High Demon 3 - Demon's King

by Connie Suttle

  * * *

  I hadn't gone back to my suite—I'd gone to the pool at the back of the house instead. I'd had to lean against the wall and rest a time or two—Teeg's palace, formerly Arvil San Gerxon's, was huge. Now I sat on a chaise, trying to get my breath back from so much exertion. That's where Teeg, Jes and the warlocks found me.

  "Ardalin quit," Teeg said, sitting on the chaise next to mine. The sun was already bright overhead; I had to shade my eyes to look at Teeg.

  "I'm sorry if I cost you your cook."

  "You didn't—she did this to herself. If she hadn't quit, I would have fired her."

  "You should have done it long ago if her food is that bad."

  "Would it mean anything to you if I told you I was punishing myself by keeping her?"

  "Teeg, that makes absolutely no sense at all." I turned my head; the light was easier on my eyes that way. I was dressed in pajamas and a robe—that's all I had to wear. I didn't like wandering around the house like that, but I didn't have a choice.

  "Think about it, Reah. Ardalin's assistant wants to learn anything he can from you. As soon as you can sit up and give him directions, he'd appreciate it. As would the rest of us, I think. Five turns of bad food is enough."

  "Where are you keeping Gavril?"

  "Reah, don't ask about that. He's safe at the moment and he has no complaints."

  "Will you take a message to him?" I was afraid I'd choke up.

  "I'll relay a message."

  "Tell him I love him and I'll do whatever I can to keep him safe."

  "Reah, I," Teeg stood, looking uncomfortable. "Get on with your exercises. I have things to do." He walked away from me, the warlocks right behind him.

  * * *

  "We'll get clothing for you," Jes had worked with me all morning out by the pool. I walked. I stretched. I lifted small weights. He let me rest between sessions. Teeg had told him to push me. Jes was pushing. I ached all over by the time he was finished.

  "You can get in the spa naked—I'll send someone out for clothing this afternoon," Jes said. He might have hoped I'd crawl into the hot water naked. I wasn't going to do that. Too many guards and servants wandered through while we were working. I was so stiff as I made my way back to my suite I almost didn't make it through my bath. My breathing was labored as I flopped onto the bed. I was thankful someone had come through to make it up.

  "I hear you made Ardalin quit." Someone walked into my room unannounced as I lay on the bed, my good arm thrown across my eyes. Lowering my arm, I stared at another woman. A housekeeper, by the look of things. She had two large pillows in her arms.

  "I did. She served eggshells with my eggs for breakfast."

  "Then I thank you. Whenever she is mad at anyone, she makes them suffer. I am glad she's gone. Would you like more pillows?" She held the pillows out to me.

  "Sure." I rose stiffly and the pillows were stuffed behind my back. "What's your name?" I asked.

  "Laree. I've worked for Master Teeg ever since he took over." She was telling me the truth. Teeg hadn't been able to take that talent away from me. I didn't think he could control the demon in me either. If he didn't know I could turn, he might get a nasty surprise if I knew Gavril was all right and I could get to him.

  "Well, Laree," I nodded at the woman, "Thank you for the pillows—they make things easier for me."

  "You are welcome. Now, maybe we'll have decent food in this place." She walked out of my suite.

  Chapter 3

  "Don't let it boil, just simmer gently as you stir," I said, watching as Marc made a sauce to go over the eggs. "You'll ruin it if you let it boil. There—see, it's thickening properly. Now, take it off the fire." Marc removed the pan from the heat and set it aside. The eggs were now ready to prepare. We poached eggs, shaved ham, added a bit of this and that, then served breakfast right after the rolls came out of the oven.

  "Oh, my goodness." I'd invited Laree to breakfast in the kitchen—the others got served in the dining room. Laree liked what she was eating, I could tell. I'd sat on a stool while I supervised Marc's cooking. He was smiling broadly as the compliments came in.

  "Time to get into shape," Jes walked into the kitchen. I wanted to grumble and go back to bed. I was still stiff and sore from the day before. Farzi, Nenzi and the others had shown up for breakfast—I think they didn't care for Ardalin either, and appeared as soon as they heard she was gone. Nenzi offered to carry me to the pool area, but Jes told him I needed to stretch my muscles and build my stamina. I walked with Farzi and Nenzi on either side. Teeg didn't follow. Well, he'd told me the day before he had things to do. Perhaps he was out kidnapping more children.

  "Here, this is berries, juice, protein and a vitamin mix. It'll help." Jes handed me a glass around midmorning after torturing me for two clicks. This drink was much the same as the one Ardalin had brought to me, except it tasted better.

  "Marc made it." Jes grinned when I asked.

  "Then Ardalin should have let Marc do all the cooking," I grumbled, drinking my concoction. "What does he call this, anyway?"

  "Teeg calls them smoothies. Don't ask me where the word came from. We always called them jumbles."

  "I've heard that term before. Made a few of them, too, as I recall. Mostly mixed with alcohol for customers."

  "No alcohol for you—boss' orders. He says the alcohol will slow the healing down." Jes gestured toward the weights and other equipment scattered across the flagstones surrounding the pool. Someone had brought in a treadmill and I was now walking on it until Jes said I could get off. "He says he wants to go out next eight-day. He says you can still be a little weak for the first job or two." Jes was looking away from me, his eyes unfocused for a little while. "You need to get them." He turned back to face me. "Get them, Reah. For me and all the people on my world who didn't make it."

  * * *

  "Need help?" I gimped past Teeg as he stood inside the door that led to the pool. I elbowed him in the ribs at his question and kept hobbling along. "Not bad—that blow would almost be effective," he grinned at me. I shot a dark look his way and kept going. I'd worked harder after Jes said what he did. His entire world dead, because Zellar destroyed it. Now, Zellar's trained vipers were out there, possibly doing the same so they could draw power to themselves.

  "Reah? Reah?" Everything was dimming around me so I'd stopped walking, attempting to get my vision to clear. "Baby, don't. Don't pass out on me, sweetheart." Teeg's voice was muted. I don't know if I did faint or just nearly so, but I came back to myself in the kitchen while Teeg and Marc were trying to get me to drink more jumble.

  "Just take a sip, baby. Show me you're all right." My cheek was resting against Teeg's shoulder as he held the glass to my lips. "Come on," he coaxed softly. "Take a drink, baby." I swallowed some of the protein-laced juice concoction. "That's right, drink more." He wasn't satisfied until I'd finished half the glass, handing it to Marc before pulling me tighter against him. My face was buried in the hollow between his neck and shoulder. Teeg's fingers sifted through my hair, massaging the back of my head and neck. "Need a cold compress, baby? Will that make it better?" I didn't answer but Jes, who was fussing impatiently nearby (he was the physician, after all) handed one over.

  "Perhaps we should let her soak in the spa," Jes suggested.

  "No. Reah will not get into that thing and don't suggest it again. She can have a nice warm bath and I'll bring someone in to give her a massage." I raised my head at Teeg's orders. That's what they were—he was definitely being the boss right then.

  "Reah, don't get into the spa. A warm bath is better for you." Teeg's dark eyes held concern as they looked into mine. "Don't disobey me, sweetheart. Gavril will suffer if you disobey me."

  Teeg was suddenly back to making threats. He'd been so nice, until he'd threatened Gavril. I wanted to get out of his lap. He wasn't having it. "You'll get your dinner in bed tonight." I was carried to my bedroom and settled onto fresh sheets. Laree was taking good care of me now.

&nbs
p; When my tray was brought, all the reptanoids came with it, each carrying a plate of food. I had dinner with Farzi, Nenzi, Darzi, Chazi, Perzi, Yanzi, Bekzi and Hirzi. After my bath, which Teeg, Farzi and Nenzi supervised, I brushed my teeth and climbed into bed with two lion snakes. Farzi and Nenzi would be guarding me for the night.

  * * *

  Jes arrived almost as soon as the sun was up. Farzi and Nenzi rose up in the bed in their lion snake forms, their fringed hoods spread out at the potential threat. The hoods disappeared and they lowered their heads when they saw it was Jes. Jes had stopped halfway to the bed so the snakes would calm down.

  "Nenzi, you have such a nice pattern," I stroked his neck just below his head. He moved around until his head was just below my chin. A lion snake version of a hug, I suppose. I reached out and ran a hand along Farzi's side, silently thanking him for his protection. Both snakes plopped off the bed and made their way into my bathroom to turn, coming out a few ticks later, fully dressed.

  "Go have breakfast, I'll be right there," I promised. Nenzi grinned at me. Farzi gave me a smile and a nod.

  "Now, we'll get you up and you won't push it too hard today," Jes ordered.

  "I can dress myself," I closed the bathroom door in Jes' face.

  "Let me know if you feel faint," he tapped on the closed door. I got my clothes on—someone had gone out to buy for me. I now had nearly a closet full. What I wore now while getting back in shape was loose exercising outfits. I had plenty of the jackets and pants, with stretchy tops to go with them. Athletic shoes had also been purchased for me, in addition to many other shoes I hadn't even looked at—they were still in boxes.

  Following Jes, we took the stairs down instead of the elevator. Jes walked slowly ahead of me, just in case. I told him I was fine. It didn't make any difference; he continued his slow walk down the steps.

  Marc made flaky rolls with ham and sauce inside for breakfast while I supervised. Fresh fruit went with that, as did a flavored tea and coffee.

  "Now we get decent food," Astralan was having seconds.

  "Reah, I don't want a repeat of yesterday," Teeg rubbed the back of my neck after rising from his seat at the table.

  "We'll work on that," Jes promised. He and I went back out to the pool and started my exercises again.

  "Your walking is improving—you can go for half a click without tiring," Jes was quite happy with our morning results on the treadmill. "The weights are coming along—we did heavier ones today."

  "Jes, I noticed we did heavier ones today." He and I were taking a break when Marc brought my mid-morning jumble.

  "Your massage is set up for this afternoon, so we'll stop when the therapist shows up."

  * * *

  Teeg and the massage therapist showed up at nearly the same time. I didn't want to get undressed for a massage out by the pool. Teeg made everyone leave. Only he, the therapist and Farzi and Nenzi were there. The therapist was an older woman who worked on my back and legs for quite a while. "You have too many knots in your shoulders," she informed me, working on those even more. "You need to get rid of this stress."

  "Don't look at me." Teeg held out his arms.

  "Uh-huh," I mumbled while my back was kneaded. "Are you trying to be funny?"

  "Maybe."

  * * *

  Jes was right; Teeg was preparing to take me with him an eight-day later. I was feeling better and my stamina was definitely improving. Jes still watched me carefully. Farzi and Nenzi had done their best to hover. They hadn't spent the night with me since I'd fainted, but there wasn't much need. I had dreams, too—unsettling dreams—that Gavril was in danger. Several times, I woke wiping my eyes.

  Teeg always said Chash was fine and I didn't want to push him. Now I was stuffing clothing into a bag—Teeg had told me to pack enough for two eight-days. I had no idea where we were going and was afraid to ask. Of course, the four warlocks were coming with us—they were our transportation. It made me wonder why Teeg didn't use them to hunt his quarry. I went so far as to ask him about it one night after dinner, when he sat at the kitchen island while I showed Marc how to make oxberry tarts.

  "Zellar was a power-seeker, didn't you know? He could feel power from quite a distance. Why do you think the King of Karathia couldn't catch him for centuries?" Teeg snorted at my question. "It stands to reason that some of his trainees could be the same. Or all of them. Doesn't it make sense, Reah, that he'd only train those who couldn't lead his enemies straight to him?" I thought about that for a bit.

  "Yes, you're right," I'd admitted. "He certainly kept all of us from finding him. Until this time. I wonder how that information landed in two places at once?"

  Teeg looked at me strangely. "Reah, you just frightened me."

  "Well, if what you said before was true, then one of his trainees had to betray him. Didn't they? I mean—he's been dancing away from the best trackers and the finest warlocks for a very long time. Yet now, suddenly, everybody knows where he is?"

  "Then that means at least one of them really is trying to take over. I'm sure he had his contacts—those who still used his services and paid well."

  "Then one or more of the trainees convinced Zellar to trust them, or they did a little digging and went behind his back. What was he doing on Kareed anyway?"

  "No idea." Teeg stood and yawned, stretching his tall frame. "Time for bed, Reah. Come on—you can puzzle out crimes later." He pushed me gently toward the door.

  * * *

  "Aren't you done, yet?" Teeg invited himself into my bedroom.

  "You didn't tell me where we were going so I wanted to be prepared."

  "Reah, sweetheart, we could end up in several places. I'm bringing Farzi and Nenzi with me, just for you. I didn't want you to feel outnumbered with me and two warlocks."

  "You're only taking two?"

  "Astralan and Stellan are coming. The other two are staying here with my assistant, to keep things running."

  "I didn't know you had an assistant."

  "We stay separated, just in case."

  "You're not going to tell me."

  "And risk getting a good employee killed? No way."

  "Well, then, we mutually distrust one another."

  "Reah, you're ASD and they probably have my name on a wanted list somewhere."

  "And if I said they didn't?"

  "I have Gavril, remember. If my name isn't on the list yet, it will be."

  "True. Is he all right?"

  "Gavril is quite fine. He isn't bored or lonely. He's being kept busy."

  "I'm begging you not to mistreat him."

  "Gavril will be fine as long as you don't mistreat me or disobey. Understand?"

  "Yes."

  "Reah, I'm not asking for the universe here. Most kidnappers would be asking for everything you know."

  "Is that what you intend to get, Teeg? Everything I know?"

  "Reah, I hope you trust me enough one day to tell me freely. Until then, you're welcome to keep the ASD's secrets."

  "You think that day will come?" It was my turn to snort at him. A tiny curl of smoke came from my nostrils as a result. Teeg zoned in on that immediately.

  "Is that what I think it is? I thought that was impossible for female High Demons."

  "Well, it isn't for this one. Go away, Teeg. I have to finish packing." I tossed a jacket into my bag.

  Teeg answered me by falling onto my bed and laughing. Hard. He did get up and move my bag for me after I closed it up. He was still chuckling. I pointed toward my bedroom door. He grinned and shook his head.

  "Treat me well and Gavril gets treated well." He wanted in my bed. "Come on, Reah. I won't force it—I just want to be in the same bed."

  "And I'm supposed to believe you?"

  "Reah, I won't force you." He sidled up to me and put his hands beneath my jaw, his thumbs rubbing my earlobes gently. "I know what my Reah wants," he said softly, leaning in to place a kiss on my collarbone. "I know what my Reah likes." Fingers slid beneath the scoop neck o
f my blouse, caressing bare skin. He nipped my neck gently. I whimpered. "See?" He lifted his head and gave me a kiss, nipping my lower lip with his teeth and then deepening the kiss. "You're my wife, Reah. I won't ever let you go." I knew the truth in his words—he meant them. Is that why I didn't fight him when he took me to bed and loved me so gently I almost wept? I'm not sure I would ever have the answer to that question.

  * * *

  "Where are we?" I looked around the luxurious home—it was the top floor apartment in a very tall building. Marble floors, expensive rugs in beautiful colors, an open space leading to windows, floor to ceiling, along one wall gave me a spectacular view of a city all around as the warlocks landed us somewhere.

  "One of my homes," Teeg announced, walking toward a wall and waving his hand across a scanner. I hadn't even realized we'd set an alarm off by appearing as we did. It made sense, though. Teeg seemed to be ahead of everyone in the technology game.

  I still didn't know where he kept the remote that prevented me from skipping or sending mindspeech. If I could get my hands on that and turn it off, I'd be sending mindspeech to Lendill in less than a heartbeat, telling him where I was and who had kidnapped Chash. I worried about Gavril every day, although Teeg was telling the truth when he said Chash was fine and not being mistreated. He also wasn't lying when he said that if I didn't mistreat him, then Gavril wouldn't be mistreated. Treating Chash well was a good way to keep me in line and he knew it.

  "Our bedroom is through here." Teeg took my elbow and led me through a beautiful kitchen that matched the rest of the home, then down a hall that held doors to several bedrooms, until we reached the suite on the end. Light surrounded us as we walked in the master suite, with another spectacular view through wide windows. The bed was enormous and covered with expensive fabrics and pillows.

  "You bought that bed just for you?" I wondered how many women he'd slept with since I'd left him. I pushed those thoughts out of my head. I had no right to dig at him over that. I had two other mates. Well, three, counting Lendill. Four if Wylend decided to make his move.