Wystan (8 page)

“Demon spawn?” Wystan arched an eyebrow.

“I didn't say that,” Rhia muttered, rubbing the back of her neck. It felt hot, as did her face. It was tricky, talking about a man's heritage when it was so dark.

“One or both of us can be there when you want to have the talk,” Eban offered. “It'll make it easier for them if they realize you trust us.”

“Both of us? I don't think so.” Wystan shook his head. “I have better things to do than tell that story again.”

“What story?”

Rhia spun as the skin prickled across her body. A man in buckskin breeches, knee-high moccasins, a blue checkered shirt that matched his eyes, and a leather vest and hat leaned against the door frame. He grinned at her and touched the brim of his hat.

“Aren't you pretty? What hole did you crawl out of?”

“Tell. Manners.” Eban's voice was chastising, but his face showed his relief.

“About time you got back, little brother. Like it or not, we've got ourselves a schoolteacher.” Wystan stepped up beside Rhia. “We call her Dead-Eye Duke. She's almost as handy with a rifle as you are with that crossbow.”

Chapter Nine

Tell ate with his fingers in a way that suggested he'd forgotten everything Wystan and Eban had tried to teach him after their parents died. No matter how many times they corrected his carefree ways, Tell resisted. Rhia had the grace to pretend she didn't notice. However, that didn't stop her from sneaking looks at Wystan's chest. He guessed she wasn't used to half-naked men, but she didn't seem to object to the sight either. Despite the itching burn changesteed venom left in his skin, he was amused by her furtive glances.

He explained their encounter with the changesteed to Tell.

Tell soaked a piece of bread with the remains of his stew and looked up. “It used my voice? They're getting smarter.”

“It was a fair impression,” Wystan admitted.

“Fair?” Rhia's eyes widened. “It imitated Sylvie and it couldn't have known her voice.”

Tell cocked his head. “You mean you brought more than one human here with you?” He eyed Wystan. “Since when are we taking in newcomers?”

“Eban made me do it.”

“I leave for a week and you open the gates. No wonder Astaroth is doubling up on the lessers.” Tell studied Rhia as though he could see through her head. “What about the parasites?”

She shot Wystan a questioning look.

“Eban said they're clean. All of them.”

“All? More than two? Are we running a convent here?” Tell stood and shoved his plate at Wystan. “Eban, our brother Ebaneezer I-Hate-Violence Heckmaster talked you, Wystan I-Kill-Demons-in-My-Sleep Heckmaster into letting
humans
stay in town?”

“Beryl's sick.” Rhia glared at Tell. “Eban said she probably wouldn't make it if she didn't get treatment.”

Wystan cleared his throat. “Not parasite sick. Some puny human disease.”

Rhia's hazel glared turned on him. “A puny human saved you today. Don't make her regret it.”

“Worse still, you told her about Astaroth. This is serious, Wys.” Tell rubbed the growth of beard on his chin.

Sometimes Wystan found it difficult to believe Tell wasn't a child any longer. His little brother was five years his junior, but Tell was their most valuable asset in this war. Wystan remembered how his little brother had clung to him the night the mob came for their mother and had begged him to make it all right. It came as no surprise that Tell did what he wanted. If Wystan couldn't fix it, why ask?

“I argued against it. It's Eban and Rhia that made their cases. All blame shifts to him. Besides, the Yues want Thomas Jefferson to get an education. I spoke to Zaïre this morning and she admitted she's fine with it. Wants Mila to learn too.”

Tell's mouth opened, then snapped shut. “Mila? TJ might stand a chance in the outside world, but Mila? She can't wander around out there. People would find out.”

“Zaïre knows that, but she said she wouldn't hold Mila back if it's what she wants. And Mila wants to be like everyone else.” Wystan felt bad for the little girl. He understood the importance of being treated the same. It hadn't been easy growing up with the knowledge that his father was a demon.

“What's wrong with Mila?” Rhia looked between them.

“Nothing. Heart of gold.” Tell's gaze dropped to the floor as he muttered.

“Darlin' little girl. Couldn't ask for a prettier face.” Wystan winced at his own words.

“Wystan.”

The schoolteacher voice again. He met her eyes reluctantly. How could a woman who stood a couple of inches over five feet tall make him feel like a boy? He, who as Tell pointed out, didn't hesitate to destroy demons. Maybe it had something to do with the gun she carried.

“You'd better tell her. Don't want her shocked come the first day of school.” Tell looked half-amused as though he pictured the event.

Wystan hesitated. “She's an echidna. Part girl, part serpent.”

Rhia's face blanched.

“You'd never know, unless you happened to see under her dress. Just the lower half is serpent. Otherwise, angelic face, bright as a candle flame. Zaïre is very proud of her.” Mila was probably as smart as Thomas Jefferson. And her snake body didn't prevent her from doing anything the other kids did, except climbing trees. She was a hell of a swimmer.

“I never thought…the Yues look so human and you three…who else looks like a demon?” Rhia's voice was almost a whisper.

“There are only two other families with children in town. Howard and Ella Wright are abarimon. Looks like someone put their feet on backward. They're fast though. A little savage. Two children, Howie Junior and Mary. And a family of peris—a sort of fairy—who don't have what you'd think of as a traditional marriage. They're a group, but among them there's only one child right now. They call her Nancy and they're proud of her.” Wystan watched Rhia's face change from startled to amazed. The freckles across the bridge of her nose danced as she wrinkled her brow and frowned. “You'll meet them all soon enough.”

“I hope she doesn't get eaten. Sometimes I think Howie doesn't remember that other demons aren't lunch. I don't know what he'll do with a human.” Tell used a knife considerably smaller than Wystan's to clean beneath his nails.

“I'm sure that won't come about.” Rhia frowned at him. “I'll be sure to include manners as part of their lessons. Maybe you'd care to attend those sessions, Tell.”

He grinned. “She has fire. That ought to give her a fair chance at lasting more than a week here.”

“Wystan's allowed me six weeks, thank you.” Rhia put her nose in the air. “Seems to me the three of you could have used a teacher with a stronger hand when you were boys. Tempers and bad manners and weapons all over the place.”

Wystan suppressed a sigh. “Tell, go clean up. You smell like the backside of a buffalo.”

“Good to be back.” Tell slapped Wystan on the shoulder as he passed. “Rhia, I look forward to shooting barghests with you soon.”

He winked at her and a dark blush colored Rhia's face. Wystan couldn't say why he wanted to punch Tell, but the urge almost smothered his rational mind.

“Overgrown boy.”

“Are you all right?” Rhia gestured at his shoulder. “I should have shot it sooner.”

“I was handling it.” The pain in his shoulder was minimal—the benefit of demon blood.

She stiffened. “I think you were enticing others with your blood. It seemed to me that it fully intended to eat you.”

“They can try. I've got a little more bite than they like.” He grinned as he thumbed the end of his bowie knife.

She didn't seem to find the humor in his words. Her eyes flickered away from his face to his chest. “It appears you've had plenty of encounters with demons over the years.”

“Someone had to look out for the rest of the family.” Her gaze was like a caress, lingering on his muscles, warming his blood. “Eban carries the saber and he'll use it when he has to, but he prefers healing to sending demons back to Hell. Tell's different, tougher. Eban's patched us up more times than we can count. Astaroth figured the humans wouldn't allow us to live. He called his minions back to the kingdom before Ma died. His attempts to stop us are feeble. A sure sign he doesn't think we're much of a threat.”

He'd forced Eban, Tell, and Sandra into the cellar when the townspeople came for their mother. He didn't regret it—he'd never forget his mother's screams. The anger and hatred he felt would never weaken. It drove him to destroy every creature Astaroth sent, and one day, when he was strong enough, when he'd gotten his fill of beating back demons, he'd go to Hell himself and take care of his old enemy.

“I'm sorry about what happened to your family. What your father did was courageous.” Rhia's hazel eyes reflected her sadness.

“It was ignorant. He was lucky to get away with it as long as he did. Falling in love with a human woman guaranteed his death. Hers too.” Had his father thought of that? He couldn't have imagined he'd get away with pretending forever.

She looked stunned. “I'd say it was fortunate. If he hadn't met your mother and had children, who would prevent the demons from rising up?”

“Some other poor bastard. Or no one at all.” The knife on his hip seemed heavy. He'd often wondered what it would be like to be a normal man. To look forward to starting his own family and the mundane chores regular humans did. “You can't understand what lying awake at night wondering what the next demon to attack you or your kid brothers and sister will be.”

“No. I always knew what the monster waiting for me and Sylvie was.” She stepped forward. “We spent so much time being hungry, cold, and frightened. I'm grateful I have her, even though I know she's had a difficult childhood because I couldn't do better for her.”

The raw emotion in her voice made his temper dissipate. She'd put her sister and herself at risk to come here. Greater risk than she could have anticipated. For some reason, her confession made him want to tell her his darkest secrets.

“I hope she appreciates it more than my brothers. Neither of them listens. When Eban enrolled in school to become a doctor, I thought he'd get away from here. Maybe he'd find another life outside of Berner. I planned to send Tell too. Expose them both to the outside world and hope they took to it.” Wystan shrugged. “About a year after Eban left, Astaroth distracted us with a herd of barghests so he could send one of his chief demons to wipe us out for good. Noem was burned badly by the divine fire, but he had time to recover while we killed the barghests. He jumped me while I was on patrol one night. This one, right here.”

He turned to his left, showing her the thick, knotted scar as wide as his palm on his side. Rhia reached out and touched it. It was numb, the result of a poison blade. He could only imagine what her fingers felt like as they caressed the mark. Her pinkie slipped, brushing the skin below, and a shiver ran through him. She drew away as if he'd burned her.

“Sorry,” she whispered. “How did you survive?”

“Tell found me bleeding in an alley. Noem was slaying the demons who turned on Astaroth, raining a merry hell of his own making on my town.” Wystan winced.
His town.
Hell, it was just a place, a spot wiped off the map years ago. “You haven't met Heng, but he's a minor storm deity. Took him and Tell to catch Noem. And Tell, being too much of a worrier, called Eban back. I haven't been able to get rid of either one since.”

“What a terrible family, Wystan. Interfering in your business and worrying when you were badly injured.” Rhia shook her head. “You're lucky to have them.”

“And when the day comes that I can't protect them?”

Sandra's face swam in front of his eyes. He'd failed her. Let Astaroth claw his way inside her mind and destroy it.

“I'm sure it won't come to that. They're capable.” Rhia looked flustered. “I know it hurt to lose your parents and sister, but you can't guard Eban and Tell their whole lives. If they're stubborn, it's because you taught them strength.”

He laughed. “Strength. The same kind you're teaching Sylvie?”

Rhia frowned. “Sometimes men can't be counted on. Sylvie needs to learn to fend for herself.”

“Like you and Beryl Brookshier?”

“Perhaps. I did bring Sylvie all the way out here.” She bit her lower lip for a few seconds. “I have to admit, I don't know Beryl very well. She's always polite and she's good at keeping our spirits up, but I don't have any idea what her story is. She's been a good friend, though, when I needed one.”

Wystan stared. He'd allowed Beryl to stay in town because she was friends with Rhia. “Eban doesn't think she's all human. Did you know that?”

Rhia gasped. “What? Is she—”

“Not a demon, as far as he knows. Tell can probably identify what she is. Once he's cleaned up, we'll slip him in the room to talk with Eban and find out what your
friend
is hiding.”

“Oh no. I'm sorry, Wystan. I had no idea. But she's never been even the slightest bit threatening. She's so frail, it's hard to imagine she'd ever cause trouble. I let Sylvie around her. What if…” She crossed her arms, hugging herself. “I told her about my father and everything we went through to come here.”

“If she's…”—
evil
—“not like us, we'll take care of it. There's no reason for you to worry.”

The sudden urge to take Rhia into his arms hit him like a brick. He wanted to comfort her, to assure her that none of Astaroth's demons would get her while she was under his protection. He reached out and cupped her face. She looked like she had the day before yesterday when she'd discovered there wasn't a job for her. Lost and vulnerable. Something about that appealed to Wystan. He wanted to keep her safe.

“Don't worry. The three of us will watch after you and Sylvie. The people here are different than most, but they won't hurt you.”

She didn't pull back from his touch. “I should be afraid, but I'm not. I must be crazy.”

“You'd have to be, to want to stay here. The town is dying. Most of the demons that come through the Pit won't turn to our side. It's too dangerous to allow humans. Someday we'll vanish, if Astaroth wins.”

He thought about it every day. The few children in town might not live to see adulthood and it was even less likely that they could blend in to any human towns. Some days he wasn't sure what he was fighting for. It wasn't for women like Rhia to come riding into town thinking they could change things. It wasn't that simple. He let his hand fall back to his side.

“You should find Sylvie.”

“I suppose.” She looked at him and offered a tentative smile. “Thank you for trusting me. I know you'd rather have run us off, but Berner is as good a place as any to start over.”

She licked her lips, a gesture that sent blood rushing to his groin. Wystan's heart thudded in his chest.