Silver-Tongued Devil (43 page)

“Red?” Giguhl whispered.

I shook myself. “Yeah?”

“You’re not alone. We’ll handle this together, okay? No matter what waits for us back in the mortal realm.”

“Can you flash us to New Orleans instead of the Crossroads?” If I worked quickly, maybe I could find Erron and he could get me to Abel in time to stop Cain. Then I could return to New York a hero instead of a failure.

The cat moved in my arms until his paws were on my shoulders and he looked into my eyes with his own. “I could, yes. But I think that’s a mistake. I know it’s going to hurt like hell, but you have to tell them what happened. They deserve to hear the truth. You can’t just run away from it.”

Why couldn’t I have a demon who could lie to me every now and then? One who encouraged me to run from things I didn’t want to face?

I looked down at the hairless cat demon who was my best friend in the world. The one who called me on my shit and always had my back. I didn’t want any other demon by my side. “You’re right.”

His little eyes glowed with emotion. He cleared his throat and squirmed. “Now, say the words so we can get the fuck out of this hellhole.”

I smiled. That was the demon I knew and loved. “Giguhl, let’s go home.”

The air popped and warped. In the next instant, we left the Liminal behind. Forever, I hoped.

36

T
he first thing I saw when Giguhl and I flashed back into the chapel was the empty floor where Maisie’s body had lain before I left. For a split second, my traitorous mind dared to hope I’d been wrong. That maybe somehow my sister’s death in the dream world hadn’t also meant the death of her physical form. But before I could grab onto that wisp of hope, I was tackled.

The scent of sandalwood and the feel of Adam’s fierce embrace demanded my full attention. I breathed in deep and willed my emotions to steady. I couldn’t afford to break down now. I still had to get through my recount of the events in the Liminal. Still had to face all those trusting gazes and admit that I’d failed.

“Thank the gods,” Adam said, his voice thick with emotion. “We thought you’d—” His voice cracked.

I pulled back to look in his eyes. In those depths, I saw the truth. Not only had Maisie actually died, but Adam and the others believed Cain had killed Giguhl and me, too. I opened my mouth to say… what? What could I possibly say?

“My turn.” Rhea used her hip to push Adam out of the way before he could tell me. She crushed me to her. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again,” she whispered fiercely.

I closed my eyes and surrendered to my need to be comforted. Rhea was as close to a real mother figure as I’d ever had. And right now, I needed every ounce of strength she offered. Especially since any minute now it would be with-drawn.

Over her shoulder, I saw Adam and Giguhl sharing a manly hug. When we’d reappeared, Giguhl manifested back in his demon form. He towered over the mancy, but looked as relieved as I felt for the support.

Beyond them, I noticed dozens of beings now filled the chapel. Everyone had frozen when we arrived and watched our tearful reunion. I knew it was only a matter of time before the questions started, but for the moment, I tried to block them out.

When I pulled away, my eyes throbbed with tears but I managed to hold them off. Unleashing the dam now wouldn’t be helpful or pretty. I’d allow myself to fall apart later, but first I had to get through the next few minutes. “Where is she?” I whispered.

Rhea hesitated and pointed to a door off to the side of the altar.

Cold sweat bloomed from every pore. As if on autopilot, I turned and walked toward the wooden door separating me from my sister’s body. From the corner of my eye, I saw the Queen move as if to speak me, but Rhea barked, “Give her a moment.”

The door opened to reveal a smaller room with a single window. The stained glass formed a blue-and-red mosaic that cast my sister’s shrouded body in a purple glow. The white gauze covering her was thin enough that I could make out her too-still features.

My knees trembled as I closed the door behind me, locking out the curious gazes of the audience in the chapel. The air here was heavy with cold and dust. I took a deep breath and turned toward the altar holding my sister. I kneeled on the low stone bench in front of the slab. Resting my forehead on the hard stone at her hip, I allowed the tears to finally fall.

They say that when you die, your life passes before your eyes. And as I knelt there, sobbing, it felt like a kind of death. Death of my illusions. Death of my hope. Death of my prayers for a happy ending.

Memories of Maisie, recollections of better times—short-lived though they were—flashed through my mind. The first time I saw my sister, singing that stupid Bob Marley song just before she ran at me with a huge smile and open arms. Her attempts to bond with me over girl talk and bags of blood. The way she’d tease Adam and she’d laugh indulgently at Giguhl’s antics. The conviction in her blue eyes the night she told me she believed I was the Chosen. Standing back-to-back with her, fighting the vampires Lavinia sent to attack the mage compound. That night was the last time I’d seen my twin whole, just before our grandmother kidnapped Maisie and doomed her down the road that ended with her bleeding out in the Liminal.

Tears splashed my cheeks. Choking sobs clogged my throat. This was not the delicate cry of a civilized mourner. It was an angry outpouring of grief and rage.

Just before she’d died, Maisie had told me to trust fate. But how could I? In my experience, fate was a murderer. A ruiner of hope. A godsdamned cosmic joke at my expense.

My left shoulder blade burned as if I’d been branded. “Always… with you,” a voice whispered in my head. Maisie’s voice. Her final words to me.

I might have been hallucinating. But it didn’t really matter. Because the pain and that sweet voice filled me with a strength and calm I’d never known. I could sit there and beat myself with barbed, guilty thoughts or I could make things right.

“Maisie, I don’t know why this happened. But I know you deserved better,” I whispered. “I can’t change the past, but I can affect the future. And I will not rest until you are avenged.”

I placed a hand over my heart to sanctify the pledge I was about to offer. “Before the breath leaves my body and I join you in Irkalla, I vow on everything I hold sacred that Cain will pay for what he has done.”

A warm breeze blew through the room, bringing with it the scent of sandalwood and lilies.

The door to the room opened suddenly. A shaft of light cut through the dark, bringing with it the sounds of voices from the main chapel. “Sabina?” Adam whispered.

I blinked against the intrusive light that stung my swollen eyes. Against the glow of the brighter room, Adam was little more than a shadow in the doorway.

“Red?” he whispered. “I’m sorry to interrupt but everyone’s getting restless out here.”

I nodded. As much as I wanted to put this off, part of me knew that if I stayed with my sister’s body much longer, I’d lose my nerve to do what must be done. “I’m coming.”

Adam hesitated before backing away to give me a chance to collect myself.

Placing a trembling hand over my sister’s cold one, I swallowed. “Maisie,” I whispered. “I know I wasn’t the best sister. I know I failed you. If I could trade places with you, I would.” I swallowed the new round of sobs that threatened. “And my biggest regret is that I never got to tell you how much I admired you. How much you meant to me.”

I stood and lowered the shroud from my sister’s face. My lips felt hot against the icy skin of her forehead. “I love you, sister. Rest in peace.”

With that, I covered her back up and turned toward the shaft of light in the doorway. Time to face the music.

“What happened?” Rhea asked, her voice kind but determined to hear the truth. “You were gone for hours.”

I stood on the raised platform at the front of the chapel. My tears were finally dry as I faced the dozens of beings who filled the space—Rhea, Adam, Queen Maeve, Alexis, and at least two dozen other mages, fae, and vampires. At Rhea’s question, my eyebrows rose. I knew Liminal time was different than in the mortal realm but—I glanced at the window. Holy shit, it was already afternoon.

I swallowed and looked around the room. At first, I’d wanted to demand they leave. That the story I had to share was too personal for an audience. But then I realized that everyone in that room had a stake in the outcome of my trip to the Liminal. So even though it was one of the hardest things I’d ever done, I cleared my throat and shared the story in a loud, clear voice.

I didn’t stop until it was done. I told them about the white stag and the pool. I told them about Maisie kneeling on the shore. I told them about Cain’s plans to enter the Liminal and reclaim Lilith as his own. I told them about the ritual Maisie performed that freed Cain. And then I told them how my sister died in my arms.

The room fell silent. I backed away from the edge of the altar and slumped against Giguhl. As the seconds ticked by, pressure built in my gut. Any moment now, the accusations would begin.

Naturally, Queen Maeve—never my biggest fan—was the first to step forward. I gritted my teeth and braced myself. “Sabina,” she said, her voice loud for all to hear. “I am the first to admit I had my doubts about your honor.” I nodded and braced myself for the attack. “But I was wrong. Your sacrifices for the good of all the dark races will be the stuff of legend.”

“B-but—” Shock made me stutter. “I failed. Cain got away and I couldn’t save Maisie.”

The Queen raised her chin and looked at me over her nose with an imperious stare. “Do not interrupt, young lady.” I waited for her to continue. “We all mourn Maisie. Her loss will be felt keenly for decades. But you shouldn’t blame yourself. Cain is a cunning foe, a manipulator of the first order. No one blames you for Maisie’s death.”

My mouth fell open. “Thanks.”

She tilted her head. “Now, what resources will you need?”

“Wait,” I said, having trouble keeping up. I didn’t know if it was the exhaustion, the grief, or just the general fucked-up state of affairs, but I had no idea what she was talking about. “Resources for what?”

“For your mission,” the Queen said. “Cain must be stopped.”

Rhea stepped forward then. “Yes, get us a list and we’ll make sure you have everything you need.”

“Wait, you’re serious?”

Rhea tilted her head and frowned at me like she was wondering if I had a fever. “Why wouldn’t we be?”

Her eyebrows lowered. “My dear, I lived far too long and have seen far too many lives lost in this sad conflict between the dark races to joke. Cain is the biggest threat to our way of life that has ever existed. And if anyone can stop him, it’s you.”

I didn’t know what to say. Sure, I’d already planned on going after him no matter what the Queen or anyone else thought. As far as I was concerned, the target on Cain’s back had my name all over it. But I’d been prepared to have to fight for the right to be the one who went after Cain. I didn’t expect to learn that everyone here believed in me and had my back. Their support went a long way toward easing my guilt and my fear. Now if someone could just do something about this black hole in my heart.

I pushed down my grief and focused on finding more answers. “What are you guys going to do about the treaty?” I asked.

The Queen and Rhea exchanged a look. “While you were gone, we had a chance to discuss that.”

“We’re declaring a state of emergency for the mage race,” Adam said. “Aunt Rhea was elected as interim leader of the Council until Cain is out of the picture and a general election can be held.”

My eyes widened as I looked at my mentor. She’d make an excellent leader for the race.

“Meanwhile,” the Queen said, “Alexis and Slade Corbin will be searching for Persephone.”

“What?” I said, my voice rising in shock. “Alexis and
Slade
?”

The vampiress came forward, her chin high. “When we realized Cain was behind all this, it was clear that Slade was never at fault. Besides,” she said, her cheeks heating, “if Persephone is still in New York, I’ll need his help tracking her down.”

The corner of my mouth lifted. “I almost wish I could be there when you ask him for help.”

“I just bet—” She paused, cutting off what was no doubt a brilliantly cutting retort. Taking a deep breath, she started over. “I’m sorry I, uh, accused you of murder and all.”

I bit my lip. Her consternation was so un-vampire-like that I couldn’t help but take pity on her. “Ditto, Vampira.”

Our gazes locked for a few moments. All sorts of intangible things passed between us then. I still thought she was a hothead with questionable fashion taste. But I also knew she wouldn’t be the worst ally to have on my side in a fight. If nothing else, she had a nasty right hook.

Rhea clapped her hands and turned toward me. “So, now that that’s all settled, when are you heading out?”

I paused. “Tonight.” My gaze shifted to Adam, who suddenly was very interested in his shoes. “I need to get to New Orleans to see Erron Zorn. He’ll know how to get in touch with Abel.”

Rhea nodded. “Sounds like the best place to start. You, Giguhl, and Adam can flash there tonight.”

My head jerked up as her words sunk in. “Adam? You’re coming?”

“Of course.” He hesitated, as if something occurred to him. “Unless—do you not want me to come?”

Relief flooded me. I wanted him to come more than just about anything I’d wanted in my life. I’d just been worried that with everything that had happened between us he might prefer to stay and help Rhea run the race. “Of course I do.”

Our eyes met and held. Words best left for a more private moment passed between us in that look. Words of forgiveness… and love. Maybe Giguhl was right before: Love alone isn’t enough to fix a broken relationship. But without it, there was no hope. I knew I loved Adam, and judging from the look he was shooting me, he still loved me, too. I wasn’t sure how we’d work through all our issues, but I knew I wanted to try.

I also knew that, other than Giguhl, there was no one I wanted by my side more for the biggest battle of my life.