Along Came a Demon (22 page)

I waited.

Royal came down the stairs so silently I didn’t notice him till he spoke. He sat beside me on the bench.

“
Is everything okay?”

“
More or less. He understands what’s happened, and what is to come.”

I sagged tiredly. “I don’t, Royal. Was Gorge at Lindy’s apartment when she died? What has he to do with all this? Is Lawrence really safe now?”

Several heartbeats of silence, followed by, “You were right: Gorge and Lindy were friends. He went to see her the day she died. He heard her cry out and found her in the bathroom. She was dying, Tiff. Gorge tried to bring her back by forcing some of his energy into her, but it did not work.”

“
You can … what do you mean, put his energy in her?”

“
A tiny bit of psychic energy.” He smiled a small sad smile. “It’s a demon thing. If you look closely at Gorge you will see lines on his face which were not there a week ago.”

I didn’t ask for a scientific explanation - I see dead people; I don’t need justification for every mystical ability or event.

“
You know I can sense other Gelpha, it’s an innate ability all of us possess. Gorge - “

“
You’re called Gelpha?” I said, feeling dumb.
Of course they have a name, and it’s not
demon.

“
Yes. And although you haven’t asked, our world is Bel-Athaer. You will find mention of it in your ancient lore.”

“
I don’t recall the name.”

He gave me an amused smile. “Have you never heard of the Land Beneath the Waves?”

I gawped at him. “You’re elves?”

He hiccupped a laugh. “You confuse Celtic lore with fairy tales. Ancient Druids knew of The Land Beneath the Waves, or the Otherworld. The
waves
they spoke of were aetheric, an alternate plane coexisting with theirs.”

He didn’t give me time to think that over. “Although we had not met, Gorge knew I was in Clarion, but not the position I hold. If he had, he would have come to me. He brought Lawrence here, then sensed Caesar and his partner Phaid. He went back to Lindy’s apartment and cleared out all traces of Lawrence and brought away photos of his mother, so the boy could have them. He waited till night and went to every tenant, and made them forget Lawrence.” He met my eyes. “I know that must gall you, but it was necessary.” His gaze drifted away. “Not knowing what else to do, Gorge planned to take Lawrence to Berne, Switzerland, where he has another shop. Lawrence would pose as his son.”

“
But why? Why not take Lawrence to the authorities? Why were they after the boy? Why did they kill all those children?”

“
I think you will understand when you meet Lawrence.” He stood and presented his hand to me.

I stayed put. “Wait a minute. You said you’ve looked for the killers for years - you just mentioned a position of some kind.”

“
I’m an enforcer for the ruling House.” His hand went to the nape of his neck. “The tattoo identifies me as such. Rules govern those of us who live among you and my job is to ensure they are adhered to.” His eyes went steely. “I failed miserable with the children.” Then he took my hand and hauled me upright.

“
And you gotta explain this House thing,” I said as he led me to the curtain. He held it aside and preceded me up the steps.

At the top of the staircase, we emerged in Gorge’s apartment, into a small square hall with doors front and to the sides. A small Oriental rug lay on the floor and a large, tasteful but nonetheless artificial plant in a brown ceramic pot sat on the floor beside the facing door. Gorge waited in the open doorway.

I followed him into the living room, but I barely notice the decor. I was transfixed by the sight of a small, beautiful brown-haired boy sitting on a chaise lounge, his bright eyes lighting up at sight of Gorge.

A little boy with sparkling eyes and pointed teeth.

His gaze switched to me, and his smile widened. In something of a daze, I went over and knelt at his feet, looking up at him. His smile wavered as I continued to stare.

I couldn’t come up with anything cheerful or reassuring to say to a child who just lost his mother.
He’s just a little boy
, I told myself, yet something old looked out of his eyes.

I cleared my throat. “Lawrence, do you understand what happened to your mom?”

“
Yes. She died, so Gorge is looking after me,” he said in a high, sweet voice. He looked to where Gorge and Royal stood. Gorge gave him an encouraging nod. “We’re going to live in Bel-Athaer, with my family.”

“
No no no,” Gorge chastised gently. “
You
are going to Bel-Athaer. You’ll love it.”

Lawrence’s little shoulders straightened. He said, his tone cool, “Gorge is coming with me.”

Gorge wrung his hands together. “I’m gratified by the honor, Lord Lawrence, but my business won’t run itself,” he said rather condescendingly.

“
But I want you to come.”

“
I am sorry, but it’s not possible. Perhaps - “

“
You
will
come,” Lawrence said in a deeper tone as his eyes darkened.

Startled, I went back on my heels, with the conviction Lawrence was no helpless child. Gorge called him Lord - he was an important person in the land of Bel-Athaer. I recalled Father Robert’s words, about Lawrence’s following at school, how the other kids seemed drawn to him. A Lord, who already had a Court of willing little human children; who was already accustomed to being obeyed.

Gorge knew it too. Looking panicked, he fluttered his fingers in the air. “But my Lord, I am banished!”

“
I’ve decided you’re not,” Lawrence said.

Gorge went to a glass-fronted bookcase. He chose a large, heavy book and showed me the spine as he went back to the bedroom. “He wants a bedtime story,” he said with a roll of his eyes.
The Tales of the Brothers Grimm.

I stood with my back to the window overlooking Eccles Avenue, arms folded over my chest. Royal faced me from the other side of the room. I think my expression said I’d had enough of mystery and vague words. I wanted answers.

He went to a chaise lounge upholstered in pale-blue silk. “Come here, Tiff. Please.”

I joined him. We sat side by side. I heard the low, rhythmic burr of Gorge’s voice from the bedroom, then he fell silent. Gorge crept into the living room and eased the bedroom door closed. “Fast asleep. The poor mite is exhausted.”

“
Is that any way to address your master?” Royal said.

Gorge’s mouth popped open, then he realized Royal teased him and flapped an admonishing hand.

“
So you were banished from Bel-Athaer?” I asked him.

“
Royal’s father exiled me for a
teensy
misdemeanor.”

Royal snorted.

Gorge glared at him. “A
misdemeanor
,” he insisted. He crossed one leg over the other and laid his wrist on his knee. “Anyway, I prefer life here.” His expression twisted and he slumped. “I like it here,” he said plaintively.

“
It will not be so bad,” Royal said. “Think of all the attention you will receive at court as the High Lord’s favorite.”

High
Lord
?
That definitely sounded important.

“
That’s what I’m afraid of. I remember life at court all too well,” said Gorge disconsolately.

I sprang to my feet. “Okay! Enough! You two tell me
everything
, from the beginning.”

“
I’m not saying a word,” from Gorge.

“
You will be more comfortable here,” Royal said, patting the chaise lounge. “Please.”

So I sat again, rather heavily. Gorge winced as my backside hit the piece of antique furniture.

“
I need to go back in time to explain what happened,” Royal began. “The High Lady was assassinated fifty years ago, and - “

“
High Lady?”

“
Think Queen,” Gorge mouthed.

“
Explain please,” I said tersely.

Royal’s hand came down on mine and the warmth of his skin, well, it made me feel somewhat better. “The peoples of Bel-Athaer belong to what we call Houses, which I suppose are comparable to small nations. There are between five and six hundred at present. Each of these domains is overseen by a ruling Lord or Lady and they in turn answer to the High Lord, or High Lady. The titles are hereditary.”

“
Like in medieval Europe?”

“
Hereditary inheritance is a tradition still followed by countries in your world.”

“
It’s when some power-hungry asshole way back when decided he had a god-given right to rule, and wanted to keep it in the family.”

He grinned. “Whatever. Whoever we are, we cling to tradition.” His smile blinked out. “The High Lady was assassinated fifty years ago and since then we have warred among ourselves. Without her ruling hand, Bel-Athaer dissolved into chaos. Lacking a High ruler, House fought House for land, for power, for wealth. Many Houses were overcome and amalgamated with the victor’s. Fifty years, Tiff. Fifty years of war.”

His eyes took on a faraway look. I wondered if he fought in those wars, if he killed, if he lost family or friends.

He continued: “We clung to one hope: the Heir would return. When the High Lady died, we learned of a plot to kill him and his family, so we brought them here. They went underground, so deep underground they went off our radar. Lawrence is the heir’s grandson, ruler by right of blood and power, the High Lord.”

I tried to absorb that. Little Lawrence, a child, was supposed to rule an entire warmongering race? It didn’t seem possible.

“
Lawrence will assume his position. He will be trained and advised. When he gains his full power, he will bend every Lord and Lady in Bel-Athaer to his will. He will bring peace.”

I looked at Gorge. “You weren’t just Lindy’s friend, were you.”

He dropped his chin, looking at his hands. “I knew about Lawrence the first time he and Lindy came in the Emporium. But Bel-Athaer is forbidden me, I couldn’t go back, or contact the High House. So I kept my eye on them. I knew someone would eventually come after Lawrence. I hoped his House would find him, but I knew others would be searching.”

“
To kill him.”

Gorge nodded glumly.

“
Not only did I fail the High House, my family were traitors,” Royal said. “They murdered hundreds of innocent half-human, half-Gelpha children because one of them could, possibly, be the new Heir.”

“
His Lordship does not blame you for what your brother did,” Gorge said.

“
He knows?” I asked.

“
He knows,” Gorge confirmed.

“
Did Lindy know, about Lawrence’s father?”

Royal shook his head as he answered me. “One of her forebears had Gelpha blood in his veins. It was weak in her, but allowed her to carry the High Lord’s bloodline.”

I stiffened my spine and eyed him narrowly. “So what was she, a broodmare?”

“
Lindy called him a one-night-stand and said he captivated her the moment she saw him. She couldn’t resist him,” Gorge said, looking abashed.

I knew what he implied. Lawrence’s father used his power on Lindy. She thought she loved him, maybe she did, but not of her own free will.

Gorge saw my downturned mouth. “I’m sorry, Miss Banks. He must have had his reasons. We don’t know what happened to his father and mother, why he didn’t come out of hiding, or return to Bel-Athaer. For motives unknown to us, he sired a child and disappeared again. He couldn’t stay with Lindy and risk leading his enemies to his son. And Lindy loved Lawrence with all her heart. She didn’t regret … anything.”

He didn’t know that. I imagined Lindy pining for a man who would never return, looking at her son and seeing the father’s face. Then I had a thought. “How did your people know about Lawrence?”

I thought I saw reluctance on Royal’s face, followed by resignation. “Every House has a Seer,” he said, again using capital letters. “Every one of them shared the same vision six years ago. On November 9
^th
, 2002, somewhere in your world, an heir was born.”

“
Seer as in wise man,” I scoffed. “And you call yourself a modern society?”

“
Take care how you speak of them, Tiff,” Gorge said in an almost-whisper. “They are very powerful.”

“
I hardly think they’ll hear me. So these Seers predicted the birth, and every House knew about it.”

“
They sent their people to find him, some to welcome him home, others to kill him,” Royal said, absolutely
not
amused.

“
They abducted the boys or killed them outright,” said Gorge.

“
Like Charlie Geary,” I said sadly. “So they are dead, all of them.”

Royal leaned on my shoulder. “All part-Gelpha male children. Once they saw the assassins, they couldn’t be allowed to live to identify their killers.”