Demons Amongst Us (The Book of Demons Saga #2) (15 page)

“Leave?” Alex said, looking over at Peta.  “But we just got here.  Did I do or say something to upset her?”

“No,” Nila said, shaking her head, “I mean, she said we must leave the palace.”

“Leave the palace?” Alex said.  “Why?  Ask her what’s the matter.”

Nila looked at Peta, her eyes narrowing, and it appeared she was carrying on a silent conversation with the bird.  Her expression shifted from confusion to shock to fear.  Her soft purple eyes finally looked back up at Alex, but she was silent.

“What is it?  Tell me,
” Alex said.

“She says,” Nila said, looking
around to ensure they were absolutely alone, her voice lowering to a whisper.  “Lord Ashdad cannot be trusted.  We must leave as soon as possible.”

“Are you sure you didn’t misunderstand
her?” Alex said.

“I will ask Peta agai
n, to be sure of what she means,” Nila said.

Nila again concentrated on the bird, her eyes narrowing and her head cocking to the side as she tried to listen to the chirping squawks.

“She is certain,” Nila said finally, swallowing hard at the understanding of the firebirds words.  “Lord Ashdad does not have your interests at heart, she says.  He intends only to trade you to someone she calls the Ancient.”

“How could Peta possibly know tha
t?” Alex asked, the fear sticking in her throat.  She had trusted Ashdad, had believed that he was helping her.  But deep down, somewhere in the pit of her stomach she had her doubts about him. 

“She is a phoenix,” Nila said
.  “She has many abilities, one of which is incredible foresight.  She had told me when you disappeared that you would soon return.  If she says Lord Ashdad is not to be trusted, I would heed her warnings.”

“What do we do?” Alex said,
looking to Nila for guidance.  The young demoness was frankly just as clueless as the human, but she knew someone that would know precisely what to do.

Carolina was surprised to see Nila at her door.  She was even more surprised to see Alexandra with her.  Her curiosity was taken to new heights when she noted not only the friendly nature between the two, but also the fear that was on both their faces.

“Come in,” she said, eyeing Nila curiously.  She knew the young demoness did not deserve the r
eputation she had, but she was still wary of her.

“I know you do not care for me, Lady Carolina,
” Nila said with a slight bow.  “But I knew no one else to turn to.”

“I do not care for your sister,” Carolina said, “
you I am rather indifferent to.”

“We really need to talk to you
,” Alex said, her eyes moving to the eunuchs that were milling about the apartment. “In private.”

“Let us sit,” Carolina said, sashaying into the audience room of her apartments,
Alex and Nila following her lead.  They all settled around a small table, freshly prepared for Carolina’s afternoon tea. The Sultana motioned to the eunuchs that were in the room to leave, and they quickly complied.

“Now,” she said, once the last servant left, closing the door behind him.  “Whatever
is the matter with you two?”

Nila looked
at Alex, hoping she would respond and explain their concerns.  She thought, given the less than friendly nature between her and the Sultana, the news would be better received coming from Alexandra. 

“It’s Ashdad,” Alex
said.

“Be careful, Alexandra,” Carolina said, “We are all friends here, however I would still advise you to use his proper title.”

“Damn that,” Alex said, startling Carolina with her abrupt display of anger.  “He wants to give me over to the Magi.”

“How did you come by this information?” Carolina demanded, her eyes narrowing but the rest
of her remaining regal as usual.  Alex knew she could trust Carolina, without a doubt.  But she was having a little trouble trying to say that she had learned of his shady nature from a talking bird that only Nila could hear. 

“Peta,” Nila said
.  She avoided Carolina’s gaze.  She hadn’t told anyone that she could speak with the bird, and she was afraid of the repercussions of such things.  The ability to communicate with a firebird was incredibly useful, being that the bird’s powers were highly coveted. 

“So,” Carolina said, leaning back
from the table, tossing an arm over her triangular back rest as she eyed Nila, “that is why you asked to care for her.  You are a sneaky little thing, Nila.”

“My Lady,” Nila said
, urgent to placate the lady and avoid chastisement, “I assure you, I did not know of my abilities until after I had taken over care of the bird.  I was merely intrigued at first.  Peta did not speak with me for near a week.”

“And she is certain of this information?” Carolina asked
, her eyes trained on Nila.

“Yes, I am certain,
” Nila said, uncomfortable with the Sultana’s presence.

“Then it is as I suspected,” Carolina said with a sigh.

“You mean you knew about this?” Alex asked, her voice high with a hint of betrayal.

“I suspected Lord Ashdad was not what he seemed,” Carolina clarified.  “Now that my suspicions are confirmed, we can act.”

“Act, My Lady?” Nila asked.

“I was chosen as Sultana for a reason, Nila,” Carolina said with a wry smirk.  “I plan for even the most undesirable of situations.  This circumstance is no different.”

Relief washed over Nila as the Sultana stood with purpose on her face.  She knew coming to her would be the right thing to do, and learning that she didn’t truly hate Nila was just an added bonus.   Carolina disappeared from the audience chamber of her apartment, going to the front door of her apartment.  She returned a short moment later with Bashir, her ever-faithful eunuch in tow.

“It is as we feared
,” Carolina said, settling back into the cushion.  “You know what to do.”

The eunuch bowed to his mistress, before shuffling wordlessly out of the apartment. 

“Everything will be taken care of,” Carolina said.  “You two must do your part.”

“Our part?” Alex asked
.

“Yes,” Carolina said.  “Simply act as if nothing has changed.  We do not want to alert anyone of our intentions.”

“My Lady,” Nila spoke up, “forgive me for questioning you, but how will we…”

“
That neat little trinket you have,” Carolina interrupted her with a knowing smirk on her lips. 

“You have
known all this time?” Nila asked nervously.  She thought she was being sneaky, but it appeared there were many that knew what was truly going on.

“Of course,” Carolina said.  “As does your husband.  Did you th
ink he would not notice the sudden womanhood in your scent?”

“My Lady,” Nila said breathlessly, shaking her head and trying to form an argument.  She knew she could be in big trouble for her actions.  “I did not mean…”

“It is alright, Nila,” Carolina said, soothing the troubled demoness. 

“Ok,” Alex interrupted, “
Am I missing something?”

“Lady Nila here
is going to provide us with the perfect opportunity to escape from the palace,” Carolina said. 

“Let me pass,” Tavi growled with a pointed glare at the guard who barred his way. 

“Apologies, My Lord,” the guard said nervously.  “Direct orders of the Lord Sultan.  No one is to see Prince Balthazar.”

“Is he under arrest?” Tavi demanded, frustration heavy in his voice.

“No, My Lord,” the guard said.  “I can only tell you he is not to receive visitors.”

Tavi growled loudly at the guard in frustration, baring his fangs.  It had been his plan to visit Balthazar with his concerns about Ashdad and perhaps gain some insight and a plan of how to deal with him.  He turned away from the building that housed the palace prisons.  There was something so wrong with Lord Ashdad.  He may be Devasi, and the Lord Sultan, but Tavi knew he didn’t have the kingdoms best interests at heart.  He’d had suspicions beginning when Ashdad had such little concern about capturing Sami’s assassin.  His suspicions were confirmed when he executed Salaman.  Some one needed to put a stop to him, and Balthazar was the only one even remotely close to being capable of such a thing.  He was, technically, anointed as the Lord Sultan.  There would be little resistance to his return to the throne.  In fact, after the execution, Balthazar would be warmly welcomed back as the Lord Sultan.  Tavi didn’t know what Ashdad was thinking.  He may be Lord Sultan, but his power was finite, and there were ways to band together and bring down an undesirable Lord Sultan.  Especially when there was a far more fitting alternative.

“Lord Tavi,” Kaveh said from behind him.  Tavi turned around to face one of his ma
ny brother princes, and his least favorite one at that.  The least of his reasons was due to the fact he had deflowered his wife.

“What do you want, Kaveh,” Tavi spat bitterly.  He was not in the mood for false pleasantries at the moment. 

“A word is all, dear brother,” Kaveh said with a smile and thoughts of Nila floating in his mind. 

“I do not have time,” Tavi said, pushing past him.

“It will only take a moment,” Kaveh said, following after Tavi as he stormed away.  “I believe you will want to hear what I have to say.”

“Then say it,” Tavi said,
his jaw tensing.  Kaveh was up to something, Tavi could see that in his expression.  He wondered if it had something to do with Nila.  Maybe he wanted to confess his indiscretions. 

“Perhaps in private would be better,” Kaveh said with a tilt in his neck. 

“Are you afraid others will learn you have lain with my wife,” Tavi said bitterly.  It wasn’t that he cared for the demoness he was wed to, he certainly hadn’t visited her or her sister once in the harem.  It was the simple disrespect in the action that Tavi hated. 

“Lord Tavi,” Kaveh said, biting through his words, “this is a discussion that would better take place in private.”

“I am certain it would,” Tavi said.  He had no desire to hear anything Kaveh had to say.  He was already in a rotten mood, he did not need Kaveh to make it worse.

Kaveh was quickly becoming frustrated with Tavi’s indifference towards him.  He knew he was not the demons favorite person, but he had very important and pertinent information
to discuss with him. 

“It is not about Nila,” Kaveh said,
still following after Tavi.  “Although, she is a rather pleasant little thing.  It is a shame you do not think so.”

“You dare insult me?” Tavi growled,
stopping and turning around to face Kaveh.

“I only mean
t to get your attention,” Kaveh said, holding his hands up in a placating gesture.  “I have something I believe you will be interested in hearing.”

“Fine,” Tavi said, realizing whatever it was, Kaveh wasn’t going to give up until he spoke with him
in private.  He motioned for Kaveh to follow him.  The two walked on in an uncomfortable silence until they were in the privacy of Tavi’s apartment within the palace barracks. 

“Speak,” Tavi said, not caring to offer Kaveh a seat or any other comforts.

“As you have already made clear,” Kaveh said, “I have been in liaisons with Nila.”

“I thought this wasn’t about her,” Tavi said
, warning Kaveh with his eyes not to further cross him.

“No,” Kaveh said, taking a seat and making himself comfortable while ignoring the glare from Tavi.  “Although
, she does play a rather intricate part in this.”

“Explain,” Tavi said, narrowing his eyes
at Kaveh as he took a seat across from him, crossing his arms over his chest.

“It appears our girl has been making friends,” Kaveh said, “and they have formed a plan.”

“What friends?” Tavi asked, both intrigued and annoyed by the allusive statement.  “A plan for what?”

“A plan for escape,” Kaveh said, “it appears our Lord Sultan has rather foul intentions towards the little human.”

“What is this plan? And what does it have to do with me?” Tavi demanded, leaning forward.  He didn’t have to question the accuracy of the information.  He had long suspected Ashdad of foul play.  It only slightly surprised him that Alexandra was the source of his plot.

“You know of Nila’s abilities,” Kaveh said.  “She can get you in to see Lord Balthazar.”

“So you suddenly care about our elder brother?” Tavi asked, narrowing his eyes at Kaveh. 

“Not particularly,” Kaveh admitted with a wave of his hand.  “However, I do care about our kingdom.  And I believe we both know Lord Balthazar is
the most suitable Lord Sultan.  Besides, I am told the human refuses to leave without him.”

“I see,” Tavi said.  He gained a small measure of respect for his slightly younger brother.  He knew Kaveh was a self-centered demon, but the fact that he actually cared more for his kingdom than his personal dislikes meant a lot to T
avi.