must answer to the Lazari Tribunal. Your mother, Coronis, and our leaders would stil be alive if it weren’t for him. ”
“They got what was coming to them,” Bran snapped. “Or are you forgetting that Coronis kidnapped my grandparents and tortured them for years.”
“This is a war we’re fighting, not stupid games. Both sides play dirty to win.” The strange voice was fil ed with malice. “You’re a fool to join the Guardians and go against us, Bran. The path you chose wil be your destruction because my, uh, Lord plans to win this battle. Once he finds that List, you’l have no choice but to join us.”
I realized where I heard the words, the List.
From Valafar. He didn’t want Grampa searching for it. Bran’s laughter drew my attention.
“Never,” he snapped. “I’l find it before he does.”
“You real y think you can go against a nature-bender and win?” the voice asked. “He’l make you watch as he destroys your precious Guardians one by one, then turn your girlfriend into one of us. Al your sacrifice with be for nothing.” Her voice your sacrifice with be for nothing.” Her voice dropped down an octave. “Come back to our side, Bran. You and I could have what we once had.” Bran snarled something, but I’d stopped listening at ‘what we once had.’ The urge to push the door and see this woman—this Lazarus demoness
—washed over me, but I couldn’t move. Bran never said he had a girlfriend in the past.
The door swung open to reveal an unsmiling Bran. I told you to finish downstairs then go home.
So I wouldn’t meet your ex-girlfriend? I wanted to retort but bit the words back. I leaned sideways to peer into the room, but Bran moved and blocked my line of vision. Glaring, I thought of ways to force him to move. He was physical y stronger, so I couldn’t push him. Using my telekinetic powers against him was out. He had some psi abilities, but I was stronger and might hurt him.
He pushed his fingers through his hair and sighed, then stepped aside.
Lazari might turn into smoke to possess humans, but like the little demon-girl I met downstairs, they also took human forms. I entered, expecting to see a girl of great beauty. Instead, Gavyn sat in the middle of the floor trapped by six jadeite crystals. Light shot from each crystal and connected with the other five, forming a cage around him. His eyes, blacker than a moonless night, told me what I should have expected if I hadn’t been consumed by jealousy. Gavyn was possessed by a female demon and was growing weaker fast.
“Wel , wel , look at what the cat dragged in,” she said in the same disembodied voice, part the she-demon’s and part Gavyn’s, which explained the familiar lilt.
What did she look like when she was not in smoke form? I approached the cage, going on a hunch. “Does my father know what you’re up to, Solange?”
Possessed Gavyn blinked. “Who told you my name?”
“Who do you think?” I said with a smug smile.
“He wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t he? He and I spoke this morning.” I glanced at Bran. “What did my father say he was concerned about?”
“Your safety,” Bran answered, catching on fast.
I smiled smugly at the demon. “Yes, my safety. And that was after we discussed the presents he sent me. What do you think he’l say when he finds out that instead of looking for the List, you’re busy running your own little revenge on the Llyrs.”
“They’re traitors,” she snarled, “and deserve to suffer for their betrayal.”
“Get out of Gavyn right now.” My hand moved to the hilt of my dagger.
“Lil,” Bran warned.
“You wouldn’t dare,” the demon said, her weird voice rising. “You’l kil us both.” She was right. The Kris Dagger wouldn’t differentiate between Gavyn and the demoness. It searched for demonic energy and kil ed demons, regardless of whether they were friendly or not. I let go of the hilt and telepathed Bran. Gavyn’s growing weaker.
So is she. I
“They got what was coming to them,” Bran snapped. “Or are you forgetting that Coronis kidnapped my grandparents and tortured them for years.”
“This is a war we’re fighting, not stupid games. Both sides play dirty to win.” The strange voice was fil ed with malice. “You’re a fool to join the Guardians and go against us, Bran. The path you chose wil be your destruction because my, uh, Lord plans to win this battle. Once he finds that List, you’l have no choice but to join us.”
I realized where I heard the words, the List.
From Valafar. He didn’t want Grampa searching for it. Bran’s laughter drew my attention.
“Never,” he snapped. “I’l find it before he does.”
“You real y think you can go against a nature-bender and win?” the voice asked. “He’l make you watch as he destroys your precious Guardians one by one, then turn your girlfriend into one of us. Al your sacrifice with be for nothing.” Her voice your sacrifice with be for nothing.” Her voice dropped down an octave. “Come back to our side, Bran. You and I could have what we once had.” Bran snarled something, but I’d stopped listening at ‘what we once had.’ The urge to push the door and see this woman—this Lazarus demoness
—washed over me, but I couldn’t move. Bran never said he had a girlfriend in the past.
The door swung open to reveal an unsmiling Bran. I told you to finish downstairs then go home.
So I wouldn’t meet your ex-girlfriend? I wanted to retort but bit the words back. I leaned sideways to peer into the room, but Bran moved and blocked my line of vision. Glaring, I thought of ways to force him to move. He was physical y stronger, so I couldn’t push him. Using my telekinetic powers against him was out. He had some psi abilities, but I was stronger and might hurt him.
He pushed his fingers through his hair and sighed, then stepped aside.
Lazari might turn into smoke to possess humans, but like the little demon-girl I met downstairs, they also took human forms. I entered, expecting to see a girl of great beauty. Instead, Gavyn sat in the middle of the floor trapped by six jadeite crystals. Light shot from each crystal and connected with the other five, forming a cage around him. His eyes, blacker than a moonless night, told me what I should have expected if I hadn’t been consumed by jealousy. Gavyn was possessed by a female demon and was growing weaker fast.
“Wel , wel , look at what the cat dragged in,” she said in the same disembodied voice, part the she-demon’s and part Gavyn’s, which explained the familiar lilt.
What did she look like when she was not in smoke form? I approached the cage, going on a hunch. “Does my father know what you’re up to, Solange?”
Possessed Gavyn blinked. “Who told you my name?”
“Who do you think?” I said with a smug smile.
“He wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t he? He and I spoke this morning.” I glanced at Bran. “What did my father say he was concerned about?”
“Your safety,” Bran answered, catching on fast.
I smiled smugly at the demon. “Yes, my safety. And that was after we discussed the presents he sent me. What do you think he’l say when he finds out that instead of looking for the List, you’re busy running your own little revenge on the Llyrs.”
“They’re traitors,” she snarled, “and deserve to suffer for their betrayal.”
“Get out of Gavyn right now.” My hand moved to the hilt of my dagger.
“Lil,” Bran warned.
“You wouldn’t dare,” the demon said, her weird voice rising. “You’l kil us both.” She was right. The Kris Dagger wouldn’t differentiate between Gavyn and the demoness. It searched for demonic energy and kil ed demons, regardless of whether they were friendly or not. I let go of the hilt and telepathed Bran. Gavyn’s growing weaker.
So is she. I
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