The legs were clearly faun legs, capped in thick hooves. A watery rendition of fur covered them, disappearing beneath a modest skirt. I stared up the length of a smart suit and stopped when I reached Petra Demos's face. The face remained expressionless for a moment then the eyes blinked. They filled with comprehension and scanned the room. When Petra's stare landed on Darc, it narrowed.
“How dare you summon me!” Petra hissed and launched herself at Darcraxis.
Savassa stood and that action was enough to force Petra back into place. The surface of Petra's liquid face trembled like wind across a pond. She stared at the Dragoness in horror.
“Who are you?!” Petra screeched.
“For the moment, Petra Demos, I am your master.” Savassa let go of Darc's hand—his part was done—and extended her arms out to her sides grandly. “Welcome to slavery.”
Isn't that fitting? RS asked snidely.
“Fuck you, bitch!” For a second, it felt as if Petra had shouted it at RS, but she was speaking to Savassa.
“You will learn submission and you will do so this very instant!” Savassa snarled. “Kneel!”
Petra dropped to her knees as if she'd been shoved, her body splashing a bit before pulling itself back together. Her expression went panicked. “What the fuck do you want?”
Savassa glanced at Darc.
“The true name of your Jinn lover,” Darcraxis declared.
I wouldn't have thought it possible for water to pale, but that's exactly what Petra seemed to do. She lost all hint of color as her expression filled with fear and then with fury.
“Go to hell, Fairy.”
“And have you for company?” Darc countered. “I think not.”
Petra started to speak again, but Savassa held up her hand, palm out, and the Satyr's lips vanished; they simply smoothed into the rest of her face. Petra's eyes widened and her translucent hands shot to her smooth lower face in horror as Savassa gracefully resumed her seat.
“You have experienced a minute portion of my power,” Savassa said softly, almost gently. “But if you refuse me again, you will learn how I can force your spirit to feel pain through the water I've summoned you into.”
Petra couldn't speak but her eyes held a lot of nasty words.
“Don't believe me?” Savassa laughed. “Very well.”
Petra writhed suddenly. She couldn't scream, which seemed to make it worse. She crumpled into a nebulous form, her body bubbling like boiling water before Savassa ended her attack and allowed Petra to reform. Her mouth reappeared.
“All right,” Petra gasped. “His name is... Idris.”
Savassa sighed deeply and waved her little fingers. This time, Petra was able to scream and the sound of it sent chills down my spine.
“Do not lie to me, Petra Demos,” Savassa said after Petra's screams had faded into moans. “I see all of you; you can hide nothing. Now, speak the name or I will tear it from your soul and you will lose it forever!” Savassa's voice rose into a roar.
I winced.
“Idrisanigal!” Petra shouted as she covered her ears.
Absently, I wondered why Petra would have to cover ears that couldn't possibly have functioned as real ears did. But perhaps they did function. She had felt pain after all. Savassa was far more powerful than I'd expected. Oh, and I also pulled out my cellphone to jot the Jinni's name down.
“How do you spell Idrisanigal?” I asked the cowering liquid-Petra.
Chapter Thirty-Four
After we got the name from Petra, we didn't need anything further from her. Savassa immediately released her spirit; the water dispersing into the air just as Petra started to say something horrible to Darc. Even without the details that living color would have added to her face—or perhaps because of its lack—Petra conveyed menace clearly. It left a shiver in my chest.
“I'm in your debt,” I said to Savassa. “If there's ever anything I can do to repay you, just say the word.”
“There is no—” Verin started to say.
“There is one thing,” his mother cut him off.
“Of course.” I blinked in surprise. “Name it.”
“I'd like to read you, Your Majesty.” She looked pointedly at the other men and added, “Alone.”
“You're the second seer to ask for that,” I said flippantly to cover my unease. “Is there something I should know?”
“You mean; are you fascinating to those of us with the gift?” Savassa teased back. “No, not exactly. You have... a feeling about you. Around you. A disturbance in the...”
“Force?” I offered with a grin.
“In a way.” She grinned back. “Things are happening around you, Your Majesty, and we need to discuss one of them.”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Mother,” Verin growled.
“I need to speak with the Spellsinger.” Savassa stood with such authority that none of the men protested when she waved her hand toward the door. Not even her son. They simply obeyed.
Verin did spare me a concerned look as he left though. I shook my head at him, dismissing his worry. I could handle one perceptive woman. Hell, I lived with one in my mind.
Be careful with her; she is perhaps too discerning, my perceptive woman said, proving my point.
I'll watch my words, I promised.
Queen Savassa took a seat beside mine and declared without preamble, “You're sexually attracted to my son.”
I gaped at her then closed my mouth with a click.
“You don't have to say anything.” She waved her tiny hand as if confirmation wasn't required. “I've seen it. And what's more important—at least to me—is that my son is just as attracted to you.”
I cleared my throat. “Queen Savassa—”
“Just listen for a moment, Spellsinger,” she snapped.
“Yes, Ma'am.” I shut up.
“I know of your spell; I see it—no, I see her—inside you. I feel her need. You hang on the edge of a great and deadly chasm. One misstep and you will fall. You will also drag those you love down with you. No one will
