I crouched down and grabbed my hellhound by the neck.
He took a deep breath, the runes along his flanks bursting with red light and he barked, nearly bursting my eardrums with the sound.
Everything blurred, and we left the Sanctuary behind.
THIRTY-FIVE
“A runic nova,” the familiar female voice said as I rubbed my eyes. “Impressive. That is a cast beyond your level of power.”
“I had…help,” I said with a groan as my head pounded. “Dex is going to be pissed.”
“A fair assessment,” she said. “The Sanctuary has been destroyed…by your hand, literally.”
“Where…where are we?” I asked as I slowly recovered, lifting my head from the cool, smooth marble floor. “This is…”
“A mandir dedicated to me,” Kali said from behind me. “Your companion is very resourceful, and hungry. Does he always eat like this?”
I turned to see Kali sitting on a stone bench while Peaches was busy burying his face in an immense bowl of sausage at her feet. He was oblivious to everything except the meat.
“Only when he’s awake,” I said with another groan, as I tried to sit up. “Right now, he’s just shamelessly taking advantage of you.”
This time, Kali was dressed in a loose-fitting, burnt-sienna robe, finished with white brocade. Like before, indecipherable, orange runes flowed around its surface. Her black hair was pulled back into a tight braid, flowing down her back, and coming to rest in a small coil on the bench beside her. Her blue skin glistened with a deep undercurrent of power.
“He is an excellent bondmate,” she said, waving a hand and creating more sausage, “and still so young.”
“He is,” I said, my voice hoarse. “I’d be lost without him.”
“Indeed,” she said with a nod. “I will speak to Hades about procuring some hellhounds for my domain. They seem much friendlier than my Rakshasas.”
The idea of Kali getting a pack of hellhounds to patrol her domain was a scary thought.
“We’re in Jersey?” I asked, looking around and slowly sitting up. “Jersey, really…?”
“We are in my mandir, which at the moment happens to be in New Jersey, yes,” Kali said. “I see you have aligned.” She pointed to my ring-less finger. “Was it unpleasant?”
“Let’s just say, once is enough to last an entire lifetime…maybe two,” I said, looking at the scars on my arms. “These are new.”
“The blade used against you was a kamikira,” she said. “A god-killer. If she had delivered a fatal blow—”
“She would have killed me. Permanently.”
She nodded.
“And the scars?”
“Will remind you that even immortals can die,” she answered after a pause.
“Immortal doesn’t mean death is off the table?”
“Everything dies eventually.”
“I’m getting that.”
“This alignment will bring you awareness…and attention. Not all of it desired.”
“I heard,” I answered. “My upgrade from chosen”—she narrowed her eyes—“I mean cursed, to marked, means stronger enemies, too.”
“Yes,” she said. “My mark will keep them away, initially.”
“Initially. And then?”
“Then they will want to prove themselves.”
“Why does this sound painful?” I asked. “How do they prove themselves?”
She smiled. It was horrifically enticing. I forced myself to look away.
“By killing you, of course.”
“Of course,” I said. “Why would I think it would be otherwise?”
“The old ones will look for you now. You will need to prepare.”
“Why now? Why not before?”
“Before you were a nuisance, easily removed. Now…now, you pose a significant threat.”
“Is there any way I can downgrade to nuisance level again?”
“No,” she said. “This power, once obtained, remains. You are now the Aspis—my Aspis—and you will be tested.”
“How many of these aphids are out there?”
“Aspis, and you are the current holder of this position.”
“Aspis, right,” I said. “What happened to the previous holder?”
“There can only be one living Aspis at any one time,” Kali said. “Even though you step slightly outside the norm due to my curse, you are technically…living. The previous Aspis departed your plane long ago.”
“Oh, I was hoping there was some kind of Aspis Club.”
“For camaraderie?”
“I just don’t like being the only Aspis target.”
She smiled again. This time I was ready and looked away early.
“You are not alone,” she said. “You have your bondmate, your vampire, and your mage friend, whom you managed to assist through his ordeal.”
“Does that mean he’s over this darkness thing?”
“Do you know who I am?”
This had to be a trick question. I opted to answer on the side of survivability.
“Kali, the goddess of destruction?” I answered tentatively. “Is there another Kali I don’t know about?”
“Yes, everyone focuses on that part of my aspect, and I must confess I have allowed them to. Being known as the goddess of destruction makes life easier overall.”
“Must make it tough in the ‘friends coming over to hang out’ department.”
She gave me a look and smiled.
“You are a peculiar person, Simon Strong, but you are right,” she said. “I do not have friends. I have peers and enemies.”
“I’m guessing they’re usually the same person most of the time.”
She nodded.
“Aside from being the goddess of destruction, I am also a goddess of creation,” she answered slowly. “Life and death, destruction and creation, are two sides, inextricably linked.”
Elton John’s “Circle of Life” blasted in my brain.
If I kept this up, I was going to get myself killed. I got a grip, booted Elton from my brain, and calmed myself. On some level, I understood what she was saying.
“Monty’s not over this darkness thing, is he?”
“Nor will he ever be,” Kali said, standing. “We all possess dual natures. I can no more be all creation, than I can be all destruction.”
“But you seem to favor destruction, or at least that’s my impression.”
“Do you recall the first time you met me?”
She gazed at me. It was a soft gaze, but it felt like she was looking through me. I was exposed, raw, and vulnerable. Nothing was hidden from that gaze. It was the look a parent gave their child, knowing what the child had done wrong, but asking anyway.
“Do I have to?” I said as she furrowed her brow at me. I realized my typical answers could get me atomized. I quickly reversed course. “Yes, I do. You were saving children. Monty and I thought you were harming them. Turns out we were wrong.”
“Then you interfered, and I not only left you alive, but cursed you so.”
“Why?” I asked. “Why didn’t you just blast me there? That would’ve been easier for you…and me.”
“You resort to violence too easily,” Kali said, as the braid of hair wrapped itself around her waist. “Destruction is easy; creation, building when you want to tear down, that is truly difficult.”
“Only the strong, can be gentle?” I asked.
“Only the powerful, understand weakness.”
“You cursed me as an expression of creation?”
“You’re getting there,” she said. “Let’s just say you’ve been weak. Now it is time to gain strength. You have much to protect, shield-warrior.”
“Than
k you,” I said. “My life has become exponentially harder, but I have to say it’s better.”
“You’re welcome,” she said. “The day will come when you will curse my name, but that is expected. For now, stand in the gap for those near you. One day, you will need to choose between creation and destruction.”
Her skin started glowing a deep blue.
“I don’t mean to be rude,” I said, pointing at her, “but your glow is showing.”
She smiled, stepped close to me and gently slapped my face nearly breaking my jaw.
“Your mouth is going to get you killed one day, Aspis,” she said. “I will make sure I will be there to witness it when it happens. It’s time for you and your bondmate to go.”
“I have questions.”
“I’m sure you do. What you lack is the capacity for understanding the answers,” Kali answered. “Goodbye, Aspis. We will speak again…in time.”
The glow of her skin intensified until it blinded me, forcing me to look away.
When I could see again, she was gone.
THIRTY-SIX
I looked around and rubbed my tender jaw. The mandir was empty. Judging from the light pouring in through the skylight, it was early morning.
I looked down at my completely satiated hellhound. He lay on his side, looking like an industrial-sized hellhound sausage.
“You keep eating like that and you won’t fit into the Dark Goat.”
He chuffed and gave me a low rumble.
“Don’t let Ezra hear you say that,” I said, leaving the inner mandir area. “Come on.”
“I can’t believe Kali,” I said, looking around and raising my voice. “She’s this badass goddess and leaves us stranded in Jersey, of all places. At the very least leave us in the city. This is not a badass move.” I glanced down at Peaches. “You think you can blink us home?”
“Are you saying—I can’t believe I’m saying this—that you ate too much?”
“Fine, let’s catch the sunrise,” I said. “Then we can find someplace quiet for you to recover from your recent meat-a-thon.”
I waited by the exit for Peaches to slowly join me.
We walked outside, and there, sitting menacingly in the empty parking lot, I saw the Dark Goat.
“I stand corrected; Kali retains her badass status by delivering my sweet ride for the win.”
I placed my hand on the hood, and the Dark Goat clanged unlocked. It rocked to one side as I opened the suicide door and Peaches jumped in. I slid in behind the wheel, feeling the familiar tingle of lethality on my skin. The Dark Goat.
I loved this car.
My phone rang a few minutes later.
It was LD.
“Haven, now.”
He hung up.
The urgency in his voice left no room for questions. I stepped on the gas and unleashed the Dark Goat.
THIRTY-SEVEN
The skywalk at Haven was still being repaired when I arrived.
I parked the Dark Goat in front of the building, and raced inside as fast as my still-aching body allowed. Peaches must have digested some of the sausage, since he kept pace with me.
LD was waiting for me at the elevators. He rubbed Peaches’ head when we stepped into the lobby.
“What happened?” I asked. “Where’s Monty?”
“Slow down,” LD said. “Tristan is…well, right now he is under observation.”
“Under observation?” I asked, confused. “I just left him a little while ago.”
“A little while ago?” LD said, looking at me strangely. “They got back from the Sanctuary last night. We were about to go searching for you, when I sensed your energy signature. What were you doing in Jersey?”
“Last night?” I asked, confused. “What are you talking about? I just left the Sanctuary not more than twenty minutes ago.”
“If you keep talking like that, Roxanne will admit you and put you under observation, too,” LD said, keeping his voice low. “You don’t want to speak to her right now. She’s biting everyone’s head off.”
“How’s Monty?”
“Not in a schism,” LD said, leading me away from the elevators and heading into the stairwell. “He came to in Fordey, and then vanished.”
“Vanished? In Fordey? I thought you were watching him?”
LD just looked at me and waited for me to get a grip.
“Sorry, I’m not accusing you,” I said, raising a hand. “It’s just that…”
“Surprised the hell out of me, too,” LD said, shaking his head. “He shouldn’t have been able to pull off a teleport. Not from within Fordey, not in his condition, but he is Dex’s nephew. I should’ve been more careful.”
“He saved my ass.”
“I hear it’s the other way around,” LD said. “You released a runic nova?”
“Not on purpose,” I said defensively, “Monty was in trouble, and I was done. Evers would have killed us all. It was about as last resort as you could get.”
“You obliterated the entire Sanctuary complex…all of it,” LD said with a hint of pride. “I thought you said Tristan was the destructive one?”
“Is Dex pissed?” I asked. “I mean, the Golden Circle is gone.”
“The artifacts were all stored safely after Connor died,” LD said. “Between you and me, I think Dex is relieved. He never wanted to run a sect. I think he’s going to start a school.”
The door to the stairwell opened and Dex walked in.
“Your lass is asking for you,” Dex said. “Apparently my nephew created an irregularity at Fordey in his hurry to escape?”
“That’s my cue,” LD said. “Come by Fordey when you can. I think I have some things that can assist you.”
“I will,” I said. “Thank you. Please let TK know…”
“Family. That’s what we do, hombre,” LD said, casting a gray circle around him. “I’ll let TK know you’re still kicking. See you soon.”
LD nodded to Dex and vanished.
Dex turned without saying a word and climbed the stairs. He reached the next level and paused before the door.
“Ach, are you just going to admire me from down there?” he asked. “Come on, boy.”
Peaches bounded up the stairs. I followed, just not as energetically. How he managed to move so fast after ingesting a cow’s worth of sausage, was astounding.
Dex grabbed the handle and whispered something under his breath. Green light raced along the frame of the door. He opened the door which led to a small stone path sitting in a grassy area.
It was Central Park, but not the one I was familiar with.
“Where are we?” I asked as I followed him in. “This looks like Central Park, but I don’t remember the two suns. Is this Tatooine?”
“Don’t be daft,” Dex said, walking over to a small bench. “This is Central Park, just not your Central Park. I didn’t want Roxanne to find us in a stairwell—she’s on a tear.”
I looked around. Aside from the extra light and double shadows, I could easily confuse this place for my city. There was an engraved stone bench surrounded by a small grove of five trees. The bench radiated power. Behind me, the door remained, standing free in the middle of the grass.
“Does this place exist in my park?”
“This here is Green Hill,” Dex said, sitting on the bench. The runes in the stone shone a little brighter for a few seconds, then dimmed. “It’s named after Andrew Haswell Green. On your plane, he is somewhat obscure, but influential in the formation of the city. On this plane, he is venerated. Each tree symbolizes a discipline he founded. Have a seat.”
I sat on the bench, but the runes remained dorman
t. I guess I wasn’t quite at the power level where objects would react to my presence.
“Is Monty okay?” I asked, sliding to the other end of the bench. Peaches plopped down on the grass with a contented rumble. “LD was light on specifics. Just that he’s ‘under observation,’ whatever that means.”
“You destroyed the Sanctuary,” Dex started. As I prepared for another thrashing, he continued, “But you saved my nephew. For that, I am in your debt.”
“It wasn’t intentional,” I said. “Evers was going to end us.”
“You didn’t intend to save Tristan?”
“The Sanctuary…I meant the Sanctuary,” I said quickly. “I didn’t mean to destroy it.”
“Aye, it needed a renovation in any case,” Dex said. “You and my nephew just sped up the process.”
“What about Talin?” I asked. “I know Evers is gone. I saw TK, but no Talin.”
“You just answered your question, boy.”
“Talin managed to survive facing Scary Grey,” I said. “He was beyond dangerous.”
“Not to her.”
“Remind me to never piss TK off.”
Dex nodded.
“The Black Orchid has placed you on their watch list,” Dex said with a chuckle. “Mr. ‘I’m not a mage’ is now on a dangerous mage watch list.”
“Wait, what?” I asked, concerned. “How is that funny? This is serious.”
“It is,” Dex said with a wicked smile. “I explained how seriously Kali would react if she happened to discover Black Orchid agents trying to apprehend you. The Marked of Kali.”
“Wonderful,” I said. “Can you speak to them about Jessikah?”
“It’s been done,” Dex said. “They won’t accept her. Seems to be some bad blood there, but they will leave her be. I explained how distressed I’d become if I found out different.”
I was glad to hear Jessikah would be left alone by the Black Orchid. She was still pretty clueless about life outside the sect. The last thing she needed was a group of BO agents hunting her down while she got her bearings.
Walking The Razor: A Montague & Strong Detective Novel Page 24
