Bittersweet Magic (The Order #2)

They claimed they wouldn’t have actually killed her themselves, but they wouldn’t have stood in the way if her father’s people had tried to do the job. She closed her eyes and tried to remember her father, but the memory remained nebulous. It was as though there was a curtain in her mind, hiding the memories. A curtain she couldn’t draw back. So she stopped trying. For now. Instead, she switched off the water and worked out what questions to ask Tara.

What she’d really like to ask about was Asmodai. But at the same time, she was unwilling to reveal who her demon protector was until she had decided what to do, whether or not to hand the Key over to him. Surely, that wouldn’t be so bad. After all, Tara and Christian were related to the demon. They could stop him doing anything bad with the Key.

She hoped.

Roz also wanted to know about the fae. Her father’s people. Who apparently were as bad as demons but better at hiding it.

And what else was there in the world? What other monsters were there, that she had believed were mere myths and legends?

After drying herself quickly, she pulled on a robe—hers dark red, going nicely with her pale skin. She rubbed a towel over her hair, ran her fingers through it, and went back into the lounge. The welcome scent of freshly ground coffee greeted her.

Tara and Maria were sitting, facing each other, on opposite sofas with a coffee table in between. A tray stood on the table, and Roz pounced on it. She poured herself a cup, added cream and sugar, and settled herself on the seat next to Maria, so she would be able to see Tara’s face while she talked.

“So,” she said. “Are you allowed to talk to us, tell us things?”

“You’re one of us now, and Sister Maria already knows about demons…I reckon she isn’t going to be telling any tales.”

No, maybe not. Maria would probably go back to an enclosed order and never speak again. “Okay then,” Roz said. “Tell me everything.”

Tara laughed. “I don’t know everything. I’m still learning myself.”

“So tell me what’s important.”

Tara thought for a minute. Took a sip of coffee and thought some more. “They’re good people. Here at the Order. They may come across as a little…” She hesitated as if searching for the right word.

“Bad?” Roz supplied for her.

“Yes, they may come across as bad, but they do a job that needs to be done.”

“And what is that exactly?”

Tara studied her, head cocked to one side. “What do you know?”

Roz shrugged. “Nothing.”

Tara laughed again, the sound musical. “Okay, I’ll start from the beginning.” She relaxed back against the cushions. “Years ago—more than a thousand, I think—demons and the fae pretty much did what they liked. The two don’t exactly get on, though demons are fond of fae women, which probably didn’t help matters. Anyway, they fought a lot, and there was a real danger that they would end up destroying the earth and all of mankind. So the Shadow Accords were set up.”

“Who set them up?”

“The vampires.”

There was a little squeak from Maria, and Roz glanced toward her. Her eyes were wide, her mouth open.

“Vampires?”

It occurred to Roz that no one had mentioned vampires to the sister before. It was bound to be something of a shock. She patted her arm. “I’ll explain everything later.”

Tara continued, “Obviously, vampires have a vested interest in the continuation of mankind.”

“Food?” Roz guessed.

“Exactly. They were also one of the more powerful factions, and from what Christian told me—”

“Was Christian alive then?”

Tara shook her head. “No. He’s actually about the same age as you—around five hundred, give or take a few years.”

There was another high-pitched squeak from Maria. This time, Roz ignored the sound. She would explain everything later. Or not.

“Now, Piers was around—”

“He was? How old is Piers?”

“I’m not sure, but Christian said he’s the oldest vampire he knows. So I’m guessing very old, but I don’t think he was particularly interested in politics back then. Or now, either. Anyway, they sort of forced the Accords on the other races.”

“But what did the Accords do?”

“They’re really a set of rules, but the main one is that the demons would remain in the Abyss, the fae would stick to the Faelands—which they were happy to do—and the vampires would make sure they did.”

“So the Order of the Shadow Accords was set up?” Roz asked.

“Exactly. The Earth was always the fighting ground, mainly because a demon can’t enter the Faelands and the fae can’t enter the Abyss.”

Unless they had a Key. But she didn’t speak the words out loud.

“Vampires can travel between worlds, but they’ve always been seen as neutral. The only other beings that can move freely are those with mixed blood, and it has to be strong. That’s why the fae had the right to kill those with mixed blood written into the Accords. It’s why they sought to kill me. Why my mother had to pay Jonas to make a spell to keep me hidden.”

“He can do that?”

“Oh yes, he’s a very powerful warlock, though he doesn’t come cheap. Anyway, I had to be hidden because I’m half-demon, half-fae—”

“Okay, that’s enough.” Maria slammed her cup down onto the table and glared. Her gaze shifted between the two of them, finally settling on Tara. “You’re part demon?”