Daniel Taylor and the Scepter of Power (9 page)

Marla saw Obron glance over at Mike. “I heard humans in my head,” Obron said mentally, in response to the question he sensed as to why he should show up here now.

Mike had saved her! Marla was so happy!

“You’re not the powerful demon you think you are!” Metistakles sputtered at him, spittle flying. “Believe me, Obron, I could have killed the little bitch long ago. That’s something that
you
could never do!”

Marla recalled her dream. Obron had sworn an oath to Kitana that he would never harm Marla, and her mother had enforced that with a powerful spell.

Sparks were crackling across Metistakles’ palms.

“Do you really think
you
can kill her?” Obron yelled.

Metistakles laughed. “Maybe you can fool the others, but not me!”

What was he talking about? Obron seemed taken aback, but Metistakles went on, undeterred. “Now that Silvan has failed, all is lost, and she’s of no further use to us!”

“Quite the opposite!” Energy was also collecting in Obron’s hands. “In addition, Silvan is here, you fool! In your fit of lust, you didn’t even notice! He’s here, and Xandros has sensed another presence as well!”

Oh, no, they knew about Silvan! Marla had almost forgotten her pain. What if they tracked him down — or James! And she was just lying here useless, unable to move or warn the others! She couldn’t even communicate mentally with Silvan, since he was wearing the amulet!

Marla saw Metistakles dart a quick glance in her direction. She could literally see what he was thinking. Suddenly, she had become useful again.
The scepter
… she heard someone think, but she didn’t know which one of them it had been. They weren’t bothering to shield their thoughts.

Obron and Metistakles stared at each other. A lively exchange of thoughts was taking place between the two demons. They were so engrossed in their discussion that Marla was able to follow most of it.

You were about to kill her? My daughter?
Obron’s energy sphere began to coalesce. The two high lords were circling each other like wild animals, ready to spring at each other’s throats at any moment.

I read it in her thoughts
—
the Oracle prophesized to her that she would die soon!

Die?
For a fraction of a second, her father looked shocked.

Anyway, she’s useless!
Metistakles told Obron, but Marla sensed that he was only being greedy; he wanted to possess her alone in order to get his hands on the scepter.

Unfortunately for him, her father had had the same idea.
No, she’s not! We may have lost Silvan, he could have controlled the scepter for us. But the same blood flows in Marla’s veins!

The Oracle predicted that Silvan would seal the fate of the scepter!
Metistakles interjected.
So if he’s here, we should snap him up quickly!

“The Oracle can make mistakes!” Obron cried.

“It never has!” Again, Metistakles glanced at Marla. “And since she’s going to die anyways, why not by my hand? You still owe me, Obron!”

“No one will kill my daughter! Not unless I expressly order it! And I owe you nothing!”

Metistakles shook his head. “I always wanted Kitana, but you took her away from me. So I took everything I could from your daughter!” He laughed and raised his hands. It was clear that he was intending to kill Obron. Marla sensed the hatred bubbling out of him.

But her father was quicker. His entire body was suddenly covered in energy, and when Metistakles attacked him, his charge rebounded off of Obron back onto him. Searing light enveloped him. Screaming, Metistakles attempted to snuff out the blue flames that were devouring him through his cloak with his bare hands. His skin caught fire. He seemed to melt before their eyes like a wax candle.

Obron stood motionless, staring at his rival. His face betrayed nothing about his thoughts or whether he was enjoying Metistakles’ suffering.

“Of the two of us, I was the better demon,” Obron whispered as Metistakles’ body melted away.

When Marla broke out of her paralysis, she knew that Metistakles had been destroyed. Not only could she move again, she was truly free! Free from Metistakles, whose slave she had been all these months. Marla took a deep breath — and winced. Her wounds throbbed painfully, and many were still bleeding. She felt dizzy and weak.

She couldn’t manage to sit up, so she turned her head and gazed at the little heap of ashes that was all that remained of her tormentor. Metistakles had robbed her of so much energy that she would never be able to heal her wounds by herself. She would die of them, but she would die a free demon. As her vision went black and she began to rejoice at the thought of unconsciousness, she felt Mike at her side.

“Marla …” He was sitting next to her, holding her hand.

She blinked. Mike looked battered and shocked.

“Tired …” She was unbelievably exhausted and only wanted to sleep. “Mike …” She squeezed his hand weakly. He was here. She wouldn’t die alone. But what would become of him?

Father, please grant me one last wish before I die: Take Mike back to the human world. Please!
With the last of her strength, she tried to send Obron this message. Mike was stroking her intact cheek.

You’re not going to die. Not yet!
she heard Obron’s voice in her head. “Stand aside, human!” The demon pulled Mike away from the bed and crouched down next to Marla.

“Y-you’re her father?” Mike stammered. “You’re going to save Marla, aren’t you?” Mike knelt down by her head and stroked her hair.

Her heart wanted to beat faster out of love for him, but it simply couldn’t. Life was ebbing away from her. With difficulty, she turned her head in Mike’s direction. “I love you,” she whispered.

Mike pressed his lips together. His eyes were glistening. “You’re not going to die, do you hear me?”

She suddenly felt Obron’s cool hands on her stomach. Marla gasped. What was her father doing? She felt his hands grow warmer, and her wounds began to close up. First her stomach, then her cheek. Obron was giving her his own energy! When Marla realizing what was happening, her mind reacted immediately. Like a vampire out for blood, her consciousness rushed toward Obron’s energy and sucked even more out of him.

Why was her father helping her? Was it because he felt something for her, or just out of pure self-interest? Marla sensed no emotion from him. Obron had sealed off his mind.

The holes in her cheek closed and stopped burning. Marla suddenly felt hale and hearty.

When Obron took his hands away, she sat up.

Mike beamed at her, but Marla couldn’t stop staring at her father. Had the Oracle been wrong? Was she not about to die, after all?

Soon you will leave this life
… That’s what the Oracle had prophesized to Ilaria.

Marla was confused. So many thoughts were swirling through her mind. “Why did you do that?” Her pulse drummed in her temples. Her father had actually saved her!

“I might still need you,” Obron replied coolly.

Of course — how could she have imagined that he might feel anything like fatherly love for her.

Mike handed her the black sweater that she had been lying on. She hastily pulled it on and fell into Mike’s arms.

“I was so worried about you,” Mike whispered.

“And I about you.” Marla sighed in relief.

Metistakles was dead; she could scarcely believe it. “I love you,” she whispered, kissing Mike on the lips.

A derisive snort echoed through the room. “History repeats itself,” Obron said. “A watcher, just like your mother!”

Marla was taken aback. Obron could sense that Mike was a watcher, even though he possessed no magical abilities? She herself had never sensed anything! But she wasn’t nearly as strong and powerful as other demons.

Obron pulled Mike away from her. “I won’t tolerate a watcher in our midst!”

“Please, father!” Marla stepped protectively in front of Mike. “I’ll take him to the surface! He has no magic that can hurt you!”

“Everything that he has heard and seen down here, or that he has learned from you — it’s too much! He works for the Guild, our sworn enemies!”

“I-I don’t know anything,” Mike stammered, “and I’m no one! In the Guild’s eyes, I barely exist!”

Obron pushed Marla aside and grabbed Mike by the collar. “You’re lying!”

Marla’s heart was breaking. “Father, please! Let him go!”

Mike pressed his hands to his head, and Marla knew that Obron was forcibly looking for information in his mind. The demon suddenly let go of him, a smile softening his stern features. Marla had never seen Obron smile this way!

“Hmmm … Why didn’t you just say right away that you were on our side?”

“What?” Marla didn’t understand anything anymore. “What are you talking about, Father?”

“For all intents and purposes, your human friend is working for Xandros.”

Her chest tightened. Whatever Obron had seen in Mike’s mind — it must have been the truth. Marla cursed her underdeveloped abilities. She could communicate mentally, but she couldn’t delve any deeper into people’s heads. For other demons, she acted merely as a sort of transmitter. They had first penetrated Silvan’s mind through her consciousness.

Obron circled Mike like a wolf with does its prey. “Your beloved boyfriend is the nephew of a high-ranking Guild member who has defected. He entrusted Mike with an important task, even though he possesses almost no magic.”

“Almost?” Mike spoke up. “So I do have powers?”

Obron grinned. “Just one. It’s sleeping deep within you.”

Marla swallowed hard; she felt dizzy. “Is that true, Mike? You’re working for …”

He didn’t look her in the eyes as he nodded.

It felt as though she had been struck by lightning. She supposed should be happy that Mike was somehow on her side, but instead the betrayal hit her like a poisoned arrow. She shook her head sadly.

Obron’s laughter was triumphant. “They’ve been looking for Carpenter and the scepter for a long time. But not for themselves — no, for Xandros. Many years ago, he promised them great power if they tracked down Carpenter and the scepter. Their leader and all his followers are our allies.”

Marla found that she had nothing to say. She felt stupid and deceived as never before. The young man she loved was a traitor?

Obron loosened his grip on Mike’s collar. “I’ll let you live, human, if you help me.”

He eagerly nodded. “Of course! I can help you get the scepter. I know what Carpenter’s planning to do.”

Obron snorted, amused. “Yes, I saw that in your mind.” His eyes darkened. “That’s also how I know that you actually want the scepter for yourself!”

“Mike!” Marla cried in horror.

Staring at her, he shook his head slightly. Was he denying it?

Was she unconscious and just dreaming all this? Her reality suddenly seemed so horribly distorted. She wanted to cry, she wanted to die — and she found herself almost as paralyzed as she had been before, in Metistakles’ grip.

Obron smiled slyly at her. “Not the man of your dreams after all, daughter? But I like him.” He turned back to Mike. “You want validation, don’t you? From your parents and from your boss. That’s why you want to deliver up Carpenter and the scepter.”

Marla sighed. Now she understood. Mike didn’t want power; he wanted respect.

“If you cooperate with me,” Obron continued, “I can make sure that you get more recognition. I will promise to activate your dormant power. In addition, I will free the human girl and … you can have Marla.”

“Father!” Fresh tears welled up in her eyes. As always, she was just a pawn in the games of others, pushed back and forth at their whims. She didn’t want to be a means to an end any longer, and certainly not a trophy! Mike’s betrayal burned hotter than fire in her chest.

Obron ignored her and went on talking to Mike. “Carpenter and Silvan are here. Xandros has sensed their presence right away. Unfortunately, thanks to the eye of Horus, we demons cannot locate them exactly.”

Mike took a step forward. “But I can see them!”

Smiling, Obron clapped him on the shoulder. “Then let’s not waste any more time.” He turned to Marla and took her by the chin. “I knew you’d turn out to be useful — the union with your mother wasn’t a complete disaster after all!”

Marla took a deep, tremulous breath and pushed his hand away. He had no heart. But Carpenter did — he loved her like a daughter, she had felt that with certainty. He would never allow anything to happen to her.

As though he had read her mind, Obron shook his head and turned away. “Let’s go!” he called to Mike.

“Mike …” she whispered. “Please don’t do this.”

He looked at her, downcast, and mouthed words that Marla didn’t quite understand, but she imagined they might have been “Trust me”. Then he turned and walked away.

She forced back her tears. It was all just lies. Marla couldn’t trust anyone anymore. She would have never guessed who Mike really was. Everyone was just playing a game. That was why he had been so obsessed with following James and Silvan! Was there anyone here who didn’t want the scepter?

Her head bowed in misery, she did the only thing she knew how to do — run along after others, this time Obron and Mike.