Authors: T. J. Loveless
Chapter Six
Though I was
armed with information from a Valkyrie and several hours of research, Aki refused to talk. I wanted to bounce his arse out the door, but considering he topped me by eight inches and a good hundred pounds, the likelihood of succeeding was nil. I left it alone and changed into Deputy Dog pajamas, piled the pillows against the headboard, snuggled into the duvet and proceeded to watch TV.
“Why does Artemis hate you?” Aki leaned against the doorjamb, arms crossed.
I shrugged.
“Does she know about
Modi?”
I didn’t turn away from the TV.
“Are you going to ignore me all night?” His tone carried an exasperated quality.
I held back a giggle.
“Damn it, I need to know what exactly I’m protecting you from!”
I changed the channel to the Science Channel and Morgan Freeman, turning up the volume. Aki turned four shades of red, contrasting beautifully with his blue eyes, slammed his palm against the doorjamb and left. The grin escaped, and I glanced to make sure he didn’t see it.
I fell asleep, huddled deep in the duvet, close to content. The smell of Greek spices slowly brought me to the surface. The scent caused several powerful sneezes.
A burlap sack
covered my head as my arms were jerked painfully behind my back and tied. I tried to scream only to find my mouth duct taped.
How in the hell had I missed being gagged?
I was lifted and roughly thrown over a broad shoulder, the blood rushing to my head. I attempted to kick and scream, wriggle my way out, but the arm banded around my knees tightened until I could no longer move my legs. I even tried screaming, but the gag prevented more than a mere whisper to go out into the world. Instead, I concentrated on not panicking, to get a sense of direction, listen for clues as to where I was heading.
Outside, in the hot and humid night air, I expected to be put in a seat, trunk or bed of a truck. Instead, the feel of electricity surrounded me, followed by weightlessness and spinning. I grew dizzy and nauseous.
The sensations ended
, and I was carted three quarters of a mile. The air smelled different, richer, cleaner, filled with Greek spices.
The kidnapper slung me off his shoulder with a quick heave
. I flew through the air, landing with a grunt, and slid until I slammed into something hard and cold. Pain exploded in my back, making it hard to breathe, but I remained silent.
“She
is stubborn. Most mortals would have cried out.” The voice unfamiliar, but definitely masculine.
“Yes, the young Braider shows more courage than her ancestors.” Artemis.
I would recognize the grating voice anywhere.
Wait, my ancestors?
“What shall we do with her now?”
“Let her wonder. I'm sure you remember my voice, don't you, Kylie?” Artemis sounded very close.
“Mmmph!”
Damn duct tape.
“Tsk, tsk, such language.” She laughed and sandaled footsteps move
d close.
A foot made contact with my lower abdomen and I
groaned.
“You will learn to respect those superior to mere mortals
,” she warned and walked away.
I fought tears as anger turned to rage and filled my head. My body throbbed front and back, threads appear
ing. I shook my head. I could go back and ensure Aki remained in the room, or further and never leave Bru's side. In each outcome, I wouldn't be kidnapped, but the consequences were always painful. One scenario included the death of a child, and my heart constricted. My current predicament ensured no innocents were harmed.
I kept calm, swallowing the pain, shudders running through injured muscles. I hear
d at least four of them, the footsteps distinctive.
I was picked up, slung over another massive set of shoulders and carted approximately two hundred feet. With an unexpected gentleness, I was put into a comfortable chair,
and the burlap sack removed.
The high backed chair sat in the middle of a large dais situated in the middle of the room. The room itself could hold a football field. The entire space was decorated with pink marble floors, and tall, twenty
foot high gray marble Corinthian columns supported a domed glass ceiling with gold trim. Walls were nonexistent, and the room surrounded with a bright blue sky dotted by fluffy clouds in pink, white, purple and cream. It gave the sensation of floating high above the earth.
Mount Olympus.
I lowered my gaze and found myself surrounded with every known Greek god.
“Kylie, Braider of the Rippons lineage, you are brought here to make the necessary changes as requested by our pantheon.” The booming voice of Zeus
carried through the room.
“What new stuff are you smoking? And why do you believe I will do as you demand?” I met his white eyes,
heart in my throat.
They'd kidnapped me to create fear
. Next would be Threaten Humanity, followed by Threaten Your Nearest and Dearest, and, finally, Your Life Is on the Line. I always wondered why the same routine when they had plenty of time to change it up a little.
“Your arrogance will have consequences if you are not careful.”
“Everything has consequences, Zeusy-baby. Duh.”
Murmurs ripple
d through the crowd. Tweaking Zeus's nose could prove monumentally insane.
Zeus was
larger than most due to the vast amount of power he'd amassed over nearly five thousand years. At nearly seven foot, his frame heavily muscled, skin lightly tanned, opalescent eyes, silver hair and a long gray beard, he looked like a grandfather unable to let go of his prime years.
He stood in front of me, bending over in an attempt to intimidate. But having dealt with gods all my life, the gesture no longer worked. I smiled, pasted
on a serene expression, and met his eyes. Ten shades of red washed over his face. I bit my lip hard, tasting blood, in an effort not to laugh.
“Do not mock me
,” his voice low and tight.
“Mocking you? Me? Nooo. I genuinely disdain you and all you stand for.” The threads
vibrated, the need to braid becoming almost impossible to resist. The secondary ability rushed to the surface of my skin.
Co
me on, you big bastard, touch me
, I thought.
“Do not doubt that I will hurt you for
such disrespect!” Spittle landed on my cheek.
“Can't disrespect what I never respected in the first place. Thought you guys were supposed to have a superior intellect.” My palms began to melt the plastic ties.
Come on, come on, before I lose control.
His hand wrapped around my throat and squeezed. My
wrists popped apart and I grabbed his forearm, the power sliding over him as the heat from my palms burned his skin. He jerked, but it was too late.
He screamed
, similar to the sound of a wounded animal, trying to pull his forearm away. Fear flashed in his opalescent eyes. The smell of his skin burning reminded me of the pig roast I’d attended as a young child, I could even imagine hearing the crackling sound as I cranked the heat higher.
I stood, holding his forearm, letting him feel the consequences
of unused power. The fire began a slow burn, sliding through me and over him. I used the anger and rage as fuel and looked over the assembled crowd.
“Who
’s next?” I met every set of eyes, reveled in the fear. “What? No one want to step up?”
With a small grunt, I slammed
everything I had into Zeus, watched with a cold smile as he flew into a marble column, shattering it on impact. I bent over, undid the tie around my ankles and walked off the dais. The crowd parted, unintelligible whispers floating in the air as I glided past. My palms glowed blood red with heat, the threads clear
,
and the
urge to ignore the consequences riding me hard. I calculated every step until they led me to stand next to Zeus. I waited for him to stand.
I positioned my left foot behind me, palms out and gave him a full hit. The sound of his body shattering another column
made me laugh. For the first time, using the secondary ability was
fun.
I turned to the crowd, laughing, every intention of
causing harm to each immortal present. Sanity returned when a single thread forced itself to the front of my inner screen, the consequences a linear timeline.
The crowd smelled of fear and panic mixed with Greek spices. The room stank.
“No, Kylie!” Bru's voice snapped my head around. She wore a standard Valkyrie warrior gold breastplate, and carried the air of someone heading into battle. Her hair swung in a silky copper mass of various braids, and a sword hilt showed over one shoulder. She carried a lethal air of sexy and dangerous, making a beeline for me at a fast jog.
I blinked rapidly, tried to step back from the edge. “I stopped
,” unable to keep from stuttering. I tried to breathe, panting, my chest constricting.
“Concentrate, slow your breathing. You are going to hyperventilate.” She placed a hand above my breasts, making slow, soothing circles. I centered on the gentle slide over my skin, matching the circles to every intake of air. Eventually the vise around my chest eased and I could breathe in a natural rhythm.
“Thanks for that.”
“Glad you didn't do what you were contemplating. Come on, you gave them enough of a show
. They won't impede your leaving this horribly decorated place.”
I nodded in agreement,
and followed her to the end of the room. I stared, the edge leading into nothing. “Ah, how are we supposed to get out of here?”
“No worries
, grab my hand.” She held out her right hand.
I looked at it, dubious
of her ability. She gave an impatient gesture, waggling her fingers. I grabbed it and closed my eyes.
The sensation of electricity and weightlessness washed over me. Nausea and dizziness cramped my stomach until we rolled on soft, warm grass.
“Open your eyes. Your landings could use more work.”
I opened one eye, peeking at our surroundings
, and heaved a sigh of relief. We'd landed on the lawn surrounding the Sheraton in Nashville. I stood, swiping off the bits of grass and dirt clinging to my pajamas. A body hit me hard enough to force the air out of my lungs and slammed me to the ground. I lay in the soft grass, wondering at the feel of a heavy body on mine, yet without pain. Far from it.
“Where the bloody hell have you been?” Aki's big body completely covered me, something I noticed despite the power I continued to hold in check. I barely blinked when
Bru easily lifted him off me, and tossed the big guy across the lawn.
“Don't do that! You idiot! The Greeks took her. On
your
watch!”
One more time,
I thought, standing and dusting off more bits of grass as the two continued their shouting match. I pursed my lips at the grass stains on the Deputy Dog pajamas. Damn it to hell, they were vintage.
Despite Bru rescu
ing me, I walked away without so much as a by-your-leave. Let the two fight it out. Technically, the fault lay with me, I'd pissed off Aki to get rid of him, and did a fine job, leaving me vulnerable and easily kidnapped. The anger wasn't directed at the Greeks, or Bru, or Aki. It fell squarely where it should - at myself. I'd let pride and fear drive away a perfectly good bodyguard.
My abilities simmered, need continued to push against my resolve. I'd given most of
the fire to Zeus, but not all. I didn't look forward to the inevitable hangover.
I walked to the elevator with as much dignity as I could muster
, considering my appearance wearing Deputy Dog pajamas, covered in bits of dirt and grass. Bruises added to the loveliness of the rug burns. I ignored the stares, acknowledging I needed help soon, or I'd give in to the instincts. My palms were hot, strands reappearing and taking over my sight. The elevator silently whisked me to the top floor and I took the stairs, heading for the roof. In the back of my head, I hoped Tiamat would be nearby. If not, I'd have to release something and lose a piece of soul to equalize the balance.
The door to the roof opened with a rusty squeak, the darkness of the stairwell flooded with sunlight. I blinked and peeked outside. More strands appeared, each showing new scenarios, outcomes, consequences. Shining bright and tempting on the mental TV. Yet not one told of the amount I'd pay. None showed what I knew to be the true ending.
“Come, young Braider. Allow me to take the fire.” The smell of sulfur and flames wafted in the air as a giant claw gently picked me up. I cuddled into the warm chest, letting go. Tiamat hissed in pain, holding me tighter even as she absorbed and filtered.
Chapter Seven
The sound of heated whispers acted like nails on a chalkboard in my head. Bru and Aki argued in the living room as I lay in the bed, holding my head in hopes it wouldn't explode. Every muscle protested the smallest movement.
The duvet was heavy and
, with great effort, I slung it off. Carefully calculated maneuvers brought me upright. I did a small mental cheer, the first time in ages without a trip to the floor. Slow steps caught the attention of the two arguing and they rushed me in unison.
“Please, don't talk or touch me
,” I whispered.
They barely stopped from grabbing me,
sporting lost expressions.
“It would be really nice
if the two of you could shut your traps. This headache is going to murder me if I don't get some rest.” I shuffled to bed, gently laying down and rolling away.
“We're sorry. Only one will remain here until you have recovered, Kylie. We won't disturb your rest.”
For the next day and night, I remained in the fog of dream and hallucinations. Voices sounded distant, movement in the room shadowed and blurry. I imagined the smaller version of Tiamat hovering over the bed, Anahita in her true form, and the picture of a see through, bright neon blue bear pacing in front of the bed. Bodily needs prevented a thirty-six hour nap, but otherwise I remained under the duvet pretending the rest of the world didn't exist.
“Come, Kylie, you must wake. You cannot hide from reality any longer.” Aki's voice slipped through a dream about Channing Tatum, a beach filled with bars
, and a buffet that wouldn't cause bigger thighs.
“Yes, I can.” Muttering about interfering males, I snuggled deeper into the bed.
“No. You stink more than a medieval matron, I believe your curls are going to stage a revolt and, frankly, I am tired of watching you snore.”
I sat up and glared at him through wildly kinked hair. “I don't snore.”
“Like a bloody freight train.”
My nose pick
ed up the rich, dark, bitter smell of Anahita's coffee. I resembled a bloodhound, sniffing the air, feet attempting to run a marathon to the source. I landed in the carpet. My face didn't sting. Feeling the skin, the wounds from the major rug burn were healed. Clumsily scrambling to my feet, I pushed Aki aside and made for the tiny coffee pot next to a new mug. Shaky hands poured, added powdered creamer, three packets of sugar and I nosedived into caffeinated bliss.
“Are you done with the pornographic noises over coffee?”
“Hell no, now shut up.” I held a hand up in his direction, gesturing for silence until I finished every drop of three heavenly mugs.
“Am I allowed to speak now?” He crossed his arms, glaring
at me.
“Do I have a choice?”
“No. Things have worsened.”
“They always do. What's your point?”
“A few pantheons speak of warring in the mortal world.”
I closed my eyes, the thought of an immortal war in the mortal world forcing my heart to skip a few beats. “Which ones? Surely not Greek.”
“No. Some in the Norse pantheon of my ancestors, a few Asian, two from South America.”
“Bugger.”
“Yes, that sums it up nicely.”
“Get out so I can get dressed.” I stood and grabbed clothes out of the suitcase and stalked into the bathroom. The lock had yet to be replaced and I didn't bother trying to shut the door. Aki didn't leave and could be heard muttering about dirty sheets.
I had a few ideas to stall the immortal plans. Quite a few owed me serious favors. The one thing I could count on, gods hated owing debts to mortals.
I’d held the debts for fifteen years, saving for a moment when I truly needed them. The problem would be forcing
repayment.
Showered, hair pulled back and
dressed
in jeans, boots and oversized t-shirt, I ran out of the room and upstairs to the roof. Aki's heavy footsteps sounded, as he muttered about the rashness of the female gender. I reached behind me, flipping him the New York State Bird.
Bursting through the door, I looked into the sky. I had a favor to call in, and knowing the furry immortal, he'd make me beg for what was mine in the first place.
“Fenrir, you owe me!” I yelled at nothing in particular.
“You are
not
calling on the wolf!” Aki tried to pick me up, but I struggled and accidentally grazed his groin. He fell to the ground, rolling back and forth, yelling in a foreign language. I'd never been so glad to understand only English and couldn't help laughing. I'd finally managed a little revenge for his overbearing bullcrap.
“Still clumsily fighting your way out of predicaments, Kylie?” An enormous,
Thoroughbred sized, black wolf appeared. His eyes shone sun bright yellow, intelligence a dark shadow behind the brilliant color. Standing in front of the massive head, I barely stifled a shiver. He could eat me with one bite. The smell of mountains and green things gently wafted around us.
“My
clumsy fighting
saved your ass fifteen years ago. Time to pay up.”
Fenrir growled. I smiled affectionately at the son of Loki.
“What is it you need, Braider?”
“I think you already know what I am going to ask.”
Hearing a wolf laugh, even an immortal one, was eerie. Half growl, half chuckle, his lips pulled back, showing lots of dagger sharp, white teeth. “With pleasure. Will this clear my debt to you?”
My turn to laugh. “No, but it does make a good sized dent.”
“You are asking this monster to stop the Norse? Have you lost your mind?” Aki's hoarse voice cut through the conversation.
“Shut up. I've known
him a helluva lot longer than I've known you and yet you stay with me. Just barged your big ass in my room and refused to leave. In most places that's illegal.”
“The
Berserker is watching over you, Braider?” Fenrir's ears pricked up, his eyes flicking back and forth.
“
Self-appointed, apparently.”
“I see. This shall be very interesting. Odin will go crazy over the development, will he not,
Berserker?” Fenrir gave a wolfy chuckle.
“Whatever, I don't care. Can you delay the spill over or not?”
I asked.
“I can provide a temporary stop to their plans. But even with the debt, you have not provided a reason why I should.”
And time to beg
. “Come on, Fen. You owe me and I've let it go for more than a decade. Please? I need a few less to deal with. Pretty please?” I brought my hands together, bending my knees a little, bottom lip stuck out like a toddler.
He snapped massive jaws close to my face, growling, “Don't condescend to me!”
“Do it, or not only will you owe me this major debt, but I'll gladly give up a piece of my soul to your detriment.” I moved closer to the deadly teeth and doggy breath, hiding my shaking hands, forcing my voice to remain steady. Sheer will kept me in place.
“Much better. I will gladly do this for you and not count it towards the debt.” He disappeared.
“I hate dealing with immortals.” Hands on hips, I stared at the space Fenrir vacated, counting each breath.
“Not all are war mongering or out to use you.” Aki's expression was weird.
Shrugging, I paced the entire rooftop and flipped through the mental Rolodex for other favors to call in. I counted six. I'd given a piece of myself for them, they could help hold off any spillover until I came up with something better, something that didn't require institutionalization.
One by one, I called in the favors. Aki never left my side, even managing to keep
quiet. I forced myself to remind the various gods and goddesses of the incident.
T
he emotional roller coaster of rehashing the incident left me exhausted and in need of time alone. But the stubborn look on Aki's face said not to bother asking. I led the way to the room, brain in overdrive trying to think a way out of the mess. The favors would only buy me a week at most.
“I've got this shift, Aki,” Bru stepped into the hallway, meeting us at the door.
“I am not leaving. She made deals with others.”
“I didn't make any deals, you jerk. I called in favors.” I kicked off
the boots by the door, flopped face first on the bed. The clock on the nightstand said I'd negotiated for over five hours.
“Same thing.”
“Leave her alone, Aki. Did you think before speaking, or did you just blurt out the news of their plans?”
“She wasn't listening to me.”
Bru's retort was to laugh.
I tuned them out and fell asleep. More dreams of the
steel-toothed nightmare and windowless house until I tried to jump through a window and landed face first, struggling against the duvet wrapped around my body. Free at last, I did a quick mental inventory, relieved at the lack of rug burn. I looked around the hotel room, Aki and Bru missing. Figures, the first time alone and I needed to talk.
“They went to find more information about the war, my child.”
“I can't fight in another one, Annie.” I plopped into a chair. I could see the carnage of fifteen years ago, the image of my parents' vacant eyes staring at the clouds above, hear the laughter of Thor at their downfall and the sick jokes by Artemis.
“Sometimes we find the strength when at our weakest.”
“Why should I?”
“You already know the answer.”
“Can't give me a pity party for five minutes?” I gave her a weak smile.
“No, child, I cannot.”
“Boo.”
Her laughter rang through the room, sweet, maternal, mood lightening. I laughed with her. “Thanks, Annie.”
“I am here to do more than protect you, Kylie. Don't forget that you are surrounded by immortals. And one thing we love more than power is that we won't die. We will do anything, including sacrifice mortals, to ensure we can continue to fight, gather power and do as we please. Even I am guilty of such things.”
I me
t her lovely hazel eyes, frowning at the admission. “Why are you telling me this, Annie?”
“Don't make me choose,
please.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
My throat closed at the warning.
I watched the city lights brighten as the sun set. The normal pastel hues of the dying day dimmed by light pollution.
As a child, I’d stared at the night sky, admiring the beautiful harmonious chaos of the universe, easily seen from our pastures. Fifteen years ago, the first piece of my soul was lost to save my parents, and I stopped taking a blanket to the fields. Tonight, I missed it for the first time.
“Do what you need to d
o, Annie. I expect nothing less.”
The sound of heavy, booted fo
otsteps turned my head to the door. Aki walked in the room, narrowing his eyes at Anahita.
“Hello,
Berserker of Odin. I see you finally made your way to her side.”
I stood and walked to the window, having heard something similar earlier. Which meant Aki didn't lie th
e first night. He'd been looking for me.
Why?
I looked down, realizing I still wore the jeans and t-shirt. I needed something and didn't have a clue what it might be. Run away
, back out of the whole deal, maybe let the war spill over into this realm and allow the mortal world to learn the truth. Perhaps take the ones I love and find some place far and away. Call in the life or death favor still owed by the biggest asshole of them all.
None of which I’d do.
I walked out of the room, barely noticing Annie and Aki arguing in a language I didn't understand. The restaurant attached to the hotel hid behind the lobby desk, contained a bar in the back and a decent menu. Most of the space was a dark cherry wood, the leather seats dyed a forest green, and a well-worn hardwood floor, masculine, yet comfortable. The bar was crescent shaped, with four TVs hung from the ceiling at various intervals, all tuned to different ESPN channels. Men sat on the tall barstools, talking, making bets, yelling at the TVs, drinking beer or eating. The bartender moved quickly back and forth, filling drinks, taking orders and wiping down the bar. Waitresses hustled between tables, some carrying trays heavily laden with wonderful smelling food. A barback stocked the liquor while two young men cleared tables. Something about the busy atmosphere released the pent up tension in my shoulders.
Several booths were occupied, couples eating and talking, two families, and one booth filled with young men laughing over drinks.
I found an empty corner booth and slid in, facing the restaurant. The waitress walked over, taking my order. I watched the people come and go, drank a large pint of microbrew, contemplating the current situation.
Amun had been missing for a week, unusual because no matter what I did, he visited daily. Magni would never leave me alone. His brother, Modi, was due to visit soon. The usual entourage of immortal stalkers strangely AWOL.