First Plane

by Patti Larsen

  Like Sassafras gave a crap what I thought.

  Typical.

  I thought fighting was hard work. What Sass put us through in the next several hours left me even more wrung out than trying to keep from telling my grandmother what she wanted to know. With his power snapping like a whip, Sass put Meira and me through our paces as if we were prized thoroughbreds who hadn’t been working at potential.

  From shielding to slashing to mustering fire, shredding and the slippery nature of my previous evening’s attacker, I struggled to keep up. Meira, on the other hand, took to his teaching like she was only remembering things she’d forgotten, often laughing when the magic she needed slid easily into place.

  You’re fighting your demon, Sass snapped at last. You’re accustomed to being in the driver’s seat. Let her take the pressure, do the work. You guide her.

  My demon rumbled her approval so I gave it a go. Turned out he was right.

  Again.

  Ack.

  I looked up from recoiling a whip of my own made from pure magic, drawing it back slowly rather than allowing it to dissipate, the pressure of holding it intact taking all of my attention. But the moment Sass let me release it at last, I realized we weren’t alone.

  Not that the two watching us had intruded in any way. But they stood close enough, arms crossed, bodies tilted toward each other while they smirked in our direction, they might as well have.

  Cousins, Sassafras sent quickly.

  The way the rest of the combatants didn’t look our way made me think the guy/girl pair probably possessed impressive status themselves. They looked about my age, him tall and broad, typical demon physique with bulging biceps and a wide jaw. She was almost as tall as he was but slender, though her muscles rippled under her thin clothing. They looked enough alike I figured they had to be fairly closely related.

  “Nicely done, cousin.” The girl’s voice cut with an edge though her words said otherwise. “I’ve never seen a fire whip used quite like that.”

  Her companion, probably her brother, snickered.

  “Tanasharia.” Sassy’s tone was flat and bored. “You haven’t grown. What a surprise.”

  She snarled at him immediately. “I wasn’t speaking to you, damned one.” Tanasharia tossed her head, long black hair whipping around her like a weapon. Her eyes locked on mine again. “I was thinking we could have a friendly spar. Flex our power.”

  “No.” Sassafras stepped in front of me, his small cat body no match for her physically, but the pressure of his power shoving her back a step. “You know the rules, Duchess.”

  She didn’t argue or even look at him, just shrugged. “If you change your mind,” she said, “I’d be happy to show you how things work around here.”

  The pair turned and wandered off, the other demons in the arena bowing and acting all reverential.

  “Okay,” I said, “who were the douchebags?”

  Sassy sighed. “Tanasharia, Duchess of the Third Plane and Cypherion, her brother, Prince of the Second Plane.” He looked up into my eyes, his guarded and flashing fire. “Yes,” he said, “the Cypherion your father mentioned, heir to the Second Seat.”

  Vandelarius’s kids. Nice.

  “Don’t underestimate them,” Sassy said. “They may not have changed since I fought them, they may still be arrogant and think more highly of themselves than they should, but they are powerful and known to cheat if they think they can get away with it.”

  “Which they can,” I said, “because of who they are.”

  Sassy’s cat-shrug made his fur ripple. “Don’t get me wrong,” he said. “Cheating, no matter who you are, will get you in serious trouble.” He paused and I wondered if he was thinking about himself. “But a certain amount of… creative fighting goes on, and as long as you don’t cross certain lines, no one will turn you in.”

  “Such as?” I needed all the help I could get.

  “Forget it.” Sassy’s snarl told me I’d crossed one of his lines. “Focus on skills. Then when you’re even remotely close enough to getting it right, we’ll talk about it.” He snorted. “My luck you’d overdo it on the first go and end up powerless and an outcast.”

  “Should we worry about those two coming after us?” Meira looked like she wanted to take them both on with her bare hands, right here, right now. Made me feel much better about her chances.

  “No,” he said. “Not yet. They’re probably waiting to see what you’ll do, sizing you up. I’ve fought them both, defeated them both. Mind you, that was a long time ago. But neither feels all that much more powerful than they used to.” He swiped one paw over his whiskers. “Would be just like those two to run on their reputations and lose their fighting skills.”

  Well, that could be helpful.

  “The worst part is they’ve always been your grandmother’s favorites.” Sass let his paw drop. “And they will see the two of you as a threat to their position.”

  “So who do you think will come at us next?” I’d fought a knight and a lady so far, Tenth and Eighth planes. I winced inwardly as I realized how far I still had to go to reach my dear, dear cousins.

  “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I’ve been out of the game for too long. But you’ll mainly face the family, so at least I can find out. Tanasharia and Cypherion confirmed that much for me at least.”

  He stood up and flicked his tail at me. “You two keep practicing,” he said. “Don’t leave until I come back for you.”

  Sass scampered off, but I reached for him before he leaped to the top step. Where are you going? Way to abandon us to the wolves.

  To do some research, he sent before he vanished through the exit with a flick of silver fur.

  ***

  Chapter Eighteen

  I felt like a bit of an idiot training without Sassafras, doing the same stuff over and over again, but I had to admit, by the time he trotted down the stairs to join us again, I was feeling a lot more confident about what I’d learned.

  He made Meira and I go through our paces, one at a time, praising my sister while his snarky tone told me he wasn’t completely happy with my progress.

  Maybe he shouldn’t have just left us, then, hmmm?

  The moment we set foot outside the training ground I was accosted by another cousin. At least Calanothalmunon was only a Knight of the Fifteenth Plane. Considering I’d spent the afternoon practicing, his timing was unfortunate.

  Sassy didn’t have a negative thing to say as I swiftly countered the demon’s attack and, seeing the weakness in the rigid shielding he held, honed my power into a chisel and hammer, shattering his protections around him.

  Maybe my easy win and the absorption of Calanothalmunon’s power should have made me happy, but instead it made me nothing but cranky.

  Made worse when I had to stop and observe two demons fighting each other on the elevator platform. It was weird to be on the outside of a battle but it told me, loud and clear, this was the way things were on Demonicon. Meira and I weren’t special in that regard. It was fight and win or lose and be reduced.

  When the elevator was cleared, the victor marching off with a big smile on his stupid face, his opponent, dragging himself past us, eyes vicious, I had to sigh. The trip up wasn’t so bad, so lost was I in the absolute absurdity of it all. I think I was ready for another when a girl confronted me two steps from my quarters.

  I sent her packing, her shielding in tattered strips hanging from her, power now mine, mollified to see the furious look on Meira’s face. Someone cared I was being treated like a punching bag.

  Yeah, not quite. Seemed my little sister had her own reasons for being miffed.

  As the girl demon whose mouthful of a name I’d already forgotten ran off, Meira pouted.

  “Where’s my battle?”

  Oh. My. Swearword.

  She glared at me as I laughed my way into my quarters, but I just couldn’t help myself.

  “Bloodthirsty.” Sassy head-butted her leg. “But it’s good, Meira. And do
n’t worry. Your time will come. They will test both of you carefully, with powerful challengers and those who don’t stand a chance against you,” from the snort he gave he considered my last two opponents in the latter category, “until they understand your fighting styles and can use them against you.”

  “Way to make us feel better, Sass.” I flopped down on the bed, all at once exhausted.

  “I’m not here to coddle you, Sydlynn,” he said. “My job is to keep you both safe. And winning.”

  When did pacing become my default stress release? The moment I started moving again the power flooded back into my limbs and my weariness faded. Had to be a side effect of winning. And while I felt powerful all over again, it still drove me to irritation.

  “How can demons live like this?” I stopped and faced Sassy who observed me with his calm amber eyes. “In what reality does fighting for your life every five seconds, this non-stop battle for dominance, become normal?”

  “I see you need a history lesson,” he said, hopping up on the bed and curling into a ball. “Very well. I suppose it’s good for both of you to understand why things are the way they are.” Sassy settled his chin on his paws, gaze far away. “You ask why the fighting, why the ritualized battles. Honestly, it’s the only way to keep this place from falling apart.”

  I sank down on the bed beside him, Meira stretching out on her stomach with her chin in her hands, feet bobbing behind her.

  “It used to be demons killed each other all the time,” Sassy went on. “Devouring each other’s energy. Crossing planes to slaughter, pillage, build their power bases and do war only to have their armies decimated by demons more powerful and on higher planes than they.”

  Awful. Sounded like the Dark Ages.

  “The first Ruler rose from the constant battling with the idea if he could assemble the planes together, he could control them all.” Sassy’s abrupt exhale was amused. “Don’t for a moment think Zelmanharitopel’s plan was to unify all demonkind for their own good. He did it for purely selfish reasons. But the results were the same.”

  “It worked,” I said, fascinated despite myself. “The planes became one big one.” The magic behind something like that boggled my mind.

  “They did,” Sassy said. “In order to keep the newly assembled Demonicon together, Zel had to use a lot of fast talking and a really big stick.” He chuckled softly. “The royal historians will give you a different account, mind you, but this is the gist. Once he beat his dominance into the rest, he created laws, joined by his number one rival, Bringdalimenaria, gave her what we now call Second Seat and mated with her.”

  “The first ruling pair.” Meira’s smile seemed almost dreamy. “This is wicked cool.”

  Sassy flicked his tail at her. “The law stated no demon was permitted to kill another for their power. Instead, ritualized battles were created in order to facilitate the ebb and flow of magic, called status.” He sounded sad again. “There were those who fought the new ways in the beginning, but they were stripped and sent to the lowest planes, the dregs of demonkind. Most saw the benefits of obedience and society began to form, culture to develop where once we had none.”

  Peace could do that for a people. Or whatever they called their compromise.

  “I have to admit,” he whispered, nose now covered with his tail, “I’m a little sickened by the whole thing now. I’ve been away too long.” As though he were accusing himself of weakness.

  I leaned in and hugged him gently, stroking his ears and the soft fur on the top of his head.

  “We’re lucky to have you,” I said. “They don’t deserve you, Sass.”

  “Nope, they don’t,” Meira said, kissing him.

  “Agreed.” We all looked up. How had I missed Dad’s entrance? He smiled gently at all of us, though the feel of him was grim. “Why do you think I prefer your home to mine, girls?”

  And yet, as we rose to hug our father, I couldn’t help but think things really weren’t all that different at home. Only our leaders used money and other kinds of power instead of magic.

  ***

  Chapter Nineteen

  I wasn’t all that surprised to be called on again in the middle of the night. In fact, I was expecting it, already up after a short nap.

  Sassafras warned me about the possibility as we dined in private with Dad.

  “She’s fishing for something,” he said of my grandmother. “Don’t underestimate her.”

  “She’s a mistress of subtleties,” Dad agreed. “You won’t know what she’s after until she has it from you.”

  “Just be careful what you say,” my demon cat said. “And for goodness sakes, control your temper.”

  I fell into a short sleep after leaving the others to talk, feeling much more refreshed for a bit of rest despite the fact I should have been exhausted. A long shower in the amazing bathroom, piping hot water pouring from a huge fountain gushing over my body, did wonders for my state of mind.

  By the time Pagomaris knocked, I was smiling and ready.

  No more hesitation. I strode into Grandmother’s presence like I was the one ready to ask questions. Her powerful magic didn’t intimidate me this time. What was the worst she could do? I was already trapped here, fighting for my status. It wasn’t like she was going to challenge me. Maybe she could make my life miserable, but I was willing to take the chance if it meant keeping my dignity and my head.

  She clearly saw the change because her welcome was cooler than the night before. When she sat next to me on the same couch, observing, hands reaching for the nectar, I laughed out loud.

  “Just ask me,” I said, not sure where my bubbling good humor came from, but willing to let it ride and see where it took me. Maybe I was so past the stupid games I felt I had nothing to lose.

  Grandmother’s smile was dark and dangerous, but she nodded and began.

  This time she pulled nothing, direct and blunt. But she didn’t quiz me about home or my other magicks, but about the battles I’d fought and won so far. Why did I choose this particular attack or that specific defense? Was I thinking when I went in this direction or just reacting? How much of a disconnect was there between me and my demon?

  That question made me pause. Consider. Laugh again.

  “None,” I said with total honesty. “We’re one.”

  My demon rumbled her agreement.

  By now my happy-go-lucky feelings faded. How did she know anything at all about who I’d been? How Gram’s magic kept me from bonding with my demon from birth? Where was Grandmother getting her information? As far as I knew, the only other demon who understood my story was Theridialis.

  No way. A traitor? Would he really betray us?

  I found myself mentally shaking my head as Grandmother’s prying questions went on. It couldn’t be. It wasn’t like I knew every single demon Dad confided it. It was likely one of them betrayed him. Or, for all I knew, he’d told her himself.

  That would be a jackass move, yes. But I couldn’t bring myself to believe Theridialis stepped over the line like that. No, I didn’t know everything about him, but he’d never given me a reason to doubt his loyalty to Dad.

  Besides, Sassy would never forgive him. And from what I could see of their relationship, things were finally mending between father and son. Surely the kindly older demon wouldn’t risk his newly minted bond with Sassafras.

  When Grandmother asked me why I chose to use the sand attack, I paused. “What would you have done?”

  She actually looked startled, the first open and honest expression I’d seen on her face, as though she never once expected me to have the nerve to ask.

  Grandmother sat there in silence for a heartbeat or two before nodding. “I would have done as you did,” she said, tone grudging, but with a hint of respect I took as a win.

  She surged to her feet and, for a moment, I considered remaining where I was. But the tightness around her eyes told me I’d pushed her as far as she was willing to be pushed right then, so I stood and nodded to
her in my very best coven leader mode with the small smile Mom reserved for those she had to be nice to.

  My expression, my stance, had the desired effect. Grandmother’s jaw clenched as she bent over me.

  “Sleep well, my dear,” she said in a voice rumbling like a waking volcano, her power pushing down on me. In that exact instant I knew her, who she was, why she was and I pushed back.

  “You too, Grandmother,” I said while the bully inside her backed off.

  End round two. Ding freaking ding.

  Small victory, really. I watched my sister enter the chamber, paced with Sassafras while Meira had her visit. It was much shorter this time, though she was smiling when she emerged, and seemed quite happy.

  I couldn’t begrudge her how she was feeling, not when there seemed to be so little around here to be happy about. Instead, I took her hand and followed my demon cat down the dark stone hall, bare feet making soft sounds on the polished floor.

  “What did you talk about?” I was curious enough to ask. After all, Meira didn’t have many battles to keep Grandmother interested.

  “Nothing really,” she said. “Syd, would you ever want to live here?”

  That was sudden and absolutely flabbergasting. “Sorry?”

  Meira shrugged. “I like it,” she said. “Feels like home.”

  Sassy’s tail twitched ahead of us, ears flickering, but that was the only response he gave to her statements. I personally felt a surge of concern and wondered what Grandmother had been telling my sister. Not like Meira was gullible. She’d been through hell and back again too, with the coven and Nicholas DeWinter kidnapping her to use her against Mom back when I lost my demon.

  Not your choice, Sassy sent. It’s Meira’s decision if she chooses to like it here.

  He was absolutely right.

  Didn’t make me feel any better, though.

  A part of me groaned in annoyance as we rounded the last corner and came face-to-face with a demon blocking our way. He was pretty short, more Meira’s height, and seemed young. I felt my irritation twist my face as I crossed my arms over my chest and glared down at him, fully aware as I let him feel the full push of my power I was acting like my grandmother.