Dark Hope (The Devil's Assistant) (34 page)

I ignored Jayne’s craziness and focused on Mace.

“The books speak of a great war,” Mace said. “Of how time was torn apart, and the realms were divided. Is all of this true?”

“Yes,” Mab said.

I zeroed in on him again. “The sister ruled the realm.”

He parroted, “Your sister ruled the realm?”

She rubbed the pendant between her fingers. “She was my twin. How did you know to ask about her?”

“I don’t know.” His face was confused.

She searched the room again, but didn’t appear to sense anything. “The fourth realm was real. It was ruled by my sister and destroyed ten millennia ago by your father, Harry, and myself.”

Jayne gasped.

Mab touched a finger to the corner of her eye.

What is up with you?
No answer
. Jayne, what is it
?

Sorry
, Jayne said.
Is she wiping away a tear
?

Looks that way
, I said to her.
What is up with you
?

It’s nothing, but there’s something about that pendant. It’s stirring up memories.

Memories?

We’ll talk about it later
.

“How do we not know?” Mace asked, pulling my attention back to them. “Why is it believed to be a myth?”

Mab held out her hands and motioned for him to come closer. He stood, hesitating only briefly before walking to her.

Clutching his hands
,
then lightly touching his face to bring his eyes up to hers. “It is forbidden to discuss, but seeing Claire again has reminded me of her.”

Any ideas on that one
?

No
, Jayne said.

“Claire?” Mace frowned. “How does she remind you of your sister?”

“Her blood is the same.”

My blood. That’s why it’s special? That would explain why it was forbidden to discuss. If it was forbidden to discuss the fourth realm, it was forbidden to discuss my blood.

But why is it forbidden?
Jayne asked.

I shrugged.

“Claire has fourth realm blood?” Mace asked. “How did the blacksmith know?”

“The blacksmith can sense the blood in others,” Mab offered.

That’s why we both have eyes that shine green
. Did that make us mystically related? Were there others who had a green shine? I suppose it didn’t matter. It wasn’t as if all demons were related.

“How?” Mace asked.

“There aren’t many left with the blood. She is a child of all realms, which makes her unpredictable and difficult to control. But that is not your concern.”

“Claire’s mother was human. If there aren’t many left, who is her father?”

I took a step closer.

Don’t, she might sense you. And you know she isn’t going to tell him,
Jayne said.

You don’t know. She might
.

Mab patted his cheek. “Claire has fourth realm blood, but she is not one of the Fallen.”

“The Fallen?”

“It is what we call the fourth realm,” she said. “Because of this, Claire’s origin is unknown.”

What
? Jayne and I said in unison.

Mace’s eyebrows shot up. “How can you not know?”

“It’s complicated,” Mab said, releasing his face.

He took a step back, running his hand through his hair. “Does my father know?”

She glanced at the others. They were still in their silent state. “Claire is very special.”

I don’t think I can handle another Claire is special discussion
, Jayne said.

You and me both
.

Mace wrinkled his nose. “You all favor her. Why?”

Her lips twisted into a crooked smile. “It is not favor, my boy. It is fate.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Fate?”

“There is an ancient augury.”

“You mean an omen? A prophecy?” he asked, eyes still wide.

Oh, this should be good
, Jayne said.

I ignored her. Mab wouldn’t be chatty for long, and she’d certainly never tell me any of this.

He retreated a step when she stood. She took a turn around him, stopping with her back to Cinnamon and the twins. Mab’s head tilted slightly, looking off to the side for a moment then at him again. As if finally making her decision, she fixed her eyes on his.

“A great mystic of the fourth realm foretold of a harbinger—a girl—who would set right what was lost by the Ancients. She would be of human birth, otherworldly lineage, and possess the blood of the Fallen. She would have the power to see the truth and would restore time within all the realms.”

Holy shit. Did The Boss and Harry believe this too
?

And which one of them is your father
? Jayne asked.

One incredibly fucked-up problem at a time, please
.

“Otherworldly lineage?” Mace asked. “Is my father her father?” He grimaced. “Is she one of us?”

“I don’t want to be one of you,” I shouted at him. He glanced in my direction, but thankfully, Mab hadn’t noticed. Whatever Cinnamon was doing to keep her from sensing me must also prevent her from hearing me.

Chill out
, Jayne said.
The guards might hear you
.

“No one knows for sure, but his actions have not always made his feelings clear. He did not publicly declare her as his.”

This is what the seers think. They think I’m the harbinger.

It would seem so
, Jayne agreed.
James called you the harbinger
.

I remembered now. He’d tried to tell me about the augury, but I wouldn’t listen. I thought he was crazy.

Mace crossed his arms. “You all believe Claire is this girl?”

“She is the best fit, although it cannot be confirmed.”

Because they don’t know who my father is? How can they not know
?

“So my father could be her father?”

Mab smiled. “You’re forgetting. There are three contenders for otherworldly parent—if she is the girl, of course. But I seriously doubt Melinda was somehow impregnated with one of my ovum. Of course with magic I suppose anything is possible.”

Mace’s mouth hung open.

Don’t even go there
, I said

But she might be
—
Jayne started to say.

No
.

“So you truly don’t know?” Mace asked, running his hand through his hair. “But you all believe she’s the girl.”

“Yes.”

“Is that why you want her?”

“It is one of the reasons, but I have several.”

Harry said she couldn’t control fate by controlling us
, Jayne reminded me.

One incredibly fucked-up problem at a time.

Mab looked at her nails then up at Mace as he paced back and forth, mumbling to himself. Rolling her eyes, she raised her hand as if she were about to end their discussion.

“How does she see the truth?” he asked. “You said the girl—the harbinger—could see the truth.”

Mab lowered her hand. “I’m not sure which gift she has received. Seeing through veils perhaps?”

“Yes,” Mace said, snapping his finger and pointing at Mab. He lowered his hand when she scowled at him. “She could see the blacksmith’s true form...but then how did she see Death as beautiful?”

Mab’s mouth fell open. She cleared her throat, absentmindedly touching her pendant. “When?”

“I told you, the blacksmith took too much blood. She almost died.”

Her mouth pinched into a hard line. She released the pendant and balled her hands into fists. “Death cannot have her yet. He knows that. He shouldn’t have interfered.”

“He didn’t keep her. She didn’t die.”

“He should not have made himself known to her. She should not have seen him.”

Why does she care?

I don’t know
, Jayne said in a quiet voice as if I were asking her.

“He was not hideous to her. I’m sure of it. I could see the truth in her eyes,” Mace said. “But how is that possible?”

“He was not always as he is now. He was once very dashing—beautiful. My sister loved him.” Mab spoke without emotion. “They were soul mates, for lack of a better term.”

Soul mates
?

“What happened to him?”

“He betrayed us and was punished. He is hideous because his beauty is now tied to the eye of the beholder. You should hope, Nephew, you never have the honor of meeting him. I’m sure your past deeds would not paint him in a good light.”

Mace remained silent.

“He is also incapable of loving anyone but my sister
, and he
was forced to kill her. In the end, she only saw his hideousness. She died without knowing his fate.”

Jayne gasped.

What is up with you
?

“That doesn’t explain how Claire sees him as beautiful,” Mace countered. “She’s not perfect—no human is. Wouldn’t her past deeds also paint an ugly picture?”

Mab grinned, baring her teeth. “Claire is not completely human, but you’re right. She isn’t perfect. She saw him when she was a baby. When she was innocent.”

Mace’s eyebrows pinched together. “But…”

She raised her hand and approached him. He body became unnaturally stiff and erect, but it wasn’t from shock. She had him wrapped in her will. “That’s enough about the past for now. I wouldn’t worry yourself with these tedious affairs.” She locked gazes with him, caressing his cheek with her hand “You have always been my favorite.”

He smiled.

She continued, “Not because you’re loyal, but because you’re trusting.”

His grin fell. The crease between his brows deepened. Moments later his face contorted in pain. Struggling, he tried to get away from her. She tightened her grip, stilling him.

Her lips curled into a vicious sneer. “Getting rid of Junior and weakening your father’s powerbase is poetic, don’t you think? The irony is that not even you realize how much power the four of you control.”

Mace’s eyes widened in shock.

“I can’t let you remember this conversation,” she said with mock sadness, “but I enjoyed having it. I don’t often get to reminisce about my sister. If only she’d trusted me. We could have ruled the world together.” Mab tapped his nose. “Forget.”

She released him and returned to her throne.

He shook his head and opened his mouth
,
then closed it and opened it again. “I’m sorry, Aunt. What were we talking about?”

She didn’t immediately answer. She glanced around, and her expression hardened.

She’s searching for us
, Jayne said.

I know
. The strain was evident on Cinnamon’s face. She couldn’t hide us much longer.

“Her blood is not your concern. That is all I will say.” Mab dismissed the matter.

I chuckled. Mab stood. She’d heard me.

Time to go
, Jayne said.

Twenty Two

I stepped back when the door flew open. The taller man took me by the arm and led me up the stairs. The shorter man disappeared into the room before following behind us.

I was taken back through the corridors to the great hall. The twins and Cinnamon were still there, as they had been a minute ago, sitting off to one side. Mab was back on her throne, talking to Mace privately.

Her eyes fixed on the guards.

“We heard something,” the taller man holding me said. “She was awake.”

“Did she eat the food?”

The second guard spoke, “No, Your Highness
, she
did not.”

She waved her hand shooing them away. Mab stood, looking down her nose at me as she approached. Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “How did you like the Deeps?”

“It was a bit windy for me,” I said.

A small line formed between her eyebrows.

Mace stepped between us. “I promise she’ll eat the food when she returns.”

A chill ran down my spine, and the hairs on my neck stood. He’d be able to make me eat the food. Given he’d offered it, it must not be the same as Mab forcing me. I was sure my face was pale with fear as her eyes landed on me.

“You know,” she accused.

That’s too vague
,
I wouldn’t give anything up
, Jayne said.

Really, not the first rodeo, remember
?

Stepping back Mace locked eyes with me. I didn’t bother trying to look away. He’d see the truth in my eyes. He’d know I hadn’t forgotten a thing.

“You’re right, Aunt, she’s the same,” he said. “It’s probably Father’s doing.”

Mab’s brow cocked. “Explain.”

“A few months ago he was angry with me for making her forget something. He may have made it so she can’t.”

I raised one of my eyebrows at Mace. His version of what he’d done to me was laughable.

Mab lifted my chin. “That can be a very dangerous thing to do to someone.”

Why is it dangerous?
Jayne asked.
It saved us, didn’t it?

Yes, that might be the problem. It saved
us.

“You will be mine soon enough,” Mab said. “I will have plenty of time to figure you out.” She turned back to Mace, as if dismissing me.

I checked my watch. Mab would eventually figure out how it worked and take it from me. I needed some of her blood. That was the only way to break the curse permanently. Without my power, I’d have no protections against her. I couldn’t be cut off from it by losing the watch.

When I looked up, she was casually laughing at something Mace said.

What are you going to do?
Jayne asked.

I need her blood. I’m going to make her give it to me.