Other Places 3: Detours (12 page)

The
other two parents, well, his grandmother had gotten that much right. They'd
sold
him. To a
Demon
. Oh, it had been a trick to take them as slaves in the
end, but they'd
done
it. They'd also paid for it, over and over again.
Right now, if he'd heard correctly, they'd been taken by the Greater Demon
Goethe. Hopefully they were well, because
he
wasn't running off to fight
some unknown power for them.

Then,
eating the last spoon of chocolate from the bottom of his container, he
swallowed and gave a single nod.

"Keeley,
The Mistress of Souls, and her people will hold a position here. We can frame
things up nicely, with Balthias behind you. It will look good. Of course, if
anyone comes, they'll be friendlies, so try and make sure he isn't spewing fear
all over the place, please?" He smiled, the trickle of magic still being
needed constantly, to keep him from acting crazed. The memories were still all
there, but he was a tiny bit displeased with his Aunt for having dumped this on
him like she had. It might be a good plan from her perspective, but it was less
of one from his.

Really,
if he'd been more knowledgeable and stronger, he would have killed her, he
decided. Not because he didn't like her. No, that was silly. She was, after a
fashion, as much as a Greater Demon could be, his
friend
. She was also a
vast danger to him. Her power was... Fantastic, he realized. If he lived to be
a thousand, chances were he'd never be able to grab another of their kind like
she nearly had him. Like she
had
, others. The Demon Fram, for instance,
was still hers to call on and command.

Not
that they needed him there that night. Zack doubted they needed any of them,
really.

Except
that he'd already told Keeley she could stay for a sleepover. Not that they
slept. She was still going to dress up in lazy PJ's and have a pillow fight
with him and Rebekah, later. Maybe Marissa too. He'd definitely
ask
.

It
occurred to Zack then, what it meant to have Mirror Him as part of his own
personality. Well, on the good side, he'd probably have more sex. He still needed
to be careful there, so that no one else got hurt.

It
wasn't late yet, so he moved to the node and looked at all the positions that
the others had promised to be at. Bey was in Toronto, since he had a house
there, though he didn't tell many about that. As far as the world knew he lived
full time in China, but that was just because when he went most places, the
Vampires fled, and he was, in his own way, kind enough not to want everyone to
be fearful all the time. Oh, he was a killer and didn't feel anything in
particular about doing it, but he
tried
to be good, regardless of that.
It was the action that counted, in the end. That seemed to be his entire life
map.

It
was something for a person as young as Zack to keep in mind. He didn't have to
feel fear, anger or hate, or anything he didn't want to, but what he did still
impacted the world around him. It sent ripples through space and time, and
that, in the end, was his responsibility too.

Quickly
enough he checked the others. The Wanderer, who looked like a tiny boy,
possibly being ten or so when he died, was alone, like Bey had been. Harland
had three Manthori with him, in the place he was, but when Zack focused to
listen to them, they were speaking about the summit meeting, and how to arrange
transport for their Ambassador, so that the Classics wouldn't be the only type
of Vampire represented there.

That
might have been a trick, but if so, it was well done. The four men in that room
didn't even act like anyone would be listening to them at all.

Still,
he went to get Bey first, just stepping through without warning, ready to
block, if he had to. If an attack came.

"Friend
Zachary! You have come to retrieve me, and in such a timely fashion! Is all
well? I do hope that Lady Marissa isn't too convinced that I have turned
against her? I truly know of no such plotting and would have discouraged it, if
I had word."

Zack
put his hand out, smiling, and the tiny man, with his large nose and big ears,
returned the gesture with a smile, even though they didn't normally do that
kind of thing. His entire life crashed into him, with each moment being
recorded. It was a lot longer than anything he'd encountered before, and it
took effort not to let the strain of the other man's years show. Thousands.
Even Bey himself didn't know how many, to be truthful.

He'd
started out as a rug maker, which was a good job at the time, only to be sold
to a passing merchant one day by his father, who, after all, had many children
to feed. Bey, who'd been "Waveed" back then, was then used harshly
for a long time, until he ran away. Then... Well, in the end, he met a woman,
who was a Vampire, and that story stretched on for a much longer time than
would be expected. Really, as far as the little man knew, she was still alive
somewhere. His one true love. One day he'd go and seek her, he knew.

The
thing was, he really didn't have a clue as to any particular plotting. He had
gotten Lenore not to mention Zack to her in particular, but that was actually
so Marissa wouldn't worry too much, being already very concerned about owing the
Line Walker as a mere Human. As a Greater Demon she might ruin them all, trying
to repay things that, Bey was beginning to understand,
Zack
didn't
really care about at all. It was, as the man himself had said about him once. Zachary
only took value in his own work, and cared not for petty things.

It
was a bit of a pretty way to think about it, but was true enough. He just
didn't.

"She's
a bit worked up. I worked up a guard for her, after a fashion. The Mistress of
Souls and her people? Keeley... She and I are fighting right now, a bit. She
doesn't know it yet, though. Or, she knows
why
, but not how much she'll
have to pay for it. When you meet, she'll know I said this to you, so, don't be
surprised if she winces a bit. It won't be about you. She
likes
you." Zack sighed as the man looked at him, true bafflement showing.
"Not that
I'm
not her favorite nephew. Still, I'm sure we'll have
some hard words over things."

"Do
you need the aid of the Vampires in this? I will stand with you, even if it
means I perish from the Earth." There was a solemn intonation to the
words, and it was
really
clear that he meant it. If Zack had to fight
Keeley, Bey was on his side. No matter what. It was nice to know, really. More,
he was offering to bring their entire kind into the mix, if needed.

"Thanks.
It won't come to that. She just... Well, you know how I have another person in
my head?"

The
man nodded, his face going blank.

"Well,
that person held some of the most horrible memories that a person could have,
away from the rest of me. She set things in motion, so that it's fixed now. It
wasn't a kindness. Needed to her way of thinking, but she didn't do it to aid
me, just herself. I'll..." He froze for a bit and realized that really, he
was fine. It was hard to think, but at the same time, things that had been
broken were healing. What would happen at the end, well, he knew that now,
didn't he? The pattern was clear.

"I'll
be good actually. Sane. Soon, I think. Or at least much closer than I've been
since I was nine or so. Right now it's very rough however. I'm using magic to
hold things in check." He tapped his head lightly with a single finger.
"In here."

Bey
made a face, as if he didn't know how to respond at all.

"Line
Walker... Should I send her flowers and laurel wreaths for her brow, or the
head of her pet in a box?"

"Neither.
Maybe a strongly worded letter, if I can't think of anything else to do? This
will work out." Or he'd die, but saying things like that was foolish, no
matter what he felt inside at the moment. If he did lose and fail, then it
wouldn't matter, and if not, then he'd look worse than weak, but
wrong
,
and like he didn't have faith in himself.

He
put his arm out to the man.

"A
small hop, on three?"

There
was a gentle nod, and it happened perfectly, getting them back to Yoghurt World
instantly. As he'd suggested, Balthias was standing behind them all, and Marissa
was in the center of Rebekah and Keeley, both of whom were armed, with swords.
It looked pretty good, and upon seeing it, Bey clapped a few times. Because he
was, as always, pleased to see others doing well.

"Wonderful!
That is very impressive!" He bowed to Keeley first. "Mistress of
Souls. The Line Walker mentioned you'd be here. You are well?" He didn't
glare at her, but seemed mildly disapproving.

She
got that without even reading his mind, it was clear.

Then
she nodded, once, not commenting on it.

"Bey
Transmorguir. I see you aren't plotting against Marissa?"

"Ah?
You can tell that using Demon magics? That is a most clever trick. Then, none
thinks your kind less than clever, do they?" For all that they might be
taken wrongly, the words were polite enough sounding.

Keeley
bowed back slightly.

"Not
this time. It's simply that if you'd been working against her, the Line Walker
would have killed you. I'm very glad that wasn't needed. You're one of my
favorite Vampires, you know."

If
Bey was shocked by the news it didn't show at all, so Zack nodded.

"Mine
too. So, let me grab a quick bite to eat and then see about the others?"

Keeley
had already set that up, and had a caramel and peanut dish coming for him. A
large one. It was clear that she was trying to make up to him at least. It
wasn't nearly enough, but it was better than killing him, so he tried to accept
it for the time being. It took half a minute to finish it, going carefully so
he wouldn't make a mess, and then he was off to get The Wanderer.

The
being was alone, and the door to the room they were in was locked. That could
have meant a lot of things, but he didn't start or jump when Zack came through,
just moving his head slightly to track him.

"Line
Walker. It is time then?" The words seemed sad, and very final, but
nothing in the room moved at all. He put out his hand, for the boy to take, which
caused another crash of memories. It was different this time.

Bey
lived his immortal life seeking peace. Through death and violence, but it was
still his goal, in the end. Gene sought new things. Experiences that he'd never
had before, sensations that were just a bit different than what he'd known.

He
fully expected to die, it was apparent. Right then and there. Not that he had
anything to do with Marissa being taken and held. No, it was that he'd spoken
against the plan for the new blood system, and figured that Zack was behind it,
if in secret. The easiest thing to do, in this case would be to assure the
elder Vampire didn't make it to the meeting at all. Or anything else, ever
again. He doubted he'd win, if it came to a fight, either.

Gene
was small, being a boy when he died, but strong and fast, which against a being
like the Line Walker didn't mean that much. He'd go into the line and probably
simply not be anymore. There was no courting of death in him, but if it came,
he was satisfied with his life and how he'd lived it.

Zack
nodded a bit, taking it as the second lesson of the night then. Bey had showed
him that actions counted more than feelings, and Gene taught him that it was
important to live a good life and actually experience things. It would be too
easy to hide away, suppressing everything he felt all the time, especially now.

Not
that he wasn't going to keep doing that, but he needed to let himself love and
enjoy things, and even on occasion, feel negative emotions, as long as they
didn't control him.

"It
is. When we get into the room, you'll be met by the Mistress of Souls, the
Lesser Demon Balthias, Rebekah the Manthori, who runs the blood concern? Marissa
and Bey. Try not to jump them instantly. It's all for show. Are you
ready?" The boy touched his arm lightly and made ready to do it, still not
believing that he was going to survive the next moment.

He
jumped though, and didn't act shocked when they got in, or even when Barb
walked up, and handed Zack more food. This time it was an actual sandwich, from
the food court. An Italian meatball sub.

He
smiled.

"One
more then. So far so good." He didn't explain that, gesturing at Keeley
instead. "This is the Mistress of Souls, the one secretly behind the new
rules for your people. Keeley, he recently changed his opinion, throwing in
with you, so, no need to kill him or anything."

She
stepped forward and smiled, putting her hand down to shake. Then, after they
did it, she stepped away just as smoothly.

"Excellent.
Now I just need to sit down and try to convince Marissa here that it's
economically feasible. I have some plans that will get the price down. That
will still leave a lot of work as to getting the Vampire population on board,
but, as they say, one step at a time. It isn't like we can't go slowly, over a
few decades."