Demon's Dream

"That didn't scare you?" I asked, my skepticism showing.



"Just turned out badly for the evil ones," he grinned. "I saw you standing in the doorway, keeping the rabble away from those girls. Have you seen the morning news?" He pushed a comp-vid toward me.



"I was busy heaving in the bathroom," I said. Aurelius, using a little power, pulled the comp-vid toward me. "He did that," I pointed to Auri. I still sat on his lap, after all. I tapped the comp-vid and found all sorts of responses to the news program the evening before. The best one, however, was from Xordthe. People were crowding outside Cynthin Gerg's Presidential palace, with vid signs. Some were downright nasty, calling her a bitch and other unkind names, but my favorite was the large sign held up by a group of people that said Reah Nilvas saved the planet. What have you done for Xordthe, Cynthin?



I laughed as the aud proclaimed that those people were scientists who'd seen the weakening core firsthand. They were puzzled when it magically healed itself. Except that it hadn't healed itself. I'd done it. Local media were interviewing some of those scientists, who did indeed have official numbers in hand and gladly showed anyone who wanted to see.



"Reah, I have a group of Council members assembled outside my palace, demanding to see you," Teeg walked back in with a sigh.



"What for?" I asked. Aurelius wrapped his arms around me when I shivered.



"They want to know that you're all right."



An hour later, I was showered, dressed and transported to Teeg's palace on Campiaa. Teeg had shifted the Council members to one of the smaller ballrooms inside the San Gerxon Casino. Astralan, leaning down to give me a kiss, transported us over. Stellan, Celestan and Galaxsan were already there, providing security. I didn't know it would turn into a press conference. Someone had brought Hild Marolla in as well.



"Sit here, baby," Teeg settled me onto a seat at the center of a long table. The crowd inside the ballroom was growing.



Do not fear, my love, I have shields in place, Nefrigar sent to me. He was standing in shadow at the end of the table. I think he had himself shielded and was visible only to those he chose. And when I looked, I found four more Larentii standing in the corners of the room. They were protecting me, at Nefrigar's direction. I was also being recorded as Teeg sat next to me.



"Was that true, what I was shown?" Hild Marolla started the questioning. "Can you really heal planetary cores?"



"I've done it several times," I nodded at his question. "I've been back to Thiskil recently and there are a few weeds and plants growing, but it's still mostly dead. I wish there was something else I could do to hurry the process, but it's going to take time. The others, like Xordthe, had been tapped recently when I healed them, and Xordthe had only been tapped from one place. That made it easier to repair."



"Some planets were tapped in multiple places?" A scientist from a respected journal had come to ask questions.



"Yes. Tulgalan was one of those. The energy I poured into it was leaking out the other site, so it was more difficult to repair."



"This energy, where does it come from?" The scientist asked.



"From a renewable source that constantly puts out energy," I said. "It's stellar energy. I act as a conduit and siphon it to the damaged core before sealing it up. Isn't that where all the energy came from in the beginning? That power should be natural, and I've been assured it's the best way to heal the cores." Nefrigar had smiled when he'd told me that.



"On the original vid," someone else said, "shown on Temporary Insanity, the doctor asked about a suicide attempt. Would you care to explain that?"



"No," I said.



"But you did try it, according to the vid, by a volcano, is that correct?"



"I contemplated it. I didn't try it. Trying it implies that I went through with it, or attempted to do so. I was talked away from the edge." I squinted to see the one speaking. "Step forward, please," I said. The man walked toward the front. "Your name?" I asked. "And affiliation?"



"Seve Dibolus, from network ninety-one," he hung his head.



"And what do you intend to do with this information?" I asked. He was from the network that produced Temporary Insanity. The others in the room recognized that fact immediately and there was some grumbling.



"We just want to get to the truth of the matter," he said.



"Lie," I said. "Try again."



"We wanted to publish a retraction on the program," he said.



"Another lie. Why not tell the truth for a change?" I said.



"We want as much information as we can get to form our defense against the allegations that we broke the laws," he whined.



"Truth," I sighed. "Come here. Sit beside me," I patted the empty chair to my left. Teeg still sat on my right. "Now, what else do we have? I warn you that I was heaving this morning due to the pregnancy, so I don't think I can go on much longer today. Ask your questions now."



"How badly has this whole incident hurt you?" Hild Marolla asked. His question made me sigh.



"This is beyond awful," I said. "I have no hope of going out in public anonymously. Or taking my child out in public. While others might find that attractive, to me it is upsetting."



"Tell them the story about the rats." Kevis walked in and sat next to Teeg.



"Are you crazy?" I looked at him. The crowd found that funny.



"Come on. Tell them."



"I was chasing Thaddis Grund through the sewers on Ooklar," I said. "Are you familiar with him?" Most of the people in the crowd nodded. Thaddis was a crime kingpin from that portion of the Reth Alliance. He'd eluded the ASD for decades, until Lendill sent me after him. That's what I said. "The Vice-Director of the ASD sent me to Ooklar after Thaddis blew up a bank in the capital city. He had escape routes throughout the city, and all of those escape routes ran through the archaic sewer system. It has since been upgraded," I said.



"I thought I'd trapped him until he used a remote to open a hidden portal into the sewers. While the heavy steel cover would have foiled any humanoid, I turned Thifilatha and jerked it off to follow him. Once I turn, my clothing is destroyed. So rather than turn back and chase him naked as a humanoid, I remained Thifilatha."



Chuckles came at the thought of chasing a ruthless criminal through the sewers while nude. "Rodents and insects are frightened when they see or scent any High Demon in Thifilatha. The rats in the sewers, and there were many of those," I put heavy emphasis on the word many, "were running before me in an attempt to escape. Thaddis, still running ahead of me, was overtaken by thousands of rats, and in their attempt to flee what they considered a larger predator, they knocked Thaddis down and ran over his back, squeaking at the top of their little rat lungs. Thaddis was an easy capture, after that. I believe he might be the only criminal actually brought down by rodents."



The crowd was really laughing now. I smiled at them. Even Seve, sitting next to me, was snickering.



"What are you doing now?" someone else asked. "I see the doctor, there. Is he treating you?"



"As much as I can," Kevis commented dryly. "She lets me know when we're done for the day." That also brought laughter from the crowd.



"So, Doctor, in your professional opinion, is Ms. Nilvas dangerous?"



"If she were, I'd be a goner," he said. "I've pried into private matters so much and gotten her angry enough at me that I'd have been toast if she were dangerous. She still hasn't forgiven me for the nurse betrayal. Reah calls Ceerah nurse nasty, but that's the extent of her violence. Does that sound dangerous to you?"



"I called Ceerah Kade worse when I learned she was involved in the drakus seed trade," someone in the back stood. "My son died of drakus seed."



"Then I am sorry for your loss," I said. "I burned those fields on Birimera, when Arvil San Gerxon was growing that filth," I added.



"And yet you're married to his heir," the man nodded in Teeg's direction.



"A long story. Teeg was never involved in any of that. In fact, Teeg was Arvil's construction contractor. When Arvil's brother and cousins died, courtesy of the RAA, by the way, Arvil went looking for a replacement heir. Teeg was the only trustworthy person he could find. He ran the casinos here on Campiaa, and honestly, I might add, while Arvil was bent on destroying the Reth Alliance with drakus seed. Arvil was staying on Birimera while the fields grew. That's where we took him down. Teeg, as you know, decided that the Campiaan Alliance was a good idea and ran with it. You see that the Reth Alliance has allied with it, after all. They recognize the value of it and actually went over their constitution and rules before reaching out a hand."



"You were a building contractor?" someone asked Teeg.



Teeg almost blushed. Almost. "I have architecture and engineering degrees," he said. "I'm used to building things. The Campiaan Alliance was no exception."



"Do you still do construction?" Hild Marolla smiled.



"I know when they aren't installing my wife's new kitchen cabinets properly," he grinned.



"Did you buy new cabinets for me?" I blinked at Teeg in surprise.



"I did." His smile was directed at me, now.



"What do the countertops look like?"



"A honey-brown granite, with flecks of gold," he said.



"I love that color," I sighed. The crowd laughed.



Teeg shooed everybody away shortly after that, sending them to another room where they were served drinks and a complimentary meal. Hild Marolla was brought to San Gerxon Palace, though.



"I just wanted to meet you in person," he held out a hand. I took it.



"These are the new cabinets?" He glanced around the kitchen.



"I'm seeing them for the first time, too," I said. "Want to try them out?" Teeg offered Hild a seat at the wide, kitchen island, Astralan and his brothers sat down, too, and I made crepes for all of them.

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