Vengeance of the Demon: Demon Novels, Book Seven (Kara Gillian 7)

by Diana Rowland

  Demahnk Council/Demon Council: Comprised of the demahnk ptarl/advisors of the lords. Holds power and influence that Kara is still discovering. Enforcers of Szerain’s exile.

  Eleven: A significant number in the demon realm in rituals, architecture, and managing potency. Also, the number of demonic lords.

  Manipulation: The altering of memories or controlling of actions through telepathic means. Utilized by demonic lords and demahnk.

  Mraztur: Derogatory demon word used by Kara and her allies to refer to the demonic lords unified against her personal interests and those of Earth. Rhyzkahl, Jesral, Amkir, and Kadir. Rough translation: motherfucking asshole dickwad defilers.

  Nexus: A confluence of potency streams harnessed as a focal point of power in each lord’s realm. Universally marked by a platform of stone, wood, or crystal surrounded by eleven columns. Foundation for the most powerful rituals.

  Plexus: The chamber in each lord’s realm where the arcane potency flows of the planet can be monitored, manipulated, and adjusted by a demonic lord. Used daily, often for many hours at a time. Most are furnished for comfort during long work sessions. Kara’s rough translation: a demonic lord’s man-cave.

  Ptarl: The demahnk counselor/advisor of a demonic lord.

  Qaztahl: Demon word for demonic lord. Both singular and plural. The lords are human in general appearance, but have a palpable energy aura and are able to shape and wield potency. Mind readers. Fully responsible for maintaining the potency stability of the planet. It is the one matter they agree on without question.

  The Conclave: An annual meeting of all qaztahl where global issues are addressed and plexus schedules for the upcoming year are confirmed. Outward hostility is frowned upon. Intrigue is rife.

  The Groves: Clusters of white-trunked trees that form a network of organic teleportation nodes, with one in each realm of the eleven qaztahl and a dozen or so more scattered across the planet. Animate and sentient. Kara has a unique relationship with the groves. Teleportation can only be activated by a lord, demahnk, or Kara. Each grove has a mehnta as its caretaker—a lifelong commitment.

  The Demonic Lords—The Qaztahl

  Names of ptarl and other details are included if they have been revealed to Kara through Vengeance of the Demon.

  Amkir (AHM-keer) One of the Mraztur. Light olive complexion, short dark hair. Anger issues. Unsmiling. Asshole. Got totally punched out by Kara.

  Elofir (EL-oh-fear) Ptarl: Greeyer. Short sandy-blond hair. Slim, athletic build. Friendly, gentle, deeply caring. Enjoys the quiet of his wooded realm. Lover to Michelle Cleland. Pacifist by nature but will totally fuck up anyone who messes with her.

  Jesral (JEZ-rahl) One of the Mraztur. Slim, brown hair, keen gaze, impeccably styled and graceful. Smiling, outwardly friendly. In reality a backstabbing slimy bastard. Seriously, this guy is a dick. Cold and calculating. Hates that he doesn’t have an essence blade of his very own. I mean, it totally sticks in his craw that he’s not one of the “elite three” who got blades.

  Kadir (kuh-DEER) Ptarl: Helori, estranged. One of the Mraztur. Slender, blond, androgynous. Cold, psychopathic, chaotic, vicious. Utterly brilliant. Lives slightly “out of phase” with the rest of the demon realm. Nicknamed “Creepshow” by Kara. Associated demon: Sehkeril (reyza)

  Mzatal (muh-ZAH-tull) Ptarl: Ilana. Essence Blade: Khatur. Tall and elegant, keen silver-grey eyes, Asian features, very long jet black hair worn in a braid. Powerful and focused. Creator of the essence blades. Has a bond with Kara. Associated demons: Gestamar, Safar, Juntihr (reyza). Jekki, Faruk (faas). Dakdak, Tata, Krum, Wuki (ilius). Lazul (mehnta). Juke (kehza). Anak (zrila). Steeev (syraza)

  Rayst (rayst) Partner of Seretis. Swarthy. Stocky build, but moves with grace. Kind and friendly, but not a pushover. Pays attention to the dynamics between others.

  Rhyzkahl (REEZ-call) Ptarl: None (formerly Zakaar/Zack). One of the Mraztur. Essence Blade: Xhan (last known to be in the possession of Jesral). Long white-blond hair, ice-blue eyes, tall, muscled, utterly beautiful. Seductive and charming. Betrayed and tortured the hell out of Kara. Associated demons: Eilahn, Olihr (syraza). Pyrenth (deceased, reyza). Kehlirik (reyza). Rega (faas).

  Seretis (SAIR-uh-tis) Ptarl: Lannist. Partner of Rayst. Chiseled cheekbones, and shoulder length dark, wavy hair. Looks like a Spanish soap opera star. Bisexual. Loves being around humans, and has gone to extreme lengths to protect humans in the demon realm from other lords.

  Szerain (szair-RAIN) Ptarl: Xharbek (in hiding/presumed dead by most). Essence Blade: Vsuhl. Utterly brilliant artist. Smart and inquisitive and very patient when his plans call for it. Is called a kiraknikahl—oathbreaker. Diminished and exiled to Earth as Ryan Kristoff. Associated demon: Turek (savik)

  Vahl (pronounced like the first syllable of volume) Tall, black, just the right amount of muscle, and oh-so-sexy. Seriously, the dude is yummy. Too bad he tends to make rash decisions that cause him to be indebted to the other lords. He’s like that dude in college who was probably a decent guy but got so caught up in wearing the right clothes and driving the right car and living in the right neighborhood that he maxed out all his credit cards, and when the economy took a dip, and he got laid off, everything got repossessed, and he had to declare bankruptcy. But, still, not a bad guy and fun to hang out with, and when he had money he’d totally buy a round for everyone.

  Vrizaar (vree-ZAR) Dark-skinned, bald, with a goatee and no mustache. Dresses like a biblical king, with gold and jewels that are awesome and just shy of gaudy. As cautious and prudent as Vahl isn’t when it comes to dealings with the other lords, but not so staid that he doesn’t enjoy the thrill of adventure. Loves to sail.

  Summoners Known to Kara

  Aaron Asher: (30s) Katashi’s student and associate. Former student of Rasha Hassan Jalal Al-Khouri. Associated with J.M. Farouche and the Mraztur.

  Anton Beck: (40s) Katashi’s student and associate. Recruited Idris for Katashi.

  Cherie and Keveen Bergeron: (deceased) Grandparents of Raymond Bergeron A.K.A. Tracy Gordon. Killed by Rhyzkahl in the Bloodbath Summoning.

  Frank McCreary: (deceased) Killed by Rhyzkahl in the Bloodbath Summoning.

  Gina Hallsworth: (30s) Katashi’s student and associate.

  Graciella “Gracie” Therese Pazhel: Tessa’s mother. Kara’s maternal grandmother. Sworn summoner of Szerain. Killed by Rhyzkahl in the Boodbath Summoning.

  Idris Palatino: (20) Student of Katashi and Mzatal. Kara’s cousin. Son of Tessa and Rhyzkahl. Gifted summoner. Adopted as a baby, and then again as a young teen after his first adoptive parents were killed. Innocence stripped by the Mraztur. Forced to watch his sister raped and ritually tortured and killed.

  Isumo Katashi: (100+) Master summoner. Tessa’s mentor. Conducted the very first summoning after the arcane ways reopened post-cataclysm. Was once a sworn summoner of Mzatal but betrayed him. Associated with the Mraztur. Every living summoner has been trained by him or one of his students.

  Peter Cerise/Chief Eddie Morse: (deceased in his 60s) Organized the summoning of Szerain three decades ago that ended in a bloodbath with his wife and five other summoners slain by Rhyzkahl. Sworn summoner of Szerain. Became the serial killer known as the Symbol Man. Killed by Rhyzkahl when he attempted to summon and bind the lord.

  Rasha Hassan Jalal Al-Khouri: (80s) Katashi’s student. Retired. Associated with J.M. Farouche. Antagonistic relationship with Aaron Asher.

  Robert Lamothe: (deceased) Killed by Rhyzkahl in the Bloodbath Summoning.

  Tessa Pazhel: (late 40s) Kara’s aunt and mentor. Student of Katashi. Frizzy blond hair and eclectic fashion sense. Raised Kara from age eleven.

  Tracy Gordon/Raymond Bergeron: (deceased in his late 20s) Grandson of two of the summoners killed by Rhyzkahl in the Bloodbath Summoning of Szerain.

  Tsuneo Oshiro: (late 20s) Student of Katashi. Bears a tattoo of Jesral’s sigil. Associated with the Mraztur.

  William Slavin: (50s) Katashi’s student and associate.

 
; Humans Who Know Kara Is a Summoner

  Angus McDunn: (mid 50s) Broad-shouldered, big and stocky. Red and grey hair. Was J.M. Farouche’s right hand man. Husband of Catherine McDunn and stepfather to Detective Marcel Boudreaux. Lost a young son over twenty years ago to abduction and murder.

  Bryce Thatcher: (40ish) Ex-hitman. Was a veterinary student when he accidentally shot and killed his roommate, Pete Nelson. Recruited by J.M. Farouche shortly thereafter. Paul Ortiz’s bodyguard. Part of Kara’s posse.

  Carl: (mid 40s) Morgue tech. Quiet and unflappable with an unspeakably dry sense of humor. Tessa’s boyfriend. Immune to the arcane for reasons unknown.

  James Macklin Farouche: (deceased late 50s) Businessman, philanthropist, and vigilante-gone-wrong. Became obsessed with finding missing children and punishing those responsible after his five-year-old daughter was abducted nearly twenty years ago. Involved with Rhyzkahl and human trafficking. Arcane talent of influencing people. Executed by Bryce Thatcher.

  Jerry Steiner: (late 30s) Hitman who enjoys his work. Very nondescript appearance. Easily blends in. Rapist and sociopath. Was one of the men who participated in the rape, torture, and murder of Amber Palatino Gavin.

  Jill Faciane: (late 20s) Red hair, blue eyes, petite, athletic. Kara’s best friend. Crime scene tech. Smart and sarcastic. Pregnant with Zack’s child (“the bean”). Former gymnast who’d been favored to make the Olympic team before a bad fall.

  Leo Carter: (mid 50s) Black. Close-cropped hair. Farouche’s head of security. Trained sniper—preferred weapon a Bergara tactical rifle with a Schmidt and Bender scope.

  Michael Moran: (early 20s) Brain damaged in an accident. Brilliant pianist. Has the ability to form golems out of dirt. Taken to the demon realm by Rhyzkahl and given to Amkir. Paid for in blood and pain by Seretis, and lives in the realm of Seretis and Rayst. Can sometimes clairvoyantly see the lords’ locations.

  Michelle Cleland: (24) Physics major turned drug addict and prostitute on Earth. Taken to the demon realm by Rhyzkahl after the Symbol Man ritual. Empath. Flourished with Vahl as she came to understand her gift. Willing courtesan of the qaztahl. Beloved of Elofir.

  Paul Ortiz: (22) Computer genius. Former captive employee of J.M. Farouche. Uses potency flows in tandem with computer networks to find information and accomplish hacker tasks. Beaten nearly to death by his cop dad because of his sexual orientation. Hispanic. Like a brother to Bryce. Critically injured by Mzatal. Currently resides in the demon realm.

  Humans Who Do Not Know Kara Is a Summoner

  Chief Robert Turnham: (50s) Beaulac PD. Tall, slender, black man. Meticulous, quiet, efficient. 25 years law enforcement experience.

  Sergeant Cory Crawford: (early 40s) Dyed brown hair and mustache, brown eyes, stout. Chooses drab brown clothing and wild-colored ties. Good leader. Knows Kara is involved in paranormal activities but prefers not knowing details.

  Sergeant Scott Glassman: (late 30s) Patrol training officer. Acts like a hick, but savvy. Stout, bald, ruddy complexion.

  Detective Vincent Pellini: (early 40s) Often antagonistic toward Kara. Greasy black hair, mustache, overweight. Boudreaux’s work partner.

  Detective Marcel Boudreaux: (early 30s) Often antagonistic toward Kara. Small and wiry. Chain smoker. Pellini’s work partner.

  Detective Marco Knight: (mid 30s) NOPD. Clairvoyant or similarly gifted. Loner. Chain smoker.

  Officer Tim Daniels: (mid 20s) Open, friendly, and helpful. Found a stray cat that Eilahn adopted as Fuzzykins.

  Dr. Jonathan Lanza (Doc): (mid 40s) St. Long Parish pathologist. Easy-going manner.

  Catherine McDunn: (early 50s) Head trainer for Farouche’s thoroughbreds. Wife of Angus McDunn and mother of Detective Marcel Boudreaux.

  Lenny Brewster: (late 60s) Hale, sharp-minded, and soft-spoken. Lanky black man. Barn manager for Farouche’s thoroughbred farm.

  The Rest of the World: Blissfully oblivious to Kara’s dabblings in the arcane.

  Demon Types—Summonable

  Demons named in the books are in italics.

  Faas (faahz) 6th Level. Resembles a six-legged furry lizard with a body approximately three feet long and a sinuous tail at least twice that length. Bright blue jewel-colored iridescent fur, brilliant golden eyes slitted like a reptile’s. Jekki, Faruk, Zhergalet, Rega.

  Graa (grah-ah) 8th Level. Spider-like with wings like roaches and heads like crabs. Can have anywhere from four to eight multi-jointed legs that end in strange hands that consist of a thumb and two fingers, each tipped with curved claws.

  Ilius (ILL-ee-us) 3rd Level. A coil of smoke and teeth and shifting colors. Feeds on animal essence. Tata, Wuki, Dakdak, Krum.

  Kehza (KAY-za) 7th Level. Human-sized, winged, face like a Chinese dragon, skin of iridescent red and purple, and plenty of sharp teeth and claws. Can tell if a human has the ability to be a summoner. Juke.

  Luhrek (LURE-eck) 4th Level. Resembling a cross between a goat and a dog with the hindquarters of a lion. Often a good source for unusual or esoteric information. Rhysel.

  Mehnta (MEN-tah) 9th Level. Appearing like a human female with long flowing hair, segmented wings like a beetles, clawed hands and feet, and dozens of snake-like strands coming out of their mouths. Lazul.

  Nyssor (NIGH-sore) 5th Level. Looks almost exactly like a human child, often beautiful with angelic faces. Features a little too perfect, and eyes a little too large and having sideways-slit pupils. Hundreds of sharp teeth. Many humans find them creepy as fuck. Votevha.

  Reyza (RAY-za) 12th Level. Three meters tall, leathery wings, long sinuous tail, skin the color of burnished copper, horns, clawed hands, bestial face, and curved fangs. Kehlirik, Gestamar, Juntihr, Pyrenth, Safar, Sehkeril.

  Savik (SAH-vick) 2nd Level. Immature savik: two foot long dog-lizard kind of thing with six legs. Mature savik: Over seven feet tall, reptilian with dark and smooth bellies, and translucent glittery scales elsewhere. Head like a cross between and wolf and a crocodile. Turek.

  Syraza (sih-RAH-za) 11th Level. Slender, almost birdlike, long and graceful limbs. Pearlescent white skin, hairless. Large and slanted violet eyes in a delicate, almost human, face. Wings that look as fragile as tissue paper but most assuredly are not. Shapeshifter. Eilahn, Steeev, Olihr, Marr.

  Zhurn (zurn) 10th Level. Black, oily, shifting darkness. Winged. Burning red eyes. Voice like a blast furnace. Sharp claws. Skalz.

  Zrila (ZRIL-uh) 1st Level. About the size of a bobcat, looks like a six-legged newt with skin that shifts in hues of red and blue. Head like a hairless koala. Brilliant artisans who make the majority of the clothing and textiles in the demon realm. Anak.

  Demon Types—Not Summonable

  Demahnk (de-MAHNK) Unknown if summonable. Look like large syraza with ridges on the torso and skull. Sometimes called “Elder syraza.”

  Hriss (h’RIS, huh-RIS) Pixie-like essence eaters. “Mosquitos from hell.”

  Kzak (k’ZAK, kuh-ZAK) Vicious, black, and dog-like. Rows of teeth and sinuous movement. Kuktok.

  Luhnk (lunk) Mammoth-like. Six-legged. Huge females. German shepherd-sized males.

  Nehkil (neh-KILL) Akin to a flying basking shark or living dirigible. Feeds on stray potency in the form of “ethereal spores.”

  Skarl (SCAR-ul) Hyena-like in form, but friendly as a socialized house cat. Musky. Gives off a comforting vibe when sleeping in a pack.

  Named Demons

  and associated demonic lord (if revealed)

  Anak zrila: Mzatal. Textile artisan. Made one of Mzatal’s neckties.

  Dakdak ilius: Mzatal. Never far from Mzatal in his palace. Dubbed as a “Mzatal Early Warning System” by Idris because he often arrives in a room shortly before the lord.

  Eilahn syraza: Rhyzkahl. Multiethnic beautiful in human form. Assigned by Rhyzkahl as bodyguard for Kara. Takes her job seriously. Adores holiday decorations and her cat, Fuzzykins.

  Faruk faas: Mzatal. Jekki’s mate. Delights in styling hair. Maintains Mzatal’s intricate braid.

  Ge
stamar reyza: Mzatal (essence bound). One of the oldest reyza. Sense of humor and scary all at the same time.

  Helori demahnk: Kadir (ptarl, estranged). Supported Kara after Rhyzkahl’s torture. Spurned by Kadir. Prefers human form. Is a nudist at heart.

  Ilana demahnk: Mzatal (ptarl). Quietly influential.

  Jekki faas: Mzatal. Spry and energetic personal attendant of Mzatal. Loves to cook. Faruk’s mate.

  Juke kehza: Mzatal. Summoned by Kara to assess a human for summoning ability. Loves pistachios.

  Kehlirik reyza: Rhyzkahl. Often summoned by Kara. Skilled with wards. Loves popcorn and human books.

  Krum ilius: Mzatal. Sometimes mistaken for Wuki.

  Lannist demahnk: Seretis. Wise and creative. Has a thing for unicorns.

  Lazul mehnta: Mzatal. Keeper of Mzatal’s grove.

  Marr reyza: First syraza Kara ever summoned.

  Olihr syraza: Rhyzkahl. Struck down by an anomaly in Szerain’s realm. Saved by Safar and Ilana.

  Pyrenth reyza: Rhyzkahl. Killed by Kara using an essence blade.

  Rhyzel luhrek: The demon Kara was trying to summon when Rhyzkahl came through instead.

  Rega faas: Rhyzkahl. One of Rhyzkahl’s personal attendants.

  Safar reyza: Mzatal. Escorted Kara in Szerain’s realm when she first arrived. Crashed into the grove while carrying her.

  Sehkeril reyza: Kadir. A lanky demon with a cruel streak. Eviscerated Kara during the Symbol Man’s final ritual.

  Skalz zhurn: unknown. Prefers to communicate telepathically.

  Steeev syraza: Mzatal. Recruited by Kara as a bodyguard for the very pregnant Jill.

  Tata ilius: Mzatal. That other ilius.

  Turek savik: Szerain (essence bound). Ancient demon. Has known Szerain for thousands of years.

  Votevha nyssor: unknown. Summoned by Kara to assess a human for summoning ability. Likes bacon. Creepy.