Drop Dead Demons (49 page)

Tears brimming, gut hollowed with despair, I started to raise my hands and turn around. Running was over. For now.

Then the world blurred, swirled, and I was surrounded by a rushing torrent of brown sludge. Muddy rapids scooted me along. Light slipped in and out. I was enveloped in the murky depths of musty pond water, churning with dirt, oil, and debris. The smell was putrid, but otherwise the experience was energizing. Endorphin fueling. 

Moments later I felt a jolt, and I was on my feet, steadying my balance, but feeling pumped.

I was in a clearing surrounded by forest. Damp leaves and soil smooshed beneath my feet. Mists snaked. Birds tweeted. The air smelled wet and earthy from the recent rain and snow. Pine was pungent. The waterfall thundered in the distance. No Eiffel Tower in sight. Hallelujah.

Artemis leaned against a tree, pale, breathing heavily, her breath fogging in the cold. Psyche was on her hands and knees, shaking her head and moaning.

“What’s wrong?” I said.

Psyche grimaced. “Teleporting. It never gets easier. That must have been a great distance we traveled.”

“That was teleporting?” I bounced on my toes. “Awesome. I feel good. Energized and…tingling. What’s wrong with you guys?”

They both looked at me like I was nuts.

I wagged a finger at Artemis. “Scared me back there. Thought you reneged on our deal.”

With effort, the goddess pushed herself upright and gripped my shirt, pulling our faces close. “I keep my word, but make no mistake, you should always fear me.”

Still on my teleporting high—or just being stupid—I winked. “Right back at ya, toots.”

Her eyes narrowed, then she let go and stepped away, her bow and arrow snapping off her arm as she shot an arrow into the forest. Shouts picked up, then a tornado of leaves blew her into smoke, and she disappeared.

“Yeah,” I said. “Good talk.”

Amongst a stampede of running feet, the shouts became clearer.

“That arrow almost hit me. I thought the babelicious goddess was totally Team Blake.”

“Nobody’s Team Blake!”

“You’re just jealous because babe kissed me. Not my fault, dude. It’s my animal magnitude.”

“She
what!
Liar. There is no way!”

“Perhaps Aurora desired experimentation in erotic diversity. It isn’t uncommon with young females.”

“She’s
not
experimenting.”

“Maybe not with you, Fireboy.”

“Okay, that’s it. I am going to burn another shirt. With you in it.”

“Ow! Careful, you’ll start a fire!”

“Shut up! We need to find our moron.”

Psyche sagged against a tree. “Do we run?”

“Nah,” I smiled. “Only one of them wants to kill me.”

“You’re a strange girl.”

“You’re one to talk. Guys!”

The stampeding paused then picked up again with a chorus of “Aurora!” and “Babe!” and even, “I knew we weren’t lucky enough to be rid of her.”

I was offering a hand to help Psyche up when I was tackled and swung into the air. Ayden crushed me against him. I hugged him back, burying my face in his shoulder.

Thick arms lifted us both off the ground in a bone crushing hug.

“Babe, if you jump into a portal again, I’m so breaking up with you.” Blake kissed the top of my head.

“Not me.” Ayden muffled into my neck. “I’m coming in after you.”

I smiled. Then couldn’t breathe. And my shoulder hurt. And my arm. And my side. “Blake, put us down.”

“Sure.” Blake set us on our feet, then hooked an arm around my waist. “But chick-a-dee stays with me.”

“Relinquish her.” Jayden jammed his fingers against my throat. “I need to analyze her vitals.”

“I’m good.” Other than I couldn’t pry off Blake’s arm which was digging into the cut from the arrow.

“She was in hell.” Logan grabbed Blake’s hand, planted a foot against the giant’s thigh and heaved back. “We need to make sure she’s okay.”

“Nah-uh.” Blake shoved Logan off. “The record shows babe’s only safe in my arms.”

“Don’t be preposterous.”

“She’s plenty safe in mine,” Ayden said.

“You could burn her to ashes,” Tristan pointed out.

Matthias smirked, “I wouldn’t complain.”

“Because you’d be crying,” I said. “Completely lost without me.”

“Oh, please.”

“
I
would be!” Blake said.

“Let her go!” Logan hopped up behind Blake and got him in a headlock.

“Has anyone ever mentioned that you bicker like old women?” Eros asked.

“Sixty-seven times,” Jayden said.

Blake finally let me go. “Dude, we don’t care what a dork in a toga thinks.”

Eros lingered at the edge of the group. He wore a long, flowing, white robe which hung off one shoulder and showed off his impressive chest and well-muscled arms. Very Greek. Very god-like.

“Aurora, I understand you’ve been through a lot. But did you see—”

“Eros?” Psyche pushed off the tree.

Eros froze, like he couldn’t believe his eyes, then his smile lit up the night. “Psyche.”

They ran to each other like lovers in a cheesy romantic chick-flick.

Until Psyche disappeared in flames.

Through the wall of fire that encircled Psyche, she was unharmed, but absolutely trapped and scared. She cringed back, holding her arms across her chest. “Eros!”

Eros turned his fury on Ayden. “Hunter, I will end you.”

Ayden, arms afire, walked over to stand in front of Psyche’s flaming prison. “No you won’t. At least not before I end her.”

His eyes glowed so bright I thought fire would shoot out of them too.

His voice was low, calm. And dangerous. “You promised us information about the traitor. Tell us so we can protect my
lady love
” Ayden sneered and gave a subtle twitch. The circle of fire shrunk in around Psyche. She screamed. Eros stiffened. “Or I’ll destroy yours.”

Eros looked Ayden up and down. “Hunter, I gave you one pass. Now, you push too far.”

“Give it your best shot,” Ayden said as arms burst into flames. “This time I won’t miss.”

“And this time, he’s not alone,” Matthias said as the rest of the boys stepped up behind him. 

“Eros, tell them!” Psyche yelled. “Unless you are the unscrupulous maggot the Mandatum warned me of. On my oath, if you have become a shadow of Aphrodite and lack the honor of the man I fell in love with, I, myself, will drag you to the High Council.”

“Ouch,” I said. “I think the big bad godman has just been served.”

Eros’s eyes glittered with violence. Then his shoulders relaxed a fraction. “Of course. I will honor my word. I had planned to tell you anyway.”

“I’m losing patience.” Ayden cocked his head.

Psyche screamed again.

“Paris!” Eros blurted. “Aphrodite had a contact in the Paris headquarters. That is why I came through that portal. Her contact weakened security measures. Aphrodite and Vermis, parted ways shortly after I arrived.”

“Vermis is the name of the traitor?” Finally, we had something concrete.

“No,” Eros shook his head. “Vermis is what Aphrodite called the traitor. I do not know their true name.”

“Vermis is Latin for worm,” Jayden said.

“Fitting,” said Ayden. “Why did they part ways?”

“After using Aurora to find the stone, Aphrodite wanted her alive to help control the army. The traitor only desires Aurora dead. When they couldn’t agree, Aphrodite sent Vermis’s liaison back,” Eros made a face, “in pieces.”

“Instead of ripping up contracts, gods rip up people,” I said. “Nice.”

“That is my mother.” Eros shrugged. “Aurora, the traitor lost you before you moved here. Echo was sent by Vermis to backup Fiskick, mother’s double-agent. Both disappeared before revealing your location. Now the traitor sends demons with trackers to hunt the Divinicus.”

“Like the volcano monkey?” I said.

“Yes,” Eros smiled. “The night of our first date. Also, the traitor seeks knowledge from the girl.”

I frowned. “What girl?”

“Your friend Heather,” Eros said.

I reeled back. “She’s not my friend. Anymore. What does she have to do with this?”

“Your survival, of course.” Eros’s tone made it clear he was tired of dealing with idiots. He spared a worried glance at Psyche, then pressed his palms together as if praying for patience. “Orchestrated by Vermis, the attack in the alley should have killed you. The traitor desires answers as to why it did not. In regards to that night, Heather’s mind is in shambles from the Hallucinator’s manipulation, she has little recollection, but of all the assailants, her mind is the least damaged. She’s imprisoned at Novo.”

“No way,” Tristan said.

“So Vermis basically kidnapped her and forced her into Novo so the gurus that help with hallucinator damage can unravel her memories of that night?” I think I was going to be sick.

“Exactly,” Eros nodded. “She is getting the best of care. Although attempts to resurrect her memories have proven unsuccessful so far, Vermis firmly believes that with the right…assistance, the answers will be found.”

“She’s in the same place as my dad?” Tristan said, chewing on a tassel. “Is he in danger from this worm too?”

“Absolutely not,” Eros said firmly. “Vermis understands not to risk the attention harming your father would bring. Rest assured he is well cared for. Now, you can use this information to find at least a link to the traitor, if not an identity. I believe I have been of enormous help to your endeavors.”

“And you swear, on your honor, that’s all you know?” Ayden asked.

“I have no reason be reticent. I only agreed to help my mother find Aurora because she promised to rescue Psyche. But I knew that even if she did, we could never be truly free, so I agreed to deliver her to Artemis. My loyalty does not favor Aphrodite. If you have her, I can assist with the interrogation.” His expression turned ugly. “For all the years my love suffered, I would enjoy repaying Mother.”

“Yeah.” I thought of Aphrodite going under in the lava pit. “Not gonna happen anytime soon. She doth been smited.” Pretty sure I got the reference right.

A cruel smile rippled over Eros’s lovely mouth. “A fate she has long deserved. I owe you my gratitude.”

“That’s true,” I said. “And I’ll take it in a favor. Actually, since I rescued your wife
and
got rid of your psycho mama, I’ll take two favors, because according to a super good friend of mine, gods yield high esteem to those who, what was it?” I tapped my finger to my chin in a thoughtful repose. “Oh, yes, those who extract suitable recompense for services rendered. Or something like that. So I want a solemn vow that you will fulfill two favors whenever I ask. Have we got a deal? Because otherwise, Ayden just might have to…”

The fire around Psyche blazed brighter. She screamed.

Eros’s cruel smile sliced my way with such fury I thought he may try to smite
me
. Then I felt the rest of the boys move in a collective group behind me, and Eros backed down.

“You have my solemn vow.” He jerked his head in a stiff bow. “As promised, you may have this as well.” From somewhere in the white folds of his toga, he produced a square of cloth and unfolded it. The umbra stone necklace glittered brightly within. “It was not what we sought, but I have no use for such things.”

“If it doesn’t open the portal, what does this one do?” I said, careful to keep it wrapped as I put it in my pocket.

Eros lifted a shoulder in an elegant gesture. “Each stone is a mystery to be unraveled. I leave it in your worthy hands.” He smoothed the fabric of his Grecian getup. “Now, I would like to get my wife and be off. We have many years to make up for.”

Ayden and Eros faced each other, and for several moments tension built. Then the fire dispersed and Ayden moved aside. Psyche fell into Eros’s arms.

After an ardent embrace, she turned to me with a sly smile. “Well done. Or is it, way to…go girl? Your negotiating skills have improved immensely. I will make sure he keeps his pledge. And then some, because I too owe you my life.”

Eros glanced from Psyche to me and back. “I do not think I approve of this alliance.”

“And yet there is naught you can do to thwart it, my love.” She kissed his cheek and gave me a dazzling smile. “Be well, my friend. And thank you.” She gestured toward a tree. “Now, Eros, might I rest before we teleport away. I do not wish to repeat the experience too soon.” 

As Eros led her off, I had a sudden stab of fear. “Where’s Chloe? Is she okay? Is she really Jenny’s daughter?”

“Looks that way,” Matthias said, and I totally saw both dimples. “Not long after you vanished he got a call from a convent in Greece. Chloe was dropped off there eight years ago. When they couldn’t find her parents, they raised her.”

“But where is she now?”

“Back at the convent,” Ayden said with a mischievous smile. “Funny story. She went missing today. The nuns were frantic. But then she just showed up. No memory of what happened except that some wacky nun in a purple habit found her wandering in the village and led her back. Gave her a big pink feather with a phone number stamped on it. Insisted it was her dad’s and the nuns needed to call him. So they did. Jenny’s on his way.”

“He’ll have to prove he’s her dad,” Matthias said. “But as long as it is Chloe, they’ll be fine.”

“It is her.” Eros stood, holding Psyche’s hand while she sat against a tree. “Artemis would never slaughter an innocent.”

“Just kidnap one. And kill her mother. Yeah, she’s a peach.” I breathed deep. “Thank you, Gloria.”

“How’d you know, babe?” Blake asked.

My brow wrinkled. “Know what?”

“The weird nun who found Chloe today and gave her Jenny’s number. Her name was Sister Gloria.”

I pointed at Ayden, a huge grin on my face. “I told you!”

“I know,” Ayden laughed. “And I told them it had to be your guardian angel.”

Matthias snorted.

“What!” Eros shrilled. “Your guardian angel is Gloria?” His voice cracked on the last word. He turned paler than Logan.

Psyche patted his hand. “She was lovely.”

“Lovely? She’s a monster!” Eros combed his hair over and over with his fingers. “And they say the gods are bad. She is…she is…”

I bit my lip, smiling. “You know, she didn’t seem too thrilled that you were doing the dress up thing.”

“You
told
her!” He yanked Psyche to her feet.

“Eros, not yet, I’m still—”

He swept her into his arms. “We are leaving
now!
”

A
poof
of pink smoke later, they were gone.

As Tristan whined about the destruction of his car, we all took a breather and relaxed, feeling pretty good. Until the assassins, covered in death and looking ready for more action, walked out of the forest.