Ruby Shadows (Born to Darkness #3)(107)
“Fine,” I muttered, spearing another bite of eggs, since the one on my fork had gotten cold. “But at least tell me how you do it. Why is it that you can make food that won’t damn me with your own blood? You never really explained it before.”
He sighed and sat back down on the bed again.
“It has to do with the fact that I was not always as you see me. And no—I will not discuss what I was with you now—we have too much to do. But when I make the Sacrifice of Blood for you, I am drawing on that small part inside me that is still the original being I was created as. There are a few—a very few—drops of good still within me. These are what I use to make the food for you. It is not my blood—though it looks like it—but the few pure drops of my essence that I am transmuting into sustenance for you.”
“But…won’t you use up all your goodness—I mean, all that you have left—feeding me? If you’ve only got a few drops?” I asked anxiously.
He shook his head. “Actually, the reverse is true. Each time I sacrifice for you—each time I bear pain for the sake of another—the good in me is multiplied. So technically I could continue feeding you in this way forever. Because good begets good as evil begets evil.”
“Oh.” I cut a piece of pancake and chewed it thoughtfully. “So does it hurt because you’re having to separate the good out from the evil?”
“Something like that.” He patted my knee. “And now, please just eat. We have a very long day ahead of us. I will leave some clothing for you in the bathroom and I suggest you take a nice, hot shower before we go. It is likely to be the last one you get while you remain in the Infernal Realm.”
I did as he suggested. After finishing my breakfast—I really was starving—I took a hot, refreshing shower and then changed into the clothing he’d provided. Today’s outfit consisted of a long, silky sleeveless gown of white with a pattern of blood red flowers on it. It had a slit up either thigh to make riding easier and there was also a hooded, long-sleeved traveling cloak in dove gray to go over it. For shoes I was still wearing my little black ballet flats but Laish must’ve had someone clean and mend them thoroughly. They looked like new but when I slipped them on, they still fit me with the comfort of perfectly broken in shoes.
Eryn settled on my shoulder, looking like a delicate snowflake on the dove gray cloak, as I packed the spell books and the book on angels Laish had said I could keep in my leather satchel. I was tempted to go back to the library and look for more but it really wasn’t practical to lug so many heavy books around Hell. Reluctantly, I decided to make do with what I had.
Descending the spiral stair case I couldn’t help hearing voices floating up from the bottom floor.
“I tell you, my Lord, Druaga is insisting on having a hearing and I think the Council of Elder Demons is going to agree to it.” It was Belial’s voice—I was certain.
“He has no case against me.” Laish sounded bored and preoccupied. “Once they realize that, they will dismiss it out of hand.”
“They may not,” Belial said. “They do not wish to lose their privileges at the Hotel Infernal—it is the only decent place to stay in Baator where many of them conduct business. For that reason alone they will at least hear his grievance.”
“I will deal with it on my return,” Laish told him. “Right now I have no time.”
“You have no time for anything but that mortal female.” Was there a faint note of bitterness in Belial’s tone? “Did you make the Sacrifice of Blood for her again this morning?”
“And if I did?” Laish’s deep voice held a warning growl. “What business is it of yours?”
“It is the business of our entire realm!” Belial exclaimed. “Need I remind you, my Lord, of how narrow the margin between good and evil is for you? You have always walked a fine line—if the balance within you should tip in the wrong direction—”
“You need not fear about that,” Laish said briskly. “Tonight I shall be committing an act that will bring me firmly back into balance.”
I wondered what in the world he was talking about. Was he planning to do something evil? Or good? Or what? And was I going to be involved?
Just then I reached the bottom of the stairs and Bobbin rushed up to me.
“Good morning, my Lady Gwendolyn,” he squeaked, sounding out of breath. “Master Belial said you were leaving this morning and I wanted to see you off.”
“Hello, Bobbin—that’s very sweet of you.” I tried to smile at the little imp though I couldn’t help feeling a little annoyed. Had Laish been going to say anything else about tonight? Should I be worried?
But Laish had obviously heard our exchange. He and Belial were already coming around to the foot of the staircase.
“Hello, mon ange. You’re looking refreshed.” He smiled at me and took my hand. “Are you ready to resume our journey?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I smiled at him, trying to put my fears behind me. After last night, how could I doubt him again? He had seen me in the Mirror of the Eye—he had to care for me. There was no way he was pretending or trying to fool me into trusting him for some nefarious purpose—was there?
It’s all right, I told myself. He was probably just trying to make Belial feel better when he said he was going to do something to restore his balance. It’s probably nothing.