The First Book of Demons (The Book of Demons Saga) (13 page)

Chapter
Thirty Seven

“So this is the human,” Salaman said, his eyes scanning Alex curiously.  She sat across from Balthazar, her arms crossed over her chest, face turned away.  Salaman could sense the hostility that hung between the two. 

Simiri had burst into flames very shortly after her capture, and her ashes were bottled, bringing her life to an end.  Salaman uncorked the glass bottle that held her remains and poured them onto the center of the table.  He placed the griffin egg in the pile of fine black powder that was Simiri’s ashes.

“I am surprised King Azi was so willing to part with an underscale,” Salaman said, his gaze locking on Balthazar.  “He is not known to favor demons.”

“A dragon’s reasoning cannot be understood,” Balthazar said, his jaw clenching in irritation.

“Or perhaps,” Salaman continued, “it was for a specific purpose.”

“I know not of what you speak,” Balthazar
said, narrowing his eyes.

“I think you do,”
Salaman said, “He believed you were going to help the human return.”

“That’s what
you are going to do, right?” Alex said, her eyes snapping to Balthazar. 

“I believe you have been misled,”
Salaman said, “Balthazar has not the power to help himself, much less you.”

“
You lied to me?” Alex said, her brows furrowing at the newest betrayal.  “Why would you?”

Balthazar remained quiet.  His face showed no emotion, but a strange pain gnawed at his chest.  He couldn’t understand why, but he had to look away from Alexandra.  The pained look on her face, caused by him, was too much for him.  The ache only grew when he smelled the salty tears welling up in her eyes.  

“Everything was a lie.  You did this all for yourself,” Alex said, the pain of betrayal beginning to merge with anger.

“You speak as if
you know anything of this world,” Balthazar scoffed, “as if you know of the sacrifices in keeping a kingdom together.  You are nothing but an ignorant little girl.”

“And you are
nothing but a self-absorbed, mean spirited bully,” Alex shouted at Balthazar, her eyes stinging with the onset of her tears.  She could feel her anger rising, a tingle of electricity ran down her spine, raising the hair on her arms.

Balthazar felt the sudden shift in the girl’s aura.  The tangy smell of ra
w power filled his nose.  He could sense Alexandra’s anger, but something else about her was different.  Something deep within her had fundamentally changed. 

“Let me go home, now,” Alex said, wiping the trail of tears from her cheek with the back of her hand. 

“You going home was never part of the plan,” Balthazar said, “and now that I see how valuable you truly are, I can never let you go.”

“
That’s not fair,” she screamed, slamming her hand against the table. “You promised.”

  The griffin egg rattled with the impact.  The dust of the phoenix sifted into the air.  A wave of vibration shook the small audience room.  A spark glinted from the ashes.  Then another spark.  The pile burst into a brilliant crimson flame, lasting only a breath and then disappearing, leaving only the griffin egg on the table. 

“You have felt the touch of your powers,” Salaman said, “In time it will grow and you will learn to control it.”

“My power?” Alex said, examining her hands.  “What did I do?”

“Take it,” Salaman said, handing the egg to Alex. 

The
shell disintegrated in a burst of blue fire and the bird, scarcely larger than a pigeon, came to rest on her lap.  It had golden feathers, with one blue and one red eye that blinked as they tried to focus on Alex. 

“You have given life to a new line of firebirds,” Salaman said to Alex.  “
with an amalgam of fire and water energies.  It is an auspicious beginning to the awakening of your powers.”

Chapter
Thirty Eight

Carolina was not pleased.  She was happy to see Alexandra return, but very quickly grew tired of her new companion.  Having a phoenix was, of course, not a bad thing.  But Alex could not control it and the baby firebird was making an absolute mess of the meticulously designed interior of the Lady’s apartment.  Not to mention the incessant caws that echoed off the marbled walls, hurting the Sultana’s sensitive ears. 

“Honestly, girl,” Carolina said, throwing her manicured hands in the air, “can you not gain control of the creature?”

“I’m sorry Lady Carolina,” Alex said, wiping at her forehead.  She was working up a pretty healthy sweat chasing the gilded bird around the room trying to cage it.  Now it had flown far out of Alexandra’s reach and rested comfortably on a wooden rafter that supported the ceiling.  “I’m trying to catch it.”

“Well that is your problem, girl,” Carolina said, walking over to Alex.  She placed her hands on Alexandra’s slender shoulders.  “You must command it.”

“It’s not going to listen to me,” Alex said, shaking her head.

“You must give it a name,” Carolina said
.  “It is female.”

Alex thought for a moment.  She
looked up at the bird, with her tiny two toned eyes that watched her every move.  She knew exactly the name she would give the bird, a name that reminded her of Aunt Tamy. 

“Peta,” Alex said, “her name is Peta.”

“Now,” Carolina said, stepping back, “command her.”

Alexandra took a deep b
reath, and relaxed her shoulders.  She looked pointedly at the bird.  “Come, Peta.”

The golden
wings of the newborn phoenix spread out as she leapt of the rafter and landed on the floor just before Alex, shaking her feathers in displeasure as she was ushered into her cage. 

“I’m afraid the room will need to be entirely redone,” Carolina said, a tisk tisk echoing off the marbled room as she picked her way around the piles of overturned furniture and silk cushions. 

“Sorry,” Alex said, biting at her lower lip. 

“What’s done is done,” Carolina said, waving her hand, “
No sense dwelling on it.  Let us go and prepare for the Taj Festival.”

#

“I’m not wearing that,” Alex said, shaking her head at the eunuch that was holding out an outfit expectantly.  He looked at Lady Carolina for directions. 

“Why ever not?” Carolina asked, examining her hair in the mirror that sat on the wall of the harem dressing rooms.  An army of eunuchs shuffled around them with ointments and implements, preparing the Ladies of the Harem for the Taj Festival. 

Alex looked at the top of the outfit, her brows raised.  It was beautiful, deep green silk embroidered with golden threads and studded with tiny diamonds in a decorative pattern.  It was also little more than a bra, with a high slit skirt that sat low on the hips.  Carolina could sense the apprehension in Alexandra’s aura.  She rose from her cushion with a sigh.

“It is formal wear,” Carolina said, stepping over to Alex.  She took the top from the eunuch and handed it to Alex.   “We must look
our best for the Taj Festival.”

Chapter
Thirty Nine

Alexandra’s eyes glistened in the multitude of candle flames that lit the festival as she gazed around in awe.  The throne room of the palace was decorated with lengths of opaque white silk draped across the ceiling, falling to the floor in pools of fabric.  Plush silk cushions in a myriad of bold colors littered the floor, gathered around low tables into seating arrangements.  The dais that the throne was set on was covered with gold leaf that shimmered in the light of the candelabras spread throughout the great hall.  A temporary dais ran along both sides of the room, with tables for the honored members of the royal family. 

Carolina sat at the head of
the table closest to the throne.  Alexandra sat on the cushion to her left and Adira sat to her right.  There were two more seats at the Sultana’s table and they were occupied by the daughters of the Lord Enchanter.  Nila, the younger sister, sat next to Alex, scanning the numerous guests of the festival, searching for someone in particular.  Her older sister Azira’s lavender eyes were focused on the human girl. 

“Lady Carolina,”
Azira said, raising her glass in a toast, “It is such an honor to sit at your table.”

“I am
aware of that Azira,” Carolina said without looking at the demoness, “It would be more of an honor if I chose for you to sit here.”

Azira’s back straightened at the insult.  She knew the Sultana did not favor her, but that didn’t really matter.  “I care not,” she said, lifting her narrow nose, “the only choice that matters is Lord Balthazar’s.”

“I don’t believe Lord Balthazar chose you to sit there either,” Adira said.

“
Soon,” Azira said, her eyes narrowing, “he will choose me.”

“How unfortunate for him,” Alexandra
mumbled under her breath.  Not that she cared at all about the self-absorbed demon prince’s love life.  But somehow she felt uncomfortable with the thought of him and the demoness.

“How dare you, girl,”
Azira hissed through her barred fangs.

“
Azira,” Carolina cut in, “you would dare to challenge someone under my protection?”               

Azira sank back into her cushion at the reprimand.  The time to challenge Lady Carolina would come
soon, but it certainly was not at the Taj Festival.  Tonight, according to protocol, the new Lord Sultan would summon her to his private chambers.  In the morning she would be recognized as the new Sultana, and then Lady Carolina would bow to her. 

The gilded doors behind the
throne opened and the festival guests fell silent.  Balthazar’s face was serene as he entered the hall, radiating a subtle, yet not fully developed, power.  The floor length white robe that he wore was embroidered with gold thread in a geometric pattern that caught the light in the festival hall, twinkling softly and giving an ethereal glow to the demon lord.  Alexandra found it hard to tear her eyes away from the sight of him.  His torso was left bare and the sharp lines of his chiseled stomach peaked through the open robe.  Alex couldn’t help but gasp at the handsome sight that he presented.  The reaction didn’t go unnoticed by Azira.

A
crackling thump broke through the silence of the hall as the Lord Enchanter tapped the end of his staff against the marble floor.  The festival guests rose as the doors at the other end of the hall creaked open.  Salaman waddled in, carrying a tear drop shaped glass bottle.  The thick amber liquid inside sparkled as it sloshed with the old demon’s every step.  As he neared the golden dais where Balthazar stood waiting, the entire room fell to their knees.  Salaman climbed the few stairs to come face to face with the young prince. 

“Kneel, boy,” Salaman said, his voice low enough for only Balthazar to hear.

Balthazar bent a knee, bowing his head as Salaman removed the glass stopper from the bottle of anointing oil.  The festival hall stood frozen in time for a slender moment as a single drop fell from the bottle onto the young prince’s raven locks.  The wrinkled lips of the old demon moved in a silent incantation.

“I give you my blessing,” Salaman said, replacing the glass stopper, “but that will not be enough to defeat all your enemies.”

Balthazar straightened, standing to face the cryptic old demon for meaning.  Salaman turned without another word, leaving the festival and its guests to celebrate.  The hall erupted in cheers and raised goblets to Lord Sultan Balthazar.  They settled back into their cushions as food trailed out in an explosion of culinary delights.  Servants piled the tables high with a variety of dishes, as Balthazar settled on his throne surveying his subjects.  His eyes inevitably fell on Alexandra. 

Alexandra’s mouth watered in anticipation as mounds of food were placed on the table before her.  She picked from the serving plates, piling her own high with smoked meat and steamed greens.  Any manners Alex had quickly went out the window as she began to indulge in the delicacies before her. 

Balthazar
watched as Alex eagerly filled her plate. The color of her outfit made her eyes pop as she stared in wonder at the whole event while munching steadily on her food.  The girl was severely lacking in etiquette, but she somehow managed to steal his attention.  He could pinpoint her scent from amongst the sea of guests, and couldn’t help but take a moment of pleasure in the smell of Anouri fruit that ghosted her natural scent.  Her scent held innocence, and purity that he found surprisingly enticing.  He suddenly found himself wanting to touch her, to revel in her scent and her innocence. 

Alex noticed
the empty plate before Carolina. 

“Lady Carolina,”
Alex said between bites, “you aren’t eating?”

“Not yet,” she replied with a spark in her crystal blue eyes as she rose from her cushion and faded into the crowd of guests.

“Where is she going?” Alex asked Adira from across the table.

“Oh we are in for a real treat tonight,” Adira said, using a napkin to wipe at her lips.