A Demon's Work Is Never Done: Latter Day Demons, Book 2 (28 page)

* * *

Kordevik

I wouldn't have known, had Li'Neruh Rath not told me about the N'il Mo'erti three nights earlier—when he handed me the ring I'd bought for Lexsi. Somehow, he'd also known I'd need the ring and the information, so he told me what I needed to know.

He explained that more High Demons waited in Peru, should we manage to get across the border. He said Lexsi had a set of blades in her bedroom, just as I did. We might need them with us if we went to Peru.

When I asked him if there were a way into Peru that we didn't know about, he frowned. "Zaria knows," he answered. I racked my brain, wondering what Zaria knew that the rest of us didn't.

Whatever it was, it must be dangerous, because she hadn't said anything about it, yet. Time was passing, too, and there was little of it left. Every news program was running updates on whether war would be declared.

At least we had inside information on that particular subject. The President was determined to send troops to Peru, and several other countries were aligned with him. Even the UN wanted to send their forces, after attempting to get the President's attention for months about the goings-on in Peru.

No matter what, people were going to die. Whether in Peru or outside it, people would die. How many had yet to be determined. I'd heard an updated count on the death toll in New York; estimates now said more than half a million. I hoped the news station was padding those numbers to garner ratings.

We were down to one day—one day before coalition forces would attempt to invade Peru. Visions of fighter jets shot down, tanks obliterated and missiles detonated before they reached their targets filled my imagination.

We needed another option and soon.

"Kory?" Lexsi scooted onto the sofa next to me. I'd chosen a seat in the family room and watched television with the sound off. I didn't need to hear the bluster—the crawler at the bottom of the screen told me everything I wanted to know.

"Onion." I pulled her against my side and wrapped her in a snug embrace. She was worried and had been for days. I'd promised her that we'd get the bad guys. I had no idea where to start.

Yes, feeling helpless was aggravating. I hated it, yet that's exactly where we were. Lexsi felt the same; I could see it in her eyes. Sure, I wanted to be a hero to her, but I was just as worried and scared as she was.

"Baby, we'll do what we can," I breathed against her hair. "I don't know what that is, yet, but whatever it is, we'll be ready."

"Kory?" She looked up at me.

"What, baby?" I wanted to kiss her so badly by that time it had become a physical pain.

"I'm glad you're here with me. Even if I could call someone else, you're the one I'd choose."

My heart skipped to a stop for a moment, then reawakened and thumped rapidly to make up for its brief cessation. We were going to stand together in this, no matter what happened.

"It could kill us, onion," I admitted, my voice soft. "I believe they have more High Demons waiting there for us."

"Then we'll go together," she said and wrapped her arms around my waist.

* * *

Lexsi

The latest development, when there was barely twelve hours left before the President and Congress acted, was that somehow, every terrorist who'd dealt with the enemy was found dead in his cell.

Opal looked gray when she heard the news from Colonel Hunter. In each video, because the recorders had been left on and unimpeded, a man appeared in each cell. The terrorist began silently gasping for breath while the man disappeared.

"An asphyxiation bubble, tight around their heads," Zaria explained, her tone grim. In each case, the victim fell to the floor, clawing at his face while struggling to breathe. They may have deserved death, but it aggravated me that this was the method dealt by those who'd allied with them in the first place.

Opal exchanged glances with Zaria and both left the kitchen while the rest of us considered what we'd heard.

Were our enemies in Peru afraid the terrorists would tell what they knew? That we didn't already know who most of the players were by this time? Perhaps they'd decided to make enemies of all instead of most, as it was before.

Either way, the terrorists were dead and I worried that more people could die just as easily on the whims of the enemy.

"We have terrorists posting their jihads against Peru online," Thomas interrupted us as we sat around the kitchen island, watching the small television in the kitchen.

"Of course they are," Anita sighed. "Because all of Peru is responsible for what a few people did to them." Her sarcasm was unmistakable as she frowned at Thomas.

"Just the messenger," Thomas held up his hands. "I think the boss will have information for us in a few."

Here it comes
, Kory gripped my hand.
The plan of last resort
, he added.

* * *

There are volcanoes in Peru and Ecuador. Some dormant, some not. I'd read about them when I researched the pipeline between Ecuador and Peru. At the time, I didn't think they were important.

I was learning otherwise.

"A system of caves connects Ecuador and Peru," Zaria said. "But there's a problem. Sure, a few have gotten in and out. Told fantastic stories afterward, but then never found the caves again. Most people paid no attention to the stories, because those people couldn't prove anything."

"What are you talking about?" Watson demanded. "If they got in once, they should be able to get in again."

"Under normal circumstances," Zaria's smile was tight. "Those people talk about finding treasure, but they haven't produced any of it for anyone else to see. There's a reason for that."

"You're not making sense," Watson folded arms over his chest.

We sat in the media room, taking up all the chairs, sofas and part of the floor to listen to Opal and Zaria's plans. So far, we were in the preliminary stage and I waited for their objective to be revealed before making comments.

"What she's trying to say," Opal leveled a quelling gaze on Watson, "Is that what's in those caves has power—and talent—of its own."

"I think I saw that in a movie, once," Watson wasn't convinced.

"Shut up or I swear I'll punch you," Anita hissed at him. He turned toward her and blinked several times. "You'd really do that? Punch me?"

"I will if you don't keep your mouth closed until they're done."

"Okay. I reserve the right to be skeptical," he said and turned back to Zaria and Opal.

"Some people call it the metal library. There's a crystal library attached to it. It's online, feel free to look it up," Zaria jerked her head at Watson.

"If they found it, why haven't we seen any of it?"

"Shut. Up." Anita smacked Watson's arm.

"Mortals can't take anything from it," Zaria said. "The caves move. I realize that sounds crazy, but it's true. Not only do the caves move, but the library moves, too, from place to place. It contains false libraries to detract from the real one. That's part of how it protects itself. There is evidence that mortals created their own versions of some of the artifacts after a brief glimpse of the false libraries—those reproductions can also be found online. The real metal library protects itself."

"That makes it sound as if it's not native to this planet," Kory said.

"Bingo," Zaria tapped her nose.

"What is it, then? Really? And why is it here?" Anita asked.

"Now that's the real question," Zaria said. "What is it and why is it here? Let's just say that things as they are wouldn't exist without it. I know that's not a very good answer, but it's all I can give you for now. It's important. Extremely important. This is our last option—the very last one—to deal with the problem in Peru. If it weren't our final option, I'd never have brought it up."

"How will this help us with the enemy in Peru?" I asked. "If the caves move, how will we get through them in the first place?"

"I'm glad you brought that up," Zaria said. "There's one way to keep the caves from moving and the library stationary so we can get through it and into Peru—underground."

"How's that?" Watson said.

"By walking through Tungurahua," Zaria replied.

* * *

Tungurahua
.

An active volcano. Kory and I could walk through it—Zaria said we had to walk through molten lava to find the cave entrance that would ensure all the connecting caves didn't move. She said our Thifilatha and Thifilathi could carry the others and keep them safe.

Yes, High Demons could protect others from heat if they chose to do so. I worried that we'd be carrying so many. Zaria said not to worry, that she and Opal were working on a plan to make that happen.

Moving caves. A library so important it protected itself.

What the hell were we dealing with?

* * *

"I'm not the one making the others smaller," Yoff explained as he sipped tea and ate a slice of strawberry cake. I'd worried about what Zaria told us, so I'd dealt with it by baking.

"This is awesome," Watson mumbled around a mouthful of cake.

"You say that about anything edible," I pointed a finger at him.

"But it's true," he said. "Everything you make is awesome."

"It wasn't awesome the first time I made it," I said. "Uncle Fes grimaced when he tasted it."

"How old were you?" Kory flashed a welcome grin at me.

"Seven. And I forgot the sugar."

"Did you know your uncle Fes is married to your aunt Bree?" Zaria appeared at Kory's elbow and silently asked for a slice of cake.

I went still. I knew Bree was Gran's sister, but I didn't know she and Uncle Fes were together.

"Um, no," I said. "Why didn't I know that?"

"Your aunt is very careful. It's her way of protecting your uncle," Zaria replied.

"She's protecting Uncle Fes?" I cut a generous portion of cake for Zaria.

"Fes could become a target if certain people found out he's connected to her like that. Only a few people know, since he insists on living in Targis."

"You know about her—what other people won't say, don't you?"

"Yes. But it's not my story to tell. You should ask her yourself, the next time you see her. I think she'll tell you."

"May the Three be merciful," Kory sighed.

"Exactly," Zaria grinned at him and dipped into her cake.

* * *

Opal

"You know we're going to war in those caves?" I said.

"I know," Zaria agreed and handed me a saucer with a slice of strawberry cake on it. "This is probably what they've waited for. They have no idea where the door is, but they knew enough information to explore the tales that have been spread in the past about the library."

"So they've set us up and we're going to lead them right to it," I said, cutting into the cake with a fork Zaria produced and handed to me.

"I hope the library will act to protect itself, if it becomes necessary," Zaria sighed.

"That means we're all dead," I pointed out. "It won't discriminate if it perceives itself under attack."

"Yeah. I know. We're all dead anyway, if they get their hands on the dark books. It'll take a little longer, but we'll all die."

"Fuckers," I cut another piece of cake. "Damn, this is really good."

* * *

Kordevik

"Your blades—they'll withstand the heat?" Kell asked. I had them on my bed, checking everything about them.

"As I understand it, yes," I said.

"They will," Li'Neruh Rath appeared. "I have placed my blessing upon them. Upon Lexsi's weapons, too."

"Why don't you come with us?" I joked.

Li'Neruh frowned and blew a cloud of smoke in reply. "Okay, I get that this isn't your thing," I held up a hand.

"This is your assignment," Li'Neruh replied. I glanced at Kell; he studied the god of Kifirin in fascination, although he hadn't spoken. Most people, if they knew anything at all, wouldn't speak to Li'Neruh Rath. It could draw his ire.

I'd spoken to him after he'd sent me to Earth, mostly because I didn't care at first what happened to me after the wedding fiasco.

"Will Lexsi be safe?" I dropped my eyes and stared at the ten-foot, black blades that lay across my bed, with only the center portion of each blade resting on the cover.

"I can't answer that question. All I know is that it will take both of you, if you are successful in this."

"She's only twenty-three," I whispered.

"I know." Li'Neruh disappeared before I could ask more questions.

Questions
.

I had many.

We were walking into this nearly blind; Zaria had more information on the caves and the library they housed, she just wasn't telling us. I'd dealt with this sort of thing in the army—go where you're told and do what you're told. Oh, and don't ask questions, because you don't need to know.