The Merry Halls of Hell, page 22
Avery nodded. “I know. I also know I must be with Ahma or she won’t make it through this. She is in so much pain, and her mind isn’t right. One thing I do know, she would never hurt me and will also fight to keep me safe.” She yawned, then yawned again. “I’m going back to bed. Nonna, can you make pancakes again in the morning? I know you’re getting tired of making them, but they sound yummy.”
Mer smiled. “Pancakes are always yummy, no matter when you eat them.”
Gianella’s lips trembled and her eyes filled with tears, but she nodded and smiled. “For you, I will make pancakes every morning.” Avery wrapped her arms around the older woman’s slender waist in a tight hug, then, without another word, she climbed the stairs to her room.
With a pain-filled moan, she turned to Max and laid her head against his narrow chest and cried. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her and gently rubbed her back. “That girl is the spittin’ image of Johnna and just as brave.”
Niki nodded. “The similarity is uncanny, but when you’re alone without anyone raising you, you mature faster and can take care of yourself. Johnna surprises me more every day, and so does this child.” His eerie yellow gaze met Joachim’s. “So, do you have a plan?”
He nodded. “Tentatively, but the more I think, the more I like it. We’re going to need your mates to pull this off—Johnna, especially with her metal abilities. There is one other person I need to talk to first—Lucien. I will go talk with him while the rest of you get some rest.”
He pulled Mer against his chest and kissed her forehead. “Stay safe and try to sleep, although knowing you, you will be pacing the hallway in front of Avery’s room.”
She grinned. “You know me so well.”
Without warning, he leaned down and kissed her lips before apparating to find whoever he was looking for. She placed her fingers against her mouth and smiled, watching the silvery-black lights he had left behind blink out. Ignoring the whistles and laughter coming from the parlor, she walked upstairs.
Chapter 21
The Demon Realm
Joachim arrived outside the castle, which would give him time to figure out what he was going to say to Lucien. While they had been close friends for as long as he could remember, he wasn’t quite sure how Lucien would react when he asked to borrow his wife and use her magic against power-hungry gods who were bent on taking over the Multiverse. Well, that last part might be an exaggeration, but it wasn’t the time to tell him they were only wanting higher-ranking work positions.
The Demon King had almost lost his mate several times during the battle against Zeus, so asking to put her back in the fray was tantamount to being thrown out of the realm. He wouldn’t put it past Lucien to do just that. He stood in front of the massive wooden door, noticing the slight rust on the metal vines decorating the door. The hinges also had a slight green patina, as if they contained copper. He touched the most prominent green spot, then pulled his finger away, rubbing the tip with his thumb as he studied the metal.
He could ask Johnna to look at it. His gaze moved over the vine design, which reminded him of ivy growing through the slats of a fence. Maybe that’s what it was supposed to be.
“Joachim, are you just going to stand there staring at my front door, or are you going to come inside and tell me what’s bothering you so much?” Lucien said beside him.
He jerked, realizing he should have been paying attention. Anyone could have gotten the jump on him, and with all the punishments he had assigned over the centuries, he was surprised someone hadn’t put a price on his head. Of course, it wouldn’t matter. The Erinys would catch on well before he was in real danger, but still. This was becoming a terrible habit.
He turned and nodded at Lucien. “Sorry, I was just studying your door. It’s a real work of art, but if you want it to last, you need to protect the metal from corroding.”
Lucien frowned at the door, then turned to face him. “Since when is metalwork your specialty?”
Joachim shrugged. “It’s not, but I’ve been around Johnna so much lately, I guess noticing it has rubbed off.”
Lucien rubbed the back of his neck. “I know the feeling. She has that effect on people. Now, are you coming in or should I get chairs for us out here?”
Joachim chuckled. “No, let’s go inside. I haven’t been in the castle since the succubus almost destroyed it. I’d like to see it when it’s not destroyed.”
He followed the demon king into the castle interior and was equally impressed with the inside as he was with the front doors. The interior was elegant in a dark way and styled in the Gothic tradition with a rich walnut, whalebone-beam ceiling. Instead of the traditional cathedral decor, the plaster had been painted a pale gray, adding a touch of lightness to the wooden ceiling.
The space wasn’t like a grand ballroom, but the size was still impressive, with a massive black chandelier hanging in the center with magically lit candles in the glass sconces. The black and white marble-tiled floor was elegant, with heavy white veins running through each tile.
The ancient tapestries hanging on the walls between several doors and windows held his attention. Each was a historical scene from many realms. He walked over to the nearest one and stared, amazed at the exquisite detail. “The weavers who created these were incredibly talented. I wish I had known them. I would have had my entire castle and Bastille decorated with tapestries.”
Lucien grinned. “These were done by a very talented nun on the Mortal Realm. When she passed, I went to the Elysian Fields and asked her if she would like to continue, and she agreed. I will tell her what you said and that she has job security for many lifetimes.”
Joachim chuckled. “Indeed, she does.” He glanced around, noticing a few imps floating by in the hall in front of them and a couple of enforcers and other staff meandering down the two other hallways jutting off from the room they stood in. “Is there somewhere we can talk without being overheard?”
Lucien nodded. “Follow me.” He led him toward a doorway Joachim would have missed had he not seen it with his own eyes. It seemed to be camouflaged or magically warded to remain invisible. The image matched the surrounding wall with the edge of the tapestry covering the invisible opening on one side, lending credence to the mirage.
“Your work or Gerard’s?”
“Actually, it was my father’s. He wanted a place in the castle where we could go and be in peace as a family. Of course, it was mainly me, Gerard, and my father, but the space is still special to both of us. It’s filled with memories of our father and youth. Those times seem so long ago.”
Joachim clapped him on the shoulder. “They were, my friend. We’re old.”
“Bite your tongue,” Lucien laughed. “According to my wife, we are in our prime. That has to count for something, right?”
“Whatever you wish to believe,” Joachim added as he walked around his friend and entered a cozy room. The light sage walls complemented the lighter-colored wood bookshelves on one wall. In the center was a massive stone fireplace with a crackling fire already going. He glanced around the room and nodded. “I like this.”
Lucien sat in a large wingbacked chair next to the fireplace and motioned for him to take the matching one opposite him. Once seated, an imp popped in with a pewter tray loaded with coffee and a plate of cinnamon rolls. “Thank you, Raz.” He scratched the blue imp behind one of its pointy ears. “That will be all for now. If I need you for anything, I’ll holler.” The imp bowed, which looked more like a roll, but Joachim was impressed with how the imps took to serving here.
“I’d love to know how you get them to be so helpful, obedient, and mannered. Mine have attitudes.”
Lucien handed him a mug of steaming coffee and served him a cinnamon roll before getting his drink. “How do the other Watchers treat them—as family or simply a servant?”
Joachim thought a moment. “Unfortunately, as servants. I will make that change when I get back.”
The demon king stared at him over his cup before taking a small sip. “So, why are you here? I thought you were knee-deep in rogues, unknown gods, and a woman.”
Joachim frowned. “Huh?”
“Do you honestly think my family hasn’t kept me up-to-date on the goings on in that realm? I’ve heard you’ve taken quite a liking to a certain beautiful Fallen soldier.”
Joachim groaned and closed his eyes. “Seriously? We’re in the middle of a looming catastrophe, and all everyone is talking about is my friendship with Mer? What is wrong with people?”
Lucien’s black brows rose. “Friendship? That’s what you’re calling it? From what I’ve heard, you can’t keep your eyes off her, nor she you. Niki is quite the commentator.”
“Niki needs to keep his attention on more important things than what may or may not be happening between two people. We are trying to stop humans from dying. I think that’s more important, don’t you?”
Lucien nodded, trying to maintain a serious expression. “You seemed troubled when you got here. I thought a bit of levity would help.”
Joachim raised his brows and held the demon king’s amused gaze. “You might not want humor after you hear what I’m going to ask of you.”
Lucien placed his empty cup on the table and folded his hands in his lap. “My realm is in an uproar. We haven’t recovered from the battle, and Gerard is on a rampage because nothing he’s tried has healed the vampyre from whatever illness they’re experiencing. The Mortal Realm is in peril as are all the other realms due to the theft of their dead.” He shrugged. “What can be worse than all of that?”
“I need to borrow your wife so we can use her power to nullify magic.”
Lucien’s brows shot up. “Wasn’t expecting that, but it’s definitely not worse.” He frowned in thought. A moment later, his wife, Cassia, appeared beside his chair, her fingers gently tucking his hair behind one ear.
Turning to Joachim, she smiled. “Hi, Watcher King. How’s my daughter doing?”
”Hello, Cassia. Malachi has her training with Jeriah today. He’s working on her agitation. If anyone can get her to calm down in battle and focus both sides of her magic, it’s him.”
“I heard she returned to the Mortal Realm a few days ago.”
He nodded, hoping this wasn’t a trick question or that she would ask twenty more. He needed to get back to the others and plan their trap, with or without Willow’s mother. He would rather she be there, though. “She did fine and helped us gain a new perspective on the demoness, especially since she’s the guardian of Ahma’s daughter.”
Her lilac gaze moved from him to her husband. “So, why am I here? I figured this was a male meeting.”
Lucien chuckled and threaded his fingers through his wife’s and lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the back. “Joachim needs to ask you a question.”
“Thanks for throwing me under the bus.”
Her blond eyebrows rose. “I think you’ve been in the Mortal Realm too long if you’re beginning to speak like them. You need to end this and come home.”
“That’s why I’m here.” He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “Even though Apep and Mors are weak and don’t have the constant ability to consume souls there, they are still gods and powerful. They also have help. Niki and Malachi have discussed this issue with the Immortals who live there, and they believe the gods are being fed power through two avenues. One is a rogue demon, Dagiel, and several others who run with him. He’s also accumulated a few cursed werewolves—Ironclaws, I believe they’re called. The second avenue is Fer-Diorich.”
She frowned down at her husband. “Isn’t he condemned for eternity to the Unseelie Court? King Oberon would never allow any prisoner to retain their powers.”
Lucien shook his head. “Not normally, no, but this is different. No matter how many times Morrigan, Cernunnos, and Ceridwen send him back, he seems to be able to break loose from Oberon’s kingdom.”
A chair appeared behind her and she sat. “We’re missing something, then. No one should be able to do that unless they have major help, and by major, I mean massive amounts of unlimited magic. The Unseelie Court is sealed not only by Oberon and Titania, although few know this, but also by several other gods. I believe even one or two primordials have also sealed it. To break free means the Dark Fae has help. There is no other way to escape.”
“Your knowledge is quite impressive,” Joachim admitted. “So, not only are we up against two lowly gods on the proverbial totem pole,” he grinned, “to quote another mortal saying, we could be up against primordials.” He closed his eyes and exhaled. “I don’t have enough manpower to fight someone that powerful. We’re struggling with the few people we have right now, and two of them are humans.
“Willow told me about the child. She says there is something more about her. She may not be entirely human, if at all. She seems too powerful, especially for an eleven-year-old,” Cassia said.
“I agree, but I don’t have the time to figure that out right now. We have a plan to draw out the gods—a weak plan at that. I came here to ask if you would help us.” Joachim studied the surprise on her face.
She shook her head, frowning at the two males. “Me? What can I do?”
“Your ability to stop someone’s magic in its tracks might be the only thing that would work against Apep and Mors. If you can nullify any effect they might have, we should be able to stop the demons and werewolves. Niki, Malachi, the young Immortal in our group, and the Fallen will be able to trap them. The nullifying of their magic will allow me to condemn them and send them to the Abyss for Lucifer to imprison.”
Cassia glanced down at her husband. “Lucien, what do you think? You have been dealing with all of this the longest. Will this plan work?”
The demon king shrugged. “I’m afraid it’s all we have at the moment. I will talk to Gerard and Gaia. Your mother may have a few more ideas we can use.”
Cassia grinned. “Especially when she learns I’m in another battle against evil gods. That should jumpstart her heart.”
Joachim chuckled. “Now, who’s talking like the humans?” He stood. “Let me know what you come up with—the sooner, the better. We believe this has something to do with Christmas. We just haven’t figured out what yet.”
Cassia also stood, wrapping her arms around her waist. “What better way to destroy a world? Kill millions of people on one of the most sacred holidays, and you destroy the two most important emotions of all—love and hope.”
Joachim’s jaws clenched as he realized the truth of her answer. “I will await your response.” Before either could say anything, he apparated back to Gianella’s, sensing a change, but he couldn’t tell if it was a good or bad one.
He arrived to chaos. A large board had been placed in the kitchen, and everyone was seated around the table. The kitchen looked as if it had exploded in presents, wrapping paper, and ribbons. They covered every surface, even most of the floor.
Niki turned and nodded. “Joachim, glad you could make it back. A few here were beginning to worry and weren’t concentrating on the new plan.”
One black brow rose as he studied the people sitting around the table. Even Avery was there, wrapping presents from the number of decorated packages placed in front of her. “What new plan?’
Mer rose and pointed to the whiteboard with a long ruler. “We mapped it out on this wonderful contraption. We need one back home,” she gave Malachi a pointed stare before turning back to the board. “We’ve upped the ante, to coin a game phrase. Joachim, you and, hopefully, someone with a bit more firepower than we have here will magically create Christmas lights and put them everywhere around the city, preferably in the darker areas, such as the homeless encampments and the poorer parts of town. It’s unfortunate they don’t have the means to make their homes and neighborhoods festive during the holiday season. Everyone should be able to enjoy the beauty of the season.”
“I’ve worked for decades trying to get the Church to help out more,” Gianella said. “Father Donnelly did more this year than he ever did in the past. While you were galavanting around the universe, I called all the church patrons and explained what we wanted them to do, and they were all in favor of it. We are going to put on a massive dinner inside the local community center, outfitting the parking lot next door with tables and chairs along with heaters and small firepits to keep everyone warm while they’re served a special Christmas dinner.”
Avery glanced up, her green eyes sparkling with excitement. “And the orphans are going to sing carols on the stage so everyone can hear them. Willow agreed to come back and lead them since she knows a lot of the songs, and we don’t. Maybe some will even be adopted!”
He stared at the board, amazed at the progress and changes they had made. It was honestly quite daunting. “What about the market? Are we still doing that?”
Marcel growled and stopped trying to wrap the mangled box in front of him. He pushed it away and dropped his hands in his lap, glaring up at him. “Unfortunately. Someone,” he glared across the table at Gianella, “convinced the local stores to donate gifts for the orphans and poor families and stupidly told them we would wrap them all.”
Avery giggled. “You don’t wrap very well. Don’t worry, I’m really good at it. I’ll wrap yours.” She patted his arm before pulling a bright green ribbon from the pile. She somehow turned the package this way and that, and in a few seconds, it was beautifully wrapped. She held it up in front of Marcel. “See? The gifts are supposed to look pretty, like this—not scare away the kids.”
Mer looked at Marcel’s mangled packages and burst out laughing. “You do need practice, my friend.”
He glared at her. “Shut up, Mer. I don’t need your opinion right now.” He glanced at Joachim. “The market has been moved to the street in front of the community center and away from the three houses where the gods and demons seem to be hiding out. Someone, not naming any names, will be asked to recreate Hogwarts at Christmas.”
