Her cheeks went pink at the endearment.
"What is it made of?" she asked to draw my attention away from her blush.
"I assume it is gold—many descriptions say it could be made of that precious metal, although gold is soft and malleable. If I were going to place information on metal, I'd make sure it would endure for a very long time."
"You think they're after gold?" Chloe asked.
"These are powerful beings who can take all the gold they want from more convenient places. No, I suspect they are after information contained only within the Metal Library itself."
"What information could be that important? What can they gain by killing your father—or anyone else?"
"They wished to conceal the knowledge that they seek it, perhaps, and combined that with their pleasure of taking lives."
"Sociopaths." Chloe's word was firm and convincing.
"Yes. A good description."
"I'm sorry about your father." She leaned her head on my shoulder, which was right where I wanted it to be.
* * *
Zaria
Dunedin. It was our current stop. Mountains rose in the distance, topped by pale clouds and blue skies.
"Are we getting off the boat, cabbage?" Ilya's arms pulled around me from behind.
"Have you been here before?" I asked.
"Long ago, and not on business," he whispered against my ear. I sighed and relaxed against him. He'd allowed his accent to come through in the words. In a former life, he'd been a Soviet spy—until he'd defected.
In this life, he was a Fifth-level Karathian warlock, who was also deadly with his hands and blades. "There is a train that goes into the mountains," he recalled. "The trip is quite scenic, and the journey was a pleasure for me, although the food is only standard fare."
"Done any cooking lately?"
"I have." He pulled me closer.
"I love you," I told him.
"Hmmph. I love you. You should know that."
"Hmmph."
"There are cave-like holes in some of those rock hillsides," he sighed against my ear. "I can place a concealment spell. And provide comfortable bedding."
I turned in his arms. "Go on," I said.
"Come with me, and I will."
* * *
Opal
Kell and I were tracking the Hiboux family through Dunedin, while Tamp and Klancy followed Morwin and Chloe. It gave the others a break, to enjoy their trip. I'd gotten mindspeech from Zaria, saying she and Ilya were going into the hills surrounding the port city.
It wasn't until late that afternoon, when our charges were heading back to the boat that the news came.
The body count was rising in Australia.
* * *
Zaria
Two families were dead. I had to carry the news to Rose and her family, because she knew several of the victims.
They belonged to the same social organization, and, while they weren't terribly close, remained in contact through social media.
It wasn't a secret that Rose and her family had planned a vacation trip. I merely wondered how long it would take Morgett and V'ili to connect the dots.
Perhaps it was time to hunt the Metal Library myself, with Morwin's information. If I had something to dangle in front of Morgett, perhaps he'd stop murdering.
I almost laughed as that thought hit me.
Morgett was Ra'Ak. Murder was practically their raison d'etre. In addition to that, if V'ili discovered that a Larentii were involved, he'd ramp his killing spree up to brand new levels.
He'd never admit that he and others like him had created his world's doom by attacking the Larentii and their children in the first place.
No.
That would mean accepting responsibility.
As far as I could tell, V'ili and responsibility had never been introduced. Toss in some rogue god interference and voilà—a vendetta as only a Sirenali could do it.
Still, it wouldn't hurt to do some digging to find the Library. Perhaps it would allow us to be better prepared when the time came.
Morwin, I sent. I need the information you received from your father.
* * *
Lexsi
Two families. Nine people, this time. Three of those were affected by dwarfism. Morgett and his crew were attacking the little people of Australia and their families in order to find Morwin.
Something had to be done, but I wasn't sure what that could be.
We're having a meeting after dinner, Zaria's voice entered my mind. Deck eleven—the bar at the back of the boat.
She and I had come to the same conclusion. I wondered if she had any solutions to stop the slaughter of innocents, without pinning a target on the rest of us.
"I heard," Kory sighed before I could tell him. "She sent blanket mindspeech, looks like."
"Where are we having dinner tonight?" I asked.
"I checked with the crab place earlier—they have no crab and won't have any until they sail for Alaska in a few months. I really wanted crab, too."
"San Francisco has crab," I pointed out.
"Yeah, but the time difference," he pointed out.
"Darn. I want crab too, now that you mention it."
"They have shrimp. Prawns, actually. Or, the Brazilian place on the top deck has shrimp and all types of meat carved and served at your table—gaucho style." I could see the light in Kory's eyes—he wanted that.
"Sounds like a lot. Better invite Anita and Watson, too."
"He'll want to gnaw on everything before it's cooked."
Kory's words made me laugh. "I say we invite him anyway."
We ended up asking everybody; Watson, Anita, Tibby, Farin, Esme and Yoff wanted to join us.
We would fill the entire table, and I liked that idea. I hoped dinner with friends would take my mind off nine deaths; they weighed heavily on me.
* * *
Zaria
Klancy, Tamp and I had dinner with Opal and Kell. Ilya was guarding the owl family, but I kept him in the loop through mindspeech.
"Yes, I could form a link between all those families and Lexsi and Kory, but," I said, once the waiter left our table.
"You're worried they'll kill three out of the four, and those are the ones that have to stay alive," Opal finished my sentence.
"Yeah. It sucks. It's—we can't just let all those people die," I finished helplessly. I was powerful, I knew that, yet I was faced with a conundrum that stretched across time and light years.
So many things could shatter the timeline, and then everything could explode in our faces. Nobody wanted a repeat of the god wars.
Nobody needed a repeat of the god wars.
There had to be an answer here somewhere, but I had no idea what it could be. "Perhaps a visit to the Archives?" Tamp asked, his voice hopeful.
He loved the Larentii Archives, and, as one of my mates, he had the equivalent of a library card issued by Val's father and Chief Archivist, Nefrigar.
"You think we can find an answer there?" I turned to him.
He smiled. "If not, it may take your mind off this worry," he said.
"Maybe later," I said, brushing his idea aside. "For now, I don't know what we're going to tell the others," I sighed. "The owl family lost friends in this latest attack. We have no answers, and they'll want some."
* * *
Royal Palace, Kifirin
Glindarok
In the past decade, I'd lost interest in Council meetings and trials. Still I received copies of the agenda and minutes from the previous meeting. I'd stopped attending at some point, and couldn't recall the last time I'd gone.
Jayd and Garde had a system, and I'd grown tired of seeing the same thing over and over. This time, however, there was an item on the agenda that drew my interest—a rape trial which would take up most of the meeting scheduled in two days.
A High Demon—one of the few Drith still alive, had raped a commoner in Veshtul. Not only had he committed rape, he'd beaten the woman and thr
eatened her family if she reported his misdeeds.
Her father learned the truth, however, and Vordevik Drith was imprisoned and held for trial. A part of me was furious about this. Another part of me knew that Jayd and Garde would have an important decision to make.
This sort of crime didn't happen often on Kifirin, and the decision could set a precedent for future trials. Jayd had no love for any of the Drith family, but as King, he would have to set those feelings aside and deal with this in an objective way.
Still, the punishment should be severe, in my mind. If he'd only beaten the woman, that was a minimum of five years—High Demons were much stronger than humanoids. He could have killed her easily.
Add a rape charge to the assault and it had to be ten or fifteen years' imprisonment—at least. Jayd and Garde knew the laws and would surely do the right thing where this victim was concerned.
Nedevik Weth would speak for her and her family in the Council Chambers. No matter what, Nedevik would prepare a full argument for the victim, although this should be a simple decision to make.
There was no need for me to attend, I decided. Perhaps I'd invite my daughters to visit for lunch on that day—all eight of them.
Only two are truly yours, a small voice reminded me. I ignored it.
* * *
SouthStar, Avendor
Li'Neruh Rath
I'd asked Breanne to meet me at SouthStar. I had no idea that Strength and Wisdom would also be waiting for my arrival.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't want time alone with Breanne, but I wanted to speak with her first, before taking my terms and conditions to the Queen of Kifirin.
That's how I found myself in Ashe's enormous library at the top of his palace, where a smiling servant offered tea and tiny cakes.
"Honey, don't blow smoke, you haven't heard what we have to say, yet," Breanne took a seat next to me on the sofa I occupied.
"But this is the right thing to do," I blustered. I didn't want the Three interfering with this. I'd thought long and hard about it before making this decision. Besides, the dark worlds had been left in my care.
"We know," Breanne smiled at me. "Stop worrying, Mister Smoky Britches. We agree with you."
"Then what's this about?" I demanded.
"Well, it looks like we may need a High Demon army before long. We thought you could help us with that."
I went still. Yes, I was keeping tabs on things happening on Earth in the past, but when did this become a necessity?
"Honey, the timeline is warping. We need all the help we can get to straighten it out again."
"Have dinner with me and I'll give you anything you want," I said.
"You're a trusting soul," Bree smiled at me.
"If it's you, I will trust every time," I confessed.
"I love you." She pulled my face down for a kiss. It was perfect.
* * *
New Zealand Waters
Lexsi
"I don't have any answers right now," Zaria said. I'd never seen her look so weary, even when we were dealing with the mess in Peru. "At least no easy answers," she continued. "I've started looking for the Metal Library myself—perhaps we can use it as bait—like last time. The unfortunate thing is this—last time, it was relatively easy to find. This time, it has concealed itself much better."
"My family and I stand with Morwin, now," Mother Rose stated flatly. "We have deaths to avenge."
"Yeah." Zaria was standing, but allowed Klancy to pull her onto a chair next to his. At that point I really, really wanted an answer to all this—and an end to the murder of innocents.
This is so fucked up, I sent to Kory while rubbing my forehead.
I know, he replied. We have to find a way to stop this senseless slaughter. I wish I could count on the High Demon army, but mindspeech here and now will go unheeded—I know who sits the throne before Jayd, and he will not answer the call. Rorevik was weak as a ruler, and wouldn't think of involving High Demons in anything like this.
Asking for help could place you in danger—here and there, I reminded him.
True. I hadn't considered that. It's difficult to deal with being in the past, at times.
Yeah. I couldn't even call for Mom, because she hasn't been born yet.
It's a tricky time, and I'd like to find a way to deal with it, he agreed.
"I don't have answers yet," Zaria said, bringing Kory and me back to the meeting. "Just know I'm working on it."
"That was worthless," Rose's son Jim, muttered as he and his family filed out of the bar.
You don't know Zaria, I sent to him, although he probably wouldn't hear my mindspeech. If she says she's working on this, you won't find a better person to champion your cause.
* * *
Mother Rose
"I heard a voice in my head. Lexsi's voice," Jim said as he flopped onto my bed.
"What did she say?" I asked.
"I was rude when I left the meeting, and she told me that Zaria was the best person to champion our cause, even if she doesn't have answers right now."
"What did you say?" I frowned at him.
"I said the meeting was worthless."
"So you'd rather be kept in the dark? They're not obligated to include us, or to keep us guarded day and night, you know."
"I figured that out on the way to the cabin," he admitted. "They could have just left us in the dark, and we'd be wondering even now who was responsible for those murders."
"Like the rest of Australia is in the dark," I nodded. "They don't have a clue."
"Next time, remind me to shut it," Jim complained.
"I'll tell you. We'll see if you listen."
* * *
Morwin
I stood at the ship's rail and considered throwing myself into the dark waters below, as if that would solve these troubles. Chloe was more than upset that a schoolmate was among the nine dead at the hands of those who sought me.
"If you weren't here, they'd be seeking you on Amterea."
A red-haired Larentii stood at my side, appearing from nothing. "I am Kalenegar, one of Zaria's mates and Head of the Larentii Council—in the future."
He'd moved time to arrive at this moment. My breath caught as I considered that feat. "Who is Head of the Council, now?"
"My father still lives at this time," he said, lifting his gaze to the water.
As my father lived in the past. It was in my now that he was no more. "Your death will solve nothing," Kalenegar spoke again after a short time had passed. "Your father's death served no purpose, either, except to feed the twisted pleasures of a weak-brained fool."
"I thought Larentii were immortal," I breathed. All the tales I'd read said so.
"We are. It takes a great deal of power to destroy a Larentii; it was accomplished by rogue gods."
A soft gasp escaped my lips.
Rogue gods. How terrifying. I wanted to shiver, but forced that impulse away.
"They have a hand in this, Master Morwin," Kalenegar informed me. "And now you are caught in their webs, just as those who have died and will die are caught up in them. You, through no fault of your own, have become—involved.
"So I will see this through, although it may also require my life," I said.
"I believe it is expected," Kalenegar's smile was warm and unanticipated. "You have things to accomplish, instead of allowing your life to wither here on this lonely, outlying planet."
"Ah."
"What I am attempting to say is this," Kalenegar went on. "Your name is recorded in the Larentii Archives of the future. Do not allow those records to disappear."
"My name?" I shivered, then. The Larentii thought me important enough to list in their Archives? That was astonishing.
"You must survive these trials first," Kalenegar knelt to place a hand on my shoulder. "See that you do so."
He disappeared, then, leaving me to ponder my fate.
And my future.
* * *
Perth
V'ili
"You weren't paying attention," Morgett chastised Deris. "There were recordings of your likeness—and Daris' at the scene of the latest killings. I care not that you kill, I merely wish to ensure you are not recorded during those moments."
It wasn't even a slap on the wrist—just a do better next time speech from a lenient parent.
"We'll disguise ourselves next time," Deris said.
"Good idea. See that you remember."
I hated Ra'Ak. I hated Deris and Daris, too.
Necessary evils, I reminded myself.
* * *
New Zealand Waters
Zaria
"I could have told you that, before they bothered to show their images," I told Tamp. We watched the television screen on the wall at the foot of the bed; a news program was on and camera images of Deris and Daris were shown at the most recent crime scene.
"I'd wager much that Morgett isn't happy," Tamp said and hit the off button on the remote. "I've had no dealings with Ra'Ak—I can sense them from afar," he added. "Others on Paricos II weren't so selective in their clients, however. In the past, of course."
"Did any survive?"
"If they wished to continue doing business, yes," Tamp shrugged. "If not," he shrugged again.
"They do enjoy their humanoid breakfasts," I leaned back on my pillows.
"Ra'Ak are filth and abominations," Tamp grumbled.
"No—the black ones are pretty good. I've met some. The copper ones went off the deep end in the past and started helping themselves to anybody and everybody—and ended up breeding faster than rabbits, too. Have you ever seen Ra'Ak spawn?"
"Not personally, although I've seen images and heard plenty of tales. Far in the past, ships would return on autopilot, after the entire crew had been consumed. The security cameras confirmed it. A single Ra'Ak would transport spawn on board, and the feeding frenzy would begin."
"Nasty," I made a face.
"Their young have no table manners," Tamp agreed. "A Ra'Ak will swallow his victim whole. Spawn are much smaller than those serpents and must tear their food apart before consuming it."
"Honey," I turned to him. "Can we talk about something else? All this talk of spawn is upsetting my stomach."
"What do you wish to talk about? Before I love you?" His face inched closer to mine on the pillow.
A Demon's Due: Latter Day Demons, Book 3 Page 8