Dark Forsaken (The Devil's Assistant Book 3) (17 page)

Chapter 23

My eyes were the first to pop open, but each of the quads quickly followed suit. Stiffly, I stood from my crumpled position on the floor, but I was calm—we all were now.

“What the hell was that?” I asked.

“Cinnamon sang us a damn lullaby,” Sage answered. “You know, the Sleeping Beauty variety.”

“Please tell me you’re joking,” I said, glancing around to see if anything looked different—you know, the kind of different that one hundred years of sleep might bring—but everything looked the same.

“No, he’s not,” Mace said, “but luckily for us she fell asleep before she could finish the spell.” He glanced at his phone. “It’s been about ten minutes.”

Cinnamon didn’t look apologetic. “One of us had to do something. I’ll admit I was surprised that it affected all of us. I’ll bear that in mind for the future.”

“Can we talk about the names now?” Sorrel asked.

It was bad enough that we’d all been connected so completely that we could mind-speak and feel each other’s emotions and pains. But holy hell, did they have to get access to all my powers, too? Sorrel—and I was sure that meant all of them—had perceived Death’s names. Nothing about this was good. I nervously rubbed my arm, remembering the sting from Gizelle’s summons. At least she didn’t have enough juice to transport me to her location, but I doubted she’d give up that easily.

First things first, the quads had to keep quiet about the names. “None of you will ever tell
anyone
about knowing Death’s names.”

Mace’s lip curled up. He’d already guessed most of my secrets anyway, but this was different. This information couldn’t get out.

“If anyone finds out,” I warned, “we’ll all be dead. The big three have no idea I took this power from Raven when I killed her and they can
never
know.”

Cinnamon crossed her arms over her chest. “Interesting. That’s sort of like what Sage did with Sorrel. Was it your intent to gain her power when you killed her? Is that why you want Sydney?”

“No, I had no idea that would happen. And no one is killing Sydney.”

“How do they not know you have her power?” Sage asked.

“I didn’t know it was possible,” Cinnamon said, as if that meant anything.

Sage just nodded.

Narrowing my eyes, I asked, “Why does that matter?”

“Cin is the scholar among us,” Mace said without using air quotes or anything.

“Okay, whatever, but just to be clear, don’t call anyone by their name unless you already know it and don’t use their full name. This cannot get out.”

Sorrel was thinking I was overreacting, but tried to close his mind to me when I stared at him. Mace just smiled, which meant he already had better control than Sorrel with shielding his thoughts. Cinnamon’s expression seemed to indicate she was considering how best to use the ability, and Sage was projecting quite loudly that he had every intention of using the ability when needed. He too tried to silence his thoughts when he realized I was listening.

I had to take control of this situation. While it seemed we all shared an equal link to my powers, there had to be some advantage to being the source. With a flick of my wrist, I created reverse protection spells and suspended the four in the air as I had in Purgatory last summer.

“You’ll swear or I’ll leave you in these protection bubbles until you do.”

You wouldn’t
, Mace thought.

I cocked one of my eyebrows. “Try me.”

Sage hit at the unbreakable sphere. It was possible they might eventually figure out how to escape, but I was willing to bet they wouldn’t want to waste time trying different options. Cinnamon looked at me, which was when I realized that they were probably listening to my thoughts.

The blood vine flared as I imagined a mental wall between the quads and myself. I wasn’t sure that would keep them out of my thoughts, but I had to try.

“I could always just ship you off to the fourth realm.” Of course, that was a hollow threat. Paradise wasn’t letting descendants return and I couldn’t even get to the fourth realm, so the odds were good I wouldn’t be able to banish them there, but they didn’t need to know that.

Sorrel was the first to speak. “I pledge to not willingly give the information of your name gift to anyone. I will not tell them I have this ability or that you or my siblings have the ability.”

I nodded at Sorrel. He’d lived with me long enough to know when I was serious and the blood vine I’d activated to keep them out of my thoughts was probably a good indicator I’d reached one of my limits.

Sage cracked next, then Cinnamon. Mace was the final hold-out and he pledged through clenched teeth. I calmed the power at my core and the vine disappeared, but I tried to keep the metal barrier up so that random thoughts weren’t shared.

“Good, now—” My words were cut off by a knock on the door.

The blacksmith
, Mace mind-spoke.
What is she doing here
?

I shrugged. The last time I’d seen Lady Isla of Woodhall, she’d been stuck in the fourth realm with everyone else. How she got out and what she was doing here now, I had no clue.

She can’t be trusted
, Mace said.

I looked at him, one eyebrow raised. “I don’t trust anyone.” Based on the day’s events with Jack, the odds were good I never would again.

Cinnamon nodded. In complete seriousness, she thought,
Smart
.

I turned toward the door. The quads stood on either side of me, as if they were the royal guard.
Would wonders never cease
?

Claire, darling
, Cinnamon said,
never let them know how you really feel
.

I held back from rolling my eyes at her. Instead, I thought,
Sarcasm
.

No shit, but I meant we shouldn’t show any discord among us. You know, unified front and all
.

Another knock reminded me what we were doing. Looking to my right and left, I realized this wasn’t a line many would cross. They were all stronger together. Even with our magic connected, there was still something more potent when they willingly allied forces. The power they held alone was intense, but together, their auras felt as hot as the sun.

Once we were all settled, I opened the door with my will.

Isla looked the same as she had the last time I saw her. The only difference was her all-natural multi-hued hair had been pulled back into a tight bun, highlighting her mismatched blue and red eyes. Her outfit, which consisted mostly of riding leathers, looked a bit out of place. Maybe it was just that everything appeared new. Nothing was worn or well used. I half expected her to creak as she walked.

“Isla,” I said in greeting.

She bent low at the waist. “My queen.”

I saw her eyes dart between the quads as she rose from her bow.
I wonder what she thinks
.

She’s trying to decide if she can lie to me
, Mace said.

I had to clear my throat to keep from laughing. This was the first time I’d been on this side of Mace’s truth detector.

“Please ignore my guards. Why are you here?” I asked, as if me standing there with the quads was an everyday occurrence.

She inclined her head slightly. “Omar sent me.”

Omar of Legend?
Cinnamon asked.

The one and only
. “Why didn’t he come himself?” I asked Isla.

“As you know, there was no way out originally, however, we have since constructed a portal. Unfortunately, no one fully aligned with Fallen may use it. The realm is isolated.”

Truth
, Mace said.

“How did you escape?” I asked.

Isla glanced at Mace, then back to me. “As you may or may not know, I am a child of all realms, yet not a true inhabitant of any realm.”

Truth
, Mace confirmed.

“My loyalty is with you, of course,” she said hastily.

Lie
.

“Why did Omar send you?” I asked.

“He lost track of you. Well, he lost the ability to see your future. That is all he would tell me.”

True
, Mace said.

“What did he expect you to do?” I asked.

Gizelle’s mark flared. Cinnamon sucked in a breath, grabbing her arm.

“She is summoning you,” Sorrel said.

The blacksmith looked confused.

“He doesn’t mean you,” I said and then asked again. “What did Omar expect you to do?”
Gizelle can wait
, I silently told the others.

Isla looked again at the quads. “He expected me to protect you, but it doesn’t look like you need the help.”

Lie
, Mace said.

I wasn’t surprised when her pledge of loyalty turned out to be a lie, but why would she hide the reason Omar had sent her?

Perhaps he didn’t send her
, Cinnamon thought.

“Why are you really here?” I asked, calling her out.

“Is it true?” Isla asked. “Has the son returned?”

I dropped my eyebrows into a hard line. “Who?”

Her lip turned up on one side. “The Prince of Fallen. Jayne’s son has returned.”

Truth
.

Chapter 24

Studying the blacksmith more closely, I realized what bothered me about her outfit. It was made of leather and wasn’t simple fatigues, but she reminded me of one of the ninjas, a Black Heart. “I suppose you think he’s the true ruler?” I asked.

Isla shrugged.

“You’ll learn nothing from me. Go, before I change my mind.”

She inclined her head. I opened the door with my will. She retreated without taking her eyes off me.

“You should have killed her,” Mace said.

“Why? Are you worried she’ll double-cross me?”

“She’d double-cross anyone,” he said.

“I know. She’s a mercenary. She’ll cut and run at the first sign of failure, or maybe we’ll buy her off. The devil you know, and all that.”

Sage chuckled.

“I would have killed her,” Mace groused.

“Yes, Mace, which is why you’re the guard and I’m the queen.”

Sage and Sorrel both snorted this time. Cinnamon turned away so as not to show her smile. I could feel the humor rolling off all of them except Mace. He was annoyed. Then Gizelle’s summon ratcheted up a notch, which irritated everyone.

After another sharp poke, Sorrel said, “Please do something about this.” He pointed at the place on his arm where Gizelle had put her reminder on me.

I supposed it was time to see what she wanted. Her constant poking was becoming annoying. “Fine,” I said, then focused my energy on bringing Gizelle here to us. The spell to summon would do the trick. Speaking clearly, I said, “I summon Gizelle.”

The power word rolled off my tongue as an image of Gizelle resonated in my mind. I thought of the reminder she’d left on me as also being a part of her and used it to link with the visual image of the many ways I’d seen her. Through my eyes, the quads also saw the Gizelle from the Roman bath in the Deeps and the one from Underworld with Sorrel. Their memories began filling in the blanks by showing me images of her from their childhood and at various times throughout the past. She resonated within each of us in a different way, but that knowledge allowed us all to call her forth, and she came.

She appeared in a flash. She was mid-chortle until she realized what had happened. Stopping her laugh, Gizelle spun to face us, a drink still in her hand from what had most likely been a fancy cocktail party or museum gala if her dress was any indication. After taking us all in, she sat the glass on the table nearest her and moved to stand before us.

“Yes, my queen,” she said with an emotion I’d never seen on her before: pissed-off fear.

The others agreed. She composed herself quickly and regained her regal composure. Running her hands through her long, strawberry-blond hair, the illusion of the socialite party girl disappeared. She changed into a cutesy sweater set and capris that would be in a magazine advertising fashionable casualwear for the busy mom on the go—but she wasn’t fooling anyone.

I pointed to the place on my arm where Gizelle marked me and where the summon had resonated. “You rang?”

She smiled at her children, but it didn’t seem sincere to me and I wasn’t the only one who didn’t buy it. Her fake countenance was confusing Mace. It turned his already grumpy mood to something more glacial.

“You must find Thanos before it’s too late,” Gizelle said without preamble.

“Too late for what?” I asked, just as Mace thought,
She’s not being truthful
.

The others all glanced toward him and then back at their mother. They were being guarded now.

“He’s in danger,” Gizelle continued cautiously.

“Do you mean from Faith? I told you to keep her away from him.”

“No,” Gizelle said. “This is about what you’re planning. It’s going to fail and my son, my Thanos, will be hurt in the process—killed. Your strategy will fail.” She made eye contact with her children as if trying to reassure them.

Does anyone know what she’s talking about
? Cinnamon asked.

She’s not being truthful
, Mace said, this time with more venom.

I mind-spoke back.
Normally, you just call out that they’re lying, so what gives with the ‘not truthful’ disclaimer
? To Cinnamon I said,
I think she means the strategy to replace the curator, but why she’s bringing that up is beyond me
.

I expected Mace to remind me that I didn’t know what the strategy was, but he just continued to stare at his mother.

I turned my attention back to Gizelle. She was studying us as if trying to solve a puzzle.

Can she tell we’re mind speaking
? I asked.

Cinnamon chuckled, but stopped herself when she realized it would seem like odd behavior.
I think the problem is bigger than that. I don’t think she can see us anymore. We have somehow jumped out of her sight.

Can she not see Thanos either?
Sorrel asked.

Thanos, another dagger in my heart.

Sage had the nerve to say,
You really are shit in that department, aren’t you, Claire
?

Wisps of power crackled at my wrists.
Fuck you,
I thought to Sage before turning my eyes back to Gizelle and squashing the power back down. “The big three think the strategy will work. They approved it. I see no reason Thanos will even be there, so what exactly don’t you like about it?”

“I have seen Thanos die on the stage at the Lux two days from now,” Gizelle said.

“Okay,” I said, adding that detail to my limited knowledge of the strategy. “How?”

Mace’s anger spiked. His rage was palpable. I noticed Gizelle give him a stern look. His pulse rose. He was furious, which was putting me on edge. I tightened my fist to prevent hellfire from forming.

“What is it?” I asked him.

“Something is wrong,” he said and then he thought,
She’s lying
.

Well, can you man up
?
You’re making it hard for me to stay in control
.

He just glared at me. “She never lies to me.”

“Lie? I’m not—” Gizelle tried to protest, but I cut her off.

“He’s never wrong.” Then I remembered what the blacksmith had said. Omar lost the ability to see me. I thought Cinnamon was right: Gizelle’s problem was bigger than her ability to see me. “You can’t see me or the quads, can you? We’re like a black hole to you now. Did you really see Thanos die at the Lux?”

She pursed her lips together, anger clear on her face. “He was there, but he shouldn’t have been there. He was hurt. Then nothing.”

“When did your visions stop?” I asked.

“Less than an hour ago,” she confirmed.

That’s when you kissed Cinnamon and we were all linked
, Sage thought.

“I know.”

“You know what, Claire?” Gizelle asked.

“I can’t fix your problem.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Can’t.”

Gizelle smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

Wisps of energy crackled at my wrists. Mace was still enraged. I glanced back at him, but he was focused on his mother.

What is your problem?
I thought.

She lied to me
, Mace replied.

She lied to Claire
, Sage reminded him.

“I am in the room,” Mace growled at Sage.

Gizelle was trying not to look concerned, but Mace’s attitude and seemingly erratic behavior were making her suspicious.

His almost uncontrollable anger was overwhelming and starting to affect the others. I’d lose control if he didn’t rein it in soon.

Trying my best to ignore the rage, I asked, “What was the last thing you saw about Thanos?”

“I told you. He was hurt. He was with you and Faith at the Lux Hotel,” Gizelle said. “You were in the theater, standing over his prone form with a bloody knife. Faith was laughing like a loon. I saw this moments before it all went dark. Now, I see nothing.”

Was that the truth
? I asked Mace, but he wasn’t focused on me. His rage was blinding him to all but Gizelle.

“Why do you think this means he’ll die? And why would you think I’d intentionally kill him?” I asked Gizelle.

She closed her eyes, steepling her hands and pressing them between her eyes like she was in pain. I saw a tear roll down one cheek. Mace made a low, involuntary growl.

Gizelle either didn’t hear him or ignored his mood. “You saw them together,” Gizelle said as if this were devastating news she was imparting. “The other women. You found out somehow and seek revenge.”

“I …” I began to say that she should have had this vision days ago if that were true, but Mace’s growl rumbled through the room.

“That’s Mab’s doing, of course,” Gizelle continued, as if Mace wasn’t about to explode. “She—”

“Stop,” I said, getting her startled attention. “I wouldn’t kill him for that. Why the hell are you lying?”

Mace’s anger had an almost physical heat to it now. “Yes,” he growled through clenched teeth. “You’re lying.”

Gizelle narrowed her eyes, but tried to smile and wave it off. “I know what I saw.”

I felt the hair on the back of my neck rise. Mace was about to implode and take the rest of us with him. I tightened the hold on my power. Gizelle clearly had no idea what her actions were doing. The vein on the side of Mace’s neck pulsed. He believed nothing she was saying.

Gizelle opened her mouth to speak, but clammed up when Mace took a menacing step in her direction. I grabbed his arm to stop him.
Chill out
.

“I don’t plan to kill Thanos,” I said, bringing Gizelle’s attention back to me, “but you know that.” She appeared pleased—smug. “Why is that? Why can’t I let him go? I know he doesn’t love me. Our bond was severed and he had girls in the wings for God’s sake—it’s clear he’s over me. So why am I still so deeply committed to him?” I hadn’t thought about it like that before, but now that I’d said it out loud, I knew it was true. He was in my heart like no other. Was that a spell or true feelings? Gizelle was certainly trying to use them against me.

“It was Mab, she—”

“Stop,” Mace barked, clearly not believing her lie.

Mab wouldn’t have spelled me with a love for Thanos. She wanted him back without any further encumbrance from me. If I loved him, I’d never let him go.

Gizelle started again. “It was—”

“I said stop,” Mace bellowed, his voice reverberating off the walls.

He was actually offended that she’d dare lie to him, but surely, this wasn’t the first time.

“She’s lying.” Mace’s low tone was scary. His emotional spike was off the charts.

Wisps of power crackled at my wrists. My control was slipping. “Mace,” I said, lightly touching his arm. “Please calm down.”

“Son,” Gizelle said. “You’re mistaken.” She looked back and forth between us, as if searching for the right thing to say, which was when I understood what was happening. She had no insight into their futures. She couldn’t tell him what he needed to hear to believe her. She’d never lied to him because she always knew how to get past his truth detector before.

Mace needed to calm down. I glanced at Cinnamon, but she shrugged. They were no help, but I realized the others were just trying to stay calm as well. Sorrel had his eyes closed as if trying to distance himself from this situation.

“You’re blind,” I said. “So much so that you can’t see the pain you’re causing your son—the one standing in front of you. You’re just looking for a way to placate him. The real truth would be a start. He sees your lies now and, clearly, he doesn’t like it.”

Gizelle’s expression settled into the cold blank mask I’d seen in the Deeps when she jumped me after the bath. She couldn’t care less about Mace or the others—I was sure. Her only concern was for Thanos. It had always been Thanos.

Shrugging as if she agreed with my assessment, she closed her eyes and opened them a moment later. A wild glow of greenish-blue shined brightly within her cold orbs. Cinnamon and Sage tensed in fear. I tried wrapping Gizelle in a protection spell, but she was too quick.

The curse on my arm warmed as she started chanting.

“Winds of change do I call forth, set the plan on its natural course. Perish those who’ve lost their way. Sever ties that bind and sway.”

I screamed as Gizelle’s reminder burned red-hot on my arm. A fiery red glow appeared on the outside of my upper arm where she’d marked me. I stumbled from the pain and fell to one knee as the glow turned into a nasty raised brand. I glanced over when Cinnamon cried out. She was also being burnt by Gizelle’s reminder.

“What is this?” Gizelle shrieked, stepping back from Cinnamon and the twins.

I pushed back to my feet. Sorrel was writhing on the floor, the fiery red glow burning through his shirt. Sage remained on his feet, but the pained look on his face was obvious. Cinnamon’s mark was the easiest to see on her bare arm. It was a circular pattern, intertwined with a latticework of vines. It looked Celtic to my normal sight. I blinked and the overlay of magic flared to life, showing me the swirling black power that burned our flesh. The image of a doe flounced off in the mist of energy as it dissipated.