All That Lives Must Die - Eric Nylund [252]
Fiona psst’d at him and he looked back at her.
She shot him a glance that said: Okay—we tried again—let’s go.
The Queen’s previous amusement cooled and her features hardened. “We fight for our lives against an ancient enemy. If we lose, Jezebel will, if lucky, die. If not, she will be captured by Mephistopheles and tortured for all eternity.”
Eliot paled, but in a level voice, he asked, “What can we do to help?”
“Fight with us,” Sealiah told him, leaning forward. “If you battle at Jezebel’s side, our chances greatly improve. With your sister’s strength and that of your hero companion added to that, victory would be assured.” Her eyes gleamed, and Fiona saw a spark behind them now: the flickering green fires of bloodlust.
Whose blood, and whose lust, however, Fiona wasn’t sure of.
“Excuse me a second, Your Majesty.” Fiona held up a finger. “Eliot and I need to talk.”
She pulled him six steps back. Robert and Mr. Welmann joined them.
“I’m staying,” Eliot whispered to her.
Like she couldn’t have guessed that, and yet, that didn’t stop her from hissing back, “Are you crazy!”
Eliot shrugged.
“She’s right,” Robert said, looking physically pained to admit this. “I’m all for helping, but this side has its back against the wall. They’re going to lose.”
Eliot frowned and shook his head . . . but nonetheless looked uncertain.
Fiona had seen this before. Eliot knew he was wrong, but he was about to dig in his heels anyway and never give up.
She felt like slugging him, which actually had some appeal. She bet she could knock Eliot out, and then, as she’d promised herself, drag him back to San Francisco for his own good.
She glanced at the Queen and the hundreds of soldiers surrounding them. She wasn’t sure how well walking out of here was going to go over with the Flower Queen, though.
She had to take charge before Eliot redoubled his resolve and went beyond being a mere idiot—and became a suicidal idiot.
“We can’t help you,” Fiona told Sealiah. She nodded at Jezebel, and said, “I’m sorry.”
Jezebel gave her a curt nod. Not even a flicker of hate . . . as if she wanted them (okay, probably just Eliot) safe and far from here, no matter what it’d cost her.
Sealiah appeared unruffled.
Fiona didn’t like that one bit.
“Perhaps,” the Queen said as her predator smile reappeared, “I may offer some other incentive?”
“I really doubt it,” Fiona said.
Sealiah arched one brow and gestured. Two guards dragged a man forward. He was bound in silver chains and a metal band covered his mouth.
It was Louis.
Fiona blinked and looked again. It was her father.
“Let him go,” she and Eliot said together.
“Louis is my prisoner.” Sealiah walked behind their father and yanked on his chain, pulling him to his knees. “We will do as we please with him.”
Eliot unslung his guitar.
Fiona found that her bracelet was loose in her hand.
Around them, hundreds of knights leveled their rifles.
“Cool it, kids,” Mr. Welmann whispered. “There are other ways to make deals—especially with them.”
Fiona didn’t get what he meant, but Eliot seemed to because he nodded, stepped forward, and asked, “So, you’re saying if we fight for you, you’ll let our father go?”
“I do not know about ‘letting him go,’ ” Sealiah said with a theatrical wave of her hand, “but I will let him live, which is better than the fate that awaits him if Mephistopheles wins.”
Fiona locked gazes with her father—he couldn’t speak because of the gag—but something in his eyes said that there was a lot more going on here, and a lot more at stake than just his life.
“No deal,” Eliot said.
The guards around them crowded closer.
Sealiah smile deepened and fang tips protruded. Bloodred claws appeared from her fingertips.
“Then,” she purred, “we are at an impasse. Unless you wish to roll for terms?”
Louis gave Fiona and Eliot an almost invisible nod of his head yes.
Understanding dawned on Eliot’s face. “You mean dice?”
“Yes,” Sealiah said. “Just name the terms you wish.”
“My terms . . . ?” Eliot pondered. “I’ll fight for you—for Jezebel’s sake,” he said, “but I want you to let my