Just as she had seven, fourteen, and twenty-one years ago, Yrgaeshkil stood and watched events unfold. This time she observed from a window on Summerrain’s fifth floor. Few people even realized the room was here. She’d protected it through well-placed lies at corners and intersections all across the fifth floor so that even if someone managed to remember that this room existed they wouldn’t be able to reach it unless they knew how to navigate the one true path of travel she’d left open.
Thankfully, she didn’t have to wear the form of her detestable children, the one her husband had created for her. Today she was young, her body aged to about twenty-five years, sculpted to the height of male desire, full breasts, ample hips. Long, dark hair hung freely down her back. She reveled in the moment, as much as she could with so much weight on the outcome of the day.
Julianna rode away, down the long gravel drive that stretched from the front of the manor to the gate. Two flower gardens – each a twin of the other down to every single flower – sat on each side of the drive. This meticulous interest in the perfection of both gardens was one of several Lies Yrgaeshkil had placed on Maerie Vivaen within moments of Julianna joining this household after the debacle fourteen years ago.
“That was close,” Kavala said.
Again, the scarred-faced man stood next to Yrgaeshkil. She hated how much she needed him. At least, for now. When the time came, she would rid the world of the nuisance of his presence.
“What was?” Yrgaeshkil asked without turning to him.
The door to the room opened and Alyxandros Vivaen entered as Kavala spoke.
“Julianna actually managing to escape to attend this picnic with her friends. It seems only a matter of luck that she was able to bypass her aunt’s wishes.”
“Luck had nothing to do with it,” Alyxandros said, as he joined them by the window. “This morning has been carefully orchestrated down to the last moment. Julianna is a capable young woman, clever, and good at commanding the loyalty of those under her, but she is not perfect. I had to step in and aid her a bit. After all, this is our last chance, isn’t it?”
Yrgaeshkil noticed that the mortal did not bow or show any deference as he approached.
She turned to Alyxandros, and the mortal did not have the decency to look away. There was once a time when all creatures knew their place in the order of celestial precedence. Most still did, all save for these humans. Well, the time was coming when she would remind them of their place.
“She will continue to have birthdays by seven,” Kavala said.
“But they won’t be this birthday,” Alyxandros replied. “This is the first birthday by seven Julianna has had since the blessing by thrice has been fulfilled. It must be today, or we will have to start again, and it probably won’t be with a follower of Grandfather Shadow.”
“Alyxandros.” Yrgaeshkil turned the fullness of her gaze on him. Even though she detested herself for it, she allowed her face to blur, putting a bit of her husband’s preferred form into her features, specifically, twin goat eyes. “If this fails, you will not be able to hide from me, not in any corner of any realm.”
“Why do you threaten me?” Alyxandros asked. “My part is done.”
Yrgaeshkil wanted to slap this smug mortal so hard his neck would spin around on his shoulders. She turned back to the window. She could still see Julianna and her servant far down the road leading away from the estate. If Yrgaeshkil didn’t turn away from Alyxandros, she might well kill him and cast his soul down into the Dark Realm of the Godless Dead for her children to play with for all time.
“Don’t look at me like that, goddess,” Alyxandros said. “Julianna is headed for the picnic. I have sent messages to those that needed information. I have affected today’s events as much as is in my power. If this plan fails now, the fault lies with Nae’Toran and the Brotherhood of the Night.”