Dark Promise

by Patti Larsen

  Either way, as the transport leveled and shot ahead, three rebel vessels in close formation, the pull remained present, but pain free. Perfect.

  Do you believe Henemordonin? Ram sent. You really think he's given in to talks so easily?

  Of course not. Now that I knew Ahbi's power wasn't going to tear me apart, I tried to relax for the long trip back to the waterfall outside Ostrogotho territory, knowing I was asking Ram to fly us into the heart of trouble. But he's here, isn't he?

  Can you shield four transports? Ram looked up at one of them as it hovered over us, a large vessel rivaling the Guard one we'd stolen.

  Not a chance, I sent.

  Then we'll have to be careful, he sent.

  Careful. Okay then.

  The moment we left Nunaresh, the afternoon suns rising over us, Ram dipped the transport to the ground and skimmed over it, staying close to the earth. I had to close my eyes we flew so fast, getting a headache from the speed of our pace. A quick look over my shoulder told me the other three vessels had followed suit, so at least we wouldn't stand out too badly. As long as no one looked down.

  A bit of a smoke screen, Ram sent. Can you block us from above?

  Ah. He might have been a creepzilla at times, but he really had a brilliant mind. I couldn't surround four vessels with my shielding—it was just too much pressure with the changes in speeds and imbalance of each transport course correcting. But I could drape us in a powered cloak.

  How cool was that?

  The world flew by, Ilogabon racing toward us before I knew it. A thin column of smoke rose from the ugly city, making my heart suddenly ache in worry for Culectorion. He might have been a rebel leader, but I liked him and he'd been good to me. Fingers crossed we could get this Ameline thing put to bed in time to stop the rebellion and talk some sense into my grandfather.

  Who was I kidding? I was talking about demons, here. Sense? Not much of that going around.

  At least I had something to blame for my personal attitude.

  It was the last city we saw, passing around a number of small communities in the wilds of Demonicon, over rivers and through a thin mountain pass that almost gave me a heart attack. No more touring of the cities—we were on a straight shot to the waterfall and made impressive time.

  Bakari hadn't scrimped on speed for the ship he found us. It couldn't have been two hours later we circled the foaming waters of the falls, pink mist filming over the shielding as we floated down toward the water. Ram guided us carefully through the heavy fall, the same rocking sensation taking us as we passed through and into the cavern.

  I stepped out when the bubble collapsed, ignoring the three rebel ships crowding behind us in the vast cave. We were the first ones to arrive and that made me nervous. Sass should have been here long before us.

  They'll be here, Ram sent. I made good time.

  You did. I sent a little squeeze of thanks his way through our thoughts. Stay alert.

  No kidding. But he was grinning, despite his comment. I didn't get to shoot anything back, not with the water parting and two small vessels joining us in the cave.

  The first one touched down, bubble flickering out as a silver streak of fur leaped to the ground and raced to my side. I bent to catch Sassafras as he propelled himself into my arms, paws over my shoulders, nose against my cheek as he purred so loud my teeth rattled together. I hugged him, let the warmth and comfort of the rumbling sound calm my heart, kissing him gently on the top of the head.

  Thanks, Sass, I sent.

  He leaned back, touched my cheek with one paw. You're okay? You really are?

  I almost laughed. You too, yeah?

  Yes. His amber gaze flickered over my shoulder, ears flattening sideways. I can't believe you brought him with you.

  I turned to see Henemordonin striding toward us, eyes fixed not on Sass but Theridialis who had hoisted himself over the edge of his transport's hull and huffed his way forward.

  He says he wants to talk, I sent.

  I'll believe that when his mouth opens, Sass sent. He's set a trap?

  Probably. I watched the rebel soldiers he'd brought fan out and form a double line beside our transports. But if he thinks he can take more valuable hostages in this little endeavor, he's got another thing coming.

  Sass's wicked laughter echoed in my head. Have you been bullying your elders, Sydlynn?

  A little. I gestured to the trembling demon with the doll features who gazed at us in adoration. But before the whole place goes up, you have a reunion to attend to.

  I set my silver Persian down, watched him cringe, whiskers sagging, tail drooped low as Avenesequoia crouched next to him, stroking his fur.

  “Sassafras,” she said with clear delight, tears on her cheeks. “I've missed you so.”

  “Bitty,” he said. Stopped. “I guess I'm the itty bitty one now.”

  She laughed and lifted him into her arms. “I always hated that nick name,” she said. “But I don't so much anymore.”

  Happy reunion or not, I had other things to worry about, leaving my silver Persian with his sister to follow my grandfather. I just reached his side in time to catch half of his demands to Theridialis.

  “—Haralthazar to allow us our freedom.” The same old song and dance, sounded like.

  Theridialis, much to his credit, didn't flinch or seem flustered. Instead, he bowed his head to my grandfather and offered his hands. “My Ruler is more than willing to discuss the future of Demonicon with you, great and revered Prince Henemordonin. The safety and happiness of all demons is Ruler's first priority.”

  If Henemordonin was surprised by the response, he didn't show it. Instead, he threw his shoulders back and spread his hands wide. “I am heartened to hear it,” he said. “Though I doubt you speak for your Ruler, Theridialis, as much as you have his ear.”

  “He doesn't,” a familiar voice said as Meira appeared over Theridialis's shoulder from the second transport. At least, I thought it was Meira. “But I do.” Her eyes met mine a moment.

  Fear chilled me to the bone. I had no idea who lived inside my sister, but it wasn't the Meems I knew.

  “Meira.” I took a step toward her, horrified by the change She glowed with power, and I could smell the taint of nectar on her. It had aged her, matured her features until she looked older than me, filled her out so she rivaled Dad's height. Ahbi's. Broad-shouldered and muscular, magic rippling around her in waves of amber sparks, my sister—if she was still my sister—ignored me as she faced our grandfather down.

  “I represent my father,” she said. Not our father. “Ruler's voice is my voice.”

  Henemordonin glanced at me, a frown pulling his brows together. “As second daughter,” he said in his most condescending voice, “your place is behind your sister, child.”

  Oh. Freaking. Hell. She did not like that. Even one little bit. She raised one hand, a cascade of fire falling from her fingertips as she gestured toward the wall of water beside us. The moment she did, a rush of transports filled the space, Guard vehicles blocking our exit.

  “By the power of Demonicon,” my sister said, “you are all under arrest for conspiring against your Ruler.”

  ***

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  What was she thinking? There was no way Meira was acting under Dad's orders. When the tall and attractive demon woman I already suspected of playing both sides joined her, I found out who was pulling her strings.

  “Mother?” Sassafras and Avenesequoia both cried out in tandem as Theridialis's face flushed deeper red. Sekaniphestat put her hand on my sister's shoulder, a bit of a reach for her now that Meira had evolved so far, a tight smile on her face as she ignored her children and focused on Henemordonin.

  “Did you really think I would ever betray my Ruler?” Her voice purred delight. “He will be most pleased when we deliver his only enemy—his own father—in chains.” She moved forward at a sway, hips sending her divided skirt into ripples of motion. “The capture of this ridiculous rebellion
's beloved Leader will cement Haralthazar's leadership. Not to mention my position as his mate.”

  Oh hell no. While I had nothing against being related to Sassafras, there was no way it was happening like this.

  “It was you,” Ram said, vibrating next to me with so much fury I thought he might attack her physically. “You were the one who sent the Guards after us at every turn. You had Leader's ear and knew we were following.”

  She smiled, flicked her fingers at him. “Silly boy,” she said. “The both of you were so easy to track.”

  I reached for my sister's mind, found it clouded with nectar, but hyper-focused on Henemordonin. Not me. Maybe I could use that to our advantage. Because as things stood, this whole mess was going downhill in a hurry as a handful of Guard vessels floated in for a landing, the remainder still blocking our way.

  I had nothing to do with this, I sent to my grandfather.

  I am aware, he sent back, deep mental voice heavy in my head. It would seem my trusting nature has brought this on myself. Yeah, right.

  He didn't seem too concerned. I take it you have a plan? And that I was going to hate it.

  I've had one all along. You really think me so foolish as to come unprepared?

  Oh boy.

  Syd. Sassy's voice reached me, desperate, aching with anxiety. Meira! She's hooked on outer plane nectar. And something else.

  Figured that out, I sent back, a little harshly. Not his fault, but I was staring at his mother at the time so the blowback to him was inevitable.

  Meira's mind and power will be struggling with her evolution, he sent. This is how she will look, in a few hundred years of development. But she can't handle it yet, Syd.

  She's going to have to, I sent as I reached for Meira and drove my power into her mind.

  Wake up, Meems. I flooded her mind with spirit magic, letting my vampire absorb the nectar in her system, a little giddy as the power flowed out of my sister and into me.

  She fought me, struggling against the draw on her magic while Henemordonin smiled at Sassy's mom.

  “How delightful to finally uncover your true nature, Sekaniphestat,” he said at his most genial.

  “I've been working to have you destroyed since our beloved Ruler broke your mating,” Sekaniphestat said in voice throbbing with emotion. Fake emotion. Went without saying, but... yeah.

  “Our beloved Ruler.” Henemordonin laughed softly. “You hated Ahbi, and everyone knew it.”

  Theridialis, caught between the pair, seemed about ready to explode himself, though not at my grandfather, not with his eyes locked on the demon who helped him create his children. If looks could kill, she'd have died about a million times already in varying degrees of agony.

  “Mother with an agenda?” Sassafras's sharp voice cut through my focus on Meira as we silently fought over the nectar's hold on her. She glared at me, teeth clenched, fists too, unable to attack or risk losing control while I couldn't break my concentration or risk losing her entirely. I had to trust the others to keep it together for a little while.

  Just a little while.

  Sekaniphestat's eyes drifted over Sassafras, catching her daughter's gaze before she turned up her nose at her own children and looked away. “My Guards will escort you back to Ostrogotho,” she said, “where my future mate will strip you himself before he ends your pathetic lives.”

  Her Guards? “I think you're getting ahead of yourself, Mother,” Sass said, so I didn’t have to. Bless him. “You're not Ruler's mate yet.”

  I know I would have won against my sister. I'm sure of it. I just needed more time. But I realized I'd run out of it as the waterfall exploded in toward us. Ram slammed into me, carrying me to the floor as Bakari did the same to Henemordonin, the two of us landing with echoing grunts under our protectors while rebel ships burst through behind the Guard vessels and opened fire.

  Meira shook free of me, power surging again, though weaker this time. But instead of making things better, of clearing her head, I seemed to have turned her to the worse. Shrieking like a banshee over the explosions of fire and demon magic bursting over our heads, she pointed at our grandfather.

  “KILL HIM!” Her gaze swept over me, Sassafras, his sister. Ram and Bakari. “KILL THEM ALL!”

  Whoa. I rolled aside just as a flaming orb of searing fire crashed into the place I'd vacated, Ram now under me as I fought my way to my feet. My shielding already in place, the edge of the flames instead rippled back toward my sister and Sekaniphestat.

  Theridialis scrambled to my side with a speed and agility that shocked me just as a second volley of fire came toward me, absorbed by my shields as I struggled to control my demon's fury. She knew Meira was my sister, but she had a temper.

  Yup, yup.

  Sydlynn. Theridialis's mind touched mine in a tight beam, wrapping around my thoughts and trapping me so I couldn't escape. You must pay attention.

  I fought at first, knowing every second counted. But he refused to let me go. I was forced to stand there and take it as my shields were bombarded, Ram quivering next to me, his magic trying to help , but only getting in the way as my earth magic anchored us from sliding along the floor from the pressure of the attack. This better be good, I finally snarled at Theridialis.

  It is. He opened his own mind then, snapped off a fragment of his power and shoved it deep into my heart. I felt my entire body pulse once, suddenly as heavy as the entire world and as light as air. My head spun, shields wavering as the shock of the magical recoil from his gift rocked me to the core of my being.

  Ram was there to fill in the gap. Lucky, Syd. Lucky.

  I couldn't tell you where the Node was, Theridialis sent. Because I don't know. It's not anywhere. Do you understand?

  No. I pounded my fists against my thighs as the Guards began their approach even as a hail of fire rained down on me from the fight above, a chunk of transport hull bouncing from my shields.

  Just let Ahbi's power feel it, Theridialis sent. She'll understand. And she'll know what to do.

  Whatever that meant. But wait a second. Hang on. What...?

  Ahbi's power snapped my control away, snuffling like a bloodhound on a scent, focusing my attention on Sekaniphestat even through the shields. She tasted like—

  And my sister. Meira felt like...

  Ameline.

  The bitch.

  But Ahbi's power wasn't done, the pull of our quarry even stronger than before, ignoring all risk, all danger. I turned without will of my own, heading deeper into the cavern while Ram yelled my name and tried to snap me out of it. But I couldn't, wouldn't, not with Ahbi's magic, the soul energy of her geas finally calling me on.

  I still heard Meira screaming for our deaths, vaguely registered the battle going on around me, the crashing, burning, violence I was immune to, protected from by the very focus of Ahbi's magic.

  And I wasn't alone. I felt others following as I neared the back of the cave. Registered the touch of the stone under my hands as my shields opened to allow me contact with bare rock, slick with moisture, allowed them to enter with me as I reached for the veil and tore it open, slicing through the very rock.

  Because I now knew the Node wasn't anywhere on Demonicon. It was Demonicon. And only the veil through the earth itself could get me there.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  The veil refused to part. It was enough to shake me out of the grip of my grandmother's power. I pounded one fist against the rock, fury replacing control.

  The veil was still blocked.

  Syd, Sassafras sent, paw on my shoulder as Avenesequoia crowded close. I turned, eyes roving over the fight we'd left behind, the sight of my grandfather leading his soldiers against his own granddaughter and Sekaniphestat, knowing he and his small group of rebels, no matter the backup he brought, didn't stand a chance.

  Couldn't be my problem. Not with a group of Guards detaching from the rest to come after us with Meira in the lead. I had to break through the veil.

&nbs
p; Had to.

  Sass, what do I do? Desperation shifted my focus to the steady presence of my demon Persian.

  Open the veil, he sent.

  Smartass cat. This was no time for being facetious.

  Listen to me, he sent. Use us. All of us. I met Ram's eyes, Theridialis's. Avenesequoia's. Little Tara's. She clung to Sassy's sister, tears on her cheeks. Combined, we have to have enough power to break the hold Ameline has.

  I didn't think. Didn't have time. Not with Meira and her thugs bearing down on us, with Ahbi latching onto Sassy's offer and linking all of us together, spinning me back around, wrenching at the veil with all the strength she could pull from the others. I screamed as my mind exploded, so much passing through it, I gripped my head in both hands, vision rupturing fire as Ahbi forced me to fight the control over the veil.

  I was going to die. Any moment now. The pressure, the pain, too much.

  Too much.

  And it wouldn't relent. Refused. Until Theridialis offered up to Ameline what he offered me, tying himself into the controlling magic, revealing the Node.

  The blocking energy collapsed in a rush, the veil tearing wide with a terrible, wet sound, gaping before me, a hole into darkness. I turned and grasped Ram's arm, shoving him through, with no other option but to trust where the veil was leading us. Avenesequoia and Tara were next, Theridialis reaching his hands out to Sassafras, gathering up his son and diving for the gap just as I spun back to join him.

  Something impacted my shield as I stepped over, breaking through as my stressed mind gave way, a body impacting mine from behind, carrying us both into the veil.

  I'd brought others along with me before, especially at home where I rode the veil all the time. And even here on Demonicon where it was technically illegal to do so. But usually the people with me came willingly. I'd never had to fight inside the veil before.