Deathstalker 05 - Deathstalker Destiny

You go on back to your room. I'll be all right now."
    "All right. Change into some fresh pajamas first. There's a clean pair in the cupboard." She gave his shoulder a last comforting squeeze, and stood up. "You go straight back to sleep, Daniel. And no more bad dreams."
    "Yes, Steph."
    She kissed him on the forehead, waggled her fingers in a goodbye, and left the room. Daniel sighed, and stripped off his sweat-soaked pajamas. He left them lying on the floor, padded over to the cupboard, and put on a new pair. They
    smelled clean and fresh and safe. He started to get back into bed, and then grimaced at the feel and smell of the sweaty bedclothes. He got up again, and clumsily remade the bed with new sheets and blankets. He couldn't have the servants do it. They would only have gossiped, and he still had his pride.
    He lay down again, and pulled the sheet and blankets right up to his chin. The bright light hurt his tired eyes, but he didn't feel strong enough to turn the lights off yet. Maybe he never would. He scowled, suddenly angry with himself.
    He was a Wolfe, dammit. His father had raised him to be stronger than this. He opened his mouth to turn off the lights, and then stopped as he suddenly realized he had another visitor. The door hadn't opened, and he hadn't heard or seen anyone approach, but nevertheless, he was no longer alone. Daniel sat up slowly in his bed, staring into the bright mascaraed eyes of his older brother, Valentine.
    He was sitting, or rather perching, on the end of Daniel's bed, hugging his knees to his chest, his pale face and dark ringletted hair tilted a little to one side as he regarded his brother with feverbright eyes. Dressed all in black, as always, he seemed like a giant crow or raven; a bird of ill omen. His scarlet mouth moved from a wide smile to a mock disappointed pout as he studied his brother. "What's this, dear Daniel? No welcome home? No words of cheer at the return of the prodigal son?"
    "How the hell did you get in here?" said Daniel, anger for the moment pushing aside his weaker feelings. "How did you get past security, and break in here without me noticing?"
    "No one sees me anymore, unless I want them to," said Valentine easily. "I took the esper drug, you see, and now I cloud the thoughts of mortal men as I walk unseen amongst them."
    "What do you want, Valentine?" said Daniel sharply, wondering if he dared reach for the gun he always kept under his pillow these days. Valentine didn't appear to be armed, but he was always dangerous. "What do you want with me, at this ungodly hour?"
    "To welcome you home, of course, and see you gathered safely back into the Family fold." He laughed softly, a harsh, unsettling sound. "I can't come home again, you see. I've gone too far, seen too much, changed too much, but I retain a kind of nostalgia for the way things used to be, when I was younger and still, merely, human." He fixed Daniel with his dark gaze. "I hear you're doing well for yourself, little brother. Constance, dear Constance, has given you control of the day-to-day running of the Clan, while she prepares for marriages and monarchy."
    "She needed someone. And she's never trusted Stephanie."
    "How very wise," said Valentine affably. "And you have been very outspoken since your return, about the menace of Shub, and the danger of Shub infiltrators. Why is that, do you suppose? You never showed any interest in public affairs before."
    Daniel frowned. "I don't know. It just seems the right thing to do. And I have this feeling… that Shub is a far greater threat than we know. That the rogue AIs are up to something. Something awful."
    "You're doing very well," said Valentine admiringly. "Everyone's very impressed with you. Chairing discussions, beefing up Family security, getting involved in all kinds of things. Dear Daddy would be so proud of you. He was never proud of me. But then, I was never content to be just another Wolfe." Valentine pouted daintily. "I have made something much more dark and dangerous and very glamorous
    of myself, Daniel."
    "You made a deal with Shub," said Daniel slowly. "When you were head of the Family. Just how many of Humanity's secrets did you sell to the rogue AIs of Shub? And what did you get in return?"
    "More than you can imagine. And I would have done far more, but events rather got away from me."
    "Who else in the Clan worked with you? How far did the corruption go?"
    "Oh, I worked alone, Daniel. I always have. I'm the only real black sheep