot it back to meet her at Wyatt’s house. I probably didn’t look too impressive, standing beside Wyatt’s old truck holding a bag of hot wings.
“I am the Ha–satan, the Iblis,” I assured her weakly. “I can show you the sword.”
She scowled. “I care not for your weapons. That horse you have mounted is not even an initiate. Why would you choose her?”
I glanced over at Michelle, silently beseeching her for clarification. I wasn’t on a horse at the moment, and I wasn’t sure exactly who this initiate was that the woman referred to. Did she mean Piper or Diablo? And who was this “her”? All my horses were male.
“She means the human whose form you are in. Your “horse”. She is wondering why you would possess someone who is not a worshipper. Normally a spirit only possesses those who are initiated into the religion and who are willing vessels.”
I turned back to the aunt. “I can Own anyone I choose. Anyone I find interesting. I don’t need their permission, and they don’t need to worship me.” Although that would be really cool. I’d never had anyone worship me before.
Her dark eyes were uncomfortably intense. “But you do not Own this horse you ride. A symbiosis such as this is only possible with permission.”
“Can you build this wall, or not?” I asked. I wasn’t about to get into a discussion of the terms and conditions surrounding my Owning the human known as Samantha Martin. It was complicated, and strange, not something I discussed with anyone, let alone some unknown priestess.
Wyatt had come out at this point, and the aunt turned her attention to him, her face clearly approving.
“Is this the young man seeking protection?” she asked. Without waiting for an answer, she turned to Michelle. “I will do this for you and your young man. Not for this servant of Eshu.”
Michelle shot me an uncomfortable glance. “He’s not my young man, Auntie. He’s Sam’s boyfriend.”
The piercing eyes returned to me. “Greedy,” she pronounced. Yep, that was an understatement. “I will not do this thing for you.”
“I’ll pay you,” I pleaded.
“Please?” Michelle intervened. “Wyatt is my friend, and I want him to be safe.”
“All right,” the aunt muttered. “But that little crossroads demon has to go away and leave me to work in peace.”
Wyatt walked closer, while the aunt slandered me.
“I re
ally don’t want this thing,” he told me. “I can take care of myself. You don’t need to do this.”
“Weak, paltry spirits who cannot even protect their own against the lowest of demons. . .” the aunt raised her voice.
“You do need this, Wyatt,” I assured him. “What if one comes after you when you’re in the shower, or taking a shit? You can’t have your gun loaded and ready at every moment. This will give you a safe place, and buy you some time if one attacks.”
“If she stopped cowering under a rock, like vermin, and actually confronted those who would threaten her. . .” the aunt shouted to be heard over our conversation.
“Okay,” Wyatt conceded. “But I hate the idea that you can’t come inside my house. Leethu is in yours, and now you can’t come into mine. Where can we be together?”
“The barn,” I suggested. “The Eastside Tavern?”
“Coward. Miserable, worthless coward, undeserving of the attention of the god she serves.”
“Fine!” I shouted back. “I got it. The neighbors two miles away don’t need to hear this.”
“Come on,” Wyatt urged. “Let’s go hide out in your barn while this horrible woman does her thing.”
“No,” the horrible woman proclaimed. “The worshiper of this cowardly spirit must remain here while I secure his house.”
Wyatt, my worshiper? I nearly choked in amusement.
Wyatt gave me a pained look. “Go on,” I told him, still grinning at the aunt’s comment. “It won’t take long, then she’ll leave and we can go curl up in my barn among the saddle pads and feed sacks.”
It took forever. There was a lot of swaying, chanting, humming and depositing of dust at various spots around Wyatt’s house. Michelle had told me that originally the protection was just on the dwelling, the dust placed in the corners of the building, but she’d asked her aunt to place the barrier further out, for added protection. I kept creeping close, trying to see what was going on. Finally Michelle came out to me and told me I needed to go away, that her aunt had instructed she was to “beat me off with a stick” if I came any closer. So I went back to my house and watched fetish porn with Leethu, waiting for Michelle to call me and have me come out to test the barrier.
It was almost dawn, and Leethu and I were dozing on the couch when the call finally came. The Succubus had been trapped in my house for far too long, so I coaxed her out to see Wyatt’s wall, promising she could try to seduce the aunt. I had my doubts that she’d be successful.
“Now that is a spirit worth knowing,” Michelle’s aunt said in admiration upon seeing Leethu. “A minor in the hierarchy of Erzulie Freida, but still powerful.”
Leethu looked up coyly from downcast eyes and graciously thanked the horrible woman for her flattery while I tested Wyatt’s new barrier. I pounded it with my fists, kicked it, and threw myself against it all around the perimeter, and it held admirably. The woman was a real bitch, but she did know how to make an invisible wall.
By the time I’d made my way around the other side of Wyatt’s house, Leethu was in close conversation with her, hanging on the woman’s every word and looking up at her respectfully. I watched as she took her hand and ran her fingers caressingly down the aunt’s arm. The woman smiled. It was an alarming sight to see; the smile was absolutely out of place on what I’d assumed was a permanently scowling face.
“All right, Leethu,” I told her. “Let’s get back before Gregory shows up and lops your head off.”
The succubus shot over to my side for protection, looking nervously around at the dark shadows cast by the trees.
“The barrier will protect against servants of Rada as well as Petro,” the aunt assured me. I looked to Michelle for translation.
“Angels as well as demons,” Michelle helpfully chimed in. “I didn’t have her do mine against angels, but with Wyatt as your boyfriend, I thought protection against angels might be a good idea.”
I hadn’t thought of that. I knew Gregory didn’t particularly like him, that he often claimed to wish Wyatt dead, but I didn’t honestly think he’d take any action against him. In fact, I kind of got the impression he would protect Wyatt, even though he disliked him. Still, it was a good idea.
“Thanks,” I told her. “And thank you,” I said to the aunt.
The aunt waved her hand dismissively. “I like this boy,” she said. “I think my niece should date him.”
Michelle looked horrified. “Auntie, I’m already dating someone. And Wyatt is Sam’s boyfriend. I mentioned that before.”
I kissed Wyatt, just to emphasize the “my boyfriend” part. Demons wouldn’t care, but I was starting to have very un–demonic, rather possessive feelings toward Wyatt. Michelle was my friend, and if Wyatt wished to be with her, I wouldn’t stand in his way, but it would bother me. I was beginning to want him all to myself. Mine. In every way shape and form.
“Lock up your place and meet me in the barn in ten,” I whispered to him. “I’ll bring breakfast and we’ll watch the sunrise together.”
He cupped my face with one hand, brushing his thumb across my cheekbone. His eyes were warm with passion and a kind of gentle emotion. “I’d like that,” he said, and those words set every nerve in my body alight.
“She said I could mount her,” Leethu confided to me as we walked back toward my house. “She is so soft and round. I find her irresistibly attractive. I can’t wait to fuck her.”
“She doesn’t mean ‘fuck’,” I explained. “She’s talking about something entirely different.”
I quickly told her about horses. She sighed with regret.
“That does not sound as much fun as fucking,” the Succubus whined. “I am so disappointed. I’ll bet I could change her mind though.”
Yes, I’m sure you could, I thought as the pheromones flowed in a velvety caress over me. They soothed me and added to my rather satisfied mood. Wyatt was safe, rents were in, and I was confident that I’d soon have Haagenti off my back. At the moment, I was relaxed and sleepy from the late hour and Leethu’s presence. I couldn’t wait to see Wyatt, to glory in both the sunrise and the feel of his skin against mine, then fall asleep wrapped in the tight embrace of his limbs, but as I poured coffee into a thermos, my doubts returned. Wyatt was safe, but for how long? What if the barrier failed? What if he was ambushed while grocery shopping or pumping gas one day? This last demon was smart and strong. Wyatt wouldn’t stand a chance. I needed to resolve this issue with Haagenti, and resolve it fast. Before it was too late.
6
I’d hauled the trailer with the Surburban to Dargan’s Landing early afternoon. Wyatt and I had eaten microwaved bacon and mini donuts in the barn, then slowly explored each other as pink lit the morning sky. I hadn’t wanted it to end, but with a defensible barrier around Wyatt’s house, it was time for me to see about a more permanent solution to my Haagenti problem. So here I was, hauling my horse to the safest gate to Hel that I could think of.
It wasn’t unusual to see various trailers at this particular access point to the C&O Canal. There was a boat launch; but not just the rafters, kayakers, and fishers put in here. Cycling groups, joggers, and those who longed for a nice easy trail ride with their horses also used this spot. Of course, there weren’t as many horses on the towpath as there used to be. With all the joggers and cyclists, it took a placid horse to handle the chaos without bolting. My huge draft gelding, Piper, was such a horse, but he wasn’t the one I’d brought today. I had Diablo.
Diablo was a thoroughbred cross, and I don’t just mean in equine breed terms. Some demon had gotten his freak on with a mare and sired this horse. Breeding is an intentional act for our kind, and we can exercise great creativity in the traits we endow our offspring. I was surprised to find Diablo in the hands of humans because his breeding had clearly been given some thought. I could only assume his sire meant to return to collect him and sell him at a later date but had either been killed or was unable to successfully cross the gates again. I’d bought the horse for practically
nothing from humans who found him so dangerous and unpredictable that he was seconds away from finding himself in a dog food can.
I didn’t find him much easier to handle than his human owners had. He was smart. He had skills. And he obeyed . . . sometimes. He was crazy and skittish, terrified of plastic grocery store bags, blowing leaves, even his own damned shadow. Which was really ridiculous since he had the ability to store enough raw energy to explode any killer plastic bag that threatened his being. Horses.
He wasn’t any happier about the elf gate we stood in front of. Or the cyclists. Or the joggers. Or that insane guy kayaking the Potomac River in January. He danced around with his ears pinned flat, snorting at the elf trap and its bait; an illusion of a dirty, tear stained toddler sitting at the bottom of the ravine.
“It’s an illusion, you worthless horse,” I told him. “It’s a gate. You just walk right on through the damned thing.”
Piper would have plodded through without a second thought, but once I was on the other side, I needed a horse with a good bit of demon in him. We’d need to move fast though the elf kingdom, dash across a tiny swath of demon lands, then head deep into the Western Red Forest where I should be safe. I needed a fast horse, one that could defend himself and me, one that could teleport. Although there was no guarantee he’d be able, or willing, to teleport me along with him. Stupid, unreliable horses.
Diablo pranced, and I was getting tired of kicking him in the sides and jolting him with energy. I needed to change tactics.
“You’ll get to see the horses back home. Mmm–mmm. Other hybrids like you.” His ears twitched. “And the Elven mares. You have no idea, my friend. Elegant and leggy. They always think they are better than us, so you need to chase them down and pin them against the fence before you fuck them.”
Not that I’d ever fucked a horse, Elven or otherwise. Clearly the idea of a challenge intrigued Diablo, because he cautiously made his way down the canal embankment and extended his nose toward the gate.
Elven Blood (Imp Book 3) Page 6