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We’d left Shamas, Bruce, and Vanzir at home—they’d volunteered to stay and watch over Maggie and the house. As much as I wanted our little munchkin with us, we felt it was safer to leave her at home. But Chase—with his broken thumb—and Rozurial, Shade, Morio, Smoky, and Trillian had come with us. And, of course, Iris and my sisters.
The carriages were waiting, and as we climbed in and began our trek through the crowded, bustling city, Nerissa laughed with delight.
“It’s so beautiful, and so different. As noisy as the crowds are, it’s quiet. No planes, no cars, no buzz of electricity…”
“But the magic hums brightly here,” Camille said, laughing with her. She, Delilah, and Iris were in the carriage with us.
Eye catchers lit the streets, and I noticed the roads were actually clean. Apparently the usual beggars had been put to work sweeping the cobblestones, picking up litter, and cleaning the stables and streets of the manure left behind by the horses and animals. Tanaquar had instituted a work-for-food program, and even though she’d used our father and tried to cause trouble with us, I had to give it to her—taking the homeless off the streets and giving them jobs for food and simple shelter was genius.
We clattered along, the horses’ hooves beating a staccato tattoo against the cobblestones, and as we went, Nerissa kept pointing out the unfamiliar trees and flowers and the architecture that was unique to Otherworld. I let her ramble, loving the animation in her face and the delight in her voice.
“I wish you could see this in the daylight. But you will. I’ve arranged for us to stay a couple days. Father has rented a safe house for us, with a lair for me, and I’ll be safe while you explore the city with Camille and Delilah.”>Shell-shocked, I dropped into the nearest chair. I stared up at them, unable to say a word. Camille knelt beside me, taking my hands. Delilah, Rozurial, and the rest were also there, waiting for news.
“I didn’t mean for her to get killed.” I stared at Camille, clutching her hands in mine. “I didn’t mean for her to die.”
“I know…I know…” She glanced up at Smoky.
He let out a long sigh. “Charlotine gave her life to destroy the Demon Gate. It was stronger than any of us realized.” Quietly, without embellishment, he explained what happened in the cave.
“I didn’t mean for her to sacrifice herself.” I grimaced, remembering the look on her face when she’d shouted for us to run.
Shade quietly knelt beside me. “She knew what she was doing. She knew the risks and she took them because she worked for Queen Asteria and she understood the dangers of letting the Demon Gate stand.”
“She didn’t expect to die.” I gazed into his eyes, watching the remnants of the purple flame sparkle in them.
“None of us expect to die. Not really. We think we may not survive, but deep inside, we don’t really believe it will happen. She could have fled and left the gate standing, but she chose to take it down. She’s one of the fallen heroes of this war.” He reached out, brushed the braids out of my face. “Remember her on Samhain, honor her memory, and you do her justice.”
Swallowing my shock, I slowly nodded. “She didn’t want to die…that’s why she became a vampire. She chose the life. I thought her selfish, but now…I’m glad I didn’t tell her how I felt.”
Nerissa motioned for Shade to move out of the way and, as he did, she pulled me to my feet and kissed me gently. “You’d do the same. You’d give your life if it meant taking out something that dangerous. We all would.”
I nodded, resting against her shoulder. She kissed the top of my head, rubbing my back gently as I collected myself. When I was able to focus again, we went into the kitchen.
Smoky, his clothes still white as snow in that bizarre natural-detergent way he had, quietly asked Hanna if she could supply a snack. Shade and Vanzir, who were both covered with dust and demon guts, went to take showers. I was pretty mucky myself, so Nerissa and I went to my lair, where I took a shower and she laid out my clean clothes for me.
“She sacrificed herself.” I slipped into the jeans and turtleneck, then sat on the bed, staring at my feet.
Nerissa nodded. “Yes, she did. As you would, for the greater good. You, Camille, Delilah—you’ve all gone into battle more times than I want to think about. You go, knowing each time it may be your last. You go because you have to, because it’s the right thing to do. You go because you can’t not go. Give Charlotine the credit she deserves. Don’t think she was ignorant of the dangers. You told her exactly what you were facing. She knew what she was getting into.”
I slipped on a pair of ankle boots, zipping them up. “We are so far from taking out Gulakah. He scares me in a way the other demon generals didn’t.”
“That’s because he’s a god. He’s powerful, and deadly, and he’s playing for keeps. The others…they were dangerous but not like this. I have a feeling things are going to get worse before they get better.” She paused. “You don’t think he has one of the spirit seals, do you?”
I shook my head. “No, I don’t think Shadow Wing would entrust him with one. Gulakah could probably face him down and maybe win, with one of them. But Telazhar has one.” I looked up at her.
“We won this battle—we put a stop to him using the bhouts to control the magic in the area. But we aren’t anywhere near winning the war. I dread his next move. He’s pissed out of his mind, Nerissa. And when a god’s pissed at you…” I let the words hang. I didn’t want to finish the thought.
“Yeah.” She snuggled beside me. “I know. But for now…at least the gate is broken and I doubt if he’ll try the same thing twice. He’s not stupid.”
“More’s the pity that.” I stood and stretched. “Come on, let’s get upstairs. We’ve got a lot of planning to do. And a lot of research. Next step: finding a way to kill a god.”
Nerissa looped her arm around my elbow. “No, actually the next step—we get married. Have you thought of a place yet?”
I smiled then. At least I could give her some good news on that front. “Would you believe it? I have. How would you feel about making a trip to Otherworld?” And, as we ascended the stairs, I began to describe the lake and the falls, and how beautiful it all was.
Over the next few days, we kept a close lookout for signs that Gulakah had started up anything new, but all was quiet. The ghostly activity in the Greenbelt Park District was still jumping, but a return visit to the Galaxy club and a talk with the owner about warding the place put a stop to the rogue bhouts—which were no longer under Gulakah’s control. The patrons were back to their usual lively selves.
We warned Lindsey’s coven about the spirits, and they were able to ward against them, too. Chances were, there were hundreds of the rogue magic-feeders around, but when they couldn’t find a good source for energy, they’d scatter off to other parts. It was far easier to deal with a single bhout than with a thriving community of them.
