Twisted Karma

by Lizzy Ford

  “Tonight is a start,” she said. “I mainly want to stop the killing and address the details tomorrow. There’s no excuse for an Immortal hurting another Immortal – ever. I think that is one area where I will be more like my father than anywhere else. The stiffest punishments are reserved for those who hurt their own kind.”

  “I would agree.”

  They gazed at one another, and Stephanie realized he was waiting for her to make the next move.

  She held out her hand.

  Lord Osmond shook, and cold fire tore through her as their deal was sealed.

  “We can start looking at the details tomorrow,” she said. “We have a mess to clean up today, but first, I want our united forces ready to face any demon incursions. Darkyn isn’t one to ignore an opportunity like this one.”

  “Agreed.”

  They began walking once more, towards the group waiting for them.

  “I sensed you were different at the dinner,” he said. “Wynn was right. He could not have chosen a better successor. Do not let power turn you into something you are not or into a menace like the rest of your family.”

  “I want to make a positive difference,” she said. “Too much depends on me for me to become power hungry or selfish or to lose sight of what happens if I don’t focus on our survival.”

  His smile was faint.

  “Besides,” she said with a grin. “You’ll be there to knock some sense into me if I lose focus.”

  “I don’t think I’ll need to,” he replied. “I think we’ll be on the right track for the first time in millennia.”

  Touched by his faith and warmth, Stephanie didn’t quite know how to respond. They were silent as they approached the group awaiting them. Andre’s concerned gaze found hers, and Stephanie smiled.

  “I’ll order my soldiers to stand down and return control to you immediately,” Lord Osmond said.

  “I appreciate you working with me,” Stephanie said. “Our priority is to remain ready to deal with anything Darkyn is planning.”

  Lord Osmond bowed his head once and opened a portal, leaving, followed by his lieutenants.

  “Lord Fieri, please give the order for a cease fire,” she said to the tense general. “I left a demon and goddess in charge of the troops. Don’t be alarmed.”

  He nodded once and left.

  Stephanie bent over and began hyperventilating.

  Andre touched a cool hand to the back of her neck.

  She sucked in deep breaths, her eyes watering. Had she eaten after being resurrected, she would have vomited everything in her stomach several times over by now.

  When she felt in control once more, Stephanie straightened. “You’d be proud of me,” she said to Peace.

  “I already am,” he replied with his gentle eloquence. “I imagine the concessions were extensive.”

  “Nothing we can’t live without,” she replied. “But the era of tyrants and violence is officially over.”

  “As it should be.”

  “I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack.” She rested her hands on her hips. “I have no fucking idea what I’m doing, Andre.”

  He laughed softly. “You’re the right person doing the right thing. Trust me. My job is to know the ideal situation for peace to be created. This is it. You are it.”

  Stephanie’s hands trembled.

  “We need to return,” he said. “The Immortal leader can’t be absent from her duty.”

  She nodded, her eyes on the open doors of the fortress perched at the center of the island. “We can bring them back tomorrow,” she decided. “Probably not a good idea for them to return with dead bodies on the lawn.”

  They left the Sanctuary.

  The war chamber was packed when they appeared in the hallway outside of it.

  Stephanie’s breath caught. All the officers had been returned – along with her four missing brothers and Wynn.

  “I passed,” she whispered.

  The chamber fell silent once more. She glanced around self-consciously before joining the demon and goddess managing the battle.

  The action around the castle had ceased. Lord Osmond’s troops were withdrawing.

  “I am done here,” Trayern hissed to her. “I can’t stand Immortals.”

  “Oh, are you asking permission to leave?” she asked innocently for his ears only. “Like the little bitch you are?”

  He growled but didn’t retort.

  “Thanks,” she said. “I’ll call you next time I need a strategist.” Stephanie glanced at Karma, who was more concerned about Wynn than the demon. “Let him go.”

  Karma waved her hand without looking at either of them.

  The demon sulked away, resuming his position nearby, and Stephanie looked around at the expectant gazes. Her eyes settled on Lord Fieri.

  “Open the armory,” he said to one officer before turning to another. “Full accountability of personnel. Injured, dead-dead, living. Now.” The general began issuing quiet orders.

  Stephanie glanced toward the aide de camp who appeared to have adopted her. He waited beside her, gaze on her alone.

  Her eyes went to Wynn, who was as stoic as ever. She wasn’t fooled by the cold exterior. Her father had given up everything to rescue her and prevent his mate from a lifetime of excruciating pain. Whatever her opinion of him had been, she couldn’t help acknowledging what he’d done. He’d proven himself to be the man she needed him to be.

  “Please join me, Wynn,” she said and stepped out of the chamber.

  He complied, and they stood far enough away for the guards at the door not to hear.

  Tears were in her eyes. “You didn’t fuck us over,” she said, uncertain what else to say.

  Wynn smiled.

  “I knew you wouldn’t,” she added and wiped her cheeks. “I knew you cared.”

  “Did you? Or were you playing the game?”

  “Both!” she retorted. “I beat you, Wynn.”

  “That is the reason you’re in charge of the Council. I knew you wouldn’t fuck us over, either,” he replied.

  Stephanie wanted to hug him, but he had never been the type of father who displayed any sort of warmth or affection. She hugged herself instead, forced to be content with the knowledge he cared enough not to let her rot in Hell for all eternity.

  “I had to agree to put you on trial to stop the insurgency. In exchange, my brothers will be left alone,” she said.

  “You are doing your duty.” He appeared unconcerned.

  She searched his face. She wanted to ask him if he’d hate her for it and simultaneously despised herself for caring about his approval.

  “I’m proud of you,” Wynn said, warmth in his gaze.

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  More tears formed, but she swiped them away quickly.

  “Fair warning,” he continued gravely. “You’ve just shown who you are to Darkyn.”

  “I know. Know your enemy. It’s the first step to defeating them,” she replied. “Darkyn bad, Immortals good.”

  “The game only becomes harder from here.”

  Stephanie had begun to realize this as well. “You’ll be here to advise me,” she said. “Even if it’s from the dungeon.”

  “After three lifetimes, I’m ready to retire and advise.”

  She blinked, not expecting the words from a man as ambitious as Wynn.

  His focus shifted to Karma, who lingered a short distance away, in the doorway. The skin around Wynn’s eyes softened, and his smile was genuine.

  Stephanie grinned, grateful to learn the tyrant had a heart after all.

  “Thank you,” she said. “For everything.”

  “It’s not necessary,” was the quiet reply.

  “You are so frustrating.” She sighed.

  “You’re welcome,” Wynn said, amused.

  “Now for the official part.” Stephanie drew a deep breath. “You’re privileges to leave the grounds are hereby revoked.” She waved to the two guards. “
Please confine Wynn to his chamber.

  “Can I be confined, too?” Karma asked. “I can make sure he doesn’t leave.” She slid her hand into Wynn’s.

  “Sure,” Stephanie said, touched by the expression on Karma’s face. Wynn showed little, but one look at Karma, and the joy of their future together was evident.

  Four Immortal guards escorted the two of them away from the war chamber.

  Her brothers were waiting when Stephanie returned to the chamber. Rhyn was grinning.

  “Demon-sis,” he said.

  She rolled her eyes at him. “Kiki, make me a list of that infrastructure shit you were telling me about,” Stephanie said. “Kris, Tamer, you’re restricted to the grounds as well. We can talk in the morning. Andre, we need to speak tonight. Rhyn, can you ensure the return of all our refugees starting in the morning?”

  No sooner had she spoken the words than she felt the compulsion of a summons.

  “Be back in a minute,” she said. A portal opened beside her.

  Stephanie curiously obeyed the summons and crossed through, trailed by Trayern.

  She ended up by the lake. Along with the dining hall and ballroom, the lake was on her shit list. Lord Osmond’s Immortals had withdrawn from this area as well.

  “Using my lieutenant against me. Clever.”

  Her excitement and triumph fled at Darkyn’s lethal purr.

  Stephanie’s eyes adjusted to the darker surroundings. Trayern moved to stand behind his master, a full head taller than the demon lord.

  “I followed your fucked-up rules,” she replied.

  “Based on your performance, I’ll modify them next encounter.”

  She suppressed a shudder. Would there ever come a day when she’d be on equal footing with the Dark One?

  “Where’s my mate?” she asked.

  “He’ll be returned to you at dawn.”

  Stephanie glanced towards the sky. The moon had sunk beneath the horizon. A thrill went through her.

  “How is my mother?” she questioned.

  “Alive. For now.”

  Stephanie swallowed hard.

  “That can change at any moment,” he reminded her. “I’m withdrawing Trayern from your guardianship. The terms Fate outlined have been met. As a demon, you can enter Hell. I trust you understand the consequences, should you exercise this ability.”

  “Partial demon,” she whispered, disturbed by the uncomfortable silence that ensued.

  “You belong to me, love,” Darkyn returned. “Full or partial.”

  She crossed her arms. “I’ll stay out of Hell.” She was at her limit with the stress of the night.

  “I heard there was an incident here involving you, Wynn and Trayern,” Darkyn continued.

  Stephanie glanced at the demon behind him. Trayern gave no sign he was at all concerned about the incident he’d purposely hidden from his boss. After a moment of internal debate, she shrugged.

  “Nothing interesting,” she replied.

  Darkyn studied her, a small smile on his features. Did he know the truth?

  Was this another test?

  “I’m so sick of all this shit,” she said, unable to suppress her anger. “Are we done?”

  “For now.”

  Everything the demon lord said terrified her.

  He turned towards a portal.

  Trayern glared at her.

  Stephanie flipped him off. He growled deep in his chest in response then trailed his boss.

  When they’d disappeared, she unleashed a string of curses and then drew a deep breath. “I hate those assholes.” She touched her fangs, horrified by Darkyn’s claim she belonged to him.

  Stephanie stood in the chilly pre-dawn air, breathing in the scent of the forest deeply. She was too wired to feel the fatigue lingering after her resurrection. Hunger rumbled in her stomach, and her thoughts turned to her mate. On a cool morning such as this one, she could think of nothing she wanted more than to feel his warmth and arms around her.

  A portal opened beside her. Stephanie waited eagerly, hoping it was Fate.

  Instead, her sister walked through, stopped and stared as the doorway to other places closed.

  “What the fuck?” Sammy whispered.

  Stephanie laughed at her sister’s expression and wrapped her arms around Sammy from behind, hugging her sister against her.

  “No, really. What the fuck?” Sammy continued to face the direction of the portal.

  Stephanie grinned, relieved to see her sister once more.

  The same height as Stephanie, Sammy was athletic rather than slender, with dishwater blond hair and large, dark eyes.

  “Who taught you to use the portals?” Stephanie asked.

  “The guy you came with to the Sanctuary,” Sammy replied. “Said he was your brother? Andre?” Sammy faced her.

  Stephanie’s arms fell away. It took all of her remaining mental strength not to laugh at her sister’s bewildered expression.

  “What’s wrong with your teeth?” Sammy asked.

  “I’ll explain later,” Stephanie promised.

  “You said that before. I’m not moving until you start talking.” Sammy crossed her arms. “Who’s that?”

  Mithra stood to the side, leaning against his cane.

  “He’s a guardian angel,” Stephanie answered.

  “Like Toby?”

  “Yes,” Stephanie replied, recalling the angel assigned to Katie and Rhyn. “Can we go inside and talk?”

  Sammy nodded.

  Together they began walking towards the forest.

  “Did mom tell you she’s a magical goddess?” Stephanie asked.

  “Yeah, she did and then said she was going to spend time in Hell,” Sammy replied.

  “Did she mention you’ll inherit her goddess powers?”

  Sammy’s brow furrowed. “She skipped that part.”

  “We have a lot to talk about. I’ll introduce you to my brothers and father,” Stephanie said and linked her arm through her sister’s. “And my husband, when I figure out where he is.”

  “This is crazy, sis,” Sammy said, a note of hysteria in her voice. “Mom’s a goddess. Andre said you’re in charge of all the Immortals in the world, and I woke up with a tattoo. How could you get married without me? I was supposed to be your maid of honor!”

  “That’s not how it works here. There wasn’t a ceremony or anything. But we can have …” Stephanie started and then froze. “Did you say you have a tattoo?”

  “Yeah. It’s pretty, like yours, but I just woke up with it. No tattoo parlor or anything. Is this a weird goddess-Immortal thing?” Sammy asked.

  Stephanie didn’t know how to answer that question, not when she was trying to figure out who her sister’s mate could possibly be.

  “What’s wrong?” Sammy asked.

  “What does your tattoo say?” Stephanie asked, her tone level.

  “It’s not a real word,” Sammy said dismissively. “Maybe it’s in a different language?”

  Sammy wore shorts and a t-shirt. Stephanie searched her sister’s exposed forearms and legs for any sign of the mating tattoo. “Where is it?” she asked.

  Sammy pulled up her shirt to display the skin of her abdomen. “It’s not where I would’ve chosen to get it. But it’s kind of cute, I guess. It’ll look badass with my bikini. There’s a T under my bra.”

  “That son of a bitch,” Stephanie muttered. Any exhaustion she experienced after her day fizzled in the flames of her surging anger.

  “Who?” Sammy asked, lowering her shirt. “Does it mean something?”

  “We have a lot more to talk about than I thought,” Stephanie replied darkly. “I’m going to tell you everything no one told me when I wound up in this place.”

  “You’re worrying me, Steph.”

  “Ignore me,” Stephanie said with effort. “Mithra’s going to take you back to my room. I have one more matter of business to attend to before we can talk.”

  Sammy eyed her, aware Stephanie was hiding so
mething as only a sister could.

  “You know what it means, don’t you?” Sammy accused.

  “Mithra,” Stephanie called and waved the angel over. “Can you take Sammy to my chamber?”

  The angel sighed and walked slowly toward them. “Very well. I’ll return shortly.”

  Stephanie stepped back from Sammy. “I promise. We’ll talk,” she said to her sister, who hadn’t completely lost her confused expression. “Twenty minutes tops.”

  Sammy studied her before rolling her eyes and walking away. “Let me do it, Mithra,” she said and stopped beside the angel. Sammy focused hard, and a portal opened. She relaxed.

  Stephanie waited for her to disappear before she uttered the foulest curses she knew. She stood in silence, struggling to make sense of this latest revelation and the impact it would have on the family she’d tried to protect. Would Sammy join their mother in Hell?

  Stephanie touched the knotted scar on her neck. Would Sammy spend every day of her remaining life being torn apart by a demon?

  The first time Stephanie had seen demons, she’d been traumatized for months. After spending two months with Trayern, she remained wary of them, and had no intention of crossing one, but also came to understand they weren’t too different than Immortals, who were stronger and tougher than humans. Demons had an added layer of primal ferocity and viewed everyone who wasn’t a demon as food. Being around him, though, helped her expel much of her initial terror. He breathed. He thought. He bled. He wasn’t the monster she’d first thought demons to be.

  The idea that Sammy would spend her lifetime being tortured returned Stephanie to the emotionally charged state she’d been in when she witnessed the murder of her best friend. Except, rather than fear, she experienced fury. Stephanie had seen Trayern fight. Sammy didn’t stand a chance.

  Horrified by the image in her mind of brave, smart Sammy suffering, Stephanie summoned a portal and went to her sister’s apartment in Oregon. She ransacked it for any of the weapons she suspected Sammy hid only to run into a gun safe with a combination she didn’t know. Grabbing two bats instead, Stephanie returned to the lake. She dropped one bat at her feet and hid the second behind her.

  “Trayern,” she breathed the demon’s name.