First Plane Trilogy

Chapter 6: Grandfather’s Disapproval

My fingers ached from signing paperwork, shuffling through the stacks of soft parchment, sorting and filing the pages afterwards as Pagomaris hovered at my elbow. It shocked me at first, this mountain of mundane. Who would ever have thought demons resorted to hard copies of anything, considering the amount of magic we had at our disposal? And yet, as my aide informed me, there was a distinct need for solid proof - sealed individually with my energy - the laws and decisions of the court were available to be viewed by any who might challenge them.

There was a time in the beginning facing this giant stack of minutia would have made me squirm and grumble. But I'd grown to enjoy the quiet hours I spent, the scent of the freshly pressed paper, the thick ink, the sigh of each page and the scratching of the metal quill pen I used to sign my name.

Senne Hathenemeria. Over and over, like a meditation, the scrolling utensil itself infused with the power of Ruler. Fulfilling this task helped still my churning thoughts, calming and relaxing me to the point, when the doors to my office swung open and Henemordonin stepped through, I was in a perfect state of mind.

I glanced up at him, the pit of my stomach the only part of me registering the fact seeing his angry face stirred old anxiety. Pagomaris stiffened next to me as my eyes drifted from my grandfather's disapproving frown - he wore no other expression I knew of - and to the tall, broad-shouldered demon following behind and to his right. Jabuticabron nodded once to me, my beloved Sassafras's older brother taking a firm stance behind Henemordonin as the Second Seat came to a thundering halt in front of my desk.

Sass may have harbored ill will toward his brother when they were younger, but Jabuticabron mellowed from what I was able to garner, advancing rapidly in the ranks of the Seat Guard. When I became Ruler, my first assignment had been to elevate him to the leader of my personal retinue and he'd never given me reason to doubt my decision. On the contrary, with Jabut watching over me, Sequoia slipping in to watch from the shadows near the arching fireplace, I felt as close to the protective and watchful gaze of my dear Sassafras as I ever did.

With their firm presence to bolster my already altered mood, I found, for the first time in a very long time, I was able to hold on to my temper and my fear and simply observe my grandfather.

Yes, Ahbi hissed in my mind. See him as he truly is. Not a frightening gherlich, all tentacles and darkness, but just a demon. A demon beneath you.

How odd it felt, this detachment as I sank deeper into the quiet I'd managed to find. Where once his reddening face made me nervous, now he simply appeared silly, a boy in an old demon's body, about to throw a temper tantrum. I almost laughed. I held back my amusement by a hair's breadth. The moment of crystal liberation engulfed me and I embraced it in return.

This. Yes, this.

Giddy with self-discovery, I settled back in my seat and allowed the corners of my mouth to rise as Henemordonin leaned forward, fists on the edge of my desk. His power pushed against me as it always did, only this time I felt not intimidated, but amused. So pathetic, his attempt to bully me.

Ahbi laughed. Oh dear, she sent. I fear you're a monster in the making.

The term made me shudder. I'd heard it as a young girl, the night Syd declared to our parents she refused to use her magic, refused to be a monster. I had no idea her statement stuck with me so powerfully, despite her later attempt to smooth the edges of her dislike. It was enough to blunt my humor, though I knew now nothing would ever push me back into the corner I'd resided in for the last four years.

My grandfather's deep voice crackled with power as he spoke. "What exactly do you think you're going to accomplish with such acts of public aggression?" Could he sense he'd lost control of me at last? Did he feel my contempt, my lack of interest in anything he had to say? I could only believe so as frustration and a shock of his own fear passed through his eyes.

He's afraid of me? The idea surprised me.

Of course he is, silly girl, Ahbi sent. You represent the future and he is the long past. Only your lack of conviction has given him any kind of power. She chuckled, evil and eager. Time to finally cut the rug out from beneath him.

I didn't bother to remind her she was as old school as he. And Henemordonin was still my Second Seat, at least until I found another to take his place. But, I was done being pushed around and treated like a child.

"I informed you long ago," I said, voice low and steady, "I wasn't going to allow you to control me." Forget the last four years, they never happened. "I've given you a great deal of leeway while I've learned what I needed to rule Demonicon well and completely. But your petulance and bullying, while amusing at times, will no longer be tolerated."

Ahbi's laughter made it difficult to concentrate.

Henemordonin loomed closer, power now forcing itself into mine so hard I had to shove him back to keep him from crushing me. My chair made a scraping sound on the stone floor as I surged to my feet and battered him back, a snarl on my lips before I could stop it.

He straightened suddenly, drawing his robe around him, clearly offended.

"Your unhealthy temper gets the best of you yet again," he snapped, though all the pressure of his power had vanished. Winning this battle simply fed my confidence even as he went on. "I always believed your father's choice was the wrong one." I hissed in a breath as Jabut took a sharp step forward, Pagomaris snarling a guttural warning. "I worked very hard to guide and shape you, to make you a strong Ruler." Never mind he spent the last four years undermining me while encouraging the demononcracy laws removing my power a slice at a time. "Now I see my original supposition was correct. You are far too weak to ever be a good Ruler."

Energy surged out of me, Ahbi taking form, her furious face cascading sparks over my desk as she thrust a wall of anger against Henemordonin.

Guiding her is my job, she sent in a crush of power. I'm the only reason she hasn't become a mere figurehead to your ridiculous attempt to take over First Seat.

"Evil one!" Henemordonin's voice thundered from his expanding chest. "Your influence has led us to this madness!"

Their magic clashed, parted. Only my hasty shielding prevented them from setting my still substantial pile of paperwork on fire. I clamped down on both of them, realizing only then, with my grandmother's attention elsewhere, Henemordonin was right. Ahbi was as much a part of the problem as he was. I felt suddenly clear-headed and myself for the first time in a very long time. And, with that clarity, came anger, shame and the old determined optimism I'd clung to as the second, odd child of a coven leader.

"Enough." They spun on me as I contained them both, trapping their power inside mine. The magic of Demonicon answered eagerly, buffeting them with enough energy to make Henemordonin sway. I focused first on my grandfather. "The next time you challenge me, publicly or privately, I'm replacing you as Second Seat." My fist impacted the top of my desk for emphasis. He spluttered, but I didn't allow him to interrupt. "I am so sick of you, I'm ready to crush you like a bug. Please, just give me a reason."

"How dare you!" He wrestled with my power, his own battering at the inside of my shielding without result. "I'll have you removed for such insolence!"

Jabut's heavy boots rang on stone as he stomped to my desk, fury on his face. "Ruler," he growled. "One word and I will have him arrested."

I think it was only then Henemordonin realized how far he'd gone. I watched his outrage turn to worry and finally sullen withdrawal. He bowed his head, sparks still lighting his eyes though his power retreated from mine and he took on a physical stance of supplication.

"Forgive me," his words ground out between the tight clench of his jumping jaw. How much it must have hurt him to say those words. "I am simply over passionate in my need to protect Demonicon."

Jabut's eyes never left me, begging me to tell him what he wanted to hear. And though it was the epitome of tempting, I knew having my grandfather arrested would get me nowhere. He had enough support in court, he would weasel his way free in no time, leaving me to face the twisting lies he would concoct to make me look like the one in the wrong.

"You may leave," I said, sitting down and refocusing on my paperwork. I glanced up after a moment, feeling the heat of his glare, one eyebrow rising as I gave him my most cold stare. "Perhaps you need your hearing tested. Jabuticabron, if you would escort Second Seat from my presence."

My guard captain saluted and spun abruptly toward my grandfather. He didn't speak, but he didn't have to. While Henemordonin was a large and barrel-chested demon, Jabut had at least half a head on him, full plate armor making him appear even larger. Not to mention the magic crackling around him while he glared at my grandfather.

Henemordonin offered a stiff bow and swept from the room, Jabuticabron on his heels. I held still until my guard slammed the double doors behind the retreating demon before I sagged back into my chair and fixed my grinning grandmother's spirit with angry eyes.

"You're next." I stood again, circling the table, coming to a halt beside the sparking, fiery outline of her spirit. Her expression wavered as her humor faded, though her eyes held mine. "I'm done being pushed around, Ahbi." She opened her flaming mouth, but I cut her off with a s***h of one hand, my power circling her. It had once been hers, the magic of Demonicon, and though it felt confused about our relationship, it answered to me instantly. "This was your idea," I said, tone softening as her form did. "Clearly your methods haven't served either of us thus far." I drew a long, deep breath and released it in a slow exhale, just so happy to feel myself again. "You're welcome to stay with me," I said. "But please, Grandmother. If I'm going to fix the mess we've made in the last four years, I need to be me."

She grunted before nodding. "I was just trying to help," she said.

"I know." I reached for her, ran my fingers over the edge of her spirit. "But I think we both see now how things have to be."

"You don't need me." She floated back, mournful expression hardening into despair. "But I have nowhere to go."

"Yes, you do." I opened my arms to her. "And I need you now, more than ever. But not to control me. To work with me."

She hesitated. "I can't help myself," she said.

I laughed and nodded. "I know," I said. "I see now I allowed this to happen. So, if you're willing to give it another try, just be prepared. I'm not going to be a pushover any longer."

As Ahbi watched me, I embraced my responsibility in all this. I blamed Dad for making this mess, Henemordonin for being a bully, my grandmother for interfering and pushing me around. But I was just as guilty. I had a brain, a back bone, didn't I? I allowed my fear of making mistakes and not living up to my extraordinarily talented family hold me back. A huge weight lifted from me, leaving me breathless and a little shaky as I smiled at my grandmother.

"Come home," I said. "We have work to do."

"And your grandfather?" Ahbi hovered closer. "What are we going to do about him?"

I felt her slip inside me, her spirit form disappearing as she fit herself carefully and respectfully inside me.

I don't know yet, I sent. But I have no doubt together we'll figure it out.

***