by Joe Jackson
“How do you plan to get back home?” he pressed.
“The same way I plan to go there: with help from Eliza Chinchala,” Kari said. Everyone perked up at her mention of Celigus' daughter, especially Sonja. “I'm assuming she'll be able to take us there, and if she's willing, I'll ask her to bring us home, too.”
“And you got all this from a succubus?” Typhonix asked incredulously.
“She’s not a succubus,” Kari said. She was confident in her conclusions after her first meeting with Amastri. Had the woman been even part succubus, Kari was certain she would’ve sensed it. What she had sensed was a hint of elf, and the woman’s surname – assuming it wasn’t false – certainly seemed to confirm that. Kari was fairly certain Amastri was a half-elf, though what her other half was and how she’d come to work for a demon king were two questions Kari couldn’t answer. “She’s part elf; I’m thinking she may be a mixture of races that are stuck in the underworld. But she’s definitely not a succubus. She doesn’t have the teeth.”
That piqued Eli’s interest, and the half-corlyps warrior reached up absently to touch the side of his neck where Turillia had bitten him. Kari didn’t miss the gesture, and she wondered if he and his companions had any idea when they’d dealt with Amastri. While a succubus most often hid her fangs through illusion or shape-shifting magic, Kari found they were usually easy to spot because they never quite got the teeth right. Also, in their efforts to seduce and tempt mortals, they typically made themselves too attractive. Amastri was a beautiful woman, but the way she used makeup, hair-styling, and fancy clothes to accentuate that beauty tipped Kari off. Had Amastri been a succubus, she’d likely have just made herself a “perfect specimen” and then used those gifts she possessed as a demon to do the rest. And even if Kari was wrong, it was still irrelevant: Amastri didn’t use the gifts even if she had them.
“Well, there’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just say it,” Erik said. “I don’t want you to go. I think it’s a bad idea, I don’t think you can really trust this Amastri character, it’s probably all some elaborate trap to get you down there after they failed to get you in Barcon. All that said, you’re the head of the Order now, and I trust you’ll make the right decision. Just tell me that if you go, it’s going to be because you want to, and not because you feel like you have to, or you're trying to live up to Turik Jalar’s reputation.”
Kari bristled somewhat at that insinuation, but she didn’t get the chance to voice her thoughts right away. “Lord Chinchala said not to go,” Kyrie added quietly, as was her way. “You should consider that he may know something he doesn’t want to share, but which would convince you not to go if he did.”
Kari waved her hand and the conversation came to an abrupt halt. “I haven’t made my decision yet,” she said. “I have a lot to think about before I make up my mind. On the one hand, we’re stumbling around in the dark when it comes to these underworld demons, and yet when they come here, they seem to know exactly what they’re after and how to get it. None of us are safe as long as they know more about the Temple of Archons than we do, and we can only react to their efforts for so long before they simply overwhelm us. What I have here is an opportunity to go down there and find out what we need to know to smash them in the mouth for a change, and with really as little risk as anyone could expect. But on the other hand, the plan hinges too much on avoiding notice and trusting in demons to follow some laws made to protect them, not us. My only consolation right now is that we have an escape plan if we do go and things turn against us. And this has nothing to do with Turik Jalar.”
Erik bowed his head somewhat apologetically. “When do you think you’ll make your decision?” he asked.
“I’m going to wait to talk to Eliza, if she comes to see me,” Kari answered. “Like I said, Amastri told us eleven days from now will be the perfect time to go, so there's no rush to come to a decision. The rest of you can make up your own minds…I'm not asking anyone to go with me, but if you want to come, the choice is yours. Just remember, it may just be us girls leaving the city, if that's what King Koursturaux and King Morduri think will best keep this all a secret.”
“I'm in,” Aeligos said.
“Same here,” Eli added.
Erik stared at Kari for a minute, but then shook his head. “I think I'll stay behind with Jol. One thing that's bothering me about this plan is that this whole thing may be a trick to get us to leave Grakin and Little Gray unprotected. I think Jol and I can handle things, and maybe Damansha can convince the Commandant to assign some watchmen to keeping an eye on the house while you're gone.”
“I'd be happy to,” Damansha said. “I'm certain the Commandant will be glad to assist the head of the Demonhunter Order.”
“Where do you want me, sis?” Ty asked. “If you're going for subtle, that's not my strong point, obviously. Do you want me to stay here and help Erik and Jol keep an eye on things?”
Kari nodded. “I think that would be best,” she said. “Aeligos and Eli both have more experience in moving around unseen and avoiding notice. Even if they get stuck in Anthraxis, I can have them nose around and see how much they can find out about, well, everything. Just everyone keep in mind, I haven't made a decision yet, but this needs to be kept quiet until we've already gone. Damansha, that means you'll want to wait until after we leave to mention extra guards around our house.”
Damansha agreed. With the conversation over, most of the others got up and left the table, some to go to bed, others to read by the fire. Damansha and Serenjols headed upstairs to Jol’s bedroom, and Kari smiled. She’d noticed earlier in the morning that Serenjols had slept on the floor the night before. Damansha had stayed the night as a guest, but she and Jol still hadn’t shared a bed so far as Kari knew; they were taking their relationship slowly. It was a pleasant thing for Kari to see, since she understood they were basing their relationship on something other than sex. In her experience, those were the relationships that lasted a long time.
She almost laughed at herself when she considered how quickly her romance with Grakin had proceeded. Kari wasn’t normally one to believe in love at first sight, but she knew Grakin was the right man within minutes of talking to him. It made her think that perhaps she wasn’t the best person to be passing judgments on the quality or strength of others’ relationships, but her instincts seemed to be pretty good where her family was concerned. The only relationship Kari still knew little about was Kyrie’s: her mother-in-law had never actually divorced from her mate, but she never spoke of him and neither did her children. Kari knew he was a demonhunter, so she wondered how rude it would be to find out who he was from the Order. At the very least, she thought she could find out where he was stationed and for what reason.
“You know I love you and I trust you,” Kyrie said, and she reached her hand toward Kari. Kari met her halfway and Kyrie took Kari’s hand in her own and gave a squeeze. “I have tried to find out as much as I can about the underworld from Kaelariel. Since he grew up there, he knows a little of its layout, but not much of its politics. One thing he mentioned that goes with what Amastri has told you: the city of Anthraxis is completely neutral territory. None of the kings may hunt you or harm you while you are within the city, except for the Overking. As long as you avoid his attention, you should be somewhat safe while you’re there. I am worried for your safety, of course, but if there is one person on Citaria I believe could accomplish this task of yours, it is you.”
“I can’t give you any real reason I would trust any of these demons or so-called demons,” Kari said. “But this seems too complicated to be a trap; they’ve had so many opportunities to kill me, and they haven’t. If anything keeps me safe, it may just be the fact that I’m Salvation’s Dawn. That doesn’t mean they won’t capture me, but they may be afraid to kill me if they know I’m needed for whatever their real goal is. That’s the only reason I’m considering this.”
Kyrie glanced at Grakin, the only person at the table with them other th
an Little Gray, and she glanced around to make sure all of her other children and guests had left the area. “I didn’t want to say this in front of the others, because it’s not something that can be common knowledge,” she said when she turned back to Kari. “If you decide to go, if something happens and this turns out to be a giant trap, wherever you are, call upon Kaelariel.”
“He’d come for me?” Kari asked, shocked. It was an intriguing thought: if the gods could enter the underworld, why were there still demon kings?
“No, the gods are prevented from entering the underworld by whatever mechanism or trick of divine power that keeps the demon kings and their subjects from Citaria,” Kyrie said. “But the god of freedom can pull strings among those he knew in his younger days, and at the request of his high priestess, will do so gladly. Understand, this doesn’t mean we want you to go or think it’s a good idea, but if you go, my lord’s aid will go with you.”
Kari turned and looked at Grakin, and he smiled. She wondered if he knew that was true all along, and he was simply trying to talk her out of going anyway. With that in mind, she had to wonder if that was the real reason Celigus had advised Kari not to go: whether he was afraid Kaelariel might overstep his bounds and upset things in Celigus’ homeland. Whatever the case, Kari understood now that if she went, she would be as safe as was possible in the underworld. While there was the risk of being attacked, killed, or imprisoned, Kari, her contacts, and her mother-in-law’s deity had minimized that risk as much as possible.
“Well, I’d better get some sleep. I have a lot to consider,” Kari said, and she hoisted up her son as she rose.
She took Little Gray up to his room, tucked him in, and said his prayers with him. Once he lay down and closed his eyes, Kari closed the curtains in his room, glanced around briefly to see if she could detect any trace of “the Fuzzy Man,” and then joined Grakin in their bedroom. He didn’t bother saying anything to try to sway her decision, and they made love in the quiet of the deepening night. Given the anxiety of the decision before her, it was exactly the comfort Kari needed to get her thoughts straight and look at things objectively.
Chapter V – Preparations
It wasn't often that a full-blooded demon set foot on the campus of the Demonhunter Order. In fact, to Kari's knowledge, it had actually never happened. She supposed it might be possible that Celigus Chinchala had once walked the campus grounds, and perhaps some other demon had done so through guile – the Wraith could probably go anywhere he wished without attracting attention, she reminded herself. But whatever the case, when Kari reached the campus for work the next morning, not only was there a full-blooded demon standing in the campus' central square, but she remained completely unmolested by the hunters.
The last time Kari had seen Eliza Chinchala was in her prior life. She had met the girl once on a visit to the stronghold of her father, Celigus Chinchala, which at the time was in the badlands of southeastern Terrassia. Eliza had barely seen eighteen summers then, but she was bright and beautiful, with a strong grasp of the arcane that was only enhanced by the power she had inherited from her father. Kari had met Eliza only briefly before leaving Celigus' fortress, and that had been mere weeks before Kari perished from Dracon's Bane.
Looking at her now, Eliza had blossomed into a striking woman. She was voluptuous and curvy, sporting the beautiful figure of her mother, who Kari knew was a succubus. What intensified that, however, was the woman's stately dress and the way she held herself. She had her long, brown hair up in a high tail the same way Amastri seemed to prefer, exposing her long, pointed ears and the milky-white skin of her neck. While Eliza didn't serve in her father's court, she seemed to have all the dignity and grace to suggest she could if she wanted to. Dressed in a gorgeous robe of red, black, and white, she showed all the seductive charm of her mother along with the poise and strength of character that her father was so well-known for.
Eliza apparently recognized Kari and approached. Kari assumed the woman had heard all about her resurrection. It was still strange to Kari that an underworld demon stood on the campus of the Order without reservation or being under threat of arrest or harm. Most of the recruits and virtually all of the established hunters and teachers on campus knew who Eliza was and recognized that she was an ally regardless of her heritage. It was doubly strange to Kari since she'd fought a half-succubus just weeks before, but based on everything she had heard since her resurrection, Kari actually trusted Eliza more than her father. Eliza not only served Kaelariel, but she was a member of the High Council of Wizardry – which meant a group of the world's strongest archmages not only knew who she was, but had welcomed her to their circle. That alone spoke volumes to Kari, despite how little she knew of that Council or its workings.
The half-succubus' smile was disarming and genuine as she stepped before Kari and offered one of her delicate hands for a shake. “Lady Vanador, it is so good to meet you…again,” she quipped, her lips curling up and showing the succubus fangs that Kari had been thinking about just the night before. The laughter spread even to the pink eyes, and Kari felt reassured about her feelings regarding Eliza.
“Thank you for coming, but please, call me Kari,” she answered. She gestured toward the administrative building and then began walking toward it, and Eliza fell into step beside her. “Did you just arrive? Would you like to get something to eat?”
“No, thank you,” Eliza replied. “It's the middle of the night where I've come from, but I wanted to make certain I arrived here at a proper hour for you. Master Maelstrom passed along word of your intentions, so I wanted to come speak to you regarding your preparations for the journey, and to see if you had any concerns I might be able to assuage.”
Kari led Eliza to her office, but she marked well the looks on the administrative workers when she passed. People may have trusted Eliza and her father to some extent, but there was no getting around the fact that they were demons. It didn't matter that Eliza was considered an ally; the people working in the office were clearly nervous with the demoness around. Kari wondered if she should be to some extent as well, and if the fact that she wasn't pointed to her being more easily deceived. It reminded Kari of her previous life, when people started to trust Kaelariel and some of the serilis-rir, and how that had affected Kari's perspective.
They reached Kari's office and the demonhunter went and sat behind her desk. Eliza took the same seat Amastri had the night before, and Kari juxtaposed the two women in her mind. Despite the fact that Amastri was possibly completely mortal – or even half-angel, if she was to be believed – Kari didn't trust her at all. Yet Eliza was fully demon – her mother a succubus and her father a demon king – and Kari trusted her almost completely. It was so strange, and Kari found she had a hard time qualifying her viewpoint. The word demon bounced around inside her skull for a couple of minutes, and she wondered how much the word really meant in the end. If demons like Eliza could align with the forces of good and “half-angels” could align with the forces of evil, how much did the labels of angel and demon really mean in the end?
Kari decided to stop wasting Eliza's time being philosophical. “Let me start by asking you this: do you know Amastri D'al'cinyiore?”
“I know of her, but we haven't actually met,” Eliza answered. “She's a minor sorceress, so we keep an eye on her for activity, but I otherwise have little to do with her. I know she's a spy for King Koursturaux; I assume you've been using her for information about this trip to my homeworld you're considering?”
Kari nodded. “Yes, but I'm not sure how much I can really trust her. I'm nervous that this could all just be a trap set up by King Koursturaux to capture or kill me. At the very least, I was hoping maybe you could confirm some of what she's told me, and that you could also take me and several others to the underworld if we decide to go.”
The half-succubus chuckled. “Mehr'Durillia,” she said, and Kari tilted her head. “Our world is called Mehr'Durillia, and despite everything you may have heard, it is fa
r from being the underworld.”
Kari sat forward in her seat. “How much can you tell me about your world and its demons?” she prodded.
“If I wasn't interested in ever returning there, I suppose I could tell you everything,” Eliza said. She twisted her lips to the side and scratched absently at her cheek while she thought to herself. “In all honesty, I shouldn't need to tell you anything. Everything you want and need to know, you're going to find out rather quickly once you've gone there and interacted with some of its people. Your people have never gone there in numbers or spent any significant time there – not even your hero Turik Jalar – so you're fairly ignorant to what is quite blatant once you've spent some time on Mehr'Durillia. So maybe you should start by telling me why you're going there in the first place, and I'll tell you if what Amastri said can be trusted.”
Kari nodded and began laying out the tale of Se'ceria and her daughter Se'sasha. She left out only the part about Koursturaux setting foot on Citaria, but otherwise tried to include every detail she could. She relayed the tale all the way up to and including the attempted assassination in her home, the fact that the Wraith had saved her life, and then she laid out everything she could remember of Amastri's plan. Eliza was clearly intrigued by the story, but she never once interrupted, taking in everything with only a change in expression here and there to indicate surprise or understanding. When Kari finished the tale, she waited for Eliza to expand on what she knew so far.
“This is more complicated than I expected,” the half-succubus said at length. “At the very least, I can tell you that if King Koursturaux has an opportunity to aggravate or humiliate King Sekassus in some way, then you can trust that her involvement is genuine to see to that end. That doesn't mean, however, that King Koursturaux cares one whit about you or whether or not you survive: to her, you are just a tool to be used to barb one of her foes. By extension, though, you can trust that if she's chosen to involve King Morduri, she will have cowed him into doing exactly what she wants by some form of threat. That means King Morduri may not be pleased with helping you, though, so you may need to tread very lightly around him – more so than you already should around a king.”