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Smoky immediately headed back out the door, followed by Menolly, Feddrah-Dahns, and Mistletoe. Morio raced over to my side as Delilah caught sight of Chase.
"Chase!" She raced across the crystalline floor of the chamber.
I turned to see Chase covered in blood and Jassamin reaching down to lick his face. Before Delilah could reach them, before I could reach them, Vanzir leapt forward, his saber out and gleaming. But instead of aiming for us or for Chase, he slid it neatly through Jassamin's back. As it impaled her, she screamed and fell forward.
I stared at him, wondering what the fuck was going on, as Morio sent three shooting stars directly into the demon's side. Vanzir groaned, but instead of returning the attack, he once again turned to Jassamin and brought his saber down, smack on the top of her head. This time, she roared and tried to stand, tried to face him. But it was too late, a stream of energy poured from the top of her head as her body folded and dissolved. Within seconds, there was no sign she'd ever been there, except for Chase's wounds.
Delilah skidded to a halt beside Chase. Morio and I moved in on Vanzir. What was going on? He hadn't made a move against us.
He dropped his sword and put up his hands, not moving, not speaking.
"What is this? Some sort of trick? What's going on?" Was he buying time for his master by offering his life? Or was… ? No… the thought was impossible.
But Vanzir hung his head and said the words I never thought I'd hear a demon say. "I submit. I surrender. Please don't kill me."
Morio and I looked at each other, unsure of what to say. After all, demons fought to the death, always. Didn't they?
"Why? Why do you want to surrender to us?" Gingerly, I kicked his saber aside.
He raised his head, his eyes clear and his expression firm. "I cannot follow Shadow Wing. I cannot let him invade this world. It's a mistake—a grave mistake. I want to change sides. I want to help you stop him."
"But you're a demon—"
"I'm a dream chaser. I can be of invaluable assistance to you. There's much that I know about your enemy's plans… as well as the names and addresses of other spies living in the area." And then he smiled.
By the time Smoky, Menolly, and Feddrah-Dahns returned, empty-handed, we'd tied and gagged Vanzir as best we could. Whether that would do the trick, I didn't know, but it was all we could come up with on short notice. Benjamin had come out from where he'd hidden behind a crystal. Delilah had Chase sitting up. She'd torn his shirt and her own to use as makeshift bandages.
"We lost the seal." I walked over to Smoky, and he pulled me close and kissed my forehead.
"You're exhausted and hurt," he murmured softly.
Feddrah-Dahns spoke up. "All of you are wounded and sorely tired. You need rest and food and medical attention." As he spoke, the cave began to shake.
"Quake—get out, now!" Smoky spun and, carrying me, raced out of the cavern. When we reached a few yards from the entrance, he gently placed me on the ground. "I'll make sure the others are out," he said and ran back toward the cave.
The ground folded in waves like an ocean gone mad as it rippled under my hands and knees. I crouched on all fours, trying to ride it out. Menolly emerged next, carrying Chase, and Delilah was right behind her. Morio came next, holding the sword and leading Benjamin and the unicorn and pixie. Lastly, Smoky came running out, our prisoner tossed over his shoulder.
As the ground bucked harder, I prayed that the houses in the area would hold fast and that the mountain wouldn't blow. Rainier was a time bomb. If she blew, it wouldn't matter if we were Fae or human or youkai, we'd all be toast. Well, maybe Smoky would escape.
"The light! It's fading!" Delilah pointed toward the cave. I jerked around. The light from the cave opening was flickering and, as we watched, it vanished.
"The cave returned to the mists." I glanced around the meadow. The horde of will-o'-the-wisps seemed to have left for other haunts. "For good or ill, we've set in motion a new chapter in history tonight."
"I don't understand. I don't understand any of this." Benjamin was sitting a little ways to the side, rocking back and forth, holding his arms tightly around himself. Menolly sighed and walked over to him, softly touching his shoulder.
"What next?" Morio said. "What do we do now?"
What indeed? The seal was in the hands of the demons. We had a turncoat dream chaser on our hands, who seemed determined to join us. Trillian was missing. And we were tired. All so very tired.
"I suppose… for now, we go home." There wasn't much else to say.
Chapter Twenty-eight
The next morning—the equinox—dawned cold and chill, and yet there was something in the air that felt different. As I opened my eyes, my first glance showed Smoky to my right side. He was lying there watching me with the hint of a smile crinkling his lip.
I groaned. Every muscle in my body felt on fire. An arm draped around my waist from behind me, and I realized Morio was in bed with us, too. I tried to coax an explanation from my fog-soaked brain, but all I could remember was coming home, weary and defeated, and then it was all one big blur.
"Good morning," Morio said, leaning over my shoulder. He tossed Smoky a look that said they'd already had 'the discussion' and that I didn't need to play liaison.
