by Rebecca Hall
“You really will make Amelie jealous,” Nikola said, resting his head on Mitch’s shoulder. Mitch wrapped an arm around him and used a touch of magic to radiate cold. Nikola sighed and set the tea aside before pressing himself a little closer. His breath smelled suspiciously of tooth paste.
“Don’t worry about it,” Mitch said, rubbing his arm.
“But–” Nikola yawned.
“Hush,” Mitch ordered. “I’ll sign us up to a student association dance class or something once you’re better.”
“Amelie likes dancing,” Nikola mumbled. He coughed weakly and closed his eyes. Mitch smiled at him and waited as Nikola’s breathing slowed.
“Mitch, dinner’s here,” Amelie called.
Mitch started, half asleep himself, and Nikola groaned and covered his ears.
“Headache?”
Nikola nodded and sneezed, a tissue appearing in his hand.
“I thought you were asleep.”
“Not quite.” Nikola sneezed again and blew his nose, shivering. Mitch hastily dropped his freezer impersonation and shifted so that he could pull the blankets up higher around Nikola. “You should go eat.”
“And you should sleep,” Mitch said. “Dinner can wait.”
“But–”
“No buts,” Mitch cut him off, noting that for all his protests Nikola was still curled up against his side. “Just lie down and close your eyes.”
Nikola closed his eyes and Mitch waited until he was sure his friend was asleep before lowering him onto the pillows and going to eat.
#
“You should have called me,” Mitch said when Nikola shuffled out into the hallway. “I would have brought you anything you need.” He always made sure that Nikola had plenty of water and tissues when he came home between classes. Food too, though that went largely untouched.
“Can you bring me a new voice?” Nikola croaked, curling up next to him on the couch. Fluffball trailed along behind him and sat at their feet.
“I’ll get you a bell,” Mitch said, putting his book aside and wrapping an arm around him.
Nikola shook his head, “I’m almost better.”
“You sound as if your throat is desiccating,” Mitch said, tugging on one of Nikola’s curls. Though Nikola was getting better. His fever was down and he’d actually eaten an entire piece of toast today. Nikola made a small noise that might have been agreement and coughed. Fluffball whined.
“You’re staying down there,” Mitch said, the puppy was still too small to jump onto the couch on his own.
“So what did you want?” Mitch asked.
“Nothing, I was lonely.”
“Amelie’s room was closer.”
“You’re nicer.”
“She says I worry too much,” Mitch said.
“You did sleep with me,” Nikola coughed. Mitch rubbed him on the back.
“I didn’t want to wake you,” he lied. If vampires could flush he would have been bright red. He hadn’t meant to do it but Nikola found it easier to sleep when he wasn’t alone and it was usually the next morning before Mitch realised that he was falling asleep.
“Ah ha.” Nikola coughed.
“I should get you a drink,” Mitch said. He eased himself free and stepped over Fluffball. Nikola slumped over where he had been and pushed himself upright, his cheeks reddening as he coughed. Fluffball whined.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Mitch muttered, waiting for the tap to run warm to fill a cup for Nikola and hitting the button on the jug.
“Here.” He returned to the couch and held the cup for Nikola to sip between bursts of coughing. Finally Nikola was able to take the cup himself and return to resting against Mitch’s shoulder.
“Do you feel up to eating tonight?” Mitch asked. “You can have whatever you want as long as it’s take out.”
Nikola smiled, “Custard?”
“I’ll start looking up dessert menus,” Mitch promised, “Or I could try and microwave some…” Surely he could manage that much. It was just custard, there was minimal risk that he’d slice a finger off making custard though he was convinced that his bread slicing skills were improving.
“You’re spoiling him Mitchell,” Amelie said, emerging from the hallway and buttoning up her coat.
“With custard?” Mitch asked, rubbing Nikola’s arm when he felt him tense. He was the one who was being spoilt, he could afford to get Nikola a little custard if that was what he wanted.
Amelie sighed, “You should be in bed.”
“I–” Nikola began, his breath caught and he coughed.
“Where are you going?” Mitch asked, half turning to hug Nikola properly. He couldn’t tell if he was shivering or trembling, knowing Nikola it was probably both.
“Skating,” Amelie said, “I did tell you earlier.”
“Oh, right,” Mitch said. Amelie rolled her eyes. “Have fun.” Unlike them Amelie had actually made friends with some of her classmates. Mitch was still trying to figure out the finer points of being friends with someone who would double as food the instant that they got a paper cut. No one else was as distinctly not edible as Nikola was. The door didn’t quite slam shut behind her. Nikola shuddered.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, “you’re always having to look after me.”
“Nonsense,” Mitch said, pulling him a little closer. “Who looked after me when I was chased by a zombie horse? Or when I went to the Dance with the Dead? Who was there for me when I became a vampire? You’re my best friend Nikola, if you want custard or chicken soup or a trip to the moon you can have it.”
Nikola sniffed and giggled. “Just custard.”
“Custard it is then,” Mitch said but he didn’t move. He could feel Nikola’s tears soaking into his shirt and there was nothing he could do to stop them.
Demonic Secrets
“We can go straight home if you want,” Mitch said, holding the lecture theatre door open for Nikola.
“It’s fine,” Nikola replied, pulling his hood up to cover his eyes. Mitch saw the glimmer of Faerie steel around his wrist and knew that it wasn’t. Nikola hadn’t been wearing that when they left home.
“Where are they?” Mitch asked.
“Off the coast,” Nikola replied. He pulled his hood a little lower as they stepped outside.
“We really can go home,” Mitch said.
“It’s fine,” Nikola flashed him a smile and lowered his head again, wincing. “It’s not as if I won’t be able to feel them at home anyway.”
“But you could close the curtains and lie down,” Mitch said, knowing that he’d lost this particular argument. They were already halfway to the Netherword. “They’re not going to cause a quake or anything are they?” he asked. A quake off the coast would probably cause a tsunami and a lot of the city had been built below sea level.
“I’ll be throwing up before it gets that bad,” Nikola said.
Mitch bit his lip, grimacing when he tasted blood. “And the seizures?” Nikola hadn’t had any yet this year but he’d definitely been worried about them while he was sick.
“Maybe,” Nikola said after a moment.
“I’d better keep an eye on you then,” Mitch said, giving him a quick one-armed hug. They reached the Nethergate and Nikola stood aside so that Mitch could open it with his medallion instead of opening it himself as he usually did.
They stepped inside and Nikola lowered his hood, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the dim light.
“For someone who insists that he’s fine you look awfully pale and clammy,” Mitch said, struggling to pull out his insulated shopping bag. No matter how carefully he packed it always managed to get caught under his books.
“Just get your blood Mitchell,” Nikola smiled. “And maybe take notes for me in physics.”
“Of course,” Mitch replied. He hurried into the blood bank and returned to find Rana advancing on Nikola.
“Let’s go,” Mitch said, stepping between the two of them.
“You know I can
lock that door right?” Rana asked. “I have a favour to ask of you.”
“No,” Mitch said automatically, noting the way her gaze was fixed on Nikola. “He’s sick.”
“If he was sick he wouldn’t be here just as he wasn’t the last two weeks.”
Mitch shivered, wondering just how closely Rana watched their movements. Nikola reached out and put a hand on his shoulder.
“You don’t even know what I want,” Rana said. “Unless you do?” Nikola didn’t answer. “I’ll spell it out then, I need you to read the demon’s mind.”
“He can’t.”
“He can,” Rana replied, “I wasn’t sure at first but Awarewolves need that telepathic link to survive, particularly cubs.”
“Find another telepath,” Mitch snapped, he could feel Nikola’s hand shaking.
“I suppose I could request one from the Unseelie Court,” Rana said slowly. “They’ve been most helpful so far, and most curious as to how I subdued it in the first place.”
“You bitch,” Mitch snarled.
“It’ll be fine Mitch,” Nikola said.
Like hell it will, Mitch thought but what choice did they have? Even if Rana didn’t sell them out, a telepath would be able to learn whatever they wanted from her mind.
“I’ll need a few minutes to prepare,” Nikola said.
“Of course,” Rana beamed at them. “Follow me.” Mitch glared at her back and took Nikola’s hand. It was clammy and shaking.
Rana led them deeper into the Netherworld through a series of Nethergates and staircases and stopped outside a door that was pitch black.
“Tartarus is through there,” Rana said, “but you can prepare in here.” She opened a green door into a small waiting room that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a dentist’s office. Couch, coffee table and old magazines, there was even a tank of tropical fish in the corner. “If you need anything just press one,” Rana said, motioning to the phone by the door.
She left and Nikola sank onto one of the couches, shivering violently now that they were alone. Mitch dropped books and blood to the floor and sat next to him, wrapping him in a tight hug.
“She’s just going to keep doing this,” Mitch said as Nikola buried his face in his shoulder and started to cry. Rana had found her lever and nothing would make her stop now.
“I know,” Nikola whispered.
“What do you need me to do?”
“Stay with me.”
Mitch rubbed his back and sat in silence until Nikola stopped crying and sank back into the couch.
“Here,” Mitch said, pulling a packet of tissues out of his pocket and handing Nikola one. He wiped his eyes and blew his nose, though he still looked to be on the verge of tears.
“Telepathy is dangerous,” Nikola said after a moment. “Not just to the people that it’s used on but to… The demon is telepathic. I won’t be able to look into its mind without it looking into mine. It leaves behind an impression, a copy of the other’s mind. If we disengage properly then it’s fine, the impression fades but if we don’t…” his voice caught. “No matter what happens you can’t interrupt us,” he said. “No one can.”
“Nikola,” Mitch began but what could he say? They’d had this discussion before.
“And if something does?”
“Then remind me of who I am. I… I won’t be able to tell where my mind stops and the impression begins.”
Mitch swore.
“If that happens… call Gawain. He… he can talk me through it.”
He can drag you home, Mitch thought. It wasn’t what Nikola wanted, not like this, but he’d be safe in Faerie. Nikola sniffed and Mitch handed him another tissue.
“Is there anything else?” he asked. Nikola nodded and slipped his bracelet off, his face draining of colour as he regained his full sensitivity to magic.
“Your nose is bleeding,” Mitch said, offering him another tissue. And he was shaking again and he probably had a headache. Hell, he was probably on the verge of having a seizure. Mitch slid the bracelet back over his hand. Nikola gasped and blinked, finally taking the tissue and licking his lips as blood dripped of his chin.
“How was that supposed to help?” Mitch demanded sharply. Nikola flinched. “I’m sorry,” Mitch said, “I’m just worried.”
“I wanted… they’re getting closer,” Nikola said nasally, tissue still pressed to his nose.
“So naturally we’re stuck underground,” Mitch muttered. “It’s stopped,” he added when Nikola lowered the tissue.
“Good.” The tissue vanished, leaving spots of blood on Nikola’s hand, and another bracelet of Faerie steel appeared.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Mitch asked, watching him slip it into place.
“No,” Nikola replied, “But I’d prefer to be done before the war arrives. All angels are telepathic and I don’t want to get tangled in their minds.”
“I wish we could just run away,” Mitch said, sinking into the couch next to him.
“You’d never be able to explain that to Amelie,” Nikola replied, resting his head on his shoulder.
Mitch sighed, “I signed us up for one of those student association dance classes. I don’t think she’d forgive me if I left her without a partner.” He put an arm around Nikola, running one hand through his hair.
“Guess we’re staying then,” Nikola said. He took a deep breath. “Let’s get this over with.”
They returned to the corridor and found Rana waiting for them, one foot tapping impatiently.
“Ready?” Rana asked, opening the black door before they could reply. Mitch had been expecting some sort of medieval dungeon or perhaps a pit swirling with hellfire. Instead everything was sterile white and smelled faintly of antiseptic. The lights were harsh and bright. Mitch blinked repeatedly and then just used magic to protect his eyes. Nikola pulled his hood up over his eyes, seeming to shrink in on himself.
They moved deeper into Tartarus, the black door disappearing behind them. The fluorescent lights never becoming more bearable. Mitch supposed that it was a good a place as any to imprison demons and creatures that were supposed to be nocturnal. Or anything really. Nikola coughed and Mitch took his hand, watching him worriedly. Nikola drew closer and closer as they descended until Mitch was forced to release his hand and wrap an arm around his trembling body.
Finally they arrived in some sort of observation room and Nikola stopped dead. The room wasn’t empty. Inside sat what Mitch took to be a human magician and one of the Fae, both of them watching the demon through the glass wall.
“Which one of them is supposed to be your expert?” the Fae woman said, turning to look at them with cat-like eyes framed by locks of honey-coloured hair. Mitch gulped, she looked enough like Nikola to be his sister. She probably was.
“She is,” Nikola said telepathically.
“They are the ones who captured it,” Rana said. “Nikola believes that he’ll be able to extract more information from it.”
“One of Oberon’s spawn and a vampire,” the human woman said. Mitch relaxed slightly but the Fae tensed and Mitch wondered how closely they tracked Oberon’s children. “We’re supposed to believe that these pathetic creatures captured a demon?”
“I believe it,” the Fae said. “I’m sure Rana made them a very enticing offer.” She smiled at them and Mitch found the expression decidedly shark like.
“Hmpf,” the human turned back to the demon and resumed taking notes though Mitch couldn’t have said why. The demon’s emaciated frame was strapped to a table in the middle of the next room, held in place by bands of Faerie steel engraved with sigils. It was even thinner than Mitch remembered. Its skin stretched over a skeletal body, its ribs clearly visible through the loose clothes it had been dressed in.
“I need to be in there,” Nikola said softly, nodding towards where the demon was kept.
“Nikola,” Mitch looked at him and sighed. “I’m coming with you.”
“I think I shall come with you as we
ll,” the Fae woman said. Rana opened her mouth to protest but the other woman was already gliding towards the door. “No need to come with us Rana, I can open the cell on my own.”
Nikola recoiled as she passed and Mitch steadied him before he could fall.
“Who is she?” he hissed.
“My name’s Verdandi,” she called over her shoulder.
“Go on,” Rana said, moving to stand beside the human woman. Together Mitch and Nikola followed Verdandi out into the corridor.
“I know you’re not Oberon’s,” she said as sigils flashed across the lock on the demon’s cell. “He’s only had one child in the last century and you’re not female. So whose are you I wonder?”
“Gawain,” Nikola said hoarsely.
“You mean my darling cousin actually managed to get it up for a woman? Well I suppose it has happened before.” She sighed and the door swung open. “Do try not to disappoint me,” she said, leading the way into a cell, “Gawain doesn’t take it well when I kill his half-blood spawn.”
“Ignore her,” Nikola said telepathically.
“She said–” Mitch thought furiously.
“I know but it’s not worth rising to the bait. She’s Clairvoyant, she’ll see you coming.”
“But Gawain–”
“It was more than five-hundred years ago, please Mitch, I need to focus.”
Mitch nodded reluctantly. Nikola coughed and stepped up to the gurney that the demon was strapped to, the beginnings of a rash already spreading across his hands. Verdandi watched eagerly from the demon’s other side.
“Don’t you already know how this will go?” Mitch snapped.
“Demons can’t be seen,” she said, “no more than angels can.” She frowned at Nikola, “you’re awfully hard to see as well.”
Nikola ignored her, his attention on the demon. Mitch wondered how it was still alive. It had to be consuming itself, there was no sign that it had been fed, there weren’t even needle marks where it might have been on a drip. Its wrists and ankles were adorned in dried blood and weeping sores where it had strained against its restraints. Its feet hung awkwardly, as if something was broken. Sigils had been tattooed across its body, the black ink visible through its clothes. It looked more demonic than ever. There were no locks on the restraints he noted, they’d been welded into place. The demon would never be free. Mitch couldn’t help but think that it would have been kinder to kill it.