"How might I please you?" Rathik knelt at her feet.
"Was an image ever provided of the Vhanaraszh? One that we might use to hunt her or place a bounty on her head?" Erithia stroked Rathik's hair distractedly.
"I was not given images, my love. I would have brought them to you if I had them."
"I know. Do not trouble yourself," Erithia murmured. "I am still quite upset that my pet was killed in the Queen's dungeons. Rathik, you are familiar with the Queen's palace. Who might we approach that is trusted by her? Who can I lure into my service?"
"My love, many of them are dangerous," Rathik whined, lowering his head.
"Come, Rathik, surely you know of one who might be easily ensnared."
"Perhaps, one," Rathik lifted his eyes to Erithia.
"Who might that be, my lover?"
"The cook, perhaps? The Queen sometimes treats him as a daughter might treat a father, I'm told. The comesuli gossip constantly, and I heard that tale more than once."
"Very well. Have someone watch for the cook. Have him followed. Find out for me how I might meet him. Only a few moments and he will be caught, have no fear."
"You are most devious and beautiful, my love," Rathik purred.
"Thank you."
* * *
Can any hear me? I am trapped.
That voice woke me from a sound sleep, and I'm sorry to say I mumbled "What?" before I was entirely conscious.
Please respond again, the voice begged. By that time, I was wide-awake. Somebody really was asking for help. I'd never heard the voice before, but it worried me. So many times, I'd begged for similar help in the past and nobody ever came to my rescue.
What do you need? I was off the bed quickly and racing toward my closet.
I need power to break away from a vortex. I am trapped, he repeated.
I don't know how to send power, I returned, flinging clothes on. It was a useless gesture. I did it anyway.
You must have a great deal of power to hear my plea, he replied.
But how do I know, I began.
Belen. My name is Belen, he sent, desperation in his words. Please help me!
Belen. I'd seen that name before, in several readings. Drake and Drew's. Even Gavin's at times.
Tell me what to do, I stood before Lissa's dressing table and stared at my image in the mirror. I'd stopped wearing her face whenever I went to bed at night. My face was pale and I was trembling. Belen—the Nameless One who oversaw the Saa Thalarr. Adam, Merrill and Kiarra relied heavily on him.
Concentrate, as if you were about to do something that required much of your strength. Project it toward my voice, he said.
I'll try, I sent, working through my fear in an attempt to do as he asked. Desperately, I searched through all the things I'd done so far, gauging them for the amount of power required. So far, only Changing What Was required a great deal of power, and even so, it hadn't been completely debilitating. Considering that I might have to combine all the power I'd expended to Change What Was, I drew several deep breaths, pulled the necessary energy together and blasted it toward the voice.
I hadn't reckoned on how tired I was, or that I'd been wakened from a sound sleep to do this. Just before I fainted, I heard the weakest thank you imaginable.
* * *
"There is no longer any need to attack Harifa Edus." He glowed a pulsing violet next to those he'd gathered about him. "I have evidence of another Mighty. Who knew that fool Belen would become useful to me? And all we had to do was trap him in a power vortex, leaving only the smallest window for mindspeech."
"But Belen is free, now," a minion ventured to speak.
"You think he matters to me?" A laugh followed that remark. "I can search for the same power signature that freed him. If it is expended again, might we not follow it to the source? This has been more helpful than I hoped. We are on our way to eliminating one of the Three."
* * *
Lissa's Journal
Kiarra was the first off her chair when Belen appeared. I'd never seen him when he wasn't glowing with power. This time, he was a dim light and I could see it had taken all his strength to come to Kiarra.
"What happened?" Kiarra began feeding him energy, but she didn't have enough to offer. I added mine to the mix, and at least twenty Larentii appeared inside Kiarra's kitchen, offering the same.
"I was trapped," Belen managed to get out. "We're in danger. All of us. But none more so than the Three."
* * *
"What can we do about this?" Kiarra glanced at me across the island. Merrill, Adam, Pheligar, Reemagar and Connegar sat with us. All three Larentii were drained, that was easy enough to see. They'd given everything they had to Belen, who'd eventually been fed enough power to call on someone much higher up. He'd disappeared in a cloud of light only an hour before, leaving the rest of us behind, drained and puzzled.
"This is more than frightening," I said. "This was a trap, that's easy enough to see, and we may have played into the enemy's hands. Were they just waiting for somebody to step forward, so they could determine who or where one of the Mighty could be?"
"I still think we should be wary of those sandstorms," Merrill sighed. "If the enemy can't easily flush out the one who helped Belen, and it's easy enough to see that it would take one of the Three for this, then these storms may begin again because our opposition hopes to draw them out a second time."
"Does this mean Harifa Edus is safe for the moment?" Adam asked. "I find myself hoping that Ashe leaves his shields in place."
"But that means nobody else gets on or off. What if they're watching for that, too?"
"This is so confusing," Kiarra dropped her head into her arms. Pheligar reached out and rubbed her back gently.
"The good news is that the Vhanaraszh may help," Connegar sighed.
"Vhanaraszh?" I lifted my head.
"You will learn soon enough, my love," he replied. "Quite soon, in fact."
"At least our fact-finding mission is over. We know what's killing off the Dark races, now," Adam observed.
"But Belen says not to return to Le-Ath Veronis until you are fully recovered, and all your strength restored," Kiarra reminded me. He did say that to me, just before he was enveloped in power and taken away.
"That will take a week or more," Reemagar pointed out.
"Yeah," I muttered. "I know."
* * *
Kay's Journal
Depending on how you might see it, today was either a good day or a bad day. Good for me, because Kalia decided to calm down. Bad for me, because she lurked just below the surface, waiting to take over again if her terror was provoked.
Kevis Halivar had returned and he reassured me—several times, in fact—that I was in a safe place and nobody would hurt me. Kalia had eventually settled down and allowed me to raise my head (and my consciousness) to acknowledge his words.
I'd said thank you in a voice that croaked from disuse. Kevis hid his surprise quickly—he hadn't expected any response. I couldn't recall when I'd last been lucid, so that in itself was a minor miracle. At least from his perspective.
"What would you like to be doing right now, if you could?" Kevis didn't try to ask the usual questions—he was trying a different tack today. It was working.
"I'd be eating gishi fruit," I replied.
"I'll find some for you," he said. Bill arrived in minutes, bearing a rather large bowl of gishi fruit ice cream. I wanted to moan in pleasure as I tasted it. I also ate the entire bowl, as unlikely as that might seem. Kevis smiled the whole time.
Afterward, when I was so full I couldn't move, Kevis began his real session. "Can you tell me about Q'Ind Ribalo?" he asked innocently enough. Kalia roared to the surface with a shriek.
* * *
"My love, I hear that many are gathering to celebrate a birth anniversary for one of the kitchen employees," Rathik took his favorite position, kneeling before Erithia.
"Do you suppose the cook will be there?"
"It is my be
lief that he will—yes."
"My love, you will be greatly rewarded if this is true. Where will this celebration take place?"
"In the Hurricane Casino tomorrow evening at seven bells," Rathik fawned over Erithia's knee.
"Make arrangements for me to be there. Use my alias' credit chip and secure a room."
"I will. May I come with you?"
"My darling, you know how dangerous that might be. You must stay here so I can be assured of your safety."
"I understand, my love," Rathik purred.
"Has anything further been planned for Ildevar Wyyld's death? Or for Teeg San Gerxon's? How is Kall doing with his plans?"
"Oh, those are coming along very well," Rathik rose and pulled a comp-vid from his jacket pocket. "The death of San Gerxon's assistant was only a decoy, my love. The obsession you placed on an obscure servant is still in place, and he is merely waiting for Kall's instructions to attack."
"That's strange—why have we not heard of the assistant's death? Is San Gerxon hiding this from the media?"
"I know not. I heard from Kall, who heard from his servant that the assistant's death was assured and the body was checked. He was most certainly dead from the Ranos pistol blast. Kall is still attempting to get someone close enough to Ildevar Wyyld, but so far he has not finalized those plans."
"Tell him to continue his efforts. If we are successful, perhaps we might celebrate three deaths quite close together."
"I hope you might dance with me should that happen," Rathik smiled.
"I will certainly dance with you should that be accomplished."
* * *
Breanne's Journal
How grateful was I that I hadn't been invited to the birthday party for one of Cheedas' comesula employees? Heathe and Grant were going—I read it briefly when I'd lowered my shield earlier in the day. I learned in my brief reading of Lissa's two assistants that the party coincided with the comesula's drinking day, which meant his patron vampire would also attend, and if my guess was correct, provide a little pleasure with the taking of blood.
I was more than happy that I wouldn't see that. I realize that most people would find it strange that I hadn't had sex (or pleasure of any kind) in all my fifty-nine years. If they'd seen me before I'd been turned vampire, they'd have known why that was. Disfigured would have been a compliment for me. I'd been so much worse off than that.
Broken bones that hadn't healed properly, too many scars to count, a face damaged beyond recognition—the injuries from my past saw to it that nobody would look at me with anything other than pity or revulsion. Now that I was as normal as I might have ever been, I had Gavin and a palace full of watchers who kept me away from any intimate contact. For a moment, I thought of Trevor, Stellan, Trajan and Kooper before squaring my shoulders and shoving those thoughts away.
With the brief absence of Council meetings, at least, the digital pile of comesuli requests was dwindling to a reasonable number. Without interruptions, I might be caught up in less than a week. My search for Erithia Cordan was still going on, but so far, there'd been nothing. I'd gone back to the conference table on several occasions, too, but nobody had visited it again since I'd sniffed out Rathik's presence. Thankfully, Kalenegar hadn't reappeared, either, and I was more than grateful for that. The evening might have been pleasant if Gavin hadn't poked his head in the door, interrupting my thoughts.
"You will come with me," he demanded, compulsion thick in his voice. I wanted to argue or mist away. I didn't. Obediently, I rose to follow him.
* * *
"Boss, what are you planning to do with him?" Astralan stared at the obsessed employee. "He's done nothing except sit on the cot inside his cell here at CSD Headquarters and eat the meals brought to him when ordered to do so."
"I don't know," Teeg sighed. "All we have is that stupid woman's assurance that there's something there. Dee doesn't remember a thing past this one setting a lunch tray on his desk."
"This is really weird," Astralan shook his head.
"Dad's on his way, and he's bringing the bitch with him. Tony and Rigo are coming too, and they're escorting Q'And Ribalo."
"Look, she's saved your ass. I don't think calling her a bitch is going to solve anything, and it certainly doesn't do your reputation any good." Astralan scowled at Teeg. "You're calling a known criminal by his given name and the woman who's saved you unkind names. Boss, I think your priorities are screwed up."
"Get Stellan and prepare a cell for Mr. Ribalo. Ildevar has given permission to try him on Campiaa. The other topic isn't up for discussion."
* * *
Ashe knew before anyone, just as he had the time before. His mate was in trouble and he followed it. Kalia had crept into the kitchen after everyone had gone to bed, and taking the sharpest knife she could find, had sliced into her wrists. Ashe shouted for every healer he could name while using a great deal of power to stop the bleeding.
* * *
Breanne's Journal
Tony and Rigo met us in the dungeon. That's where I met Q'And Ribalo for the first time. Not only did I read him, I read his brother's activities—what Q'And knew of them, anyway.
"You filth," I spat at him. He jerked back from me when Rigo led him out of the cell.
"Watch your mouth," Gavin's claws dug into my shoulder. I was folded to Campiaa immediately.
* * *
"A word, Master Cheedas?" A kitchen employee handed Cheedas a glass of wine as he made his request.
"What do you need?" Cheedas turned dark eyes on the humanoid male who'd ventured outside the bustling kitchen of the Hurricane Casino.
"The cooks are having difficulty with the cake," the employee explained. "They'd like your advice."
"I will be happy to help," Cheedas agreed. "Lead the way."
* * *
"Do you think I don't have spies?" Hordace hissed at Rathik's image. "I know the attempt failed and now my brother has been shipped to Campiaa. Be assured I will discuss this with Erithia when she returns. I will also attempt to achieve what she has so far failed to do."
"What is that?" Rathik bristled at Cayetes' insult against Erithia.
"I'll kill that fool Teeg San Gerxon. Don't think for a moment that I don't have people on Campiaa."
"You could bring all of us to San Gerxon's attention if you fail," Rathik hissed. He wished he were close enough to Cayetes—compulsion would certainly be placed and the fool would become compliant.
"Do you think for a moment I'd allow that to happen, you dolt?" Hordace growled. "How do you think I've managed to elude even their best in the past? Erithia isn't the only one with well-placed and powerful allies."
"You'll kill all of us," Rathik growled back, his eyes turning red and tips of fangs showing. "Wait for Erithia. She has her own on Campiaa. This difficulty will be resolved. Hold your minions back before everything is destroyed."
"Fuck you," Hordace snapped and terminated the conversation.
* * *
"Come," Erithia crooked her finger at Cheedas, whose eyes went blank immediately. "You will do everything I ask from now on, won't you?"
Cheedas, once comesula and more than six hundred years old, dropped to his knees before Erithia to swear undying devotion.
"Good," Erithia smiled over Cheedas' bowed head. "You'll kill the Queen of Le-Ath Veronis for me. I hear stakes work well for that task. You are dismissed." Cheedas rose and walked unsteadily away. Erithia watched until he'd gone through the kitchen door to rejoin the party outside.
Chapter 15
Breanne's Journal
"I sent Dee to Ry's house up the mountain," Teeg informed his father. "He didn't like it, but I worry about his disappearance. He doesn't remember a thing about where he was during that time," Teeg added.
I'd stood out of the way while Teeg greeted his father. Astralan, Stellan, Tony and Rigo watched Q'And Ribalo while father and son talked. I wondered, too, why they were discussing Dee's disappearance in front of a known (and confessed) criminal.
Wanting to send mindspeech to both of them to shut the hell up, I turned my head instead and gazed through a large window behind the desk in Teeg's study. Too many times I'd seen the inside of that study, and I'd usually been too exhausted to appreciate the furnishings or the view outside the window.
Neither Stellan nor his brothers acted as if they knew me and that was certainly Teeg's doing. Someday, he and I might have words over that. You don't do that to your friends or family, and the Starr brothers were both those things to him.
My brief reading of Teeg when I arrived ensured that I knew what he'd called me only a short while earlier, and that rankled. I also wondered what he'd do if I Changed What Was and made him twelve again. Maybe it would do him some good to grow up a second time—the right way.
"Let's get our criminal to the holding cells at CSD Headquarters," Teeg sighed. He hadn't said anything to me, which was fine. At least he hadn't called me bitch to my face.
* * *
Lissa's Journal
"You're telling me this? This is awful." Drake and Drew had taken a chance and come to visit me at Adam's ancestral home. They'd been informed by their father that I was there, and I didn't have a problem with that. Belen said our project was concluded—we'd apparently lost this round.
"I don't know what's going on with him, but he's worse than I've ever seen, and I've seen him plenty grumpy before. This goes beyond that." Drew pulled me against him while Drake stroked hair away from my forehead. "Baby, you look tired," he added.
"I am tired."
"But you can't tell us why," Drake said.
"No, honey. I can't. Not now, anyway. Maybe later. Don't tell the others, either. I'll tell them myself when I get home."
"We won't," the twins said together. "Travis and Trent are waiting to go to Falchan," Drake grinned. "I can't wait to hear they've been taken down a notch or two."
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