Fifteen: Mal

Most demons do not leave behind a body when they perish unless their killer is, say, a powerful enchantress who wants to leave a spectacle. But Fen could not have died by Liessa's hand. He was alive after she left, which I know because he appeared in my room just after she departed.

He had the ability to travel as shadow; no need for doors. It was, undoubtedly, how he'd gotten information on us for so long before we realized it. Truth be told, I could have used him as a scout if things were different.

"I bet you miss your penthouse. This recovery room is fucking *lame*." I'd never met him before, but I knew his voice from trying to eavesdrop on him and Chimi earlier.

"I'm pretty sure your owner stationed you *outside* my room. How do you expect to keep me safe if you're in here?"

"Oh-kay, tough guy. I didn't realize the demon God needed a guard."

"I don't.'

"We know. You held a broken enchantress and came out unscathed." The demon was suddenly upon me, red eyes peering at my exposed flesh, apparently looking for signs of damage or scarring. "My name is Fen, sworn and dedicated servant of m'lady Alchimia, her protector and confidante. Really, 'shadow' would be a great word for it, but I think it's a bit on the nose." He grinned, the tip of a long, ghostly black finger tapping the spot where a nose would be if he had one.

"I know who you are." Under normal circumstances, I would have probably found Fen hilarious. However, this was an intrusion and one I wouldn't have tolerated if I had a choice. I was irritated with his cheekiness. "Can you just get to the point so I can go back to sleep?"

Fen blinked once, slowly. "The point?"

"Yes, the point," I growled, growing more frustrated by the second. The wild smirk that spread across his featureless face told me that this was exactly the point; to be annoying for annoying's sake.

"Relax, dude. I'm just here to do my job. This is how I see it, right--you and Chi are friends or whatever. I don't know. She won't let on, which I hate because who doesn't love to gossip with their bestie? I kind of feel left out, to be honest with you. But I'm a good friend, so I--"

"For fuck's sake, what do you want?"

Fen scoffed, his eyes widening with mock offense. "For you to stop interrupting me. I'm *getting* there."

"Get there faster."

"I want us to be friends," Fen answered after a beat. "You and I, I mean. Chi and I are already sewn together at the hip. Now, normally, I would hate you and consider you a threat. But I've learned that when our girl decides to like someone, she holds on for dear life, even if that someone is kind of, well...you know how you are, I'm sure. Which means, to me, that you aren't going anywhere. And I'm not going anywhere. So we at least need to make nicey-nice to keep Chi happy."

"It's not my job to keep her happy, and I don't want any new friends."

"Oh, but you'll want *me* as a friend! Think on it a bit and get back to me. Have your people call my people." He made to leave the room, but at the last second, spun his head around--yes, just his head, it was creepy as shit--to look at me with those terrifying red dots one last time. "Think of it like an insurance policy, yeah? If you hurt her, but we're friends, I might, like, take a second to think about your punishment instead of just seeing red and going crazy." He laughed like a crazy man at his own joke before finally disappearing and shutting my door.

I had no idea what to make of him except that he clearly cared for Alchimia. Annoyed as I was, I was glad that he was in her corner. But as soon as he appeared, he was out of my mind. I had been obsessively turning over Liessa's words in my mind ever since she'd left, wondering what the fuck she could have planned for the night and what my part in it was going to be.

Not even the wildest reaches of my imagination in the last half of the hour I waited could have prepared me for what she'd done.

When the time was up, I opened my door to his crumpled, lifeless body at my feet.

Immediately, I wanted to get to Alchimia. If a few drinks, some jealousy, and some frustration with me had nearly killed us both, there was no telling what the pain of a severed bond like this could do to her, but I knew that I couldn't just leave him there. She'd never forgive me for that.

I thought of nothing but her until, finally, I reached the roof. The agony on her face and in her voice as she let out a horrific wail shattered my heart.

Liessa, for her part, made a great show of being the hero. A cloud swirled around us all to shield prying eyes on the ground from the gruesome scene above, and the Queen ushered the assembly from the ceremony into the elevator and out of our way. If I could have, I would have squeezed the life out of her for what she'd taken from her daughter.

*Why the fuck didn't I stop her? Why couldn't I have just asked her what she was doing? If I'd told him yes to being his friend and let him stay and talk, would he still be alive?*

Alchimia took so long to move I was sure she'd fainted, but finally, she stood, shaking and trembling from head to toe. Strands of her hair were ripped from her bun by the wind, and I saw that her eyes were turning gold.

This was it; the Queen's childish plan. She was willing to risk everyone's safety to kill or weaken her daughter.

I knew what was in store for me if I couldn't calm her, but I had to try anyway. It was what Fen would have insisted I do. It was what Alchimia deserved after I'd failed to protect him. To protect her.

I walked to the newly crowned Princess, slowly, making sure to keep my eyes on hers. I handed Fen's body over to the guard who had caught her before she collapsed, then gathered her trembling body into my arms and held her tightly. She began to convulse, her frame consumed by her sobs. From over my shoulder and through her tears, she pointed at her mother and screeched, "You! You did this! You did this, and you HID IT FROM ME." Her skin grew warmer, and I could feel her energy beginning to seep out of her. It stung but was nothing compared to before. She was still in control but barely.

"Chimi," I whispered, pressing my lips against her ear, "Don't let her take more from you than she already has. If she did this, she did it exactly because she knew you would react like this. Let me take you inside, my love." The affection in my voice and in my words shocked us both, but I was glad for it. Alchimia's eyes started to return to their natural color. She allowed me to carry her inside, and I brought her to the receiving area of her rooms, where she had me put her down on the couch.

Liessa and the guard carrying Fen--who I now recognized to be, of course, none other than Reus--followed behind us. Quietly, I gave Reus instructions to bring Fen's body to Nero, who would be able to inspect it for any signs of how and when he'd died. Solemnly, the man disappeared down the hall.

Behind me, Liessa and Alchimia were already screaming at one another.

"How can you accuse me of such a thing, Alchimia? I was with you when he was killed, you foolish girl." Liessa seethed, but her daughter wasn't fool enough to swallow the pill the Queen meant to feed her. Even if she did, I couldn't interfere; Alchimia would never believe I had nothing to do with Fen's death if I revealed my deal to her now.

"So you had him killed," Alchimia spat, pressing forward until she was inches from her mother's face. "Who else could have done this?" The Princess didn't give her mother the chance to answer, swiveling to turn her attention to me.

"Lock down The Palace. No one is to come in or out, even from the lobby. Notify the public that we are doing so to lend our staff to extending the festival another three days. Then, bring me Presta from the kitchens and her brother Reus from the guard."