Posted by: Admin on Saturday, July 20, 2002 - 01:01 AM 
|
Heaven and Hell - Book II: Ways of Power
Chapters 10-12
by Maggie Finson
Chapter X
"A stupid damn Afghan," Helga groused, tossing her now pretty head to get some of the long, champagne colored fur out of her face. "Why couldn't I just be some less ditzy breed?"
"Hey, at least you get to be an adult, more or less," Dimona added her own complaints, instead of posing as a cute little four year old Human girl. I still think you should have been a Poodle, anyway, you mutt. By the way, do blondes have more fun?"
"Oh, look who's calling who names," Helga snorted. "The Imp who's own kind avoid her whenever they can because of how you tend to draw trouble everywhere you go."
"Hey, can I help it if I wanted an exciting existence?" Dimona responded, sounding a little hurt, then became a bit petulant while fussing with her long black tresses. "So, I was stupid enough to tell them that when I was first sent to Hell. They asked if I preferred a dull, interminable existence or one with a little spice to it."
"And you, sweet little idiot that were even back then," Helga gave a doggish laugh, tongue hanging out to the side of her wide open mouth, "just had to choose the one with spice."
"Well," Dimona returned a little defensively, "It seemed like a good idea at the time, you know?"
"It's good to see that you got what you asked for," I interjected, then motioned them both to silence. "Especially since some of that excitement seems to be headed right this way. Now stay in character for a while, both of you. Okay?"
Helga whined and wagged her tail. Dimona put a cute little moue on her face and lisped (rather overdramatically, I thought) "Yeth Mommy, dear."
What had attracted my attention was a scruffy looking individual who was casually moving along the walkway in front of the shabby rooms of the fleabag motel we were currently hiding out in. That alone wouldn't have been at all unusual, given the seedy neighborhood, except this guy stopped every few steps and sniffed at the air as if in search of a specific scent. That and his eyes were what gave him away; he had very distinctive, piercing violet eyes that held keen intelligence and purpose instead of the listlessness one usually associates with a derelict searching for a bottle that had one drop of cheap wine remaining in it.
"Clear for action, kiddies," I whispered as he neared a spot even with our door. Once there, he stopped, giving the air a careful sniff, then another. Satisfaction gleamed in his out of place eyes as they settled on the door of our room, and seemed to see me through the peephole I was watching from.
"You may as well come out and get this over with, little Hell Spawn," straightening his frame to an impressive six feet plus and discarding the shuffling gait he had used up to then, the fellow gave the peephole I was viewing him through an expressionless stare. "The other two can go, all I want is you, Succubus -- and the rewards posted by Heaven and Hell for you. Dead or alive, I might add. Makes no difference to me which way I take you back, but I'd suggest doing this the easy way. You wouldn't like it much if I have to come in after you, that's a promise."
Sighing, I looked back at the other two then grimaced, waving Helga out the back while gesturing for Dimona to beat it with The Hell hound. They knew what to do, so I dithered at the door to give them time to reach their positions. "Okay, what if I do come out? What are you going to do then"
"If you're sensible," the still scruffy looking Angel (I'd already identified what he was, and wasn't all that pleased with the idea of having to fight him head to head.) answered softly but with a note of menace clear in his voice, "I'll simply take you to a neutral point and turn you over to your old masters, collect the reward, and leave you to their ideas of justice."
"All right," I returned to my own form, turned up the Charm to full tilt boogie, made sure everything was perfectly in place, then slowly opened the door with a slow, inviting smile. "But I might have a reward of my own for you just turning around and leaving me to go on with what I'm doing."
The Charm, a sort of natural spell a Succubus can always make use of, knocked the guy right out of his socks. (They stank terribly, I guess he'd been playing the derelict for quit awhile.) He'd had protections up against such a thing, but evidently hadn't suspected the pure power I was able to throw behind such a simple basic spell. Whatever, the extra surge of ooomph I put into it brushed his protections aside like an annoying cobweb and grabbed hold of the one part of a male that really did have a mind of its own, so to speak. His lower head, the one attached to the part my kind are specifically made to use, was up and ready by the time I had leaned casually against the door frame.
"How long have you been in trouble with your bosses?" I questioned once sure he was completely in thrall to me. From his condition it was reasonably easy to see that he hadn't set foot in Heaven for quite some time. I could also tell that he desperately wished to return to the good graces of the Higher Ups in that Realm, and thought I might be his ticket back. Oddly enough, I was. Only not quite in the way he had hoped.
"Several centuries," he replied sadly. "I was a specialist working under The Angel of Death, and got a little overzealous on one of my assignments. I used to set up 'accidents' for certain really bad, dangerous people; to get them out of the way before they did any real and permanent damage. One of my assignments was a really nasty customer, and I didn't wait for him to die from a set up. I killed him myself. For that I was banished to The Human Realms until I could find a way to redeem myself."
"And you saw me as that redemption."
"That's right, Lady," he mumbled, clearly chagrined that I had overwhelmed him so easily, and struggling against my Charm. (With no luck, I might add. Until and unless I released him, the poor half- fallen Angel would be in my thrall unless he was very strong willed, and I grew careless.)
He was, but I wasn't. So I let him squirm for another few minutes before speaking to him again. "What do people call you?"
"I won't give you my Name," he retorted, struggling against the Charm and being successful in theat regard.
"I didn't ask for that," sighing at his stubbornness while admiring it, I wondered what in The Three Realms I was going to do with a Heavenly Hit Man while answering him. "I only wanted to know your use name. Hey You! seems a little awkward don't you think?"
"Jedidiah,"
"All right, Jedidiah," I smiled, and loosened the Charm's bindings just a little, "I'm going to release you in moment, but I want your word that you'll listen to my proposition and think it over before doing anything hasty like trying to take me in. Can we reach an agreement on that much?"
"You're the one holding the strings," he replied, then nodded slowly, "But you have my word, for whatever that's worth."
"Enough," I responded and let the Charm go. "Now, I have an offer to make you. One that might just get you reinstated, get that redemption you're so desperate to have, without all the unpleasantness trying to capture or kill me would bring about."
"I'm listening," Jedidiah folded his arms and leaned against a support for the overhang that covered the walkway.
"It has to do with a certain Rogue Angel, and I could use all the help I can get...." I went on into detail, omitting the part that I was actually acting as an agent for both Hell and Heaven in the enterprise, while being truthful in all other respects. Actually I painted myself as a kindred spirit to Jedidiah, in need of a hidey hole where I would be safe for a short time at least.
"Boss, are you out of your mind?!!" Dimona almost shrieked once she and Helga had been informed of what was going on. "That guy is one of The Angel of Death's elite Collectors, even if he has fallen on hard times just now. Sweet Aphrodite's Tits, boss, even an arch Demon would hesitate to tangle with one of those! What if he's a plant? Sent by The Rogue to test you?"
"Then all I've done is use a little ingenuity and razzle dazzle to get myself in his camp," I answered sweetly. But if Jedidiah is for real, we have ourselves a very powerful ally with ties into a part of Heaven's hierarchy I haven't touched so far. Given my nature, and the state of things in general through The Three Realms, that couldn't hurt at all, now could it?"
"You're still taking a damn fool chance," The Imp grumbled, but she had already agreed with my reasoning. "But I did ask for excitement, didn't I?"
"Well, you certainly are getting that, little one," Jedidah rumbled in deep throated, genuine amusement. "Your mistress seems to possess an uncanny knack for finding the deepest water she can in a very short time. Then diving in head first just to see how deep it really is."
"I know, I know," Dimona sighed in defeat. "At least she could take in a life preserver for her less than enthusiastic followers."
"I believe," Jedidiah grinned a little nastily, "that I am to be that device."
Man! Whoever the idiot was that started the rumor that Angels were all sweetness and light had to have been confined to a booby hatch at the time. Jedidiah was a very impressive character, and one filled to the brim with shadows and dark secrets that I had no wish to investigate. He was also honest -- to a point -- loyal once his allegiance had been given, and nonchalantly capable of more nastiness than a lot of Hell's denizens would be capable of in their fondest dreams.
Jedidiah was the key I had been waiting for. Not only was I supposedly on the run from the Powers That Be in both Supernatural Realms, I had successfully eluded pursuit, and recruited a still powerful Half-Fallen Angel to my own cause. That last part attracted the attention I wished from the quarter I had hoped to hear from.
Having Jedidiah along held another plus. The so called pursuit I was evading kept their distance once I'd recruited the Death Angel to my cause. I rubbed my bottom reflectively while thinking once again that Angelique and I were due for a long, serious conversation once this was over.
The four of us, we'd managed to get Jedidiah cleaned up and into some decent clothes -- don't ask how, and I won't lie about it, okay? I am a denizen of Hell, after all, so I do have to commit some evil acts off and on so they won't lift my union card. All I will say, is that some good looking guy about Jedidiah's size woke up naked and with a whole new outlook on life. He probably missed his clothes, but by that time they wouldn't have fit her any longer anyway. Plus I got myself really well fed, and the ex-guy had gotten to best lay in his life. (Okay, okay, so I'm a blabbermouth and spilled it all anyway. So what? I can't help being what I am, and I was famished at the time.)
Which brings us back to the cute little family group we appeared to be, enjoying a quiet afternoon in the park. You know, Tall, handsome Hubby, petite and lovely little Asian wife, adorable little girl, and rambunctious family dog, we actually made a pretty innocuous party and were actually enjoying ourselves.
"Angel or not," Helga growled up at Jedidiah while wagging her tail, "If you say 'get the Frisbee, Princess' one more time, I'm gonna bite you in the ass. Hard."
"But everyone out here is really having fun watching you catch the thing," Jedidiah replied in put on Innocence. "If you weren't so good at it, I wouldn't keep throwing the blasted thing. Besides, I'm actully enjoying myself for the first time in several hundred years. Surely you can't begrudge me that?"
"Try me," Helga let out a doggish sigh, then settled down to the ground in a curled up position clearly showing that she was no longer interested in playing catch.
"Heads up," I called, disturbing Helga's nap before it even started. "We've got company, and they aren't normal Humans."
A young couple was casually approaching us, smiling and waving as if we had known each other for years. They were a perfectly matched pair, good looking, athletic, well dressed in a casual manner, and were teamed Sorceress and sorcerer.
They were very formidable, especially for Humans, and I was reminded of Girard immediately. Both held a closely guarded darkness of soul, and reeked of Power. Paired up, I could see why they walked openly in the daylight. Nothing short of a catastrophic attack by a combined force of anything would take these two down. Even then the attackers wouldn't get out of the encounter unscathed.
"Lorilei, Jedidiah," the woman smiled while greeting us. "How nice to see you both. Cyrus and I were just talking about you."
She was model tall, and proportioned to match, with alert green eyes set in a face that could easily grace the cover of any fashion magazine, all framed in startling flame red hair that curled down to her narrow waist. I was almost jealous myself, and might have been if I hadn't been so wary of tricks and traps.
"Yes," the man, Cyrus, another model type with Mediterranean good looks and the lean, rangy body of an athlete agreed while holding out his hand to Jedidiah. "Lilah and I were just thinking of looking you two up. Glad we ran into you."
"It has been a while," I agreed, truthfully since I'd never laid eyes on either of them before that moment. "We'd been wondering how to get hold of you, ourselves. You're kind of hard to track down."
"Well, that problem seems to be solved," Lilah, evidently the leader of the pair, grinned. Her almond shaped green eyes held the same wariness I knew mine did, and I began feeling better about this meeting. "Would you accept an invitation to our place, so we can catch up and relax?"
Bingo. We'd been looked over, judged, and at least provisionally accepted. I nodded while smiling enthusiastically. "That would be wonderful, Lilah. We do have so many things to talk about."
"Yes we do," Cyrus smiled in evident relief and pleasure. "So why wait? Let's get going."
I gathered Dimona from the swings, she hadn't wanted to quit playing and I was beginning to worry that she was getting into her little girl act a bit too deeply, but refrained from saying anything just then. With an alert Hell Hound and innocently curious little girl in tow, we followed the pair's lead and entered a shaded pathway through a stand of trees.
"All right, all of you," Lilah lost the smile and friendly demeanor once we were in among the trees. "We don't want any surprises out of you. We are being closely watched by a small group that is powerful enough, combined with the two of us or not, to take all of you down permanently. When the portal opens, just step through and you'll be met. Do as your told and everything will be okay. Got that?"
"No problem," I nodded, carefully watching both of our 'long lost friends' for signs of treachery on their parts. Seeing none, I gave the go ahead to the others and settled back to await the opening of the promised portal.
It opened almost on top of us so quickly it had to have been preset for our presence to be a trigger. Giving the sorcerous couple a neutral nod, I waved my motley group through and followed. The portal snapped shut with an almost audible snap once we had all passed through, and sure enough, there was a small group of beings waiting for us. With restraints, and enough weaponry to daunt a brigade of marines.
"If this is how you greet all your guests," I grumped while cautiously feeling out the magical strands of energy holding my arms snugly to my sides, and finding that I would be able to break them if I really wished to. "No wonder people are so hesitant to approach you."
"Very few of our guests are certified Mage Banes," a gaunt sorceror replied without friendliness. "Both you and the Angel qualify for that title, so we aren't taking any chances with either of you. Girard was not exactly a friend, but I was well acquainted with him. We worked well together, and losing him set our plans back by at least another year.
"So I'm sure you'll understand why no one here is exactly thrilled to see you," he finished with me and turned to Jedidiah, "Well, Death Angel, you've fallen into some bad company as well as out of favor in Heaven. Why did you agree to come with the Succubus?"
"She convinced me," Jedidiah shrugged in disinterest and showed not the least bit of concern over his own bindings. "That being a lone Rogue these days is very unhealthy. Even for an ex-Death Angel. I decided that I didn't want to be on my own any longer, and that Heaven wasn't about to grant me the redemption they promised when I was banished to The Human Realm. So I teamed up with her and her minions. It seemed to be a good idea, and still does."
The implied threat in his last statement would have penetrated a rock it was so cold and sharp. Our greeter was far brighter than a rock, and acknowledged the unspoken promise of mayhem with a wicked grin. "No worry, Death Angel. Behave yourselves until Shen-Dai has had a chance to read you and talk to each one individually, and you'll be part of the family."
Or no trouble to anyone ever again, was the also unspoken finish to that statement. So, threat for threat, though delivered civilly, and no one had been harmed. Yet. I turned a light dose of Charm loose to play around the scarecrow of a man's ears just to let him know I wasn't entirely helpless either, and gave him a sunny smile. "Fine, we're being good little Angels and Demons, just like you've so pleasantly asked of us. Now do you think we could get on with things? This binding isn't all that comfortable, and if you think PMS is a bad thing, you really don't want to see me when I'm uncomfortable enough to get a little testy."
With a wave to our escort, an ill assorted crew of half breed Angels and Demons, with another unclassifiable magic user lurking in the background, the spokesman sketched an ironic bow to me. "As you wish, My Lady Mage Killer. Come on, then."
I should say a few words regarding Half Breeds here. Most of those are the products of Humans mating with a supernatural being for whatever reasons. The resulting offspring are welcome in neither Heaven, or Hell, and must spend fairly miserable (comparatively) existences in The Human Realms. Their powers are relatively weak, but driven my malice can be dangerous. As for the rare Half Breed progeny of an Angel and Demon, the less said the better. Those kind are abhorred by both sides, and greatly feared by most since they tend to possess aspects of power from both parents, though in a twisted and usually indecipherable way. Generally such creatures are dealt with quickly and ruthlessly, because as a rule, the hybrids hate both sides of their families with equal fervor. I mention all this because I suspected the hooded and distant magic user among our escorts was such a being.
Whatever the creature was, the other Half Breeds kept well clear of it, and their leader, our guide, appeared uncomfortable in its presence as well. Hmm, another something to investigate and maybe bend just a bit my way if possible. This camp, or whatever they chose to call it was pretty extensive and home to more than a few formidable creatures just waiting for a chance to strike back at the existing order in creation. I worried about my friends and their Angelic comrades following us, because cracking this particular nut was something that could require more than the teeth we had brought along. Unless we got extremely lucky. Luck had carried me through my first encounter with a hostile power, but I wasn't about to rely on it for another. So I would quietly work any angle I could find to shift the odds in my favor.
Shen-Dai's palace was nothing elaborate, but did possess clean lines and size. To call it immense would be overstating the size of the elegantly columned abode of the most dangerous Rogue since Cain himself. Let me put it this way, the place was far larger than a mansion, but as palaces go (How much do I know about palaces, for crying out loud?) it seemed a bit small. Especially for a megalomaniac who wanted to cause The Final Battle and pick up what was left for himself.
the interior had an unfinished fell to it, all echoing marble halls and floors with little or no decoration at all. And precious little in the way of furnishings, either. Until our escorts halted in front of a set of large, ornately carved ivory doors. The carvings represented an Angel -- Shen-Dai, I thought -- rewarding his faithful and punishing those who failed to appreciate his greatness, or his vision for the future of creation. I have to admit that the punishment scenes were far more imaginative and graphic than the rewards, and some of those punishments caused all of us to shudder. Even Jedidiah.
The doors opened, with a little more ceremony than I felt was really necessary, with an Angel inside announcing our presence like some debutantes at their first ball. I entered, alone, since the others had been informed that these interviews would be exclusively one on one, and made my way down a richly carpeted aisle to a massive crystal throne with a very impressive figure seated upon it. The Throne was actually more of a bench, to accommodate Shen-Dai's magnificent, snowy wings. This person, I knew beyond shadow of doubt, had to be The Rogue himself.
The crystal, multi-colored and glittering with highlights from the sunlight that streamed into the chamber to fall directly, and only I might add, on the throne and its occupant. (A bit overly theatrical there, I thought, since the being spotlighted that way was magnificent enough on his own.
Shen-Dai was both massive and lithe, with smoothly defined muscle and a face that should have graced an Asian deity. Eyes the color ant texture of blued steel stared at me without expression as I took all of him in. Judging from the length of leg he displayed, the Rogue was at least seven feet tall, maybe more, and looked as he had been very close to becoming an Archangel himself, or already had been one of the minor ones before his own fall from grace.
And he was reading me. Not just my body and mind, but the spirit housed in them. I allowed my resentment at being sex changed and turned into what was essentially in my pure form, a sexual toy for males of all types to rise along with my anger at the team who had nearly killed me making my escapes and pursuit appear genuine. The two were pretty overwhelming when combined and even I was a little shocked at the true depths of my resentment and anger over what had happened to me since awakening in Hell. Those were things that I had just put aside in the hope of working through them during quiet times that I hadn't yet managed to get.
In that case, they satisfied my silent examiner. With a welcoming smile lighting up his face (Literally, I should add, his energy really shone forth for my benefit. If nothing else, Shen-Dai was a master of hokey presentations.) "My Lady Lorilei, welcome to my home. I do hope you find the surroundings congenial, and the rules not too restricting.
"All I ask is that you join with me, freely, to end the domination of Creation by the Moral Misfits who rule in Heaven and Hell, and your word that you will behave in a fashion appropriate for a member of my followers while you are here."
"Thank you, Lord Shen-Dai," I bowed deeply, since not actually wearing a skirt made curtsies something difficult to achieve with any dignified results. "Personally, I'm delighted to be here, finally, and as you could see, bear no real love for the ones who made me as I am. I'll do my best to behave while here, and whatever I may be able to contribute to help I will do."
There I went, shading the truth again, but telling it nevertheless. I fully intended to help as much as I possibly could, but the people I was going to help weren't under his rule. With maybe a few exceptions.
"Good, good," he nodded regally, with another blinding smile for my benefit while rising to his full height and spreading his wings. I didn't have to fake my gasp of appreciation, he was truly a magnificent male, and I was drawn to him as I'd never been drawn to my former sex before. The fact that he was using his own version of Charm was not unnoticed or ignored, and I shrugged that off fairly easily. What I couldn't shrug off was the real, and intense, personal, lust I felt whenever I looked his direction. "The Hell Hound and Imp, being bound to you personally, will be your responsibility to manage.
"The Death Angel," his eyes darkened as he mentioned Jedidiah, "will have to undergo his own testing. You will find out soon enough that I have a very good reason for distrusting that one, and an old enmity that may cause problems if not smoothed over quickly.
" In the meantime Lady," his expression lightened from imminent thunderstorms to warm spring afternoon," Please wait for me outside until I have finished with Jedidiah. My followers will do all in their power to make your wait a comfortable one, then I wish to discuss what your own role will be in the Order I plan to establish as well as in the Organization I have now."
Right. From the looks he was giving me, it was pretty clear what he expected in that respect. Concubine, or even bride. I briefly considered what an offspring of that union would produce, then shoved the resulting nightmare far down into my subconscious to use on someone else later on.
Giving him my very best 'come hither' smile combined with a thousand watt invitation to do as he pleased so long as it was in his bedchambers, I bowed again. "I would be happy to do that, Lord. Again, allow me to thank you for taking me and the others in. Our days were numbered on one hand as either free beings or living ones without your intervention. My gratitude will be most happily shown to you."
"I'll look forward to seeing you again, My Lady," he responded, then gestured towards the door. "Now, if you will forgive me? Business needs tending to just now."
"Of course, my Lord," I acknowledged as regally as I could manage, turning with a small bow and walking (Okay, Slinking and Undulating ) all the way to the huge doors. I emphasized my obvious interest and desirability with a final sexy little flip of my tail just as I disappeared behind those massive valves of ivory.
"Your turn," I announced to Jedidiah, "Remember what we talked about, please. I've got a pretty good start here, and any unpleasantness right now could blow that so far out of the water I'd end up in the middle of the Sahara."
"No problem," the Death Angel offered me a reassuring smile. Oddly it was reassuring, and very warm. Had I made another conquest without even noticing? I made a quick mental note to review everything we had done and talked about, in addition to whatever I might have shown him beyond the words. And to make sure that Charm I had first snared his attention with had been fully lifted. If I was going to recruit that one, I wanted it to be fairly done with no coercion of any kind to be blamed later. Turning a Death Angel, even a banished one, would be a real feat, and raise my personal stock in Hell considerably. Plus gain me another ally and, hopefully, friend.
Speaking of which, most of the escort that had herded us to this point had gone on about whatever business they had, leaving me alone with Helga and Dimona, now back in their natural(?) forms. With the odd, aloof magic user I had made note of earlier hovering nearby. I briefly told the pair of worried minions that things seemed to be going well but they had to behave, and then turned to face the robed figure.
She, it was a she, I could tell from the way the robes were hanging and moved with the shape inside them, merely watched me in silence for a time that seemed to stretch into hours instead of the few seconds it really did.
Offering a smile of greeting, I continued watching and making no gestures of either approach or disgust. I was by then positive this mysterious female was a Half Breed issue from the outlawed mating between Angel and Demon, and could see no need to provoke her into rash actions. "Did you want something? Or are you my guard? Either way, we may as well talk and try to make the situation as pleasant as we are able. What do you say?"
"All right," a melodiously lovely voice replied as a slender, feminine hand emerged from the robes to pull back the hood and reveal her face. All three of us gaped in amazed wonder once she had. Clearly, her mother had been one of Lillith's Daughters, because no other female in creation, not even Angels possessed that exact mix of sultry, alluring beauty and unfeigned, elemental innocence. She'd also received a large dose of beauty from her Angelic sire, and the combination was something that was very literally breath taking. Almost pure, in fact.
Add a luxuriously tumbling mane of softly curling dark auburn hair framing that remarkable face, and wide, almond shaped emerald eyes, and a figure that competed with her face for sheer stupifying beauty, and there was absolutely no doubt what, if not who, her parents had been. Her father was obviously a very powerful Angel, and her mother, well, lets just say I recognized some elements of her features but hesitated to point at anyone just then.
"You should go home, honey," I whispered. "This kind of business is nothing for you to be mixed up in."
"This is home," she replied with a trace of bitterness. "My father won't acknowledge a Half Breed, and my mother wants no part of me either. I have no home other than right here, and I must tell you it beats hell out of the existence I had to lead before I found this place."
I was silent for a while, shamed at my own reaction to a possible child between myself and Shen-Dai, when faced with this beautiful young female. "We aren't all like that, you know."
"How do you expect me to believe that?" she countered with a snarl. "when all my life I've been subject to either scorn or outright hatred out of my parental families? Most Angels I've encountered tried killing me without so much as a hello, how are you, get ready to die; and no Hell Spawn wants anything to do with me either, though I will admit they haven't been quite so eager to destroy me.
"Even here, I live on sufferance because of what I am and what I can do. All I inherited from my parents was raw power, no true natural abilities to use it with. I had to learn how to use magic like some Human." Drawing in a breath, she got her temper under control, an act I could tell she was quite used to performing. "But learn I did, and very well. Now no one bothers me unless I allow it."
"That's only right," I agreed carefully, sympathizing with her plight regarding magic, and my heart going out to the lonely, angry child that she still was. "But if you hate your parentage so much, why did you follow me, and agree to talk at all?"
"I really don't know," she answered quietly. "You are the one who killed Girard, aren't you? The terribly powerful Succubus that has Heaven and Hell owing you favors even though you're younger than I am by several centuries?"
"That's me," with a self conscious nod I agreed to all of the above except one. "I didn't really kill Girard, just drained off all his magic and his life. His soul, or what's left of it anyway, is still back home in Hell, and that's pretty well where it's going to stay for awhile. I'm afraid there isn't much left of that one, and the soul may never fully recover, or regenerate enough to even resemble something Human."
"You are truly of Hell, then Lady," she answered coolly, "Because such a fate is far worse than mere death to any of Sorcerous being. No wonder old Claremont hates and fears you so much."
"Girard deserved what he got," I replied without guilt, then gave her a quizzical galnce. "Claremont? Would that be that sack of sticks and leather that 'greeted' me at the portal?"
"Yes," she chuckled at my description, "That would be him. He fancies himself as a leader of sorts around here, one of The Lord Shen- Dai's right hands. He's also afraid that you will supplant him in the corridors of power here, and rightfully so, if I heard your meeting with the Lord correctly."
"Different kind of power," with a grimace, I gestured to the Hell Hound and Imp. "I'd really rather not be a leader, but that kind of got thrust on me without much in the way of warning. Truthfully, I'm not even sure I want to stay around here. Armeggedon isn't esactly my idea of a good time, you know?"
"Mine either," the Half Breed admitted ruefully. "But so far, that seems to be the only avenue I have to gain acceptance at all with the Ruling Powers. Unless..."
"Unless," I picked up the thought and sentence. "I would be willing to intercede on your behalf in Hell. Call in some of those favors and gain you a place there? Why would I do that?"
"Because you need friends," she answered. "Powerful friends to match the enemies you've already managed to make. I could be such a friend, mostly because you were truthful when you told me you were different than the others. Take me with you when you leave here, and I'll swear any oath you would like, just so you try what I'm asking."
"This is not a good position that you're putting me in just now, you know that?" sighing, I went on without saying no. "I don't know whether I'll be staying here or not, and am something of persona non grata in both Heaven and Hell at the moment myself. Let me consider the remifications, and I'll do the best I can for you. Should I choose to leave here, you will be welcome to come with me. If I stay, given the Lord Shen-Dai's obvious designs on my nonexistent virtue with pretty transparent plans for producing heirs to his new dynasty, I think I'd be able to ease thinngs for you here, too. Best I can do for now."
"It will be enough," she agreed to my terms without haveing them stated any more clearly. "Truthfully, that's as close to any kindness I've ever received from anyone but my Mother, and she can't openly acknowledge me for political reasons."
"Thought so," I nodded again, wondering if ny head was going to fall off from all the leaning forward and pulling back. "By the way, do you have a name? Just in case I do get the chance to intercede for you?"
"Adrianna," she answered clearly, then turned to leave. "I'll be watching, Lady Lorilei. Closely. Please don't disappoint me."
"Boss," Dimona quietly questioned after Adrianna had left, "I know you don't do it on purpose, but why is it that you seem to attract all these really scary types? First a damned Death Angel, and now an Angel/Demon hybrid who wants her mommy, of all things. I'm going to have gray hair in another week at this rate, and my poor old heart can't take much more of this excitement, you know?"
"Liar," I fondly answered while ruffling the dark hair that had not the least hint of gray in it. "For now I'm just more or less making things up as I go. Maybe in time I'll figure out a more sane methodology, but I'm not making any promises."
"Guess that will have to do then," The Imp gave a long suffering sigh, then returned to the irreressible little creature she was by nature. "Don't worry about changing how you do things. Life would really be boring without all the surprises that jump out and say boo when you're around."
"What about you?" I questioned the Hell Hound.
"I'm here, I'm with you, and I'm on your side -- whichever side that might be," she grumbled. "I'll bite what or whoever I need to so your pretty backside stays intact, and since there seems to be no one to bite just now, I'm going to take a nap."
"Well, don't sleep too deeply," my caution fell on what was apparently deaf ears as soft snores punctuated by little growls arose from where Helga was curled up. One ear twitched enough to show that she was still paying attention as I finished. "Because things are liable to get a bit more lively pretty soon."
"You think, Shen-Dai is going to bed you?" Dimona questioned almost gleefully. "Right away? Without candy or flowers, or even dinner?"
"No dancing, either," I commented dryly. "The Lord and Master of this place obviouusly has the hots with a capital H for yours truly, and has had for a while now. Even if there is a meal involved, I'd guess we would go straight to desert, which is probably going to be me."
"Be real careful, Lorilei," the Imp was very concerned, and not just because she was bound to me. "As masters and mistresses go, you're the best one I've ever had, and I'd kind of hate to lose you. And the cushy job that goes with being your lackey."
"Ah,, the truth finally comes out," I laughed. "Tell me, are all Imps as mercenary as you are?"
"Worse, I'm also cursed with this perverse sense of loyalty."
"Lucky you," my answer was shortened by the openinng of those massive doors and the exit of a very quiet, and worried Death Angel.
"I see you're still in one piece," was the greeting I offered, then softened that with a warm smile. "Im glad."
"Me too," he agreed with a lopsided smile that changed to a frown of concentration. "Have you been consorting with that Half Breed who escorted us in here?"
"What if I have?"
"I sure hope you reached some kind of understanding with her," he answered grimly. "Because His Lordship has plans for you that don't involve freedom at all. He likes his Queen to be close to home, if you take my meaning. You're going to need all the firepower you can get to keep from being a stay at home, make that cloistered, wife and mommy."
"I'd pretty much suspected that,"
"Well I hope you have a contingency plan, because He wants you right now." The Death Angel answered.
"Me too," I couldn't tell him everything, but once I had His Higness in bed, things were really going to go downhill in a handbasket around here for a while. Hell was going to break loose for sure, supported by Heaven. Well, stranger things have happened. I just can't recall hearing of any at the monent.
"Find Adrianna," I ordered Helga, disturbing her nap and not caring in the least when she offered a token snarl. "Get her here, and I mean soon as you can. Yesterday would be good.
"Be ready," I ordered the Death Angel, and didn't feel one bit awkward doing it. "If things go that wrong, I have no intention of remaining as a captive Queen.
"You find the portal," I told Dimona. "And get the damned thing open once I have Him occupied."
"Right. boss!" the Imp scampered away as if Heaven's Holy Hosts were on her tail. Helga had already loped off on her own mission.
"Seems that this is a little better planned than I wasled to believe," Jedidiah commented easily while watching me take command and send my underlings off in such a hurry. "If it wouldn't be too much of a bother, what do you expect me to do?"
"Hold these doors," I answered uneasily. "When the shouting and moaning starts inside, get in, take out the guards, then keep these things from sealing shut until either I come back or help arrives. Don't be surprised if I come out running for all I'm worth, either. Just hold the doors and cover my back. Okay?"
"That Imp was right," shaking his head, he glared at the surrounding countryside, then finished. "You are crazy. Things ever get dull when you're around?"
"Not all that often," I admitted. "But then I haven't been at this Denizen of Hell thing for very long. Maybe things will settle down in time."
"Somehow, I doubt that," with a mirthless chuckle, he gallantly gestured to the door. "Watch yourself, His Highness is still suspicious. I don't think he bought your story about wanting to join his cause, but still wants you for a consort. Things could get ugly real fast."
"Then the more eager I seem, the less chance of that, right?" I didn't wait for a reply, simply slipped past him and entered whatever fate held in store behind those solid ivory doors.
Chapter XI
The throne room wasn't empty any longer. Not that it was crowded, but a gathering of six Half Breeds, Claremont, and Cyrus and Lilah made kind of an uncomfortable nuptial get together. All of them eyed me with varying degrees of wariness, dislike, and in some cases satisfaction.
Nope, old Shen-Dai hadn't fallen for my act, but then I hadn't really thought he would. I just hoped that Helga, Dimona, and Jedidiah would be able to carry out their orders. Which would result in my having a lot of help very soon. I was going to need it.
"Welcome once again, my dear," Shen-Dai gave me a smile that was not at all pleasant. "I trust that you have been enjoying your stay here?"
"As much as one could expect," I answered, holding my own fear and revulsion down with an effort. The Half Breeds were real bad ones. The kind with power, but bent only to malicious ends. The sorcerors and sorceress present held no friendlines towards me either. "I tried winning friends and influencing people while I was waiting."
"Nothing you did will help you," Shen-Dai shrugged. "Once you entered these halls for the second time, my bindings began to take effect. So tell me, do you feel anything yet?"
"No," my answer was honest, but I shifted to magical sight and to my horror saw about a gazillion tendrils of magic waving around while trying to attach themselves to my aura. "But I'm pretty sure that is going to change pretty soon, won't it?"
"What a truly wonderful creature you are, Lorilei," The Rogue gave me an appreciative looking over. "Brains as well as beauty. Too bad for you, good for me, that your intelligence didn't kick in until just a moment ago."
'Keep thinking that, bozo,' I thought while adding strength to my aura to assist in its fending off those tendrils that meant to enslave me completely. I shrugged with not badly feigned unconcern, "Luck of the draw,"
"Well, in that vernacular, your hand is bust, and I hold all the aces," he went on, actually gloating before his trap had properly sprung. "so why don't you fold gracefully and pay your debts?"
"Why not?" I agreed, spreading my arms in surrender, "You will at least pamper me, right?"
"Oh yes, little one," he promised with another grin, this one hungry. "You will have whatever the limited mind you retain desires, except freedom."
"I have to tell you that hearing that makes me feel so much better," with a smile that seemed, and was, out of place (I just couldn't work up the nerve to snarl defiantly or do something equally stupid under the circumstances.) I slowly approached him, pointedly ignoring the others in the chamber. If Ariel's plan fell through, my goose was well done and ready for the fork. Along with my delectable tush and the rest of my anatomy. "I mean, what's a few millennia of near mindless fucking and child bearing in exchange for being a pampered little pet?"
"For that bit of sarcasm," pursing his lips, Shen-Dai looked over at the collection of sorcerers with an unspoken command, "You'll remember who and what you once were, but remain powerless to change what you will be. Now, do you have anything else to say, my soon to be bride?"
"Guess not," I muttered, giving a worried glance to the others in that gathering. And to the gown and jewelry waiting for me. All of those items so heavily spelled that they reeked of their intent, which was to subjugate me for all time, and leave me as a nearly mindless husk. Which was a prospect I didn't really wish to contemplate, let alone meekly give in to.
"I wouldn't go to such Draconian extremes," Shen-Dai conversationally told me, "But for your uncanny ability to turn enemies or powerful neutrals into allies and friends. Your hold on the Death Angel is quite remarkable in that there is no trace of bespellment. Angels and Demons alike seem inclined to being susceptible to your charms, and I simply can't risk having you running around loose in the future. Much too dangerous, and you will be far safer here with me than out running arouund and attracting any trouble in your vicinity."
"If that's an apology, I don't accept it," I responded, still inching nearer to him by slight enouugh increments to judge the magical atmosphere surrounding him more fully with each tiny step. I'd have prayed, but why bother? He was one the Powers That Be who had got me into the current mess to begin with. In collusion with Lucifer. And a cast of thousands, it seemed. I'd been thoroughly suckered again, and was getting more than a little pissed off over the deal, and with being a pretty little princess pawn that either side could move around as they saw fit without worry of losing a really valuable piece.
Yes, I was really steamed over the things I managed, with help, to get myself into. Which in retrospect was a good thing for me. Anger was about the only emotion that would allow me full access to the magic I had stolen from Girard; the angrier I got, the more powerful my magic would be, and by then I was vein popping, coronary inducing, furious and still escalating. I guess you can figure out what happened next, right? I unleashed the magic, mopped up the palace floor with Shen-Dai and the others, then went off to live happily ever after. What is it with people, are most of you congenital idiots with an addiction to happy endings in their fairy tales?
Okay, I apologize for that one. I still get angry when I think about what could have happened to me in The Rogue's lair.
But if you were expecting an ending like I outlined above, I happen to have several bridges I'd be willing to let go of at bargain rates. Interested?
What really happened was just about nothing. All my fury and magical power was wrapped up with fending off those damned binding spells. So as far as real fighting or anything else idiotically macho, I was a real dud. I suppose you think that my resistance was so heroic that all the gathered magic users and baddies were enthralled into motionless awe, too.
Wrong again. Granted the Sorcerers and sorceress were kind of busy, while Shen-Dai was watching with interest. But let's not forget the Half Breeds. I sure can't. And probably won't ever be able to. Those misshapen excuses for living things couldn't wait to get their claws into my tender flesh, and all moved with exactly that purpose. Which would really have blown my concentration along with any real hope of independent thought for the next few thousand years or so.
Happily, one Half Breed I'll love till the sun quits shining, burst into the chamber with a certain Death Angel and proceeded to rip the little darlings into small shreds. Adrianna gave me one short salute, then went back to spreading as much mayhem as she possibly could. That was a lot, too, believe me.
Jedidiah splattered a few Half Breeds in passing, but his real target was Shen-Dai. Okay with me. But that left two sorcerers and one sorceress for me. Oh, goody! They had, fortunately, dropped their concentration on the binding spells, and those nasty things went to mostly harmless smoke. Unfortunately, that freed them to use their spells and power against the one unengaged adversary they could see. Me.
Well, if it was a perfect world and all that... But it wasn't , isn't , and I just had to make do with what was around. That was enough. Barely.
Since my own magic was suddenly freed up and really required no direction to divert, I simply aimed it at that trio and let go. Wild magic can sure make a mess of things when it's handled that way, not to mention of people who happen to be standing in its path.
First, Claremont lilt up like a Christmas tree when the leading edge of my blast hit him. Then he went kind of transparent with his skeleton standing out in relief. After that there was nothing but bones left, and those figured out what had happened and obligingly clattered to the floor before dissolving.
Second, both Lilah and Cyrus were badly burned by what was left, but were still in action if temporarily disoriented. I instinctively reached for the loose magic that hadn't been consumed in Claremont's immolation, and found more than I had planned on. Those damned binding spells again.
Cursing myself loudly and with fervor and creativity of a longshoreman, I managed to rip loose of those, then send them spinning towards the pair of surviving magic users. I doubted that would accomplish much of anything other than creating a brief distraction, but you've heard the saying about any port in a storm? Well, there was no port available, so I improvised.
The spiraling binding spells impacted on both of their auras with a very satisfying thunk! and I began gathering my own scattered wits to hit them with something before they regained their balance. I really didn't have all that much left by then, and was starting to stagger a bit, but still got a reasonably potent Hell Bolt off. That fried Cyrus, but left Lilah only beating at sparks threatening to set her robes on fire.
Okay, I encouraged myself, two down and only one to go. Wondering if Lilah was feeling as beat up as I did, I reached for the one thing left in my somewhat limited arsenal. Good old Charm. It didn't work, but fighting it off gave me time to physically reach her and grapple before she could get another spell off. I went after her with teeth, nails, barbed tail, and wing spikes all a once. Talk about confusion. Oh, she had a long, wickedly sharp dagger, managed to draw it, and was determinedly trying to impale me with the thing.
We must have made quite a scene. Two females involved in the catfight of the century, rolling around in an organic puddle and a pile of ashes, slashing , jabbing, and cheating in any way either one of us could think of on the spur of the moment. Things were drawing into a stalemate of sorts. I had the most weapons and slightly superior strength, she had the very nasty, magically enhanced dagger, and neither one of us were really in much condition to carry on hostilities any longer. But we sure did try. Until strong hands braved the flailing limbs, wings, tail, and dagger to separate us.
Ariel had hold of me, while Jedidiah had an iron grip on Lilah. Neither of us was quite ready to quit, and spent a few seconds squirming and kicking until it dawned on our blood fevered minds that the fight was over. I touched Ariel's hand while nodding, then grinned up at him. "Hi. Who won?"
"We did," he answered, then glanced at a limp Lilah in the Death Angel's grip. "Is she...?"
"Just out cold," Jedidiah puffed out his cheeks and flashed a weak grin at me. "Lady, please remind me, frequently, not to get you angry. Could you do that?"
"Sure thing," I mumbled, then kind of lost track of things.
Chapter XII
Okay, sometimes we do get a happy ending. I freely admit it, to all of you who waded through my tirade earlier. Hey, I was scared to death, in more trouble than most folks manage to find in a lifetime, and saw a bleak future of empty, mindless smiles, bed bumping, and having hybrid, Half Breed babies. You'd have been a little testy, too under those circumstances, I'm sure.
Jedidiah had managed to hold his own, and a little more with Shen- Dai until Ariel arrived to tip the thing over and stir the mess a little more. I don't know exactly what it was originally, but there had been a long standing disagreement between the Death Angel and The Rogue. Bad Blood, I guess. Shen-Dai had sicced some of his bad boys on Jedidiah right after I'd entered his trap so confidently. (Fine, kick me or sue me, I know it was a stupid thing to do, but had run out of options pretty quickly.) Anyway, whoever he sent were poorly matched against a formerly disenchanted Death Angel who had found a purpose for being again. (Me, gee that feels kind of nice.)
Adrianna came on the scene just then, with Helga holding off a pursuing gang of nasties so she could get inside the palace. She helped Jedidiah out of a real jam there, then both of them literally broke through those awful ivory doors to enter the combat that I've already described.
A very disheveled, and battered, Dimona soon followed, riding the shoulder of no less than Ariel himself. The Archangel at large, or whatever he is, soon put what was left of the fight between The Death Angel and The Rogue lto an end. With predictable results. Shen-Dai would trouble neither Heaven, Hell, or the Human Realm again. Syl and Angelique were close behind, and dove into things with gleeful abandon that I almost wish I could have seen. But I was kind of busy myself at the time. (Lilah, remember?) She and all the surviving members of the cabal were sent off for trial and justice, which aren't necessarily the same things, and I spent a few days recuperating and dodging congratulations from just about anyone who passed by where I was lounging.
One visitor, though, I was happy to see even being as grumpy as I was. "Hi, Lorilei."
I looked up, preparing my much practiced (lately) glare of absolute disgust over being disturbed yet again, to find it dissipating in the breeze. Hi, yourself, Adrianna. How are you doing?"
"Well enough," she admitted, then reached out a hand to rest lightly, shyly, on my shoulder. The one Lilah hadn't bitten. "I owe you a lot, you know. I have a place now, and a family."
"I'm glad," was my still sleepy answer. "Have you made up with your Mother yet?"
"Yes," she nodded with a small smile, "I have. But I won't be staying here much longer than I have to."
"Wait a second here," I sat up, regretting my rashness at once, but stubbornly refusing to succumb to the maliciously gleeful little toothy things industriously chewing at my wounds. (Read the better part of my body, there.) "I thought all you wanted was a chance to reach a rapprochement with at least your mother's people."
"I did, and I have," she answered simply, then grinned mischievously . "But like everything else you get involved in, there have been some complications."
"Now why am I not surprised?" I finally gave in, fairly gracefully, and sank gratefully back into Mama's healing embrace.
"Jed can't stay here without, well, you know, changing more than either of us would like." Adrianna was almost apologetic. That didn't matter, though. I sat bolt upright again, bad move but so what? "You and the Death Angel? The Heavenly Hit Man? Jedidiah?
"That's right, Lorilei," she almost gushed she was so happy. "And all because of you. Besides, Jed isn't a Death Angel any longer. He's an agent at large with very tight connections to you."
"To me?"
"Well, yes." again, the Lovely Half Breed girl blushed. "He'd have told you himself, but to come in here he would have had to..."
"I get the picture," I grinned at her in surprise and pleasure, "So you're going to be with him from now on?"
"At least until we decide it won't work out," she agreed, showing a truly feminine intent that such an agreement would never be reached. "Anyway, thanks to you, again, he's back in favor in Heaven, but refused to go back. He told me that without you he'd still be a gray, wandering creature with no hope for redemption. So he's joined our team. Heaven is not pleased, by the way."
"I'd imagine not," I agreed with a wider grin of my own. "Now go tell him I wish both of you the best, and get out of here. If I smile any wider, my face is going to crack and start bleeding all over the place again. I'll see you later."
"Hey, am I interrupting anything?" A male voice intruded on my thoughts, and I turned in startlement to see Richard standing in front of me wearing a broad grin. "Honey, you look like Hell."
"Gee, thanks," I grinned back, wondering if my face could take much more. "You want to tell me how you managed to get into Mama's domain without changing back into a female?"
"A technicality I really think the old darling dreamed up just for the occasion. Since I was female once, the logic goes that in some way I still am. So, here I am."
"What happened to you during all that fracas?" I questioned, not recalling his presence in the palace, but then my memories get a little fuzzy here and there about that place.
"I was being a good little spear carrier, and beating the Hell, or Heaven, out of anything foolish enough to try getting out that portal. Things got kind of messy back there, too."
"So I heard," I nodded. "Well, what now?"
"I still think we should work on getting reacquainted, but can see that now isn't really a good time. Maybe we should do that once you feel a little better."
"You stay right here," I purred. "and get down here so I can quit getting a crick in my neck trying to see you."
"If you insist,"
"Oh, I do insist. Trust me. I'm never going to be too injured or sick for this."
"Hmmm," he thoughtfully settled in beside me. "so where should I start?"
"Anywhere," I begged. "Just start, okay?"
"Wanton,"
"Bastard,"
"I love it when you say such nice things, Lor," Richard grinned.
"I'll bet, no get busy and make me a healthy, well, Succubus."
The End
If you liked this story, please add some comments by using the link below
Note: TG magic transformation bizarre body modifications age regression transform into animal |
|
|