A New Day

Chapter12 of Children of Luzistor

An eerie quiet had descended in the upper castellum, save for the screech of the dragon pens overhead. Everyone still reeled from the apparent loss of Jonturi as well as the incredible victory she had made possible against the demon lord. No one had expected they'd get this far. For the moment, as least, the station was theirs. Pete and Ed laboriously dragged a body up the long stairs to drape it over the sender ring, effectively shutting out new arrivals. But they could still come on dragonback from other stations. Picard knew his luck wouldn't hold out in that scenario; it was time to vacate, with mission accomplished. He looked around at the somber group, where Dan consoled his two spell casters. Yet there remained the whereabouts of Jili. He didn't want to leave without knowing.

The Dracula brides returned in mortal form, having regenerated from their injuries. The first three approached Dan, who knew they wanted to escape the coming dawn. He twisted the neck of the bottle on his chest, and the three were siphoned inside. Since it was still dark far to the west, they'd have time to leave the lower hatch and make their way down to Castle Rotbone. Cambris loitered, sensing his unease.

"Cambris," he began, "we need to know where Jili took Jonturi's body. Can you . . ."

"I sense Jili, but not the other. I shall find her in the time remaining to me." She converted and flew back into the balcony corridor.

Ardra offered what condolence she was able. "Think positive. Your tactical wizardry has made this possible. The girls couldn't have done it alone." She regarded the Borg queen. "I'd better get the two of us back to Lunari while I have enough power left to keep the lid on Queenie." The others remained, clearly awaiting news of Jili.

That worked for Picard, who wasn't yet ready to draw down the force. He was still concerned about the settlers on the outer rim. Would there be reprisals? A croak drew his attention to the demon's grisly remains. The familiar still waited to be either summoned or dispelled.

The solarium

A long and narrow finger of a black stone chamber projected from the west end. Tiny arches rimmed the perimeter, including the "tip" of the finger, admitting the first blue streaks of the coming dawn. Jili could think of no other purpose for the space than as a gazing room, a place to be alone. Only the cold wind spoke, making an occasional wail across a damaged arch strut.

She turned her attention to Jonturi, where she sat astride, hands planted at her shoulders. Given their many similarities, it was probable that Jonturi had the same ability to heal from catastrophic damage that Jili did. She sensed a spark within her. It was all that was needed. But Jonturi should have at least stirred by now. Jili couldn't tell if she was even breathing,

A bat fluttered into view, elongating into the elegant form of Cambris.

"Cambris," Jili said, "you've been around a thousand years. Tell me what I'm missing. I don't know what to do."

The bride looked down with regal aplomb. "You know what to do, young one. She needs a reason to live."

Jili considered that, and also the increasing light, now tinged with pink. "You're up kind of late, aren't you?"

"Indeed. I must return to Castle Rotbone." She transformed again and flew away.

For the first time in her life, Jili felt the sting of desperation. Jonturi couldn't die like this. Taking Cambris' advice, she reached behind the girl's shoulders and raised her to a sitting position. Pulling her close, she spoke into her ear. "Listen to me, my sister. You're new at this. But if there's a spark in there, you'll come back to us. I was once turned into a vampire, my throat ripped open. Now there isn't even a scar." She rubbed Jonturi's back as if tactile sense would pull her back from the brink. Her right hand went to the back of Jonturi's head.

Belatedly Jonturi stirred. She swallowed with difficulty, took a ragged breath. Her eyes opened. "Where . . ."

"I took you to a safe place. The demon is gone. We did it. Thanks to you."

The other's eyes struggled to focus. "Someone called me sister."

Jili grinned. "Guilty. It's that talent of yours for growing on people. Like a canker on the butt."

Jonturi smiled weakly. "That's funny." Their eyes met and held.

The familiar came clattering along, probably having been sent by one of the others. Beyond a certain range, he couldn't sense her location. He stood looking down with his staring eyes. Power arcs rippled up and down his lightning sword. The one that had opened up the demon's innards.

Her head still supported by Jili's hand, Jonturi looked up at him. "You named him McBurney." That amazing talent of hers.

"Least I could do. I don't know what he did to deserve this, but he leads a good life. I mean . . ."

Something caught his notice down the hall, and he went racing after it.

"How did you get him?" Jonturi asked.

Jili worried that her self-healing wasn't yet perfected, given the ongoing weakness. "For a long time, I had this sixth sense that would warn me about danger. I got tired of it being in my head. One day it got so bad, I said, 'Well, then, come out, and be damned!'. And there he was. At the time, he only had a dagger imbued with cold magic."

Jonturi was only half listening. "Are we sisters now?"

"Wouldn't have it any other way," Jili said with a genuine grin this time.

"What changed your mind?" Jonturi put hands on Jili's forearms to steady herself.

"You almost died," Jili said. "How could I go on after . . ."

Jonturi glanced down again. "I'm sorry they didn't make me like you."

"That's dumb," Jili said. "I destroy, you create. The world doesn't need another me, but it needs a lot of you." Jonturi's hands moved higher on Jili's arms. Jili sensed the poor kid was starved for affirmation. She glanced briefly upward. "All right, go ahead." Jonturi drew her into an embrace. Jili was prepared to tolerate it, but decided she could get used to it. In fact, it was kinda nice.

In the middle of a pleased smile, Jonturi said, "I feel like sleeping."

"You do that. I'm not going anywhere." She eased Jonturi back down.

McBurney was going off on something with cackling fury. Probably another rat. Then he came racing back to look down at the sleeping girl.

Jili sat back on her haunches. "So this is what love feels like." She looked up. "What do you think, McBurney—will this change me?"

The familiar opened his jaw to make a skeletal hiss.

"You're right. It won't change me. It'll make me stronger by filling a hole in my spirit. I have family now. Some day she'll make me an aunt, if a man can be found who's worthy of her." Bonnie and Zena came running with dread looks on their faces. Jili assured them that all was well. "I need a favor from you girls. Our bodies can get energy from anywhere, because there's always heat, even in a cold place. I think she's taking it from me, and I'm feeling it. Care to switch up?"

"We'd love to!" Bonnie sat on her legs close by, Zena doing the same.

"Hold on," Zena said. "Could this hurt the baby?"

Bonnie tapped her knee. "You'd better not risk it." Zena backed away. Long minutes passed, and Jonturi finally found strength to sit up on her own. "Great!" Bonnie exclaimed. "I can't wait to tell the others the good news!" She got up and started out.

Zena hung back for a moment. "Captain Picard is in a hurry to get outta here." She began backing away. "Let us know what you decide!" She trotted along the corridor.

Jili helped her other half stand. Jonturi followed her slowly along the corridor, holding her hand. After a few moments, Jili gently disengaged. "About that—people will get the wrong idea."

"I don't understand."

This was to be expected. "You are a babe in the woods. I'm thinking the Old Quarter would eat you and spit you out."

Jonturi looked conflicted. "Captain Picard said I can go wherever I like." Her eyes looked up expectantly.

"Are you kidding?" Jili said. "I've had a sister for five minutes, and you're ready for a world tour?"

Jonturi smilingly shook her head. "If that is your home, that's where I want to be."

"Tell you what," Jili decided. "We arrive first at the Montfort teleport. You'll like Sisra and Orchid. Then we'll slip into the Old Quarter in stealth, and surprise Karst at the lair. I may have to knock some heads together, because they totally won't know what to make of you." She lifted Jonturi's chin. "But you'll grow on them, right? Play a song for Karst, and he'll be a big teddy bear." Since there was no one to see, she took her sister's hand again. "Let's go to headquarters and say goodbye to all the kids. They're gonna miss you."

The skeletoid came running to meet them, waiting eagerly for the next mayhem to be sicced on.

"My informant, Skuff, calls him Rotboy," Jili said.

Jonturi frowned. "This Skuff sounds like a terrible person."

Jili dispelled the familiar. "You'll get used to him. He was my mentor on the streets, until I'd learned all he could teach." Jili wasn't going to pass up the bounty of the demon's remains. She walked among the carnage and retrieved the vials of blood she'd collected. They she cut off the other horn, and made makeshift bags out of tunics for carrying them. "Make sure not to touch any of this. It's cursed. You'll have a month of the worst bad luck and dreams of your life—might even go mad." She swung the booty over a shoulder. "So—how did you imagine another like yourself would be? Not like me, for sure."

"It doesn't matter," Jonturi said, hands clasped in front of herself. "I suppose the goddess knew what she was doing. There is much we can learn from each other. I need to stop being so mousy."

"That smile is gonna make you a lot of friends. Just don't . . . expect too much of me at first. I'll try not to be the bossy big sister."

As they walked toward the outer shell, Jonturi turned her a shy smile. "To be honest, I was hoping I'd get a big sister."

Jili heard herself laugh, such a rare sound that she wasn't sure it was really herself doing it.