Black Night bw-2

by Christina Henry

  Focalor bowed low to Amarantha. It was the kind of bow that seemed correct but there was something disrespectful about it all the same. Which he probably was.

  “Queen Amarantha, most beautiful light of the faerie court,” Focalor began, and his voice oozed with the false compliments.

  “Lord Focalor,” Amarantha replied, and her voice was polite although her teeth were gritted. “How dare you come to my court under your own banner, and sully this place with these low creatures?”

  She gestured to the demons, who were flicking their tongues and growling and oozing all over the place.

  Focalor bowed his head. “Forgive me, my lady. I was under the impression that it was customary for a lord to be escorted by his retinue. Do not your own accords state that hospitality shall be given even unto the escorts of a guest in your court?”

  He smiled, and I wondered how Amarantha would get out of this one.

  “You have not been invited, nor have you been accepted; therefore you are not yet a guest of my court,” she replied. “If you have come to bargain with me, then your retinue must remove to the courtyard.”

  Focalor narrowed his eyes. I saw Amarantha make a small movement of her index finger. The servants who had been hovering unobtrusively in the background moved swiftly to the front of the crowd and stood at parade rest. Ah. So the servants were also warriors, and Amarantha wanted them on hand in case things got ugly fast.

  For a moment it seemed her paranoia was justified. Focalor looked like he was ready to loose his demons on the courtiers rather than submit to Amarantha’s will. I readied my magic. Next to me I saw J.B. draw a long wooden rod from his pocket. I had seen him use this once before. Apparently it gave him some extra powers.

  Then Focalor smiled his hideous smile, and said, “As you wish.”

  The demons went snarling out of the room, followed by a couple of warriors to make sure that they went the right way. Antares and Gabriel stayed. I tried to catch Gabriel’s eye, but he stared stoically ahead, seeing nothing.

  “My lady, I have come to you to establish relations between our courts,” Focalor said.

  “We already have in this court a representative of Lord Lucifer,” Amarantha replied. “Lady Madeline Black ap Azazel. It is not necessary for your lord to send more than one ambassador at a time.”

  Focalor showed his pointed teeth. I remembered Beezle telling me after my vision of the Forbidden Lands that Focalor was one of the fallen, not a demon, and I wondered why he didn’t look angelic like the other fallen. What had he done that had twisted his appearance so thoroughly?

  “I have not come as a representative of Lucifer. I have come to establish relations with my own court and under my own banner as an independent entity.”

  There was an intake of breath in the room, and several heads craned around to stare at me. So this was it. Focalor was moving against Lucifer publicly. What power was he holding that made him think he could succeed?

  I knew that I couldn’t let Focalor’s statement pass without comment. I was there as Lucifer’s representative.

  I stepped forward, heard J.B. whisper, “Carefully.”

  Beezle still snored away in my front patch pocket. His arms hung over the side and his head drooped. Unbelievable. I’m sure that I looked really authoritative with a snoozing gargoyle as an accessory. But I marched up to the throne and stood within a foot of Focalor, even though the stench of him turned my stomach. I didn’t try to look at Gabriel this time. I didn’t want everyone in the room to see the desperate need that would surely be on my face. I was learning that I didn’t hide my emotions well.

  “Lady Amarantha, if I may speak?” I asked, and she nodded. I directed my comments to Focalor. I tried to make an effort to sound all formal and ambassador-y. “I believe Lord Lucifer would be somewhat surprised to discover that you are, as you say, an ‘independent entity.’ The laws which have bound you these thousands of years have not recently been altered, have they?”

  “The laws which have bound me have begun to chafe,” Focalor replied.

  “So put some cream on it and deal,” I replied, dropping the formality. I just didn’t have great people skills. I wondered again why Lucifer had chosen me. “You know, I know and everybody in this room knows that what you’re doing right now is sedition.”

  Focalor bowed in acknowledgment. “If that is what my lady chooses to call it.”

  “I call you a traitor to Lucifer’s court,” I said.

  Focalor stepped closer to me, and I glared up at him. I reallllllly hated that I was so short. I could never look eye to eye with anyone. The heat and stink coming off his body was intense and I tried to breathe through my mouth.

  “That is a strong word, Lady Madeline. Be careful. Words can get you into trouble.”

  “Trouble is a word you’d better get used to, because Lucifer is going to bring the freaking thunder down on your ass,” I snapped. “I’m not going to stand here and exchange smart comments for the rest of the day. If you have even an iota of intelligence, you’ll take your little demon toys and my worthless half brother and go home. But you can leave Gabriel. He is my father’s thrall and you have done Azazel an insult by taking him. If you leave now, I will speak to Lucifer on your behalf. Perhaps he’ll be lenient since no harm has yet been done.”

  “I am not afraid of Lucifer or Azazel,” Focalor hissed. “I have access to powers that they cannot comprehend. Lucifer will no longer reign supreme on this Earth. And I do not have to accept the insults of Azazel’s whelp.”

  There were several shocked intakes of breath.

  “You should remember,” I said, and I felt my magic moving through me, eager for the fight, “that I am not only Azazel’s daughter. I am Lucifer’s granddaughter, and the power of the Morningstar flows through me. What you have done is tantamount to declaring war on my grandfather’s kingdom. Whatever powers you think you have, they won’t do you any good when I pull your heartstone from your chest.”

  That was kind of an icky and demony threat coming from me, but I wanted to make sure that Focalor knew that I meant business. I also knew that there was this rule and that rule and the other rule about harming other members of the courts of the fallen, but I thought Lucifer might give me a pass if I averted a massive war by killing Focalor. I’d probably get stuck doing another shitty favor for old Granddad, though.

  “Enough,” Amarantha thundered.

  We both turned to look at her. I’d kind of forgotten that we were standing in her court, actually. I was all wrapped up in trying to figure out how to take Focalor down before he slashed my throat open with his claws.

  “Whatever the arguments between the courts of the fallen, my court is not the place to air your grievances. You have both done me a grave insult by bringing this here.”

  “He started it,” I muttered.

  “Lord Focalor, in exchange for this insult, I demand that you leave Lord Azazel’s thrall with me.”

  I started to protest, but Focalor cut me off.

  “That suits me very well, my lady, as I had intended to gift the thrall to you in any case.”

  What? What purpose could Focalor possibly have in giving Gabriel to Amarantha? Well, besides the obvious purpose of pissing off Azazel.

  Amarantha looked deeply pleased. There was something else going on here besides Focalor openly declaring war on Lucifer.

  “That is an exceptional gift, my lord Focalor,” Amarantha purred. Suddenly all of Focalor’s insults were forgotten. “Violet, take the thrall to my chambers.”

  I looked at Gabriel, who still wore a stony expression; at Amarantha, who could barely disguise her glee; and at Focalor, who gave me a smug smirk. I didn’t bother looking at Antares. There was no doubt that he was thrilled to pieces at pulling one over on me.

  “You can’t accept Gabriel as a gift,” I said, trying to control my temper. I was not in Amarantha’s good books at the moment. “He’s not Focalor’s to give. Gabriel is Azazel’s thrall and in Azazel’s a
bsence I speak for him.”

  “It seems to me,” Amarantha said silkily, “that you should have taken better care of your father’s thrall in the first place. The thrall is in Focalor’s possession, not yours. Therefore you have no claims over him.”

  “Thank you for accepting my gift, lady,” Focalor said.

  “In exchange for this generosity, you may remain as a guest of my court,” Amarantha said. “However, due to the delicate nature of my courtiers, your demons must remain outside.”

  “Understood, my lady,” Focalor said.

  Violet stepped forward to take Gabriel’s leash from Antares. Amarantha stood from her throne. She practically hummed with anticipation.

  Two of Amarantha’s warriors/servants came to Focalor’s side and escorted the fallen lord and Antares from the throne room, presumably to show them to their quarters.

  This was ridiculous. I was going to start shouting and blasting everything in the throne room in a minute. Amarantha could not possibly be accepting Focalor’s claims of independence from Lucifer. She could not possibly be taking Gabriel from me.

  Amarantha turned to enter her receiving room. I started after her, but felt a hand on my shoulder.

  I turned to shout at the person holding me and saw that it was Wade.

  “Don’t,” he said quietly. “Don’t give her more ammunition to hurt you. If you want your bodyguard back, think before you act.”

  To my horror I felt tears filling my eyes. Violet led Gabriel into the receiving room behind Amarantha.

  “Don’t let them see you cry,” Wade said.

  “Yes,” I said, and I blinked until I felt the tears receding.

  I would not cry in front of Antares and Focalor. I would not give them the satisfaction of knowing how much they had hurt me.

  “Good girl,” Wade said. “Now, come away. I need to speak with you.”

  Everyone in the room was staring at us. The other wolves gathered around me. J.B. joined them.

  “Come away,” Wade repeated.

  He took my arm and I let him. I wasn’t sure I could walk without support. The rush of adrenaline had left me and I felt shaky. I marched out of the throne room with my head held high, the werewolves flanking me like a guard of honor. As soon as the throne room doors closed behind me, we heard the explosion of chatter.

  “So glad to know that I’m good entertainment,” I said.

  “We must find a place where we cannot be overheard,” Wade said, looking to J.B.

  “The east tower,” J.B. replied. “My mother designed it specifically for privacy. No one has the key except members of the family.”

  J.B. led us through the maze of Amarantha’s castle. I barely registered where I was putting my feet. What was Amarantha going to do with Gabriel? How was I going to get him back?

  Gabriel. I needed Gabriel. Amarantha had Gabriel. These thoughts chased around my head to the exclusion of everything else.

  Several minutes later we climbed a series of spiral stone steps and entered the east tower. The room was designed for comfort rather than show. There was a large fireplace, several soft rugs and lots of well-stuffed furniture. Pillows were scattered everywhere and there was lots of gleaming warm wood. Overall the effect was a lot homier than the rest of the castle.

  Wade led me to armchair and set me down in it like a child. I looked up at him blearily.

  “What are we doing here?” I asked.

  “We have important matters to discuss and it is imperative we not be overheard. Do you know why your mother is so pleased by Focalor’s gift?” Wade asked J.B.

  J.B. shook his head. “She did look like the cat that swallowed the cream, though, didn’t she?”

  Wade’s face was unusually grave. “Amarantha has long desired some kind of leverage over Lucifer. Focalor’s gift has given her that means.”

  The urgency in Wade’s voice was finally getting through to me. “I don’t see how owning Gabriel would tilt the balance of power much in her favor.”

  “Owning him, no. But you are not thinking as Amarantha thinks. Everyone knows how Lucifer is fanatically devoted to preserving his bloodline. It is one of his only weaknesses.”

  Suddenly what Wade was saying made an awful kind of sense. Images of Gabriel and Amarantha tangled together flashed through my head, and I felt sick. “You mean she wants Gabriel for some kind of stud?”

  Wade nodded. “Additionally, she would have access to more of the Morningstar’s powers through her child.”

  “Why the hell are all these immortals so obsessed with bloodlines?” I said angrily. “It’s not as if any of them act like Parent of the Year. They only want children to use for the consolidation of their own power.”

  “How did you come by this information?” J.B. asked. His voice sounded funny. When I looked at him, I saw he’d gone a little pale.

  “Wade does not need to answer to you,” Jude growled, and James and the other wolf added their own grumbles for good measure.

  I had not really noticed the other wolf before except as an anonymous member of the pack. Jude always attracted so much of my attention that I was barely aware of the others. I focused on him for the first time now.

  He was large and burly like Jude and Wade and wore the wolf uniform of flannel, leather and denim. He was older and blond with streaks of silver in his ponytail. The coloring was unusual and I thought he probably made an exceptionally handsome wolf.

  James was staring at me intently, as usual. His silver blue eyes seemed strangely familiar all of a sudden, like he was related to someone I knew. And just as before, they radiated intense dislike. Maybe I had done him or a family member some wrong in the past and that was why he couldn’t stand me.

  “Do I know you from somewhere?” I asked. It was going to nag at me until I figured it out.

  He looked away from me, as if he’d realized he was staring. “No. I am a recent member of Wade’s pack.”

  I looked at Wade questioningly. He shrugged. “James was a solitary wolf for a time just after his maturity. We often have members join us this way.”

  “Okay,” I said, but I still stared at James. There was something about him . . .

  “Can we get back on track, please?” J.B. said, annoyed. “I want to know how you came by such privileged information. I know my mother does not disclose her plans to all and sundry, and she certainly wouldn’t be disclosing them to you when she’s spent so much time trying to thwart you at every turn.”

  “I cannot reveal the source of my information,” Wade said serenely, but there was a note of finality in his voice. “The important fact here is not where I heard this, but that Amarantha has achieved her desire. She has been given a thrall from Lucifer’s bloodline. He could be impregnating her even as we speak.”

  This time I couldn’t stop the little cry of distress that left me. Everyone looked at me.

  Okay, fine. I really did a crap job of hiding my feelings. I rubbed my forehead. Did I need this additional problem of trying to stop Amarantha from bearing a child of Lucifer’s bloodline even if I did manage to extract Gabriel from her? How many more intrigues would present themselves before all of this was over? There was a wolf-killer running around loose, and war had been declared on Lucifer’s kingdom. Samiel was still hanging around in the background somewhere and he definitely wanted my head. And somehow I was supposed to salvage this mess with Amarantha and try to get her to reestablish relations with Lucifer.

  Priorities must be made. First thing first—there was no way I would be able to live with the idea that Gabriel had made a child with Amarantha. Never mind the politics. This was personal.

  “How can I get Gabriel away from the queen?” I asked J.B.

  “If she wants a child of Lucifer’s blood that badly, there’s probably nothing you can do,” he said grimly. “At least until she’s had her way.”

  “That is not a productive thought,” I said. Maybe I could trade favors with the wolves. If they would help me with this, I could help th
em get what they wanted from the queen. “What about your negotiations with her for the land that you want? Did you manage to get her to concede?”

  Wade shook his head. “Despite the insult of having a member of our pack killed within sight of her castle she still has not given us what we want.”

  “And don’t expect her to anytime soon, even if she knows that she ought to,” J.B. said. “My mother could give a mountain lessons in stubbornness.”

  “So there really isn’t an opening there,” I said. “Although maybe if I came forward as an additional witness . . .”

  “But she’s pissed at you for threatening Focalor in front of everyone,” J.B. reminded me. “Your veracity as a witness would be lessened.”

  “Right,” I said. “So I’ve got no leverage.”

  “Other than the fact that you are of Lucifer’s bloodline,” a little voice growled.

  I looked down to see that Beezle had finally woken up and was struggling out of my pocket. The two wolves who had not met Beezle before looked shocked that the inanimate object in my jacket was talking.

  “So nice of you to join us,” I said.

  “You think that just because I’m asleep I can’t hear what’s going on?” he said, finally managing to extract his squat lower half from my pocket. “I’m a gargoyle. We can hear everything, even when we’re stone.”

  “It’s not the sleeping that would impair your hearing. It’s the snoring,” I said sweetly.

  “Fine, if you’re going to be that way, then I won’t tell you my brilliant plan.”

  I rolled my eyes. “So sorry, Beezle. Now spill.”

  He hesitated for a moment, like he was going to make me apologize further. But Beezle’s desire to have his intelligence admired from all angles overrode his injured pride.

  “Amarantha wants leverage over Lucifer, right? That’s why she wants a child of his bloodline,” Beezle said.

  “Yes. Although I’m not sure that wouldn’t backfire on her,” I said thoughtfully. “The two courts would be tied together irrevocably.”