bedeviled & beyond 03 - bedeviled & beleaguered (25 page)

He looked at me, pain shining brightly in his beautiful midnight eyes. It was possible he was torn between doing the right thing and doing what was expected of him by his people. But I knew, in the end, he would do what they asked. No matter how much pain it caused him. No matter what it did to us.

I turned to Emo, holding out my hand. “Let’s go.”

He stood up and took my offered hand. Turning to Dialle I said, “You’re dead to me. From here on out we stand on opposite sides in this war. You’ve made your choice and you will die by it. I will personally see to that.”

I nodded at Emo and time and space shifted into neutral.

Unfortunately for me, my anguish did not.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Devil in the Ranks

Our handsome Prince does pale to think, of living way up high,

But his fair miss has bade him go, to the Hopefuls in the sky.

Flick found me at my father’s house, where I’d gone to hide and heal. I was sitting at the long wooden table in the kitchen, sipping hot, black coffee dejectedly.

He sat down across from me. Neither of us said anything for a long moment. Finally he said, “Talk to me, Astra.”

I told him about Dialle.

He shook his head and reached for my hand, clasping it tightly. “Trust, Astra. He hasn’t made his choice yet. Trust that he will make the right one.”

I shook my head, fresh tears filling my eyes. “He’s made his choice. I saw it in his eyes.”

Flick gave my hand a final squeeze and let go of it. “Eyes lie, Astra. They reflect emotions but they’re not always reflective of intentions. Trust him. He’s been prophesied to be the Great Unifier. If he is truly the Unifier he will pass this test.”

I thought about that for a moment and then nodded, drying my eyes. Flick was right. I really had no other choice. Dialle was struggling with world altering decisions that only he could make. I’d influenced him as much as I could. I had to trust that he would do the right thing.

I looked up at Flick and gave him a smile. “Thanks.”

He inclined his head.

“So, what’s up?”

“The test results came back as inconclusive. They found nothing substantially different between Myra and me.”

“Shit!” I dropped my head in my hands, thinking. When I looked up Flick was watching me. “What about my father?”

He shook his head.

“So what now?”

He shrugged, “They are still working with the sensitives. Maybe they’ll discover something there we can use.”

The air changed and Torre and Darma were standing there, seemingly lost in each other’s eyes.

I shook my head, I didn’t think I’d ever get used to seeing Darma magic herself around.

Finally she turned and her eyes had a glazed, lust-filled look to them. I was pretty sure I’d never get used to that either. “Hey, Astra. Are you okay?”

Apparently my eyes were all red and puffy.
Bleurgh
! I forced a smile. “I’m fine. How about you?”

She looked at Torre, “Frunkin’ wonderful.”

I dropped my gaze as something cold and ugly reared its head and ripped through my gut. I think it was envy. A hideous monster. I bitch slapped the nasty thing back under wraps and forced myself to look at the two lovebirds. “Flick brought the test results.”

Darma dragged her gaze from Torre and looked at my guardian. “And?”

He shrugged, “Nothing.”

She frowned. “Damn. I really thought we had something there.”

I nodded. “Back to square one.”

Darma grinned, “Well at least we have help.” She lifted Torre’s arm and showed me the devil’s mark on his thick, golden wrist. “Torre’s gonna help us fight this thing when it comes time.”

My eyes flew to Flick and he grabbed my hand again. “That’s wonderful news, Darma.” He stood up and clasped Torre’s hand. “Welcome to the good side.”

Torre gave Flick a formal nod that told me he didn’t get out much when it came to dealing with angels. Darma looked like she would burst from happiness.

Why did I feel like I would explode with misery?

Oh yeah. I remembered why.

Suddenly intuition flooded me and I looked at Torre. “Your brother has a mark too doesn’t he?”

Torre hesitated but Darma nudged him with her elbow. “Tell her. She deserves to know.”

“Dialle hasn’t told anybody,” Torre said with obvious reluctance.

I frowned, “Why?’

Torre shrugged, “He feels the mark’s weight upon his soul. He is two creatures under one skin, Astra, as am I. We constantly fight the dark in our natures. The mark has enhanced his darkness to the point where he fears he cannot fight it.”

My lips twisted with disgust, “But you seem to be fighting your darker nature just fine.”

He pulled Darma underneath his arm and looked down at her. “I carry a golden angel in my heart at all times. It helps.”

That didn’t make me feel any better. “Dialle has me.” They all just looked at me and even I had to grin. “Okay, okay. I realize that I’m carrying around at least two creatures under my skin too. But I do carry the light.”

Torre nodded, “And your mating has wrought much good in my brother. He comes near to fulfilling prophecy as the Great Unifier, but the veil entices his dark side and smothers his light. It is harder for him. He stands second in line for the throne. The veil seeks him out and pours its bile into his soul.”

“Holy shit!” It had never occurred to me that the veil would target Dialle. But it made perfect sense. “What can we do to help him?”

Torre shook his head. “I do not know. If I had that answer I’d already have done it. My people are not ready to rule this Earth, Mx. Phelps. They are too deeply entrenched in the dark. When they learn to walk at least partially in the light they will be ready. The veil must be stopped.”

Darma had tears in her beautiful eyes, “Isn’t he wonderful?”

Torre looked down at her with adoring eyes.

I looked at Flick and stuck my finger in my mouth in a gagging motion. Flick coughed to hide a smile. He needn’t have bothered, Darma and Torre were lost in each other’s eyes, oblivious to us.

I dug deep for a way to sway my devil to our side. Dialle wasn’t thinking clearly. He needed my help to make the right choice. Then a sudden thought occurred. “Darma, do you remember what mother told Prince Nille? They’re gathering up the conduits. That now includes Dialle and Torre.”

Darma blanched and clutched at Torre’s arm. “We have to hide him.”

I nodded, “And Dialle needs to be warned.”

Torre looked from Darma to me. “There is no place where I can hide from Danika if she wants to find me.”

I thought about that for a beat and then smiled. “There is one place.”

Darma’s gaze widened. “If you’re thinking what I’m thinking it’s the perfect solution. But do you think they’ll let him in?”

I glanced at Flick.

He sighed, looking like he’d eaten a worm. “I don’t know. Maybe he could stay with the Hopefuls.”

Torre’s beautiful, black eyes widened as he realized what we were talking about. “Oh no.”

Darma yanked his arm. “You must, Torre. It’s the only safe place.”

All the pretty, golden color leeched from his lean and handsome face, “I cannot go up there.”

“Why not?” I asked with a mischievous smile.

His mouth flapped a few times and then he said, “Well, because...I...um...look bad in white?”

Darma’s attractive face suddenly morphed into its mean stepsister turned ogre version, “You are going up to stay with the Hopefuls and that’s that, Prince Torre of the Royal Devil Court. We can’t let Danika get her nasty hands on you. If something was to happen to you I’d die.” Tears filled her eyes and Torre folded like yesterday’s laundry.

“Of course I’ll go, my love. Please don’t cry.” He pulled her into an embrace and she winked at me over his shoulder. I gave her rock knuckles.

Turning to Flick I said, “Can you take them up and help him get settled?

“Where are you going?”

“I need to pay a visit to the Court of Dialle the First.”

“You need backup.” Flick’s brown gaze looked almost relieved at the possibility he might get out of escorting a Royal into Heaven.

I grinned, “In your dreams, angel.”

~SC~

Before any of us could leave the Phelps fortress my father popped in. His serene face was filthy and his robes were torn. He looked like he’d gone a few rounds with a gargoyle.

When he saw us he closed his eyes in a short, silent prayer. “Astra, Darma, Flick, you’re needed. Come with me.”

Before we knew what he was doing we were encased in some type of bubble and had entered the sphere where sound and movement ceased.

We landed in the unplanned care unit. Around us the halls were empty and silent. I cast my gaze up to my father and he held a finger to his lips.
They’ve all been gathered into the basement rooms. Two hundred and seven severely injured people and medi-care personnel, Astra. Being held prisoner by Danika and Nille.

Why?

To lure us here.

Then why have we come
? Darma interjected.

I blinked and looked at Darma, realizing she’d been following the conversation in my head. Our father was apparently using a common path. Who knew?

Father turned to Darma.
Because if we hadn’t, over two hundred innocent lives would have been lost.

I could tell by the look on Darma’s face that she was remembering what I was remembering. The conversation with our mother I’d had in the dungeon of the Phelps fortress. My mother’s voice echoed through my head as if she was standing beside me.
He’ll come to us. One way or the other. I know his weaknesses like I know my own strengths.

And apparently she did. I grabbed his arm. “We need to think and plan for this. We can’t just walk in there and confront her.”

Darma nodded her head in agreement. “She’s right, father. Let’s go someplace and discuss it.”

He shook his head. “There is no time. Even now she speaks to me of their deaths. I cannot just stand here and let them die.”

Darma and I shared a look.

“But it’s most surely a trap, sir.” Flick added.

Father smiled sadly. “As have been all my moments with Danika, Guardian. Our life together has been naught but a mine field. And I have borne my share of scars from it. But I have never foresworn stepping one foot in front of the other to cross it. I cannot start now.”

He started down the corridor. We fell into step beside him. “Okay, what are we up against here?”

We turned a corner in the deserted corridor, “She has a line of gargoyles and their demon handlers, probably a dozen of them.”

I shuffled my mental drawers.
Emo, I need you.

Comin’, boss.

The air changed to the left and just behind my shoulder and Emo popped in.

“They form the first barrier we must cross.”

I nodded, “Okay, what else?”

He sighed, “She has constrained a black dragon to guard the door into the basement rooms.” He glanced at me, a wry look on his face.

“A black frunkin’ dragon?”

He nodded, “Alas, yes.”

Into the mental drawers again.
Dialle, I know we’re fighting but I need you.

A short silence met my summons.

Dialle?

Just behind you, my love.
Warm breath touched my neck and I turned to smile at him. I held a hand back and he grasped it.

We’ll talk later?

I felt him nod in my head.
Yes. There is much to discuss.

We get to fight a black dragon.

His black eyes widened.
That is why I spend time with you, Astra. Every moment is an adventure.

Every moment, Dialle?

He laughed in my mind.
Yes, Astra. Every moment.

Totally unaware of events unfolding behind him, my father had been talking on. I suddenly heard the words “dark fairies” and turned to Dialle.

Oh shit, Dialle, dark fairies.

He nodded.
I’ll call King Aelfric.

How have the light fairies fared under the veil?

Dialle grimaced.
They struggle. They will not survive if it descends completely.

But they’ve been your subjects for millennia. Can’t the Court protect them?

It was a strange collaboration, the good fairies and the Royal Devil Court. But it had survived for thousands of years. The king of the light fairies had disagreed once with the celestial army. St. Peter had insisted that the fairies should not try to live among the human population. But the fairy king had set his mind on doing just that. The result was that he had cut their ties to the light army. But, though they had their own special powers to call forth, the fairies were small and their numbers reduced due to illness and madness, wrought, ironically, by centuries of living among humans. They could easily be overpowered by dark forces if they had no protection. So they’d made a deal with the Court to serve as the Devils’ subjects in turn for protection, as long as the Court didn’t request evil of them.

Somehow they’d made it work.

The Court will do all that it can. But the destruction wrought on them is of the mental kind. We have no jurisdiction there
. He shrugged.

I shook my head.
Poor fairies
.

My father stopped suddenly and Emo and Dialle each grabbed one of my shoulders to stop me from plowing into his back.

He turned around, blinking in surprise when he saw both Dialle and Emo. “Welcome to the good side, gentlemen.”

They both nodded in acknowledgement.

His eyes moved past Darma and Flick to rest, for the first time, on Torre. One eyebrow lifted. “Is this one fighting for the divine goal?”

Darma grabbed Torre’s hand. “He is.”

Our father’s assessing gaze remained locked on Torre for a few beats more and then he looked at Darma and gave a small nod. “I will trust your judgment on this, daughter.”

Darma’s expression tightened. “Thank you, Father.”