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

by Louisa Lo

  “Gamma turned out to be the queen. Alpha just got back to Dualsing. And this”—I pointed at Pedro—“is Beta.”

  Alina’s mouth turned into a perfect O; she drew close to me again and whispered, “Is he as evil as the queen?”

  “No. He’s nice,” I assured her. “He goes by the name of Pedro on the vengeance plane.”

  Alina flew to Pedro tentatively, and once she decided that he seemed alright, circled him three times in quick succession. Then her face split into a grin. “Hi, Pedro.”

  “Hello.” Pedro smiled back at the pixie.

  “Now that I know what to expect from vengeance demons”—Alina sniffed the air again—“I’ll say you smell like a Dualsingian with a sharp hint of vengeance.”

  Pixies were known for their keen sense of magical detection, far more advanced than both changelings and vengeance demons, so I was surprised that Alina seemed fooled by Pedro’s automatic masking of his true nature.

  Pedro shook his head. “No. That’s just my cover. I was designed to smell like a vengeance demon. That’s not what I really am, unfortunately.”

  “Are you sure? Because I could swear it!”

  “You guys, I think we have to get a move on.” Gregory coughed. “Megan and her group are probably in place by now.”

  “What is he talking about, Serafina?” Alina asked.

  I briefly outlined my plan to her. “Can you help us?”

  “Of course. Wait.” Alina zoomed down and retrieved her lantern. “Okay, let’s get the raw material for the Reveal.”

  The Reveal was a spell that I was taught to locate a changeling who was sent out into the world. I’d never done it with their counterpart at Dualsing, not to mention at a much higher volume. I had no idea if it would work, but I had to try.

  With the lantern in hand, Alina led us to the back of the Observatory, where a long row of bookshelves was built right into the wall. These shelves held the heavy volumes of Observatory records. I was never permitted to get near the shelves—Mr. Lichen, my mentor, would always pull the volumes I needed for my shift.

  The volumes were filed chronologically, with the ones on the left frayed almost to the point of deteriorating, and the newer ones on the right I worked on before, such as Eglantina-Six, Marigold-Twelve, and Oda-Four.

  We picked out the volumes with the most recent cases recorded; Gregory and Pedro carried the lot of them to the desk in the center of the room.

  I waved at the dome-shaped ceiling overhead. A mass juxtaposition of maps materialized on a backdrop of royal blue, each a bright line of a different color. I did another wave, and most of the maps disappeared from view, leaving only those connected to the volumes on the desk.

  There were a total of twenty-three overlapping maps, meaning there were twenty-three planes out there that currently had children kidnapped by the Dualsingians.

  “I recognize some of these maps,” Gregory breathed. “Some of them are home planes of my clients. The dwarf giants, leprechauns, and trolls.”

  “Didn’t the dwarf giants discover a ruby mother lode a decade ago?” Pedro’s eyes were calculating.

  “A few years back the trolls accidently came across a way to make sparkling fart wines. It’s the choice drink of Freshmen Week initiation since it is gross but harmless.” Gregory seemed to be getting where Pedro was going with this.

  “And according to Popular Vengeance Science,” Pedro added, “the leprechauns have just come up with a way to use their rainbows as a source of alternative clean energy. They’re just waiting for the patent to be approved.”

  “All of these races have trade secrets that are worth stealing.” Gregory smiled. “All the more reason my clients would be pleased to have their real children back.”

  Time to see just how many children in total were kidnapped from the twenty-three planes.

  I pulled the thought of Eldon around me. If the task in front of me was more complex than any I had ever done, then the anchor I was using—and the love that it represented—was also stronger than it had ever been.

  Alina blew out the candle inside her lantern, the maps now the only light in the room. They shone brilliantly above us. I waved my hands over the patterns like a paintbrush, revealing dots that represented the changeling children on each plane.

  There were about a hundred dots.

  I breathed a small sigh of relief. The number was within the normal range that I’d suspected, considering switching was more about strategic placement than bulk dumping. Looked like Deirdre hadn’t fully implemented her plan to ramp up the switching yet.

  Show me your twins on Dualsing, I commanded.

  The overlapping maps disappeared along with the dots. I experienced a moment of panic until another map appeared. A single large map.

  The map of Dualsing.

  And on it, the hundred dots showing the locations of the kidnapped children.

  “Gregory, you have a contract with your clients.” I offered him my hand and he took it. “You have a legal obligation to these kids. That gives you the right to defend them.”

  I turned to Pedro. “Pedro, your people have robbed these kids of a proper childhood. You have a moral obligation to them. That gives you the right to recover them.”

  Pedro took my other hand.

  Through Gregory I could feel his clients’ love for their missing children. I added that love to the guilt and shame Pedro was feeling, for he was a good person and was genuinely horrified at what his people had done to others. I poured all that emotion into the map of Dualsing overhead until the dots grew in brightness.

  “Call to them,” I told Pedro. “All of those kidnapped kids should be psychically linked to you now.”

  A look of wonder crossed over him. “Yes, they can hear me. Some are confused. Some are afraid. My counterpart simply…recognized me.”

  “Hold the connection.” I let go of both Gregory and Pedro’s hands. “Tell them what you can about the situation but keep it brief. They already know about the switching practice so that should make it more believable. I’ll call the Molten Amber and arrange to have them teleported here immediately.”

  When they had all arrived, Pedro and I would open the passage and send them to the vengeance plane, and from there, to their real families. The mass exodus of the kidnapped children from Dualsing should trigger a reverse effect on the changeling children out in the world, as nature balanced itself again.

  That was my theory anyways. Soon to be tested.

  I needed it to work; once it did I could neutralize the Council’s passage, and in doing so, give Megan the signal to rescue Eldon.

  “Wait,” Pedro said softly.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked nervously. “Are the links destabilizing?”

  “No, nothing like that.” Pedro took a deep breath. “When it’s time to leave, go on without me.”

  “What?” Gregory and I shouted simultaneously.

  “What are you talking about?” I grabbed Pedro’s arm. “I promised you this is not going to be a one-way trip, and I won’t let it come to that. It doesn’t have to come to that.”

  “Yes, it does,” Pedro said.

  “I don’t understand,” I said.

  “Serafina, I’m a changeling.” Pedro looked resigned and incredibly sad. “I tried to deny it. I tried to hold onto my old life. But now I know I’m meant to stay here. To balance out my counterpart’s return home. It’s the only way. Otherwise nobody can be where they’re supposed to be. I know it in my bones, and I think deep down you do, too.”

  “Pedro—” I pleaded.

  “And it’s not just that.” Pedro’s gaze became faraway. “Now that I’m linked I could hear the kidnapped kids. And the changelings they’re bound to. I’m one of them—not one of the victims, but the wrongdoers. I’m a Dualsingian. It’s in my blood, and this plane pulls at me in ways I never even knew possible. That’s the real reason why I needed to come here, though I couldn’t admit it to myself at the time. It had nothing to do with bra
very. This plane has been calling to me ever since I found out the truth. I hate everything my race stands for, but I cannot leave. This is my home.”

  Tears rolled down my cheeks. Maybe it was I who was in denial. I knew exactly what he was talking about. The first time I stepped foot on the vengeance plane, I was terrified, but I knew I was home. I knew I was where I belonged, at long last. How could I object to how Pedro felt just because he was a changeling, not a vengeance demon, and there was much less to be proud of?

  I hugged him. “You’ve got a stronger sense of right and wrong in you than most vengeance demons I know. Don’t ever forget that. Don’t ever lose it. And you are brave. So brave.”

  “You’ll go to my parents and explain everything?” Pedro choked.

  “Of course,” I promised.

  “I wish I had been honest enough with myself to see what was coming and say a proper goodbye to them in person myself. To me they’ll never be my host parents. They’re my parents. Simple as that.” Pedro’s eyes filled. “And tell Minnie I’ll miss her. She’s more than a cook to me. She’s family.”

  “We’ll make sure they know that. All of them.” Gregory’s voice was filled with emotion. “I’ll go with Serafina to visit them after this is all over. I hope you adjust well here, cousin. We don’t share a drop of blood, but it doesn’t matter. I’m proud of you.”

  “Me, too.” I swallowed. Time was running out, no matter how much I hated what came next. Holding onto the psychic threads with all those kidnapped children was a huge strain on Pedro, though he refused to let it show.

  “And I’ll help you adjust to life here.” Alina circled Pedro once, settling on his shoulder. “I’ll be your friend.”

  “Thanks.” Pedro smiled at the pixie. It gave me great comfort knowing that two of the people I loved the most in Dualsing would have each other to lean on.

  “I’ll tell the Molten Amber we’re ready now,” I said.

  Before I could do that, the sound of clapping came from the entrance to the Observatory.

  “What a touching moment, right before the act of treason.” The familiar voice of a girl echoed into the room, chilling me to the bones.

  The sound of snapped fingers, then the chamber filled with blinding light. The extreme brightness effectively rendered the map overhead unreadable. Pedro swayed, trying in vain to hold onto his fading connections with the kidnapped children. Gregory shot out a hand to steady him.

  Half the lights blinked out, but the damage was done. I could no longer see anything on the ceiling, my eyes trying in vain to adjust to the sudden change in brightness.

  A flame-haired girl wearing an elegant wine-red silk gown walked toward us. She was about my age. Large almond eyes, full lips, and glowing skin…her face could only be described as glorious. Floating above her hand was a bubble, and in the bubble was something so out of place with the fairy tale surrounding that it took my brain a while to process it for what it was.

  A pair of miniature floodlights. Designed by humans and powered by magic.

  “One of the many offerings from the traders.” The girl grinned and raised the partially switched off floodlights.

  “Deirdre.” The last two times I had seen Eldon’s sister had resulted in attempted murder by her. It wasn’t exactly a fond memory. And now there was so much more than just my life at stake. I glanced in Pedro’s direction, and Deirdre caught it. She dismissed him, seeing nothing. Truth was, she was eyeing Gregory, viewing the mercenary as a much greater threat.

  Upon the entrance of the queen, Alina hid behind Pedro. Pedro started to ask Gregory a question, but was silenced by a look from Gregory. Gregory, his eyes never leaving the queen, stepped in front of Pedro.

  “We meet again, Lady Serafina.” Deirdre chuckled. “We share a bond, dear, and that kind of thing doesn’t truly go away, even if your ability to read my mind is gone, I knew you were here the minute you stepped onto my plane.”

  “I’m not here to help Eldon win back the crown, if that’s what you think. In fact, he doesn’t want it anymore. I’m here to help stop the tremors.”

  “Liar! My brother no longer wants the crown? Can’t you at least make up a lie that’s a little more believable?” Deirdre spit out. For a small moment her glamor slipped and I saw the dark circles under her eyes and her left cheek scratched and slightly bruised. The attempted invasion of her world was more damaging than she let on.

  A glance at my face told Deirdre that I had seen what I wasn’t supposed to see, and it only made her angrier. She started toward me.

  “She’s telling the truth.” Pedro tried to come to my defense, but was held fast by Gregory.

  Deirdre hissed in Pedro’s direction. “Hold your tongue, my subject. We’ll deal with your treachery later.”

  While Gregory tried to calm Pedro down, Deirdre took the mercenary’s momentary distraction to blast him with an attack spell. Seeing what was coming, Pedro tackled Gregory to the ground, but not before the spell hit Pedro and left a deep gash from the tip of his shoulder to his elbow.

  Then the two rolled to the side, putting their combined weight on Pedro’s wound. The teenager cried out in pain.

  The second blast of the spell knocked them both out. In Pedro’s case, it was an unintended mercy.

  But that left just Deirdre and me.

  And Alina.

  The young pixie started screaming Trust’s name, as a talisman or a call for help, I wasn’t sure. Deirdre snarled and Alina flew into hiding, too afraid to make any more noise.

  Deirdre turned her attention back to me.

  “Well, third time’s the charm. Don’t you think?” She smiled and started circling me.

  Deirdre started hurling waves of spells at me. It was difficult to block them because they had the form and appearance of existing vengeance spells, but their underlying cores were infused with the cunningness and slyness typical of changeling magic.

  “Not bad, am I?” Deirdre laughed, moving in a deadly dance of aggression. “Considering growing up they thought I was a Powerless.”

  I was too busy surviving to make a witty response. Evasive maneuvers were all I could manage.

  My familiarity with the Observatory’s geography was my only saving grace. I dove behind century-old antique armchairs and hid behind massive bookshelves. After so many close calls, my natural instinct was to escape. But my training kicked in.

  Upon my return to the vengeance plane, I’d learned quickly from my physical combat tutor that I didn’t have it in me to be an aggressive fighter. So he taught me how to patiently wear down my opponent through the art of careful observation and energy conservation.

  So though it might appear I was losing the fight with Deirdre, I was actually learning and assessing.

  The dark circles told me Deirdre was exhausted. The scratches and bruising on her face told me she’d slipped up, and could again.

  But not right this moment. One of her spells snaked around my ankle, cutting through me like a barbwire. Knowing the importance to keep moving, I yanked at my ankle, tearing my tendon in the process.

  I cried out, intense agony shooting through my body as blood gushed out.

  Then I spotted it.

  A built-in nook at the foot of the wall, obscured by a solid oak table.

  I forced my injured body to move, to roll into the space that was barely large enough for me. Then I sent one illusion to cover the spot and another to create a fake version of myself, continuing to duck Deirdre’s attack.

  I blocked out the pain and forced myself to listen to her burst of spells.

  It had a certain staccato ebb and flow to it. A pattern I could discern because as she said, we were still somewhat connected. The punishing frequency of the bursts themselves, which didn’t give room for a proper power reload, told me that she was fueled by anger, and with anger came blind spots.

  I saw my opportunity after a particularly brutal round of assaults on my fake self. Deirdre was getting closer to hitting her, and took a fe
w seconds to recover.

  The best time to attack is when it looks like they’ve managed to get you too busy to do so, my tutor’s voice whispered in my ears.

  I sent everything I could muster into a spell called Blow A Fuse, which was similar to what our group had done to the succubus queens.

  As Deirdre pulled power from her core, getting ready for another round of assault, I sent mine along with it. It made her magic just a bit off balance, so that the next spell she tried to hit the fake me with, it backfired on her. The energy contracted inward, right back to her core, knocking her to the floor.

  The fake me dissolved.

  Limping over to where Deirdre’s feebly withering body was, her moans filling the Observatory, I thought I would feel fear, regret, or even a hint of remorse.

  No. All I could think about were the minor supernaturals who’d suffered under her reign, and all the more who would suffer if she carried on.

  I always thought I didn’t have it in me to cause harm, but in that moment I really wanted to.

  The sound of a door being ripped from its hinges rang through the room.

  “Stop,” Trust said by the entrance. “The heir of Dualsing must be allowed to carry out her destiny as it was foretold.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The Furies

  WE FOLLOWED THE SAME route that High Judge Advocatus took after he had left our boat. It was safe to assume that as a member of the Council he would be going to the most secret areas of the headquarters and would lead us to where Eldon was being held.

  “Megan.” Fir elbowed me, gesturing to the guards at the end of the upcoming passage, the first people we’d encountered since leaving the boat.

  They were a pair of tall grunt reapers. Dressed in full black suits, the signature outfit of their kind, they looked like they hadn’t smiled in decades. Geez, the Council really took no chances when it came to surrounding this area with their most trusted loyalists. The dignified reapers weren’t the type to play rent-a-cop for just any occasion, which told me that we were at the right place.