"Want something to drink?" Kory now stood beside my chair. I noticed then that the ship was moving toward the open sea, leaving Milford Sound behind.
"I'll get it, if you'll give me your sea passes," Jamie rose and stretched.
Kory and I gasped at the same moment, as if someone had punched each of us in the stomach. Kory was the one to skip us away, though.
The Metal Library was showing us an impending attack on an unsuspecting Australian family.
* * *
Kordevik
I'd knocked Dervil San Gerxon against a wall and killed him before I registered who it was. He'd been sent to question this family of little people, after killing two family members who were taller and considered to be normal height.
Laurel Rome was the only one left, and she'd fired at Lexsi before she could turn to mist and gather the family up.
Too bad they'd armed Laurel with a regular pistol; the bullets ricocheted off my black scales as I stalked toward her. She didn't have the sense to drop the weapon and run, although it wouldn't have done her any good.
She squeaked when I lifted her by the throat and allowed her feet to dangle in the air.
Kory, I think I'm hit, Lexsi's voice sounded in my head. I won't know for sure until I turn back.
Hang on, baby, I replied, before turning back to Laurel. "Got you out to do their dirty work, didn't they?" I blew smoke in Laurel's face. "Too bad for you, bitch."
Humans are so fragile. I barely squeezed and her neck snapped. This should have happened the first time around, but no matter. She'd live to kill again, if I didn't take her out.
I made sure that wouldn't happen.
Turn back, baby, I coaxed. They're safe now.
Lexsi released her charges. I swallowed bile as I rushed toward her. Laurel's bullet had hit her in the chest while she was humanoid. Blood poured from the wound and drenched her clothing as her charges stared in shock.
Zaria, I shouted mentally. Lexsi's been shot.
* * *
Zaria
Bending time is often the greatest of gifts. There were many things to be done, here, and most would have a difficult time doing them in the allotted amount of time.
I gathered Rose, Morwin, Kell and Klancy and folded space to ten minutes into the past, just as Lexsi was becoming corporeal enough to begin to bleed out.
Light blasted out of me as I dropped to her side to begin the healing process. Laurel Rome, the stupid bitch, had nicked Lexsi's aorta. No, her aim wasn't that good. She'd accidentally hit something vital.
I knew Laurel was dead, too, and felt grateful that Kory had taken care of it so I wouldn't have to.
Something happened during the healing, however.
I felt it.
The Metal Library. It was working with me to save Lexsi. I barely heard Kell and Klancy's voices as they laid the minutest of compulsions on the family. The authorities had been called already, and were on their way.
I'd have to move the rest of us before they arrived.
With the Metal Library's help, I was able to do that.
We even had seconds to spare.
* * *
Lexsi
I knew to go to my smaller Thifilatha the moment I landed.
Next time.
Gran always said your mistakes are your best teachers. I'd almost died from that one. That's why I was propped up on pillows in our cabin, while Kory fretted and tried to feed me.
"Honey, I'm full. Honest," I held up a hand as he offered cake.
Zaria had worked a miracle, healing me completely. I felt good, if a bit weak from blood loss after the ordeal. Klancy and Kell had worked miracles, too; the family thought their two dead members had struggled with Laurel and Dervil, killing them before they succumbed to bullet wounds.
I worried that Morgett and his bunch would only look for others to question and kill for them in their quest for the Metal Library. These could be ordinary, otherwise innocent humans whom V'ili chose to destroy with obsession.
The fucker.
* * *
Perth
V'ili
Morgett moved us back to Perth after Dervil and Laurel were killed. He was fuming, too, although he hadn't said anything. We'd gotten no information from the targeted family, although two were dead along with Dervil and Laurel.
I watched Morgett pace inside the luxury apartment he'd commandeered; the owner was out of the country on business, which made things convenient for us. A bit of obsession on the neighbors and no questions were asked regarding our presence.
"I saw through Dervil's eyes," Morgett hissed after a while. His eyes were now slitted—his serpent wanted out.
I wanted to ask, but with Morgett this angry, I stayed quiet.
"The High Demons are still alive. They killed Dervil and Laurel. I must seek advice from my Prince."
My mind raced with this new information. How had they known to show up where they did? Why had they arrived to protect this family?
My breath caught.
"They have Morwin Quiffilis, I'll lay money on it," I hissed.
Morgett's head jerked in my direction. "My Prince must know of this," he growled. "They are seeking the Library, too." Morgett disappeared.
"High Demons, your weakness for preserving lives will get you killed," I whispered to an empty room.
* * *
Australian Waters
Lexsi
We were on the way to Melbourne, with two days at sea for me to recover. "I'm thinking about taking Watson to Tasmania, since it wasn't a port of call on this cruise," Anita swished her legs in the hot tub.
I was immersed to my shoulders in hot, swirling water while Anita sat on the deck, with only her legs dangling in the bubbles.
"Take pictures, I want to see it too," I looked up at her. She was focused on something in the distance, looking toward the railing and the waters we sailed past. "You'll have to tell me if the Tasmanian Devil actually looks like the one is the cartoons."
"They don't," Anita replied absently. "Tonight's the full moon, so I have to take Watson somewhere."
"That means the owl family," I drew in a breath.
"I was thinking the same thing. They can fly, so that's a plus, but I think I should talk to Zaria about this and where they can be safe to change and hunt."
"I'm considering that," Zaria appeared and dropped to the deck to dip her legs in the water on my other side. "Mother Rose is speaking to us again, after you and Kory saved so many of this last family."
"None of this is our fault," Anita pointed out quickly.
"I know. It's a natural thing to place blame. That's why you have to think about these things carefully. Morwin had nothing to do with his father's death. The owl family had nothing to do with any of this, either. We're fending off the attacks by Morgett's horde as well as we can, but we don't come out of this unscathed, as you well know," Zaria said.
"Yeah. I just don't like the finger-pointing, sometimes," Anita grumped. "Sirenali aren't all bad. So many people think that, though."
"Stop that," I swatted her leg. "Stop thinking that right now."
"What Lexsi said," Zaria frowned at Anita. "You're not V'ili. You won't ever be that. It gives me an idea, though."
"What's that?" Anita asked.
"Of where to take the owl family—and Watson, if he'd like to go. I strongly suggest you come, too. There's something you should see."
"Then I'll come."
"Good. Be ready to go around seven tonight. Jeans and boots, I think."
"What about me?" I asked. "I feel left out."
"I'll take you sometime later—you need to rest, baby," Zaria smiled down at me. "You'll like it, I promise."
"Darn," I mumbled.
"Just because, I'll bring you and Kory crab from Alaska for dinner tonight—before I take Anita, Watson and the owls," Zaria grinned.
"You will?"
"Sure. We're related, sort of," Zaria was still grinning. "Valegar is Nefrigar's son, and I kno
w you know Papa Neff."
"He's my uncle," I agreed. "You're like a cousin-in-law or something."
"That sounds good enough," Zaria laughed. "After you eat, you have permission to go with Kory to visit his family for a couple of hours. They'll take care of you."
"Okay." I understood what she was saying. High Demons—most of them, anyway, needed to make the change during a full moon. I'd never needed that, but Kory and his family would.
Maybe I'd change with them. I tended to heal faster in that form, anyway.
"Exactly," Zaria patted my shoulder before standing and stretching. "I'm off to run errands," she said and disappeared.
* * *
Veshtul
Gardevik Rath
"Torevik, you should leave, now," I breathed smoke at my only son. A small voice asked me why, but I shoved it aside. "We arrest Wendevik and levy treason charges, Nedevik will return and face those charges instead."
"Wendevik is innocent, and shouldn't be used as a pawn." Torevik decided to be stubborn about this. "What is wrong with you? And Jayd? This whole idea is preposterous. All of this," he swept his hand toward Veshtul, where smoke still rose from burning homes and buildings, "All of this is stupid. Because you and Jayd were stupid."
"You're calling the King and his Prime Minister stupid?" I breathed more smoke.
"Because it's the truth," he spat.
* * *
Torevik Rath
Get out, I sent. Go to Le-Ath Veronis now. I had Dad's attention, so he wouldn't be tempted to try to stop the girls from leaving while I argued with him. Time for Jayd's and my daughters to leave Kifirin behind. They weren't in danger yet, but many of their husbands could be very soon, with Wendevik Weth being first on that list.
Daddy? Sara, my youngest asked.
Baby, go. Your grampa isn't acting like himself.
All right.
We're at your mother's palace, Jhase, Jayd and Glinda's eldest, informed me. All of us.
Stay there, I said.
That's when my father's smaller Thifilathi hit me—a blow so hard it threw me against the parapet near the top of the palace. He stalked toward me, anger and insanity in his eyes.
He wanted to kill me.
My father was gone, and this monster was the only thing left. The fury on his face was the last thing I saw before I lost consciousness.
* * *
Gardevik Rath
My vision went red as I stalked toward my unconscious son. He'd become a nuisance. Time to eliminate it.
"Garde, take one more step and I'll kill you myself."
Lissa.
She knelt next to Torevik, who stirred and moaned.
"What's going on?" Jayd skipped in. "My daughters have disappeared from the compound on the Southern Continent. You did this," he accused, pointing a finger at Lissa.
"I had nothing to do with it, you fucked up moron," Lissa snapped at him.
Jayd went to his smaller Thifilathi. He and I were like-minded in this—we saw two who should be destroyed.
"Not today." Li'Neruh Rath appeared, also in smaller Thifilathi. I roared a laugh. "Let's kill him, brother," I told Jayd. "He won't interfere again."
"Seriously?"
Someone else had come.
A Larentii.
A female Larentii with enormous, white wings. She held up a hand.
"Do it," Li'Neruh nodded.
Lissa disappeared with Torevik.
Jayd and I leapt at the same time. Time for these bothersome flies to die.
* * *
Queen's Palace, Le-Ath Veronis
Glinda
"Oh, no." I watched as Lissa laid Torevik's battered body on clean bedding in his suite. Most women couldn't carry a seven-foot High Demon, even if he were in humanoid form.
Lissa, the Vampire Queen, could do it easily.
"He will be fine," Karzac, Lissa's physician mate, appeared and began assessing Tory's injuries. "He has a thick skull," Karzac patted Lissa's arm.
"Mom?" Jhase walked into the suite, followed by my other daughters—well, adopted daughters, at least.
Six of the eight were Torevik's daughters, and he'd done what I wouldn't. He'd gone to confront Gardevik when he and Jayd decided to arrest Wendevik on treason charges.
The girls' husbands crept in behind them, to see Torevik lying on the bed. Garde hadn't been kind when he'd hit his own son.
"Where are Jayd and Garde now?" I whispered to Jhase.
"Oh, they're at the compound on the Southern Continent, wondering how their lives got so fucked up," Zaria appeared with Li'Neruh Rath right behind her. "Unfortunately, I had to pull everybody out of the palace in Veshtul and seal it up. The malignancy at its core is growing exponentially."
"What about Vordevik?" I asked. "He should still be imprisoned."
"Oh, Jayd let that asshat go earlier, and put him in charge of one of the squads keeping the peace in Veshtul. I'm sure you know how that's going."
"May the gods be merciful," I dropped my face in my hands.
"The gods have been merciful," Li'Neruh's voice was flat. "Jayd and Garde should be dead, now, for attempting to attack us. They are not." I dropped my hands to stare at Li'Neruh. Smoke poured from his nostrils as he spoke.
"Mom," Jheri said, her words hesitant, "What's wrong with Daddy?"
"I don't really know, love," I whispered.
* * *
Western Australia
Lexsi
The sky was filled with flying High Demons. With so many of them there, it reminded me of bats exiting a cave after dark to look for food.
The vision of their flights against the huge, full moon will always stay with me, I think, because I found it beautiful. Somewhere among them, Kory flew. I think he felt joy at joining his brothers like this.
Lady Verarok and I stayed on the ground, although I'd freed my smaller Thifilatha to take advantage of the accelerated healing it offered.
"I've wished many times that I could change," Vera sighed.
"I think you can, you just haven't needed to," I turned toward her.
"Is that what happened to you?" she asked.
"Yeah. Somebody left a bomb at Anita's home, trying to kill her," I explained. "My Thifilatha recognized it and made the change to protect both of us."
"How does it feel?" She asked.
"It feels normal. Powerful, too. I don't just have this, either," I said. "Thanks to Gran and my mother, I have a few extras, too."
"Your mother and the Queen of Le-Ath Veronis?"
"Yes."
"Isn't it amazing, that you can inherit those things?"
"I think so. I'm grateful for it, anyway, because it has saved Kory and me."
"You saved Nedevik from the dungeon. That makes me more than grateful. The rest of us couldn't have gotten him out, no matter what."
"Do you watch them fly every time?"
"I hardly ever do. I usually stay in the house and read or sew."
"I don't know how to sew," I confessed.
"Dear, you were made for more important things," she smiled.
* * *
Revalis
Anita
Zaria looked weary. Whatever her errands were, other than getting crab for Lexsi and Kory, had tired her.
"What is this place?" Jim asked. He and the Hiboux family gazed about them in wonder. An entire forest surrounded us, although I could have sworn that some of the trees were something other than trees.
"They are something other than trees," Zaria sighed. "Some are pod'l-morphs, taking advantage of the full moon."
"They are my kin," Tamp said as he looked upward at branches that swept the sky. "Jim," Tamp turned to the shapeshifter, "This is Revalis, home to my race and those rescued from Sirena, long ago."
I drew in a breath and blinked at Zaria.
You're in the future, she informed me. Several hundred miles north are the cities belonging to your people. One day, you can live here, too, if you want.
"Please tell
me you're not kidding," I begged.
"Not kidding."
"We can change safely and fly?" Mother Rose asked.
"Yes, with no worries. And hunt, too, if you want. When dawn comes, I will transport everyone back to the ship," Zaria replied.
Clothing emptied as a parliament of southern boobook owls rose from the ground and flew toward high trees. I watched them go with a happy sigh.
Chapter 9
Melbourne, Australia
Opal
Zaria, dressed only in a bikini, was flat on her back on a deck chair, asleep while her body soaked in sunlight. Valegar, in disguise, sat beside her pretending to read.
"How long was she gone?" I asked, taking the chair next to Val's.
"Several days," he turned a page in the book. He could have peeled the words off the pages and inserted them directly into his mind, but he kept up the pretense anyway.
"No wonder she's exhausted."
"The fools on Kifirin saw to that," Val grumped. It isn't often that you see a grumpy Larentii. It isn't something to trifle with, as they can reduce almost anyone to tiny sparks that disintegrate quickly.
"Will you tell me?"
"The worst are in cages so that more innocents won't die, but some are still rampaging through Veshtul."
"High Demons and humanoids?" I asked.
"Yes, in both instances. Corinnelar had to call in favors so those she imprisoned are fed and cared for."
"Where is this going to end?"
"I cannot say—several paths branch from all the events, there."
"Jayd and Garde?"
"Are attempting to break through the shields placed around the palace. Neither have been or will be successful. Li'Neruh Rath added his shields to Corinnelar's. The Mighty Hand could break them, but most cannot. Certainly no High Demon will do it, even with the help of every other High Demon that exists."
"Where are those two misguided fools staying, then?"
"At the compound where they'd sent Jayd's and Reah's daughters. Those eight, with their husbands, are now on Le-Ath Veronis and under Lissa's protection. I believe Jaydevik doesn't like that at all, but he cannot assail that world or Lissa's palace. I believe Kifirin has temporarily locked it against invading High Demons."
"I wondered what he was doing in all this," I said, letting my head drop against the back of my chair. "What about the humans in Veshtul?"
"Without their affected leadership, many are fleeing to other cities, looking for shelter and protection. I worry that Jayd's High Demon army will attempt to stop them, or cut off deliveries of supplies to anyone who offers them asylum."
A Demon's Due: Latter Day Demons, Book 3 Page 11