Cole's Haunting Melody (The Gods' Executioner Series) (6 page)

“AREN’T YOU!?” I shout.

“HELL YEAH!” Jason shouts back.

“I’m going to go propose right now!” Jason exclaims and starts to march out the door.

“Whoa there! Just because this is a shotgun wedding doesn’t mean you can skip the formalities and not give her the proposal she’s always dreamed of.” I explain.

“That’s true, but I don’t kno
w what her dream proposal is.” Jason says.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered. J
ust sit down and give Cheza a moment to get the information.” I tell him and open my connection with Cheza.

“Hey, are you with Reyna?” I think.

“Yeah, what’s up?” Cheza replies.

“I need you to start talking about wedding related stuff and find out what Reyna’s dream proposal is.” I request.

“Why?” Cheza asks.

“Long story short?
Reyna is pregnant so Jason is going to ask her to marry him and needs to know what her dream proposal is so he can set it up; that last bit being my idea.” I answer.

“Okay, give me a couple minutes.” Cheza
replies.

“So how did you manage to get Reyna pregnant?” I ask Jason.

“Just an outcome of the circumstances, I guess. Looking back, neither of us was using birth control because neither of us had needed it before. I was used to fucking ghosts, which can’t get pregnant, and she was used to fucking girls; no real possibility for pregnancy there.” Jason replies.

“Yeah, I guess that makes sense…
in a stupid sort of way.” I reply.

“Alright, she says that her dream proposal is in front of a lot of people
, next to a blood fountain, fireworks optional.” Cheza thinks a few moments later.

“Thanks
, Cheza!” I respond and relay the information to Jason.

“So now we need to think of a date where we can set this up without her getting suspicious…” I say.

“A date that’s close by, where we can throw a party with a blood fountain without Reyna getting suspicious…”Jason adds.

The answer must have dawned on us at the same time because we simultaneously exclaim, “Halloween!”

“Okay, let’s never do that again; that was seriously lame.” I say after a few moments of awkward silence.

“Agreed.”
Jason replies

…

Chapter 7
: The Halloween Proposal

Jason and I spend the next two weeks planning for the party. As the saying goes “There
ain’t no party like a *undisclosed celebrity* party!” so we recruited *undisclosed celebrity* to help us plan the party. Sean is actually a minor demigod so recruiting him in promise for a nice set up in Niflheim for his afterlife wasn’t too difficult, but getting to him to make the offer was…

“Hello.” I say to the
cameras outside *undisclosed celebrity*’s house in Miami Beach, Florida.

“Whatever it is you want, the answer is no.”
The guard replies over the intercom.

“I’m a representative from
Nifl—” I start to say.

“No.” The intercom interrupts.

I take a few steps back and look at the eight foot, wrought iron gate. I engage my helmet and get a running leap over the gate. Two NFL linebacker sized guards come out of a small structure in the right corner of the property, pull Glock 22s with laser sights out of their hip holsters, and open fire. I calmly walk up to the front door as the .40 S&W rounds hit my jacket and fall to the ground. I ring the doorbell and wait for three minutes as the guards run out of bullets and stop firing. The door suddenly opens and Sean blasts me with USAS-12 automatic shotgun. I fly back off of the porch and land on my back.

“You a vampire or a werewolf?”
Sean asks while pointing his shotgun at my prone form.

“Neither.” I reply as I slowly get up
, dust myself off, and disengage my helmet.

“I’m a representative of
Niflheim and I’m here on behalf of its Prince.” I inform him.

“Do you have any proof of that?” Sean questions without lowering his shotgun
.

“They don’t hand out badges, if that’s what you’re asking. I do have this, though.” I answer, unzip my jacket, and lift up my shir
t to show him my right pectoral; Sean lowers his shotgun upon seeing the ethereal silver of the Haglaz rune.

“Well, come in and we’ll talk.” Sean replies an
d turns to walk into the house.

I follow him in,
past a grand foyer, down a hall, and into a large kitchen with island bar style seating in the center of the kitchen.

“Sorry about shooting you; can I get you something to drink.” Sean asks.

“A glass of water would be nice. Don’t sweat it; I understand that you were just trying to protect your family from a perceived threat.” I reply as Sean walks over to the refrigerator.

“So what does the Prince of
Niflheim need from me?” Sean inquires as he passes me a bottle of Fuji water.

“He needs your assistance in planning a Halloween/ birthday party that will double as a surprise proposal to his girlfriend.” I explain and then one of the guards comes into the kitchen.

“Mr. Combs, four squad cars are here about the gun shots and they’re demanding that you come out.” The guard explains. Sean sighs and shakes his head in response.

“Don’t worry; I’ll handle this.” I say
before heading down the hall and out the door.

I pull out my Agency badge as I walk towards the open gate. I see a total of eight officers, six with guns drawn and pointed at me. One of the officers sees my badge and orders the others to stand down.

“Easy, officers. There are no problems here and all of the reported gunshots were fake calls.” I report as I show the lead officer my badge. His partner runs my badge into the computer in the squad car and comes back.

“Th
e badge came back with instructions for PD to ignore any situation he’s involved in unless he requests assistance.” The partner whispers. The commanding officer looks me up and down for a moment.

“We apologize for the intrusion. Have a good day.” The head officer says and motions for everyone to leave. I wave as the cars drive off before heading back into the house.

“The police have been dealt with and it should keep the media off of the incident as well.” I inform Sean.

“So the Prince needs to throw a kickass party? That is something I can help with.” Sean says with a smile
.

“Good! I’ve been asked to take you to the Underworld to meet him.” I reply.

“How are we getting there?” Sean asks.

“We’ll be porting
there. It’s like teleportation with an added feeling of falling.” I explain.

“How does it work?” Sean inquires.

“I don’t actually know. Just grab onto my arm, I’ll touch the rune on my chest, and it’ll take us there.” I reply.

Sean hesitantly grabs my left arm and I touch my
Haglaz rune. We appear in Jason’s bedroom as Sean looks slightly stunned. Jason appears with a swirl of black mist a moment later.

“
Sean! So glad you could make it! I’m Jason, Prince of Niflheim; let me show you what you’ll be working with.” Jason says and exits the room.

Sean and I follow him
down the hall, past Reyna’s room, and out onto the balcony that overlooks the gigantic, walled rear courtyard that contains a ten foot tall fountain in the center.

“This is where we were planning on having it. I assume that Cole has already told you what I need your help with.
And how does Afterlife security sound for your efforts?” Jason asks.

“Why would I need security in the afterlife?” Sean questions.

“Not like that; I mean that I’ll have it so you and your family will be set up for the duration of your afterlife.” Jason explains and Sean thinks it over for a few moments.

“We are
gonna throw the greatest Halloween party the Underworld has ever seen!” Sean exclaims.

I’m
pleasantly surprised to find that he’s a pretty cool guy and quite a bit like the character he plays in
Get Him to the Greek
.

Roughly a week after I arrive, I run into an exhausted looking Hel. I expect her to scold me, but she never does.

“No more destroying pantheons and making districts disappear from the Underworld… it’s exhausting.” Is all Hel says as she passes by.

The rest of the week is rather uneventful and, m
uch to my relief, I’m able to go the whole two weeks without dreaming, sleeping soundly through the nights with Cheza by my side.

…

[October 31st]

The obsidian walls
of the rear courtyard make perfect screens for the projectors that are set up all over the place. Teams of workers are still setting up the massive sound system, alcohol, and various ‘party favors’ as a pair of snow elf ice sculptors set up what has to be the most elaborate ice luge I’ve ever seen; this thing looks like a damn Hot Wheels race track. I direct some deliverymen over to the bar area when I remember something.

“I still have some things that I need to get done; can you handle things
here?” I ask Sean.

“No problem; you go do what you need to do, I’ve got it covered. Hey! The flaming pyramid goes over there, so why are you setting it up here?” Sean rhetorically asks a group of workers
that are in the process of setting up the ten foot pyramid of goblets that are going to be filled with alcohol and set on fire until they spell a message to Reyna.

Confident that Sean can handle things, I head up the grand staircase
to the second floor balcony and into the house. I walk down the hall and stop in front of Reyna’s bedroom door. I knock twice before opening it.

“DON’T COME IN!” All three girls scream.

“What? It’s not like I haven’t seen all of you naked!” I shout back.

“What do you want!?” Natasha asks, poking her head around the door
.

“Don’t I need to go pick up
Naia and Ryuji? I have no idea where I’m supposed to go.” I tell her.

“Oh…
Ryuji said that they would wait in the Seattle office’s tech area so you’d have a familiar place to port to.” Natasha replies, somewhat abashed.

“Alright I’ll go pick them up and bring them back here.
See you later.” I respond as Natasha closes the door.

I
touch my Haglaz rune to port to the tech lab of TheAgency’s Seattle office. I see Ryuji sitting in an office chair nearby as Naia stands in front of him with her hands on his shoulders.

“You will be fine, ju
st breathe; you still have about an hour until you meet them.” Naia tells a hyperventilating Ryuji. Naia is wearing a black halter top dress and Ryuji is wearing a tuxedo that appears to have been modified for his wings somehow.

“What’s wrong
, Ryuji?” I ask.

“Oh
hello, Cole. Ryuji is nervous about meeting Milady and my mother for the first time.” Naia answers.

“Don’t worry
, man; you’ll be fine!” I tell Ryuji and his expression lifts.

“
Probably… Anyway, are you two ready to go?” I ask as Ryuji’s expression darkens.

Ryuji reluctantly grabs my arm with
Naia and I port us all to Jason’s room.

“Hey guys! Whoa! What’s his problem?” Jason asks, gesturing to Ryuji’s sad state.

“He’s meeting both of his girlfriend’s mother figures tonight.” I tell him as Ryuji slumps onto the couch.

“Oh, come on! It can’t be that bad! I met my girlfriend’s mother a
couple weeks ago and she’s the Queen of the Azeman! It wasn’t so bad…” Jason says.

“Dude,
Naia’s ‘mothers’ are the Queen of the Jinn and Isis.” I inform him.

“Shit, seriously? Well…
you might be fucked!” Jason exclaims. Ryuji groans and buries his face in his hands.

“You are too uptight! Here—” Jason starts to snap his fingers.

“No!” I exclaim and smack his hand down.

“What? I was just going to get him a drink.” Jason innocently
replies.

“Fine, but not too much. Come on
, Naia; I’m sure the girls want to see you.” I say and lead Naia out into the hall.

“So how goes your relationship with your mother?” I ask as we head down the hall.

“It goes well. Thank you, Cole. Without you, I do not know where our relationship would be, but it most likely would not be amicable.” Naia says.

“Don’t mention it.” I reply.

“But I must! You have done so much for me, even after the horrible things I’ve put you through…” Naia responds as she starts to tear up.

“So how is your mother getting here?” I ask, trying to change the subject.

“She is currently in Duat so she will be accompanying Milady to the party.” Naia replies.

“Why
is Tali in Duat?” I inquire.

“She has been in negotiations with the Egyptian pantheon to improve relations after the damage done by Horus. You did the jinn a great service by destroying him; mother even commissioned a statue of you to be erected in the palace courtyard.”
Naia answers.

“Seriously?
A statue?” I get this image of an angry mob tearing it down and proceeding to piss on the head.

“Anyway, here we are.” I say, stopping in front of Reyna’s door
and knocking on it.

“DON’T COME IN!” the girls shout.

“Naia is here. See you guys later.” I shout and head further down the hall.

I step out onto the balcony and
watch over the set up for a few minutes. Upon seeing that Sean still has everything covered, I return to Jason’s room.

“What
… in… the… hell!?” I slowly ask in quiet astonishment as I see Jason lying on the floor next to a bucket in the bathroom.

“Hey bro—” Jason
greets, being interrupted by the vomit flying from his mouth, only half managing to make it into the bucket he’s holding; I notice that he has vomit all over the front of his tuxedo.

“What
in the fuck happened!?” I ask.

“Well, I gave Ryuji a couple of drinks
and when I realized that I was asking Reyna to marry me in a couple of hours, I started getting nervous so I had a few—” Jason says, being interrupted once again. “drinks. Next thing I know, Ryuji and I are way too drunk so I got us a couple bottles of ipecac.”

“
Noooo! HOW!? I haven’t even been gone for thirty minutes!” I reply.

“I’m dying; I seriously think I’m dying! Tell
Naia that I love h—” Ryuji is interrupted by the echoic sound of vomit flying into a toilet.

“Now you guys are going
to be sleepy as fuck all!” I say and then I hear a knock at the door. “Fuck!”

“DON’T COME IN!” I shout.

“What? Why?” Natasha asks as she starts to open the door. I rush over and slam it shut.

“I SAID DON’T COME IN! JUST WAIT FOR US IN THE KITCHEN!” I yell while holding the door closed.

“Cole, what’s going on?” Cheza sternly asks.

“I’ll explain later, just go wait in the kitchen please.” I beg.
The girls don’t say anything else as they walk away.