Saetan sat down next to his son who was doing his best not to move. Trying too hard to look like everything was alright, " do you want Karla to make you something for the pain?" he asked all to knowingly
" it's not really pain as much as it is soreness and muscle tightness."
"ah , yes that sounds so much better." he glared at his son. Saw he was trying to fight sleep. But also heard the growl coming from his stomach.
" I'll be alright ." Daemon moved enough to pull the cover back around him. Winced from how tight his skin felt as he did.
" yes I'm sure you will after you get a decent meal in you and a good nights sleep." he placed his hand in Daemon's cheek. Sighed because he still felt a bit warm . " rest till Lucivar gets back."
Daemon nodded slightly than shivered. He had been warm wrapped in his brothers wings. Had been but now…. The chill was making his muscles hurt more, and tighten. He was sure his stomach had been hurting for over a month…. Well as long as he didn't move too much it didn't… but right now it felt… he paled as he locked eyes with his farther. " she was in here wasn't she?"
He saw fear in his son's eyes. An emotion a warlord prince should never have of his wife. Sighed because he knew that fear was justified. He tried to make his voice as calming as he could. Tried to sound reassuring, " yes , prince. Janelle had to make sure you would heal."
He knew he shouldn't be upset with her. Knew she wouldn't have caused him harm if she had a choice. Didn't matter his fear was a living thing right now. He nearly yelled, " you left me alone with her…"
" Daemon calm down…. No one left you alone…. Lucivar wouldn't hear of it and I wasn't far." truth was he had just been out side the door. Just out side because he couldn't stomach watching his son in that much pain. Couldn't stomach the smell of rot after Jaenelle made the cut in his flesh. Didn't want to know how Lucivar had. How his pregnant queen had.
He took a few shallow breaths . Hesitated then asked," she's still here?"
He couldn't tell if Daemon really wanted to know or if he was afraid not to find out. " she's in the house prince. Karla told her that she wasn't not allowed in here till your ready to see her…. Besides if she tried I think your brother would drag her into the nearest fountain."
He thought for a moment. Knew he couldn't stay mad at her when it really wasn't her fault , but he could choose to stay leery of her for a while. Leery because she had ripped open every old scar that she knew about and several she had no way of know about. Knew she hadn't had control over what she had done, but still had a right to be mad at him. " how mad is she?"
He almost laughed, would have if his son wasn't so worried about the answer." why would she be mad at you. Daemon you're the one…."
" that got her pregnant." he mumbled then too quickly added, " I swear I didn't know the brew wasn't strong enough. I swear I didn't"
Saetan turned towards the door. Found where Jaenelle was. Didn't feel anger coming from her, but something else. Sighed and handed Daemon a small envelope, " she left a letter for you. Maybe you'll find the answer there, prince. And if you don't I'll find out for you."
Daemon took the letter his father was handing him. Didn't ask but waited to see if his father was going to leave while he read it. Saw he wasn't going anywhere and slowly opened the letter. Watched as her ring fell on the bed. He had been calm , had been ready to read what ever she had wrote. No longer wanted to read it but did want to yell at her. She had scared the shit out of him while under the web and now she was ready to tear out his heart because he had gotten hurt….. Well he had an answer for that. But he would need his jewels and some cloths first…. No that would take to long, Lucivar already had both.
" father , can you have…."
Lucivar stopped himself short of storming in the room . Stopped completely when he heard his brother trying to ask for something. Didn't want to disturb him.
" oh never mind ." Daemon said dismissively then glared at his brother as innocent as he could, " Prince Yaslana will you find me the witch this ring belongs to please." he slowly held up the ring before clenching it in his hand
Lucivar snapped to attention. Karla said he would be snarly when he started to feel better but hell he thought that would take at least till morning. At least till his fever completely broke. Saw the ring and knew what was pricking his brother's temper. " you really want to see her right now?"
" not really but, she's not allowed to scare the shit out of me right now either. Besides you'll be close."
It had been years since they worked together like this. Far longer since Daemon had asked him to be the shield. Knew how he could do that without any blood being spilled. " you'll need your Jewels bastard"
" your son has them." Daemon said dryly
" and why is it again that you let him play with them."
" my black pendent responds to him. Well at least the shield does."
" you keyed it?" Lucivar asked sure that had to be the answer
" why the hell would I key it. No it just recognizes him ."
" and the red?" Saetan asked puzzled
" he won't touch it."
" fine first I'll find the little beast…." it was at that moment Daemonar flew in the room completely shielded in the black and more then scared. Scared enough to fly into his father's arms and try to bury himself. " what in the name of hell did you do now , boyo?"
" the puppies are less scary….."
" yes Tassel's pups aren't that scary but who is?"
Daemonar poked his head up. " no papa not those pups…."
Daemon slid under the blanket and wished he could disappear now. Wished more then that, that his darling little nephew would loose his voice. Lucivar turned , knew he was stepping on one of Daemon's and his son's little secrets, " then what puppies, son."
" the big black ones outside grandpa's hall." he sounded so happy he almost forgot Mrs. Beal chasing him form the Kitchen.
" and what hall is that ?" Saetan now asked very interested. Interested because he was going to have a long talk to his mirror about taking children into hell to see the hounds.
" the big black hall. "
Both Lucivar and Saetan glared at Daemon even though he was completely covered in the blankets. Lucivar patted his son's back , " and who is scarier then the hounds?"
" the big lady with the knife. I just wanted a nut cake."
" let me have unka Daemon's jewels and you can go play in the sitting room for a while. I promise she won't go in there"
He gave his father the red pendent and both the red and the black ring but was not giving up the pendent. " she can't get past the shield. She's not special ." then he flew into the other room satisfied he was safe and his did give his father his uncles jewels just not all of them .
" alright bastard why did you take my son to hell." Lucivar growled. There were some things he would tolerate. This was not one of them.
" you started complaining about falling asleep with him , because he was afraid of monster's under his bed. So I proved to him that the hell hounds weren't that bad. "
" not that bad. Damn it they feed on flesh…" Lucivar gasped. Then stared to pace. Swore under his breath if his brother wasn't hurt….. Didn't finish that though. Knew if his brother wasn't hurt he would never get close enough to strangle him. Well at least not before his black shield fell around him.
" and they play with your son quite regularly. He likes them and loves the puppies. Besides I don't know many who would be upset that their son had such vicious friend who would protect him."
" they protect him?"
" they protect me , prick and if it came down to me and your son….well I think they would choose him over me."
" so how often do you visit hell?" Saetan asked with a bit of warning in his voice.
" I run errands for Tersa and for the past year most of those need to be done in hell."
" alright that's enough. First we'll yell at a certain pregnant witch and then when your not quite so sickly looking you can tell us what those errands are."
" no prick I can't. I promised Tersa I wouldn't . besides I don't know what she does after I tell her what she wants to know…..so you'll have to be content on knowing only what I've already told you."
" fine , let me go find your wife. " he mumbled something in eyrien as he walked out of the room.
Daemon looked at his father to see if he understood what his brother said. Looked in his eyes and knew they had other things to discuss. " Your mad?"
" Daemon , I've only known two non demon dead people who could walk among the hell hounds and not be torn to shreds the moment their backs were turned. So yes, I'm concerned that you would take my grandson there."
" Father, there have been nights I've slept with the hell hounds. Times I've brought them back with me so they can t sleep at Jaenelle's feet. Daemonar meet one of the puppies at the hall and when I saw them playing together …. I decided to let him see an adult. Turns out they like him more then they do me."
"Jaenelle knows"
" do you think I would open the gate to hell with out her knowing?" Daemon shrugged, " I don't have secrets form her." well not any from the time that she's known me?
" but you never once thought about telling me?"
" I didn't want to distress you. Besides some one had to welcome the new residents."
" what new residents?"
" they're all still there high lord. Most were just old others well . .. Terreille needs to heal and with out a good strong queen It may not."
Saetan started to rub his temple. Made sure Daemon had his ring on and was shielded before Jaenelle came up. Tried not to draw attention to the fact of how loose the ring was. Or how boney his fingers looked . " get settled in . Lucivar will be up in a moment. Daemon he said expect her to be wet."
" of course. Why would I expect my wife not to be."
Saetan began to slowly glide over to the sitting room door. Stopped as he reached it. " Namesake, I wrote that order after I had been convinced that you would harm my queen. And tore it up when I found that you too served her. And that was before I saw you at Cassandra's alter." he closed the door behind him hoping he would never have to bring that conversation up again. Hoping Daemon would understand.