Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I led Penn and Orik up to the door. Orik was carrying more equipment, and a repair kit because Carson said that it seemed some of the cameras had gone offline.
Penn was carrying her magical supply tote, which reminded me of an old fashioned carpet bag.
It looked like gorgeous red velvet but I knew that it was a waterproof, stainproof facade.
Given she had to carry it out into the woods, into muddy swamps, or any other number of grimy areas, I understood why she went for the faux velvet.
“Ready?” I asked, key in the lock.
“About as ready as I can get,” Penn said. “Wouldn’t it be nice if they’d just leave if I asked them to leave? Like, Hey, how about you skedaddle ? And they’re like… Sure thing . And then we all live happily ever after.”
Orik laughed. “Oh yeah, that’s going to happen.”
“A girl can dream, can’t she?” Penn smiled, which was nice to see.
“Okay, both of you, it’s all fun and games till somebody conjures a demon. Or a ghost, given I’m already here.” I pushed open the door and peeked in. Immediately, I was hit with the desire to turn and run. “Um, no luck. They’re still here.”
We entered the living room and Penn shuddered.
“They know we’re here. This is going to be rough.” She set her bag down and opened it, pulling out several charms. “I’m going to get started. The sooner I do this, the better?—”
A loud bang echoed from upstairs and the next moment, a swirling vortex of black mist appeared on the ceiling. Penn stared at it, a horrified look on her face. “No…”
“What is it?” I asked, backing away so I wasn’t standing beneath it.
“Longworld! And he’s angry that we’re here.” She thrust out one of her charms toward it. “Don’t mess with me!”
But the swirling vortex either didn’t care or didn’t listen. A crackle echoed through the room and a sizzling hot bolt of lightning struck out, hitting Penn’s hand, knocking the charm out of her grasp. She let out a cry, but held steady.
Orik grabbed up the charm and immediately dropped it, his fingers blistering. “Crap—is it supposed to do that?”
“No,” Penn said, staring at the cloud. “We have to get out of here. He knows I’m coming for him and he’s only begun to fight back. I can’t handle this.”
“All right, out!” I herded them toward the door, Penn grabbing her bag and Orik juggling his equipment. As we raced over the threshold there was another crash and I slammed the door behind us just as something big hit against it.
We raced down into the yard and turned around. Lights flashed in the windows upstairs, and then—the house quieted. But it was only a facade. I knew that if we went back in, everything would start up again and we might not make it out.
“What the hell was that?” I said as we leaned against the van, staring back at the house. “And what are we going to do about it?”
“It wasn’t my magic that triggered it, but our presence. I didn’t even have a chance to start the ritual,” Penn said. “I think it’s Longworld, but…also something more.”
“Whatever it is, it’s sentient.” Orik shook his head. “We need someone who really knows magic—not that you don’t, Penelope, but someone who’s…”
“Somone old school,” she said. “I’m not offended. You’re right. We can’t fight this without guidance.” She let out an impatient sigh. “I don’t know anybody. I’d ask the Court but I’ve been expelled from there. Maybe Duran knows somebody. I can call him and ask.”
“It’s worth a try,” I said. “Maybe Seton can help us—he knows a lot of people.” I paused, then turned to Penn. “Ask Hecate?”
“Oh,” she said, looking surprised. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before.” She paused as my phone beeped.
I checked my texts. Seton had sent me a message.
there’s a problem, kyann. i need to talk to you immediately. can you come to my office, straight away? it’s an emergency, of sorts.
Frowning, I texted back that we were on the way. “All right, come on—Orik, here’s the address. Get us there as soon as possible.”
“Can do,” he said, shoving the equipment in the back. “All aboard!”
Penn and I jumped in and shut the doors, and we were off, leaving the horror show that was my uncle’s house behind.
* * *
It was nearing five when we arrived at Seton’s office. He was waiting for us. I knew something was up when we entered the room and he motioned for us to sit without saying hello. I couldn’t read what was wrong, but he looked concerned and I could feel the worry.
“You know Penn and Orik—” I started to say.
“Yes, hello. Kyann, we have a serious issue and I’ve called Devon to bring him in, as well. Unfortunately, he can’t make it for an hour, but I’ll have him contact you later. I’m going to call an emergency meeting for tonight. I’m calling in all the demons and half-demons I know in the city.”
I stared at him. “Why?”
“Because, I just talked to the mayor of the Underground?—”
“Wait, there’s a mayor of Underground Seattle? I didn’t know that,” I said.
“Few people do. The government knows but they keep it quiet because they don’t want anybody thinking they can just usurp their power.
Anyway, more about that later. The mayor of the Underground is a vampire named Saturn.
He’s old—very old. He contacted me an hour ago with the news that a contingent of demons—Arosiens—have entered the Underground.
They’ve apparently been buying up office space there, on the sly, and they now own seventy-five percent of the second level and half of the third level.
Their leader has issued an ultimatum to Saturn that they will be taking over, and if there’s any resistance, they will go to war against the vamps and destroy them. ”
I stared at Seton, stunned. “Does the actual mayor of Seattle know about this?”
He shook his head. “No, Saturn told me all of this in confidence. He said that the Arosien leader threatened a bloodbath—of anybody and everybody who lives down there—if he told the mayor. I guess he assumed Saturn wouldn’t talk to anyone else.”
“Why did he tell you?” Penn asked.
“Yes, that’s a good question,” I said. “Why you ?”
Seton cleared his throat. “I didn’t want to tell you yet, but I have no choice now.
You need to understand the severity of what’s going on.
There’s a reason why Saturn came to me.” He paused, then said, “You asked me why Hecate referred to me as “Old One”…that’s because I’m the son of Niamh, a faerie queen.
She’s part of the Summer Court. And I understand demons so well because my father was Hexin, one of the Black Dogs. ”
Seton was part Fae, part Black Dog? “But the Black Dogs—aren’t they part of the UnderRealms?”
“Yes,” Seton said. “Hexin courted my mother under the guise of being one of the Summer Court princes, and she fell in love with him. Only after she gave birth to me did she realize what Hexin was. She gave me to a family of Elves who serve as librarians for Solimentary. Once I grew up, I left to live among mortals and guide those with partial demonic backgrounds like mine.”
I tried to take it all in. “Then you are like me.”
He nodded. “I don’t talk about my past because I prefer to work more anonymously. The Fae Kingdom, of course, refused to accept me. I don’t want to live in the UnderRealms, or with the Black Dogs. So I came to the melting pot of all worlds: the mortal realm.”
“And you are connected to Solimentary.”
“Yes, I am. In fact, I keep an eye out for information for them. Saturn knows who I am. He knows that I have a lot of connections, and that I’m well-versed on pivotal events in history.
” Seton sat back, sighing. “If I tell the mayor of Seattle, the news will be out and around within hours, even if I talk to him in secret. And the Arosien leader will start a blood bath.”
“And if you don’t?—”
“Then the demons will effectively be running a puppet government in the Underground. Neither is a pleasant prospect.”
As he held my gaze, I realized I could see the Fae in him. The demonic side, not so much. But he also had that same wise, long-vision attitude of the elves who had crossed my path.
“What’s this leader’s name?” Orik asked.
“Lord Ezerian. He’s one of the most feared demon lords within the Arosien Clan,” Seton said. He paused and I sensed something big coming.
“What is it? I can tell you’re hiding something.” I leaned forward. “Tell me, now.”
“It’s about Vaurice. He’s Ezerian’s son.” Seton pushed a file of papers across the desk to me. “Here’s a dossier on the demon lord.” He still seemed like he was picking and choosing his words.
“Vaurice is his son ? And Vaurice was asking around to find out my name,” I said.
I felt like I was standing on the edge of a razor, and I couldn’t see the blade I was walking on. One step either way and I’d fall. But stay on the blade and I’d slash my feet. Either way, I was heading for a crossroads that I couldn’t avoid.
“Yes,” Seton said. He pressed his lips together and continued to stare at me.
The room felt hushed. Penn let out a gasp and I suddenly put everything together.
“No!” I jumped out of my chair. “No…he can’t be—how the hell…” I began shaking. “That would mean Vaurice…”
“Is your half-brother. Yes,” Seton said.
“When you told me about him, I started doing some research. The Arosiens don’t keep rolls of all their members.
So Vaurice had to be looking for you for another reason.
The call from Saturn today sealed it. Not only is your father trying to take over the Underground, but he’s also looking for you.
He knew that your mother was pregnant?—”
“I didn’t think he did,” I said. “How could…”