Life After Death

Juliet: separating the twins

{Juliet}

Larachime was a calm, rational person. At least for a demon. She was oddly interested in Quinn, who, I assured her at every turn, was happily married.

"He's got seven sons," she replied. "Do you know how rare that is?"

"Technically, he has eight and a daughter," I pointed out. "And yes, I'm aware of how rare that is. Parliament is continuously telling me how rare that family is."

"And their magic," she agreed. "Shape shifting? Necromancy? Those haven't been seen in Otherworld or Hell for hundreds of years."

"Their family is old blood," I remarked, deciding that it would be too difficult to explain Mikaela's mother. "Thank you for your cooperation, despite your answers."

"I don't know much more than you do," Larachime admitted. "And for that, I am sorry. I would love to find the demon who did this to me and teach her a thing or two."

Her black eyes glinted unnaturally, and I remembered that she wasn't a harmless faerie. This woman had grown up in Hell. I imagine that was hard on a person.

"Quinn should be here soon," I said. "Dinner at their house is always... interesting."

She smiled and leaned back in her chair. "Anywhere but Vercyne."

I nodded and began ordering my notes to make a report for myself. We would have to keep tabs on Larachime, but she didn't seem as dangerous as the rumors had made her out to be. She was manipulative and seductive, but she seemed genuinely disinterested in causing harm.

"The Queen will probably request that you become some sort of ambassador to Hell," I told her. "Gawain can send you back and forth between the worlds."

"No thank you," Larachime scoffed. "No one would listen to a single succubus back in Hell. And I'm not eager to give anyone my full name."

I heard footsteps outside the room and a quiet rap before Quinn poked his head into the interrogation room.

"Are you done?" he asked.

"Quite so," I replied and stood up from my chair. "Would Mikaela mind terribly if I joined for dinner?"

"No, when has she ever?" Quinn opened the door for Larachime and me and then rested a hand on Larachime's arm. "Are you ready, Juliet?"

I held on to his elbow and we reappeared in the Torninc.

"Home!" Quinn called.

"Dinner's on the table," Mikaela called back.

He flashed a smile, and we followed him to the dining room. The twins were there, as well as Galahad and Hazel. Dinadan was nowhere to be seen.

"You seem to be missing a son, Mick," I told her.

"He was worried that he would affect our guest," Mikaela responded. "You must be Larachime. Pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine," Larachime smiled. "You are talking about your son with neutrality? Don't worry about him; he shouldn't affect me much. I am from Hell, after all."

"Dinadan!" Mikaela called into the house.

Larachime may not be affected much by Dinadan, but he always made me sick. Of course, telling Mikaela that never ended well, especially now that Dinadan was in the room. So I tried to tell my rolling stomach that I was okay, and smiled. Or until Corryn floated through the wall right after Dinadan.

"What is he doing here?" I demanded.

"Me?" he shot back. "You brought a succubus to dinner? At least I'm ethereal."