"It could kill us, onion," I admitted, my voice soft. "I believe they have more High Demons waiting there for us."
"Then we'll go together," she said and wrapped her arms around my waist.
* * *
Lexsi
The latest development, when there was barely twelve hours left before the President and Congress acted, was that somehow, every terrorist who'd dealt with the enemy was found dead in his cell.
Opal looked gray when she heard the news from Colonel Hunter. In each video, because the recorders had been left on and unimpeded, a man appeared in each cell. The terrorist began silently gasping for breath while the man disappeared.
"An asphyxiation bubble, tight around their heads," Zaria explained, her tone grim. In each case, the victim fell to the floor, clawing at his face while struggling to breathe. They may have deserved death, but it aggravated me that this was the method dealt by those who'd allied with them in the first place.
Opal exchanged glances with Zaria and both left the kitchen while the rest of us considered what we'd heard.
Were our enemies in Peru afraid the terrorists would tell what they knew? That we didn't already know who most of the players were by this time? Perhaps they'd decided to make enemies of all instead of most, as it was before.
Either way, the terrorists were dead and I worried that more people could die just as easily on the whims of the enemy.
"We have terrorists posting their jihads against Peru online," Thomas interrupted us as we sat around the kitchen island, watching the small television in the kitchen.
"Of course they are," Anita sighed. "Because all of Peru is responsible for what a few people did to them." Her sarcasm was unmistakable as she frowned at Thomas.
"Just the messenger," Thomas held up his hands. "I think the boss will have information for us in a few."
Here it comes, Kory gripped my hand. The plan of last resort, he added.
* * *
There are volcanoes in Peru and Ecuador. Some dormant, some not. I'd read about them when I researched the pipeline between Ecuador and Peru. At the time, I didn't think they were important.
I was learning otherwise.
"A system of caves connects Ecuador and Peru," Zaria said. "But there's a problem. Sure, a few have gotten in and out. Told fantastic stories afterward, but then never found the caves again. Most people paid no attention to the stories, because those people couldn't prove anything."
"What are you talking about?" Watson demanded. "If they got in once, they should be able to get in again."
"Under normal circumstances," Zaria's smile was tight. "Those people talk about finding treasure, but they haven't produced any of it for anyone else to see. There's a reason for that."
"You're not making sense," Watson folded arms over his chest.
We sat in the media room, taking up all the chairs, sofas and part of the floor to listen to Opal and Zaria's plans. So far, we were in the preliminary stage and I waited for their objective to be revealed before making comments.
"What she's trying to say," Opal leveled a quelling gaze on Watson, "Is that what's in those caves has power—and talent—of its own."
"I think I saw that in a movie, once," Watson wasn't convinced.
"Shut up or I swear I'll punch you," Anita hissed at him. He turned toward her and blinked several times. "You'd really do that? Punch me?"
"I will if you don't keep your mouth closed until they're done."
"Okay. I reserve the right to be skeptical," he said and turned back to Zaria and Opal.
"Some people call it the metal library. There's a crystal library attached to it. It's online, feel free to look it up," Zaria jerked her head at Watson.
"If they found it, why haven't we seen any of it?"
"Shut. Up." Anita smacked Watson's arm.
"Mortals can't take anything from it," Zaria said. "The caves move. I realize that sounds crazy, but it's true. Not only do the caves move, but the library moves, too, from place to place. It contains false libraries to detract from the real one. That's part of how it protects itself. There is evidence that mortals created their own versions of some of the artifacts after a brief glimpse of the false libraries—those reproductions can also be found online. The real metal library protects itself."
"That makes it sound as if it's not native to this planet," Kory said.
"Bingo," Zaria tapped her nose.
"What is it, then? Really? And why is it here?" Anita asked.
"Now that's the real question," Zaria said. "What is it and why is it here? Let's just say that things as they are wouldn't exist without it. I know that's not a very good answer, but it's all I can give you for now. It's important. Extremely important. This is our last option—the very last one—to deal with the problem in Peru. If it weren't our final option, I'd never have brought it up."
"How will this help us with the enemy in Peru?" I asked. "If the caves move, how will we get through them in the first place?"
"I'm glad you brought that up," Zaria said. "There's one way to keep the caves from moving and the library stationary so we can get through it and into Peru—underground."
"How's that?" Watson said.
"By walking through Tungurahua," Zaria replied.
* * *
Tungurahua.
An active volcano. Kory and I could walk through it—Zaria said we had to walk through molten lava to find the cave entrance that would ensure all the connecting caves didn't move. She said our Thifilatha and Thifilathi could carry the others and keep them safe.
Yes, High Demons could protect others from heat if they chose to do so. I worried that we'd be carrying so many. Zaria said not to worry, that she and Opal were working on a plan to make that happen.
Moving caves. A library so important it protected itself.
What the hell were we dealing with?
* * *
"I'm not the one making the others smaller," Yoff explained as he sipped tea and ate a slice of strawberry cake. I'd worried about what Zaria told us, so I'd dealt with it by baking.
"This is awesome," Watson mumbled around a mouthful of cake.
"You say that about anything edible," I pointed a finger at him.
"But it's true," he said. "Everything you make is awesome."
"It wasn't awesome the first time I made it," I said. "Uncle Fes grimaced when he tasted it."
"How old were you?" Kory flashed a welcome grin at me.
"Seven. And I forgot the sugar."
"Did you know your uncle Fes is married to your aunt Bree?" Zaria appeared at Kory's elbow and silently asked for a slice of cake.
I went still. I knew Bree was Gran's sister, but I didn't know she and Uncle Fes were together.
"Um, no," I said. "Why didn't I know that?"
"Your aunt is very careful. It's her way of protecting your uncle," Zaria replied.
"She's protecting Uncle Fes?" I cut a generous portion of cake for Zaria.
"Fes could become a target if certain people found out he's connected to her like that. Only a few people know, since he insists on living in Targis."
"You know about her—what other people won't say, don't you?"
"Yes. But it's not my story to tell. You should ask her yourself, the next time you see her. I think she'll tell you."
"May the Three be merciful," Kory sighed.
"Exactly," Zaria grinned at him and dipped into her cake.
* * *
Opal
"You know we're going to war in those caves?" I said.
"I know," Zaria agreed and handed me a saucer with a slice of strawberry cake on it. "This is probably what they've waited for. They have no idea where the door is, but they knew enough information to explore the tales that have been spread in the past about the library."
"So they've set us up and we're going to lead them right to it," I said, cutting into the cake with a fork Zaria produced and handed to me.
"I hope the library will act to protect it
self, if it becomes necessary," Zaria sighed.
"That means we're all dead," I pointed out. "It won't discriminate if it perceives itself under attack."
"Yeah. I know. We're all dead anyway, if they get their hands on the dark books. It'll take a little longer, but we'll all die."
"Fuckers," I cut another piece of cake. "Damn, this is really good."
* * *
Kordevik
"Your blades—they'll withstand the heat?" Kell asked. I had them on my bed, checking everything about them.
"As I understand it, yes," I said.
"They will," Li'Neruh Rath appeared. "I have placed my blessing upon them. Upon Lexsi's weapons, too."
"Why don't you come with us?" I joked.
Li'Neruh frowned and blew a cloud of smoke in reply. "Okay, I get that this isn't your thing," I held up a hand.
"This is your assignment," Li'Neruh replied. I glanced at Kell; he studied the god of Kifirin in fascination, although he hadn't spoken. Most people, if they knew anything at all, wouldn't speak to Li'Neruh Rath. It could draw his ire.
I'd spoken to him after he'd sent me to Earth, mostly because I didn't care at first what happened to me after the wedding fiasco.
"Will Lexsi be safe?" I dropped my eyes and stared at the ten-foot, black blades that lay across my bed, with only the center portion of each blade resting on the cover.
"I can't answer that question. All I know is that it will take both of you, if you are successful in this."
"She's only twenty-three," I whispered.
"I know." Li'Neruh disappeared before I could ask more questions.
Questions.
I had many.
We were walking into this nearly blind; Zaria had more information on the caves and the library they housed, she just wasn't telling us. I'd dealt with this sort of thing in the army—go where you're told and do what you're told. Oh, and don't ask questions, because you don't need to know.
Fuck.
Lexsi could be in terrible danger, and I had no idea whether I could protect her or not. Li'Neruh's comment—that it would take both of us to be successful—held the unspoken fact that we could fail in this.
If we failed, I had the idea we'd die. I couldn't say where that feeling came from, but it was there, nonetheless.
Who do you pray to if the god of your planet has come and gone, without saying so much as good luck, asshole?
Snorting a smoky breath, I nodded to Kell and lifted a blade to sheath it. They were in perfect condition; I'd known it before I'd unsheathed them. Kell was impressed, I could tell, that the blades looked deadly enough and that Kifirin's god had placed his blessing upon them.
I hoped they'd save us all, but in the end, they were no better than the High Demon wielding them.
* * *
Lexsi
My blades lay across my bed, but they'd changed. They were now nine feet long, with an envelope lying atop them on my bed.
I understood who the note was from—Aunt Bree.
She'd left me a note when they'd first appeared on my bed. Now, they were changed, so my Thifilathi could use them. She'd made that happen, I had no doubt.
Lexsi, the note began. The mystery is nearly unraveled. You and Kordevik are charged with keeping its secret. Remember that when the time comes.
B.
I crumpled the note in a shaking hand. "Da'quon, the'lat vic nacca," I whispered.
First, kill your fear.
Chapter 16
Peru
Laurel Rome
V'ili told me I couldn't say anything to anyone about what I'd heard from Charlene. Sure, I could scream from the rooftop that Charlene was dead. Dervil didn't care. Hadn't cared from the moment her dismembered body was found on the patio not far from the pool.
Just Loftin having a bit of fun, he'd joked and went back to planning shipments with Berke to this planet or that.
Berke. He'd been ignoring me lately. I wanted to taunt him. Wore bikinis often to tempt him. He still chose to ignore me.
The bitch in the pool had gotten out of the water to vomit after Charlene's death, then jumped back in before Loftin could go after her.
At least V'ili called him off her; I doubted he'd do the same for me. Hannah was no help whatsoever; she'd begun to explore her male urges—she still had Granger's body, if not his suaveness, and was having sex with any woman she could overpower.
No, I'd never pictured her as a rapist, but it appeared she was making up for lost time. After all, she was practically guaranteed an orgasm as a man.
Since I couldn't tell Dervil what little I knew, Morgett had begun taunting me with the knowledge, and speaking openly in my presence of a Prince he served, and that the treasure would be taken to him.
I had no idea who the Prince was, but he didn't sound like a nice person. As for the treasure, they never said where it was or how they intended to find it. They merely spoke of the stupidity of those who'd attempted to destroy us, and that they'd lead us straight to the treasure.
We were far too powerful for them. I understood that. The bombs and planes and warships that they were gathering? They'd be destroyed in a blink. Nothing on Earth was prepared for what we could hurl against them.
Nothing.
* * *
Lexsi
As it turns out, we didn't have two full days. Congress approved an air and ground strike against Peru before the declaration of war was hammered out.
Opal paced and cursed while news of bombers being shot down was broadcast everywhere. The missiles shot from miles away were destroyed before getting close to their targets.
Dervil San Gerxon released another video—this time holding the head of the former Peruvian President by the hair and laughing at what we'd sent against him so far.
The video was three solid minutes of him laughing and then telling us we would be destroyed, down to the last child.
I felt sick. He was sick. I wanted to crush him and then vomit in a toilet, somewhere. The others who'd watched the video with me were grim and silent when the television was shut off.
"It's time to go," Opal announced. "Zaria and I will give you information as it's needed. Both cages are in the garage. Kory, you'll carry me, Kell, Tibby, Mason, Sandra, Davis and Thomas. Lexsi, you'll carry Zaria, Anita, Yoff, Watson and Klancy. All of you will be made smaller by Zaria to allow our High Demon friends to carry us easier. They'll be wading through waist-high—for them, anyway—lava to get us to the cave entrance. Esme has been notified and is working an assignment off the coast of Peru. Anybody who wants to back out now, speak up."
Farin, Jamie and Tibby's cousin, Diego, watched the rest of us as Opal spoke. Diego would stay to guard Jamie and Farin; they were human and couldn't make the trip. Opal already told them they'd die if they went.
Neither wanted that to happen.
At least Aunt Bree's house would serve as protection for them, too.
Opal had allowed Tibby to inform his grandmother of what we were about to do, although most of the particulars had been left out of that conversation. She only knew that we were attempting to reach Peru through caves.
She'd wished us luck and told Tibby to come back to her. She'd already lost one grandson. I understood that she didn't want to lose anyone else.
In seconds, Farin gasped. Those going, including Zaria and Opal, were now half their size. Zaria had also taken our blades and made them tiny, so she and Opal could hold them for us. Kory's arms slid around me. I love you, he sent mindspeech.
I understood his words and their timing as well as he did.
We might not come back.
I love you, too, I returned. More than anything.
* * *
Kordevik
The cages Opal and Zaria supplied were clear and glass-like, although I imagined they'd be unbreakable. I hoped she'd allowed for enough fresh air for the cages' inhabitants—we were about to walk through an area where the air itself was unbreathable and would sear any normal person's lungs
.
Each group settled inside their cage while Zaria employed power to seal them shut. Zaria would supply directions for us; Lexsi and I were merely transportation.
* * *
Washington, D.C.
The Capitol Building
Notes—Colonel Hunter
I stood in a hallway, drinking a cup of coffee and contemplating what was going on in the joint congressional meeting feet away in the House Chamber. Opal told me in a phone call that she and her crew were attempting what could prove to be impossible. She'd also told me that should they fail, everything could be destroyed.
It would be destroyed anyway; this was merely a faster destruction than what those in Peru had planned.
I hadn't bothered to tell my wife—or anyone else. Why? What good would it do to tell them they had perhaps a few hours to live?
Opal said the Earth could be blasted to bits if things went wrong.
Things were already going wrong.
We were losing troops, aircraft and weapons at an alarming rate. Anything we threw at Peru was destroyed.
Decisively.
We had nothing to combat this new form of terrorism. Even the terrorists we'd dealt with in the past had no way to fight or infiltrate this.
It sounded comical and I might have laughed if it weren't so deadly serious.
"Sir, they're about to take the vote," my assistant appeared at my elbow to inform me of the action we were about to take.
"I'm coming," I said. Straightening my tie, I followed him toward the door.
* * *
Kordevik
I skipped us to the top of Tungurahua; Zaria would direct us in mindspeech after that.
You look amazing against the snow, Lexsi informed me as we teetered on the volcano's lip.
My black scales against a backdrop of deep snow ensured I'd stand out. Lexsi's silver scales, on the other hand, glittered and almost blended with the snow she stood upon.
Like Yin and Yang, I whispered to her. Two parts of a whole.
I know, she acknowledged. I wish—well, you know.
Yeah.
So many things lay between us. I hoped this wasn't the end for us.
A Demon's Work Is Never Done: Latter Day Demons, Book 2 Page 23