You Slay Me
Page 73

don't have enough money. Maybe I could offer to pay Fiat's men? You said they were good track-ers. Maybe they could follow her trail—"
"You'd have to have a whoooole lot of treasure to get them to do that."
"Poop!" I kicked at the lovely antique armchair as I passed it. "OK, how about this—I get Drake to find her for me. He's smart, he's got lots of contacts in Paris, and I just bet you he's likely to know all the spots someone might have hidden Ophelia."
"He's also the one you've issued a formal challenge to, which means no contact until the challenge begins."
"Is that a real rule, or are you just trying to annoy me?" I asked as I passed Jim.
"Would I do that?"
"In a heartbeat, not that you have one. All right then … mmm … what if you track her scent—"
"I'm not a bloodhound!" Jim protested.
"You're a dog. You can follow a trail, can't you?"
It gave me a look of profound censure. "In Paris? City of a million smells? No."
I thought for a moment. "What if I summon up another demon? Couldn't I order it to find her for me?"
"Not if she's been taken by another demon, no. I told you, you need to learn the rules. We can't rat on each other that way. It's a brotherhood thing between the demon lords. Only a demon that was unclaimed—not part of a demon lord's legions—could squeal on another demon, and the only demons that aren't in a legion are like I was before you summoned me: cast out and power-less."
I refused to give up. Guilt lay heavily on me. I had drawn Ophelia into the situation; it was because of me that she had been snatched.
Jim watched me pace for a while, then finally said in a tone heavy with disgust, "You mortals, always doing things the hard way. I shouldn't help you, I just know I'm going to lose my union card over this, but have you con-sidered that nestled up against your perky breasts is one of the most powerful lodestones known in all the ages of man?"
My hand went to my breast. "The Eye? What about it? Amelie said it couldn't be used without the other two Tools."
Jim put its martyr face on. "She said it couldn't be used by itself to draw the power of Bael. It does have power of its own, though. Surely you've felt it."
I touched the stone through the gauze dress and mate-rial of my bra. It's true that I had noticed a slight warmth connected with the stone, but I assumed it was just my body heat warming it. I realized now that the pleasant feeling had nothing to do with me, and everything to do with the energy of the lodestone itself. "Uh … sure I have. Of course. What do you take me for, an idiot? Don't answer that, just go on. What can the stone do?"
"You're the Guardian—you should know." I made a snipping gesture with my fingers. Jim got the mime and hurried on with a more helpful answer. "What is the stone famous for?"
I thought. "It's one of the Tools of Bael."
"And what do those do?"
"Aside from causing the destruction of the world as we know it when the demon lords take over?" Jim nod-ded. 'Tap into Bael's power."
"Right. And who is the one being who can tell you what Bafamal was ordered to do with Ophelia?"
I blinked. "Um…"
"His demon lord! A demon can't tattle on another demon because they are both servants, but a demon lord is not bound by that rule. Honestly, it's like talking to a bowl of pudding. Let's make an effort here, Aisling. I can't be helping you out all the time—I have more im-portant things to do."
"Like lick your genitals?"
"Yes."
"Can we get back to the point of this catechism, as-suming there is one?"
"Where was I? Oh, yeah, the answer was Ashtaroth. So, given those two facts, you get…" Jim waved a paw in an expectant gesture.
I gnawed my lip. "Mmm … I don't see the connec-tion. Ashtaroth is Bafamal's lord, but the Eye draws on the power of Bael."
Jim sighed. "Who's the first prince of Abaddon? Who's the primary spirit? Who's the big daddy of the Otherworld?"
It took a while, but I finally got it. "Bael is. So you're saying I can use the stone to summon Bael and use him to force the truth from Ashtaroth?"
"Give the girl a banana!"
I sat down with a thump. "There's just one problem with that idea."
Jim cocked its ears. "Really? I thought it was pretty foolproof, myself. What's the prob?"
I started laughing. I couldn't help it, the very thought of what Jim was suggesting was ludicrous. "You want me, the person who summoned up the only demon who'd been kicked out of Hell, to conjure up the most powerful demon lord around, the one so powerful, he plans on overtaking the mortal world, and ask him nicely if he will find out for me what another lord's demon has done with Ophelia?"
Jim made a face. "When you put it like that, I guess it is asking for trouble."
I sighed and stood up, heading for the phone, punch-ing in the now-familiar numbers. "Unfortunately, it's also the only choice I have. Hi, Rene, it's Aisling. Are you up for a little excitement tonight? I have a
feeling I'm going to need a bodyguard, and since you offered when you brought me home yesterday, I'd like to take you up if you're still willing."
"But yes, of course! I will be happy to guard you. I am very dangerous, you know? No one messes with me. They used to call me the Rambo before I was married. When do you want me?"
I put my hand over the mouthpiece. "What time will the moon be at its zenith?"
Jim flopped over on its back. "What do I look like,The Old Demon's Almanac'} How about a tummy rub?"
"The next demon I summon is going to be falling over itself to be helpful to me," I warned, uncovering the phone. "Rene? How about eleven at the Jardin du Lux-embourg, south entrance? I might need you for several hours. Is that going to be OK?"
"Oui.Eh … what is it we're going to do?"
"Oh, nothing much. Just challenge a wyvern, summon a demon lord, and figure out who the murderer is. Bring your gun," I said pithily, and hung up.
"So it's going to be another one of those plans, is it?" Jim asked. "A nonspecific, winging it, seat-of-the-pants sort of plan? The kind with guns?"