Two Parts Demon (13 page)

The band concluded their soft song, and she nodded to them in thanks. She leaned over to the guitarist. “Do you have the song?”

“When you introduce it, we will play it.”

She gave him a thumbs-up, and he responded with all four of his. She licked her lips and turned to the microphone.

“Thanks one and all for being here tonight for the fiftieth anniversary of Agatha Lenora Mills Ganger and Harcourt Emile Ganger. Fifty years ago tonight, they pried themselves away from their books and stood up in front of family and friends with a judge officiating, and they swore to be together until death did they part, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. The richer or poorer thing wasn’t an issue.”

The crowd laughed. The Ganger family was ruthless when it came to investing, and they had enough money for ten more generations.

“They skipped along together for a few decades before they realised that all of their friends’ kids were in college and they hadn’t bothered to start a family. I came along as scheduled.”

More laughter rippled through the group. Benny watched her parents holding hands and smiling at her.

“There was another decade of lectures, tours, students and a child at home setting fire to dandelions in the yard. That is when the
in sickness and in health
came in. My mother got sick, really sick. Cancer is a bitch, but with all the magic in the world, we couldn’t stop it. Harcourt really, really tried.”

The crowd was quiet. Most knew what had happened next.

“Mom got sick, and Dad stayed at her side. Even at ten, I knew that death was about to part them. To my surprise, my mom lived and Dad turned into the emerald-green goof most of you are familiar with. They shared a soul, but as any of you realise, who truly know them...they always did. Here is to fifty more years of light, laughter and mayhem that always sees you side by side.”

A server brought her a glass of white wine. “To Lenora and Harcourt! Fifty years and counting!”

The toast was carried through the gathering, and everyone raised their glasses to the happy couple. Benny drank, and everyone followed suit.

The conversation rose to a murmur, and Benny got a glass of water. She slugged down the water and faced the mic again. She nodded to the bandleader, and they prepared to get going.

“Mom, Dad, I wrote you a song about your life and the love that you showed me was possible.”

She nodded to the band again, and then, she began to sing.

Benny felt the jerk as something pulled her out of her body. Everyone seemed frozen in time, but she could hear her voice singing the song of love and loss and love again.

A figure in white at the edge of the crowd beckoned her over.

Benny felt her astral stomach flip. When she was standing in front of the woman, she curtsied deeply. “Lady Giltine. You honour our gathering.”

A touch on her shoulder brought her upright again. “Little Beneficia. I see you didn’t tell any of your part in your mother’s recovery.”

Benny blinked. “I didn’t do anything. My father shared his soul.”

“Your father shared his soul with your mother the day that he married her. Did you never wonder why I was chosen as your godmother? A goddess of death is not a normal choice.”

Benny glanced at the woman in white with the pale-blue eyes that had seen so much. She was the death licker. Master of poisons.

“I did not think about it. I was not consulted at the time.”

The woman smiled slightly. It was tiny, but it was there. “True. Your mother had been dying for two years when you were born. They bound you to me in the hope that you would do what you did. You stopped me in the hallway and kept me there until your mother had been revived as a demon thrall with half a soul. Because of our connection, it had to be me to collect Lenora, and with my goddaughter standing in my way, I could not progress without destroying what I had sworn to protect.”

The day came to her. Her father and mother had told her to leave the room and keep everyone out. Benny had agreed and faced down the lady of death who tried to pass. She kept her there until her father had opened the door with her mother, pale but breathing in his arms.

“The demon venom killed the cancer and it killed her, but without a true death, she was able to be revived with magic in a way that should not have been possible.”

Benny blinked and looked at the glowing faces of her parents listening to her sing. They both had tears in their eyes, but they were smiling.

Benny steeled her spine. “We are honoured you have come to our party.”

“I was invited, but I wished to speak with you. Your men, do you wish to keep them all?”

Benny blinked. “Of course.”

“Mark them as yours. Get your friend Minerva to help. She has creation in her blood. Mark them soon. Not all deaths are as easy as mine.” She changed the direction of her conversation. “It is a lovely party. Thank Sabina for the invitation.” Giltine faded away.

Benny finished the last line of her song, and it hung in the air.

Her parents began clapping frantically, and the crowd followed. She bowed her head for a moment while the noise roared, and when it ebbed, she leaned forward. “I would also like to thank Neadra for hosting this event here in
Ritual Space
. It was pure luck that I managed to get this place to ourselves, so feel free to zap, shift and do what you like as long as you respect the guardian of the property. Now, dance!”

Music kicked into life, and Benny headed down the stairs, across the open space and up to her parents. She handed them the box and smiled. “Here you go.”

Her dad opened the box, and he stared in amazement at the charm. “Benny, this is wonderful.”

Lenora picked hers up, and she teared up. “Oh, Benny, this is amazing. So much power.”

“It is a specific protection charm. It can’t be stolen.”

Her father helped her mother put her charm on, and then, he put his on.

“Happy anniversary, you two. I love you both.”

Her parents rose and came around the table to hug her. Her father whispered, “Thank you, Benny.”

Benny looked over the dance floor and found Minerva, fidgeting near the edge. Benny smiled and worked her way through the crowd. “Minerva. I am so glad you could make it. I need to commission you for something.”

Minerva looked exhausted.

Benny paused. “Geez, Minerva. Come with me.”

Her friend was so tired that she followed.

The buffet was set up, but few folks were indulging. When they were away from the crowd, Benny sat her down on a stone and asked, “What is wrong?”

Minerva rubbed her forehead. “I think I taunted the wrong guy.”

“Tell me about it.”

“I don’t want to, not today.” Minerva straightened her shoulders and looked attentive. “What do you need?”

Benny waved it away. “I need a way to mark all of us; I mean me and the guys. Wedding rings won’t really cover it. I need a tattoo or something, something that will work on all of us.”

Minerva smiled. “I have something in mind, but it might be painful. Small but painful.”

“Pain doesn’t matter. Pain is fleeting. If it protects them from whatever is coming, I say that I can convince them.”

Minerva grinned. “I bet you can. I will bring you the designs in three days. It will take that long to work up the ink, though I have the pattern in my head.”

“Tell me what you want in return.”

Minerva smiled. “One favour to be granted at a later time that will not cost you life, limb or the affections of your mates.”

Benny smiled. “Deal.”

They chatted about the guests at the party until the guys came to grab Benny for dancing. The logistics of dancing with all three were difficult, but not impossible. She spun and whirled until she was dizzy, secure in the knowledge that she was safe, her parents were safe and she was loved.

It wasn’t a bad haul for a week of vacation. She wondered what the next week of actual work would bring.

Revisiting Benny has been such fun. In the next book,
Three Parts Fey,
Benny has to work through all the formalities of mating with three different social groups.

The vampires are going to be the easiest group to get a blessing from and that is all I am saying for now. ;)

Look for
Three Parts Fey
Sept. 1, 2015, and in 2016, the
An Obscure Magic
series will return with
Ritual Space.

Thanks for reading,

Viola Grace

[email protected]

http://www.violagrace.com

Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.

An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.