'What's the point of being an unimaginably vast shadow creature if you don't have access to all your memories? It's a damned inefficient way to run a group mind, if you ask me.' I sighed. 'I should've known it wouldn't be that easy.'
'I watched you and Devona stop Gregor from disrupting the Renewal Ceremony, and when I learned that Gregor was abducting Arcane, I knew he had come up with a new plan to destroy the Darkfolk. I like watching the Darkfolk. They're interesting, and I've learned so much from them. I won't let Gregor hurt them, and I'll do whatever it takes to stop him. I tried to discover what his plan is, but though I searched throughout the city, I couldn't find where he'd taken the Arcane, nor could I discover what he wanted them for. I knew I needed help, and I immediately thought of you and Devona. And once Papa Chatha was abducted, I knew how I could approach you. I was too afraid to come to you as myself. I feared you wouldn't trust me if you knew who and what I really was. But if I posed as Papa Chatha's niece… I kept watch on you, and when I learned you were going to see him, I got to his home before you, let myself in, and waited.'
She smiled almost shyly at me. 'I've watched you since you first came to Nekropolis, Matt. I've seen you help so many people, solve problems that seemed unsolvable, triumph against impossible odds… I knew if anyone could stop Gregor, it would be you.'
'By Merlin's ingrown toenails!' Bogdan said, sounding half amused, half irritated. 'She's one of your fans!'
I ignored the warlock's comment, mostly because I had no idea what to say in response. I wasn't sure how I felt about being entertainment for a Watcher, even a seemingly harmless one like Shamika.
'That was you I saw in Devona's room at the Fever House, wasn't it?' I said to her. 'Or one of you, at any rate.'
She nodded.
I frowned. 'How did you manage to get into Papa's place? You said you can't work any magic, and the wardspells on it…' I stopped as the answer occurred to me. 'At one time you secretly observed Papa deactivating the wardspells to enter his home, so you knew how to do it.'
She smiled again, looking proud of herself. 'Like I said, I know a lot of things.'
'I wish you'd trusted me with the truth from the beginning,' I said, 'but I can understand why you didn't. I honestly don't know how I would've reacted if you had told us who you really were, so maybe it's best you didn't.'
Another huge chunk of the mystery had made itself clear to me, but I didn't see how knowing Shamika's true identity made much difference. I'd already learned that Gregor was behind the Arcane abductions, and I could assume that he used the same technique to teleport his chosen targets as he'd used to snatch Devona. Shamika confirmed it for me when I asked a moment later.
'We can't perform magic, but that doesn't mean we can't make use of it,' she said. 'Each insect carries a small teleportation gem in place of one of its eyes.
'We can do more than change our shape,' Shamika said. 'We can change our scent as well. Gregor left the scent of Demonkin at the site of each abduction. Not strong evidence, but more than enough to convince Talaith, who has a highly suspicious and accusatory nature.'
Yet another piece of the puzzle slid into place. 'That's how Gregor lured us to the Grotesquerie. He imitated Papa Chatha's scent and laid a false trail for Tavi to find – a trail that ended at the Grotesquerie. And once Tavi was inside, Gregor's insects released Titanus, and then when we arrived, they released the rest of the monsters. Guess he wanted to stop us from finding out what he was up to.' I frowned. 'But why would he abduct Devona? She's not a magic-user. She deals with magic in her security work, but she doesn't actually cast spells.'
'I understand why Gregor had to lure Devona outside to teleport her,' Bogdan said. 'The mystical defenses on the building prevent any of his insects from entering without one of us letting them in. What I don't understand is how he compelled Devona to go outside in the first place.'
'I can answer that,' Shamika said. 'When Matt and Devona were investigating the theft of the Dawnstone, Devona agreed to carry one of Gregor's insects with her. At the time, they still believed Gregor was nothing more than an information broker, and that was the price he asked for his help. Unfortunately, she had to carry the insect inside her.'
I shuddered at the memory of the insect burrowing its way into her ear. Devona's half-vampire physiology had allowed her to withstand the pain of the insect's entry into her body, but it had been far from pleasant for her.
'But that insect left her body after Gregor's plan to stop the Renewal Ceremony failed,' I said.
'Yes, but it left some residue of itself behind,' Shamika said. 'Not enough to harm her, but enough to influence her mind should the need ever arise. Gregor wanted to abduct her, but he couldn't physically reach her in here, so he made her go outside using a post-hypnotic suggestion he telepathically implanted in her mind earlier, probably when we were at the Grotesquerie.'
'But that brings us back to the question of why he wanted to abduct her,' Bogdan said. 'She isn't a magic- user, and it doesn't appear Gregor wants to hold her hostage. So why did her take her?'
I remembered then what Varvara had told Devona and I about our children during our visit to Demon's Roost.
I can't tell too much about them. The magic that surrounds them is too strong and too different from anything I've ever encountered before. But they're going to be very special children, that I can promise you.
A horrible realization occurred to me. 'Devona might not possess magic, but our babies do – or at least they will. Strong magic. Varvara told us so. And when Galm visited us in the Fever House, he pretty much said the same thing, although at the time we all thought Devona was only going to have one child. Galm didn't know what kind of magic our children would have, but he said it would be powerful and he was determined to control it if he could.'
'It's true,' Varney said. 'Lord Galm does believe your progeny will possess great power. But that's not the sole reason he charged me with protecting his daughter. He is truly concerned with her welfare.'
'Forgive me for being skeptical,' I said, 'but I've never known a Darklord yet who wasn't concerned primarily with satisfying his or her own needs.' Although Dis was different, I thought. He might be the darkest of dark gods, but I'd only known him to act in his people's best interest. Still, that didn't mean I trusted him fully.
'Believe what you wish,' Varney said evenly. 'It doesn't alter the truth.'
I expected Varney to stand up for his lord and master, and I almost said so, but now wasn't the time to get sidetracked by petty bickering. We needed to stay focused so we could find Devona and stop Gregor from doing whatever nasty thing he was planning.
'Maybe Gregor plans to use the twins' magic somehow,' I said. 'Even if they aren't born yet.' I felt a chill in my soul then, and I turned to Bogdan. 'Will Gregor… I mean, in order to use the twins' magic, will he need to…' I couldn't bring myself to say it.
Bogdan put a hand on my shoulder. 'If he intends to draw upon their power, he will need them alive and healthy. That means he won't harm them or their mother.'
A wave of relief washed over me. Bogdan's words rang true. The Gregor I'd known was cold and calculating, not given to reacting emotionally. If it was in his best interests to keep Devona alive, he'd do so. I turned my attention back to the problem at hand. 'But what does he need that power for?'
Before anyone else could speak, my vox let out with its obnoxious ring-ring-ring. Without thinking, I reached for it with my right hand, and though I no longer had a right hand, I once again felt the strange sensation of it moving. I used my left hand instead, pulled my vox out of my pocket, and opened it.
'Hello?' I said.
'Matt, I don't have a lot of time, so listen closely.'
It was Scorch, and she was speaking softly, as if she didn't want to be overheard.
'Several squads of demons were deployed a few minutes ago, and the rumor going around Demon's Roost is that they're headed for the Midnight Watch. Supposedly Klamm's spies have come up with some kind of evidence linking you to the magic-users' abductions, and he wants you brought in for questioning. I've got to go before I'm caught talking to you. Good luck.'
She disconnected before I could thank her. I tucked my vox back into my pocket, and told the others what she'd said.
'So since Gregor failed to kill you at the Grotesquerie, he's trying to frame you now,' Bogdan said. 'I wonder
