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Faidren bowed, “Féile na Banríona, I have delivered your message.”
The queen looked up from the documents she was reading, “What was the result, Ard-Chomhairleoir?”
He gave a one-sided shrug, “Much as we anticipated. A blow has been dealt that will keep the Triang from interfering further with our plans.”
“And the situation with the Ó Fhionnuisce?”
“The Glascat will deal with it, I wager. I will speak with the Maor Ard about her pet however, we cannot risk a large outbreak of Ghoul Pox,” Faidren said, “If nothing else it would hamper us more than the Triang.”
“Very good.” The queen returned her attention to the documents.
Faidren bowed as if she’d spoken to dismiss and turned away.
“However,” the Banríona continued without looking up, “Should any harm come to my daughter, I will hold you responsible; you are, after all, her Fianán.”
The Ard-Chomhairleoir said nothing, but he turned back and bowed again before walking away quickly.
“Do you think that he will rescue her himself or let the Glascat do his work for him?” The queen asked aloud after a long moment’s silence.
The Ceann Maoirseoir stepped out of the shadows of the alcove to her left, “I think that he will let the Glascat do the work and then step in at the last minute.”
“Do we have plenty of Leigheas tocsain?”
“Yes, Banríona. As soon as I knew that the Maor Ard had allowed her pet to embody itself in Andrew Reading-Smith, I began production from the sample we held.” He moved to stand level with her desk, “I hope that we won’t have to use it.”
“Indeed. Thank you for your aid, Ceann Maoirseoir.”
“I live to serve you, my queen,” The Head Mage swept an elaborate bow, his cloak swishing through the air, “By your leave?”
She waved one hand in response, and he strode out.
––––––––
“LET US GO, ANDREW.” Melanie wriggled against the cable ties holding her arms and legs to the chair.
“Why should I do that?” Andrew Reading-Smith turned away from the table in front of them, “Give me one good reason why I should, and I’ll do it.”
Melanie stared at the face of the man she’d fallen in love with thirty years ago. I wish we’d never come to this horrible city. “Is the love I have for you not enough reason, Andy?”
He walked over. One leg had been broken in the struggle with the Fae Warrior that had been guarding Tabatha and was healing crookedly, so he lurched to the left every few steps and it took a few moments to recover his balance each time.
“Andy no longer exists. He gave up on you years ago.” Andrew said, stroking one bloody finger down her face, “He gave up on you when someone more important came into his life.”
“I never gave up on him.” She held herself completely still, trying to hide the revulsion she felt at the rancidity of his breath.
“Then you are a fool, Melanie Reading-Smith.” Another voice said from the shadows behind the table.
A Fae woman in black trousers and tunic moved into the light shining down onto Melanie, “The man you know as Andy was eradicated by my pet and has been mine body and soul for the last ten years.”
As Melanie tried to figure out who the woman was, there was an angry exhalation from the large cage in the corner of the room.
“Morrigan, you traitor!” Tabatha shouted, “Let us go.”
“My dear Princess, I am not a traitor to anyone. I have full sanction for my actions from your mother.” The Fae woman seemed amused, “And I’m not letting anyone out of this room until I have word from the Banríona. Don’t worry, you’ll not be harmed by my pet; it’s part of his orders.”
“What about my aunt?” The girl in the cage slumped against the bars.
Andrew turned to look at the woman in black, “Can I do it now, Mistress? Please?”
The Fae Woman walked across to Melanie, “My pet has requested that he be allowed to turn a mate. Who am I to stand in the way of his needs?”
Melanie glared up at her, “I’ll never submit to anything that you allow him to do.”
“I thought that you loved him. Were you lying earlier?” Morrigan tilted her head, her dark brown hair drifting across her face.
“What do you mean by that?”
Andrew knelt at Morrigan’s feet and bowed his head, “I promise I won’t allow her to get out of control, Mistress. We shall serve you loyally.”
She ruffled his hair absently with one black gloved hand, “I know you will, my Pet. Well, Melanie? Do you love your husband enough to die for him?”
Melanie looked at Andrew. What has she done to him? “Once I would have said yes without hesitation, but having seen what he’s done recently, there’s very little of the man I loved and married left.”
Andrew swung his head to look sidelong at Melanie. He smiled when she noticed, and she saw the long thin fangs that had taken the place of his canine teeth. A strange yellow liquid seeped from the tips and dribbled down his chin.
“I’ll take that as a no then. I would have preferred that you do it willingly, but it matters not to me how it gets done.” Morrigan shrugged.
“Mistress?!” Andrew pleaded.
She smoothed his hair for a moment, then stepped back, “You have done everything that I have asked of you and more, my Pet. You may have your playmate. Do a good job and I may allow you to turn more.”
Andrew threw back his head and howled with excitement, “Thank you Mistress, thank you!”
Morrigan retreated to the shadows, “Now remember, the Ó Fhionnuisce is not to be harmed. This is a part of her education after all.”
“Yes Mistress. I promise, Mistress.”
“Morrigan, what in the seven hells are you going to let him do?” Tabatha shouted.
A laugh floated back to them, “Why should he be the only Ghoul in this area? It’s hardly fair to make him live alone without company...”
––––––––
“HE STOPPED FIGHTING.” Amira said.
“So, there’s nothing we can do for him?” Kai slumped back in her chair.
It was four in the morning. The Medic had been given a clean bill of health just after midnight and left with strict instructions to rest for a week. Kai had made sure that she would by calling the Medic’s boss and telling him to give her paid sickness leave.
I knew that the Triang wielded a lot of power, but I didn’t realise quite how much. Just the mention of the Jade Cat had him bowing and scraping as if I were a queen... and he thought I was the Jade Cat’s Personal Assistant! The thought brought her back to the current crisis.
“So, what do we do now?” Kai asked the dragon priestess.
Amira glanced across at Edward, who had been strapped to a gurney when he died. The thick leather straps and reinforced buckles seemed incongruous against the motionless body they restrained.
“We wait. If he has been turned, he’ll rise by sunrise. If he is truly dead, we’ll have to cremate the body to stop the pox spreading.”
“What if he has turned?” Kai said.
“It depends on how he reacts to the change. Some ghouls can be controlled, and some can’t.” Amira swallowed, looking unhappy.
“How do you control a Ghoul?”
“You have to get him to imprint on you. Ghouls are loyal to their Master only.” Amira shivered, “When the Vampires created them, they made the mistake of feeding them their blood as a part of the imprint process and now it’s the only way for a Ghoul to recognise their Master or Mistress.”
“They’re part vampire?” Kai shuddered.
“Ghouls are the reason for the Zombie stories in the Human world,” Amira said.
She’s worried and scared. I’ve never known her to talk like this before. Kai looked over at Edward’s body, then she rose and walked across to stand beside him. The blisters had subsided, and he now looked like he was sleeping rather than dead. Only the paleness of his normally tanned skin said that he wasn’t alive.
“What do you do to imprint them?” she asked.
“Kai, you shouldn’t ask that. It’s against the Underworld Law to keep a Ghoul, even trapped in a Spirit Jar.” Amira said.
“Okay, tell me what we do if he is the sort that can’t be controlled.”
“He has to be dismembered and cremated in a special container.” Amira looked sick, “Unfortunately, Ghouls are so hard to destroy that he’ll be alive the whole time and there’s only one type of fire that can destroy their spirits.”
Kai thought for a moment, “Would it be Dragon Fire?”
Amira nodded, “The Fire of a Dragon King to be precise... and we lost touch with the Dragon Kings just after we eradicated the Ghoul in the Dark Cities area last time.”
That explains why no one believes in the Dragon Kings in Te Ling then. Kai sighed, “I can get in touch with one if we have need of him.”
She looked down at Edward again, “How do you imprint them?” she asked without looking at Amira.
“Kai, don’t do this to me.” Amira said in Kai’s mind.
“Tell me.”
Amira looked sick, “I can’t let you do this. He wouldn’t want it.”
“How about we let him decide?” Kai replied and brought up the memory of the moment when she had touched Edward’s mind after calling for Amira. “This is what he said: “I don’t want to die! I don’t want to leave, I have too much to accomplish!””
“But he thought he was dying of a disease, not becoming Undead.” Amira pointed out, “Are you sure that he’d want to live as a Ghoul?”
“I have to give him the option, Amira. If he turns to the sort that can be controlled, it would be better than he is under my auspices than anyone else.” Kai said, “And it’s the Triang that control the Underworld.”
“We’d have to get the rest of the Triang’s permission to do it.”
“Then do so.” She waved one hand at her friend, “They’ll listen to you.”
Amira sighed and walked over to the phone.
Kai stayed beside Edward. The Jian lay on a nearby table and Wei Tian hovered beside it.
“I don’t understand why your people are against the Ghoul existing. They were considered valuable soldiers when I was alive. Strong, fast and loyal.” The Ghost said.
“I don’t quite understand it myself. I believe it’s to do with a battle between the Vampires and Werewolves though.” She replied.
“If the enemy have one, then you should have one.” Wei Tian said in a firm tone, “Only a Ghoul can really face a Ghoul and survive. Even the Immortals would have problems surviving a battle with a Ghoul.”
“I hadn’t looked at it like that.” Kai said thoughtfully.
Amira put the phone down on her fourth conversation, “Out of four, only the Silver Wolf is against it. By Triang rules, you need a simple majority to carry this kind of motion, so you have the Triang’s permission to try.”
There was a groan from the gurney.
“And it looks like you’re about to get your chance.” Amira looked worried.