Demon's Dream (High Demon Series #6)

by Connie Suttle

  "This was the night of the blackout," Hild Marolla explained for the audience's benefit. "Fortunately, we have obtained vid images of part of what happened in that throne room of Cloudsong's deserted castle. I'll show the images, and if you'll explain what we're seeing?" Hild asked. The girls nodded. A vid-screen lit up on an adjacent wall and I gasped. How had they gotten these images? How? I didn't know they existed. Teeg gripped my other hand, now. I was going to have to watch this, as painful as it might be.

  The auction was about to start but prior to that, Dantel Schuul had made a big speech before flipping the switch to the brains, effectively taking over everything in both Alliances. And that's when I made my move. My decision had been made and I was committed.

  The camera angle switched to one overhead, as I turned to my smaller Thifilatha, escaped my cage and began soaking up the sun's rays through a hole in the palace roof. You could see the transformation clearly as I made it. As soon as I'd gathered enough energy, making my scales glow brightly, I aimed my hands at the brains, exploding them one by one. Chaos then broke out inside the castle's great hall, and I was fired upon. I refused to run or remove myself from the doorway—I'd been protecting the girls inside.

  Dantel and Nedrizif were now commanding an army of Greater Demons, who moved to attack. I was only thing that stood between sixty-seven helpless women and slavery or death. That's when I changed to my larger Thifilatha. I could imagine the gasps around the Alliances as they watched a small, white-haired woman first become a six-foot Thifilatha, and then when things became desperate, become a fifteen-foot Thifilatha, golden and glowing.

  I was pulling energy from Cloudsong's daystar as quickly as I could at that point, while Greater Demons fired all kinds of weapons at me. The more solar energy I pulled inside, the less effect any of them had. And then Dantel Schuul and Nedrizif were screaming at them to attack. All the Greater Demons turned into those foul creatures and rushed at me. They winked out of existence when they hit my scales.

  At that moment, I sent energy toward the last of the brains, blowing it to bits. Everyone was knocked to the ground by the explosion. I went to my knees, it was so powerful. Dantel Schuul screamed at the slaves there, ordering them to attack after the last of his Greater Demons had died. The images died too, when everything in the Alliances went into massive blackouts.

  "The ASD arrived shortly after that, but if it hadn't been for that woman, we'd have been killed or sold. I don't think we would have lived long," the first girl said as the others sobbed. "So many died that night. If that poor woman needs therapy now, I can certainly understand. We've been in treatment since the ASD brought us home."

  "I thank you all for your willingness to talk with me tonight," Hild Marolla said. "And now, we go to another recorded interview." The images changed. I was shocked. Jayd walked through the Kifirini gishi fruit groves with Hild Marolla. "You're telling me that you're High Demon." Hild Marolla said.

  "Yes. I am Jaydevik Rath, King of the High Demon world of Kifirin," he replied, smiling slightly.

  "And you know Reah Desh Nilvas Silver."

  "Yes. Females among our kind are extremely rare. Rarer, even, than female vampires. Their numbers are certainly greater at the moment. Reah has been instrumental in bringing Kifirin back from the brink of bankruptcy the past twenty-five turns. These groves she planted for the benefit of the Crown. As you can see, these are gishi fruit trees."

  "But I heard Reah was an operative for the ASD," Hild Marolla remarked.

  "She was, before her first set of twins were born. Now, three sets of twins later, all girls I might add, she works special projects for the ASD. All of those things she said to the doctor are quite true. Reah doesn't lie. I find that nurse's actions reprehensible, and I would be glad to extradite her to Kifirin, where she will be charged with crimes against a citizen," Jayd said. "Reah will never be able to work undercover for the ASD again, since that program revealed her identity. I find that unusual in the extreme. Have they explained why that happened? I'd prefer to bring charges against that network as well, if I could."

  The image changed again, to Norian's office at Lissa's palace. Norian sat behind his desk, dressed in his ASD uniform.

  "Director, thank you for taking the time to speak with me," Hild Marolla said.

  "I feel it is the least I can do. Reah deserves much better than she's received, don't you think? Dantel Schuul, his daughter and the others who were determined to enslave both Alliances, brought down by my best operative, who is then ridiculed in exchange because she requires a bit of therapy? What would you do, sir, if you were violated and made ill, and then were forced to fight off hundreds in order to keep seventy women and both Alliances safe? If she hadn't acted as she did, where do you think we'd be right now?"

  "Is she truly married to Teeg San Gerxon? I ask you that because you are in a position to know."

  "Of course Reah is Teeg's wife. Has been for more than twenty-five turns. Both Alliances recognize multiple mates. Reah's daughters are all High Demon, but as you heard in the vids released by that awful program, she is pregnant again. This child belongs to Teeg San Gerxon, and he is justifiably angry that his wife was treated in this manner. As are we. As King Jayd aptly stated, Reah's cover is now gone. Our best operative will no longer be able to work undercover for us. Both Alliances will suffer because of this, but you haven't seen everything yet, Mr. Marolla. I have vid images here that will greatly interest you. Reah, in that state you witnessed as she guarded women and protected the Alliances, can also do wondrous things. To our knowledge, she is the only creature besides the Larentii who can bring dying worlds back to life. This one I especially want to show to you. Watch." Norian flipped on the vid-screen behind his desk. I whimpered as I recognized where I'd been in that vid. Xordthe.

  "Here are the records, and these are available through the Science Institute on Xordthe, of the dying core twenty-six turns ago. The ASD knew that Zellar had tapped into it, but that information wasn't shared since Xordthe wasn't a member of the Campiaan Alliance at the time. This predates the Campiaan Alliance by several moon-turns, actually. Now, watch this. You see Teeg San Gerxon there—he is tracking one of Zellar's trainees. Zellar taught several how to tap cores of planets in order to enhance their power. The other men are two of San Gerxon's bodyguards. And this," the camera moved, capturing me, sitting on the ground and glowing in full Thifilatha, "is Reah, who is repairing the core with her own power. I have readings, before and after, for every world where Reah has repaired the core. These include Tulgalan, Karathia, Bardelus, Mazareal, Campiaa, Cloudsong, Thiskil, Xordthe, Shillverr and Roorthi. All the information is provided on this comp-vid and is available on each of those worlds except Cloudsong and Thiskil, because Reah repaired those after the populations had ceased to exist. Those worlds lie as a warning to the others of what might have happened to them if Reah hadn't intervened. And just so everyone knows, Reah did those repairs on her own time. She was never compensated for any of it."

  "Is it possible to speak with her?" Hild Marolla sounded breathless as he flipped through record after record on the comp-vid Norian had given him.

  "I don't think she is willing at this point. We sold her out, did we not? I know where she is, but her mates are protecting her, as you might imagine. We thought she was safe when we placed her in Sea Winds. That turned out badly, as you well know. The Director has resigned, leaving the clinic under an interim Director."

  "What will happen to Reah now?" Hild Marolla asked.

  "I don't know," Norian sighed, looking away for a moment. "She has suffered trauma in this last assignment, and there are those who are attempting to help her overcome it. I do not know what the final outcome will be."

  "Is she dangerous? To anyone?"

  "If you are a danger to others, or to the Alliance, perhaps. You see that Ceerah Kade is still alive, although Reah could have come after her at any time. Reah, as ASD, could use any resource to locate anyone. Ceerah should be relieved that Reah
has such high principles and a respect for life."

  "So, all those things she said were true," Hild Marolla said.

  "Yes. Every one of them," Norian agreed.

  "She really isn't insane."

  "No. Troubled over the trauma and illness from her last assignment, but certainly not insane. If she were here before you now, you would see that she isn't dangerous or, as the other network put it, crazy."

  The image shifted back to the present, with Hild Marolla sitting behind his desk. "Shall we believe one with multiple identities who has sold drugs time and again, or one whose story is backed by the founding member of the Reth Alliance, firsthand eyewitnesses and the Director of the ASD? Shall we ask that a devoted husband step down from his position with the Campiaan Alliance, when his wife has helped to form that Alliance and keep it safe? Or shall we listen to a handful of bureaucrats who only seek to protect or further their political careers? I know what my decision is. What will yours be? Good night and sleep well," Hild Marolla said.

  "I won't ever be able to walk anywhere again, without being recognized," I sighed. Everyone had likely seen my image. If not tonight, they'd see it tomorrow or the day after. And what would happen to Teeg? I shook my head and rose from my seat.

  "Reah, do you need something?" Kevis was suddenly there, reaching out a hand.

  "I feel dizzy," I said.

  "Baby, don't pass out on me," Teeg was right there with Kevis. I wobbled; Teeg lifted me in his arms. "Let's go to the kitchen and get something to drink," he said softly. I fainted on the way.

  Chapter 10

  Vampires lean over their mates when they sleep. That act provides protection for those they love. It is instinctual to cover their mate as much as possible, because vampires are vulnerable during the day. Gavril had explained it to me once, long ago. Aurelius did it. Teeg also. I knew that one of my vampires was in the bed with me when I woke. His body was huddled over mine, careful not to place any weight on it.

  "Awake?" Teeg's voice.

  "Mmm," I mumbled. Queasiness made its presence known. Teeg had me out of the bed and in the adjoining bathroom in a blink. He must have sent mindspeech; at least half a dozen people appeared, including Kevis, Lok, Aurelius and Edward.

  "Breathe slowly, Reah," Kevis had my head as low as it would go. My face was washed when I stopped heaving and I was hauled straight to the kitchen and given something to drink.

  "Better?" Aurelius held me on his lap, brushing hair away from my face as I drank the juice I'd been given. A bowl of hot cereal was placed in front of me next, with fruit and brown sugar mixed in.

  "Here we go," Auri held my hand steady when it shook trying to get the spoon to my mouth.

  "I'll get my people started on ice cream and be right back," Edward said. There wasn't any way I could do it, feeling as badly as I did. Teeg got a communication on his comp-vid, so he stepped out of the kitchen to take the call. Lendill showed up and accepted a cup of coffee while he watched me eat. All of them were watching me eat.

  Plates of food appeared for them shortly after, and Edward came back, sitting down and eating with the rest. Edward's four supervisors also came in for a meeting. Keedan grinned at me while he had breakfast. Edward and his supervisors talked about spraying the groves after the harvest.

  "Insects are afraid of High Demons in Thifilatha or Thifilathi, that's how I kept Kifirin's groves naturally insect-free," I said after eating as much of my breakfast as I could. Aurelius was rubbing my belly absently while he listened to the others.

  "Really?" Keedan gave me a smile.

  "Are you teasing me or questioning my methods?" I asked.

  "Both," he said. "Little girl, I'm living for the day when you show me what I saw last night on the vids."

  "That didn't scare you?" I asked, my skepticism showing.

  "Just turned out badly for the evil ones," he grinned. "I saw you standing in the doorway, keeping the rabble away from those girls. Have you seen the morning news?" He pushed a comp-vid toward me.

  "I was busy heaving in the bathroom," I said. Aurelius, using a little power, pulled the comp-vid toward me. "He did that," I pointed to Auri. I still sat on his lap, after all. I tapped the comp-vid and found all sorts of responses to the news program the evening before. The best one, however, was from Xordthe. People were crowding outside Cynthin Gerg's Presidential palace, with vid signs. Some were downright nasty, calling her a bitch and other unkind names, but my favorite was the large sign held up by a group of people that said Reah Nilvas saved the planet. What have you done for Xordthe, Cynthin?

  I laughed as the aud proclaimed that those people were scientists who'd seen the weakening core firsthand. They were puzzled when it magically healed itself. Except that it hadn't healed itself. I'd done it. Local media were interviewing some of those scientists, who did indeed have official numbers in hand and gladly showed anyone who wanted to see.

  "Reah, I have a group of Council members assembled outside my palace, demanding to see you," Teeg walked back in with a sigh.

  "What for?" I asked. Aurelius wrapped his arms around me when I shivered.

  "They want to know that you're all right."

  An hour later, I was showered, dressed and transported to Teeg's palace on Campiaa. Teeg had shifted the Council members to one of the smaller ballrooms inside the San Gerxon Casino. Astralan, leaning down to give me a kiss, transported us over. Stellan, Celestan and Galaxsan were already there, providing security. I didn't know it would turn into a press conference. Someone had brought Hild Marolla in as well.

  "Sit here, baby," Teeg settled me onto a seat at the center of a long table. The crowd inside the ballroom was growing.

  Do not fear, my love, I have shields in place, Nefrigar sent to me. He was standing in shadow at the end of the table. I think he had himself shielded and was visible only to those he chose. And when I looked, I found four more Larentii standing in the corners of the room. They were protecting me, at Nefrigar's direction. I was also being recorded as Teeg sat next to me.

  "Was that true, what I was shown?" Hild Marolla started the questioning. "Can you really heal planetary cores?"

  "I've done it several times," I nodded at his question. "I've been back to Thiskil recently and there are a few weeds and plants growing, but it's still mostly dead. I wish there was something else I could do to hurry the process, but it's going to take time. The others, like Xordthe, had been tapped recently when I healed them, and Xordthe had only been tapped from one place. That made it easier to repair."

  "Some planets were tapped in multiple places?" A scientist from a respected journal had come to ask questions.

  "Yes. Tulgalan was one of those. The energy I poured into it was leaking out the other site, so it was more difficult to repair."

  "This energy, where does it come from?" The scientist asked.

  "From a renewable source that constantly puts out energy," I said. "It's stellar energy. I act as a conduit and siphon it to the damaged core before sealing it up. Isn't that where all the energy came from in the beginning? That power should be natural, and I've been assured it's the best way to heal the cores." Nefrigar had smiled when he'd told me that.

  "On the original vid," someone else said, "shown on Temporary Insanity, the doctor asked about a suicide attempt. Would you care to explain that?"

  "No," I said.

  "But you did try it, according to the vid, by a volcano, is that correct?"

  "I contemplated it. I didn't try it. Trying it implies that I went through with it, or attempted to do so. I was talked away from the edge." I squinted to see the one speaking. "Step forward, please," I said. The man walked toward the front. "Your name?" I asked. "And affiliation?"

  "Seve Dibolus, from network ninety-one," he hung his head.

  "And what do you intend to do with this information?" I asked. He was from the network that produced Temporary Insanity. The others in the room recognized that fact immediately and there was some grumbling.

  "W
e just want to get to the truth of the matter," he said.

  "Lie," I said. "Try again."

  "We wanted to publish a retraction on the program," he said.

  "Another lie. Why not tell the truth for a change?" I said.

  "We want as much information as we can get to form our defense against the allegations that we broke the laws," he whined.

  "Truth," I sighed. "Come here. Sit beside me," I patted the empty chair to my left. Teeg still sat on my right. "Now, what else do we have? I warn you that I was heaving this morning due to the pregnancy, so I don't think I can go on much longer today. Ask your questions now."

  "How badly has this whole incident hurt you?" Hild Marolla asked. His question made me sigh.

  "This is beyond awful," I said. "I have no hope of going out in public anonymously. Or taking my child out in public. While others might find that attractive, to me it is upsetting."

  "Tell them the story about the rats." Kevis walked in and sat next to Teeg.

  "Are you crazy?" I looked at him. The crowd found that funny.

  "Come on. Tell them."

  "I was chasing Thaddis Grund through the sewers on Ooklar," I said. "Are you familiar with him?" Most of the people in the crowd nodded. Thaddis was a crime kingpin from that portion of the Reth Alliance. He'd eluded the ASD for decades, until Lendill sent me after him. That's what I said. "The Vice-Director of the ASD sent me to Ooklar after Thaddis blew up a bank in the capital city. He had escape routes throughout the city, and all of those escape routes ran through the archaic sewer system. It has since been upgraded," I said.

  "I thought I'd trapped him until he used a remote to open a hidden portal into the sewers. While the heavy steel cover would have foiled any humanoid, I turned Thifilatha and jerked it off to follow him. Once I turn, my clothing is destroyed. So rather than turn back and chase him naked as a humanoid, I remained Thifilatha."

  Chuckles came at the thought of chasing a ruthless criminal through the sewers while nude. "Rodents and insects are frightened when they see or scent any High Demon in Thifilatha. The rats in the sewers, and there were many of those," I put heavy emphasis on the word many, "were running before me in an attempt to escape. Thaddis, still running ahead of me, was overtaken by thousands of rats, and in their attempt to flee what they considered a larger predator, they knocked Thaddis down and ran over his back, squeaking at the top of their little rat lungs. Thaddis was an easy capture, after that. I believe he might be the only criminal actually brought down by rodents."