Second Circle, by lyradaemon

Chapter 10: Reactions

"Eli!" Jaenelle gasped sitting straight up in bed.

Daemon stirred beside her. "Jaenelle-" he murmured sleepily. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

"Eli. It's – I don't know, she's hurt." Jaenelle sounded panicky.

Daemon sat upright, wide awake. "Hurt? Where? How?"

"I don't know! I just – felt – her pain. She cried out, she's hurt…" her voice trembled. Daemon reached for her, but she pulled away and got to her feet. Wrapping a robe around her she made for the door.

"Jaenelle, wait – where are you going?" Daemon was pulling on a robe too.

"To find Saetan. And wake up Gabrielle and Chaosti; then call Surreal."

"You think Luc and Titian are in danger too?" He was at the door too now.

"I'm not sure; but they could be. I won't risk anything." She looked at Daemon before kissing him, hard, seeking comfort. "Will she be alright Daemon?" She whispered, eyes full of fear.

"Of course she will." He tried to smile reassuringly, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Moments later Daemon was pounding on his father's bedroom door; Jaenelle had gone to wake up Gabrielle and Chaosti.

"Saetan?" He called, knocking even harder. "Saetan would you just wake up?"

The door opened and a bleary eyed Saetan glared at his son. "Daemon, what the hell do you think you're doing?" He demanded crossly. "It's the middle of the night-"

"It's Eli. She's hurt."

"Eli? What – where is she?"

"In Nharkhava somewhere. Jaenelle felt her calling out for help." Saetan was about to charge out the door, but Daemon stopped him. "Clothes, father," he said pointedly.

Saetan looked down and actually blushed. "Oh. Sorry." He went back inside and grabbed something before heading out again. "Where's Jaenelle then?"

"Waking up Gabrielle and Chaosti. She's going to tell Surreal too." The two of them strode quickly down the corridor towards the guest wing; Chaosti and Gabrielle had been visiting for the day, but the unexpected storm had more or less stranded them, so they were put up for the night.

As they rounded the corner they could hear shouts coming clearly from the open door. "Mother Night," Daemon muttered.

As they got closer the shouts became clearer. "You knew about this and you didn't tell me?" Gabrielle was practically screeching.

"I didn't want to worry you," Jaenelle was shouting hotly. "It might never have happened!"

"But it did happen!" Gabrielle yelled back.

Saetan just looked at his son. "Care to explain?"

Daemon sighed. "Jaenelle saw something – odd – in a Web she wove. It was…well, it was of some of the Second Circle, and she could tell something was wrong. Luc, Arianna, Titian and Charon were there."

"But Eli wasn't," Saetan finished. "Oh."

Clearing his throat Saetan stepped inside the room – right into the middle of a battle-ground.

Jaenelle was standing there, tears streaming down her face, sapphire eyes flashing; Gabrielle was opposite her, fists clenched, forest blue eyes shining with fury. Sparks were practically coming off of her.

"Jaenelle, I swear-" she was saying, but Saetan cut her off.

"Calm down, both of you!" He said loudly. Big mistake.

Both heads snapped around to fix him with a glare that would scare even the most thick-skinned man. Saetan inwardly quailed.

"This isn't going to get us anywhere," he finished quietly and levelly.

Gabrielle recovered before Jaenelle. "Saetan, my son is out there-"

"And so are my twins!" Jaenelle snapped back.

"It was your damn fault in the first place! If you had just told me what you saw, this wouldn't have happened!"

Daemon stepped in. "Do not start blaming anyone Gabrielle," he said tightly, golden eyes flashing hotly.

"Stay out of this Daemon," Gabrielle replied swiftly.

"Gabrielle, I think you should calm down a bit," Chaosti was saying from the other side of the room where he was sensibly seeking refuge.

In reply Gabrielle spun around and stalked towards him. "I don't see you doing anything useful, Chaosti! Why aren't you coming up with ideas to help our son?" She demanded, poking him in the chest.

Chaosti looked at Saetan and Daemon desperately. Daemon just shook his head; the poor man didn't stand a chance. "Darling, if you just calmed down, maybe we could try to sort something out…"

Daemon groaned and Saetan covered his eyes.

Gabrielle was almost speechless with rage. But before she could say anything else, Chaosti simply pulled her into his arms, holding her close. Gabrielle tried to struggle, but he held her tight. Eventually she became limp and started to sob, clinging to him.

Over the top of her head, he gave them a relieved smile.

"Mother Night, for a Warlord Prince he can be so naïve sometimes," Daemon said in awe. "But also incredibly brave." Saetan chuckled.

A small sound near him made Daemon turn. Jaenelle was standing there, lip trembling, tears gliding down her glistening cheeks.

"Oh sweetheart…" he murmured, scooping her up into his arms. "Jaenelle, darling, it's alright. Everything will be alright…" Now it was Daemon's turn to look despairingly at Saetan. Two emotionally distraught witches in the same room was not good.

"Umm…I'll go and let Surreal know…" Saetan muttered before practically fleeing out the room.

Daemon glanced at Chaosti – who was having a tough job trying to calm Gabrielle down, she was so hysterical – then lifted Jaenelle up. Holding her close to his chest he send a quick psychic spear to Chaosti :Good luck: then left the room.

He carried Jaenelle – still sobbing quietly – back to their room and sat down in an armchair. He hugged her tightly, whispering soothing things to her, rocking her gently. Gradually the sobs began to subside until she sat quietly in his arms.

Daemon stroked her hair back from her face before kissing her softly. "Are you alright now sweetheart."

Jaenelle gave him a weak smile before nodding slightly. "I just wish I could help Eli," she whispered, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

"I know," was all Daemon said. It was all he could say.

Jaenelle was silent for a long moment; Daemon thought she had fallen asleep. But finally she raised her face and looked at him with haunted sapphire eyes; he hadn't seen that look for a long time. "I will make him pay," she said in her midnight voice. The voice of Witch.

Daemon swallowed yet felt oddly aroused at the same time. "Who do you mean?" He asked, his voice sounding slightly choked.

"Whichever bastard hurt my daughter. They will not make it out of Hell alive; I will see to that personally."

Daemon shivered, but didn't look away. Jaenelle needed to know she had his support. "I will be satisfied with that, Lady," he said formally.

That seemed to break the spell. Jaenelle sighed. "I want to go to bed, Daemon," she said in a small voice, eyes sleepy.

Daemon picked her up and took them to the bed. He tucked the blankets around them before giving Jaenelle a soft kiss; by that time her eyes were practically closed. "Sleep well, sweetheart," he murmured.

But she was already asleep.