Chapter 14

Angel and I shared a pizza on the airship ride back to Purgatory, the first thing I'd eaten since yesterday. It tasted good, of course, but it would have tasted better if Nero were by my side. And if people weren't dying all around me.

As I walked down the main corridor of the Legion's Purgatory office building, my cat prowling beside me, I pulled out my phone and called Alec.

"I have a job for you," I told him.

"I heard what happened to all those supernaturals." Alec's voice was hard and angry. "Point me in the direction of the psychopath behind this, and I'll take 'em out."

"It's not that easy. We first need to find that psychopath."

"You know who it is, don't you?"

I thought back on Gypsy's words. "I have a possible suspect."

"Who?"

"Carver Spellsword."

"Who's that?"

"A rogue dark angel. I heard a rumor that he might be behind this, but that's all it is: a rumor. We need to figure out if it's true. That's where you come in, Alec."

"Me? I don't know, Leda. I'm more of a doer than a researcher."

"I know, but right now, I don't have much use for blowing up things. I need to have a target before I can send you at it. Unfortunately, all my usual researchers are overloaded at the moment, trying to figure out how supernaturals are dying from magic they are masters of. And so I need your help, Alec. The best way you can help me fight this right now is by doing some research. We need to track down whoever is responsible for all these deaths. Find everything there is to know about the rogue dark angel Carver Spellsword."

"Leda, this is way out of my depth, but I'll do what I can," he replied.

"Thanks. You know, sometimes a gunman needs to pick up a book, and sometimes a doctor needs to pick up a gun."

Then I hung up, leaving him with that closing nugget of topsy-turvy wisdom. I turned the corner and headed for Nerissa's office. When I got there, I saw that the two dead ice elementals had already been delivered. She was examining them now. Dead vampires lay on the other tables.

"How's it going?" I asked her.

"Not well." She turned to face me. Half of her hair had fallen out of her ponytail, and her eyes were red. "There are too many of them. I'm running out of space." She looked at me with haunted eyes.

I knew how she felt. The Legion taught us to harden ourselves against the sight of death because we saw it every day. But this was different. These people hadn't just died. They'd died from magic that should have protected them. It felt so personal, like a betrayal, a violation, an upheaval of everything that they were.

"I'll see about getting you some more space," I told her.

"Thank you." She glanced at Angel, who was growling at the corpses like they might jump up and attack us at any moment. "They're dead, little cat, and they're going to stay that way."

Angel sat down on the floor, and even she looked depressed.

Ivy walked into the room. "Nerissa, I have the test results from the first batch of vampires." She handed her a printout.

Usually, Ivy, our resident counselor, dealt with the problems of the living rather than with the problems of the dead, but as I'd told Alec, we were very shorthanded right now.

"I'm trying to get you more staff," I said to Nerissa. "But it's not so easy. I want to make sure every soldier we get is exactly right for the job."

"Micromanager," Nerissa commented without even looking up from the elemental corpses.

"Maybe a bit," I admitted. "There are a few people at the New York office that I think would make great additions to our team, but Harker will really get annoyed with me if I steal any more of his soldiers."

"Leda, sometimes it's more important to get someone now than it is to wait for the perfect one," said Nerissa.

"Speaking of which, I heard you put Alec on research duty," Ivy said.

"I only just spoke to him. How can you possibly know that already?"

"Come now, Leda. A magician never reveals her secrets."

Nerissa snorted. "Ivy's spies are everywhere."

"I don't have spies," Ivy protested. "People just like to tell me things."

"Because they want to sleep with you," said Nerissa.

"Only some of them." Ivy's laughter was light and refreshing, just what this cold, dead room needed to put some life back into it. "Granted, Alec is one of those someones. He found me after he talked to you and suggested we do some research together."

"Let me guess," said Nerissa. "Anatomical research."

"Oddly enough, I think he meant actual research this time. He looked genuinely disappointed when I told him I was busy with other work. I think he's worried that he will let you down, Leda."

"I picked him for the job because I know he won't let me down," I replied. "I'm more worried that I am letting everyone down."

Ivy gave me a knowing look. "You've been watching those horrible news reports, haven't you?"

It had started as the single incendiary reporter, but the vitriol had quickly spread to the rest. They were all condemning me now.

I sighed. "I just can't stop watching, no matter how many times they call me the worst thing ever to happen to the Earth."

"Don't listen to them, Leda." Ivy set her hand on my arm. "You've saved this world more times than I can count. Those reporters just want to tell a big, dramatic story, and for that they need a villain. Even if they have to manufacture one. Just like all those hate groups need a villain to blame for everything that's going wrong in the world. They need someone to blame. And so they are blaming anyone with magic. It will all pass."

"I hope you're right." I leaned against the wall.

Nerissa's head snapped around. "That's it. Off to bed with you, Leda."

"What?"

"You're so exhausted that you can hardly stand," she told me. "And you look like hell."

"Compliments on your bedside manner, Doc."

She smiled at me. "Glad to be of service. Now get the hell out of my office and get some rest before I drag you to your room and lock you in."

"All right, all right. I'm leaving." I moved toward the door. "See you tomorrow."

"Not before you've had at least eight hours of sleep, you won't," she snapped back.

Easier said than done. I returned to my apartment and prepared myself for bed, but it all felt so empty, so lonely without Nero here. I wasn't even sure I'd be able to sleep.

Nevertheless, I was out almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.

* * *

My dreams weren't exactlyrestful. In them, vampires choked on blood as witches' potions exploded in their faces and fairies died from disease. Lightning elementals were struck by lightning. Wind elementals were consumed by tornados.

I tried to help them, but no matter what I did, I couldn't get to them. I couldn't save them. I couldn't stop any of this from happening.

Throughout it all, a panel of journalists sat upon a cushy sofa at the sidelines, their laughter and gossiping interspersed with words of condemnation for Leda Pandora, the worst thing ever to happen to the world.

Faris appeared beside me. "You really must clean up your messy mind, child."

"And you really must stop invading people's private space, old man," I snapped at him.

He gave me a withering look. "You've made no progress with the demons."

"I'm working on it, but as you can see, there's a lot going on right now." I indicated the scene of dying supernaturals playing out before us.

"All irrelevant." Faris waved his hand and washed it all away. There was nothing left but the two of us in an empty space. "The demons are your priority. Others can deal with the rest."

"See, it's like this, Pops," I said. "At the moment, I can't do much but wait for the demons' response, and who knows how long that will take. For some reason, the demons don't trust the gods. What was that reason again?" I snapped my fingers. "Oh, that's right. Because you've tried this how-about-we-form-an-alliance trick before. Which makes me wonder whether it's a trick this time too."

"I assure you, I am quite serious," he replied. "As you should be."

"If you're so serious, why haven't you contacted the demons yourself?"

"That isn't done."

"Ever?"

"There is no reason for gods and demons to communicate. We meet only on the battlefield."

"And if you want to parley?" I asked.

His mouth hardened at the reference to my mother Grace, but he didn't mention her or their past dalliances. "There were once channels for communication between gods and demons. The demons closed them long ago."

"Let me guess," I said. "Right after the gods tried to trick them with promises of an alliance."

"This is war, child," he replied coldly.

"Really? Because it feels like you're all playing a game. And just look at what your game has brought you. You burned the bridges of communication when you tricked the demons, and now none of them will talk to you." I chewed on that thought. "What about Grace?"

Faris's face was impassive. "What about her?"

"Have you tried contacting her?"

"She would not speak to me."

"Have you even tried?" I asked.

"Yes."

I sighed.

"You're disappointed." Faris's mouth thinned. "How naive. Did you imagine yourself in a fairytale? Were you holding out hope that your parents would reunite over their shared love for you?" He made a derisive noise.

"No. I never hoped for anything of the sort," I told him. "I know I don't live in a fairytale. Because if I lived in a fairytale, I could summon a fairy godmother to whack you over the head with her wand."

"You impudent—"

"Impudent?" I cut in. "You are the one who once again burst into my mind uninvited."

"I come and go as I please. I am the king of the gods." He squared his shoulders and stood tall. "And you forget your place."

I shot him my best glower. "My place is not under your boot."

He gave his hand a dismissive wave. "You're being melodramatic."

"It runs in the family."

"Enough!" His voice thundered in my ears. "If you don't hold your tongue, I'll be forced to punish you. And then neither of us will be happy."

"Yeah, it would really suck if you broke your shiny new living weapon," I shot back.

Faris slanted a warning glare at me. "Don't you ever shut up?"

"No," I declared proudly.

He looked at me like he wanted to exchange his faulty purchase for a better one. "The demons are considering our offer."

"How do you know?" I asked.

"If they weren't considering our offer, they'd have killed you outright."

I snorted. "What makes you think they didn't try?"

He looked at me with something almost akin to pity. "The demons' council is clearly divided. Sonja would sooner give up all her magic than vote in favor of the alliance. Alessandro and Seth won't vote for it either. But Valerian will vote for it. Ava and Grace will put on a show before they vote for it too. That leaves Violet as the deciding vote."

I looked at him with narrowed, suspicious eyes. "How do you know how the demons are voting?"

"Because I know my enemy."

"Your enemy? I thought you wanted to be friends," I quipped.

"Don't be naive, Leda. Enemies and allies are little different, and I know the weaknesses of both. And we all, gods and demons, know this is an alliance of convenience. It's temporary. At best, it will survive only long enough for us to defeat the Guardians and purge them from the universe. At worse, it will crumble and we'll turn on one another just in time for the Guardians to deal us a crushing blow and purge us all from the universe."

"Purge gods and demons from the universe? Well, when you put it that way, it doesn't sound so bad."

"They won't stop with us," he warned me.

"I know. That's why I'm helping you."

A dark, cruel laugh tore from his mouth. "Dear child, you are helping me because you go where I command you to go."

I planted my hands on my hips and glared at him in open defiance. "We'll see."

"Yes, we will." He nodded. "I told you I know everyone's weaknesses, be they ally or enemy."

"And what am I?"

"We'll see."

I knew that if Faris decided I was his enemy, he'd try to kill everyone I loved. And I wasn't sure I was strong enough to stop him. No, actually, I was very certain I was not strong enough to stop him.

"So what makes you think the demons will vote the way you said?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Sonja's vote should be obvious, even to you," he replied.

Yeah. Sonja hated the gods. And she hated Faris especially. She'd never accept a deal from him, even if it was an offer for a free facial.

"Alessandro is a megalomaniac," Faris continued. "Accepting a deal with the gods would introduce new alliances and potentially weaken his stance. He will vote no. As for Seth, he might look like a male prostitute and party like a drug addict, but when it comes to politics, he is very conservative. He won't do anything to upset the status quo. So he'll vote no too."

"And the potential yes votes?" I asked Faris.

"Grace will vote for the alliance because it will mean you have to work closely with her."

"And she wants to use me as a weapon. Just like you do."

"Leda, you're going to have to decide which deity you trust more: the god who is always honest about what he expects from you, or the demon who wraps her lies in silk and roses."

"I don't trust either one of you."

"In the end, it doesn't matter," he said, unbothered. "I do not require your trust. Only your obedience."

"Ok, just wait right here while I go polish your father-of-the-year trophy for you."

"I am warning you." There was a note of impatience in his cool, level tone. "Take care not to speak with such levity to a god."

There was simply no getting through to him.

"As for Ava," he continued. "She is obviously in on Grace's plan. Lately, they're always scheming together."

I wondered just what Grace's plan was. Calix, the goddess Saphira's bodyguard, had hinted that she had one. It must have had something to do with all that telepathic magic she'd saturated me in before I was born.

As quickly as they came, I washed those memories and speculations from my thoughts. I had to keep my mind clear—and Faris out of it as much as possible.

"What about Valerian?" I asked him.

"Valerian will vote for the alliance because his granddaughter swindled a favor out of him." He favored me with a cool smile. "I'm referring to your foster sister Bella, of course."

"How do you know about Bella?" I demanded.

"I'm omnipotent. Keep that in mind before you contemplate treason."

Faris wasn't omnipotent. Not really. But he did have a bunch of telepaths who kept an eye on what was happening in all the realms for him. He called them his Orchestra.

"We need to focus on Violet," said Faris. "The Demon of Nature is as ever-changing as the shifting seasons. She can be persuaded to vote for the alliance. You must persuade her."

"And just how am I supposed to do that when none of the demons will even see me?"

"You will find a way." He folded his hands together. "And I will be watching you."

Then Faris disappeared.

I really needed to install a deadbolt in my mind. Or a force field that zapped nosy gods.

* * *

When I woke up,I wasn't even sure if all that had been nothing but a simple dream, or if Faris had actually broken into my mind while I slept.

I got out of bed and went to the sink to wash my face. I was patting it dry with a towel when Alec called.

"I collected all the reports of missing people in the last month," he told me. "I put them on the map I'm sending you now."

My phone dinged to indicate I'd received his map.

"There are over ten thousand dots on this map, Alec."

"People go missing all the time. The rogue vampire nest in Purgatory alone was responsible for over a hundred missing people. They came from various towns along the Frontier, along with some people from the bigger cities," he said. "Most of the ten thousand missing people are probably not linked to the case you're working on. I colored the dots depending on how likely I believe they are connected: red for highly likely, yellow for maybe related, and blue for those I don't think are related at all."

I slid my finger over the screen, taking a quick preview of his work. And he had put a lot of work into it. When I tapped on a dot, it told me all about the missing person, including references to news articles on the disappearance. Alec had even placed dotted lines over the map to indicate which directions his research suggested the person might have gone.

"How ever did you manage to create such a detailed presentation?" I asked him.

"I stayed up all night," he said casually, like it was no big deal.

"Another thing. I'm sending you a picture of something I want you to check out." I forwarded him a photo of the leather strip I'd found in Beyond. "Can you look into what this symbol means?"

"I don't need to look into it," he said after a moment. "I recognize that skull goblet. I saw it at the vampires' nest in Purgatory. It's the symbol of their rogue house."

"I found that symbol near the bodies of dead fire elementals in Beyond." I chewed thoughtfully on my lower lip. "That means there must be a link between the vampires and the fire elementals, something besides the fact that they were both killed by their own magic."

"I'll see what I can find," said Alec. "So, I also looked into Carver Spellsword. There have been a number of possible sightings of the dark angel in the last week. I've included those on your map as well."

"Alec, you did great! You're a research machine! I should put you on research duty more often."

"Na, I prefer shooting things."

"I'm sure you do," I laughed. "But I need to keep you on research duty for just a little longer. Can you see if any of the people went missing from any town at the same time Spellsword was there?"

He let out a low whistle. "You don't ask for much, do you?"

"Only miracles," I chuckled. "Use any Legion resources you need to track down Spellsword."

"Any?"

"Just try to leave the rocket launchers be until we're closer to the mark."

"Sure thing, boss. I'll get right on it after I grab some food and a nap."

"Thanks, Alec."

"If you really want to thank me…" He let his voice fade out, and I could almost picture the purely indecent look on his face.

"Better catch a cold shower while you're at it, Lieutenant."

"Dreaming of you already, angel." He made a kissing noise into the phone, then hung up.

I laughed. Alec was incorrigible, but he was a good friend. He'd cheered me up after that disturbing dream. Unfortunately, there would be more dreams where it came from if I didn't do something about it asap.

A quick glance at the clock told me it wasn't yet six in the morning, but matters of heaven and hell waited for no man. Or woman. Or even angel.

I quickly got dressed and set out to find Damiel Dragonsire. I trusted he'd already be awake at this unholy hour. He and I had business to discuss. Last night's nightmares had convinced me of one thing: I had to accept Damiel's offer to train my telepathic magic. No matter how much I did not want him in my mind, having Faris and Grace digging around in there was far worse.