Vengeance of the Demon (Kara Gillian 7)

Idris folded his arms, face set in a frown. “Maybe it is a simulator, but what else? I don’t intend to get influenced by Kadir.”

“It’s simple then,” I said. “Don’t use it.” Part of me knew he had a point, but I did, too, and I was completely over his bullshit.

Without another word, I stepped through the gap between two sigils and onto the center of the nexus. At least that’s where I thought I’d stepped. My heart pounded as the world faded to endless, silent grey. If it had been like this for Pellini, it was no wonder he hadn’t answered us. Shivering, I gulped down my unease. The ominous feeling that Kadir stood right behind me was so strong I glanced over my shoulder to confirm he wasn’t there. Marginally reassured, I watched in fascination as a replica of a standard valve, much like the one by my pond, appeared at my feet.

An ice-cold electric charge ran up and down my back, and understanding of the Earthside structure of a valve poured into my mind. Potency twisted along the valve boundary. Aspects that appeared flawless to my untrained senses resolved into subtle irregularities, like hair escaping a braid.

“Asymmetry,” I murmured, ridiculously pleased that I could see it. I followed my Kadir-enhanced intuition to smooth out the flaws and, after what felt like half an hour of work, the valve emitted a flash of arcane blue light then settled into pulsing shimmery blue-green.

I did a fist pump and examined my work. Whereas Kadir’s barricade seal inhibited the effectiveness of a valve or node, his symmetrization technique enhanced it, like clearing roots from a drain.

Damn, I had a cool job. Now if only it could pay the bills. But hey, couldn’t have everything.

The grey, the valve, and all traces of Pellini’s circle of sigils vanished, and I stood in morning sunlight on the nexus.

Idris stared at me. “How did you unravel it so fast? I couldn’t touch it, but you did it in two seconds.”

Well, that was interesting. However Kadir had rigged the training, it seemed to be outside the parameters of Earth time. “I learned what there was to learn,” I said with a shrug. “I know how to symmetrize a valve now, and I’m not tainted by Kadir either.” I hoped. Ignoring Idris’s black look, I headed toward the house. “I’ll put on the coffee,” I called over my shoulder. “You can cook the bacon and eggs while I take care of the pond valve.” I wasn’t going to hold my breath for breakfast, but it felt good to say it.

Bryce angled my way and met me on the porch. “That didn’t take long.”

“Yeah, Kadir is slick.” I looked sharply at him. “Almost forgot to tell you. I saw Paul last night.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “How? Where?”

I briefed him on the circumstances. “He looked good,” I said, leaving out the whole weird kneeling thing. “Paul said he’s good and not dying anymore. Kadir said to tell you that Paul is thriving.”

Bryce exhaled in relief as we entered the kitchen. “It’s more information than I had before. Thanks.” But then he peered at me. “What aren’t you saying?”

I scowled. “You know, there are times it sucks how perceptive you are.” I busied myself with the coffeemaker in an attempt to come up with a tame way to say it. No luck. “Paul was kneeling at Kadir’s side while Kadir petted his head like a dog. And he gave Paul permission to speak.” I winced. “Paul didn’t seem to object.”

A muscle in Bryce’s jaw twitched. “Goddammit,” he said, and I knew he had at least as many horrible scenarios playing out in his mind as I did. “I need to see him.”

“We’ll find a way for that to happen,” I said. “Either in that weird between-the-worlds zone or face-to-face.” A glance out the window revealed Idris still in the center of the nexus. “I need to check on Pellini and the valve. You mind keeping an eye on our problem child for a few?”

“Do what you need to do,” he said. “I’ll be here.”

Chapter 14

I headed down the obstacle course trail and found Pellini sitting on one of the balance logs. Sammy lay at his feet blissfully chomping on a pinecone. “Sorry about the shit with Idris,” I said. “Nice takedown though.”

“The kid’s wound way too tight,” he said with a shake of his head. “He’s going to get himself or someone else killed.”

I sat on another log. “He’s been through hell. I swear this isn’t the real Idris. He’s nice and friendly and sweet and,” I sighed, “innocent. He’ll get through this and back to himself.” I hoped.

“Hell changes people,” Pellini said. A hollow sadness swept across his face. Regret? “Idris will never be the same, but he’s the only one who can choose how he looks on the other side of that kind of hell.”

A squirrel leaped from the branches of one tree to another. Sammy lifted his head then resumed dismembering the far more catchable pinecone. “Sounds like you’re speaking from experience,” I said quietly.

Pellini shot me a sidelong look, then slid into his familiar glower. “I know hell,” he said in a gruff throw-away tone. “Raised my fair share back in the day. Put some perps through hell, too.” He picked up a pinecone and flung it with vicious force down the trail. Sammy leaped up and dashed after it. “I have plenty of experience.”

“I bet you do,” I said. Raising hell was a roiling smokescreen, and he’d slapped on his asshole mask like armor. What sensitive spot was he protecting? I stomped down the urge to pry more. For now.

Sammy galumphed back with the fresh pinecone, dropped it at Pellini’s feet then shoved his head into Pellini’s face to deliver a slobbery lick. “You stupid fucking mutt,” Pellini muttered with a scowl, but he wrapped his arms around the dog and scratched his back while Sammy continued to apply enthusiastic doggy kisses. Pellini finally pushed the dog away and wiped his face. “You saw it all last night, didn’t you.”

“Kadir’s playground? Yeah, I was there.” I kicked another pinecone toward Sammy, who glommed onto it with enthusiasm. Pellini’s shoulders relaxed, and I understood his relief. He’d lived a long time with a secret others would call a crazy fantasy. “What happened before I got there?”

“The ‘devil dog’ that animal control shot was Kuktok, a kzak I’ve known since I was a kid.” He said it matter-of-factly, as though having a cozy rapport with a vicious demon species was no more unusual than a rain shower in Louisiana. “Kadir told me Kuktok was shot before he made it to a valve at Leelan Park . . . but hasn’t arrived back home yet.”