QUESTION 1: When Pritkin was explaining the power exchange between demons, he said that “if done between two full demons” it could result in one or both parties’ powers being augmented in some way. If that’s what Rosier intended to use Pritkin for then it must have a chance to happen with half demons as well. So my question is, can that happen if one of the participants isn’t a demon at all, and if so does the power exchange have to go both ways for it to take effect? I’m mostly confused as to how the exchange differs from regular incubus feeding.
When an incubus feeds, it acquires life-energy from its victim just like a vampire does, only it accesses it differently. It’s taking something in, as we do when we eat, not giving back. And that is how the process is viewed–as a meal.
What Pritkin was describing was something very different: a sharing, a coming together, a merging. It’s an exchange–both partners give something and both receive. And it’s about more than life-energy. It’s combining DNA as humans do during intercourse, only the result in this case is rarely a child. Usually, the merging of two demons’ energy, magic and talents simply magifies both individual’s power for a time. But sometimes, if their talents are complimentary and if they get really lucky, they may gain a talent from their partner or enhance one they already have.
Usually, half-demons wouldn’t be very attractive in the process, because they tend to be weak and therefore wouldn’t have much to give. But Pritkin, despite being half-human, is not a weak incubus. As he told Cassie, if he had been, he would have held little interest for Rosier, who would not have been able to use him. Likewise, non-demons can be brought into the process, but it’s rare as most aren’t viewed as having any attributes worth the trouble.
QUESTION 2: “An old VW Beetle gave up the ghost in a fiery crash” HTM, p247. Was that a shout out to the Dresden Files? (I’m a huge fan of Jim Butcher)
I enjoy the Dresden Files, too, but if that was a reference, it was an unintentional one. However, part of me does love the idea of Harry in Vegas for a little R&R, only to come back and find that a dragon ate his car!
QUESTION 3: Those Spartoi guys were immortal and ageless, right? And yet the Pythia’s power still changed them to dust. Does that mean Cassie can do the same thing to a vamp/ Fey/ demon?
The Spartoi weren’t ageless. They were immortal only in the sense that they could be resurrected by another of their number after they died. So no, Cassie’s power to rapidly age a person or thing would not help her much against the type of creatures you mention. I think that’s the interesting thing about Cassie: she’s has a lot of power, but she can’t do everything. In order to win, she needs supporters who have the abilities she lacks. Uber powerful heroines who never need anybody else’s help have always kind of bored me. They just don’t feel real.
QUESTION 4: Are null nets made the same way as a null bomb? Can any mage cast them?
They aren’t “cast” in the sense that they are a physical weapon, meaning that even a non-magic user could employ them, if s/he knew how. And yes, they’re made the same way.
QUESTION 5: Both Pritkin and Dory used dragon’s blood as a weapon, so it mustn’t be very difficult to find. And in ‘Buying Trouble’ I saw dragons are sentient beings. Are they selling their own blood?
Why not? Humans sell their own blood, don’t they? Dragon’s blood as a weapon is one of many imports from Faerie, no different than a human selling plasma–except that the fey get a much higher price for it! It’s not considered a dark magical object, because unlike a null bomb/net (which requires draining a null witch or wizard of life to create) blood is a renewable resource.
QUESTION 6: Something’s up with Fred the ‘accountant’, I’m sure of it!
Ah, Fred. I love Fred. ;D