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“You have not seen their armies, only their citizens,” Pestale cautioned. “You will have to kill in great and bloody numbers in order to win this war. Are you up to that?”
“By the time the humans send in their troops to contain a force they cannot even see, your plan will be operational, and there will be nothing they can do. I only hope that my soldiers and I do not get caught i
n the crosshairs. The Dark King is a force you cannot control, because we have no real idea how he will react. He is a might beyond anyone’s ability to second guess.”
“Never mind that, I know what I am doing,” Pestale countered, feeling a momentary twinge of doubt.
“Do you? I wonder. At any rate, most of my kind believe that you can subjugate the humans without destroying them, without torturing them. Do not think that because we are warriors, we enjoy the kill. I have studied your plan and it is not totally faultless. We shall instigate phase two at this juncture and see where it takes us. You be ready to do your part.”
“Much is dependent on you and yours, but don’t think I can’t do this without you,” Pestale was irritated into claiming.
Sventer’s thin lips twitched with irritation, “I do think it, but never mind. I do not wish to bicker with you. Remember I entered this pact with you because of many reasons, but one in particular.”
Pestale frowned but did not respond to this remark. “I need you and your warriors, to move quietly and with your Demon cloaking device into Dublin. You have to find your way through the catacombs that lie just beneath the Customs House. There is a chamber once used centuries ago by smugglers within its tunnels. That is where you will work with the iron. You will need to create a diversion and get the iron to that particular chamber. Can you do that without the Fae taking note?”
“We can and quite easily,” Sventer said. “But, as I said and you chose to ignore, I have a reason, a thirst that wants quenching.
Again, Pestale ignored Sventer’s remark, saying only, “The portal is ready.” He was brimming with anticipation.
“It appears I shall have to be explicit with you regarding my needs,” Sventer said on a low hard note.
“Explicit? Needs? I have already agreed to make you my first in charge when we conquer the Human Realm,” Pestale answered irritably.
“We agreed to your scheme because my followers like I am are dissatisfied here in this realm. My warriors are willing to do almost anything I ask. They look to me to lead them…to conquer this new world for them as much as for you. We are up to the task. But, I find I need more than the satisfaction of conquering a new world. I need a mate, and the only mate I want, Eslym.”
Pestale paused. He had seen Sventer look at Eslym many times. He had been oddly proud. He had not realized Sventer would dare ask such a thing. What made the demon think he would so readily give up a prize such as Eslym? He answered slowly, unwilling at this juncture to cause a rift between them.
“You overstep,” Pestale said slowly.
“I don’t think so. You don’t really care about her, but I do.”
“You have no idea what you are talking about,” Pestale returned.
“You are not in love with Eslym, Pestale. You want her because she has power. You want that power on your side.”
“You know nothing about what I want from Eslym, but she is mine,” Pestale said. “Why would you want a woman who does not want you?”
“My reasons are my own. She is what I want,” Sventer answered darkly.
Fury began to swirl in Pestale’s insides and his fists clenched at his sides. If he didn’t need the Blue Demons he would have tortured and killed Sventer on the spot. He did not have the magic to do this, but he had the skills.
He wasn’t ready to give up Eslym…yet. Even if he were, he would not be dictated to by such a creature. He replied stiffly, “Our arrangement is at an end. I shall close the portal until I can regroup with another plan.”
Sventer frowned, “You would give up on everything for a female? That is not like you!”
“Is it not? You know nothing about me,” Pestale said and sneered at him.
“You are a Dark Prince. I know you are devoid of empathy, compassion, and therefore cannot truly love. What is she to you?” Sventer shook his head. “I have wanted her since I realized I needed a mate.” He shrugged. “While she has you in her eyes, she will not look at me. But if you were to give her away…to me, I could console her.”
“Eslym is mine. Sventer, you are mistaken if you think I cannot accomplish my goals without you. You are mistaken if you think I cannot use the powers left to me to make you miserable. I choose to call you comrade. I choose to allow you to join me in this. Yes, I admit, your help could save me years. With or without you, I will conquer the Human Realm and achieve my goals. The question of you and Eslym, appalls me. You may be correct in assuming I have little empathy and less compassion, but she is important to me on many levels. She has only me in her eyes, because I have only her in mine. You say I cannot love, perhaps that is true. Yet, at this time, she is the one I want. How dare you presume to dictate to me? Eslym will be my queen one day in the very near future. Are we clear?” Pestale unclenched his fists and he purposely turned his back on Sventer and moved away. He had not thought himself capable of so much ‘emotion’. Love? Had he somehow fallen in love with the little shape-shifting demon? Was it even possible? The notion almost made him feel warm inside. It didn’t matter. She pleased him and he meant to keep her for himself, for as long as he wanted her.
“She will be your downfall then. She will be your weak link. Is that what you want? Is that what you are willing to risk?”
“All you have to know is that Eslym is mine. And you are wrong. I will never have a weak link, because when and if a ‘link’ becomes a problem, then I will discard it. But only then. In the end, I will always take care of my needs first. That is all you have to know.” He eyed the big Blue Demon and said with a flick of his wrist. “Let me remind you who I am, and what I can do…” Pestale watched as he brought Sventer to his knees. He flicked his wrist again increasing the level of pain he was inflicting and smiled to see Sventer’s face contort with pain. Sventer held his hands to his head as though trying to keep it from cracking open.
Pestale snickered, “My wondrous father, the Dark King, may have taken many powers from me, but he didn’t realize I would discover my neighbors’ weaknesses and prey on them when displeased. I made it my business to discover what little things are uncomfortable to a Blue Demon—I have that much power left, you do see, don’t you?”
“Stop, stop…” Sventer cried as he began to drool from the pain in his head.
