Vengeance of the Demon: Demon Novels, Book Seven (Kara Gillian 7) (43 page)

A few minutes of searching turned up the pop-up hiking tent I’d bought on a whim half a decade ago and used exactly zero times. I climbed down the ladder and headed to the kitchen, dropped fruit and cheese into a resealable plastic bag, grabbed a bottled water, retrieved two blankets from the linen closet, then carried everything to the backyard.

Rhyzkahl frowned as I chucked the food, water, and blankets onto the trampled grass near him. I pulled the tent out of its bag—relieved when it popped into shape as advertised—then slid that into his “orbit” as well.

“You might want to put the blankets in the tent so it doesn’t blow away,” I said, calm and settled. “Oh, and don’t mistake my mercy for weakness.”

He regarded the tent with scorn and barely hidden uncertainty. “I do not mistake your
weakness
for mercy.”

“You can be an ass if you want, but be aware there’s no one else here who would show you a fraction of this
weakness
.”

“You expect me to ingratiate myself to you?” His mouth twisted in a sneer, but I sensed that he clung by his fingernails to what little stability he had.

“No,” I said. “I gave you food, water, and shelter because I have no desire to make anyone suffer.” I paused. “Even you. But I want to be sure you understand that, if you fuck with me or anyone I care about, you’re going to be sleeping in the rain and eating bugs.”

He turned his back to me and stalked off. Good. Glad that was settled. As soon as he was a quarter of the circle away, I looked toward the nexus. The glow rippled as if beckoning me forward, and I was happy to oblige.

Unfortunately, I’d underestimated Rhyzkahl’s desperation. The instant I reached the middle of the trampled grass, he spun and charged me, face vicious. Though his powers were diminished, his lordly speed was not, and before my brain registered the danger, he’d closed half the distance.

I’m fucked.
The thought flashed through my head as my human-slow reflexes kicked into gear. Rhyzkahl reached a hand toward me like a claw, ten feet away, five, two—

Blue-white lightning lanced from the edge of the slab to Rhyzkahl, spiderwebbing over his body in an instant. He cried out in agony and fell back, writhing as the arcane power crawled over him.

I drew a shaky breath.
Of course
Mzatal would think of everything. “Thanks, Boss,” I murmured. As soon as my pulse slowed to a less frenetic pace, I continued to the slab. The moment my foot touched the stone, the lightning vanished, leaving Rhyzkahl twitching on the grass. I ignored him and gave the nexus my full attention.

The surface appeared smooth as glass, the silvery strands perfectly flush with the obsidian. I froze at the edge of the slab as nightmarish memories stirred.

Endless black glass plane. Tilting. Rhyzkahl’s voice. Elinor. Identity slipping. Confusion. Rowan. Fear. Cold. So cold.

No.
I shook my head to dispel the memories. Warmth. Solid footing. Wholeness. Rhyzkahl, bound.

Mzatal’s silvery mark repeated in uncountable fractal patterns in the black glass. I smiled a smile that began in my core and worked its way out to fill my entire being. “Kara Gillian.” My name, rich and full on the night air.

Like balmy beach sand, the nexus called to me. I stripped off my shoes and tossed them to the grass, breath catching as pleasant warmth radiated through my bare feet to my knees. The silvery filigree of the sigils shimmered like liquid starlight, and in the center of the nexus the delicate outline of a circle flared a brighter silver-white, captivating. I took a step toward it then flinched in surprise as the strands within the six foot circle went dark. No. More than dark.

Gooseflesh shivered over my skin as I approached the circle. I knew that utter darkness. What seemed like a lifetime ago, I faced the maw of the void atop the basalt column in Mzatal’s realm and clung to the stone like a lost kitten in the rain.

The void can consume the resolve of even the most stalwart.
Mzatal’s words.

I swallowed. The darkness whispered to me, tugged at my essence. Unknown. Unfathomable.

“Turn away. There is no shame in it.” Rhyzkahl’s voice rippled through me like gossamer silk. Gentle. Persuasive.

Wise to flee the black. Easy to turn away.

“No.” My voice rang out clear and strong. Sweat pricked my armpits. Mzatal’s sigils warmed the soles of my feet. I sank to my knees beside the circle, leaned over and gazed into the lightless void. No frightened kitten this time. I extended both hands, lowered them toward the surface.

“Kara! Do not touch it.”

I hesitated an inch from the black, trembled. “You will not consume my resolve,” I told the darkness. “I am
Kara Gillian!
” My palms met warm obsidian. Pitch black gave way to the shine of stone.

Rhyzkahl made a strangled sound behind me.

Silver-white filigree sprang into glowing life within the circle. A multitude of Mzatal’s sigils and . . .

I scrambled to my feet for a better vantage. Barely discernible contours of a human figure spread-eagled like Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man—except with the curves of a woman. The interweave of a
different
sigil defined her subtle shape. As I took it in, her sigils shimmered brighter. Her sigils.
My
sigil. I honed in on one, followed its lines with my eyes, felt it resonate with my essence.

Laughter. Mine.

I stepped into the circle, lay on my back, aligned with the figure. Arms stretched out to my sides, hands at the level of my crown. Legs straight, feet wide apart.

The starry canopy of the night sky swam above, and the nexus floated me in its lustrous glow. The weariness of the day slipped away. The vibration in my bones eased to a soft hum. Rhyzkahl’s scar at the top of my sternum cooled. A tingle rose from below, surged through me, and the world burst into colors too vivid to be real. Potency flows like rivers of subtle light. Energy that flickered through the treetops and swirled in the air.

Sitting up, I stared in wonder as every plant, every insect, every creature—
everything
shone with its own signature of potency.

Rhyzkahl cursed in demon. I grinned and called potency to my hand, gathered it into a searing ball on my palm. I understood the first layer of what Mzatal had wrought. On the nexus, the arcane was mine. And more than othersight—
lord
sight. A lord’s powers, with Rhyzkahl as my battery. An ingenious ritual tethered him to me, and I laughed in delight as I took in the whole of it. Rhyzkahl had insisted on connecting with his sigil scar while in dreamspace, and now he was bound to that very sigil.

Mzatal had more use for him. I could
feeeeel
it, but the reason evaded me. Revenge with purpose.

Rhyzkahl stood in his orbit, posture rigid, and wearing his best pissed-off face. I spun the potency in my hand and smiled at him. “It must kill you that Mzatal outwitted you to this extent.”

He drew breath to respond, but I raised a barrier of potency between us and cut him off. My own brand of privacy fence. I dissipated the charge in my hand into a thousand iridescent sparks, then eased onto my back again and gazed up at the night sky. It didn’t bother me one bit that I had the arcane only on the nexus. I’d take it as the precious gift it was.

And, off the nexus, I’d kick ass in all other ways. Kara Gillian style.

The moon skimmed the trees, full save for a slim crescent of shadow. To the north, stars shimmered through the muggy night in defiance of the moon’s intrusion. Lightning flashed to the south and rumbled the promise of a coming storm. My gaze drifted between stars and moon, to the potency that danced through the atmosphere, and I reveled in the moment.

A meteor speared across the sky and vaporized in a flash above me. In the shadow of its absence, a trick of light and imagination floated for a heartbeat—a dragon black as the void, with wings outstretched and eyes of silver starlight.

Terms Related to the Demonic Lords

Demon Realm and demon language:
The world of the demons and demonic lords. The demon language has never been fully mastered by a human because of the verbal complexity and telepathic component. The same sound may have a multitude of different meaning depending on the telepathic pattern behind it. The demon word for their world is heavily telepathic and seventeen syllables.

Demahnk Council/Demon Council:
Comprised of the demahnk ptarl/advisors of the lords. Holds power and influence that Kara is still discovering. Enforcers of Szerain’s exile.

Eleven
: A significant number in the demon realm in rituals, architecture, and managing potency. Also, the number of demonic lords.

Manipulation:
The altering of memories or controlling of actions through telepathic means. Utilized by demonic lords and demahnk.

Mraztur:
Derogatory demon word used by Kara and her allies to refer to the demonic lords unified against her personal interests and those of Earth. Rhyzkahl, Jesral, Amkir, and Kadir. Rough translation: motherfucking asshole dickwad defilers.

Nexus:
A confluence of potency streams harnessed as a focal point of power in each lord’s realm. Universally marked by a platform of stone, wood, or crystal surrounded by eleven columns. Foundation for the most powerful rituals.

Plexus
: The chamber in each lord’s realm where the arcane potency flows of the planet can be monitored, manipulated, and adjusted by a demonic lord. Used daily, often for many hours at a time. Most are furnished for comfort during long work sessions. Kara’s rough translation:
a demonic lord’s man-cave.

Ptarl:
The demahnk counselor/advisor of a demonic lord.

Qaztahl:
Demon word for demonic lord. Both singular and plural. The lords are human in general appearance, but have a palpable energy aura and are able to shape and wield potency. Mind readers. Fully responsible for maintaining the potency stability of the planet. It is the one matter they agree on without question.

The Conclave:
An annual meeting of all qaztahl where global issues are addressed and plexus schedules for the upcoming year are confirmed. Outward hostility is frowned upon. Intrigue is rife.

The Groves:
Clusters of white-trunked trees that form a network of organic teleportation nodes, with one in each realm of the eleven qaztahl and a dozen or so more scattered across the planet. Animate and sentient. Kara has a unique relationship with the groves. Teleportation can only be activated by a lord, demahnk, or Kara. Each grove has a
mehnta
as its caretaker—a lifelong commitment.

The Demonic Lords—The Qaztahl

Names of ptarl and other details are included if they have been revealed to Kara through
Vengeance of the Demon.

Amkir
(AHM-keer) One of the Mraztur. Light olive complexion, short dark hair. Anger issues. Unsmiling. Asshole. Got totally punched out by Kara.

Elofir
(EL-oh-fear) Ptarl:
Greeyer
. Short sandy-blond hair. Slim, athletic build. Friendly, gentle, deeply caring. Enjoys the quiet of his wooded realm. Lover to Michelle Cleland. Pacifist by nature but will totally fuck up anyone who messes with her.

Jesral
(JEZ-rahl) One of the Mraztur. Slim, brown hair, keen gaze, impeccably styled and graceful. Smiling, outwardly friendly. In reality a backstabbing slimy bastard. Seriously, this guy is a dick. Cold and calculating. Hates that he doesn’t have an essence blade of his very own. I mean, it totally sticks in his craw that he’s not one of the “elite three” who got blades.

Kadir
(kuh-DEER) Ptarl:
Helori
, estranged. One of the Mraztur. Slender, blond, androgynous. Cold, psychopathic, chaotic, vicious. Utterly brilliant. Lives slightly “out of phase” with the rest of the demon realm. Nicknamed “Creepshow” by Kara. Associated demon:
Sehkeril
(reyza)

Mzatal
(muh-ZAH-tull) Ptarl:
Ilana
. Essence Blade:
Khatur
. Tall and elegant, keen silver-grey eyes, Asian features, very long jet black hair worn in a braid. Powerful and focused. Creator of the essence blades. Has a bond with Kara. Associated demons:
Gestamar, Safar, Juntihr
(reyza).
Jekki, Faruk
(faas).
Dakdak, Tata, Krum, Wuki
(ilius).
Lazul
(mehnta).
Juke
(kehza).
Anak
(zrila).
Steeev
(syraza)

Rayst
(rayst) Partner of Seretis. Swarthy. Stocky build, but moves with grace. Kind and friendly, but not a pushover. Pays attention to the dynamics between others.

Rhyzkahl
(REEZ-call) Ptarl:
None
(formerly Zakaar/Zack). One of the Mraztur. Essence Blade:
Xhan
(last known to be in the possession of Jesral). Long white-blond hair, ice-blue eyes, tall, muscled, utterly beautiful. Seductive and charming. Betrayed and tortured the hell out of Kara. Associated demons:
Eilahn, Olihr
(syraza).
Pyrenth
(deceased, reyza).
Kehlirik
(reyza).
Rega
(faas).

Seretis
(SAIR-uh-tis) Ptarl:
Lannist
. Partner of Rayst. Chiseled cheekbones, and shoulder length dark, wavy hair. Looks like a Spanish soap opera star. Bisexual. Loves being around humans, and has gone to extreme lengths to protect humans in the demon realm from other lords.

Szerain
(szair-RAIN) Ptarl:
Xharbek
(in hiding/presumed dead by most). Essence Blade:
Vsuhl
. Utterly brilliant artist. Smart and inquisitive and very patient when his plans call for it. Is called a kiraknikahl—oathbreaker. Diminished and exiled to Earth as Ryan Kristoff. Associated demon:
Turek
(savik)

Vahl
(pronounced like the first syllable of volume) Tall, black, just the right amount of muscle, and oh-so-sexy. Seriously, the dude is yummy. Too bad he tends to make rash decisions that cause him to be indebted to the other lords. He’s like that dude in college who was probably a decent guy but got so caught up in wearing the right clothes and driving the right car and living in the right neighborhood that he maxed out all his credit cards, and when the economy took a dip, and he got laid off, everything got repossessed, and he had to declare bankruptcy. But, still, not a bad guy and fun to hang out with, and when he had money he’d totally buy a round for everyone.

Vrizaar
(vree-ZAR) Dark-skinned, bald, with a goatee and no mustache. Dresses like a biblical king, with gold and jewels that are awesome and just shy of gaudy. As cautious and prudent as Vahl isn’t when it comes to dealings with the other lords, but not so staid that he doesn’t enjoy the thrill of adventure. Loves to sail.

Summoners Known to Kara

Aaron Asher:
(30s) Katashi’s student and associate. Former student of Rasha Hassan Jalal Al-Khouri. Associated with J.M. Farouche and the Mraztur.

Anton Beck:
(40s) Katashi’s student and associate. Recruited Idris for Katashi.

Cherie and Keveen Bergeron:
(deceased) Grandparents of Raymond Bergeron A.K.A. Tracy Gordon. Killed by Rhyzkahl in the Bloodbath Summoning.

Frank McCreary:
(deceased) Killed by Rhyzkahl in the Bloodbath Summoning.

Gina Hallsworth:
(30s) Katashi’s student and associate.

Graciella “Gracie” Therese Pazhel:
Tessa’s mother. Kara’s maternal grandmother. Sworn summoner of Szerain. Killed by Rhyzkahl in the Boodbath Summoning.

Idris Palatino:
(20) Student of Katashi and Mzatal. Kara’s cousin. Son of Tessa and Rhyzkahl. Gifted summoner. Adopted as a baby, and then again as a young teen after his first adoptive parents were killed. Innocence stripped by the Mraztur. Forced to watch his sister raped and ritually tortured and killed.

Isumo Katashi:
(100+) Master summoner. Tessa’s mentor. Conducted the very first summoning after the arcane ways reopened post-cataclysm. Was once a sworn summoner of Mzatal but betrayed him. Associated with the Mraztur. Every living summoner has been trained by him or one of his students.

Peter Cerise/Chief Eddie Morse:
(deceased in his 60s) Organized the summoning of Szerain three decades ago that ended in a bloodbath with his wife and five other summoners slain by Rhyzkahl. Sworn summoner of Szerain. Became the serial killer known as the Symbol Man. Killed by Rhyzkahl when he attempted to summon and bind the lord.

Rasha Hassan Jalal Al-Khouri:
(80s) Katashi’s student. Retired. Associated with J.M. Farouche. Antagonistic relationship with Aaron Asher.

Robert Lamothe:
(deceased) Killed by Rhyzkahl in the Bloodbath Summoning.

Tessa Pazhel:
(late 40s) Kara’s aunt and mentor. Student of Katashi. Frizzy blond hair and eclectic fashion sense. Raised Kara from age eleven.

Tracy Gordon/Raymond Bergeron:
(deceased in his late 20s) Grandson of two of the summoners killed by Rhyzkahl in the Bloodbath Summoning of Szerain.

Tsuneo Oshiro:
(late 20s) Student of Katashi. Bears a tattoo of Jesral’s sigil. Associated with the Mraztur.

William Slavin:
(50s) Katashi’s student and associate.

Humans Who Know Kara Is a Summoner

Angus McDunn:
(mid 50s) Broad-shouldered, big and stocky. Red and grey hair. Was J.M. Farouche’s right hand man. Husband of Catherine McDunn and stepfather to Detective Marcel Boudreaux. Lost a young son over twenty years ago to abduction and murder.

Bryce Thatcher:
(40ish) Ex-hitman. Was a veterinary student when he accidentally shot and killed his roommate, Pete Nelson. Recruited by J.M. Farouche shortly thereafter. Paul Ortiz’s bodyguard. Part of Kara’s posse.

Carl:
(mid 40s) Morgue tech. Quiet and unflappable with an unspeakably dry sense of humor. Tessa’s boyfriend. Immune to the arcane for reasons unknown.

James Macklin Farouche:
(deceased late 50s) Businessman, philanthropist, and vigilante-gone-wrong. Became obsessed with finding missing children and punishing those responsible after his five-year-old daughter was abducted nearly twenty years ago. Involved with Rhyzkahl and human trafficking. Arcane talent of influencing people. Executed by Bryce Thatcher.

Jerry Steiner:
(late 30s) Hitman who enjoys his work. Very nondescript appearance. Easily blends in. Rapist and sociopath. Was one of the men who participated in the rape, torture, and murder of Amber Palatino Gavin.

Jill Faciane:
(late 20s) Red hair, blue eyes, petite, athletic. Kara’s best friend. Crime scene tech. Smart and sarcastic. Pregnant with Zack’s child (“the bean”). Former gymnast who’d been favored to make the Olympic team before a bad fall.

Leo Carter:
(mid 50s) Black. Close-cropped hair. Farouche’s head of security. Trained sniper—preferred weapon a Bergara tactical rifle with a Schmidt and Bender scope.

Michael Moran:
(early 20s) Brain damaged in an accident. Brilliant pianist. Has the ability to form golems out of dirt. Taken to the demon realm by Rhyzkahl and given to Amkir. Paid for in blood and pain by Seretis, and lives in the realm of Seretis and Rayst. Can sometimes clairvoyantly see the lords’ locations.

Michelle Cleland:
(24) Physics major turned drug addict and prostitute on Earth. Taken to the demon realm by Rhyzkahl after the Symbol Man ritual. Empath. Flourished with Vahl as she came to understand her gift. Willing courtesan of the qaztahl. Beloved of Elofir.

Paul Ortiz:
(22) Computer genius. Former captive employee of J.M. Farouche. Uses potency flows in tandem with computer networks to find information and accomplish hacker tasks. Beaten nearly to death by his cop dad because of his sexual orientation. Hispanic. Like a brother to Bryce. Critically injured by Mzatal. Currently resides in the demon realm.

Humans Who Do Not Know Kara Is a Summoner

Chief Robert Turnham:
(50s) Beaulac PD. Tall, slender, black man. Meticulous, quiet, efficient. 25 years law enforcement experience.

Sergeant Cory Crawford:
(early 40s) Dyed brown hair and mustache, brown eyes, stout. Chooses drab brown clothing and wild-colored ties. Good leader. Knows Kara is involved in paranormal activities but prefers not knowing details.

Sergeant Scott Glassman:
(late 30s) Patrol training officer. Acts like a hick, but savvy. Stout, bald, ruddy complexion.

Detective Vincent Pellini:
(early 40s) Often antagonistic toward Kara. Greasy black hair, mustache, overweight. Boudreaux’s work partner.