Chapter 16: Second Seat

I remained sunk in whirling thoughts mixed with nectar need, the Planeless, my cousin's boldness and the image of Elph's

smiling face when I entered my private quarters to the sound of arguing.

Pagomaris spun as I crossed the threshold, Sequoia falling behind me, my aide's face dark red with anger. She dipped a

deep curtsy while Henemordonin, his large bulk dominating the room and, from the looks of things, trying to bully

Pagomaris, loomed and scowled.

"Ruler," my aide said in a voice shaking with emotion. "Forgive me, but he would not leave when requested."

"I am Second Seat," he roared at her as she cowered briefly, but refused to give ground. "You do not order me."

I was used to him yelling and had spent years learning to fear it when he raised his voice to me. But so much had

happened between the last time he managed to corner me and make me feel tiny and this moment I was a very different

demon. A very different Ruler. And no one-no one-treated my friends that way.

With a roar of my own, I pinned my grandfather with the power of Demonicon. It rushed forth with eager vengeance, lifting

him bodily from the floor and slamming him down again so he was forced to one knee. My need to hurt Tanasharia translated

into my attack on Henemordonin and the rational part of me knew it. Even so, I was done and finished with being treated

like his subordinate instead of the other way around.

I think I actually frightened him. At least, he didn't immediately lose his temper and come after me. Instead, he stared,

mouth open, eyes full of shock as I pushed harder, Ahbi supporting me fully while the magic of all planes snarled and

crushed my grandfather under its weight.

"You dare." I turned his words back on him. "Don't you ever, ever, talk to her that way again. For that matter," I jerked

on the power holding him down, tightening it like I'd lassoed a bull, "the next time you speak to me that way, I'll take

your head from your shoulders and have it for dinner." His mouth snapped shut, anger showing up in a rush of blood to his

face. Ahbi held him silent while I battered him with magic. "The law might keep me from killing you outright, but you

have invaded my personal space for the last time. Know this: you are Second Seat because I allow it. Laws or no laws,

Henemordonin, if you come against me I will destroy you."

He pushed himself against me, trying to rise. I held him in place, grinning as I had in the transport bay, showing my

teeth and my intent.

"You did your best to teach me to fear you, to control me," I snarled over him, "took advantage of a young Ruler who

didn't know better and had yet to find her feet." My shoulders straightened as I allowed my upper lip to curl with

contempt as he knelt there before me, fighting with all his strength, strength that would never be enough. "You've proven

your disloyalty and manipulations often enough. It's time you understood I will no longer stand for any of it."

"Release me at once." His words gasped from his constricted chest as his lips turned purple from lack of oxygen.

"Tell me you didn't just give your Ruler an order." I sent fire through the power holding him, watched him writhe in pain

before dampening the flames. "You will ask. Nicely."

Ahbi's laughter was tinged with hysteria. Child, she sent. Oh, child.

His nostrils flared, power dimming in his eyes as he poured everything he had into one final push against me. I slammed

him hard, sending him to his hands and knees where he panted short, almost impossible breaths.

"Apologize," I said in an airy voice, examining my fingernails, frowning over a chip in one. "Pagomaris, fetch the file.

I appear to have broken a nail."

Henemordonin collapsed on his face into the plush carpet. "Forgive me," he whispered. "My Ruler."

Well, I'll be a charbroiled drach, Ahbi sent.

"I didn't hear you," I said, prodding Henemordonin with one chrome toe.

You're making an open enemy of him, my grandmother sent.

Good, I sent, my calm almost cracking as my built-up years of anger tried to take over and just kill him already. It's

time things were clear between us.

"I beg you," he choked, "release me, Ruler."

I let him lie there another moment, heard his ribs groan as I pressed just that much harder before relinquishing my hold

all at once. Henemordonin heaved a massive breath of air, panting into the carpet while I stood over him, hands on my

hips.

He slowly leveraged himself up, face masked into cold fury as he straightened to his full height and did his best to

dominate the space yet again with his bulk. Before he could succeed, I placed a ceiling of power at his shoulders and

pressed down again.

"Now," I said, "if there's nothing further, get the hell out of my quarters."

Henemordonin glared at me, his power building yet again.

"Is this the moment?" Ahbi spoke through my lips, quiet, deadly. "Is this the time you come against us and commit

yourself, Henemordonin? Are you prepared for the outcome?"

He froze, magic build coming to an abrupt halt.

We waited, silent, at the ready until he finally backed down, bowing his head to me.

He brushed past me, his departure abrupt and swift. But as he reached the door, his arrogance returned.

"You are as unpredictable as your dangerous sister," he snapped. "Reckless and putting all of us at risk with your

deplorable temper."

Hadn't the coven once believed that of Syd? I laughed in his face, tapping him firmly in the chest with Demonicon's eager

magic.

"Get out," I said, still laughing. "And watch your back, Grandfather."

His final act of defiance was the door slamming behind him.

Pagomaris instantly fell to her knees at my feet, clutching my hand in hers, pressing it to her cheek as she wept.

"Forgive me," she said, hoarse as she sobbed. "I never meant to be the cause of such strife."

I pulled her to her feet, Sequoia helping me guide my aide to the window seat.

"It's been a long time coming," I said. "Thank you for a very satisfying few minutes."

She wiped at her eyes, black makeup tracking down her cheeks. "Ruler, I beg you, take caution. He will destroy you if he

can."

That's hardly in question, Ahbi sent, dry and with a measure of her own satisfaction. At least you've stood your ground.

He'll think twice before pushing you around again. But, she's correct in her assessment. We've made him more dangerous as

he will now be forced to work behind the scenes to destroy you.

Something you have a great deal of experience with, I sent. I'm not worried. We can handle him. It's the rest of this

mess I'm more concerned about.

Ahbi's power perked a moment later as the veil hummed. I reached for the mind on the other side, still keyed up and

prepared for anything only to feel a familiar and well-loved presence poke me.

I can only assume your enthusiasm involves me, Sassafras sent in his dry tone.

I gasped and held onto him as the tear in the veil widened and his fluffy white form appeared in the gloomy basement on

the other side. "Sassafras!"

He licked one paw several times before setting it back down in the nest of his soft tail encircling him. "Meira," he

said. "Just saying hello."

The sight of him made me want to weep openly and hug him tight. "Can you come visit a moment?" I held out my arms to him,

amazed they shook as the aftereffects of my battle with Henemordonin finally caught up with me.

"Since you asked so nicely." He hopped through the veil in a rush of silver fur, flashing across the barrier and into my

arms. I cuddled him to my chest, turning to sink down onto the window seat Pagomaris rapidly vacated to give me space.

Sass's purr rumbled against me, his power spreading out with its soothing comfort. I'd recognized since I was a child how

he manipulated all of us with that purr of his, but I, for one, welcomed it, knowing it came from his absolute love for

me.

"It's so good to see you." My words barely left my lips, a struggle to speak past the thickness of my throat, my eyes

burning with the need to shed tears.

"You, too," he whispered in my ear as his tongue swept across my cheek. "I hoped to speak to you at your birthday party,

but you weren't in a state to hear me. Were you?"

I shook my head, felt Sequoia and Pagomaris retreat, giving us privacy as I snuggled my oldest friend and did my very

best to keep myself from falling into pathetic pieces of demon girl.

"Something's changed, at least, according to Syd." Sassafras patted at me with one soft paw. "I wanted to see for myself

if you'd finally come to some sense."

Smart-mouthed cat, Ahbi sent to both of us.

Arrogant old biddy, he responded crisply. Have you been tormenting my poor Meira?

Not I, she sent.

It's all right, I told my demon cat. I've worked some things out in the last few days. I'm sorry I've been so distant.

You know I'm always here for you. Sass's mental voice was as sad as it was quiet. You've only ever had to ask. But I knew

you would find your way, Meira. You were always the more logical and practical of the two.

I'm not sure those are the traits I wish I had, I sent, releasing him enough to kiss him on the forehead. His purr

intensified.

They are for the task you've chosen, he sent. Syd would never have been able to take First Seat. Demonicon would have

been in flames long before now.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, I sent. But there's still time for fire and destruction.

His eyes narrowed, tail thrashing once against my side. I take it there are details I'm missing.

You could say that. I sighed and stroked his fur, from the top of his fuzzy head to the tip of his thick tail. Oh, Sass,

I think I've made a right mess of things.

I doubt that, he sent. But perhaps you could use an extra set of paws right about now?

The little girl who lived in me squealed in excitement though I did my best to hide her enthusiasm. The kids, I sent.

Gabriel and Ethie are your responsibility now, Sass.

Ridiculous, he sent, swiping at me with his claws out, the sharp tips sliding over the slick leather of my bodice. Not

only are those two guarded by the dumb dog, I grinned at his mention of the Wild Hunt hound, Galleytrot, but they have

the entire coven and two very powerful parents watching over them. Not to mention a pair of sorcerers. Gram and Demetrius

had to be home in Wilding Springs, then. Besides, he head-butted me, you will always be my responsibility. And no matter

how big you get, how old you grow, you will always be my little Meems.

There was no way to contain the single tear that escaped to trickle down my cheek and I didn't try. He stood on his hind

legs, paws on my shoulders, and rubbed his furry face against the moisture, soft and cool.

Thank you, I sent. I could really use your help right now.

Then it's decided, he sent. Close that thing and fetch me a pillow. I need a napping place.

I laughed, gesturing at the veil which snapped shut behind him, the fact he'd ordered the leader of all Demonicon to

serve him not lost on me in the least.

I was about to rise and do exactly as he wanted-of course I was, this was Sassafras, after all-when the window behind me

shuddered and a transport slammed into the wall beside it. I leaped to my feet, power crackling around Sassafras and I,

my shields blocking off the window as he hissed in my arms, only to realize we weren't under attack.

Quite to the contrary. I took one look at Jabuticabron's distress as he hovered on the transport and dropped my

shielding, opening the way through the window as well. My guard captain staggered through the gap, falling heavily on the

window seat, amber eyes meeting mine, full of fear.

I could think of only one question to ask him as my own anxiety spiked abruptly.

"Jabuticabron," I heard myself wail his name, "where is Rameranselot?"

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