She thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. I will agree to abide by your desires."
"You've been summoning Bael. He doesn't seem to be here," I pointed out.
"Hey!" Eleanor said, waving her hands to get Sally's attention. "She's got a chip on her shoulder about me. She also has my soul and my man, although I don't quite understand how he survived when he should have been blown to kingdom come. I think if there is any grinding into dust to be done, it should be her and not me who's destroyed."
"The summons hasn't worked because you have not allowed it to do so," Sally told me.
"I can do that?"
Sally nodded.
"How come I couldn't stop the power when Brother Ailwin used me?" I asked, exasperated.
She gave a little shrug. "He does not have the ability to truly master the Tools. In the hands of amateurs, your control will lessen just as theirs will. But I am different."
"Yes," I said slowly, eyeing her before turning my attention to Alec. Kristoff was wrapping torn bits of his shirt around Alec's neck while Pia was doing likewise to what remained of his shoulder. Once again I was overcome by the sight of so much blood, and the destruction that Eleanor had wrought. Are you going to be all right? I asked.
He smiled into my brain. Yes. The damage is too extensive for me to fully repair by myself, but I am not dead. That is something.
It's not something; it's everything to me. We'll get you a healer to fix you up.
Kristoff has already called for one. Finish with Sally, Beloved. Only then will you truly be safe.
He was talking about Bael, I knew, but the same thing could be said of Eleanor. I eyed her. Will you rest now? You sound tired.
I will rest, he agreed, and just the fact that he did so told me how much it was costing him to remain in contact with me.
"What if I want both?" I asked Sally. "What if I want both Bael and Eleanor pounded into pulp? Would you do that?"
"Of course," she said promptly, taking me by surprise for some reason. I guess it was because I was expecting her to hinder me every step of the way. Heaven knew she'd done a good job of doing that ever since she popped onto the scene.
"I protest this wanton abuse of power," Eleanor shouted. "She has an agenda concerning me."
"Oh, please." I may have snorted a little as I curled a lip at her. The two vampires from the vamp council headed toward me with a look in their eyes that did not bode well.
"I don't think I like you," Diamond told Eleanor, who just looked shocked in response.
"How about them?" I asked, pointing at the two approaching men. "Can I wipe out them, too?"
"I just love someone who thinks like I do!" Sally said, clapping her hands with pleasure. "Is there anyone else you'd like destroyed?"
The two vamps froze, their eyes big as they looked from me to Sally.
Beloved . . .
I know, I know. It's no answer to our problems. But awfully darned tempting, you have to admit. Go back to sleep, or whatever it is you're doing to fix the fact that half of your neck is missing.
"I suppose I shouldn't," I said with a sigh, giving the two vampires a meaningful look.
Sally shook her head. "You just have no followthrough. You'd never make a demon lord if you can't follow through with such interesting ideas."
"I don't want to be a demon lord," I protested as the vampires started toward me again, and added in a rush, "But I don't want them here, either. Can you zap them away? "
"Of course," Sally said, and with a blinding smile at them called for Sable again.
"Now, wait - " one of the vamps started to say as Sable appeared and bowed to Sally, obviously waiting for her orders. "We have no quarrel with you, Beloved. Our business is with the Dark One."
"Cora?" Sally asked, nodding toward the vampires. "Death or just a little relocation, and please don't say the latter because that always makes Sable pout."