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“Because Zora decreed it so, and she’s a god. It’s as simple as that. I’m really tired, Nyssa. Let’s get some sleep.”
“Okay… but one more question.” Will sighs but doesn’t object. “How many humans are down here? I’m assuming it’s mostly fae and daemons who inhabit the Underworld?”
“From what I can tell, there are a handful of us. Those you see in these cells and some who are servants in noble households. Most are dead, though… like you. Which I guess means you’re immortal.”
“And you’re not,” I breathe out, a sudden sadness filling me. It’s not in my nature to care about people. I don’t have the bandwidth for it, but I realize… Will was taken from our world. He has a family back home that misses him, I’d bet.
“You’ll be here forever, Nyssa. At least I’ll age and die at some point. Or get killed by an angry fae. At least I can hope that my soul leaves this place when that happens. I didn’t ask to be here, and I don’t think I’ve ever done anything to warrant the Crimson River.”
“I’m sure you’ll go to Heaven,” I say, although I don’t know Will really at all. But I hope he does.
CHAPTER 7
Amell
Leaning against theopen door that leads out onto the balcony off my suite, I stare at Otaxis, pondering the ways I could make life better for the inhabitants. It was a good start, cleaning things up, adding lighting. The night sky that hides the cavern ceiling still lends to the darkness our kind favors, but the jeweled stars add beauty, which had never been important to Kymaris.
Can’t say it was important to me either, but when Zora tasked me with keeping the Underworld quelled of any additional thoughts of uprising, I knew the best way to do that would be to improve living conditions. Next up, I’ll work on infrastructure and commerce to level out the disparity between nobles and the lower caste. Unhappy citizens want to rally for change. The desire for change can easily be fanned into a burning desire for insurrection.
A knock on my door has me turning. Calix enters and offers a slight bow. “All the preparations are done for the arrival of the nobles. Would you like me to provide for any form of entertainment?”
I shake my head. “Not this time.”
Calix looks disappointed, but I don’t give a fuck. Kymaris always had some sort of debauchery going on when she had guests. It often involved debasement of humans or the lower caste fae and daemons.
Not that I’m against debauchery, although my tastes and Kymaris’s are quite different. It’s that I want to keep this meeting with the nobles all about the tough business of ferreting out potential traitors. It’s not a party but a fact-finding mission.
“Is the meeting closed, or will you want servers?” he asks, hands clasped before him.
“Someone to serve drinks only,” I reply. “No food.”
“I’d be happy to—”
“Actually, I need you to do something else for me.”
Calix inclines his head. “Whatever Your Menacing Scrumptiousness desires.”
I glare at Calix. I should rip his tongue out to stop him from using such ridiculous platitudes in my title, but there are more important things to focus on. “I want you to travel to Vyronas and seek out my daughter, Thalia. Explain to her that Zora has forbidden me from leaving and that I’d like her to visit whenever she can. Let her know the means to travel are within the book.”
“The book?” Calix asks with interest.
I’ve got no intention of spilling any secrets to one of Kymaris’s former servants. “She’ll know what I’m talking about.”
Another look of disappointment, but I stare the man down. It takes less than a second for him to start bobbing and backing out of my room. “I’ll just see to a server for tonight and then I’ll be on my way.”
A thought strikes me, one that’s been brewing for a few days. “Where did you put Nyssa?”
“The kitchens, Your Highness.”
“Have her serve.”
“Of course,” Calix says, edging toward the door without showing me his back. I suspect that’s hundreds of years of training when he served Kymaris. She never let anyone turn their back on her.
“On second thought,” I muse as another thought strikes, “I’ll see to Nyssa. You go on to Thalia and deliver my message.”
Yeah, the human woman has been plaguing my thoughts since she arrived. I decided to keep her but haven’t figured out what to do with her. It was her brazenness, lack of fear, and out-of-control spirit that rendered me unable to disconnect from the possibilities. I’ve stopped myself half a dozen times from seeking her out, but this is a good opportunity to see if she’s calmed down any.
I’m not sure what it says about me that I hope she hasn’t.
