The First Book of Demons (The Book of Demons Saga) (18 page)

Chapter Fifty
Two

Balthazar paced anxiously in his chambers, waiting the Lord Enchanter.  The only thing that could account for a body double was magic.  And it was likely very powerful magic.  He initially thought Arastoo could be behind the girl’s disappearance, but quickly realized the Lord Enchanter would never risk his seat on the Council by attacking Balthazar’s intended mate so obviously.  The weight on his chest grew heavier at the thought of loosing Alexandra.

It didn’t take long for Arastoo to call on Lord Balthazar with some answers.

“You are correct in your assumptions,” Arastoo said, “the smell of magic lingers in the air, an extremely powerful magic, the likes of such I have never before encountered.  The scent ends at the east corner of the gardens.”

“Can you determine the source?” Balthazar demanded.

“I cannot,” Arastoo said.

Balthazar growled low in his throat, his eyes tinting red.  The girl had been taken from him, and if he was correct about who was behind it he knew it would be his fault if she got hurt.

“However,” Arastoo said, reaching into his robe pocket, “I was able to contain the scent of it.  This will allow you to track it.”

Arastoo handed a small object over to
Balthazar.  It was a solid black stone with a leather cord tied around it.  Balthazar tied the ends of the cord behind his neck and could immediately smell the putrid scent of the powerful magic that had been used to kidnap Alexandra.  He had only one piece of business to take care of before going after her.

#

Balthazar found Tavi in the training courtyard of the palace barracks.

“I
must retrieve the girl,” Balthazar said.  There was an unsettling tension between the brothers, and Balthazar knew why.  A bond was broken between them the moment he took Yashmina forever away from Tavi.

“You will
remain here, brother.  Prepare for a fight,” Balthazar said. 

Tavi knew there was a possibility that B
althazar would fail.  The last time he faced Baal the older demon had the upper hand.  If Balthazar failed to defeat Baal, the consequences would be dire for everyone.  Baal would claim the throne and likely slaughter any remaining princes of the royal bloodline.  If Baal wasn’t enough of a threat, Lord Krishna was itching to move in on the Devasi Kingdom. 

That’s
what Balthazar meant by prepare for a fight. Tavi of course would not be able to claim the throne, being the son of a concubine, but there were many other eligible princes to continue the royal bloodline, and Balthazar was in a way telling Tavi to ensure that succession. 

“I wi
ll be prepared for whatever may befall Devas,” Tavi said, assuring his brother that he understood.

Balthazar laid a heavy hand on Tavi’s shou
lder in a rare sign of affection.  This could well be the last time they saw each other, and both let the moment sink heavily into their conscience.   Balthazar disappeared from the barracks courtyard. With only a couple hours of daylight remaining, he had no time to waste.

Chapter Fifty
Three

Balthazar was able to follow the scent through the small town that surrounded the palace and out into the wild lands of Devas. He pushed himself as hard as his powers would allow him, trying to close the distance Alexandra’s kidnapper had gained.  He eventually had to rest for a moment to catch his breath.  Leaning his broad bare back against a tree trunk, he glanced down at the amulet that hung around his neck.  The foul smell of the magic was all he had scented for the past few hours and he needed a rest from it.  He removed the necklace and inhaled the sweetness of the cool night air deeply as he leaned his head back against the tree. 

Balthazar’s nose twitched as the wind blew softly,
carrying with it all the smells for miles around.  He picked his head up as an unmistakable scent filled his nose.   Rain was coming. This seriously complicated his situation.  The Devasi sense of smell was extremely powerful; however the presence of a natural water flow nullified that power.  It also made them physically weak.

There was something not right
about these rains, however.  He tied the amulet back around his neck and continued to follow the horrid smell of the powerful magic, picking up his pace to outrun the coming storms. 

The rains moved unnaturally fast
.  It wasn’t long before he felt a heavy wet drop splash on the bridge of his nose.  Even as the rains began to fall heavily on him, Balthazar attempted to follow the scent as far as he could.  It was of no use, and he eventually lost all trace of smell as the rain cloaked him in a thick wet sheet. 

Balthazar stopped in a
grassy field.  The deep green color of the dying grass brought to mind the wide searching eyes of the girl.  Of Alexandra.  A jolt of pain twisted its way through his chest at the thought of losing her now.  He would not give up.  He would find her.  He would bring her back safely to Devas.  To his harem. 

Balthazar
strained his eyes into the distance.  Storm clouds as far as he could see in all directions.  His brows furrowed.  He had not gone that far into the rains, he should be able to see where they let up.  He could feel himself growing weaker as the rain continued to pummel him.  He turned around, looking for an escape from the rains and came face to face with a white haired demon.

“We should get out of this rain,” Ashdad said, a crooked smile on his face.  Balthazar narrowed his eyes, a growl rumbling in his chest. 

“Who are you?” Balthazar demanded.  Without his sense of smell he was unable to tell anything about the demon. 

“You are t
rying to save the girl,” Ashdad said, ignoring the younger demons question.  “You will need my help.”

“Who are you?” Balthazar demanded again,
his words slow and measured as his eyes searched the white haired demon before him.

“I am a friend,” Ashdad
said, placing a hand on Balthazar’s shoulder in a placating gesture. “I can get us out of this rain.  It is the only chance you have for saving her.”

“If you are wrong,” Balthazar said, leaning in closer to the other demons weathered face, “I will rip your throat out.”

The white haired demon turned without another word and disappeared.  Balthazar was able to follow Ashdad to a small cave, but using his speed drained the last bits of his strength.    His senses were so disoriented he could barely see straight.

“This is your way out of the rain, old man?” Balthazar said as he tried to shake water off his skin.  “I don’t have time to wait this out. I need a way around it.”

“There is no way around it, boy,” Ashdad
said, his tone weary.  He was growing tired of the younger demon’s arrogance.  “They cannot keep this up much longer.  There are limits to their powers.”

“Who is they?” Balthazar
asked, his strength beginning to return.  “And who are you.”

“They are the Magi
,” Ashdad said.  Balthazar could sense the regret behind the old demons eyes.   “It is my fault they found the girl.  I should have done a better job protecting her from them.  Once we were sure she possessed the powers she does, I believed Sami would be able to protect her.  I was clearly mistaken.”

“How dare you speak of my father in such casual terms,” Balthazar said, his anger rising at the disrespect.

“I am afforded that privilege,” Ashdad said, his grey eyes piercing.  “He was my son.”

Balthazar was
stunned for a moment, unable to process what the white haired demon said. 

“We are no longer in the rain, boy,” Ashdad said, his shoulders widening as he cross
ed his arms across his chest.  “Why don’t you scent me? That will tell you the truth.”

As soon as he
said it, Balthazar realized it was true.  Even if he didn’t have the pungent smell of royal blood in his scent, Balthazar could now clearly see the grey eyes that were the inheritance of many of the Devasi Royal Princes.

“Lord Sult
an Ashdad,” Balthazar said, his tone far more respectful as he bowed his head.  “The Royal Records say you disappeared centuries ago. My father searched most of his lifetime for you.”

“It is not something that should have happened
,” Ashdad said, his eyes growing sad.  “In my quest for power I made stupid mistakes that I have spent the rest of my life trying to correct.” 

“Where have
you been?” Balthazar asked.  The two demons made themselves more comfortable, sitting down, their backs leaned against the cave wall. 

“I have been in the human world,” Ashdad said
.  His appearance shifting slightly.  Balthazar’s eyes grew wide as the demon before him changed into a human.

#

“Take the human to the Magi,” Aelek said.

“I do not take orders from you,” Baal scoffed, a short laugh sticking in his throat.  “I have what I want, and I have no intention of giving her over to anyone.”

“Lord Baal,” Aelek said, trying to suppress his annoyance, “The young Lord Sultan will most certainly be coming after her.  We do not want him catching up.”

“Let the boy come,” Baal said, his voice rising.  “I will take my revenge on him as well.”

“No,” Aelek said, “you will not.  Killing him, and the girl, would only be a waste of their power.”

“I want my revenge,” Baal said, a deep growl behind his words.

“And you shall have it,” Aelek said, “in time.”

Aelek reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial of thick blue liquid.  He tossed it at Baal.

“Drink that,” Aelek said, “It will hide your presence from Balthazar until you reach the Magi.  I will try to hold him back.”

Chapter Fifty
Four

“You are able to shift your form,” Balthazar said, as he gazed in astonishment at his estranged grandsire. 

“I have spent many cent
uries with the humans,” Ashdad said, stabbing at the growing embers of the fire he made to dry them, “and I have learned a thing or two.”

“You have learned how to transform,” Balthazar said as he watched the older demon, conflict growing in his heart.  Most would consider it a joyous occasion to be reacquainted with a missing relative, especially one as close as a grandsire.  But for Balthazar it only complicated things.  There could only be one Lord Sultan of Devas and he would reign until his death.  Ashdad, being still alive, was the rightful Lord Sultan.

“There are things more important in this life than such a superficial power,” Ashdad said. 

“What could be more important?” Balthazar said.

“Family,” Ashdad said, looking up at the young demon.  “I lost mine in my quest for the very same thing you search for.  You may lose yours before it even begins.”

“You know who has taken the girl?” Balthazar said, hoping the old demon would have more answers for him. 

“I do,” Ashdad said, with a sigh.  “I believed I could hide her away from them.  But I was wrong.  Now we must hope to reach her in time.”

“In time for what?” Balthazar said, growing worried.  “Who has taken her?”

“She is special.  More so than you can imagine,” Ashdad said.  “She is more than just a human.  A normal human has only a fraction of the power she has.”

“She cannot control it,” Balthazar said.

“I am unfortunately aware of that,” Ashdad said.  “However it is not necessary for what the Magi need.”

“The Magi?” Balthazar said.  “I have never heard of them.”

“Few have,” Ashdad said.  “They are not of our world.  They are creatures of the human world, trapped here by the humans when they severed their connection with our world.”

“Why have they taken her?”

“Her blood,” Ashdad said.  “Given freely, it is the only thing that can raise their Master, the Ancient one they serve.  If he is awoken, there will be no hope for any of us.  Human or demon.”

“She is defiant,” Balthazar said, for once happy that she was, “she will not give anything freely.”

“They are very persuasive,” Ashdad said. 

“Indeed
they are,” Aelek said, suddenly appearing at the entrance of the cave.  Balthazar and Ashdad growled as they rose and squared off with the intruder.

“Who are you?” Ashdad demanded.

Aelek said nothing, stepping further inside the cave. 

“I would not do that if I were you,” Aelek
said, his blood colored pupil darting to Balthazar.  The young Demon Lord’s brows drew momentarily closer before realization flashed in his mind.

“You are a Maracovian
?” Balthazar said.

“Very good,” Aelek
said, his face twisting in a sickly smile, “you know of my race.”

“I am the Lord Sul
tan of Devas,” Balthazar said, his growl growing more intense, “It is my business to know of all the races beneath my authority.”

“Your authority,”
Aelek said with a snort.  “We will see how long you can keep that authority.”

“We do not have time to waste with
this creature,” Ashdad said, “The rains have stopped.  Let us go.”

“I’m afraid that is not how
this is going to work,” Aelek said.  Both Ashdad and Balthazar’s eye’s grew wide as Aelek’s features subtly shifted and he took on a human form.

“Impossible,” Ashdad gasped, not believing what he was seeing.

“It is very possible,” Aelek said with a smile.  His demonic canines were no longer present and his eyes were a very plain brown with a small rounded black pupil.  He was human. 

Balthazar tried to move, but found himself held in place by an invisible force.  He growled as he struggled against it, his brows pulled together in confusion. 

“He is using magic,” Ashdad said as he too once again moved into human form, “one of the advantages of being human.”

The barrier holding the young demon relented and Balthazar was able to break free. 

“Go,” Ashdad said, the strain on his face apparent as his aura fought against Aelek’s, “I can keep him here.  You must find the girl.”