High Demon 3 - Demon's King

by Connie Suttle

  * * *

  "She's sleeping," Wylend sighed as he was handed a cup of tea by one of the reptanoids. Gavril wanted to growl at the two warlocks who'd come with Wylend and Erland. He kept his feelings to himself with difficulty. These were Wylend's other lovers—Gavril was very aware of the Karathian cycles. He looked suspiciously at anyone who might serve to replace him in Reah's heart and life.

  * * *

  "Reah?" I had to work to come back to consciousness.

  "Chash?" I was dreaming. Chash was gone. Someone had taken him. He wouldn't ever come back to me. I don't know what made me say his name, unless it was a longing that might never be satisfied.

  "I'm here, baby. I'll always be here."

  "No." I opened my eyes to find Teeg sitting on the edge of my bed, his hand stroking my forehead. "Chash died. Like my daughter. Go away, Teeg."

  "Reah, can't you see past this now? I can't do anything about the baby. I wish I could. But I'm still here. Your Chash is here." He looked upset. That wasn't the Teeg I knew, but I hadn't really known him all along.

  "The Gavril I knew would have asked me what I thought. He would never have ordered me to do anything. We always talked and he listened. You don't listen, Teeg. Except to yourself. Maybe something happened to make you as hard as you are. I don't know. I lost the friend I had and now, all I have is somebody who only wants to go to bed with me, even when I don't want that." I turned my head away from him; couldn't look at his face any longer. What would my daughter have looked like? I had to stay away from thoughts like that—they only made me weep.

  "They took you too young, baby. The Alliance, the ASD, Arvil—all of us. And you weren't strong emotionally on top of that. I know we exploited everything you had, just to get what we wanted. I don't know how to take it all back, Reah. All Tory can do is hold his head in his hands and moan. Norian—he's like a ghost. And Lendill, I think he's empty, now. He looks like the man who's lost everything."

  "Like any of you care," I huffed, brushing a tear away and curling into a ball. "I don't even know why Wylend is trying so hard. I don't have anything left to give. Empty? You don't know empty. None of you do."

  "Reah, I'm sorry. About the baby, about pushing you, forcing you to help me—all of it. But we got rid of some nasty people together. I realize that's of little comfort now, but I wouldn't have been able to do it without you."

  "Where is Nidris now?" I know it was spiteful to mention Nidris, but he'd killed my child. They thought they'd gotten him—Farzi had explained it as best he could earlier. They didn't realize that Nidris' brother had been changed to resemble Nidris until it was too late. Now, Nidris could be tapping cores across the universe, with none the wiser until it was too late.

  "We don't know." Teeg sighed and slid off the bed. He walked to the other side and sat on a chair, watching me. Pleading silently with his eyes. I thought about turning my head away again. "He could be tapping cores from here to the end of the universe and back." Teeg voiced my own thoughts and fears. "What are we going to do, Reah, if he kills everything?"

  "What do you mean, we?" I asked spitefully. He couldn't do a damn thing about it and he knew it.

  "Norian's letting you go—I saw the paperwork this afternoon. He's eaten up with guilt, baby. And Karzac removed the chip. I asked him to, but he'd already done it."

  "Then I wish he'd done it sooner." I rubbed my forehead—I was getting a headache. "Why are you bothering to tell me?" I asked.

  "I can take care of the small stuff—if you'll let me," Teeg offered. It reminded me of what he'd done when he and Jes had restrained me after my injuries in the bomb blast on Kareed.

  "Why did you take that name—Teeg?" I asked instead, brushing his offer aside.

  "It was given to me. By Dormas. He's an old vampire, Reah. He taught me carpentry first, and then taught me how to be a contractor. Everything I know about running the business I learned from him. He sent me to school and paid for my architecture and engineering degrees. Then got me involved in politics. I served as Vice-Governor on Malindor, did you know that? Twenty-five years ago. Decided not to run again, even though somebody offered to make me Governor of the Realm. All of that was done under an assumed name, of course. Vampires are still adept at creating identities and backgrounds."

  "And where is your mentor now? Did you shove him aside when Arvil crooked his finger?"

  "No. Dee is still with me. He's working as my assistant, now."

  That made me snort. "Did you squash him, too?"

  "Reah, don't." Teeg raked fingers through his wealth of dark hair. "Dee knew long ago that I was a King Vampire. He recognized it in me when I placed compulsion on another, older vampire—one who was trying to destroy Dee. When I ordered him to stop, he did. Just like that. Dee turned him over to the Vampire Council on Malindor. They sentenced him to death. Dee is important to that world."

  "And now to the Campiaan Alliance." I closed my eyes—the headache was getting worse.

  "Yes—Dee is very important. He's my personal advisor, Reah. He knows how to build this thing from the ground up. We've had to be ruthless, Reah—this Alliance is in its infancy and some of the worlds we are trying to shape aren't the most law abiding, as you know. The San Gerxon clan and the Hardlows were in charge for too long. Now, we have to wrestle those worlds away from the criminals who have a stranglehold on them. Their people want something else, they're just afraid to stand up and say it."

  "So what is your current project, Teeg?"

  "We're entertaining delegations from all the worlds that want to be a part of the Campiaan Alliance. That's in two weeks. I'll be asking Wylend to attend."

  "I see." Wylend would be too busy with politics to have time for me. It didn't matter—I hadn't expected anything else. "And what will you do about Nidris in the meantime? What does Norian intend to do?" I was massaging my forehead, attempting to get the headache to subside. It wasn't helping.

  "Norian is gathering people and they'll probably have a conference on Wyyld or Le-Ath Veronis. Nidris will be desperate, now. None of the worlds Zellar destroyed had the population Tulgalan does. That doesn't make Zellar more humane in my eyes, but Nidris—he sold out his own family. This one will do anything, Reah. I don't think he cares who or what he destroys as long as he gets what he wants. Come on, baby. Let me take care of that for you." Teeg moved my hand aside and brought blessed relief to my aching head. Darkness descended immediately.

  * * *

  "How quickly can I get up?" I asked Karzac—he'd removed both the feeding tube and the IV line, healing up both wounds.

  "You may sit up for a while—perhaps for dinner tonight. But no solid food until tomorrow, if everything stays down today." He hooked a strand of hair behind my ear. "I think your reptanoids want to help you in the shower."

  "Karzac, please let me get clean," I begged.

  "I'll allow it, but you should sit while they bathe you."

  "How long until I'm back to normal?" I was almost afraid to ask. Almost. Karzac wasn't stupid.

  "Reah, you shouldn't worry about that right now, don’t you think? I'll let you know in a few days."

  "All right." At the moment, I was glad he'd consented to allow me to bathe. Farzi and Nenzi walked in while Karzac was finishing up. I had a reptanoid on either side as they helped me wobble into the bathroom. A plastic stool was already inside the shower, waiting for me.

  "I heard you took Ardalin out and she stabbed you." I pulled Nenzi's head down for a hug as he and Farzi prepared to give me a bath.

  "Nenzi would do it again," he declared, giving me a smile.

  "I love you both," I said. "As well as your brothers. I don't know what I'd do without you."

  "We feel same," Farzi nodded. He got a hug too. The bath exhausted me, so Nenzi carried me to the bed and Farzi pulled back the sheet and blankets—someone had come to put fresh linens down. Both of them climbed into bed as lion snakes and I snuggled between them, drifting off to sleep.

  * * *

&nbs
p; "Their skin is smooth and their patterns are beautiful," I explained to Ry, who'd come in to tell me that dinner was waiting. He was surprised to find Farzi and Nenzi in my bed—both had lifted up and spread their hoods when he suddenly appeared inside the room. I stroked Farzi's and Nenzi's scales, trying to calm them down.

  "We've set up a chair for you at the table," Ry said, eyeing both snakes. The reptanoids changed and helped me off the bed before dressing and coming with me.

  "Couldn't someone at least add a little seasoning to the broth?" I complained at the bland taste of my dinner.

  "But you have delicious gelatin for dessert," Lendill attempted to get me interested in a decidedly uninteresting dessert. All were present at the table except Wylend and Aurelius. The gelatin was supposed to be a redberry flavor. I would have preferred the redberry fruit instead of that.

  "Eat it, baby," Tory coaxed. I wanted to snap at him. I didn't.

  "Reah need her strength," Farzi tapped my bowl. I was sitting between him and Nenzi. Nenzi was smiling encouragingly. I sipped more of the broth.

  "Please tell me we can leave this place behind soon," I mumbled, forcing myself to dip another spoonful of broth.

  "Karzac says we can move you tomorrow. Mom already has a room set up for you at the palace," Teeg said. He was calling Lissa what Gavril had always called her. Perhaps she recognized him as her son—I didn't.

  "Reah, I have to return to Campiaa tomorrow. I'll leave Farzi and Nenzi with you if they want to stay. I need the rest of them to come with me," Teeg said.

  "We stay with Reah," Farzi said. Nenzi nodded. I rubbed Nenzi's back gratefully.

  "Reah, I'm only going to carry you to bed," Tory looked hurt when I jerked away from him after dinner was over. Somebody had cooked for us—an Alliance recruit or ASD operative—I didn't ask. She was silent throughout the meal and nobody thought to introduce her. I'm sure she was just another nameless, faceless entity to Director Keef—somebody he'd use and cast aside as it suited him.

  "Farzi and Nenzi can get me back," I huffed. Truthfully, I was running out of energy, but I didn't want Tory to know that.

  "Reah, I'd get on my knees and beg if it would do any good." Tory looked ready to drop to his knees right then. I didn't argue further when he lifted me and carried me to bed.

  "Baby—I'm really sorry," Tory was covering me with a blanket while Farzi and Nenzi watched. "Please don't shut me out. I promise I'll be better next time—the Thifilathi knocked some sense into me—when it was too late. We'll try again, baby, if you'll allow it." I wanted to jerk away from him again. I didn't. I just didn't answer him. Some other, stronger woman might have forgiven him. I couldn't. Not right then. "Do you need something to help you sleep, baby?" Tory asked. "I can get somebody here if you do."

  "No. I'll be fine." I turned over in the bed so I wouldn't have to look at him. He waited for several minutes before walking out and closing the door.

  * * *

  "Beloved—we'll take you to Le-Ath Veronis if you'll wake now." Lendill touched my face. "Breakfast is waiting just as soon as you're ready."

  A frown was all Lendill got from me—Farzi and Nenzi helped me dress. I was ready to get away from Tulgalan. For now. Surprisingly, Renegar had come to transport all of us. He put his hands carefully on me, checking to see how I was healing.

  "Ren, I'm all right," I muttered.

  "Little one, your body is healing." He didn't say anything else but his eyes held concern. If anyone would know how things truly were, the Larentii probably would. He didn't comment further than that and I was grateful.

  Farzi and Nenzi had packed our things—Teeg was coming with us but only for a short while—he was expected on Campiaa before the day was out to make preparations for the upcoming meeting. I had no desire for the Campiaan Alliance to fail—quite the opposite, actually. As long as a standard set of laws were set up and adhered to, I didn't think it a bad thing. Teeg, though, would have his hands full as the founder. He neither needed nor had time for a mate. Just as well—I didn't know how I felt about him, anyway. Perhaps he'd been Gavril once. He would never be that again. Not for me.

  Renegar folded all of us to the palace, where Lissa and Gavin waited. Lissa hugged Teeg and Tory. I slipped my arm through Nenzi's and he and Farzi helped me down the hall to my room—it had once belonged to Aurelius when he'd stayed there.

  Chapter 12

  "Son, she barely speaks to anyone." Garde was attempting to get Tory out of his depression over Reah.

  "Dad, she won't talk about the baby. At all. She just turns her back on me and waits for me to leave."

  "Torevik, this has been traumatic for her. And for all of us. Give it time." Garde was worried about his son and Reah. He was also angry that Kifirin had chosen to leave as quickly as he'd gotten the news. Perhaps the god was abandoning all of them, now. A tendril of smoke curled from Garde's nostrils. He was thankful Tory had his head down and didn't see it.

  * * *

  "Reah, come with me to meet my father. Please." Lendill had said the same thing for the past six days. Begging me to go with him somewhere—he never said where—to meet his father. I ignored him as best I could. I was mixing cake batter in Lissa's kitchen—Karzac had said I could get up and around if I didn't tire myself. Therefore, I decided to make a cake. Lendill was interrupting. Farzi and Nenzi sat at the huge island, watching me cook and listening to yet another exchange between Lendill and me.

  "No, Lendill. What do you think that will accomplish?" I blinked at him helplessly, stopping in mid-stir, the large bowl held in the crook of one arm and the wooden spoon held in my other hand. Wylend had indeed gone to the meetings that Teeg was holding, although he'd offered to take me to Karathia and allow his servants and staff to care for me. I'd declined. He hadn't pushed it. Now that I'd officially been discharged by the ASD, Lendill had become relentless. I wasn't having any of it. What did he think we might have after he'd repeatedly forced me to do his and Director Keef's bidding, though it had harmed me and ultimately killed my daughter?

  "Reah, breah-mul, don't do this to us. I beg you."

  "I'm not your breath. Only your breath is your breath," I muttered.

  "I will ask you again tomorrow. I promise." Lendill stalked out of the kitchen. Did he think to wear me down? Tory thought the same thing. Had tried to put his hands and his lips on the claiming marks on my neck. I'd walked away from him. Every time. Sighing, I pulled the cake pan over and poured the batter in.

  * * *

  "Reah, the cake is exceptional," Drake said. I'd still not gotten to travel to Falchan, I remembered as I studied him. He and his brother Drew sat together at the long table during dinner. The staff was serving my cake as dessert, as I'd intended. A trip to Falchan might never happen now. Not if things went as I planned. Later, inside my bedroom, Farzi and Nenzi wore worried expressions as I tossed clothing into a small traveling bag. I hefted a knife into my bag—I'd used it as a backup. It wasn't the black-bladed one Glinda had given me—Teeg still had that one. This was standard ASD issue. It would have to do. A small, sealed box filled with non-identifying credit chips was tossed into the bag next. Farzi and Nenzi already had their bags packed. I offered to send them to Campiaa but they'd refused, telling me instead that they'd inform everyone else of my plans if I didn't take them with me. Therefore, they were coming with me. I was zipping the small bag closed when Kifirin appeared in my bedroom.

  "Get out," I snapped at him. He'd brought me to this. Taken Gavril away and made him a monster. Told him to form the Campiaan Alliance and Teeg had done his best for this one; all else be damned. Right then, I didn't care that he was the god. If he wanted to reduce me to cinders with a look, then he was welcome to do so. I was weary of the constant emotional pain of losing the baby. Tired of the others thinking that everything would be just fine and I could have another baby somewhere down the road. Right then, I didn't think I wanted any of them.

  "I have something to say first," Kifirin said, his voice echoing t
hrough the room.

  "Then say it and get out." I jerked my bag off the bed. I was ready to go. Farzi and Nenzi stared at Kifirin—he had stars in his eyes.

  "I owe you," Kifirin said. "Tell me what you want and if it is within my power, it shall be given to you."

  "I don't want anything from you," I almost shouted, remembering at the last that Lissa's palace was packed with vampires, who could hear an eyelash drop from one end to the other.

  "When I granted Gavril's request, I failed to consider your part in this. You were forced into it, having made no request of your own. And it led to disaster, as should not have been. I did not see this. You were promised to me long ago, by the one who formed the darkness in me. I was once light, like the others. I accepted the darkness to create the balance."

  "How nice for you," I muttered. I had no idea why he was telling me this. He'd said before that I'd been foretold but it hadn't meant anything to me.

  "A daughter of your heart will come, he told me," Kifirin went on, ignoring my rudeness. "A demoness, clad in gold. The High Demons will be reborn through her. Your daughter was to be the first," Kifirin sounded sad, and that couldn't be. He'd coldheartedly ripped Chash away from me, replacing him with Teeg. Things would never be the same. Tory hadn't been prepared for fatherhood, either. I knew that now. It made me weep for my child.

  "When I grant a request and it interferes beyond expectations with the life of another who made no request," Kifirin repeated, "I must make amends or offer compensation of some kind."

  "You can't undo this," I said. "I don't want anything from you. Good-bye, Kifirin." I was ready to skip away.

  "You are the daughter of my heart," Kifirin said. His beautiful face looked as if it were filled with pain. That had to be a lie.