by Nikki Frank
She glowed with anticipation. But my body hummed with nervous energy I couldn’t explain. This wasn’t my wedding, why be so nervous?
I mulled over the mundane to amuse and distract myself as I waited for this shindig to get underway. So far, I wasn’t impressed with weddings. Maybe when the time came I’d elope. Or get married in Vegas. Wham, bam, thank you minister. None of all this hype, and waiting, and nervousness.
Finally, the moment had arrived. Elita led the way out to the isle. Yumiko followed, and I came after. Talon caught my eye and winked. Omri stared at Ferika, his eyes shining. Emmett drooped, bored, but Lynx stood strangely tense. His expression was mellow, but every muscle corded up, ridged. Strange. But I had no sense of an evil aura. Talon acted relaxed. And the Lord High Governor’s heavy guard encircled the room. I tried to force myself to relax as well.
That stupid pervert, Lynx was probably pissed he and I weren’t getting married. After all, he went and announced he’d take me as a wife before I even woke from my coma. He probably thought not only should this be his moment, but now he wasn’t getting any action tonight either. Not that he would ever get that from me.
I took my place beside the alter and tried to keep my expression pleasant. I couldn’t let my nerves spoil Ferika’s special day. At this point the union became more interesting. Instead of busting out a bible or some other inspirational text the minister took out a set of golden blades and lay them on the table.
I squirmed. This would be a bond sealed in blood. Divorce didn’t exist amongst magic folk the way it did for humans. I’d already known that. But I finally understood why. You were permanently linked to your partner. Yikes. I took a sideways glance at Talon and felt ill. Did he hope we’d do this someday? As an imp was I even capable of such commitment?
I scanned the audience hoping to distract myself and my eyes landed first on my parents and then Talon’s. My stomach settled a little. They were bonded and happy and they were like me. A pair-bonding would work out. As long as I picked wisely, I could be happy like them.
Omri and Ferika were finishing up a long and boring vow. I now forced myself not to yawn. The minister pointed them both toward the alter and took up the first of the sacrificial knives.
A slow clap echoed through the otherwise silent hall.
“Is this where I say I object?”
My stomach turned inside out. I’d heard that voice once before and I’d never forget the paunchy little owner who scared the crap out of me. Lord Zaemon.
As if on cue the ceiling crumbled inward and screams echoed through the ballroom as people were crushed. Roaring which brought down more debris filled the hall and heat blazed as dragon fire herded the survivors into the center of the room.
Rough hands grabbed me and pulled me against a solid chest. I struggled, but Lynx was stronger.
“Let me go. We need to help.”
“I am helping. I’m helping myself to my payment. Just wait for it. There’s still a pair-bonding to happen and then we can enjoy ourselves.”
“I’m not bonding with you.”
He gave a cruel laugh. “I don’t want to bond with you. I might have at the start, to play nice, but all I need from you is children. I don’t have to be married to you to make that happen.”
I struggled again and gasped. “I don’t understand.”
“That’s because you’re stupid, shortsighted, and entirely too noble,” he growled. “The wedding is for Zaemon. He’ll be taking Elita. You’re my payment. In order for a makhai to successfully reproduce the woman has to meet a set of very strict criteria. Makhai have no females, so finding a suitable vessel can take some time. I got lucky. You’re perfect. After you’ve popped out a couple for me, I might do you the favor of ending your life swiftly. But fight me on this and I may simply keep you around for the pleasure of trying to break you.”
I didn’t bother fighting the sick feeling in my stomach and took pleasure in puking all over Lynx’s arms and feet. He rewarded me by shaking me roughly, but the pain of my neck snapping back and forth was worth the small measure of justice. Once he stopped, I took a quick glance around the room which had filled with complete pandemonium. Dark beings overran the hall, killing at their leisure.
Lesser demons, their red skin and black hair nearly glowing with their internal hellfire were rounding up what I assumed to be members of the Synod. The people they were targeting were all older, upper crust, and stuffy looking. The demons kept the fairies unharmed. But then if I’d understood the gist of Zaemon’s plans from before, he wanted to rule supreme. To help legitimize his coup with the common people it would be faster to have the Fairy Synod still in place, but dancing to his tune.
The rest of the guest were lambs for the slaughter. Another flock of Stymphalian birds were picking at the lifeless bodies like gruesome vultures. When they switched victims, the sight churned up my already tender stomach. Various bits of gore stuck to their razor-sharp feathers and went with them in a vomit-worthy display.
I struggled but Lynx kept his grip and I could do nothing. He forced me to watch the devastation unfold. The makhai must be trained in torture, as well as combat. I scanned the hall, looking around for faces I knew. Maybe I would see some shred of hope. The only ones I could pinpoint in the chaos were those who had been near the alter with me. I knew everyone else was still there, somewhere and hopefully alive. A huge, dark green male dragon guarded the doors while a smaller, poisonous green female, had squared off with Ferika.
Talon kept shooting me distraught glances as he tried to pull his parents out from under the rubble. I couldn’t find my parents anywhere. A small group of guards had backed together, trying to protect the Lord High Governor but they were only managing defense.
Another group of guards, led by Omri were guarding Elita. They had her tucked back against the alter and they bristled with swords pointed out. Zaemon looked them over and gave a four-note whistle. A chill ran through the room and the glass of every window blew out. In through the empty frames floated a nightmare, wraiths. Like grim reapers in smoke they floated to the floor, killing anyone unfortunate enough to get caught in their mist. The guards around Elita paled as the wraiths tightened a circle around them. Out of the group Omri was the only one brave enough or smart enough to create a torch. Only fire would drive back the killing mist.
One of the other guards went pale. His weapon clattered to the ground and he fled, screaming in terror. His foot caught the edge of their mist and his lifeless body toppled to the floor with a thud. The rest of Elita’s guard panicked and ran leaving her with only Omri. A Minotaur swiftly caught her and drug her to the alter and the waiting Zaemon.
I hung my head as I, too, got hauled toward the alter.
“Be grateful,” Lynx sneered. “You get a front row seat to the dawn of darkness. Under Zaemon’s rule we’ll use Earth as we ought to. Life will be a lot more fun.”
Screams and crying echoed around me. People were dead and more groaned as death crept up on them. Tears blurred my eyes. Evil wasn’t supposed to win. How had this much evil even gotten past the guards? We should have been safe. There should have been help. But if the rest of the guard wasn’t here by now, they weren’t coming. They must have been decimated, too.
My chest burned as reality set in. Life would never be the way it was before, as if fun and joy had somehow died today, as well. Even if things ended this very moment, so many lives were ruined. I cringed as a bang like a gunshot through sheet metal rang through the room. Ferika growled and crouched in a growing pool of her own blood, hissing at the other dragoness. We’d lost. We had no more time . . .
I gasped. That was the solution!
Imps had one skill in their arsenal most probably didn’t even realize they held. I might not have even remembered the talent myself if I hadn’t overheard my parents talking about it in the not so d
istant past. The night on which all of this had started. Practically a lifetime had passed since I’d heard my father and mother preparing for their mission to Siberia. But they had given me my solution.
I could stop time. For ten seconds or so. I had no illusions. I’d heard my parents clearly. This method was a death sentence for the imp using it. Stopping time drained so much magic even intervention and infusions might not work fast enough.
I scanned the room again. My friends and family were dying. Lynx had his hands on me still. My life would be a living hell from here on out. My resolve solidified. I would end this. I had the power and the skill. Everything I loved was being exterminated around me. Life wasn’t worth living in this new world, anyway. I had no idea how to do this. But Zaemon held the sacrificial knife over his head. I had to act now or never.
I dug inside myself and let instinct take over. The magic roared out of me with a flash and a silent explosion which rocked the room. Everyone stood frozen, statue-like. Only I was left moving.
Ten: I slipped out of Lynx’s arms.
Nine: I grabbed one of the sacrificial knives off the table.
Eight: Diving in, I slit Lynx’s throat. Deep enough I knew there’d be no helping him.
Seven: I hurried the few steps to Zaemon.
Six: I slit his throat, too.
Five: I placed the point of the blade at his ear.
Four: I drove the knife upward and inward, twisting as I went. Even a demon lord dies if you scramble his brain.
Three: I’d begun to move sluggishly. I still wanted to help Ferika.
Two: I wouldn’t make it to her. Blackness surrounded me.
One: The last thing I felt was the slap of tile on my face.
Chapter 21
I had thought death would be more exciting. But nothing surrounded me except blackness. At least I felt warm. Strange that I could think. I still seemed to be me. Would I spend eternity with my disembodied thoughts for company?
Suddenly a jolt of something which burned ran through my body. Funny. I didn’t think dead people had bodies.
Another burning jolt. This time I wanted to scream but I couldn’t. My mouth wouldn’t obey. Why? Why couldn’t I die in peace?
Again, with the burning. This time I screamed, but my body wouldn’t move to thrash like I wanted to. Now I heard voices, though I couldn’t get my eyes open.
“Omri, do you have any more?”
“I’m out. Someone get more.”
“Olivia. Hold on.”
Sobbing.
I knew those voices, but I couldn’t put names or faces with them. My mind filled with darkness once again. The world of pain began to fade, and I knew those had all simply been pieces of memories. The comfortable blackness swiftly returned.
The burning came back. This time I thrashed and screamed and fought against hands which tried to hold me. “Let me die,” I screamed. Something horrible awaited outside the blackness. I knew it.
“Livy, please. Don’t give up.”
The voice cut through some of the blackness because of the heartbreak it held. Somewhere deep inside I wanted to make the owner of that voice happy. I screamed as I took another jolt, but this time I stayed in the world of the broken voice. Every inch of my body burned so badly I wanted to find water and become a part of it.
My eyes flicked open to chaos. People rushed at me, yelling my name and pulling at me. I couldn’t get my bearings. Someone shoved all those people away and Talon’s deep brown eyes looked down at me. Talon. He was the owner of the worried voice I’d wanted to comfort.
“Thank God.” Talon cradled me gently in his arms. “I thought I’d lost you again.”
Suddenly everything came rushing back and I pushed away. “Elita? Ferika?”
“They’re fine,” Talon soothed. “As soon as Zaemon went down, every available healer went to work.”
“I saw you pulling your parents out.”
“My mom has a fractured pelvis. Dad has a couple broken ribs and a concussion. But they’ll live.”
“My parents?” Bile gathered in the pit of my stomach.
I was met with silence.
I grabbed his tux jacket. “Talon. Where are my parents?”
Talon’s head drooped, and he silently pointed to the row they’d been sitting in. Pieces of stone the size of small cars, from the collapsed roof and buttresses lay over their row and the ones surrounding it. Nothing but complete devastation in that section of the hall. The world spun and went dark again. All the noises seemed to come from far away.
Talon stroked my cheek. “I’m so sorry, Livy. Yumiko found them while Omri gave you the power infusions. They don’t know if your parents will survive.” He pulled me to his chest. “Your dragons took them straight to the hospital. I’ll take you to see them once you’re up to it.”
I blinked at burning tears. “What do you mean, my dragons?”
Talon rubbed nervously at the back of his head. “I’m not sure now’s the time to tell you. You pretty much died and your parents . . . I think you’ve got enough to process right now.”
“I don’t want to process.” I rubbed my eyes. “Distract me.”
“Well . . .” He sighed. “You’re kinda the new demon lord.”
“I’m what?”
“The contract is a lot like the magic governing a werewolf pack, which I’d guess you’re familiar with. You know, kill the alpha and you become the new alpha. You killed the demon lord so . . . I know you’re not a demon, per se, but since imps are classified as malevolent, the magic still works on you. Velor and Vixaria were Zaemon’s new dragons. Their allegiance falls to you, since you’re the demon lord. So, you see, they’re your dragons.”
“I don’t want to be the bad guy.”
“You don’t have to be.”
I stared up at the owner of the unfamiliar voice and shock prickled through me at the sight of the Lord High Governor.
“Three demon lords govern their own districts in the Central Borderlands. Under normal circumstances they rank between me and the members of the Fairy Synod. Two of the three were happy with that arrangement. Zaemon clearly wished for a different role. But you can serve in a competent capacity like the other two. Only a handful of magic creatures are truly evil. As an imp, you ought to understand you are what you make of yourself.”
I gasped. “I’m supposed to rule a district?”
“Once you reach your majority. Yes,” Lord Feéroi answered. “Until then I will appoint a regent to assist you. Though I will take your opinion on the regent.”
“Really?”
He gave me a sharp look. “I believe you were the only one who spent the last week trying to warn my daughter and her bodyguards about Lynx. You’ve proven your intelligence.”
“Yeah. But I’m confused.”
“He was a plant. He managed to slip past my screenings and scramble Omri’s skills. You seemed to have a better measure of him. He worked for Zaemon in return for―”
I held up my hand feeling queasy again. “I heard his plan. Let’s not go there again.”
“Anyhow, Lynx sabotaged the defenses and set up Zaemon’s attack on the wedding. Today would have been a total loss without your willingness to sacrifice yourself. You’re a lucky girl Omri has the talents he does. We very nearly lost you. And we are certainly lucky to have you.”
The rest of the day passed in a blur. I went from elated to miserable by turns but I never got a moment alone. I wanted to decompress and visit my parents, only now I had dragons awaiting my orders and servants pestering me.
Talon showed up at the door to my new quarters with a wheelchair. I glared at him from the bed.
“What are you planning on doing with that?”
“Taking you to visit your parents. Yo
ur mom just got out of surgery.”
I crossed my arms. “I’ll walk. Thanks.”
“It’s not your choice.” The Lord High Governor stepped inside my new room and gave an appraising glance over me. “I ordered the chair. You will use it. I need you up and on your feet in three days.”
“Three days?” Talon didn’t sound pleased. “Why the rush?”
“Don’t panic, dear boy.” He lay a hand on Talon’s shoulder. “I simply need to present her to the Fairy Synod and the other demon lords. But I assume she’ll feel more dignified on her own two feet at such a meeting. Better to use the chair now and rest. It’s not every day one gets drug back from the jaws of death.” He smiled at me. “Speaking of which, you seem to end up there more than most. Let’s not make that a habit, shall we?”
“O . . . okay.” I still hadn’t found my voice when he disappeared.
The Lord High Governor had just spoken to me. Not simply in passing, but conversationally. Like I knew him, or I mattered. Weird.
Talon shook his head as he helped me out of bed and into the wheelchair. “Imagine being on friendly terms with the Lord High Governor. Not even a demon lord for a day and already I feel beneath you.”
I gave his fingers a tug. “You’ll never be beneath me.”
“Too bad.” Talon nipped my earlobe as he pushed me out into the hall.
I wanted to flirt back, but I couldn’t. We were on the way to see my parents. With all the people fawning all over me, no one had yet assured me they would be all right. My fears were confirmed as I passed through the door of my father’s room. He lay motionless on the bed, a breathing tube protruding from his mouth. I grabbed Talon’s hand and looked up at him, blinded by tears.
