Cursed

by Sue Tingey

  Pyrites added to the chaos below him by letting rip with another long blast of flame, forcing our attackers to stop and retreat a step or two.

  “Back off, we don’t want to have to kill any more of your people,” Jamie shouted as the last of his three opponents sunk to his knees with hands pressed to his stomach.

  “Then give up the woman,” one of the gray-robed demons called. The remaining brown-clad demons spread out in a line behind him, their message clear: we’re going nowhere.

  “She bears my mark and that of my brother,” Jinx said with a gesture toward Jamie, “do you expect us to give her up so easily?”

  One of the creatures in gray gave a hiss, clutching his companion’s sleeve with knobby fingers, and moved in close so he could whisper to him.

  “Is this the truth?” the other asked after a moment.

  “It is,” Jamie said.

  The two creatures huddled together and whispered some more, then one turned and dismissed the group of demons behind them with a flick of a blackened hand, and several hurried forward to pick up their dead.

  The bodies of the three who had been consumed by fire were still hissing, spitting and popping, and making other disgustingly indescribable sounds. They were far too hot to handle, but eventually the minions, after a lot of muttering and shaking of heads, brought in some sacking and with a bit of a performance, which would have been funny if it hadn’t been so damned gross, dragged them away, leaving a greasy trail on the marble and the stink of burned flesh behind them.

  “Our apologies,” one of the two gray-robed demons said when the last of the minions had left. “Your involvement in this matter wasn’t explained to us.”

  “Who sent you?” Jamie asked, sword still extended. Despite him telling them he didn’t want to kill any more of their number, his expression said otherwise.

  The creatures bowed. “You know we can’t disclose this to you.”

  “In the circumstances, I think it would be understandable and indeed preferable if you did,” Jamie said. “You’ve been sent here under false pretenses.”

  The two demons whispered some more before turning back to face us, though I couldn’t see much within the cowls other than shadows, not even the gleam of hidden eyes. Judging by the state of their hands it was a relief.

  “We were instructed by a third party, an emissary of a demon of high standing,” one said.

  “Do you know who?”

  “The emissary is known to us, but whether he was acting for his master or another in this matter we’re unsure.”

  “The name of the go between,” Jinx said.

  The creatures exchanged a look. “You know we cannot—”

  Jinx took a step toward them. “You don’t want to make me angry. You really don’t.”

  One of the creatures grabbed hold of the other’s arm and they both recoiled from Jinx with a hiss. “The law says—”

  “The law?” Jinx took another step toward them. “You scum dare to speak of the law to me?”

  “Sir, we mean no offense.”

  “No offense? No offense? At least six of the Princess Kayla’s guard are dead, one lies injured, she’s missing and you’ve attempted to abduct the bearer of my mark; I can tell you right now, I’m mightily offended, and if you don’t give me a name I’ll show you just how offended I can be.”

  “Henri,” one hissed. “His name is Henri.”

  “Henri le Dent?” They both nodded, and to my disgust something black and crusty fell from within one of their cowls and floated to the floor. “And was it he who instructed you to abduct the Princess Kayla?” Two heads bobbed and to my relief there was no more bodily debris; I was only just keeping my lunch down as it was. “Where is she?”

  “We don’t know. We handed her over once her guard had been dispatched.”

  Jinx turned to Jamie and never had I ever seen either of them look so grim and angry. Jinx’s eyes almost appeared to burn, and his was an expression I would never want directed at me.

  “Dispatched? Six fine demons are rotting corpses,” Jinx said, his voice low and menacing, “and you speak as though you had just sent them off on some errand.”

  The two gray swathed figures began to back away.

  “Jinx,” Jamie warned.

  Jinx took another step toward the retreating demons. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t ‘dispatch’ you into the afterlife?”

  “We acted in good faith.”

  “You acted as assassins, as thieves in the night, as murderers and kidnappers. I hope you were paid well, as each coin you spend will bring you one day closer to your deaths and when the last is gone, the flesh will wither on your bones and your hearts will turn to stone.”

  The creatures gasped and huddled together. “No sir. No, kind sir.”

  “Go now, before I decide to snuff out your miserable existences before you have the chance to make amends for past wrongs and put your affairs in order. That’s more kindness than you deserve.”

  The two backed away a few steps more then turned, and there was no more eerie gliding—they ran.

  Four

  “We have to wake him,” Jamie said, peering down at the sleeping demon.

  Jinx rested a palm on Vaybian’s brow. “Not yet. To wake him now would be a mistake. By morning he’ll be fit enough to travel if we leave him be.”

  “I doubt he can tell us anything we don’t already know,” Jamie said.

  “Other than how he survived when the others didn’t,” Jinx said.

  “It still worries you?” I asked.

  He lifted his fist to his chin and stared down at Vaybian for a long time before answering. “If it had been any of the others I’d have said they had betrayed her and were likely to betray us, but Vaybian …” he paused, the corners of his eyes wrinkling as he pondered Kayla’s lover’s peaceful expression, “… I’m convinced Vaybian would never deliberately hurt Kayla.”

  “I don’t know,” Jamie said, “maybe if offered the right incentive he would.”

  Jinx glanced his way. “You think?”

  “You can never tell what goes on between lovers. Jealousy can be a terrible thing.”

  “Jealousy?” I said. “Why would Vaybian be jealous? Kayla clearly cares for him.”

  “She cared so much she left him for twenty-five years to be with you, and when she returned, would have let him die rather than give you up to her father,” Jamie said.

  “She couldn’t give me up; she didn’t know where I was.”

  “I know it, you know it, but would Vaybian believe it?” Jamie said. “Then there was Daltas—”

  “She loathes Daltas,” I said, crossing my arms and daring him to say otherwise.

  “She allowed him to call upon her, and once again for you,” Jinx said.

  “Only to save Philip.”

  “Even so,” Jinx said and both he and Jamie looked grave, “maybe it is enough to anger an ardent lover. He may see it as proof that she cares for you more than he.”

  “But someone has taken her,” I said.

  “Maybe in the knowledge that you’ll try and find her.”

  “He could have been threatened; told that he’ll only ever see Kayla again if he leads you into a trap,” Jinx said.

  “Would Vaybian risk upsetting you and Jamie? He’s petrified of you as it is, Jinx.”

  Jinx rubbed his chin. “I think we should forget the conjecture until he wakes, otherwise we’ll have tried and convicted him without hearing a word in his defense. It may be Baltheza’s way but it’s certainly not mine.”

  I was silent for a moment. “I still think that Daltas is behind all this. After all, it was Henri who paid those creatures to take Kayla and then me.”

  “If they told the truth,” Jamie pointed out.

  Jinx’s brow furrowed in thought. “I’ve never cared overmuch for Lord Daltas, but if it’s he who is once again meddling in dangerous affairs, it may be I’ll have to pay him some special attention.”

 
Jinx and Jamie’s expressions were enough that I didn’t ask what he meant. For once it was probably best I didn’t pursue the matter.

  None of us fancied sleeping on even the unbloodied side of the ruined mattress so we curled up together on one of the larger couches in the living room; close enough that we were within easy reach should Vaybian need us. I dozed, but couldn’t get comfy, and after a lot of fidgeting and shuffling about, I gave up and was drawn outside to the large, ornamental pool.

  The surface shimmered gold under the light of the two moons and was more than a little inviting. I resisted the temptation. If I went for a swim I’d never get back to sleep, though I did take off my sandals to sit on the edge with my feet dangling into the water.

  It was a warm, balmy evening with a soft breeze that carried the scent of garden flowers and an underlying hint of the sea beyond, which coated my lips with its salty tang. It was hard to believe that such a beautiful, calm place could have been the scene of such violence. The thought made me shiver and any pleasure I might have had paddling my feet in the crystal water disappeared along with my optimistic mood.

  “Ahhh—no, no!” I glanced back into the darkened chamber. I couldn’t see Kayla’s lover, but I could hear him.

  I jumped up and hurried inside. Vaybian was still asleep, but his head was thrashing from side to side as he struggled beneath the blankets we’d laid over him.

  “Kayla!” he cried. His face showed a grimace of desperation and perspiration beaded his forehead. I knelt down beside him, not knowing what to do.

  “Hush now, brother,” Jinx said, appearing beside me. He rested a hand on Vaybian’s brow. “Hush now.” The demon’s body immediately relaxed and his expression became peaceful.

  I pulled the blankets back up to under Vaybian’s chin and got to my feet. “He’ll sleep easy until morning now,” Jinx said.

  “He didn’t sound like a man who’d betrayed his lover,” I said.

  “No, he didn’t,” Jinx agreed. “He may not care much for you, but I truly don’t think he’d risk losing Kayla by putting you in the way of harm.”

  “Jinx, I’m scared for her.”

  He took hold of my shoulders and turned me to face him. “Kayla can look after herself.”

  “But—”

  “No buts,” he said with a smile. “Whoever has taken her is probably wishing they hadn’t. She’s strong and she’s tough.”

  “No, if she thinks Vaybian is dead she won’t be tough anymore. She’ll be alone and hurting.”

  He ran his thumb along my cheekbone and looked into my eyes. “She’s like you,” he said, “she may be hurting, but she’ll use her pain to fuel her resolve. She’ll see those who’ve caused her pain repaid in kind.” Then he pressed his lips against mine in what was a soft, almost chaste kiss for Jinx. “Come back to bed.” He took me by the hand and led me to the couch where Jamie still slept, and this time when I snuggled down between them both so did I.

  Breakfast was a fairly quiet affair. Pyrites had gone hunting and Jinx had flown off somewhere on Bob before I had woken.

  “Shouldn’t Vaybian be awake by now?” I said glancing over at the still-sleeping demon.

  “Jinx reckons it won’t be long,” Jamie said.

  “Where’s he gone, anyway?”

  Jamie gave a shrug, but there was tightness to his expression that made me think there was something going on that was being kept from me. “Where has he gone, Jamie?”

  “Down to the village,” Jamie said reluctantly.

  At last! He was finally learning that I wouldn’t give up until he answered me.

  “To do what?”

  “Ask a few questions.”

  Jinx going down to the village on Bob to ask a few questions. Great. The thought of it alarmed me, so heaven knows how the villagers felt with a Death Demon on a black winged horse descending on them. “Maybe you should have gone with him?”

  “Trust me, Jinx knows what he’s doing.”

  “I don’t for one moment doubt that he does. I’m thinking more of the poor villagers.”

  “The poor villagers who sold us and Kayla’s guard drugged wine?”

  “You said yourself they probably had little choice.”

  “Well, if they were coerced into doing it they won’t have anything to worry about.”

  “What if they weren’t?” I asked.

  Jamie sat back down and looked me in the eyes. In that moment, my gentle, angelic Jamie was gone; his expression became tough and uncompromising. “You bear our marks and if we don’t defend what’s ours then we devalue ourselves and you.”

  And we were back to the “owning” thing again. I bit my tongue as now wasn’t the time, but Jamie, Jinx and I were going to have to have a very long talk at some point. I did not belong to anyone; not even them.

  “What will he do to them?” I made myself ask.

  “Lucky, the villagers may have colluded in the deaths of Kayla’s guard, her abduction and an attempt to abduct you. Do we not deserve some retribution?”

  He stared at me and I stared back, but it was I who had to look away first. He was right, if they had willingly helped to drug Kayla’s men, whether they knew what was to happen or not, there was blood on their hands. That I couldn’t stomach any possible rough justice Jinx might hand out was probably my problem, not Jamie’s or Jinx’s. Even so, it didn’t sit comfortably with me.

  When Jinx returned he was grim faced and refused Jamie’s offer of breakfast. I saw Jamie gesture with his head in my direction and heard Jinx murmur “not now.” He then stalked out into the gardens and off toward the cliff. I watched him until he disappeared into the grove of trees.

  I looked questioningly at Jamie.

  “He’ll no doubt tell us when he’s ready.”

  I frowned at him and glanced back to the grove of trees. I was fed up with waiting. Waiting for Vaybian, waiting for Mr. Kerfuffle and Mr. Shenanigans, waiting for someone to tell me what the hell was going on. I started off after Jinx.

  Jamie grabbed me by the arm. “I think it’s best if you leave him alone for a while.”

  “Best for whom?” I said, shrugging him away.

  “Lucky—”

  “Don’t,” I said with a glare, then turned and strode out into the garden and across the lawn to the trees. The trail of carnage didn’t look any better this morning than it had the day before. Trampled saplings and blood-splattered trees were the least of it. It crossed my mind that if ever I should see the spirits of those who’d lost their lives during violence it should be here. Then again, Kayla’s men were soldiers and they knew about dying, it was usually only the spirits of those whose deaths had taken them by surprise, or who couldn’t accept what had happened to them who lingered.

  Jinx was sitting on the cliff’s edge with his feet dangling above a hundred feet or more of emptiness. The very idea made me queasy and I did wonder whether that was why he had chosen this spot to be on his own. He was out of luck. I inched my way to the edge before kneeling down behind him, slightly side on so I could see the back of his head, but not out over the void. I was now within speaking distance.

  “Are you all right?” I asked.

  At first I thought he was going to ignore me as he was so quiet. I let him take his time; I wasn’t going anywhere.

  “Such a beautiful place and so much death,” he said eventually.

  I swallowed hard. Was he saying what I thought he was saying? “The villagers?” and I scooted forward as far as I dared so I could lean forward to catch a glimpse of his face.

  He was staring out to sea, his lips pressed together, his forehead line-free. I couldn’t see his eyes and I wasn’t sure I wanted to. “The villagers?” I asked again. He continued to contemplate the skyline. “Jinx?”

  He took a deep breath and let it out very slowly. “Dead,” he said. “All dead,” and even though I had half expected it, I recoiled back from him as if slapped.

  “Jinx, you didn’t? You couldn’t?” I knew what he
was. I knew he was one of the most feared of creatures in this world, but I hadn’t wanted to believe; couldn’t bear to believe that he could kill so easily. It made him no better than Henri le Dent, Lord Daltas’ assassin of choice.

  In the course of two days I had seen sides to both my men that I’d never seen before: dark, vengeful sides. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like to think they could be anything but kind and gentle. They were what made this world bearable.

  “Lucky,” I heard him say, “Lucinda.”

  He must have seen me recoil. I kept my head down. Surely he hadn’t done this …

  “Lucinda,” he said again, getting up onto his knees and gripping my arm to turn me toward him. I remained wooden, but he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against his chest. “Lucinda, will you listen to me?” His voice sounded so despondent and defeated that I stopped resisting and looked up.

  He gave me such a sad smile that my horror at what he may have done began to wither away to be replaced by fear. “Jinx?”

  “The villagers,” he said, “dead every single one.” Then he shook his head and pressed his lips together in a tight line.

  “You—” I started.

  “Slaughtered, even the children.”

  “I don’t want to hear.”

  He looked back down at me. “I’m capable of many things but …” He stopped for a moment as though he was finding it hard to speak; I know I was finding it just as hard to listen. “In your world, death follows me everywhere; here a mere touch of my finger upon a person’s skin can bring endless sleep, but I don’t commit murder and I don’t slaughter babies for my own ends.”

  “What happened? How come they’re all dead?”

  “The Sicarii; the creatures in gray—they knew either Jamie or I would go to ask questions, so they made sure there was no one left to give us answers.”

  “Oh, Jinx,” I said.

  “I’m not a monster.”

  I reached up and stroked his cheek. “I know,” I said. And I did, but for a moment I had let my faith waiver. It wouldn’t happen again.