Demon's Dream

At that moment, I sent energy toward the last of the brains, blowing it to bits. Everyone was knocked to the ground by the explosion. I went to my knees, it was so powerful. Dantel Schuul screamed at the slaves there, ordering them to attack after the last of his Greater Demons had died. The images died too, when everything in the Alliances went into massive blackouts.

"The ASD arrived shortly after that, but if it hadn't been for that woman, we'd have been killed or sold. I don't think we would have lived long," the first girl said as the others sobbed. "So many died that night. If that poor woman needs therapy now, I can certainly understand. We've been in treatment since the ASD brought us home."

"I thank you all for your willingness to talk with me tonight," Hild Marolla said. "And now, we go to another recorded interview." The images changed. I was shocked. Jayd walked through the Kifirini gishi fruit groves with Hild Marolla. "You're telling me that you're High Demon." Hild Marolla said.

"Yes. I am Jaydevik Rath, King of the High Demon world of Kifirin," he replied, smiling slightly.

"And you know Reah Desh Nilvas Silver."

"Yes. Females among our kind are extremely rare. Rarer, even, than female vampires. Their numbers are certainly greater at the moment. Reah has been instrumental in bringing Kifirin back from the brink of bankruptcy the past twenty-five turns. These groves she planted for the benefit of the Crown. As you can see, these are gishi fruit trees."

"But I heard Reah was an operative for the ASD," Hild Marolla remarked.

"She was, before her first set of twins were born. Now, three sets of twins later, all girls I might add, she works special projects for the ASD. All of those things she said to the doctor are quite true. Reah doesn't lie. I find that nurse's actions reprehensible, and I would be glad to extradite her to Kifirin, where she will be charged with crimes against a citizen," Jayd said. "Reah will never be able to work undercover for the ASD again, since that program revealed her identity. I find that unusual in the extreme. Have they explained why that happened? I'd prefer to bring charges against that network as well, if I could."

The image changed again, to Norian's office at Lissa's palace. Norian sat behind his desk, dressed in his ASD uniform.

"Director, thank you for taking the time to speak with me," Hild Marolla said.

"I feel it is the least I can do. Reah deserves much better than she's received, don't you think? Dantel Schuul, his daughter and the others who were determined to enslave both Alliances, brought down by my best operative, who is then ridiculed in exchange because she requires a bit of therapy? What would you do, sir, if you were violated and made ill, and then were forced to fight off hundreds in order to keep seventy women and both Alliances safe? If she hadn't acted as she did, where do you think we'd be right now?"

"Is she truly married to Teeg San Gerxon? I ask you that because you are in a position to know."

"Of course Reah is Teeg's wife. Has been for more than twenty-five turns. Both Alliances recognize multiple mates. Reah's daughters are all High Demon, but as you heard in the vids released by that awful program, she is pregnant again. This child belongs to Teeg San Gerxon, and he is justifiably angry that his wife was treated in this manner. As are we. As King Jayd aptly stated, Reah's cover is now gone. Our best operative will no longer be able to work undercover for us. Both Alliances will suffer because of this, but you haven't seen everything yet, Mr. Marolla. I have vid images here that will greatly interest you. Reah, in that state you witnessed as she guarded women and protected the Alliances, can also do wondrous things. To our knowledge, she is the only creature besides the Larentii who can bring dying worlds back to life. This one I especially want to show to you. Watch." Norian flipped on the vid-screen behind his desk. I whimpered as I recognized where I'd been in that vid. Xordthe.

"Here are the records, and these are available through the Science Institute on Xordthe, of the dying core twenty-six turns ago. The ASD knew that Zellar had tapped into it, but that information wasn't shared since Xordthe wasn't a member of the Campiaan Alliance at the time. This predates the Campiaan Alliance by several moon-turns, actually. Now, watch this. You see Teeg San Gerxon there—he is tracking one of Zellar's trainees. Zellar taught several how to tap cores of planets in order to enhance their power. The other men are two of San Gerxon's bodyguards. And this," the camera moved, capturing me, sitting on the ground and glowing in full Thifilatha, "is Reah, who is repairing the core with her own power. I have readings, before and after, for every world where Reah has repaired the core. These include Tulgalan, Karathia, Bardelus, Mazareal, Campiaa, Cloudsong, Thiskil, Xordthe, Shillverr and Roorthi. All the information is provided on this comp-vid and is available on each of those worlds except Cloudsong and Thiskil, because Reah repaired those after the populations had ceased to exist. Those worlds lie as a warning to the others of what might have happened to them if Reah hadn't intervened. And just so everyone knows, Reah did those repairs on her own time. She was never compensated for any of it."

"Is it possible to speak with her?" Hild Marolla sounded breathless as he flipped through record after record on the comp-vid Norian had given him.

"I don't think she is willing at this point. We sold her out, did we not? I know where she is, but her mates are protecting her, as you might imagine. We thought she was safe when we placed her in Sea Winds. That turned out badly, as you well know. The Director has resigned, leaving the clinic under an interim Director."

"What will happen to Reah now?" Hild Marolla asked.

"I don't know," Norian sighed, looking away for a moment. "She has suffered trauma in this last assignment, and there are those who are attempting to help her overcome it. I do not know what the final outcome will be."

"Is she dangerous? To anyone?"

"If you are a danger to others, or to the Alliance, perhaps. You see that Ceerah Kade is still alive, although Reah could have come after her at any time. Reah, as ASD, could use any resource to locate anyone. Ceerah should be relieved that Reah has such high principles and a respect for life."

"So, all those things she said were true," Hild Marolla said.

"Yes. Every one of them," Norian agreed.

"She really isn't insane."

"No. Troubled over the trauma and illness from her last assignment, but certainly not insane. If she were here before you now, you would see that she isn't dangerous or, as the other network put it, crazy."

The image shifted back to the present, with Hild Marolla sitting behind his desk. "Shall we believe one with multiple identities who has sold drugs time and again, or one whose story is backed by the founding member of the Reth Alliance, firsthand eyewitnesses and the Director of the ASD? Shall we ask that a devoted husband step down from his position with the Campiaan Alliance, when his wife has helped to form that Alliance and keep it safe? Or shall we listen to a handful of bureaucrats who only seek to protect or further their political careers? I know what my decision is. What will yours be? Good night and sleep well," Hild Marolla said.

"I won't ever be able to walk anywhere again, without being recognized," I sighed. Everyone had likely seen my image. If not tonight, they'd see it tomorrow or the day after. And what would happen to Teeg? I shook my head and rose from my seat.

"Reah, do you need something?" Kevis was suddenly there, reaching out a hand.

"I feel dizzy," I said.

"Baby, don't pass out on me," Teeg was right there with Kevis. I wobbled; Teeg lifted me in his arms. "Let's go to the kitchen and get something to drink," he said softly. I fainted on the way.

Chapter 10

Vampires lean over their mates when they sleep. That act provides protection for those they love. It is instinctual to cover their mate as much as possible, because vampires are vulnerable during the day. Gavril had explained it to me once, long ago. Aurelius did it. Teeg also. I knew that one of my vampires was in the bed with me when I woke. His body was huddled over mine, careful not to place any weight on it.

"Awake?" Teeg's voice.

"Mmm," I mumbled. Queasiness made its presence known. Teeg had me out of the bed and in the adjoining bathroom in a blink. He must have sent mindspeech; at least half a dozen people appeared, including Kevis, Lok, Aurelius and Edward.

"Breathe slowly, Reah," Kevis had my head as low as it would go. My face was washed when I stopped heaving and I was hauled straight to the kitchen and given something to drink.

"Better?" Aurelius held me on his lap, brushing hair away from my face as I drank the juice I'd been given. A bowl of hot cereal was placed in front of me next, with fruit and brown sugar mixed in.

"Here we go," Auri held my hand steady when it shook trying to get the spoon to my mouth.

"I'll get my people started on ice cream and be right back," Edward said. There wasn't any way I could do it, feeling as badly as I did. Teeg got a communication on his comp-vid, so he stepped out of the kitchen to take the call. Lendill showed up and accepted a cup of coffee while he watched me eat. All of them were watching me eat.

Plates of food appeared for them shortly after, and Edward came back, sitting down and eating with the rest. Edward's four supervisors also came in for a meeting. Keedan grinned at me while he had breakfast. Edward and his supervisors talked about spraying the groves after the harvest.

"Insects are afraid of High Demons in Thifilatha or Thifilathi, that's how I kept Kifirin's groves naturally insect-free," I said after eating as much of my breakfast as I could. Aurelius was rubbing my belly absently while he listened to the others.

"Really?" Keedan gave me a smile.

"Are you teasing me or questioning my methods?" I asked.

"Both," he said. "Little girl, I'm living for the day when you show me what I saw last night on the vids."