Gemma shrugged. “Think about it. Your leader left without warning. And I know you think he’ll come back willingly and it will all make sense, but I can tell you, you’re wrong.”
“What do you know about it?” the redheaded demon replied testily.
“I was there when he left. He told me he was a traitor.”
The Seeker’s jaw dropped. She was distracted, trying to come to terms with events. Gemma caught Cal’s eyes and subtly motioned toward the cabinets at the edge of the room. Cal blinked, then nodded almost imperceptibly and began inching toward them. Gemma hoped there was something inside them that could be used as a weapon against the remaining enemies.
Beyha grunted, then shook her head as if trying to clear it. “Lies. You’re telling lies, human.”
“What reason do I have to lie? Shadow doesn’t think it’s a lie. He’s out there trying to find Grimm now, but Grimm’s made sure to block him. What else could it be except treason?”
Gemma could tell her words were having an effect, but the Seeker wasn’t entirely off guard yet. “Stand still, Vartik, or I’ll make you.” She held a hand out in warning. “I’ve got your powers, remember?”
Gemma felt a sliver of fear but pushed it away, rolling her eyes. “You guys are so easily distracted. All you seem to care about is playing games with us. Is that what the Crown Prince wants? I guess the battle for the end of the universe isn’t as serious as I thought.”
Beyha’s eyes narrowed, anger flushing her cheeks. Her hand drooped as she rose to the bait. “What the fuck do you know about it? Earlier today, you couldn’t even put a couple words together. Now you suddenly know everything about us?”
“It doesn’t take long to see how foolishly you’re behaving. Let’s count the points again, since you still don’t get it.” As she was talking, Gemma saw that Cal had resumed his movement toward the cabinet.
“One, your leader left you. Even worse, he actively turned against you. Two, arguably your most effective team member has just been dragged off to avoid a girl fight with that one.” Gemma pointed at Dunkel. “Three, Shadow, the only one of you who seems to have any sense, just took off to stop your team from tearing itself apart. Four, he’s gone after the leader who left. See point one. Five—”
Before Gemma could finish her list, Beyha lifted her arm and spoke. “Hurt.”
Cal stiffened and dropped to the floor, his body vibrating with some unseen agony, his eyes bulging and his mouth locked in a rictus of pain.
“I told you to hold still,” Beyha said, her expression dark.
Gemma’s heart contracted as she watched Cal suffer. “Stop it!”
Beyha frowned at her. “What’s wrong, Miss Know-It-All? Your list left off the fact that, one, I’m in control here, not you, and two, I won’t hesitate to kill your Vartik out of spite. So stop talking or I’ll show you how serious I am.”
Gemma held her hands up in a gesture of surrender. Beyha nodded, the red fading from her eyes. Cal stilled, his face red, his muscles still twitching from the power that had been pulsating through him.
She knelt next to him, helping him stand. “Your powers can do that?” she whispered, realizing that she barely knew the man she’d given her heart away to.
Cal nodded, wiping away the sweat from his brow. “Persuasion is a powerful motivator. But an attack of such magnitude would wipe me out.” The Vartik turned to Beyha. “You might have knocked me down, but you’ve blown all your power doing it.”
“Think so?” Beyha’s grin was wicked when she flicked her wrist. “Hurt.”
Cal dropped again, this time letting out a pitiful groan.
“I’m a demon, Vartik,” she said when she released him. “Any powers I steal are magnified to match my strength. Which, as you can see, is much greater than yours.” Beyha’s eyes flicked to her. “Add that to your equation, Brainiac.”
“I’m sorry,” Gemma whispered, fighting back tears as she helped Cal to stand once again. Her plan hadn’t worked. All the confidence he’d poured into her was wiped away like spilled milk.
“It’s okay,” he said, putting his arm around her shoulder. “You did the best you could, kiddo.”
“Not my best, not yet,” Gemma said, an idea unfolding inside her.
