At Death’s Door

by Kenyon, Sherrilyn

  Valynda turned to see an incredibly attractive goddess approaching them.

  “You’re late,” she chastised Shadow. With ebony spiraling locks and a body made for long hours in a bedroom, the statuesque beauty commanded attention. And without meaning to, the goddess of blessed death made Valynda feel like a Kewpie doll. Not because the goddess was trying to, but because she was just that stunning and physically perfect.

  In fact, Valynda had to fight the urge to go hide.

  “Sorry, love. Had to stop and help out my friends. Besides, you know I’ve never been one to pay close attention to punctuality.”

  Sheathing his sword, Nibo shook his head. “Damn, boy, you do have giant, whopping bullocks. Makaria? Seriously? Have you lost every bit of your sanity?”

  Unrepentant, Shadow shrugged as he went past them to approach the goddess who didn’t walk, she glided with grace and beauty. Which made sense given that she was the psychopomp in charge of caring for those who’d lived long, gentle lives and died peacefully in their sleep.

  Shadow lifted the goddess’s pinkie. “What’s Hades going to do to me that hasn’t already been done? Besides, Maka has him wrapped around her most beautiful little finger.” He kissed her hand, then her cheek as she preened from his praise.

  “Does she now?” Nibo challenged.

  Valynda cleared her throat to politely get her favorite psychopomp’s attention off the much more beautiful woman before she completely escaped everyone’s memory. “Might I ask how it is that you seem to know her?” she asked Nibo quite pointedly.

  He laughed. “Rest your jealousy, mon ange. She’s a psychopomp. I’m a psychopomp. Our paths have crossed a few times over the centuries as we’ve collected our souls, here and there.”

  That made sense, she supposed.

  Makaria inclined her head to Valynda. “Indeed, we’ve even fought over a few.”

  There was something she’d never thought about before. “How so?”

  “Territory. Who owns whom. Where they need to go.” This time there was no friendliness in Nibo’s tone. “Makaria is in charge of those Greeks who die peacefully.”

  That much she’d known, so how the two of them would be in conflict over the dead made no sense to her. “Yet you’re in charge of those who die violently. I should think you’d never be confused by the two.”

  “Aye, but there are those who are murdered by poison and other means where they seem to pass peacefully in their sleep, and yet didn’t. In which case, we sometimes argue as to dominion. Especially if the person is in denial and doesn’t want vengeance on the one who killed them.”

  That made sense. But it left Valynda with one question. “Who wins when that happens?”

  Makaria stepped forward and gave a smile that was sweet and bone-chilling. “The one most determined.”

  A shiver went down her spine at the way the goddess spoke, as she had a feeling that she wasn’t just talking about the souls anymore.

  With her skin glowing from an ethereal light, Makaria glanced from Nibo to Shadow to Agrios. “I assume since you’re here that you wish to take this soul from my father’s lands?”

  Nibo’s smile turned charming. “You’d be correct, and I was hoping you’d be understanding. Even cooperative.”

  The spiders skittered away as if the mere mention of such a thing terrified them.

  “Well, that can’t be good,” Valynda said under her breath.

  Shadow let out a low, evil laugh. “Fear not. Makaria won’t let anything happen to Nibo … at least.”

  Oh, like there was nothing sinister in that. In fact, those words made her stomach knot up and sink south toward her feet.

  Xuri, however, didn’t appear the least bit intimidated. “Or to what Nibo cherishes,” he said pointedly, taking Valynda’s hand and pulling her closer to his side. Grateful, she wrapped her arms around his muscular biceps and let his warmth soothe her. “Which means all three of us need to leave here intact. No tricks.”

  Makaria considered that. “And what will you offer my father for such a service?”

  Nibo cast his gaze about the stalagmites and shrugged. “I’d offer him doom and gloom, but he seems to have that aplenty.”

  With a withering stare, Makaria was much less amused by that than Valynda. “My father’s normal price for such is a soul for a soul.”

  Valynda gasped as she realized Circe’s game. That was why she’d made her human. So that she could take her son’s place here.

  That conniving bitch!

  “Nay,” Makaria said as if she heard Valynda’s thoughts. “Not you, little one. Your soul is already spoken for by others.” She held up Valynda’s wrist to show her the Deadman mark that made her a member of Captain Bane’s crew. “My father will have no use for you.”

  “Don’t look at me. I have no soul whatsoever.”

  Makaria laughed at Shadow. “Not true, either, my precious demonspawn. But yours is so dark that my father would rather not chance you trying to take over his domain.”

  Shadow scoffed. “No fear there. I deal with enough dead assholes. Have no use for more.”

  Nibo ignored his comment as he kept the goddess on point. “Then where does that leave us?”

  Makaria shrugged. “Trapped here, apparently.”

  “Not the rules, Makie.” Nibo leaned against his staff with a flourish. He glanced to Valynda and a strange light came into his eyes before he spoke again. “Give me until the full moon and I’ll send him a soul.”

  A light of suspicion turned her dark eyes even darker. “No trickery?”

  “None.”

  “Very well. You have it then. But don’t forget or else there will be dire consequences indeed.” She vanished.

  Folding his arms across his chest, Shadow sighed. “She forgot to warn you about getting out of here.”

  “Don’t look back?” Nibo asked flippantly.

  He inclined his head respectfully at Nibo. “Good, you know.” He pointed to his left. “Door’s that way.”

  Nibo held his arm out to him. “Thank you.”

  “I would say it’s a pleasure, but I’m off to have that now. Stay safe.”

  Valynda shook her head at his hasty departure. “He’s such a peculiar beast.”

  “That he is. And if you think he’s odd, you should meet his brother.”

  Agrios kept eyeing the spiderwebs as if waiting for one of the spiders to come and get him. “Can I really go?”

  “We’re about to find out.” Nibo gestured toward the direction Shadow had shown them.

  Valynda led the way. “Have you known Shadow long?”

  “Long enough.”

  “For what?”

  “To know not to ever fully trust him.”

  That seemed odd given that he’d helped them without question. “How so?”

  “He’s the son of Azura.”

  She stumbled at the last thing she’d ever expected him to say. Dear Lord! Had she really been that close to the spawn of all evil? Could the Queen of All Shadows really have a child? “What?”

  “Aye. At one time, he was her lead general and the right hand of Noir. Hence why they call him the Prince of Shadows.”

  Her jaw dropped. “But he’s no longer on their side?”

  “That is the question, isn’t it? Shadow is a nebulous little bastard, which makes him hard to trust. Especially when one of the reasons he was so quick to kill in the past was his ironclad belief that it’s all right to slaughter the innocent, since so many who profess good too often practice evil in its name.”

  “He’s not wrong,” Agrios groused.

  “No, but it’s a slippery slope. Once you begin to justify something, there’s no end to it. And when we justify bad behavior as something our innocent victims deserve when we know in our hearts they don’t … that is when we’re truly damned.” He paused to look at Valynda. “Can you imagine a world where people tried to help each other up, not kick each other down?”

  Nay, she could not. Because
she’d been one of those innocents who’d been kicked repeatedly for no reason at all. By far too many.

  Nibo shook his head. “As much as it pains me, I have to admit to how sage that little prick is.”

  “How so?”

  “He’s also the one who said that we are never punished for the sins we commit, but rather by them.”

  Valynda flinched at the truth of that statement. “Ouch!”

  “Indeed.”

  And that made her wonder just what had happened in Shadow’s past that had made him learn such harsh lessons. That kind of wisdom came with a price. One she wished she’d never been forced to pay.

  But then he was the son of Azura.

  She could only imagine how much worse his past must have been. Pity that life was ever so harsh. For everyone who walked it. She only hoped that Shadow found some sort of solace.

  Just as she prayed that Nibo and Circe didn’t betray her. But it was hard to have faith. Hard to believe in others when so many lashed out.

  Which made her curious as to another matter.

  “What of this soul you plan to send back?”

  Nibo hesitated. “Pardon?”

  “Whose soul will you send here to replace Agrios’s?”

  He turned sheepish as they walked. “Was rather hoping you wouldn’t ask.”

  Her stomach drew tight as fear choked her. “Meaning?”

  “Don’t get that tone. I’m not going to offer up you. You heard what she said.”

  Mayhap not, but some would be worse than her. “One of my friends?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Don’t think so?”

  He paused to look at her. “I haven’t quite figured it out yet.”

  Failure to think ahead … “Xuri!”

  He held his hands up in surrender. “What do you want from me, Vala? A lie?”

  At the moment? Sort of. Honestly, she wasn’t sure, but she really didn’t like where this was heading, as it was making her a bit sick to her stomach. “So, what? You just randomly pick a soul and cast it down here?”

  “Kind of.”

  “Kind of?”

  “Fine, I’ll pick an evil one to send in. Would that make you happy?”

  She supposed. “Can you do that?”

  “I think so.”

  “You think?”

  “Pretty sure.”

  “Xuri!”

  Again, he looked a bit helpless. “I told you before, mon ange, that I’m on uncharted territory. I’m not Thorn. This isn’t what I do. Bringing souls in should be easy, as that’s what I usually do, but this isn’t my normal route. So I’ll try, n’est-ce pas?”

  Hands on hips, she shook her head. “I’m beginning to not like you so much.”

  “I’ll let you in on a bit of a secret, Vala. Some days, neither do I.” He winked at her.

  Growling low in her throat, she followed after the men as they continued on until they neared the door and found the exit cut off by a band of winged creatures who were hideous in form. With forked, serpentine tongues, they hissed at them and flicked long, braided tails.

  Nibo pulled her back. “Beware. They spit venom that can bind you here. Kill your soul.”

  His nostrils flared as one of the beasts flew at them. “Hades!” He called out for the ancient being who ruled this domain.

  Instead of the Greek god, Qeenan appeared in front of them. “Hello, brother.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  Qeenan shrugged. “Spoiling your day the same way you’ve sought to spoil mine. Turn about and all that.”

  Nibo was aghast. “What the hell, man?”

  “You couldn’t stay out of my business and so I refuse to stay out of yours.” Clapping his hands, Qeenan laughed. “Get them!”

  “Ever wish you were an only child?”

  Nibo gave Valynda a droll stare. “Only every time I get near my brother. I should have drowned that little bastard when we were children in a bath.”

  Agrios grumbled something behind them.

  Nibo pulled a bottle off his belt and slammed it on the ground, shattering it. A dark purple cloud engulfed them.

  “For this, we got dressed up.” She choked on the smoke.

  Ignoring her, he took her elbow and guided her back the way they’d come. He used his crook to grab Agrios to make sure he followed.

  “What are we going to do?”

  Nibo didn’t respond to his question. Turning, he sent a blast at the flying rats after them. Then he pulled another bottle and sent it flying.

  Valynda’s heart pounded as she struggled to see. She hated this. It was terrifying to hear their pursuers and see nothing. To know they had an enemy out there who wanted them dead.

  No sooner had the red mist rolled out than she heard the echoing sound of an outraged god. It shook the walls around them and sent the beasts after them cowering.

  Even Qeenan vanished.

  But not before the very walls around them turned into giant stone creatures who surrounded them, imprisoning them. They writhed and loomed, rising up to stare down as if intent to trample them into oblivion.

  “This isn’t good.” She stared at Nibo.

  “Who dares to breach my domain!”

  Valynda froze as lightning shot through Nibo’s mists and more thunder shook the room. The screams of the damned went silent as if they were too terrified to draw the ancient god’s notice.

  Out of the dark, swirling mist emerged a man wearing flowing black robes and walking with the swagger that said he was the sole lord of this land and that no one here had better challenge him. Though to be honest, she would have thought the ancient Greek god of death would be more …

  Monstrous.

  Hideous.

  She was expecting cloven hooves. Some horns.

  Honestly, Hades was quite pleasing to the eyes. Other than the fact he was furious at them.

  “Not another one of you. Do I need to send out for pest control? Or just find out who left the door open and gut them?”

  Nibo tsked. “Hades … how have you been?”

  “It’s late summer. Need I say more?”

  Valynda winced at words that meant the god had been without sex and his wife for months now. Which put him in an obviously bad mood and them at a great disadvantage.

  Nibo flashed him a charming grin. “Well, you’re not me type.”

  Hades crossed his arms over his chest. “Really? You’re going to piss me off more? You think that’s a wise move to make?”

  “Can’t seem to help myself.”

  “You should try.”

  “Why, when this is so much fun?”

  Hades blasted him. “Aye, it is.”

  Valynda gasped as Nibo was thrown back against the stone creature that held them prisoner. He hit the slab so hard, it was a wonder he hadn’t shattered his bones. Blood poured from his nose.

  Furious over the god’s childish behavior, she glared at him. “That wasn’t necessary!”

  “You willing to bleed for him?”

  “If needs be. Aye. Are you?”

  Hades’s eyes widened. Then he burst out laughing. “Have you any idea what I could do to you?”

  Sadly, she did. And it would most likely hurt. However, it wasn’t in her nature to back down or be intimidated.

  Even when it was stupid. “But you won’t. Last thing you need is me in your own little hell here, leading a rebellion against you, day after day. Year after year.”

  “You’re threatening me?”

  Valynda shrugged with a nonchalance she really didn’t feel. “Just explaining consequences.”

  Coughing, Nibo let out a nervous laugh. “She’s not jesting. That’s me girl, Hades. Believe me, if anyone can lead a rebellion in hell, it’s her. You’d be wise to be afraid. The Bondye knows, I am.”

  He paused to consider it. “I would call you both liars, but Persephone has educated me well on what a woman can do when she sets her mind to something. Truly, it’s terrifying. So
you’re right. I know to be afraid. Sometimes the smallest mouse makes the loudest roar.”

  Nibo pushed himself to his feet. “And I wasn’t breaching your domain. I came to negotiate. It was your daughter who told me I could leave here with Agrios.”

  “Mel?” he growled. “I don’t believe you. And none of my Furies would ever do such a thing.”

  “Makaria.”

  Hades rolled his eyes. “Ah, bloody hell. Damn that heart of hers. I’m surprised she hasn’t set loose half the souls here for one reason or another.” He growled low in his throat. “I’ll talk to her later about this.” Narrowing his gaze at Agrios, it was obvious he didn’t want to honor his daughter’s word, and for a moment, Valynda was sure they’d have to battle their way out.

  Finally, Hades nodded. “Fine. Take the worthless beast and go.”

  Nibo inclined his head to him. “Thank you, my lord. And might I ask one more thing?”

  Hades arched a dark, irritated brow.

  “Makaria said that I’d have to return a soul to you within a month. As I’m not one of your usual messengers, is there someone in particular I should be seeking to fulfill your quota?”

  Hades appeared impressed. “Well, at least she remembered that much. I’m surprised it stuck.” He passed a speculative look to Agrios, then Nibo. “But this one time, I’ll let that pass in lieu of a favor.”

  Nibo felt his insides shrink with fear at those words. No one ever wanted to be beholden to a god. That never worked out well for anyone. “What kind of favor?”

  “No idea. But when I come to you for it, you will remember, and you won’t deny me.”

  Beautiful. That had all kinds of disaster upon it. Yet when Nibo passed a tender look to Valynda, his gut unknotted. Whatever price the god demanded, it would be worth it, and he would pay with a smile on his face. “I will remember.”

  “Then take your worthless warrior and go.”

  Hades dissolved all obstacles between them and the stone doorway.

  Nibo took her hand and pulled her forward, then grabbed Agrios by his hauberk. “Remember, don’t look back.”