Satan's Sword (Imp Book 2) (6 page)

Wyatt looked at me quizzically. “Don’t you have enough animals already?”

“It’s for a project,” I told him.

“Just go to PetSmart and pick one up.”

I squirmed. “They won’t allow me in PetSmart anymore. Boomer was not very well behaved the last time we were there.” I liked to blame it on Boomer. He made a good fall guy.

“Okay. Let’s see if there’s anywhere on the east coast you haven’t been banned from.”

Wyatt waved his fingers around the tablet’s screen. “There’s a place in Frederick with a nice African Grey. It knows eight words and is a steal at two thousand, although I see you as more of a raptor kind of girl. Maybe a falcon?”

“It doesn’t need to talk, just breathe. Actually I want a canary,” I decided. The miners always seemed to have used canaries and I didn’t want to take a chance that this was a species specific kind of skill.

“How about love birds? Or doves? There are a ton of places that have doves. It’s all the rage to set a bunch of them free at weddings.”

“No, it’s gotta be a canary.”

There were no canaries to be had in Frederick except for the ones at the forbidden PetSmart, but Wyatt worked his magic and found a pet store in Glen Burnie with one.

“Do you want to go pick it up?” he asked.

I had no desire to drive to Glen Burnie so I asked him to have it delivered to my house.

“Is this canary destined to be stuffed in a bug zapper?” Wyatt asked, referring to a mouse incident this past summer.

“No, although I need it for a project.” I thought for a moment. “Maybe I should get a few. Just in case things go terribly wrong.”

Wyatt shook his head. “They only have the one. There’s a place in Northern Virginia that has a few. I can have them ship one, but I’m not sure how fast it will get here.”

I mulled the situation over. If this canary died, there was no way I was going through that gate. Maybe I’d hold off on the others until I saw what happened with one. I really didn’t want to get stuck with them, and I was pretty certain that a dozen mangled, dead birds wouldn’t reveal any more than one.

“Nah, let’s just see what happens with this one first,” I told Wyatt. It was a testament to the strength of our relationship that he didn’t pester me about what the bird was for, or lecture me about torturing, and probably killing, cute, defenseless animals.

I snagged a hot wing and munched on it wondering if the buffalo sauce would be good on canary. I’d failed in my attempt to master the Sharpsburg gate today, and although the rest of my day had been wonderful, that hung over my head like a black cloud. Maybe if I tried something else I’d been working on it would cheer me up.

Looking around the bar, I thought of hot wings. I envisioned the smell, the taste, and the bite of the sauce, the texture of the crunchy, spicy skin and hot juicy meat, and the orange color. I bundled the whole experience together and sent it out into the room, pushing it gently into everyone’s minds.
Want. Want. Want.
Then I waited.

Now, how to gauge my success? I watched the waitresses bustle around and began to count the hot wing baskets coming out of the kitchen. It was no use. I was sure I’d missed some, and I couldn’t tell what the hell was on those big trays of food.

“Wyatt? Can we find out how many hot wing orders have been requested in the last twenty minutes?”

Brenda laughed when he asked her. “Is this a prank? We ran out of the things. I’ll tell you almost everyone in the place ordered them, although some tables placed one order to share among themselves. There were only three people who didn’t order them.”

“Sam, what did you do?” Wyatt looked amused. “Is that the compulsion thing you were telling me about?”

“No, it’s just a suggestion.” I wished I could do compulsion. “We can influence people to do stuff that they want to do anyway, but we can’t really compel people. Angels can, but we can’t. Evidently I can make people want to eat hot wings. Nice skill, huh?”

“Well, it certainly has the potential for more fun than the water ball thingy,” he said.

I agreed.

“Is this what the canary is for?” Wyatt asked. “Are you going to practice a kind of suggestion involving yellow birds?”

“No, that’s for something different.”

I thought about the gate again and a shiver ran through me. I had a feeling, deep in my core, that I wasn’t supposed to go through there. I was determined to learn how to create gates though. I’d had success with the water globes and with the suggestion just now. I knew I could do this, too, if I just squashed my fear and kept at it. Still, I was glad to wait a few days until the canary arrived. Procrastination was a good thing.

Chapter 5

T
he next morning, a demon arrived with the dreaded breeding petitions. I hadn’t seen her in centuries, but I immediately recognized the courier as my foster sister. I hadn’t spent much time with her in my childhood. Leethu had left our sibling group when I was only about fifty. She’d been the eldest of our group, and, as a Succubus, had needed to leave right at puberty for specialized training. I looked her over with curiosity and longing. She’d assumed the form of an Asian woman, Thai if I guessed correctly. It was beautifully done, and well chosen, with gorgeous dark eyes, a glistening curtain of black hair to her waist, and tawny skin. The real draw was beyond the flesh though. Succubi put out amazing pheromones, enough to overwhelm gender preferences and prejudices. Leethu was one of the best, enthralling her chosen prey but keeping them slightly at a distance and under her control. It was a skill few succubi mastered.

“Leethu.” I was delighted to see her. “Did you have any trouble with the gate guardians?”

I reached forward and kissed her gently on the chin; the traditional greeting for a younger sister to give an older one. Succubi were very fragile compared to other demons, so I could hardly welcome her like I would Dar or one of my other siblings.

“Ni-ni,” she said, calling me by my childhood nickname. I felt a tingle race through my skin at her smile. “I can’t stay. I just had to see you. There have been such rumors. Are you really social with that disgusting gate guardian?”

I took the packet of petitions from her and plopped them on the dining room table.

“We have an understanding,” I replied. “It’s not like I have her on speed dial or anything. How long are you on vacation?”

Leethu looked nervous. Succubi couldn’t stay very long without attracting notice, but she had good control. She was less likely than most to cause a mass orgy.

“Not long. I just need to clear up a few quick things and then I’m back home.”

“Have you heard anything about what’s going on with Dar and Haagenti?” Succubi knew all the gossip. “He’s trying to drag me into the middle of it, and I’m sure he’s not telling me everything.”

Leethu looked a bit startled. “Dar is always in trouble with someone. It’s no more than usual, but I got the impression Haagenti was interested in you. It’s not just the gate guardian, Ni-ni, there are rumors that you are doing crazy things here and getting away with it.”

Great. I’d help Dar this once, but no more after that. I was not getting messed up with that jerk Haagenti.

“It was good seeing you.” She kissed me on my forehead before turning to leave. Lust streaked through me and ached deep between my thighs. I wished she could stay.

“You too,” I told her and closed the door with regret.

I spread the petitions out on my dining room table and was amused to see that the Steward had sectioned them off and ranked them according to perceived value.

The first stack held four petitions that the Steward felt were my top contenders. I glanced at the first one in the pile and about choked on my coffee. Ahriman. Holy fuck, Ahriman. I didn’t even realize he knew I existed. Haagenti was dog crap compared to this guy. Ahriman was one of the top five in the hierarchy. He was one of the few living who’d been around at the time of the fall. One of the oldest of our kind still alive. There had been rumors that he would become the Iblis after the war, but nothing had come of it. He had amazing power and loved nothing more than destruction and inciting humans to war. Why in all of Hel had he set his sights on me? I was still just an Imp, a little cockroach. When it came to sheer raw power like Ahriman’s, I was a speck of dust. Fuck, I’d never met him. I didn’t even know what he looked like, what his favorite form was.

Unsettled, I looked at the rest of the petitions. The other three on the short list were flattering. Salvor was very high up the ladder, just under Haagenti’s level, there was one of the Rhyx, and a well-known Succubus. Oooo, the Succubus would be fun!

The next pile was considerably larger and included those within a level or so of mine. Dar’s was in there, as always. He had embellished his petition with cute little drawings of what appeared to be a mongoose chewing on hearts. Such the romantic. He’d been persistent in his petition since my age of adulthood and I felt like I should afford him consideration because of his loyalty and our long relationship. Plus he was a known entity. I knew his strengths and weaknesses and had a good idea of what type of offspring we’d produce. It wasn’t like I needed to breed with him to solidify our relationship though. He was forward enough with me as it was.

The last pile were those below me that the Steward thought might be of interest. I glanced through them, but didn’t see anything that stood out. Honestly, after seeing Ahriman’s petition, I could think of little else.

I pulled it off the stack. Ahriman. Well, at least I wouldn’t be as likely to kill him during the breeding process. He was probably the only one in the whole stack I could say that about with a high degree of confidence. Running a finger down the parchment, I read the petition carefully. From someone of his stature, I’d expected just a cut and dry offer. The benefit to me would be in the association alone, so the petition should be rather short and to the point without additional bribes or fringe benefits. It was rather stark, but I was surprised to see a consort clause. Basically, he would fold me and my small household under the protection of his status and I would grant him exclusive breeding rights for the next two thousand years.

I stared at the skin parchment. Why would he want exclusivity? If he thought I was going to go around spitting out offspring with every Tom, Dick, and Harriet, then why bother to petition me? And even more troublesome was the rolling in of myself and my household under his. This would propel us so fast up the hierarchy we’d all have whiplash. Why? There was no obligation to do that. How would that benefit him in any way? Because, in all honesty, if there was no benefit to him, then it wouldn’t be on the table. Ahriman wasn’t one to give away anything frivolously.

I called my Steward.

“Ahriman?” I asked before he even had time to greet me. “What the fuck is up with that?”

“Oh Baal,” he gushed. “I cannot believe the honor! You should return immediately and accept the petition.”

“Why? What on earth would he gain from this association with me? “

“No idea. Maybe it was a mistake? You should return and sign the contract before he changes his mind and withdraws the offer.”

Wow. Flattering. At least he was honest. I hung up without further comment and called Dar.

“You have the artifact?” he answered eagerly. “I’ll be over right away.”

“No, you idiot,” I replied before he could hang up and appear on my doorstep. “I don’t even meet them for another six days. Can’t you keep track of a calendar? I called because I need to know if there is any buzz about me. Any rumors. Anything really odd or notable.”

Did Ahriman somehow know about the brand? Was there some advantage he’d gain in breeding with a bound demon? Some way to control Gregory through me? I wished I knew what the fuck this brand actually did.

“You mean the gate thing?” Dar asked.

“No. Someone high up has petitioned me with exclusive breeding rights. I find myself wondering why.”

I kept the details from Dar, and especially didn’t let him know about the consort clause. Dar was like a brother to me, but he’d sell me out in a heartbeat for the right price. As I would him.

There was a lengthy pause. “There was a rumor that you were bound, but no one believes it since the angels no longer bind us and all of the sorcerers are on this side of the gates.”

I
was
bound, although it didn’t seem to work very well. I still didn’t see what a bound demon would have to offer someone like Ahriman. Maybe Ahriman wanted someone loyal to him who could come and go across the lines as she pleased and do his activities without fear of retribution? Of course, even though Gregory seemed to be giving me latitude on the little stuff I’d done, I think he’d probably smack my head off if I provoked a developing nation into a nuclear attack.

“Mal? Is this true?” Dar asked in almost a whisper.

“No,” I lied. “Absolutely not.”

I’m a terrible liar, but Dar was always a bit blind when it came to me. Thankfully he seemed to take me at my word. I really didn’t want to reveal to Dar that I was bound. It was all too fantastic and unbelievable. That I had a weird, obsessive relationship with a powerful angel. That I missed him terribly and desperately wanted to see him again. That he may show up any minute and kill me. Dar would never believe me. I wasn’t sure I believed it myself.

“Mal, be careful. Maybe you should come back home,” Dar said with uncharacteristic concern. “As soon as you get the artifact for me.” So much for the concern.

I hung up after assuring him once again I’d call him the moment I got back on Saturday, and straightened the breeding petitions in a nice, neat pile.

Chapter 6

T
he rest of the week went uneventfully. Well, by my standards anyway. My canary arrived and promptly died. I’ve been through four of them so far and haven’t been able to keep them alive long enough to take them out to the gate in Sharpsburg. They are stupidly fragile and drop dead if you use any mean on them at all, try to feed them dog food, or squeeze them too tight. I’m running out of local pet shops, and Wyatt is getting tired of begging them to ship me yellow canaries. Hopefully, the next one would live long enough for my purpose.