Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
As I woke, I heard Jangles meowing as she stared out the window. She was sitting on my dresser, nose pressed against the glass, making little chattering noises.
“Do you see a bird?” I asked. “I’m sorry, but you’re not going to go chase it.
” I didn’t let the cats outside. There were all sorts of dangers, and they were perfectly content staying in the house.
I had plenty of toys, cat trees, and other challenges for them.
“You do not need to denude the neighborhood of its avian population.”
I’d left a note for Penn when I got home the night before, asking her to join me at work, if she could possibly make the time.
There was far too much to tell her, so I just said that it was urgent.
Now, as I dressed and headed into the kitchen, she was there, fully dolled up in one of her retro swing dresses, with makeup perfect.
Breakfast was on the table. She’d made eggs and sausage, with apple muffins. I pulled myself a quad shot latte and joined her at the table.
“It smells wonderful,” I said. The cinnamon from the apple muffins gave the kitchen a spicy tinge, and I cut one in half and smeared butter inside. The muffins were still warm and the butter soaked in as I took a bite of it. “These are so good.”
“So what happened? Your note worried me, but since you were home safe, I decided to wait until your alarm went off to ask.” She speared a sausage link and bit into it.
“I’d like to wait till we’re at work. But you’re not going to believe what I have to tell you.” I paused, then said, “I’m still speechless as to what I found out. By the way, I also need you to come in tomorrow morning. It’s important.”
Penn glanced at me, a quizzical look on her face. “What are you planning?”
“It’s not what I’m planning,” I said. “It’s a matter of who’s coming into the office to visit. I tell you everything now but then I just have to repeat myself at the staff meeting, so if you could wait until then, I’d appreciate it. My mind is still reeling over what happened last night.”
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll back off until we get to work. But you’ve got me on pins and needles now, and I’m not sure what to think.”
I fed the cats, while she fed Mr. Crumbles.
We armed the security system and headed off, taking separate cars so that if she needed to leave during the day she could.
The sun was out, and I glanced up at the sky, feeling the warmth of my face.
The light seemed so disparate as to what I was feeling inside, that the juxtaposition threw me off guard.
But I took a deep breath, focused on the road, and tried not to think until we pulled into the parking lot.
* * *
Everybody was at work on time — I had texted them the night before as well, asking them to make certain they made it to work by eight.
Sophia had ordered in a selection of pastries, croissants, and savory breakfast foods.
While I was still full from breakfast, I couldn’t resist maple bars.
I settled at the breakroom table, waiting for everyone else to assemble.
Penn set to my right, and Dante came in and sat to my left.
After a few moments, Sophia, Orik, and Carson joined us.
I asked Carson to bring up a Meet-Me room and get Lazenti online.
Seton and Devon arrived a couple moments later, and Sophia escorted them back to the breakroom. Once we were all there, I took a deep breath and began.
“I met with my father and brother last night. I have to tell you, we’re facing challenges that I really didn’t expect.
In fact, nothing is as we thought.” I sighed, trying to figure out the best way to begin.
“I guess I should just start with the fact that my father isn’t here to take over Seattle.
I thought he was, but now I don’t. The facts are—and yes, this is according to Ezerian and Vaurice—they’re here to prevent an even worse demonic takeover.
I found out exactly what Brim Fire’s agenda is. ”
Seton and Devon stared at me, their eyes wide, while the others began to speak all at once.
“I thought we already knew what Brim Fire wanted,” Seton said.
“We had an idea, but now I know exactly what they’re going after.
They weren’t the ones that summoned my father in, nor does he think much of them other than that they’re a bunch of idiots.
My father and brother were sent here to counter them, and apparently there are other members of the Demonkin realm in other countries doing the same thing. ”
I pulled out a page of notes I’d written up this morning, so I didn’t forget anything.
“Okay, let’s have it,” Dante said.
“Brim Fire is targeting the Elder Gallara, seeking to open the door for them to come in. They’re focusing on Tiamat’s children.
They truly are aiming toward unleashing chaos into this world, and apparently they believe that the Gallara will set them up as nobility over what remains of humankind.
” I sat back, waiting for their responses.
“No,” Penn said. “Can they be that stupid?”
“Apparently so. None of the Demonkin in the UnderRealms wants this any more than we do. Ezerian told me that should Brim Fire manage to accomplish this, then the UnderRealms are in danger next. The Elder Gallara are ruthless and chaotic, and they would destroy the Arosiens and the other demon clans just as quickly as they’d destroy humankind and the Supe community.
My father’s here to help save our world, not destroy it. ”
Everybody sat silent for a moment. Carson and Dante looked hesitant. Seton shook his head, looking surprised. Penn let out a little groan.
After another moment, Devon leaned forward, folding his hands on the table. “And you believe them? That’s not a sarcastic statement, by the way. It’s an actual question.”
“I am cautious, but in my gut, I do believe them. When Ezerian talked about Tiamat and her mate, a wave of fear ran through me, the kind that comes only when you realize you’re facing a very real situation.
I don’t think I’d have that reaction if it wasn’t true.
That’s why he wants to take over the Underground—not to keep it, but to work there.
Because Mayor Bixby believes him, and is planning on working with him.
The rest of the state government is blowing him off.
He approached them and they rejected him. If Brim Fire can pull this off…”
“Then the world is fucked. And you say your father thinks the organization’s a—” Penn trailed off, looking uncertain as to how to finish her sentence.
“My father and my brother both feel that Brim Fire’s made up of a bunch of idiots. And when I think about it, the demons that they’ve actually managed to summon are from the Suboni—not the ruling families in the UnderRealms.”
“So, you suggest we work with your father?” Carson asked.
“Well, everything he said makes sense,” I said.
“And you believe he’s here to help?” Sophia asked.
I understood why they were asking me questions. They had to make certain I wasn’t falling for a line. But the more they asked, the more certain I became.
“Yes. Well, he also wanted to meet me, but that has nothing to do with Brim Fire.”
“How did he find out about you?” Dante asked.
“Apparently a friend of his saw me some months ago and took a picture of me, he saw such a resemblance. He showed the picture to Ezerian, and right then, my father knew that he had a daughter over here. I guess Erin was his only tryst here.”
I stared at the table, debating how much to tell them.
“I gather he offered my mother the chance to go back to the UnderRealms with him, but was honest. He told her that she’d never be able to marry him there.
So, she said no. And after he left, she found out she was pregnant and decided to cut off her past to keep me a secret. ”
“Well, that’s…wow.” Penn paused, then added, “What about your brother?”
“Vaurice is part incubus. His mother was a succubus, married to Ezerian, but she died. Penn, I hate to say this but you have to be careful. Vaurice seems to be fixated on you.”
Penn snorted. “I have no intention on dating your brother. Or fucking him either. He sets me on edge. While I actually believe what they’re telling you, the truth is that I don’t trust your brother any further than I could throw him. I think he likes to stir the pot.”
“I know he likes to stir the pot,” I said.
“My father just about smacked him last night. But leaving that aside, what do you all think? Do you think I’m deluding myself?
I went there, feeling antagonistic. I came away feeling like they’re offering us a potential lifeline.
And I don’t easily change my mind like that. ”
“I think you’re right,” Seton said after a moment. “I think Brim Fire is focused on the Elder Gallara. That hadn’t even crossed my mind as a possibility until you mentioned it.”
“What are they?” Penn asked.
Seton cleared his throat. “The Elder Gallara are sleeping, deep in El’ishemach, with their mother and father.
Primordial chaos is the most powerful force there is, stronger than any other, because the universe was birthed out of that chaos.
It’s more powerful than good or evil, far more powerful than any emotion like love or hate.
Primordial chaos is focused only on its own growth, and the growth of its minions.
The denizens who inhabit that realm care only for themselves.
They’re the perfect narcissists. There’s no reasoning, no compassion, simply the will to expand and grow. ”
“So, how much do we tell Ezerian?” Orik asked. “I can believe their story, because the great serpent Jormungandr comes from that same foggy soup. In fact, Ragnarok is the final war of chaos versus order. Very much like a foretelling of the Elder Gallara versus our world.”