by Sam Cheever
She looked just like I remembered her. Her midnight black hair hung down her back in a thick braid, puddling beside her feet on the rock floor. Her heart-shaped, golden face was framed by soft, black curls and her small, pointed ears were adorned with tiny, gold earrings. Her pink lips were bow shaped and looked pillow soft.
She was barely covered in sheer white fabric. Her outer robe was transparent, falling in gentle folds to her feet. She wore the usual, gold-toned Jesus sandals, the straps of which climbed her calves to just below her knees. Beneath the sheer material of her robe I could see the merest triangle of denser fabric that served as her panties and a thin strap of the same material, which covered basically just the nipple area of her heavy breasts.
“So you’ve dumped daddy and you’re sleeping with Ken Junior, eh?”
Her eyes flashed but her lips curved upward, masking her irritation. “I go where the power is, lowly creature. You could learn a lesson from me on that. You’re backing a loser in this fight, halfling. You always have.”
The air started to pulse and shimmer at our backs and I smiled as said loser shimmered into view beside me. “I’ll take my chances, EB.”
Rayanne narrowed her eyes and I felt the first twinges of pain before my daemon hickey sparked and I pulled my power forward, squelching her efforts to take my knees out from under me.
Rayanne gasped as I sent her power surging back, and stumbled backward a couple of steps, her gaze sliding to Dialle. “I see you’ve learned to work together. Very interesting. But it won’t be enough.”
She started to shimmer and Dialle lifted a hand in her direction. “Stay.” His voice was filled with the impulsion his power meted out.
Her form solidified and her eyes widened. Dialle twisted his hand and she flew sideways, crashing against the wall of the cavern.
Almost immediately the air in the cavern thickened and filled with devilry, Royals and guards and demon pets drew swords and slammed together into battle. Dialle grabbed my hand and started to shift us away.
I yanked away from his grip. “No! This is my fight. I need this fight!”
He stared hard into my eyes for a moment and then nodded. “Very well, my love. I will fight it with you. But this will not truly fill that hole in your belly. Only I can do that.”
A roar behind me ended our tender moment. I ducked as a gargoyle flew over my head, taking my power arrow in its belly and a jolt from Dialle between its beady eyes.
A demon slid up behind Dialle and I screamed, “Behind you!” He leapt sideways, rolling to his feet with a sword in his hand, and engaged a duel with one of Nille’s guards.
The demon hit me in the chest, its oily skin sliding against my cringing flesh as I reached for its thick neck. The thing raked thick, yellow nails down my arm as I sent power into its neck, melting its airways closed before tucking my feet and flipping out from under the ugly creature as it died.
I flipped backward, landing on my hands, and kicked the jaw of a rival royal on my way by. I felt the royal’s bones breaking under my heels and grinned, enjoying the adrenaline rush of battle.
I landed on my feet again before Rayanne, who was still pinned against the wall with Dialle’s power. I touched my hickey and she dropped to the ground, making a pretty puddle on the dirty floor.
Before she could engage her power, I pulled mine forward, sending it out in a deadly stream that caught her in the center of her chest, where her shriveled, black heart was hiding. She screamed as her porcelain skin melted beneath my power, scenting the air like a backyard barbeque.
I lifted my hands and flung her upward, to smash against the chiseled rock ceiling high above our heads. I let her crash to the ground and reached for her, intending to carry her out of that cavern to a place where I could question her without interruption.
Rayanne’s head lolled on her slim neck but she was not out of tricks. Reaching up, she touched a red half-moon shape on her neck and it sparked.
Too late, I realized what it was. She had a daemon hickey of her own.
Power swelled between us, making the air throb and pulse with menace. I yanked my power forward and flung out my hands, hitting her with everything I had.
Rayanne’s hands came up and my power crashed against hers, shaking the walls in the blood-soaked cavern.
The concussion pushed me back several steps. I set my jaw and leaned into it, straining to hold my own against her assault.
She was on her feet and moving forward, sparks flying from the pale column of her throat. It had to be Nille’s power on the other end of that hickey.
And that couldn’t be a good thing for me.
A snarling gargoyle landed on my back, its massive teeth ripping into my shoulder. The monster disappeared with a yelp and Slayer stepped up beside me. He lifted his hands and sent power roaring toward the Evil Barbie to join mine.
She jerked as the added power hit her and staggered back a few steps.
Then, unbelievably, she bent against the wall of power and pressed forward, like she was walking into a wall of wind. Though she appeared to be weakening, she came on, and Slayer and I were forced to retreat a step for every one she managed. Occasionally a demon or a gargoyle fell or was thrown into the power vacuum between us and was immediately turned to cinder.
Suddenly bodies started stumbling into the flow of power between us on a regular basis, leading me to believe they were being flung there on purpose. Each incinerated body sent a jolt through the power tunnel that almost brought us to our knees. We were straining just to stay upright at that point.
I searched for Dialle in my mind but found nothing. Worry made my power stutter and Rayanne gained a few steps against us. Finally, Slayer and I hit the wall at our backs and started to falter. Slayer hit the ground first, his knees cracking on impact with the rock floor.
I gritted my teeth and widened my stance, determined not to go down under Rayanne’s power. Even so I was starting to wobble, my power sputtering from my fingertips, when the air changed just behind Rayanne and a familiar form appeared.
Brina threw me a quick glance before reaching around Rayanne and grabbing her throat. Sparks flared and Rayanne arched backward, gasping for breath. Her power fell away and she disappeared with a pop.
I fell to my knees gasping. “What took you so long?” I snarled at Brina.
She glared at me. “I have had my hands full dealing with the advocate.”
Yeah, I needed to ask her about that. But not right at that moment.
Static in my mind made my head fly up. My gaze searched the cavern for Dialle. The floor was strewn with torn and battered bodies, blood soaking into the dirt and rock beneath us. I searched the combatants who were still standing and didn’t see him. Gerch was bending over a body in the corner and panic sluiced through me. Dragging myself to my feet, I stumbled toward them.
Dialle was lying on his back on the floor, his gorgeous face pale and covered in a fine sheen of sweat. I shoved past Gerch and dropped down beside him, my hands flying over Dialle in search of damage. “What happened?”
Gerch shook his head. “I don’t know. He was fighting his way through an impressive array of Nille’s guards and he suddenly just dropped. I had my hands full keeping them off him when he went down.”
Dialle’s skin beneath my fingers was cold. It was quickly turning gray. “We need to get him back to court. I tried to lift him but my strength was too depleted. Gerch pushed me gently away. “Allow me, my queen.” He easily lifted Dialle.
I scrubbed a hand over my cheeks and found them wet. Tears. Damn! I turned to Slayer and Brina. “I’m taking Dialle to the court. You’ll finish up here?”
Slayer nodded. My gaze met Brina’s. “Thank you,” I told her.
She inclined her head slightly.
“We must hurry, my queen.”
I touched Gerch’s arm and pictured Dialle’s chambers in my mind. As the air started to shimmer around us I turned to Gerch and said, “Don’t call me that.” His grin made
it possible for me to breathe again.
Maybe Dialle would be all right.
~SC~
The hardest thing I have ever done, ever, was agreeing to let Astis heal Dialle. But though I tried to resist, the court healers didn’t have the skills needed to save him. As I paced his chambers for hour after hour, his skin grew cooler to the touch and the warm, golden tones of it turned grayer by the moment.
When his breathing sounded rough and ragged and his broad chest heaved with the effort of dragging air into his lungs, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer. I sent Gerch to get her.
The faithful Gerch lead the evil witch into Dialle’s chambers on the end of a golden leash, noticeably keeping her as far away from his body as he could.
I knew how he felt. Just having her in the room made me long for a shower.
He handed me the leash and stepped away, moving just beyond the reach of the golden links but not too far, in case I needed his help.
Astis peered at me through hooded eyes, her smile telling me all I wanted to know about her mood. If she had her way, she would make me beg for her help.
I had no intention of begging.
I yanked the leash and she fell toward me, gasping with delight as the cutting links tore into the delicate flesh of her throat. Her small hands fell to my chest as she landed hard against my body. Her fingers twitched with the desire to pinch.
“Don’t even think about it, witch.”
She gave me a breathless laugh, already deep in thoughts of pain and pleasure.
I dragged her toward Dialle and stopped, twisting the leash at her throat until she moaned with pleasure. Bending close to her ear I said, “This is the way it’s gonna be. You will heal him quickly and with as little pain as possible. Or I will send you to the pleasure parlor, to be petted and pampered and touched in the gentlest of ways for an entire month.” Astis shuddered at the thought. “Are we clear?”
With a stuttering sigh, the witch bit her lip and nodded. “There’s no need to get nasty, halfling.”
I loosened my grip on the leash and she frowned. “I think there’s every need. Now, get busy.”
Astis dragged the covers back from Dialle and I gasped. His flat, hard stomach was a mottled black and blue. It looked as if he’d been severely beaten. Astis reached out and pressed her fingers into the area, causing Dialle to cry out and surge upright, his pretty black eyes spiraling with the greens and browns of pain.
I gritted my teeth and reached for her, gently stroking her arm until she cringed away. “I need to test his injuries.”
“And I told you not to cause him unnecessary pain.”
Sighing theatrically, Astis placed her pale hand over Dialle’s stomach and the air around it shimmered.
Dialle’s head thrashed from side to side and he groaned.
“What’s wrong with him?”
Astis slid me a sideways look. “He has been poisoned. As you were.”
I was stunned. I’d assumed I’d been poisoned by the creature in Betty Davis’ house. Dialle hadn’t been anywhere close to the dog-like creature. “Do you recognize the poison?”
Astis’ expression looked fierce, her pale skin covered in a light sheen of sweat. She ignored me and I let her get away with it. I knew it had taken nearly everything she had to heal me. I didn’t know if Dialle was worse, but I wasn’t willing to risk him by distracting her when she was trying to heal him.
So I stepped back, handing the leash to one of the healers standing by. Turning to Gerch, I met his worried, black gaze. “Do you know a royal named Brina?”
He frowned but nodded.
“Bring her to me. I need to speak to her.”
I could tell Gerch was more than curious at my request but I wasn’t ready to explain or share my relationship with Brina yet. Hades, I didn’t even know what my relationship with Brina was yet.
With a final worried look in Dialle’s direction, Gerch strode away. I turned back, watching Dialle and feeling helpless. If only my healing skills were stronger.
The air beside me shimmered and Slayer appeared. “How is he?”
I just shook my head, too upset to say the words. He wasn’t good. In fact he was really bad. But I felt that if I said it out loud, his dire circumstances would become a reality. I just wanted to pretend he’d be fine.
Slayer stood beside me frowning. I knew he wasn’t all that fond of Dialle so I had to wonder what he was upset about. Before I could ask, the door to Dialle’s chambers opened and Brina strolled in, her rapier strapped to her hip.
She gave Slayer a smoldering look and touched the pommel of her rapier as she strolled past and addressed me. “You rang?”
“I need to find out how Dialle and I got poisoned.”
“And you think I know?”
“No. But I need you to find out. You and Slayer.”
She cast him a look and snorted. “Surely you jest?”
“I never jest where Dialle’s life is concerned.”
She cast a look toward the bed for the first time, her expression growing more serious. “The king languishes?”
I frowned.
“I think I might know who you’re looking for.” Slayer stepped forward, so that he faced Brina and me, his back to the bed. His frown had deepened.
“Spill it, Slayer. What do you know?”
“I recognized a magic signature at the cave. One that I sensed at Mx. Davis’ home and at the old lady’s.”
“Mx. Diamon’s?”
“Yes. I couldn’t place it at first. It’s been bothering me. But I think I’ve got it now.” He glanced at Brina, looking as if he was uncertain he should speak in front of her.
“Slayer!” I was quickly losing my patience. Never a snake with a long tail to start with.
He hesitated a moment longer, until my glare made a big enough impression on him, and then said, “I think it’s Crisanne.”
Brina lifted a dark eyebrow. “Is she a witch?”
“No. Why do you ask?”
Brina glanced at me. “The poison. I recognize its effects. I don’t know which one it is exactly, but there’s only one class of poison that creates a dying belly like that. From the benedictine plant on Mars. It’s popular with sorcerers and witches because several different poisons can be made from it. All of which kill the internal organs and rot the victim from the inside out.”
Placing a hand on my belly as it spun in memory of my own bout with the poison, I gave the royal a sharp glance. “I thought you didn’t know where the poison came from.”
She shrugged. “I don’t. Specifically. I only know where it probably originated from. Mars initially, and then somebody’s coven.”
My gaze slid to Astis and an ugly suspicion danced across my mind. “How is this poison administered?”
Brina shrugged. “It depends on the particular poison, of course. I’ve heard the covens have perfected a poison that can be transmitted through a kiss.”
And with those seemingly innocuous words, my entire world crashed down around me. My knees buckled and I started to droop. Slayer grabbed my arm and yanked me upright. “What’s wrong, Astra? You just lost about four shades of color.”
I shook my head and pushed Slayer’s hand away, striding toward the witch at Dialle’s bedside. I grabbed her arm and yanked her violently around.
She sighed with pleasure.
“What is the name of this poison?”
Her smile made me want to send a power arrow between her eyes. I think the only thing that stopped me was the sure knowledge that she would enjoy it for the few seconds before she died.
“I have two words for you, witch...pleasure parlor.”
She glared but finally responded. “Benificious. It is a particularly vile concoction, generally fatal. I am one of few who know how to remove it totally from the victim’s system.”
I glanced at Slayer and Brina. “Isn’t that awfully handy for us? Who uses this poison?”
Astis’ expression was slightly smug. “Few
covens know the secret of its makeup. It is what you might call a designer poison, made up of the worst elements of all its cousins. My coven has used Benificious against our enemies for decades.”
“So you’re telling me the Angel City Coven is behind Dialle’s and my poisonings?”
“Not at all. We sell some of our stock to other covens.”
“I’ll need the names of those covens.”
She named three out of dozens of area covens. They were the largest three. Apparently Benificious came at a price only the wealthiest covens could afford.
“Who else might have access to this poison?”
Astis shrugged, her glance sliding guiltily away before she shuttered it.
I grabbed her shoulder. “Tell me!”
She shuddered with pleasure at the harsh treatment and looked at me from under lowered lashes. Her tongue slipped across her lips in a purely sensual way.
“Cut it out, Astis!”
“But your reaction is so much fun, halfling.”
Before I could stop him, Slayer strode across the room and grabbed her arm, yanking her up off the floor in a quick, brutal move. Something in her shoulder popped and she cried out, her eyes rolling closed with pleasure.
“Slayer!” I grabbed his arm. “That isn’t the way, I need her thinking right now, not having an orgasm from rough treatment.”
His pretty, golden eyes widened as he realized what I was telling him and he dropped her arm like a red-hot lump of coal.
I touched Astis’ arm, sending healing power into it until the shoulder popped back into place.
Her eyelids fluttered and opened. She eyed Slayer up and down, licking her lips. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know if this one will beat me.”
I think Slayer growled. If he didn’t it was me. I’d prefer to think it was him. “I need information and I need you to heal Dialle.”
Her silver-gray gaze slipped down Slayer’s body, assessing. “Then he’ll beat me?”
I expelled a breath and glanced at Slayer. His lips were twisted in disgust but he met my gaze, finally nodding.
