The Vengeance Demons Series: Books 0-3 (The Vengeance Demons Series Boxset)

by Louisa Lo

  The woman’s power signature held the note of fragrant tea that was typical of our kind, but it wasn’t the bitter Earl Grey flavor. I breathed in through my mouth and rolled the flavor around my taste buds.

  Longjing tea. That was what my summoner reminded me of. Rich, pan-roasted Chinese green tea.

  She lowered the sword upon seeing us.

  “Where are your elders, younglings?” The woman looked us up and down.

  Now that just grated on my nerves. For one, who the heck used the word “younglings” anymore? Two, while the woman appeared to be in her mid-twenties, she wasn’t that much older than us.

  “I’m fifty-four,” the woman said.

  Wow. I knew that vengeance demons’ aging process slowed in our twenties, allowing us to live over two hundred years while never looking much older than late middle age, but the woman on the lawn still looked pretty darn good for a fifty-four year old. Not a single wrinkle marked the corners of her almond-shaped eyes.

  Wait.

  “You can read minds?” For vengeance demons, being sensitive to mental impressions and emotional disturbance was common, but true mind reading was pretty rare. Grandma could do it with me, but it was because we were kin, and she still had to be relatively close by.

  The woman sighed. “No, I can’t read your mind, but the question about my age was all over your face. Being assumed to be a lot younger is an Asian woman thing, vengeance demon or not. I just want to get that out and over with.”

  Okay, so this lady was like Agent May from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. A little older yet super agile. With that matching abrasive attitude to go with it, too.

  “Er, hi.” I had no idea what to say to her. She couldn’t be here for Eldon, could she? Nobody knew he was here. Best to play dumb. “Who did you say you are again?”

  “I’m Sui-Ling. My family, the Gongs, is loyal to the Condor League.”

  From behind me, Serafina gasped. I took it that wasn’t a good thing, whatever this Condor League was.

  Then I realized why the newcomer’s family name triggered something in my memory. It was in a textbook from a first-year university course called Vengeance: A History. Gong was the Chinese word for justice, very much like Aequitas was the Latin equivalent.

  This lady in front of us came from a very old vengeance family.

  “I’m Megan Aequitas.” I enunciated each word, hoping that she would demand to know why I hadn’t mentioned a middle name in my introduction, giving me an opening to drag this out by launching into my life story. It wasn’t entirely impossible, given her oh-so-proper family lineage. And that would give me a few more moments to figure her out. But she just looked at me, refusing to take the bait.

  Damn.

  “So, what brings you here, Ms. Gong?” I attempted to work up a smile.

  As Sui-Ling started talking, she shifted her weight between her two feet. While at first glance her outfit was the typical, head-to-toe black, with movement I could see gleams of reflective glow from it. It caught the light from the street lamp and turned into something more. The material looked like it was covered with countless slick dark green scales, and it had a phosphorescent quality to it. It was gorgeous and mesmerizing at the same time. The more I stared at it, the more I felt myself relaxing, and I could tell Sui-Ling just about anything, as long as she kept making her outfit glow in that wonderful way.

  Serafina elbowed me. Hard. Ouch, the girl sure had bony elbows.

  “Stop looking at her clothes,” Serafina whispered in my ear. “Her outfit is made of dragonhide. That itself is a weapon, a means to hypnotize her target to obtain information and prevent escape. The woman is in the Condor League, Megan. A secret ancient order. I heard one of my tutors mention them once.”

  A secret ancient order, like the Greys. That woke me up from my trance real fast.

  “My apologies. Ms. Gong.” I shook the cobwebs out of my head and did a little curtsey to Sui-Ling. It might seem a bit overdone, but I had a big fat reason in my parents’ basement to play nice—and dumb. “I missed what you just said, can you repeat the answer to my question?”

  “I’m here for the changeling. If you would be kind enough to fetch him, we’ll be on our way.”

  Oh, so much for niceness and playing dumb.

  I thought about denial, and then promptly decided against it. A person who tracked Eldon all the way here wasn’t going away with a simple “He’s not here.” Might as well go for a bit more information while the going was good. Besides, for all I knew Dad could be on his way as we spoke. “How do you know the changeling is here?”

  Sui-Ling’s mouth curved up. She seemed to find my lack of denial refreshing, and that put her in the mood for sharing. “One of the Condor League’s founding mandates is to stop the abominable practice of switching and to finally bring the changelings to justice. We’ve been working on a detection system for thousands of years. Normally the changelings who get onto our plane have spells planted on them that mask their presence, making it very hard to identify them. But not in the case of the one currently residing in your house.”

  Well, considering Eldon was kicked out of his plane by his own sister, I doubted she cared much about wrapping him up in protective spells.

  Hoping that Sui-Ling’s chatty mood continued, I asked, “So, this Condor League. You’re like their muscle girl with a sword?”

  “I’m sworn to serve my order,” she said simply. “Now, I’ve answered enough of your questions. Move out of the way, younglings. I’ve got orders to take the changeling in.”

  “For questioning and torture,” Serafina added quietly. She’d been silent this whole time, but I knew that just because she appeared quiet and unassuming, it didn’t mean she wouldn’t stand up and defend what she set her mind to. And now she was very determined to prevent Eldon from being captured.

  And we were so screwed. Though it was set to be a two-against-one fight, Sui-Ling was older and no doubt had a lot more battle experience. The very atmosphere was saturated with her enriched magic. Serafina and I were university-aged. We weren’t even close to being in her league.

  I sorely missed Esme at that moment. My half-sister would have been a welcome addition for the upcoming fight. Even if she was by the book and wouldn’t support the act of hiding a royal from a criminal race, she’d still have my back.

  I could feel Serafina gearing up her power beside me, just as I knew she was fully aware of how hopeless this was. I sighed and started gearing up mine as well. In for a penny, in for a pound.

  Sui-Ling smiled, flexed her sword, and waited for us to finish pulling our powers around us. That was how confident she was that she would kick our asses.

  Someone teleported nearby and immediately inserted herself between us and Sui-Ling. It happened so fast it took my brain a few seconds to realize who it was.

  Grandma Aequitas.

  I was so relieved to see Gran I could have kissed her, but she was in her tough-ass mode right now and that might just ruin the image she wanted to project.

  “Stop.” The single word from her sounded more authoritative and intimidating than anything I could’ve come up with.

  Sui-Ling narrowed her eyes at Grandma. She flared her nostrils in a clear attempt to suss out Grandma’s power. Aware now that she was in the presence of someone far more powerful than Serafina and me—I resisted the urge to stick out my tongue and say “Ha-ha”—Sui-Ling gave Grandma a deep, respectful bow. “You must be Lady Aequitas.”

  “I am. And you’re a Condor.” Grandma nodded toward the sword in Sui-Ling’s hand. “I suppose you’re here for the changeling my granddaughter mentioned in her message.”

  Even months after discovering Grandma’s love for me, hearing her referring to me as her granddaughter still sent thrills through my heart. But I really needed to focus on the conversation at hand, as Grandma asked Sui-Ling to stay put while she discussed the matter with the Council. There was a whole lot of blah, blah, blah about jurisdiction, first right to vengeance,
and ensuring that the proper protocol and procedures were followed, which was silly considering there wasn’t actually a precedent for this. Like, ever.

  One thing was certain. Grandma might be able to delay Sui-ling for a while, but in the end it was inevitable that either Sui-Ling or the Council would get their hands on Eldon.

  Damn.

  Chapter Five

  The Politics of It

  SUI-LING SETTLED IN AT the parkette across the street a few houses down the block, waiting to hear what the Council might say about the current dilemma. I would’ve enjoyed the look of her leaning on a rocking horse and stabbing her sword into the dirt around her in frustration if Grandma hadn’t pulled me and Serafina into my parents’ house with brisk efficiency.

  Might as well be indoor. Sui-Ling’s ever-watchful eyes were getting a bit unsettling.

  “Miss Advocatus, can you give me a moment to speak to my granddaughter?” Grandma asked Serafina.

  With a glance at me that spoke volumes, Serafina nodded and went down to the basement, closing the door behind her. That look told me that she had made up her mind to protect Eldon and she would follow through with it, no matter what Grandma had to say to me in private.

  “Before I call the Council,” Grandma said as soon as she weaved a privacy spell around the entire house, “tell me everything.”

  So I did. Except the part where I believed Serafina was in love with Eldon, but Grandma would figure that out on her own anyway. After I finished talking, Grandma paced around the living room then turned to look at me.

  “That Gregory.” Grandma’s lips thinned. “I have to have a chat with him. I would hardly call this whole business as having my stamp of approval. I wouldn’t normally object to a Good Samaritan act, and I agree that Miss Advocatus has to confront her past at some point, but, Megan, do you realize the potential fallout from this situation, at this specific point in time? We can’t afford to offend the Condor League.”

  My glee at the thought of Gregory having a tongue-lashing from Grandma was doused by the agitated tone of her voice.

  “I don’t understand.” I frowned. Hadn’t the Council been trying to smoke out the Greys with the information provided by Dan Pillar? What was one more secret society to take care of? “No matter how sneaky and influential this Condor League is, the Council is still the Council. It’s still the most powerful organization in the Cosmic Balance.”

  “Except the Council isn’t trying to overpower them. They’re trying to earn their trust and support.”

  “What?”

  “Look at it this way, Megan.” Grandma sighed. “Dan Pillar told us there are six remaining sects of the Greys out there. The Council has its hands full trying to find them. What is the best way to investigate a secret society? Get another secret society to help. They have networks and resources that intersect with one another. We need the Condor League.”

  This wasn’t going the way I expected. The little girl in me who previously hadn’t been aware of her grandma’s love had a fantasy that she would just ride in and make everything all right. But the reality was, even a loving grandparent could only work within certain parameters, and mine wasn’t without her own enemies.

  “But you do agree that we should help Eldon, right?” I asked anxiously. That, at the very least, I wanted to be absolutely certain of, whether or not Gran was actually able to help.

  “Of course. He doesn’t deserve to be punished for the misdeeds of an entire race of people through all of history. But his presence on our plane is the last thing we need during this delicate time. The Council can’t afford to alienate the Condors. Other groups will use it as an excuse not to co-operate with us.”

  “And adding to that, there might be fracture within the Council itself.” Serafina’s voice rang from the doorway to the basement. Her face was pale. “I’m sorry to be listening in, but I have to know. My family is going to put pressure on the Council, aren’t they?”

  “Once they’re aware of Prince Eldon, yes.” Grandma nodded. “The house of Advocatus will demand justice for your cousin. We cannot have a divided Council, so my power to sway them would be limited.”

  “Then what are we going to do?” I asked, trying not to let the frustration I felt slide into my voice.

  “It’s a question of what you’re willing to do, dear. The basement is no longer safe. If Sui-Ling could find you, others will surely follow. You can stand by and let the Council, or whoever else, take Prince Eldon, or you can do something about it. I cannot advise you either way. My position on the Council demands me to be neutral in this matter.”

  But she wasn’t being neutral. Otherwise she would’ve called the Council already. And she was trying to advise me, without advising me.

  She was telling me that I had a choice. Escape with Eldon and Serafina while I still could, or allow him to be a political pawn in a game that every fiber in my being was telling me he would be sacrificed.

  Would I dare to do that?

  The Council hadn’t officially declared Eldon a fugitive of the vengeance laws yet—but that was only because Grandma hadn’t made them aware of his existence for them to do so. Technically it wouldn’t be a crime to run off with him right now, but that was just splitting hairs. I knew it. And they would know it, too.

  It would be the closest I’d ever come to openly defying them. And damn, I’d just managed to fade from their radar after getting myself out of suspension at Demon U. I could even argue that I’d earned a few brownie points by delivering them Dan Pillar. All that goodwill would evaporate if I stole a prize this big from right under their noses.

  “Thanks for your, er, neutrality.” I gave Grandma a grave smile. “I’ll think everything over.”

  “You do that. In the meanwhile, I suggest you refrain from contacting your other trickster siblings, and I’ll hire a technician from the Gremlin Group Inc. to erase the voicemail you sent to your parents. The less people involved, the better. Your dad’s off-plane assignment isn’t due to wrap up for another half a week anyway.” Grandma approached Serafina. “Do you think I can speak to His Royal Highness for a moment?”

  “He’s awake,” Serafina confirmed.

  The fact that Grandma had addressed Eldon by his title was surprising. She glanced at me. “A prince of thieves is still a prince, dear, and should be shown the respect that he’s due.”

  Eldon struggled to stand up as Grandma led the way down to the basement. As he made a few steps toward us and I saw him moving on his own for the first time, I could see what Serafina meant about his impaired leg. His right leg was definitely weaker than his left one, causing a heavy reliance on the latter in a noticeable limp.

  Eldon bowed to Grandma as deeply as he was able. It would seem that he, too, felt the need to greet her with the utmost respect. I rather liked him for it. “M’lady.”

  What I didn’t like, and most certainly didn’t expect, was for Grandma to wave her hand and fling Eldon against the basement wall, keeping him awkwardly pressed into the concrete halfway between the ceiling and the ground. She conjured three darts out of thin air and threw them, which all landed on Eldon’s leg—the impaired one. The darts grew bright, burrowing themselves into his body.

  “What the—” I stopped talking in order to grab Serafina by her middle as she tried to push past me to come to Eldon’s rescue. Whatever Grandma was up to, I didn’t want Serafina to get hurt by being in the middle of it.

  “You called her for help.” Serafina’s tone was accusing. “And this is how she’s helping?”

  “Just…wait and see, okay?” I’d doubted Grandma once too often in the past, this time I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, no matter how bad this looked. She told me she agreed we should help Eldon, and I wanted to take her word for it.

  “M’lady,” Grandma repeated his earlier words as she smiled mildly at Eldon. “How do you know to call me that?”

  Eldon’s voice didn’t waver, despite the fear he must be experiencing over being held hig
h against the wall and weird wiggly things making a home inside his body. I could’ve told him not to be afraid, except I had no idea what the hell was going on. “From the power that I sense from you, I would say that you’re very much deserving of that title.”

  “I’m the head of the Aequitas clan, a charter member of the Vengeance Council. Tell me, Prince Eldon”—Grandma watched Eldon with unblinking eyes—“is Trust the Wise still advisor for the royal court of Dualsing?”

  Eldon’s face registered his shock. “You know the true name of the changeling plane? And you know Trust?”

  “We were friends. A long time ago.”

  Why would Grandma have contact with anyone from the changeling world? I thought back on my surprise upon discovering that Grandma knew Gregory the mercenary, and couldn’t help but wonder just how connected Grandma was to the shadier characters throughout the planes.

  “More than you think.” Grandma turned toward me, reading the questions from my mind. “Being in my position, I interact with creatures from all walks of life. In every facet of the Cosmic Balance. No matter what the official party line du jur the Council happens to maintain. Maybe one day it will be you doing the same.”

  Did Grandma just say that in the future I might become the matriarch of the family? Yeah, over the disapproving dead bodies of 97 percent of all the other family members, with the other 3 percent too busy to protest because they were neck deep with their vengeance assignments.

  “M’lady, to answer your question.” Eldon cleared his throat. “Trust is no longer the royal advisor of the court, though he has secretly been my private counsel for as long as I can remember.”

  “Where is he now?” Grandma asked.

  “I don’t know,” Eldon replied softly, the anguish clear in his voice. “Upon my sister Deirdre’s return, she killed our mother so she could start her reign right away. Then she took away the brownies’ pay, doubled the pixies’ workload, and imprisoned Trust. She also ramped up efforts to send out triple the number of changelings to the world by the end of this year.”