Worlds Without End

by Caroline Spector

  “Ah.” I said. “Aithne always did have a way with words.”

  Lugh Surehand laughed. It was deep and rusty, as though he didn’t use it often.

  “Alachia underestimates you.” he said. “She said you had little wit.”

  I shrugged. “Alachia underestimates anyone who doesn’t automatically worship her—or those who cannot be led around by portions of their anatomy.”

  “I know little of the animosity between the three of you. Aithne refuses to speak of it, and Alachia holds it out like a trinket, then snatches it away when one gets too close.”

  I smoothed the velvet of my gown across my knees. In the warm light it took on a deep silver cast. Anything to distract me from memories of the past.

  “Do you know the story of Scheherazade?” I asked.

  For a moment, Surehand looked startled, but I knew he would quickly replace that with his usual bland expression. I wasn’t disappointed. And it occurred to me that for all his show of calmness and balance, he was really quite formidable. After all, he had managed to remain High Prince since the founding of Tir Taimgire. With all the political intrigue so rife among the Elders, he should have been ousted long ago. But here he was in complete control of the Tir.

  “She was married to a sultan. He killed every other wife he took after only one night with her.” began Surehand. “On the first night of Scheherazade’s marriage to him, she refused to lay with him, insisting instead that she would tell him a story. Each night continued after the first the same way. She kept him spellbound with her wit and stories. It continued thus for a thousand nights.

  “At the end of the thousand nights, the sultan had fallen in love with Scheherazade and couldn’t bring himself to kill her. Thus was she spared.”

  I clapped my hands softly together. “Bravo.” I said. “Nicely told. You will go far should you ever become the wife of a sultan.”

  “Am I to take it that you have no desire to become my Scheherazade?”

  “I think now would not be the time for those stories. I would not cloud the danger of the present with tales from the past.”

  “And if I were to insist?”

  I shut my eyes. “Then I would oblige.” I said.

  “Then this must be a very serious matter indeed.” he said.

  I opened my eyes. He was looking at me with an unreadable expression. I knew then that I would never willingly make an enemy of him. To do so would be far too dangerous, even for me.

  “I would not come here otherwise.” I said.

  “Very well.” he said. “What is it you wish?”

  “For you to call an emergency meeting of the High Council.”

  She's in a dark house. At first, she thinks it is Lugh Surehand’s mansion, but then she realizes this is no place she’s been before.

  Outside, she hears the roar of helicopters. Brilliant lights come streaming around the edges of the drawn shades. Then the door bursts open and shadow figures are coming inside. They hold weapons and they are grabbing. Grabbing the other people who are here. There are screams and she starts to run. Run away from the faceless things breaking into her dream.

  22

  “It went well then?” asked Caimbeul.

  We were in the back of the limo again. I still had Surehand’s jacket around my shoulders. I’d forgotten to take it off as he led me back to the party.

  “He agreed to call a meeting of the High council.” I replied. “It went much better than I expected. But I suspect he’ll want something in return.”

  “And what might that be?”

  “I have no idea.” I said. “But I think he might be more dangerous than both Aithne and Alachia.”

  “Lugh Surehand?” Caimbeul was incredulous.

  “He’s good enough at compromise and juggling the players, but a threat? Please.”

  Ignoring his arrogance, I stared out the tinted windows. The rain-slick streets flashed by. On a corner I saw a pair of trolls dressed in the height of fashion. I wondered briefly what they were doing here in this neighborhood, then let them fade from my mind.

  “You’re a fool if you underestimate him, Caimbeul. He has neither Aithne’s temper nor Alachia’s ego. How has he managed to stay in power all this time? That isn’t the feat of someone who should be taken lightly.

  “Didn’t I read something about an assassination attempt, not too long ago? Despite that, he’s still in power. More the wonder if one of us was behind it.”

  “You sound impressed.” he said. “I can’t remember the last time anyone impressed you.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You sound like a school girl.”

  “Don’t be asinine.” I said. I was getting impatient. “You haven’t been listening. Yes, I find him interesting, but not in the way you seem to think. He’s a force to be reckoned with and not just some puppet put in place by Aithne, Ehran, and Laverty.”

  Caimbeul made a smug little noise. I turned toward him.

  “What was that?” I asked.

  “Nothing.” he said.

  “Why are you making such an issue out of this?”

  “You’re the one who won’t let it drop.”

  I gave an exasperated sigh and turned away from him. Sometimes there was no knowing what was in Caimbeul’s head.

  * * *

  The main room of the penthouse was dark when we entered. Some pale light filtered in through the terrace windows. The light from the hallway made a wide triangular shape on the floor and cast our shadows long in it.

  I banged my injured knee on something and let out a curse. Enough of this, I thought, and caused a light to appear. The room leapt into view, and it took my eyes a moment to adjust to the light.

  There, sitting on the couch, was Aithne’s son, Glasgian Oakforest.

  “Ah, perhaps the very last person I might have expected.” said Caimbeul. His voice was pleasant, but I knew from his far too casual stance that he was very angry.

  Glasgian stretched and made himself more comfortable. A trick he’d learned from his father.

  “My business doesn’t concern you, Harlequin.” he said. He had a spoiled rich-kid way of speaking. I didn’t know who I was more disappointed in—him or Aithne.

  “I beg to differ.” said Harlequin. “It most certainly is my business when I find an intruder in my hotel room. Besides, aren’t you worried about what Daddy would say?”

  Glasgian blanched and clenched his fists. That was his father’s temper showing. “I’ve reached my majority, Harlequin. I don’t answer to my fa . . . Aithne anymore.”

  “Stop it, Caimbeul.” I said. “Just let him state his business, then he’ll be on his way.”

  “I don’t want to talk with him around.” said Glasgian.

  “Why should I talk to you alone?” I asked.

  “Because of who my father is.”

  “All the more reason not to trust you.”

  Glasgian began to look a little desperate. What a baby he was, trying so hard to play in a game he didn’t even begin to understand.

  “Very well.” I said. “Caimbeul, I'll deal with him.”

  “But . . .”

  “What can he do?” I asked in Theran. “He’s a child.”

  “What better way to get your guard down?”

  “Aithne would not sacrifice his son. Not to me.” Caimbeul shrugged, then gave Glasgian one last hard look before casually moving off toward his bedroom.

  I slipped off my high-heeled shoes, giving a little sigh as I did so. Murderous things, high heels. Impractical too. Who could run or defend herself in them? I stayed away from them as much as possible.

  Ignoring Glasgian for the moment, I went to the portable bar. My feet sank into the thick carpeting and I wriggled my toes against it as I poured myself a healthy snifter of cognac. I didn’t bother to ask Glasgian if he wanted any. He’d already helped himself.

  I was tired and didn’t relish any more verbal wrangling. Lugh Surehand had worn out what little sociabili
ty I had in me. What I wanted right now was to be alone. The Council meeting would be held day after tomorrow, and I would need all my energy for that.

  I turned and looked Glasgian over. Here, one on one, he seemed less cocksure and full of himself. For a moment, I felt a surge of protectiveness, but I pushed it aside. Those sorts of things were always messy, in my experience.

  “What do you want?” I asked. It came out sharper than I’d intended. He looked a bit wounded.

  “I ... I was wondering . .. That is . .. uh . . .What are you to my father?” he blurted out.

  I walked over to one of the large armchairs that flanked the couch and sat down. The polished cotton fabric was cool against my back.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Because he hates you more than he loves my mother.”

  “They are separated now, are they not?”

  He nodded and looked more like a child than the man he had just become.

  “I am his past.” I said. “And he would rather not remember it. I don’t think anyone reaches a reasonable age without some regrets. Not if you’re doing it right.”

  “But, were you in love? He won’t say anything about it. Just that you are something awful. When I saw you, I couldn’t believe you were the one he’d been talking about.”

  “What did you expect? Horns sprouting from my forehead and long fangs?”

  “I guess I thought I’d see something that would explain, but all I see is you. And you don’t look so terrifying.”

  I laughed. “I’m surprised you’re allowed out on your own, Glasgian. You are refreshingly naive, but I fear you’re a bit stupid as well.”

  He flushed deep red at that.

  “Where did you get the rather peculiar idea that you could tell how dangerous someone is by their appearance? Good heavens, not from your father, I’m sure.”

  “I didn’t come here to be insulted.” he said.

  “No, you came here to invade my privacy and your father’s. Not terribly polite of you, if we’re counting coup. If that is the reason you came, you’d better go now. I’m tired and I have no patience for indulging a child’s curiosity.”

  I thought this would send him on his way in an indignant huff, but he surprised me. He got up and came toward me, sinking to his knees in front of me. Taking my free hand in his, he brought it to his lips and kissed it. Quite a workout that hand was getting tonight, I thought.

  “Do you think you’ll send me on my way with insults?” he asked.

  “Yes, that was the idea.”

  “It won’t work. I saw how you looked at me when you first saw me. Don’t deny it, you wanted me.”

  I snatched my hand away from him. “Stop it.” I said angrily. “This has really gone far enough. I was startled for a moment because you look like your father. For obvious reasons, I didn’t want to encounter him.”

  “Yes, I do look like him.” he said softly, leaning toward me until I could smell the whiskey and cinnamon on his breath. “You could pretend I am him. Imagine it, a way to go back and undo the past.”

  I stood up and stared down at him. How very like Aithne he looked at that moment. But he was only a simulacrum, a faint copy of his father. And twisted in such ways that I wondered at what had caused it.

  “What sort of rotten plan do you have in mind?” I asked. “You thought you’d come here, seduce me, then run back to Aithne and throw it in his face. I can’t imagine what your father may have done to make you angry enough at him to do such a thing.”

  Glasgian wrapped his arms around my legs and buried his face in the material of my skirt. “It’s more than that.” he said. “When I saw you tonight, something happened to me . . . I’ve never felt like this.”

  With a quick jerk, I put my knee to his chest. He toppled over, letting go of my dress. I danced away from him, putting several pieces of furniture between us.

  “It is only my respect for your father that keeps me from treating you as you deserve. This display was shameful and not worthy of either me or your father. Get out before I lose my temper.”

  He gave me a smug smile as he straightened his clothes. “It doesn’t matter that nothing happened here tonight. I’ll tell Aithne it did.”

  “You are an evil little shit.” I said flatly.

  He gave me a low bow, but before he could straighten, something caught my attention. Spinning about, I saw that the doors to the terrace had blown open. There, standing in the doorway was the Horror, Ysrthgrathe.

  He was as I remembered. Cloaked in deep brown, power radiating off him like a corona. Though his face was shadowed by his hood, I knew how it would appear: cadaverous, with the sienna flesh pulled taut against his skull. The collapsed nose, the yellowed teeth, the heavily muscled arms that burned my flesh as he held it. Under the cloak was his tail. Thick as a man’s waist, with protruding bony ridges.

  “Ah, I see I must again rescue you from those who would deprive me of my pleasure.” Ysrthgrathe said. “You look quite faint, my dear. Is it such a shock to see me again after all this time? I’m wounded. I thought you would have expected me by now.”

  The air was gone. It felt as though everything was going black. I thought I heard Glasgian’s panicked cry, but it seemed to come from some far-off place. I struggled to overcome my panic. In the seconds it took me to regroup, Ysrthgrathe had slid across the floor and grabbed Glasgian.

  Backing away from me, he held Glasgian against his chest as a shield. Around Glasgian’s neck were Ysrthgrathe’s long fingers tipped by razor-sharp nails. Glasgian was making little hiccuping noises.

  “Let him go.” I said. “This doesn’t concern him.”

  Ysrthgrathe threw back his head and laughed. It bounced off the walls and echoed inside me like a low-throbbing ache.

  “Aina, it has indeed been too long. I’ve missed these little tête-à-têtes. Do you think I don’t know who this child is? Come now, I’m not that much of a fool. The irony is almost too perfect. Is it not?” Then he gave a sigh of such perfect rapture that I felt as though a shaft of ice had been driven into my heart.

  “How long have you denied me this most perfect of pleasures?” he asked. “I’ve been waiting for you patiently. You’ve denied me for far too long. And now you shall pay.”

  He began to draw his nails across Glasgian’s neck. The blood welled up after a moment and trickled down into the white shirt. Glasgian gave a moan, and a dark spot appeared on the front of his trousers and grew.

  “Stop it.” I shrieked.

  Just then, there was a violent flash, a purple jolt of energy, behind Ysrthgrathe. The force of it lifted him and Glasgian off the floor and hurtled them toward me. I dropped to the floor, but still, my shoulder was caught by one of them as they flew by. The force of the impact rolled me over and over until I came to rest against a table.

  I looked up and saw Caimbeul standing just beyond the door to his bedroom. There was a crackling of energy around him. Then I heard another sound and turned my head to see what it was. Ysrthgrathe’s robes burst into flame. With the briefest nod of the head, he extinguished the flames, and turned to Harlequin with a smile. But he’d also let go of Glasgian, who was making whimpering noises and clutching his throat.

  Cursing my long skirts, I struggled to my feet and raced over to him. I pulled his hands away from his neck and looked at the wound. It was bleeding profusely, but wasn’t as deep as I’d feared. Placing my hands on the wound, I began to pull the weave of his life together. My hands grew warm, then hot as the magic worked its way into his flesh. Glasgian tried to move away from me, but I tightened my hands and that stopped him.

  I heard a cry, and looked up to see Caimbeul falling backwards, arms and legs splayed out. A bright orange flash blinded me for a moment, and when I could see again, Ysrthgrathe stood over Caimbeul. The sweet smell of burning flesh came to me and I fought against the memories it called forth.

  I opened my arms, and a blue light leapt between my palms. It coalesced into a ball of blue-white b
rilliance. Turning my palms outward toward Ysrthgrathe, I pushed the ball away from me. It hurtled across the room and slammed into Ysrthgrathe’s side.

  The impact spun him around, and then he crashed into the wall with a howl of indignation.

  “Ah, Aina.” he said, holding his side. “You still care. But despite my gratitude to find that you are as I remember, our sweet reunion must be cut short. I cannot say I approve of your choice of company, but rest assured, I will rectify that in the future.”

  With that, he vanished.

  I sank to the floor just as someone began banging on the door to the penthouse.

  No more dreams now.

  The nightmares have merged with the waking world. The time for running is over.

  Now her sleep is covered by nothing. Nothing except darkness.

  23

  The pounding at the door continued. Through the thick steel door I could hear a voice calling.

  “This is hotel security. Is everything all right in there? If we don’t hear an answer in twenty seconds, we’re coming in.”

  “Damn, damn, damn.” I muttered as I pushed myself off the floor and stumbled to the door. The left sleeve on my dress was torn, and it slid off my arm. I shoved it up, but it fell down again. Reaching the door, I flung it open.

  “What do you want?” I said, trying to keep a balance between annoyance and huskiness in my tone.

  “There was a report from the floor below.” said one of the uniformed guards. There were two of them—big troll bruisers lugging heavy-duty artillery. “Something about a lot of shooting and banging around. Is everything all right?”

  “Of course.” I said.

  “Mind if we come in?”

  “I don’t, but my companion might.” I said. “He’s a bit . . . tied up at the moment.” I gave them a hot smoldering look, and one of them looked distinctly uncomfortable.

  “Oh . . .”

  “But we’re always to open to variety.” I continued. “I can’t remember the last time we had company. That is, if your boss won’t mind letting you off-duty for a while.”

  “Uh . . .”

  “Well, what’s it to be?”

  “I don’t think we need to stay. As long as everything is all right.”