“‘Transportation system,’” Caleb repeated, his tone flat.“Funny way to talk about an invasion.”
“No, I’m talking about emigration,” the demon lord corrected him, his tone patient as if he were explaining something obvious to a particularly slow child.“There are so many of us trapped below, nephew.Entities of power and intelligence who could contribute so much to this world…if only they had a reliable way to reach it.”
The casual way he uttered those words made Caleb’s skin crawl.“Call it what it is.You’re trying to give every demon in Hell a highway to Earth.”
“Among others.”Vinea’s black eyes glittered with anticipation.“There are cambions and their sons currently languishing in the underworld, beings with just as much right to walk this plane as you do.All of them people you know.”
Caleb wouldn’t allow himself to flinch, but he knew the words had hit their target.He thought of his friends from Greencastle, the other quarter demons who’d been banished along with their fathers when the Project Demon Hunters gang had turned the cambions’ Belial-summoning ritual on its head and sent them to Hell instead.He’d escaped eventually, but they hadn’t.
And although he couldn’t be too guilty about leaving his father and the other half demons behind, Caleb knew his friends Sean and Kevin and the rest of them were largely blameless.They’d only been trying to live their lives, and although of course they’d been roped into participating in the ritual to bring Belial back to this world, he kind of doubted any of them had been too thrilled about it.
“Of course,” Vinea continued, “the ritual requires a very specific type of energy to stabilize the gateways, the kind that can only be provided by someone with both human and demon blood, someone who can serve as a bridge between the two planes.”
Now they were getting to it.“Someone like me,” Caleb said, figuring there wasn’t much point in dancing around the issue.
“Someone exactly like you.”Vinea shot him a triumphant smile.“Your blood, willingly given, will anchor the network and ensure that the portals remain stable indefinitely.Think of it, nephew — you could be responsible for reuniting so many families.You could give your trapped friends a second chance at life.”
The offer was horribly tempting.The idea of seeing his friends again, of undoing the terrible fate that had befallen them, tugged at something deep inside, a desire to be around those who knew who he was and from whom he had no reason to hide.
You have that in Delia and Pru and Ty,he told himself.A smaller circle of friends, sure, but one he thought was just as loyal.
Besides, he also knew there was no way Vinea was telling him the whole truth.
“And all the innocent people who get trampled when your ‘emigrants’ arrive and take up residence here?”he asked.“What happens to them?”
Vinea’s cool expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes, a reddish flame Caleb recognized all too well, since he’d seen it in his father’s eyes as well.
Usually when he wasn’t doing quite as good a job at reining in the demonic side of his nature as he should have been.
“Regrettable, perhaps, but ultimately necessary,” Vinea replied.“You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.”
“‘Eggs,’” Caleb repeated, eyes narrowing as he glared at the demon lord.“You’re talking about millions of people.”
“I’m talking about evolution,” Vinea snapped, those irritated words the first crack in his urbane exterior.“This plane has been stagnant for far too long, dominated by cattle who squander their potential and waste the gifts they’ve been given.A little supernatural guidance could help them reach their true capabilities.”
Caleb quirked an eyebrow.“Under demonic rule.”
“Under proper management.”The demon lord’s tone was calm again, but Caleb could see the predatory gleam in his night-dark eyes.“Really, nephew, you’re being quite dramatic about this.It’s not as if we’re planning genocide.Most humans would hardly notice the change, once they adjusted to the new reality.”
The casual dismissal of human autonomy made the anger rise again, snarling like a rabid animal, and he stomped it down as best he could.Losing his temper wouldn’t help anything.
“And if I tell you where to shove your interdimensional portal?”
“Well, that would be unfortunate.”Vinea gestured with one pale hand, and the air around Caleb shimmered.At once, he could see Delia, Ty, and Pru — Delia behind the wheel of her little white Hyundai SUV, knuckles tight on the steering wheel, Pru and Ty with their heads bent together as they appeared to discuss something in urgent whispers.The image was so real he could almost reach out and touch Delia’s beautiful, worried face.“You see,” the demon lord went on, “the ritual can be powered by demon blood, regardless of whether it’s given willingly or not.Voluntary participation simply makes the process more efficient.”
“And my friends — ”
“Will meet with tragic accidents,” Vinea responded smoothly, not missing a beat.“Starting with the lovely Ms.Dunne.I understand you’ve grown quite attached to her.”
The threat sent anger flaring through Caleb all over again, his demon blood roaring inside, wanting to reach out and snap the neck of this creature that threatened the woman he loved, but he knew he needed to think rather than react.Vinea was powerful, no question about that, but he was also talking.Gloating.Playing the Bond villain.
Which meant he either wanted something from Caleb beyond simple compliance…or he was buying time for something else.
“There’s something you’re not telling me,” Caleb said then.“If you can take my blood by force, why all the theater?Why try to convince me to cooperate?”
For the first time since he’d entered the chapel, Vinea looked genuinely pleased.“Excellent question.You really are Daniel’s son, aren’t you?Always thinking three moves ahead.”
The demon lord moved closer, close enough that Caleb could see his own reflection in those dark eyes, like the black mirrors mortals sometimes used for scrying.Up close, Vinea’s human guise was less convincing — his skin had a waxy, bloodless quality to it, and there was no warmth in his breath despite the words that emerged from his thin lips.
