Demon Revealed (High Demon Series #2) (3 page)

"I wanted to talk to you. Dad and Uncle Jayd wanted to
wait until closer to time so you wouldn't have a long period to worry over it. Once
the Thifilathi has chosen his mate, he will hunt ceaselessly for her until he
finds her. It is always better if he can claim her under controlled
circumstances."

"So, your father," I began.

"Well, Kifirin placed my mother in a healing sleep, so
she wasn't awake for the claiming," Tory sounded embarrassed. "She
woke in pain, though, and she wouldn't let anyone touch her at first. Uncle Reemagar
finally found her and convinced her to let him heal as much as he could. That's
how that happened. Mom doesn't know that Dad told me," he added. "Mom
has Kifirin's claiming marks too. He put his teeth in her neck first."

"But she has other children," I pointed out. Erland
Morphis was Ry's father, and Gavril was Gavin's son.

"Ry and I were born to surrogate mothers, using Mom's DNA
in donor eggs. The Larentii manipulated them—they were Mom's eggs when they were
finished. Sissy came the same way Ry and I did. Gavril came the traditional way.
But Mom isn't High Demon. She's vampire, but before that, she was a quarter
Bright Elemaiya and a quarter Karathian Witch. We think that had something to
do with all this."

"But I'm only a quarter High Demon." I pointed out.

"But you have every one of the High Demon gifts,
according to Kifirin. Now that Aurelius has given you blood, you're immortal. That
was the only thing we were all worried about."

Tory had just let something slip that I didn't know. "When
did Aurelius give me blood? I don't remember that." Tory saw that this
upset me.

"Hush, baby—I didn't realize he hadn't told you. I think
he gave it the night you spent with him. Did he give you something to
drink?"

"Yes, but it was fruit juice."

"That's how they give it to those who aren't vampire or werewolf—in
juice of some sort. It helps mask the taste. Think about it, Reah—have you had
to void, since then?"

I had to think for a moment to realize what he'd been asking
me. It dawned eventually. "No," I replied, "but that was
sporadic before then. I've gone for days before without having to—you
know."

"It's the High Demon in you—your body was almost
completely efficient, just as mine is. Now, that is complete and you won't age
past a certain point. You may look like you're in your early to mid-twenties
eventually, but no older than that. You're not susceptible to diseases anymore,
either." He turned me gently until I was looking up at his face again. "Reah,
I love you. I think I was hooked the minute I first saw you. My Thifilathi
certainly made his feelings known during the full moon only a few days later. If
you hadn't still been recovering, things might have happened sooner. I don't
know whether that would have been a good thing or a bad thing. That's why the
female High Demons are kept away from the males for the most part—so they won't
be taken unaware or by the wrong one. You weren't locked up, Reah. It was only
a matter of time." Tory's dark blue eyes looked right into mine as he
bumped his forehead against mine. "We belong together, Reah. I hope you
can get over the claiming someday and come to love me." He flouted
Karzac's orders and kissed me before folding away abruptly. I lay there and
stared at the ceiling for a very long time afterward.

* * *

"She didn't scream or call me names, and she only cried a
little," Tory sat heavily on one of his mother's guest chairs inside her
study. Lissa watched her son's face—he wasn't as upset as he had been before
going to visit Reah. Karzac had already been by, saying that Tory had bathed
Reah without taking too many liberties.

"Honey, take it slow, all right? I know you want to be
with her right this minute, but she has to digest all this first." Tory's
eyes were a darker version of Lissa's sky-blue. With his dark hair, he looked
quite handsome. "Torevik Rolfe Rath, are you listening to me?" Lissa
was attempting to get Tory's attention.

"I'm listening, Mom."

"The problem we'll have, I think, is working things out
between Reah and your Uncle Norian. Not to mention Lendill." Lissa was
testing the waters; Tory knew what Lendill had done. Sure enough, a curl of
smoke came from Tory's nostrils at the mention of Lendill's name.

* * *

"Lord Morphis, what did you learn?" Erland Morphis
knew things had become serious if Wylend was calling him
Lord
Morphis.

"Lissa says that Karzac has estimated around two weeks
for recovery, my King," Erland bowed respectfully, flashing a
thousand-watt smile. His son had inherited the same smile.

"I almost don't know how to go about this—I've never
found anyone that I wanted in this position before," Wylend sighed.

"I heard she didn't react badly when your great-grandson
went to make amends with her. That may be a good sign."

"Will it not be awkward, though?"

"No more awkward than the Falchani twins."

"Well, there is that," Wylend agreed. "I do not
intend to interfere or encroach upon her relationship with Torevik."

"You will not. You are quite busy, my King. I think
things can be worked out." Erland was still smiling.

"I am most displeased about the length of time she has
remaining with the ASD."

"Norian does seem to have a tight grip on her. Do you
think that might be worked out in some way?"

"Look into the rules for me, Lord Morphis."

"Of course, my King."

Chapter 2
 

Gavril was snuggled against my left shoulder as we sat on his bed,
doing research for his latest report. I was feeling better and wondering (with
much trepidation) when the Director or Vice-Director might summon me. I'm sure
Karzac had made them aware that I'd be healed enough for duty in another week. They
had weeks on Le-Ath Veronis—a seven-day period instead of the eight-day that
Tulgalan employed. It depended upon the planet, its government and how they
wanted their months divided. Le-Ath Veronis had twenty-eight day months,
exactly. Tulgalan took thirty-two days in their moon turns and fourteen moon
turns to travel around its sun.

"Here—it says that Wasternell nearly destroyed itself
with chemical warfare around three thousand years ago," I pointed out the
specific passage. We were reading through archaic records translated directly
from an old language, which was extremely difficult to wade through. My
thoughts turned to Aurelius too, and whether he would return before I was sent
out again by the ASD. Tory came to see me often, and we usually went to the
pool area or the arboretum. He mostly wanted to sit with me pulled against him.
We talked. He told me more about the High Demons and their history. I was still
having difficulty reconciling all of it as part of my history, too.

"We need to find the reason for their war," Gavril brought
me back to the present.

"Wars are usually over land, religion, money or something
of that nature," I leaned my cheek on Gavril's shoulder.

"I should have known I'd find you two together." Lissa
walked into Gavril's bedroom. His room had turned into our favorite place to
study. My stomach felt queasy, suddenly—this is how I'd learned the last time
that the Vice-Director wanted to see me. "Reah, Vice-Director Schaff wants
to talk to you in my office. Do you need assistance getting there?" This
time was no different from the last, except too many things had happened since
then.

I didn't need assistance, as much as I might want Gavril or
Tory to go with me. I shivered at the mention of Lendill Schaff's name. At
least my strength was returning and my shoulder wound was much better. Lendill
couldn't hurt me as badly this time. Karzac kept reassuring me that the scar from
the ranos pistol wound would disappear completely in a few weeks. Tory's
claiming marks would be with me forever.

"Re, don't worry," Gavril whispered as I slid off
his bed. While most boys his age might have coverlets depicting sports teams or
musicians or some such, Gavril's was a studious deep green with matching
pillows. He'd picked it out himself—I'd asked about it.

"Thanks, Chash." I gave him a quick hug before
walking past Lissa and out Gavril's door.

* * *

"Reah, we'll be sending you to Pheslik—drakus seed is
showing up there," Vice-Director Schaff got right to business. He had such
a handsome face and it covered the demeanor and cruelty of a viper. I did my
best not to shiver in his presence, or give myself away when all I wanted to do
was weep. I also wanted to ask him about Bel, Hish and Max, but that might
bring about more abuse.

Gavril might know if the wizards from Mandil were still being held
in the palace dungeons. I hoped so—I wanted to see them. Alone. I had my doubts,
somehow, that Bel was in this as deeply as Director Keef seemed to think. I
worried about Bel and the others—were they being mistreated? Vice-Director
Schaff had certainly done his best to mistreat me. I'd never had a seizure in
my life, even when Edan was doing his worst.

"You'll be going out again with Rylend and Torevik, but
under an assumed name this time. I'll have your new ID and credit chip waiting when
the healer releases you." That was my dismissal so I rose, gave the best
respectful dip of my head I could and walked out, my legs feeling like rubber.

* * *

"How did it go?" Norian Keef walked in only moments
after Reah had gone.

"She'll never trust us again," Lendill sighed.

* * *

Aurelius was leaping from one tree to the next, using vampire
speed. Spawn were littered throughout the jungle, but he couldn't take all of
them at once. He couldn't risk folding away from them, either—that could
attract the attention of a hidden Ra'Ak. He also couldn't fold away from the
planet—a Ra'Ak could track him by the use of that power, which in turn would place
others in immediate danger.

Aurelius was glad these spawn were easily confused—they were
young, having been taken from the local population not long before. Aurelius
figured they were less than a month old—barely having sloughed away their human
appearance. A concentrated effort had been made to take over this portion of
the planet; Birimeran technology was in its infancy but it was there, in the
highly populated areas in the north. In the southern jungles, the native
population was less educated and more superstitious. Those still retaining
their humanity spoke of the spawn as gods or godlike, with the speed and
agility that any Ra'Ak spawn gained when turned. Aurelius had already sent
mindspeech, asking for help. It was scheduled to come soon. He hoped it came—
now
.

* * *

Something didn't feel right on the way back to Gavril's room. It
wasn't just the discomfort I felt after listening to Vice-Director Schaff. This
was wrong, somehow. Really wrong. As in, someone was in trouble or something. It
only got worse as I walked along until it had my stomach cramping. I'd never
felt anything like this before, unless it had been—well—on Mandil. I had to
think back; it seemed a lifetime ago, although it hadn't been very long at all.
People I cared for had been in danger, and then, "Aurelius!" I was
shouting his name as something happened that I never expected to happen. Not
without help or instruction.

* * *

Aurelius was backed against the bare cliff face—he realized
that the spawn had only been herding him through the trees when he reached that
spot. More had been waiting there and he was cut off. Piles of spawn dust
littered the rock and shale around the cliff, but there were too many of the creatures
remaining for Aurelius to turn his back on them and attempt to climb. More
could be waiting at the top, he realized; he was too afraid to use the ability
he had to
Look
and find out.

Six spawn attacked at once, forcing Aurelius to use his speed
and vampire claws to behead them. His eyes were red and he was hissing, he knew.
While that might frighten any normal humanoid, it had no effect on spawn. If
they were instructed to attack, then they would attack, with no fear for their
lives. Aurelius knew something was directing these—they never acted in concert
like this without something more intelligent behind them. More came walking out
of the jungle, stalking him. Aurelius might have been able to take down fifty
or so alone, but there were more than that. Many more. Aurelius prepared
himself for what was to come.

* * *

"Aurelius!" I was shouting his name and my
Thifilatha was running through a rainforest, even as I swept spawn aside with
my arms. I was burning them, too, whenever I touched them—they were screeching
and dusting if they came in contact with any part of me. There had to be
hundreds of them, at the very least. With my height as Thifilatha, I could see
Aurelius backed against a rocky cliff, fighting them off as best he could.

If Gavril hadn't described what vampires looked like when they
fought, I might have been frightened. Aurelius' fangs were showing, as were his
lengthy claws. His eyes were red, too—Gavril explained that it happened
whenever a vampire fought or was in danger. Aurelius was dealing with both
those things.

"I'm coming, my love!" I was using Aurelius'
endearment for me. Stooping low, I flung out my arms and killed another swath
of spawn. Some thought to attack me. It was their last thought. Aurelius was
still fighting—I think he was regaining hope that he might live over this. I
was nearly there, too, when the spawn that had been waiting at the top of the
cliff leapt over the edge, dropping down upon Aurelius.

* * *

Aurelius stared in shock as Reah, in full Thifilatha, leapt toward
him, her beautiful, translucent gold wings spread out, catching the spawn that
now fell from the sky. The ones that hit her wings burned and winked out of
existence, like fireworks on a clear, summer night. It might have been lovely
to watch, except for the shrieks the spawn made before they dusted. Aurelius
stood at the foot of the cliff while Reah stood over him at fifteen feet in
height, spawn striking her wings by the dozens, bouncing against her head and
body before screaming, burning and dusting.