Aliandra: nymph: Book 1 The Nymph chronicles (22 page)

Ali was in costume and 'ported to the venue to bring in the food and drinks. She 'ported in Riv and Amirael. The demons arrived and she instructed them to carry around plates of food to offer to guests and clear away empty plates and glasses as they go. Ali set up the cocktail bar and they tested it out. It worked perfectly.

Brand arrived dressed in black and looking mean. He approached Ali. "I see you have been losing weight, Ali-cat?" said Brand.

"Only when I drop this fake arm" she grinned.

"May I ask why you asked Hades to come to me and practice his lines?" asked Brand.

"I thought you could be like a method actor and teach him how to look enraged and jealous. You do it so well" she said unrepentantly.

"Where is the boyfriend?" he grimly demanded.

"Lying low until the heat is off" she replied. "Although I doubt anyone would want to date me as a leper."

"You underestimate your appeal" he responded bleakly.

"We are all set, so get ready for show-time!" called out Ali.

Gramma arrived first, then Hephaestus. Ali 'ported in Melian. The guests all started to arrive and Ali 'ported in the food. Apollo and Dionysius arrived together. The costumes were all interesting and the creepy stage was set. Hades and Persephone arrived minutes before Zeus and Hera. When Vidarr arrived wearing the armor it caused a stir and people stared at him in fascination. Ali waved and he wandered over.

"Drinks are at the bar I will come with you, you choose and I will get it for you" she explained.

As Ali used the bar, others crowded in to watch and soon everyone had their cocktails in hand. The buffet was a curiosity that the guests returned to again and again to taste the exciting new delicious morsels. Ali 'ported in food regularly to top it up. The food was definitely a hit. Ali sent a note of congratulations to chef.

Fossy arrived as a gruesome zombie MC and began his speech. He introduced Vidarr to the crowd and went over the specifics of the armor. Fossy called Hephaestus up to speak and he spoke of his rigorous tests, his opinion of the metal and his inability to replicate it. He called Ali a smithing prodigy. Then Melian stepped up and spoke of her experiences with Ali, her opinion of her work and the metal in her usual blunt way. Melian called the new metal an achievement in smithing that she wished she had done but with all her fame and experience she could not replicate the metal nor craft it. Further, that in her expert opinion if she could not do it then no elven smith could. Melian stepped down and Ali approached her to hug her tight. Then when Melian nodded, Ali 'ported her home.

Fossy told some well rehearsed jokes and talked up the new olympium armor. He fired up their patriotism and excitement over the olympium metal, saying the strength of olympium armor belonged with Olympians. Fossy told the crowd everything they wanted to hear. He got them to imagine being on the battlefield with such armor and weaponry at their command. Indestructible metal, unimaginable power at their command with a faultless array of perfect weaponry that slices through the oncoming hordes of foe like a knife cuts through warm butter. The room buzzed with excitement as Vidarr began to remove the stored weapons to show them and demonstrate how effective they were at cutting through anything with ease on prepared materials. As Fossy finished his speech the air was electric with excitement. All the Gods looked enviously at the armor. Fossy didn't tell them the price but he pushed the exclusive nature of the armor and said it was beyond any price to have such exceptional armor on your back. He declared the armor and weaponry were the difference between life and death: choose now, he said, "victory or defeat."

Vidarr then took grabbed a tray from a passing demon waiter and sliced neatly through the tray with ease. He approached Hades and stared at him furiously in challenge then he turned to leer at Persephone and easily sliced off the girdle belt of her costume. As the jeweled belt dropped to the floor, Hades bellowed with rage and drew his sword. All the gods and goddesses stepped back in shock as Hades and Vidarr fought with deadly intent. Vidarr took many easy slices out of Hades' armor, piercing him again and again. Persephone finally appeared to come to her senses and shouted to the demons to attack Vidarr. The demons dropped their trays and armored up.

Soon Vidarr was surrounded by foes and he smirked as he viciously sliced through the demons. Brand had activated his armor too and joined the fight. Vidarr continued to cut an easy swathe through all combatants. As many lay fallen at his feet, he completed the massacre with devastating force. Brand lay cut open on the floor and Ali could only watch in shocked disbelief as Vidarr and the olympium armor overwhelmed all who dared attack him. A bloody mess lay across the floor as Vidarr finally sheathed his weapons and glared in contempt at all the on-looking Olympian gods before he sliced apart the room's metal door easily with his blade and leisurely walked away before 'porting back to Asgard.

Ali ran to Brand with tears tumbling down her cheeks. "Apollo, do something. Heal him please. I beg you" she cried out brokenly. Persephone remained standing stock still before she turned, walked away from her severely wounded husband and left the room with no expression on her face. Apollo approached Hades and healed him first. Hades left to follow Persephone after he asked which direction she had gone. Apollo then healed Brand and as Brand slowly recovered he said "You are crying for me, little Ali-cat?" Ali then burst into unrestrained sobbing and he lifted her in his arms and carried her out of the room filled with horrified onlookers. Apollo walked away from the pile of demon bodies left bleeding out on the floor and 'ported out. The rest of the dazed guests followed his lead and left.

Chapter 45

Brand 'ported near to a secluded waterfall surrounded by forest greenery and held Ali as she cried herself out and finally fell asleep in his arms as she still clung to him. It was the first time he had felt at peace as his heart finally felt lit by a spark of hope. Ali dreamed as Brand watched over her, unwilling to let her go for fear that he was stuck in his own dream and would wake to find her gone. Brand held tight to stay the unfamiliar flicker of hope that was finally in his grasp.

Ali felt his gazed fixed on her face before she could open her eyes. "It wasn't a bad dream, was it Brand?" asked Ali with her eyes shut tight.

"What?" he asked back.

"The slaughter at the launch. All the blood. You being carved open and bleeding out while I just watched. I panicked and froze. It was so awful. I was so useless. My mind was just blank."

"Hades planned for it to be like that. You were not aware?" he asked cautiously.

"We planned for it to be just Hades and Vidarr fighting to demonstrate the suit. You knew it was a demonstration. I sent Hades to you to practise his lines so you would know it was an act. Just an act, I swear. I only asked Hades to practise so he would make it a convincing demonstration. Persephone did not know and was not supposed to know. I thought she might try to use her powers against the suit, which the suit would easily absorb or deflect. It would not have affected Vidarr or anyone. I didn't care much if Hades got a bit injured because he chose to do it to get the first suit. We had it planned he would be quickly healed by Apollo. You were not supposed to be involved. That was not our plan. No-one else was supposed to get hurt."

"I believe Hades changed the plan to get the maximum impact and make it convincing like you asked. Why do you think I was ordered to be there?" asked Brand.

"I did tell Hades to make it convincing. I am so naive. I didn't realize he would plan to use you and the waiters in the battle. I thought he would order you to stay back so he could fight Vidarr alone for Persephone's honor. Vidarr must be furious with me. He must think I deceived him. You must be furious with me" said Ali as she reluctantly opened her eyes a fraction to peek at Brand. Brand drew her in and held her gaze.

"You know I would do anything for you. Anything. If you wanted me to fight and be cut down I would willingly do it. I did do it, for you" declared Brand.

"You knew what would happen and you did it anyway?" gasped Ali as realization of what he said slowly sunk in. "You fool! How could you risk your life like that over a stupid suit? I thought you were dead! How could you..." Ali sobbed into his shoulder and clung tight to him. Brand tilted his head back and breathed in a big sigh of relief.

Finally, when Ali calmed down again she said miserably "I must send a note to Vidarr to tell him I did not know Hades had changed the plan to include you and the waiters. I feel so awful about it." Ali sent the note and a reply came back quickly from Vidarr saying 'I know it'. Ali stayed huddled in Brand's arms while she contemplated her next move.

"I need to make amends to the demons who were so badly injured and were just left to bleed on the floor" declared Ali.

"Demons are used to such treatment. It is nothing out of the ordinary. They did exactly as Hades and Persephone ordered, like any other day."

"I was behind this too. It was my idea originally and I am at fault. I must make amends. Hades owes me a big favor. What can I do for the demon soldiers to compensate for their injuries?" asked Ali.

"Nothing, their lives move from one unbearable day to the next. Nothing has changed and nothing will change for them. They are treated as worthless nothings and they accept that." said Brand wearily.

"Now that I am able, I will make at least one change for the good. You will show me around and I will decide what I can do to improve their lives and make amends for my part in this tragedy" insisted Ali. "If you do not help then I will be forced to ask Riv for his recommendations" said Ali stubbornly.

"It is a distressing place to be, with many hardships, Ali-cat" said Brand.

"If the demons can live there, then I can visit. You will be by my side all the way right? Hades will want no harm to come to me at least until he gets his new armor and weaponry" insisted Ali. "I will be safe enough. Brand, my deal with Hades was that he and Persephone got their suits five days before Zeus and the other Olympians. I assumed he would boast and show off but after tonight's merciless fiasco I am not so certain. I suspect that he and Persephone will go to war on their brethren as soon as they get their armor. In that case, he will also want me dead after his armor is delivered so I cannot finish the rest of the suits; thus, preventing the Olympians from fighting back. I thought I was being smart because while Hades waited for his suit he would be motivated to protect me from any other Olympians that now threaten me. What have I done?" she wailed.

"You do what is necessary to survive in this realm. We all do. I am not an acknowledged  Olympian because I have sworn no fealty. Make a suit for me and I will protect you from Hades" he assured her.

"If Hades goes to war using olympium armor we must stop him" declared Ali.

"Zeus will be able to fight them off for five days until his armor is ready. There will be losses, there always is. Fortunately Zeus will also be keen to protect you to get his armor. If he wants to limit casualties then he would be wise to make an alliance or deal with the Norse for Vidarr's protection of them. It is about time Zeus learned some humility and wisdom, this may be his lesson" responded Brand. "I will send a note to Hades telling of your intention to use the favor he owes you to make amends to the demon soldiers whose blood was spilled during the demonstration. He will be pleased to hear that, it will allay any suspicions he may have regarding you and your safety will be assured for now." Then Brand sent the note to Hades with a small flick of his wrist.

Hades and Persephone luncheoned under a vast tree at her property. Hades received Brand's note and read it immediately, as he laughed loudly he passed it to Persephone. Persephone read it and smiled with satisfaction that their plan was seemingly assured. Persephone thought she might befriend Aliandra, now she was proving to be valued asset of the underworld. Persephone made mention of it to Hades and he approved her plan. "Soon, my wife, they will all fall at our feet and bow to us" said Hades smugly. "It is to Aliandra that we will owe our victory. We will welcome her with open arms to our underworld. I suspect there is attraction between her and Brand, so we will encourage that and keep her onside. For now she is our valued friend" Hades declared.

"And later? asked Persephone.

"She will serve us or die like the rest" said Hades dismissively.

Persephone nodded regally and relaxed into her chair sipping ambrosia while she planned some enjoyable outings with Aliandra.

Brand and Ali wandered through the underworld as Brand pointed out different areas in the vast cave system. He pointed out where the intense fires spewed ferociously down the wide corridors and any demon caught there at the wrong time was incinerated. He pointed out the training arenas, offices and public spaces. Finally he showed Ali the scrum, where demon children were tossed in to try to survive until maturity. Ali was sickened at the sight of many children lying injured and weak at the edges of the enclosure.

"What will happen to those children lying injured?" asked Ali.

"They will probably die before maturity. If they are injured then they cannot compete against the others to eat. When they cannot eat they weaken and are attacked over and over again until they perish" explained Brand.

"You were raised in this scrum?" gasped Ali.

"Yes, I was put in as an infant. Demon children are usually tossed in when they reach three years of age so their mothers can return to full duties. They are left to survive or perish with food scraps being tossed in occasionally for them to feed. Hades approves of the scrum because he has no patience for weaklings. In the scrum, only the strongest can survive."

"I will raise the weak and injured demon children in safety" declared Ali. "I also want to take in any new children who will be too young to survive the scrum. Where is a place I can do that?"

"The safest place for you to do that is a set of apartments located in disputed territory. Hades and Demeter have been warring over that land for centuries. Demeter may be willing for you to have it because the dispute wastes a lot of her resources defending worthless land; I doubt she even wants it but she simply does not want it to go to Hades after all these years. I will help you carefully design a contract that will allow you to have the disputed territory and all its resources for you to raise demon children unhindered by Hades. You will have to ensure it says Hades and all underworld beings are forbidden entry to you lands unless they are invited by you. Make certain you never invite Hades, Persephone or any other underworld being you cannot trust completely. You must be extremely careful with your wording on this to block all underworld threats. We will be neighbors so you will ensure the proverbial fence is impenetrable. Hades will not be suspicious of this scheme right now but you must make certain he can never undermine, block or hinder it in the future if he changes his mind for any reason. It must be watertight and comprehensive" said Brand. "We must see Demeter first for her agreement to relinquish the disputed territory to you."

Ali and Brand 'ported to Demeter's door and knocked. A matronly lady with a kind face opened the door. "Demeter, I am Aliandra. We come to discuss a possible resolution to the disputed territory you defend from Hades" said Ali.

"Enter" instructed Demeter. The home was cozy, warm and inviting. Demeter signaled for Ali to take a chair in the lounge.

"I have a plan to use the disputed territory to raise all demon children that are too weak, injured or too young to survive the scrum. I intend to ask Hades for the disputed territory in order to do that. I ask that you also relinquish all claims and entitlement you hold over the disputed territory, its buildings and resources for me to do the work I intend. That would mean my full ownership of the disputed territory would act as an agreed impenetrable buffer zone between you and Hades. This will save your resources and you no longer will have to be burdened with any concerns that Hades will encroach on your land from the disputed territory" said Ali.

"I have heard of you, of course. You make the new armor everyone discusses. What do you offer me for the land?" asked Demeter.

"Peace of mind. I will sign a treaty of alliance with you. Your borders in that area will be safe and peaceful so you may utilize your resources better" said Ali.

"No offer of a new suit of armor then?" she smiled "I am no fighter anyway and peace will be welcome" she mused. "Hades will not enter the territory or take over from you. You will never return or sell the land to him" she demanded.

"I will be the sole owner of the land and agree never to sell it to anyone. Hades and Persephone will never be invited to enter that land and the contract with him will make him leave me in peace while I raise the children using all my own resources" stated Ali.

"What happens to the children once you have raised them to maturity?" asked Demeter.

"They will be free to do as they wish. If they so choose, they may stay with me as long as we have the room. They may choose to rejoin the underworld. They will not be mine to command. I do this to make amends for the demon blood spilled at the recent launch party" explained Ali. "That was not part of my plan to demonstrate the armor; it was Hades taking it to an unexpected level to convince the guests the fight demonstration was real. I choose to do this work with the children simply because it is the right thing to do."

"I will agree. I am glad to be rid of that land" said Demeter. "When can you have the agreements prepared?"

"I have them all here now for you to read and sign. We just require another person to witness our signatures" said Ali as she pulled out the pile of contracts and paperwork.

Demeter raised her hand a little and a woman appeared "Yes, m'lady" she said as she bowed. Demeter pointed at a chair "Wait there until you are needed" she ordered.