by Monica Davis
“Do you really want to know what’s wrong?” The face she raised from the pillow looked so angry and upset that Daniel thought her eyes might start to glow.
“That’s what’s wrong!” With her hand, she drew a small circle, causing a portal to materialize. The porthole opened, allowing Daniel to see through the wall. Naturally, he didn’t see the little forest that stretched out behind his house. Instead, Daniel was looking directly into what he assumed was Mike’s living room, where his blond rival and Vanessa were sitting on a black leather couch, arm in arm.
Daniel flipped out. “Why should that bother you? I’m the one who’s dating Nessa!” … Used to date, he corrected himself, jumping up. Every nerve in his body was vibrating dangerously. As Marla closed the portal, Daniel felt a pain he had never felt before in his chest. I never would have thought she’d cheat on me.
“Damn women,” he growled, earning an evil glare from his sister.
To make matters worse, Sirina appeared, as if on cue. She emerged through a portal over his bed, leapt agilely over Marla, and landed gracefully in front of Daniel.
“Silvan, lover, I sensed that you’re not feeling so well, so I came right over to cheer you up. What’s happened?” she asked, saccharine-sweet, rubbing up against him like a cat. The fabric of her green dress rustled quietly.
Daniel could sense a buzz in the air as Sirina and Marla exchanged thoughts. When Sirina suddenly grinned from ear to ear, he knew that she had been informed of the latest events.
“I told you right off that your human strumpet wouldn’t make you happy, lover.” She took him by the shoulders and pushed him back until his knees hit the bed. Daniel was paralyzed. He couldn’t take his eyes away from Sirina’s, which were rapidly changing color. One second, they were bright blue, the next a poisonous green.
“Let him go, Sirina!” Marla jumped up from the bed. Sirina took advantage of this to shove Daniel back onto the space she vacated on the mattress.
Why am I not fighting back? The thought drifted slowly through his head. I can’t stand Sirina! He suddenly felt strangely tired, as though he had been drugged.
Sirina lay down on top of him, her breasts pressing against his chest. There’s so much potential sleeping within Silvan. Daniel could faintly hear her voice. But he doesn’t know how to focus his powers — I have to exploit that!
Daniel realized that Sirina was communicating telepathically with Marla when he heard his sister’s voice in his head as well: Stop manipulating him. You definitely won’t win him over that way.
“We’ll see,” Sirina said, leaning over Daniel’s face. Her lower body was pressing hard against his, and Daniel couldn’t help but feeling aroused by the contact.
“What are you trying to do, witch?” His voice came out like a croak. He could still barely move, but he desperately tried to fight her spell. Damn it, how do I use my powers? He knew that he should be able to send Sirina flying, to slam her against the wall!
“Come with me into the underworld, and I’ll teach you how to use your powers.” She nibbled on his neck, coming dangerously close to Daniel’s mouth …
Vanessa felt secure in Mike’s arms, but it wasn’t the same as with Daniel. That was okay — right now, she just needed a friend who would listen to her and let her cry on his shoulder. “Are all guys always after just one thing?” she asked hesitantly, her face reddening. Embarrassed, she turned the silver ring that Danny had given her around and around on her finger.
“Well,” Mike said, pulling her closer to him, “most guys, I guess. After all, it’s a nice feeling to have the woman you love so close to you.”
Vanessa sighed. “Daniel thinks he’s missing out on something.”
“Both of you are!” Mike grinned as Vanessa gave him a light punch in the stomach.
“Be serious.”
Mike’s smile became thoughtful. “No, you’re right, of course. You need the right partner, and both people have to feel ready for it; otherwise, it’s no fun.” He heaved a deep sigh, arousing Vanessa’s curiosity.
“What’s up with you?” she asked. She wasn’t the only one who had changed since she had begun dating Daniel; she had noticed that Mike had been much quieter lately. “Don’t tell me that you’re lovesick, too.”
Mike cleared his throat. “No, not lovesick. I barely know the girl.”
That pricked up her ears. “Who is she? Do I know her?” She shifted away from Mike so that she could see him better; he was clearly uncomfortable talking about the subject, because he ducked his head and wouldn’t look her in the eye.
“Maybe. She was at Rebecca’s Halloween party. Her name is Marla.”
“Marla?!” Vanessa sat up ramrod straight on the couch. Her pulse accelerated dramatically.
“You know her, then?” Mike’s blue eyes lit up with hope.
“Uh, not very well.” That was a bit of a fib. Mike was her friend, and she didn’t want to lie to him, but she just couldn’t tell him that she saw Marla all the time. He would have wanted to learn more about her, and what could Vanessa tell him? That Marla was a demon who might ravish him for breakfast and then tear his still-beating heart from his chest? Vanessa knew from Danny that demons had no capacity for romantic feelings. Was that why Daniel was only after sex? Was he merely looking to satisfy his urges?
No — there was more. Vanessa could tell from the way he looked at her. His green eyes could be so full of warmth. But in an instant his expression could turn cold, demonic, sly. Or flaming with rage. I’m just imagining that because we had a fight.
“Does she come from around here?” Mike was staring at her, transfixed. He was obviously dying for more information.
“No, I don’t think so. As far as I know, she comes from another … country,” Vanessa replied with a shrug. “You’ll probably never see her again.”
“Another country? She mentioned something like that, and she has such an unusual accent.”
Vanessa had to watch what she said. “I … uh … yes, another country, but I really don’t know that much about her or where she comes from exactly.” That was the truth. She had tried to ask Marla questions, but the demon had avoided answering.
Mike smiled. “Well, at least I’m not the only one confused by her.” Sighing, he leaned back into the sofa, his eyes half closed. “It’s too bad you can’t tell me anything more about her. I got along with her so well.” He scratched his eyebrow and looked up at Vanessa. “It sounds ridiculous but … it was like we had known each other forever, like there was an invisible bond between us. I’ve only met her once, and I feel totally crazy about her.”
“It’s not ridiculous, Mike. I know what you mean.” Vanessa took a deep breath and then exhaled. She could see that Mike was in love with Marla. You’d be better off staying away from demons, she thought. You’ll just get burned. It’s hard enough loving a half-demon.
She quickly got up before she could blurt anything out. “It’s getting late; I have to go.” She couldn’t get Daniel off her mind. Even though it was late, she had to talk to him — otherwise, she would never fall asleep.
“I’ll take you home,” Mike said, getting up from the couch.
Vanessa stood in front of the Taylors’ house, undecided. There was still a light on in the kitchen, so she bravely pressed the doorbell. Anne probably just got home from her shift, she guessed.
It didn’t take long for Daniel’s mother to open the door. She looked surprised. “Nessa? It’s pretty late.”
“Yes, I know. Could I speak with Danny for a minute? It’s important.” She tried to hide her anxiety. If Anne noticed, she’d get curious and start asking questions.
“Sure, come in.” Anne shut the door behind her and gestured toward the stairs. “I understand — I was once young and in love,” she said with a smile. “Daniel’s upstairs.”
As Vanessa climbed the stairs, her heart was pounding violently. She came to a halt in front of his door. There was no sound from inside. Is he already asleep? she asked her
self, but then she saw the light shining under the door, so she entered the room.
As always, the first things she saw were Daniel’s desk at the window and the shelf holding his stereo on the right side of the room. When Nessa shut the door behind herself, she gasped. Daniel was lying stretched out on the bed, his shirt pulled up so that she could see his flat stomach. His breathing was rapid, and he made no sign of noticing her. At first, Vanessa thought that he was having another attack, but then she was horrified to see a young woman suddenly materialize on top of him, her fiery hair hanging like a curtain over Daniel’s face.
“Sirina …” Vanessa knew at once who the demon was, despite never having seen her before in person. Daniel’s future wife. It looked like she had found the right way to win him over.
Sirina raised her head, tossed her hair back, and smiled insincerely at Vanessa. “Get lost, human, he belongs to me now!” As if to prove it, she leaned over Daniel’s face and kissed him on the mouth. Vanessa thought she might faint, but then a fury rose within her.
Daniel briefly seemed to return the kiss, but Vanessa thought he looked strange, almost detached. No wonder, she thought, he’s been blown away! Sirina knows what she’s doing.
Suddenly he pushed the demon away and sat up. “Nessa!”
“Daniel … I …” Vanessa stammered in confusion. “Why?”
He hastily pulled his shirt down. “It’s not what you think!”
“Oh, yeah? Like between me and Mike, but you wouldn’t believe me. In any case, he didn’t kiss me!”
Daniel scowled. “Liar! I saw you — you have feelings for each other!”
“What?” Vanessa didn’t understand what he meant. She was so furious and hurt that she tore off the silver ring and threw it at his feet. She turned around and left without saying a word. Vanessa could hear him calling after her, “So, that’s it, then. That leaves you free for Blondie!”
She would have liked to say so many things, but no words escaped her lips. Tears streamed down her cheeks instead. Just because I’m not ready, he hops into bed with Sirina?
Blinded by rage and pain, she stumbled down the narrow stairs.
“That was fast!” called Anne from the kitchen as Vanessa ran past. She fled from the house without responding.
“Danny, what was up with Vanessa?” His mom was standing at his door. She raised a questioning eyebrow.
“We broke up, I think,” he said as calmly as possible, turning the delicate ring between his thumb and index finger before sticking it into his jeans pocket.
“What?” Anne looked at him aghast. “Why?”
Daniel shrugged. What should he tell his mother? That his life had been absolute chaos ever since he found out he was half demon? Maybe he should finally explain everything to her, but he wanted to talk to his father first. With his real father, James Carpenter.
Of course, Daniel had asked his mother all about the adoption, but when it came to James and his origins and why he had decided to give Daniel up … She hadn’t wanted to talk much about that.
“Did you pressure Vanessa somehow?” his mother asked.
The carefully suppressed rage boiled up again within Daniel. “Why is it always my fault when something happens?” He just wanted to be left alone — he didn’t feel up to a cross-examination. He already blamed himself for doing everything wrong with Vanessa that a boyfriend could do wrong. Daniel didn’t want to accept the fact that Nessa had just ended their relationship.
Sirina was standing off to one side, grinning. His mother couldn’t see the demon, and Marla had disappeared when Sirina pushed him onto the bed. This bitch ruined everything for me! he thought resentfully. But then he remembered her words: “Come with me into the underworld, and I’ll teach you how to use your powers.”
What was keeping him up here, anyway? His mother couldn’t or wouldn’t tell him about his real father, and thus he couldn’t learn anything about himself. Now she had taken Vanessa’s side as well. Nessa … would she go right back to Mike? Danny pushed the thought away. It was time for him to take control of his life. Maybe he really didn’t belong in this world.
Daniel’s mother just shook her head and left the room. Then he turned to Sirina. “Okay, I’ll come with you.”
I just have to picture it? Is that all? Those were Daniel’s first thoughts as his training began in the great black marble hall. He had always imagined that he would have to learn special hand gestures or spells. He thought back to the history class a few weeks ago when he had choked the air out of Toby the brownnoser using only his mind. The powers were hidden within him; he just had to find a way to use them in a controlled fashion.
It was dark in the hall, and the smoke from the burning torches made his throat scratch. Why was there no electricity down here? Daniel pondered the question. How deep beneath the earth’s surface were they? How could they produce energy down here? Geothermal power, or maybe natural gas? It was warm enough, anyway. Daniel was sweating buckets.
Tzock! A mental blow coursed through his consciousness, and Daniel doubled over in pain.
Metistakles tapped a finger on his shaven head. “Don’t trouble yourself with things that don’t concern you.”
In Daniel’s opinion, the subject certainly did concern him, especially if he was supposed to lead the masses of underworlders one day. But he was trying to pay attention to his demonic lessons — they were a far cry from Kuwalski’s history class. Daniel attempted to create an energy sphere in his hand. His fingertips tingled, and tiny sparks flashed across his palm, but he couldn’t manage to form a ball, no matter how hard he tried.
Metistakles was standing next to him, smirking as he looked down at him. “It’s not so easy, is it? It requires a certain control and profound concentration to focus your powers. The more you practice, the better you’ll be able to use these abilities, Silvan.”
Silvan! Would he ever get used to his demon name?
Metistakles penetrated his mind and showed him how to produce an energy sphere in the palm of his hand. Unfortunately, this reminded Daniel of how his mom had behaved when he was learning to ride a bicycle. Metistakles’ technique was similar. Just not caring — more humiliating, really. Once again, Daniel received a mental jolt. This one felt like a sword thrusting into his brain.
“You have to start controlling these human emotions!” Metistakles’ enraged voice echoed through the dome. He raised a coal-black eyebrow. “They only distract you and make you weak!”
Daniel nodded. He was sweating and every muscle in his body was trembling as he concentrated on blocking out his memories. This time, he actually managed to create an energy sphere the size of a marble on his palm. He had done it! Grinning, he held his hand under his teacher’s nose.
Metistakles nodded, a faint smile on his face. “Good. I knew you could do it. The darker your thoughts, the easier the magic will be for you, and the more powerful you will become.”
Obron entered the hall. With their shaved heads and grey robes, the demonic high lords all looked alike. But after Daniel had been in the underworld for a few days, he had begun to be able to tell them apart. A scar ran through Metistakles’ right eyebrow, Antheus was the tallest of the three, and Obron had the longest nose.
Obron was Marla’s father and had been Kitana’s husband. On the day he became a high lord, the Oracle of Memnost had told him that Kitana’s child was destined to be the next Overlord. Metistakles had told him that much, but Daniel had no idea what this Oracle was or where to find it. The others kept many things hidden from him and had forbidden him to ask questions. Everything would become clear in time, they said.
Obron nodded at them and positioned himself next to the Overlord. Xandros — the Star Wars Emperor look-alike — had been ruling for almost a thousand years, and demons were not allowed to reign for longer than that. This was demonic law, since at a certain “age,” demons could no longer utilize their full abilities — and only a strong Overlord was a powerful Overlord.
Xandros sat stock still on his throne and observed Daniel’s progress without uttering a word. Daniel sensed that Xandros manipulated his underlings like marionettes, compelling them to carry out his orders.
Cool — when he mastered that skill, the first victim would be Kuwalski … No, those days were gone. He lived down here now. In eternal darkness.
He felt a tightening in his chest. Daniel knew the feeling: homesickness …
Stop! Don’t think about Mom, he reprimanded himself. Metistakles’ mental blows hurt like hell, and Daniel had no desire to receive yet another. This was his new home. They accepted him here. They made him feel important, like part of a community — even though he didn’t trust the high lords one bit. Too much negative energy emanated from them. When he became one of them, he would probably stop noticing it so much. And as Metistakles had said: The darker his thoughts, the stronger he would become. He liked being able to perform magical acts using only the power of his thoughts. At last, he had become something like the heroes in his computer games.
He wanted to learn more about himself, about his real mother and his demonic roots — but above all, about how the High Council intended to transform him into a pure-blooded demon, since only then would he finally be allowed to become Overlord.
“One thing at a time,” Obron retorted sharply. He had been snooping in Daniel’s mind again.
Daniel thought that the explanations should come first, but okay — evidently the rules here were different than at school: first practice, then theory.
Daniel had tried to talk to Obron when he caught certain vibrations in the mental network — downright tirades of hate directed at him because he was a “halfling” and therefore unworthy of ascending to the throne. He’d show them all how worthy he really was of the title of Overlord.
He concentrated again, this time putting all his hatred and negative feelings to work, trying to focus his magical energy in the palm of his hand. A blazing blue ball of electricity materialized, sparking and reeking of ozone. The sphere wavered, swelled up and then shrank a little, but it didn’t fizzle out like his previous attempt.
