Mercy for the Fallen (29 page)

“As you will it, so mote it be.”  Oriana blinked, regaining her sunny smile.  “May I have the last cake?  I’ve been ever so good.”

* * *

M
y pocket rang as we stepped outside, and I realized Adam had slipped a new phone on me at some point before we left for Vegas.  His picture smiled up at me as I hit the button to answer it.

“How’s the visit going?” he asked before I could say anything.

“Good, the kids are a little…”

“Freaky?  Consider the source.”

“Hey, be nice.  I was going to say precocious.”  Out loud anyway. 

“What about Oriana?  Did she turn up anything useful?”

“Nope, not really.  Then again, you already knew that, didn’t you?”

“How should I know if she might decide to finally be worth all the trouble she caused us?  Stranger things have happened.”

“What about you?  Have you had any luck with the local witches?”

“Nada.  It’s early stages though.  I’ll get some results, I have some magic of my own to work.”

“I’ll bet,” I muttered, a sliver of jealousy creeping in when I thought about how persuasive Adam could be when he put his mind to it.

“What was that?”

“It’s wet.  It’s raining here,” I lied.  “I’m not sure how long I’ll be here, at least another day or two, I think.  So keep me posted, okay?”

“Sure thing.  Have fun visiting with your family.” 

“Thanks.”  I was starting to think that he’d suggested the visit just to give me some time to reconnect with Matty.  Maybe Adam had done some maturing in the years since I’d been gone.

“And Mercy?”

“Yes?”

“Be sure to check out the pics I left on your phone.”

“Okay, bye.”  Thinking it might be some of shots of Daphne and Sam, I was unprepared for the eye candy that was Adam in all his glory, peeping back at me from the bright little screen.  Had I said matured?  Yeah, not so much.

“Aren’t we going then?” Nelo asked, confused by my conversation.

“Oh, we’re going alright.  But if there’s any sacrificing to be done, I’ll be the one doing it.  Come on, it’s time to get this over with.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I didn’t tell Sam or Daphne about my impromptu trip to Midian either.  Partly because I wasn’t in the mood for a lecture on my latest scathingly brilliant idea.  But mostly, it was because I thought they’d earned the right to a normal life that didn’t include me calling them in the middle of the night to announce my next field trip to a demon realm. 

Instead, I stopped at the store for a box of chocolates for Naberios, the burly gate guard with a sugar jones, and a pack of gummy worms for Nelo to snack on.  As disconcerting as it was to watch him smile with brightly colored worms dangling from his mouth, it was worth it to watch him enjoy the treat.  If everything went according to plan, I’d have time to worry about the onset of Type 2 diabetes for demons and if not… at least he got to enjoy one last sugary delight. 

As everybody knows, it’s not getting into a demon realm that’s difficult, it’s getting out.  This time was no different, and Naberios was even – dare I say it –
friendly
to us when we breezed through bearing gifts marked with the Godiva label.  If you ever need to get in good with a demon who’s stuck in one place for a while, I say go with the best. 

After exchanging a few pleasantries, we were on our way through the rocky tunnel to Raum’s palace.  We emerged into the purpley sky that passed for twilight in Midian after two jumps thanks to Nelo’s ability to hop from shadow to shadow. 

I wasn’t hiding this time, nor was I afraid of anything that might crawl out from behind a jagged rock, so I spread my wings and took to the sky as soon as we reached open ground.  It might’ve been my imagination, but I thought I saw the leathery wings of a morfran in my peripheral vision more than once.  If so, the creature kept its distance, and that’s all that mattered. 

I flew us straight up to Raum’s open air court, which was mostly deserted, a few lesser demons hovering, waiting for Raum to show himself.  Ignoring them, I strode right up to the base of the stone throne, setting Nelo down with strict instructions to dive for a shadow at the first hint of danger. 

“Raum,” I called out, my voice echoing through the columns.  “I’d like a few minutes of your time.”

Whether or not he heard me right away, I was forced to call for him twice more before he appeared on the throne, dressed in a pair of red silk pajamas, a black cravat tied in an intricate knot around his neck, affixed with a ruby the size of a robin’s egg.  His hair was closely cropped, his Roman features authoritarian and not completely unappealing.  Raum’s slim build wasn’t especially imposing, nor was the expression of interest on his face, but I knew he was dangerous from past experience.  His eyes were completely dark, which always made his intent a little murky to read, but the smile on his lips seemed to indicate genuine pleasure to see me again. 

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t my favorite angel.  What have we done to earn a visit, dear lady?”  His voice always reminded me of every bad guy in every movie from the seventies.  You know what I’m talking about, the vague British accent they always stick on sci-fi and fantasy movies?  It had an odd lilt to it that wasn’t quite British though, as though English wasn’t his native tongue, but he managed it beautifully. 

“Lord Raum,” I said, inclining my head to him in my best attempt at a curtsey.  “You’re looking well.”  It didn’t cost me anything to show him courtesy in his own court and I was counting on it to earn me some goodwill.  Otherwise… we’d have to do it the hard way. 

I could tell my words pleased him greatly though, and his smile widened as he leaned forward on his throne.  I’d managed to capture his attention at least.  “I am well, exceedingly so,” he boasted.  “I trust there are no crimes to lay at my door this time?”

“Not at all, my lord.  I come with a humble request.” 

“Better and better.”  His grin widened.  “What is it you seek?”

“Maybe we could talk it over in private?” I suggested, looking up at him demurely through downcast lashes.

“Oh yes, I think I might enjoy that very much,” he chortled, prancing down the stone steps to offer me his arm.  “This way, m’lovely.”  I took his arm, head bent submissively until we were away from the court and prying eyes.  “It’s too much to hope that you’ve missed my charms, isn’t it?” he said, after showing me to a sitting room.

“‘Fraid not.” I smiled tightly, dropping his arm like it was a live snake.  “I’m actually here to talk to your witch.”

Raum’s left eyelid twitched once at my words, the smile remaining on his lips.  “Oh?  Whatever for?”

“I need to ask her a favor.”

“Ah, and what do you offer as payment for the use of my witch?”

“How about I agree not to ventilate your pajamas?” I smiled sweetly, calling my sword to hand.

Raum jumped back by about a foot.  “No need for that, I was only checking.  Doesn’t hurt to ask, you know.”    

“You don’t think so?  Keep asking and try me.”  I kept the sword in hand for a few seconds longer, to make my point before letting it go.  “Anyway, that’s what I’m here for.  She’s still here, right?”  If she was gone, I was right back to square one again.   

“Are you quite sure you need Dahlia’s help for whatever you’re cooking up?”

“I think so. Unless you’ve suddenly developed the ability to hide Grace from angelic eyes?”

He found his smile again.  “Going walkabout are we?  I suppose I can support any endeavor that thwarts the all seeing eye of the Heavenly Host.  Come along then, I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to help.”

That was easier than I’d thought it would be, and I squeezed Nelo’s hand, offering him a hopeful smile.  The demon hadn’t made a peep since we’d landed in Raum’s court, and I could feel the tremor of fear going through his body.

I recognized the path to Dahlia’s room.  Like last time, the room was gloomy and dark, almost dismal, and it took my eyes a few seconds to adjust enough to spot the woman reclining on a chaise lounge.  Petite, with a dark pageboy haircut and severe bangs, she wore an elegant sheath of soft black, the jut of her pointy breasts against the thin fabric making me think she wore nothing underneath. 

Her bare shoulders were covered in intricate ink that I couldn’t quite make out in the gloom.  Her aura was a riot of colors, vivid reds, yellows and blues pocked with darker bits, swirling and moving.  The darkness seemed to have grown since the last time I’d seen her, but considering where she lived, it made sense.

Her fingers busily knotted a black silken cord, lips moving soundlessly, and she gave no sign that she’d heard us enter. 

“Dahlia, love.  We’ve a special visitor.”  His eyes dropped to acknowledge Nelo for the first time. “And a wart.”

The witch ignored us all, continuing to concentrate on the cord until the last knot was tied and she pulled a long pin from the chaise, stabbing herself in the finger.  I felt a pressure change in the room, like I needed to yawn and pop my ears, but it passed quickly.   Dark eyes looked up then, no surprise registering on her face to find me there. 

“Look who’s come to visit, pet,” Raum smiled.  “What do you say?”

“Leave us,” she said flatly, not even looking in his direction.  To my surprise, Raum turned to go without argument.  “Send out your familiar as well.”  Her liquid eyes fixed upon Nelo, who shrank behind me.   

“Nelo’s not my…”

“If you want my help, I’ll need your undivided attention,” she interrupted. 

“Better come with me, wart.”  Raum motioned to him from the doorway, but I kept my arm firmly around his shoulders.

“Nelo stays with me.”

“I’ll take good care of my old friend,” Raum promised, and I made sure to catch his eye before he herded him away. 

“See that you do.”

Dahlia’s dark gaze was still on me as I turned back to her.  “I know why you’re here,” she said, giving away nothing as to whether she planned to cooperate or not.

“Good, then I won’t have to waste my time explaining myself.  Can you do it?”

“For a price.”  She rose to her feet and I caught the sight of more tattoos down the smooth expanse of her bare back.  She stalked out to the terrace where a brazier waited, full of glowing coals.  There wasn’t a hint of subservience in her movements, nothing to indicate she felt she owed me a damn thing just because Raum brought me to her. 

“I don’t suppose you’ll do it because Raum orders you to help me?” I asked, following her out there. 

“Raum can order all he likes.  This kind of a spell… it requires a sacrifice.”

“Here we go…” I sighed.  Just what Oriana warned me about.  “I’m not bringing you anyone to suck the lifeforce out of.”

“I haven’t asked you to.  Pay attention,” she snapped, poking at the coals with a long iron rod. 

I really didn’t like her.  “Alright, let’s hear your price.”

“A spell like this, is no small thing.  I can do it, but it’ll take more power than I have to give.  Binding the soul of a child with that much Grace… it’s not easily done.  I’ll need your Grace to accomplish it.”

“No deal.”  I wasn’t giving up my Grace, not without guarantees, and without Adam or even Nelo here to have my back, it wasn’t up for negotiation. 

“Not all of it, just enough power to complete the spell of binding.  I assure you, it won’t harm you in any way.”

“And I’m supposed to take your word for it?  Is that how this works?” 

Dahlia turned away from the brazier, her painted lips curving into a smile.  “You’ll have to trust me.”

“Oh right, because
that
makes sense,” I muttered, not liking the thought of giving her that much power over me.  Then again, it wasn’t like I needed as much Grace as I had swimming around inside me.  If there was a person on the planet or above it with Grace to spare, it was me.  

“Let’s say for argument’s sake that I agree to this.  That covers the power needed to complete the spell, but not your price.  What do you want in exchange for doing it in the first place?”

“You’re a clever thing, aren’t you?” Dahlia smiled in admiration.  “Yes, I do require a boon.”

“Okay, what is it?”

“I want you to keep your word and break me out of here.” 

Was that all?  “I thought you liked it down here.”

“I admit, it has its diversions, but a girl likes a change of scenery from time to time.”  She paused, a haunted look coming into her eyes.  “It’s time.”

“That’s all you want?  For me to take you out of here?”

Her posture shifted the tiniest bit, some of the hardness slipping from her expression as she fixed me with a pleading gaze.  “It’s no small thing to me.”

That trace of vulnerability she revealed was enough to sway me.  “Alright, I’ll do it.” I decided on the spot.  “Is that why you wanted Raum out of here?”

“Mostly,” she admitted.  “Also, I wanted to see if I could make him do it.”  The hint of a smile curved her lips and I felt the beginnings of a sisterly bond there.  Maybe she couldn’t help it if she was a bitch.  Consider the source, as Adam had said before.  Going from a clan of energy vampires to Raum’s palace had to be rough on a girl. 

“So let me get this straight,” I said, refocusing us to the bargain on the table.  “You can do this.  You can keep Eve’s Grace completely hidden from Lucifer, or anyone else who can sense the Grace, but you need my Grace to power the spell, right?”

“That’s the general picture, yes.”

“And all you want from me in return is to get you out of here when we’re done.”

“Also correct.”  Dahlia went back to poking at the fire. 

“And if it doesn’t work?”

“If it doesn’t work, I guess you can always hunt me down and stick me back here if you feel the need.  Or, I can contact some of my old coven and see what alternatives we can come up with.  But this is going to work, I can feel it in my bones.”  Her dark eyes snapped with anticipation as she started gathering spell components, putting them on one of Oriana’s old potting tables next to the brazier.

I expected cooperation, but not so much glee.  “Why are you so psyched about this?”