by Patti Larsen
Almost.
My heart pounded a few beats as we neared the edge of the room. This time there was no platform in sight, just a hole gaping out over the city. I glanced sideways at the rows of guards who stood at attention, lining the entry. I didn't exactly trust them anymore, not after they'd clearly betrayed Meira and me, not to mention Dad. And Grandmother. Still, she seemed relaxed and if I knew anything about her yet, it was the fact Ahbi Sanghamitra would never, ever trust anyone with her own safety.
We could agree on that, too. Was it weird I wished I didn't have so much in common with her?
Mouth dry from the view, I was grateful when a canoe-like platform zoomed up and came to a halt at the precipice. If a canoe was the size of a stretch limousine made for giants. Grandmother swept her way on board, taking a seat as it formed in the center. A smaller one gelled for Meira. When I stepped behind Grandmother, assuming Dad and I would be relegated to the back, she gestured for me to join them. And wouldn't you know, two more seats appeared, facing her.
All we needed was some jingle bells, snow and horses and we'd be sleigh riding. How quaint.
Sassafras chose to curl up in my lap, ignoring the protruding bed my chair provided for his comfort. I watched with curiosity as it retracted into my seat again and wondered at the magic controlling the vehicle. Was it Grandmother who ran the show or was the thing itself somehow working its own wonders?
I didn't get a chance to ask. Pagomaris bowed as the sides of the car rose, thinning out as they did, forming a clear dome over us. I opened my mouth to ask what the deal was only to have my stomach lurch upward into my throat as the whole thing dropped like a stone.
My stomach lodged firmly in my throat was all that kept me from screaming we were going to die. So I was grateful, really. I had just managed to shove my intestines back into their proper places, drawing a deep breath to express my concern with our imminent deaths, when I saw Meira laughing. Heard her, too.
Only then did I realize we weren't falling any longer, but cruising at a very fast pace, the bubble of our transport whipping through the air so quickly the land beneath us flew by.
Grandmother smiled at me again, though I was sure this time the humor was aimed at me rather than with me. “We have far to go if you are to see everything,” she said. “I thought this would be the best option.”
“We could ride the veil.” Yes, I was being snarky. Feeling very put out to be totally honest. Didn't doubt even for one second Grandmother knew about my fear of heights and decided to let me suffer a little for challenging her.
“We could.” She bowed her head to me just a little. “But I thought the ride would be nice. A chance to speak freely with only our family to hear.”
Did that mean she didn't consider the rest of the brood to be family?
How interesting.
“I'm unsure how much your father told you about your home.” Yeah, jabbing at Dad now. He looked away, refusing to meet my eyes, gaze locked on the scenery though his hands clenched in his lap. There were times I almost liked my grandmother. Few and far between. Now wasn't one of them. “Or what history has been shared.”
“A little,” Meira said. “About the planes coming together. The four cities.”
Grandmother nodded, patted my sister's hand. “Indeed,” she said. “Many millennia ago, a handful of brilliant scientists brought the planes together, under the leadership of your great-great-great grandfather.”
Meira beamed at her, soaking it up. So the Zel Sass mentioned was an ancestor. I glanced sideways at Dad and found him frowning still. And Sassafras was uncharacteristically silent, which made me wonder.
“What was once fractured and broken,” Grandmother said, gesturing out the glass bubble, “is now whole, beautiful. Complete.”
I peered out, finding it easier to look down from my seated position, my vertigo not affecting me the same as when I stood. And the view beneath us, rapidly approaching as the vehicle dove, distracted me so much I hardly felt the drop.
We swooped rapidly toward a gushing waterfall, the froth as pink as Kool-Aid. I stared, mouth open, billowing clouds of mist engulfing us, plunging us into pale rose shadow.
“What was wasted is now combined with purpose.” Grandmother's voice droned on as we cut through the water suddenly, and into open air. I looked up as moisture sheeted cleanly from the bubble, not a drop left behind, grinning at the roller coaster feeling as we rose again rapidly, climbing the seemingly endless cliff of the waterfall, more massive than anything we had at home. “What was reviled is now embraced and accepted.” I heard Dad grunt softly, Sassafras's snort, but I was so wrapped up in the scenery as we flew past a flock of what I swear were horse-sized dragons with the most amazing multi-hued bodies and reptilian wings, I let their reactions go. Not like I was paying attention to what Grandmother said, giving it any credence. After all, she was selling us with the skill of a time-share master.
As we rose to the surface again, amazing water left behind, the chasm a black line fading behind us, flock of mythical beasts spiraling into the mist, I didn't really care. She could try to sell me all she wanted as long as the tour went on.
Freaking cool.
I met Meira's eyes and found her grinning too. The pair of us must have looked like total morons, but I didn't mind that either.
Spike-like spires rose on the horizon as Grandmother went on.
“What was once war now is sport, to increase our power and the stability of our people.”
The city grew before us, totally different than Ostrogotho. Where the Seat city was dominated by blocky buildings resembling the mountain, this place soared, appearing as dangerous as it was beautiful, shining peaks of sharpened metal forming the pinnacles of each roof until the whole getup reminded me of a very elaborate pincushion.
“Our differences once divided us. Now we work together for common goals. And common good.”
The craft soared around the city, circling closely enough I could see etchings in each spire, the entire place looking like it was crafted by an artisan jeweler. It was beautiful but frightening to look at, and I couldn’t get past the impression the demons below lived inside a deadly weapon.
Our vehicle turned, heading into the multiple suns lighting the sky. The bubble tinted softly, enough I didn't have to squint as I looked down over the vast greenery below. Had to be a rainforest, thick and dark, a winding river running through the impossibly solid canopy.
“And so things have been for many generations.” Grandmother's voice was that of a tour guide, cajoling and calming. “Demonicon has been at peace because of the system we have developed and the joining together of all demon planes.”
Dad tensed beside me. I felt it, the change in the air between us. A glance toward him gave me nothing aside from the same scowl he'd been sporting all along, but I knew then Grandmother wasn't being totally honest.
Surprise, surprise.
Still, if that was the case, what was she hiding. And why?
Anger showed up, my demon answering with her own. “Thanks for the company line,” I snapped without thinking.
Grandmother's eyes met mine. Any moment I expected to be pitched over the side and sent screaming to the trees below, now thinning, no longer the type that might catch me and save me from so high a fall. But she didn't react, just gazed over her world. It was Meira's look of anger that really gave me pause as she reached out and took Grandmother's hand.
“It's beautiful,” Meira said.
“Yes,” Grandmother said. “It is, now. But only with strong leadership will it remain so.”
Another city appeared, this one more rounded, domes glistening in the multi-suns. It was almost rainbow like, casting reflections toward us. Large domes and small, some as tall as the waterfall we'd seen, others almost tiny, clustered together to form a large metropolis, though smaller than the last.
“Is that what's worrying you?” Meira looked up at Grandmother, her own face pinched with anxiety. “That Demonicon does
n't have strong leadership?”
The old demon stroked Meira's hair so kindly I felt another jab of jealousy even while I told myself to stop being such an idiot for falling for her little game. “It does,” Grandmother said as she met my eyes. “But not as strong as I'd like.”
“And whose fault is that, Mother?” I almost jumped when Dad spoke up. He'd been so quiet, so withdrawn since we came on board I never expected him to say anything. His eyes flashed anger, though sullen and cold.
“Mine, of course,” she said without a moment of hesitation. “For not insisting certain things come to pass.”
They stared at each other a long moment, Dad glaring and Grandmother expressionless. I almost laughed out loud, considering how similar their relationship was to Mom and me.
Of course their little spat had much bigger consequences.
“No matter,” Grandmother said as we spun away from the domed city and headed out across what looked like a desert, the ground red and glistening in the light. “Things have changed in the past and shall change again. It is the nature of life.”
I stared down at a massive herd of elephant-like creatures, head spinning. I really had nothing else to compare them to. Though I was well aware our elephants weren't the size of houses with black skin shining like jewels or long, stumped tails they used as a fifth foot.
Meira practically leaned into Grandmother's lap to see them, spinning and turning in her seat as they vanished. This time I did cry out as the floor beneath us went transparent, the herd, thousands in number, galloping away in the distance as we flew on.
“Our family has ruled on Demonicon since it was formed,” Grandmother said as the floor retinted and my heart started beating again. “I intend for our dynasty to continue.”
I met her eyes as she stared at me again. “There's a risk otherwise?”
“If Vandelarius gains First Seat,” she said, “then yes. His line will take over.”
Interesting. “You have lots of kids, don't you?” I felt Sassy tense in my lap and wondered if I was pushing things too far. “Make one of them Second.”
Grandmother laughed, low and rumbling. Even Dad smiled at me, a weak one, but a smile.
“It's not that easy, Syd,” he said.
I sat back, trying to keep my curious gaze from studying the next city we'd come upon, the perfect lines and angular shapes of the irregular buildings begging me to study them. This was more important, clearly. No way was I letting Grandmother distract me from so serious a conversation.
“I've seen you in action,” I said to her. “Don't tell me Vandelarius is Second when you didn't want him there, because there's no way I'll believe it.”
Grandmother bowed her head to me, just a little. “You've raised a very talented and intelligent daughter, Haralthazar.”
“Two of them,” Dad said.
Grandmother smiled down at Meira and nodded. “Two of them.”
The car lurched suddenly, forcing me to grasp Sassafras with one hand and the chair with the other to stay in my seat.
“Ruler,” a voice that sounded like Pagomaris filled the car, anxious and tight. “You must return immediately.”
Grandmother straightened, her normal flat expression returning. “What's happened?”
“Nothing.” Her hasty denial was enough to make me tense. “Only that Nunaresh requires your immediate attention.”
That wasn’t the name of one of the cities, at least not that I could recall. Who then was Nuneresh? I looked out over Grandmother's shoulder as the car jerked again, just spotting the peaks of what looked like another city in the distance. Weren’t there only four?
And, um, was that smoke?
“We're on our way.” The car zipped even faster, the landscape below whipping by so fast I had to look down at Sassafras so I didn't throw up. He met my gaze, his own flickering with fire.
Yup, something was definitely not right.
“Mind telling us what's up?” I caught sight of the mountain rushing toward us even as Grandmother's amber eyes flickered to mine.
“Were you interested in being part of this family,” she said, “I might consider it.”
Oh no, she did not.
I jerked in my chair as the car lurched to a sudden halt at the platform. We'd toured most of the plane in what seemed like minutes, though I was well aware the distance we'd covered would have taken us hours, if not longer, by airplane.
Grandmother left us, gesturing for Dad to follow. He scowled at her, but did as she asked, pausing one moment as Meira and I left the car.
“Go to your quarters,” he said. “I'll meet you there.”
“Dad,” I said. “What's going on?”
“What's always going on,” he said, voice bitter. “Just go.”
When would he learn not to boss me around?
***
Chapter Twenty Four
We were almost back to our rooms, Sassafras still in my arms, his weight actually becoming a burden, when Pagomaris appeared with two guards beside her. She looked uncomfortable, as though she was about to do something she really didn't want to, but her smile smoothed out as we approached.
“I hope you had a wonderful tour,” she said, tone bright as ever.
“Would be better if we knew why it was cut short,” I said. No need to be careful what I said to her, at least.
Pagomaris hesitated, her smile faltering before it returned full beam. “You've been summoned,” she said to me. Meira took a step closer, but the tall demon aide smiled sadly down at her. “Just Sydlynhamitra.”
I wasn't expecting Grandmother to call on me at all, let alone without my sister. Not after the snarky family comment she made. But the look on Meira's face was even more unexpected. She actually seemed furious with me as she spun and stomped her way into her room, slamming the heavy door behind her.
Sassafras squirmed enough I let him down. “I'll take care of it,” he sighed, silver tail quivering as he went after her, power easing the door open just enough he could slide through before letting it fall closed again.
I scowled at Pagomaris as I spun to go to Grandmother's room. “If her plan is to turn my sister against me, she's got another thing coming.”
Pagomaris grabbed my arm as the two guards stepped in front of me, blocking my way. When I met her eyes, there was fear in hers.
“This way, Princess,” she said, a soft tremor in her voice.
Okay then.
“What's this all about?” I tried to catch her gaze again, but Pagomaris kept hers locked on the floor ahead.
“I surely wouldn't know,” she said, glancing over her shoulder.
The guards. Nice to know they really couldn't be trusted. But that also meant because of them I wasn't getting the information I needed, and that made me testy. They followed so close I felt them breathing down the back of my neck. Testy times a million.
They didn't want me testy times a million.
I finally stopped dead and turned to glare at them. And while I didn't say anything, exactly, I did let my demon out for a moment, really out. She tended to be pretty scary, even for a demon.
Needless to say, the big boys backed off.
“Dish,” I hissed at Pagomaris as we approached a doorway. On my right was a full wall of nothing but city in the distance, the left solid stone. I kept to the inside, grateful for the demon aide beside me blocking the view. But as she spoke to me, my eyes couldn't help by wander over the world far below.
“Be cautious,” she whispered so softly I barely made her out. “Not your grandmother.”
That was all the warning I had before the door in front of me swung open and I was led inside.
While Grandmother’s quarters were opulent and dark, they now seemed reserved compared to the garish and overly bright space I found myself in. Not quite as big as Ruler’s, just close enough I knew it had to drive Vandelarius crazy. His clear lack of taste was reflected in the clashing colors and bling bling everywhere. I suddenly wished for the tinted gla
ss of the car dome as Pagomaris bowed low and presented me to Vandelarius.
He squatted on a large chair—might I say throne?—perched on a pedestal in the center of his chambers. He obviously thought the whole getup intimidating. Or maybe it reinforced his need for a sense of importance. Either way, I just thought he was pathetic. I'm sure it showed on my face, because his tightened, eyes flashing fury as he gestured with anger at the guards behind me.
“Your Highness,” Pagomaris said at her most bright, “Her Highness, Princess Sydlynhamitra, as requested.”
I hope he wasn't waiting for me to bow, because we would both be in for a really, really long wait if that was the case. Or maybe he just thought glaring at me was getting him somewhere.
Whatever.
“I'm here,” I said. “What do you want?”
Pagomaris hissed ever so softly next to me, but no way was I taking crap from this guy if I wouldn’t take it from my grandmother. Not when I knew he wasn't nearly as powerful as me.
Seemed I was more demon than I'd first thought. All of a sudden, power was everything. And I knew, could see it in how his body hunched, how his nasty little eyes narrowed, he understood just what I thought of him.
“I hope you and that bratling sister of yours are happy,” he snapped.
“Not really,” I snapped back. “We have to put up with the likes of you, don't we?”
Again the hiss from Pagomaris, this one more obvious.
Vandelarius leaned forward, power pushing out before him. “I'm sure Ruler hasn't informed you in some foolish attempt to protect you, but I have no such worries for your wellbeing.” I felt certain he didn't care about anyone but himself, so that wasn't much of a shocker.
Though what he came out with next absolutely was. “Because of you and the threat you both present, one of our cities is in civil war.”