Oh joy!
Quickly, we used the portal to get back to the Otherworld and picked up a few stragglers on the way. Of course, no one would miss this. Then, we transported to the Underworld. It was a good thing I’d become more adjusted to these portals or I might be a little winded. Okay, maybe I still had a hard time with it, the world had spun for a moment, but I wouldn’t admit that since everyone else seemed fine.
As we headed past Misa’s house towards the auditorium, I asked Quinney, “So explain to me how I said your name, then voila, you appeared?”
“I’m your Guard, Nexi,” she answered as if that should answer my question.
“Yeah, so?”
Weird!
“If you have need of me, I’ll come to you.”
Once we arrived at the auditorium, Kyden and I sat in the ridiculous throne chairs. The room once again filled with Witches and Warlocks alike. Sure, it was a little less since I destroyed a bunch of them, but still, a good many.
“Now, Nexi,” Ryker leaned down, spoke in a low voice. G.I. Joe look-alike gave me a stern look indeed. “We have come for a show tonight. Let’s not disappoint.”
Kyden let out a loud laugh, as did Haven, Finn, Zia and Talon.
I just rolled my eyes at them.
Azar stepped into the center and the awaiting crowd quieted. “We have come tonight under grave circumstances. First, if you have not heard, our ruler was attacked last night. Hunted by our kind.” The entire room gasped and low whispered hums filtered through the auditorium. “As expected, those who betrayed her were dealt with appropriately. Is there anyone else here that feel as those betrayers did? If so, step forward, and declare it.”
“Does he seriously think someone will?” I asked Kyden.
His gaze fell on me. “He’s making a point.”
I thought for a moment, tried to ascertain what point that was exactly. After a minute or so, I came up empty. “And what point would that be?”
“That their assembly is united and anyone who acts now is acting alone without their strongest support.”
“Oh.” I shrugged. “Guess that makes sense.”
Of course, as expected, no one stood.
Azar spun around to face us. “No more will betray you.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” I whispered under my breath.
Azar quickly left the center, walked toward me with purposeful strides. He cocked his head when he stopped in front of me. “Trouble?”
“Oh yeah—heaps of it.”
Quinney approached and whispered in Azar’s ear. His face slowly lost all of its color. He staggered back a step and stared at Quinney.
“You should say something,” Kyden told me.
“What the hell am I going to say?”
“Your mouth has never been a problem before.” Kyden said aloud, his grin devilish.
I smacked his arm, the jerk. “That is so not funny, Kyden.” I stood and approached Azar.
I grabbed his shoulders and gave him a little shake. “Let’s get this over first.” I looked around the room, my gaze settled on all the faces that looked all too intrigued by what was going on. No need to send everyone into a frenzy. “This is not the place to discuss this.”
The cloud of horror slowly began to fade from his eyes. “Yes, you’re right.” He quickly gestured toward Quinney. “Bring them in.”
She immediately responded to the order and fled the room, only to return with three demons. I didn’t recognize any of them. But why would I?
Kyden stood from his chair the second they entered the room and stood protectively beside me. Also expected.
When the demons stopped in front of me, I looked them over. It was really hard to believe how much evil lurked in these beings. They look so ordinary. Young, mid-twenties, perfectly cut hair, pleasant faces—so deceptive.
I finally looked at Azar. “So, what have they done?”
“Each one has taken an innocent soul,” he answered.
Naughty demons. I started to approach them, but Kyden pulled me back. “Come with me then, geesh!” Kyden inclined his head, and let me step forward.
“Why have you done this?”
The young girl was the one who answered. She looked like your original teeny-bopper—long hair, too much make-up and clothes that were entirely way too tight. “The rules you have set about are ridiculous. We are demons. It’s what we do.”
I sighed and tiredly ran my hands over my face. I was beginning to feel old—too damn old. I lowered my hands and looked from demon to demon. “You all feel the same way I presume?” They nodded in unison. “Well then, first thing first.” I grabbed onto teeny-bopper’s hand, and just as I did, she jumped back.
Instantly, Kyden latched onto her, held her still. Since I knew she could do her spooky shit and vanish, I sent a little air out to force her still. Her eyes went wide as my mini tornado wrapped around her body. “You did this to yourself.”
Kyden released her, gave me a little wink as he took his position beside me.
I kept teeny-bopper’s hand tight in mine and let the adrenaline of Spirit come to the forefront, foregoing every other element that lingered within me. I focused on that one sensation. When Spirit held strong, I opened myself up to the demon’s mind and let her memories flood my own.
There were quick flashes of everything that was wrong with our world. The longer it went on, the more I wished I could pull away. What I saw wasn’t good. Oh, we were in serious shit—that was undisputable. Demons in the Underworld would never stand to see Kyden and I run their world or live under these new rules. The worst part—and it was f**king bad—they knew a way to stop it.
Here is where the Demon Lords came in. My abilities were unmatched. The demons believed that, but my strength against the Demon Lords did not compare. They were Satan’s sidekicks, for Christ sakes. The power they held within them was something similar, to well, me.
And the extremely shitty part…these Demons didn’t plan on just summoning one. They were going to summon all seven.
Holy f**k!
The visions stopped. My eyes snapped open. I dropped her hand and took a step back. “Fucking, f**k.”
Kyden lunged forward protectively, latched onto my hand and dragged me toward him. “What is it?”
“It’s so bad, Kyden. So very, very bad,” I used our bond, didn’t want to alert them to the fact that I knew their plan just yet.
He glanced around the auditorium, then his eyes settled back on mine. “We shouldn’t talk of this here.”
“Got that right,” I said aloud. Quinney raised her brows. Obviously, my words were not linking together. I could only imagine how nuts I looked right now. But I didn’t give a rat’s ass. Panic made my throat tight. I needed to get this part over with so I could fill the others in on what I discovered. I looked at Quinney. “So…what do we do with them now?”
Quinney looked at Misa, who stood at my side within a quarter of a second. “You must destroy them, Nexi. They’ve gone against your rules.” Then, she whispered. “You need to show your strength here. So, the others fear you.”
I exhaled, fright forgotten as annoyance returned. “Er, Misa…I’ve never killed a demon. What do I do?”
A slow smile spread across her face. She was either laughing at me or at the situation. I didn’t find either one very funny. She looked back at the crowd. “Please excuse us for a moment. Lady Nexi wishes a private meeting.”
The crowd stood and bowed.
I mumbled numerous obscenities while Kyden chuckled quietly behind me as we followed Misa, Azar, Quinney and Tyde into a room just off the auditorium.
Just as we met the door, I glanced back at Zia, and she gave me a reassuring nod, as did Talon. I really hated doing this without them. To me, they were my leaders and it felt horrible to exclude them. They never made a move to follow so I left it alone.
Focusing back on the situation at hand, the second the door the simple sitting room closed behind me, I sent my lips flapping. “Holy Shit! They’re summoning all the Demon Lords. They want to bring them all back to defeat me. To make right what has happened here.” Every single face held equal shock, including Kyden’s. “Er…sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have come out with it like that.”
Quinney shot a concerned glance at Tyde. “I feared the summoning of Mammon was just the beginning.”
Tyde nodded, looked not too happy. “I believe you’re right. Never would I have expected retaliation in this regard.” He shook his head slowly. “We have to stop this before they summon more. One we can handle, two, it’s possible. Three is when it gets difficult.”
“What action must we take then?” Kyden asked.
“While I’ve been reading the Diabolus Somes, I did come upon a story that I thought might be relevant to Nexi.” Quinney informed. “Long ago, it was said that there was one not from the Underworld gifted with the ability to drawn runes…”
I cut in quickly. “Who was it?”
Quinney shrugged. “No names were mentioned, but it said that she attempted to send demons to the Realm of the Dead when Satan overpowered her.” She gave a knowing look. “It also said she was a White Witch.”