devil 03 - tween hearts fire and devils delight (25 page)

I could live with that.

I swung a hand dismissively and dropped my butt onto the nearest soft surface. It happened to be a divan. “Sit. Both of you. We need to talk about what’s going on and how we will fight the veil.”

Dialle suddenly found reason to look away from me. Not a good sign. I decided to take the problem head-on. “Dialle, tell me you’re on my side in this.”

His dark gaze swung to me. “I am always on your side, my princess.” His eyes told me differently.

I frowned, feeling my heart breaking into a million tiny pieces. “You will help me fight the veil?”

He dropped onto the divan next to me and sat forward, his elbows resting on splayed knees. He looked suddenly as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders.

In a way it was.

“You do not understand what you are asking me, Astra. You speak of the continued subjugation of my people.”

I fought to keep tears at bay. “I speak of the death of the human race and consumption of the Earth by dark, evil forces.”

He sighed, resting his head in his hands.

I became aware of Emo sitting down across from me but didn’t look at him. I didn’t want to see his face at that moment. If he was smug I’d never forgive him.

“So you are telling me you side with evil against good in this?”

Dialle looked up, shaking his head. “I must side with my own people, Astra. The Court looks to me to help them. I cannot turn my back on them when they finally have a chance at freedom.”

I stood up, my hands fisting at my sides, “Freedom,” I spat at him, “comes at the cost of millions of lives. The price paid by untold human souls. It means unleashing the Serpent in this world. It represents the death of good in all of us. Is that the
freedom
you embrace?”

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 that, 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, Emo.”

He stood up and took my offered hand. Turning to Dialle I said, “You are dead to me. From here on out we stand on opposite sides in this war. You have made your choice and you will die by it. I personally will 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 in one of his, surprisingly large hands. “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. Now 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.”

I frowned, “The sensitives?”

“The humans who can feel the veil. That’s what they’re calling them.”

“Oh. Of course.”

The air changed and Torre and Darma were standing there, wrapped tightly around each other and 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. 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 looked at me and 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 realization flooded me and I looked at Torre. “Your brother has a mark too doesn’t he?”

Torre glanced at Darma as if he wasn’t sure he should tell me. She gave him a small nod. He turned back to me. “Dialle didn’t want you to know.”

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 did not make me feel 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 pulls at 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 frowned, thinking fast. Dialle needed help. He 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.”

I looked at Darma and she grinned. “Perfect. But do you think they’ll let him in?”

I looked at Flick, whose face looked a little like he’d just 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 leached 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 uselessly and then he said, “Well, because…I…um…look bad in white?”

Darma’s pretty young girl face suddenly morphed into its mean stepsister cum 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?”

He frowned at me. “Where are you going?”

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

He nodded. “You need backup?”

I grinned. “In your dreams, angel.”

* * * * *

But before any of us could leave the Phelps fortress my father popped in. His beatific 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 injury unit. Around us the halls were empty and silent. I cast my eyes up to my father and he held a finger to his lips.
They have 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. I realized she’d been following the conversation in my head, our father was apparently using a common path. Who knew?

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

I looked at Darma. I could tell by the look on her 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, daughters. 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 looked at my guardian and 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.

I glanced at him as he came even with me.
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.

I waggled my eyebrows at him.
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.