by Amy Sumida
“I can't wait to rub it in Cid's face,” Sam added.
Ira chuckled despite himself. “Why do I hang out with you morons?”
“Because your magic forces you to.” Thaddeus smirked.
“Oh, right.” Ira nodded. “I forgot.”
“Are you all certain you wish to do this?” Amy asked with deadly sincerity. “You'll see things in Jigoku that will haunt you. I truly won't think less of any of you for leaving.”
“My son's soul was torn in two before he was born,” I said softly. “I felt every second of it, and there isn't anything that could possibly be worse than that for me.”
“I can't argue with that; it sounds truly terrible.” Amy sighed and then looked at Sakuya.
“No,” Sakuya said resolutely. “I'm going with you this time.”
“You are more loyal than my blood-relatives,” Amy said sadly as she kissed Sakuya's cheek. “Thank you.”
“You have been just as loyal to me.” Sakuya lifted her chin. “I don't need your thanks.”
Amaterasu smiled like the sun. “And you behave more like me as well,” she said proudly. “All right; let's go save my people.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
Meido was a pleasure jaunt compared to Jigoku. Luckily, Amy used the bond she had with her souls to draw us straight to them, and we were able to bypass most of the lesser hells. Although, we did fly over a frozen landscape where the souls huddled together; bare, blue-tinged backs turned to the biting wind. As bad as I felt for them, all I could think was; at least we weren't flying over the Hell of Excrement. That was bound to be worse than the Bog of Eternal Stench.
After we made it across the Frozen Hell, Amy shouted and pointed; she had found her souls. And they weren't in one of the lesser hells either. Amy's souls had wound up in one of the major hells. I can't say that I was all that surprised; knowing what they had done for a living. Yakuza members aren't exactly saints. But did they deserve the punishments they were receiving? I guess the kings had thought so.
We circled a desolate region full of some of the strangest and most horrifying sights I'd ever beheld. There were souls being restrained by Oni while other demons laid lengths of black thread over their bodies. Wherever the thread was laid, the Oni would cut the souls with axes and saws. That was horrifying but not particularly strange.
What dropped my jaw was the giant frying pan heating over a massive fire. Yes; a frying pan. It was set in the center of the butchery and was tended by several bestial Oni who slid wood logs beneath the pan gleefully. To each side of this giant torture device there were wooden towers, and between the towers there was a tightrope; stretched taunt. Oni demons forced souls across the tightrope above the frying pan while they carried a load of metal on their backs. When the souls fell—which they inevitably did—the Oni would saute them while they chopped the souls into pieces.
One of Amy's souls was in the frying pan.
Amaterasu shrieked furiously as Thaddeus swept down upon the Oni, carrying her to battle. The demons looked up in shock and gaped at the screaming goddess and her angelic transportation; weapons hanging forgotten from their clawed hands. Then a flare of light shot out of Amy's hands and sent the Oni tumbling. The cooking soul immediately leapt out of the frying pan and into the fire. I know; I would have giggled if it hadn't been so grotesque and pitiful. In fact, it was so horrible—so ironically chilling—that I couldn't bring myself to utter any of the cooking jokes that sprung into my mind... and there were several.
The soul ran out of the flames and rolled on the ground to put himself out. As he did, his wounds were healed; whole limbs simply reappearing. It occurred to me then that the reason the demons of Jigoku could torture souls over and over was precisely because they were souls; bodiless spirits made solid through the magic of the realm. Any injury received was only temporary. The Vikings in Valhalla made use of that loophole every day.
Ted landed and set Amy down gracefully on her feet. She strode over to her soul, and the man dropped to his knees before her. He wept—most likely in relief—as she laid a hand gently on his head. When the Oni recovered and moved to interfere, Odin and I landed between them. The demons pulled back, and when they saw the light that started to fill Amaterasu's hands again, they ran.
All of the tortured souls had been abandoned, and they swarmed around Amaterasu desperately. But Amy was only there for her followers, and she drew them out of the crowd with her connection to them. Amaterasu spoke to her souls in Japanese, so I don't know exactly what she said to them, but they stared up at her in adoration and cried out in worshiping tones. Then she bent over and kissed each of them on their foreheads. The men faded away; I assume to Amaterasu's territory.
The Buddhist souls cried out for help, but Amy held up a hand and shook her head sadly.
“Why won't she help them?” I asked Sakuya.
“She's not a reaper,” Sakuya whispered. “She cannot take a soul bound to another god.”
“I'm a reaper.” Azrael stepped forward. “I may have retired, but I still have my magic. Do you want me to transport them for you?”
Amy blinked in shock and then looked from Azrael to the wailing human souls.
“This is Kokujou Jigoku; The Hell of Black Threads,” she said. “Which means that these people are murderers and thieves.”
“So were your people,” I pointed out.
“True,” Amaterasu agreed. “But I know my people, and there was honor in what they did. I do not know these people. They chose this religion, and then they failed to abide by their own rules. I will not interfere.”
Azrael looked at me. I knew he wanted to help the souls. Azrael was a compassionate man; it was a part of his magic. But I also knew that Amy was right; these souls had been judged and sent here by the rules that they agreed to in life. Was it our place to step in now that they were paying their debt?
“Your father does the same thing to his souls,” I pointed out gently. “Would you free any of them?”
Azrael sighed and stepped back. “So be it.”
“Was that all of your people?” Odin asked Amy.
“Yes, Norse Dragon,” Amy said with a grin. “I have sent my people where they belong, and now we may go where we belong.”
“Good; I'm so over this place,” Ira huffed. “A fucking frying pan? Seriously? Humans are so whack.”
We took to the air amid screaming pleas for help. It was hard to fly away from that, but part of me—the human part—felt as if it were justice.
Chapter Forty-Eight
We made it back to the torii gates without issue and without seeing Enma or Kagu-hana. The gate to the Human Realm opened into the temple of Bodai-ji; specifically, into a room full of mediums. Mediums; as in the people who could speak to the dead, not the average measurement. All of the mediums were women, and most of them were blind, but every one of them witnessed us tracing in from Meido.
Amaterasu strode into the gathering of priestesses; speaking softly in Japanese. The women bowed deeply to her; murmuring respectfully as they reached out to brush their hands over Amy's sleeve as she passed.
“The Itako,” Sakuya explained to us. “Amy is not their goddess, but they can sense her magic. They recognize what she is, if not who.”
And they weren't the only ones to recognize Amaterasu, nor was Amy the only one given respect. Every person we passed in the temple bowed deeply to us all. They opened doors, lowered their gazes, and generally acted as if we were visiting royalty. No one screamed, shouted, or even made a big fuss. They acted as if gods striding through their temple was a rare but perfectly normal occurrence. It was so bizarre for the rest of us; to not only be recognized as gods, but to also be given gracious deference. The angels, especially,* were shocked.
“Wow; that was nice,” Ira said as we exited the temple.
“Does it make up for Jigoku?” Azrael asked.
“No, but it does explain why gods might want Dvārakā raised,” Ira said. “That kind of attention ca
n be addictive.”
“And those are just the Japanese Buddhists,” Sakuya noted. “They are reserved in their worship. Outright adoration is even more gratifying.”
Once we were back in the low hills overlooking the smelly lake, Amaterasu turned to us and hugged us all goodbye.
“You have done me a great service with even greater honor today,” Amy said. “You freed my people and myself when I could not call on my pantheon to help me. For that, I am in your debt. If any of you need help—any kind of assistance—please call upon me.”
“I may be doing just that very soon,” I warned her.
“I would be happy to help you.” Amaterasu bowed to me. “You, Vervain, are beyond debts with me; you are my friend. Call on me as often as you like, and I shall be there.”
“Thank you.” I hugged Amy and then Sakuya.
The Japanese goddesses drew back from the rest of us to trace away, but I stopped them.
“Amy, did you ever find out how Enma got your followers to commit suicide?” I asked her.
“Mrtyu-mara,” Amy snarled out the name. “He's a demon who possesses humans and makes them want to kill themselves.”
“That's a bad gig.” Azrael shook his head. “It's not his fault that the magic chose him.”
“No, but it is his fault that he chose to possess humans protected by me,” Amy said grimly. “I killed Mrtyu-mara as soon as I entered Meido. It's how Enma caught me; I was distracted by the fight and the Oni were able to sneak up on me and subdue me.”
“At least you killed Mrtyu-mara first,” Sakuya said.
“And I will kill Enma next,” Amy vowed. “I would have let him live if he had returned my souls. But he made us journey through Jigoku, and for that, he will die.”
“Good luck,” I said.
“I don't need luck, Godhunter,” Amy said with a wink. “I'm the Goddess of the Sun.”
Amy and Sakuya traced away.
Odin turned to me and asked, “Remind you of anyone?”
“It must be something to do with the sun magic.” I chuckled and shook my head.
Chapter Forty-Nine
“I don't need luck; I'm the Goddess of the Sun,” Ira mimicked Amy as we walked into the dining hall of Pride Palace. “She sure could have used some luck when she was imprisoned in Meido.”
“I know you like her, Ira.” Ted gave the Horseman of Famine a pat on the back. “You can stop pretending.”
“I don't like her,” Ira huffed indignantly. “She's obnoxious.”
“And hot,” Sam added.
“And wicked smart.” Ted nodded.
“And I think she likes you too,” I said.
“You do?” Ira's eyes went wide.
“I don't know, maybe.” I giggled. “But now we know that you really do like her!”
“I'm going to take a shower and go to bed.” Ira grimaced as he stomped toward the elevator.
“You should ask her out!” Ted called after Ira. “I bet she'd like some angel lovin'!”
“Fuck off, Ted!” Ira slammed the gate shut on the elevator.
“He's so sensitive.” Ted chuckled.
“I think he's always hangry,” Sam said. “It's the famine thing.”
“Is everyone all right?” Trevor met us in the doorway of the dining hall.
“Everyone is safe and where they belong.” I nodded. “Including us.”
“Good. Because we have another problem,” Trevor waved us in toward the dining table.
Re was seated at the table; his hands curled around the ends of his armrests and his golden eyes staring forward furiously. He looked as if he wanted to destroy a city but wasn't sure which city to choose. A muscle ticked in his jaw as smoke began to rise from between his fingers.
“Re, could you stop burning the furniture?” I asked casually.
Re flinched and looked up at me. His expression softened and then he looked down at his hot hands. With a sharp inhale, Re released the armrests; revealing charred marks in the shape of his palms.
“I'm sorry,” Re whispered. Then he noticed the state of me. “Why are you in that half-dragon form?”
“We had to dodge fireballs,” Odin said as he joined us in his similar shape. “And then we didn't want to walk around Jigoku naked.”
“Vhy don't you two go shower and get dressed,” Kirill suggested. “Zis can vait.”
“No; it can't wait!” Re stood suddenly and slammed his fist onto the table. “Someone has stolen the glasses, Vervain!”
“The glasses?” I asked in confusion.
“The goggles!” Re shouted. “Tlaloc's goggles!”
“What?” I roared. “You said they'd be safe with you!”
“They should have been!”
“Why weren't they?!”
“Could you two stop shouting?” Azrael asked drolly. “I've had enough screaming for one day.”
“Sorry, honey,” I lowered my voice. Then I turned back to Re. “Who could have taken them?”
“Only someone with access to Aaru,” Re growled. “And I can't think of anyone who can enter Aaru, who would not only know that I had the goggles, but would know where I stashed them.”
“Have you used this hiding place before?” Odin asked reasonably.
Re blinked, frowned, and then shouted, “Damn her to all the hells!”
“Who?” Trevor asked.
“Sekhmet.” Re narrowed his glowing eyes. “She knows where my treasure room is.”
“And she also happens to be living beside Dvārakā,” Odin noted. “Krishna said that only a god who could see the truth could enter the Control Room. Those goggles can do exactly that.”
“Damn her betraying ways!” Re shouted.
“Why would Sekhmet report the magical activity at Dvārakā to us?” I wasn't convinced. “Why draw attention to it if she's the one trying to raise it? And who would help her? Someone has to; she has no magic of her own.”
“Sekhmet reported it to drive suspicion away from herself in case we discovered it on our own,” Re said it as if it were fact. “And to get me out of Aaru.”
“Let's talk about this—” I started to say.
“No!” Re slashed his hand through the air. “I admire and appreciate your merciful tendencies toward my daughter, Vervain, but I'm done going easy on her.”
Re started out of the hall.
“Re, could we just take some time to make sure it was her?” I asked.
“I know it was her,” Re said. “It can't possibly be anyone else.”
“Are you certain?” Odin asked calmly. “Is there no one else who knows of this hiding spot?”
“Only Ma'at and Anubis,” Re huffed. “Anubis was the one to recommend it to me. But neither of them know about the glasses or that I hid them there.”
“And Sekhmet does? Az asked.
“Bast does,” Re said. “And if Bast knows, then Sekhmet knows; they tell each other everything.”
I looked around at the other men and then sighed.
“At least let us shower off Jigoku first,” I said.
“I don't need you to go with me, La-la,” Re said gently. “I can handle my daughter alone.”
“I know, but we need to be there for you,” I insisted. “Just give us fifteen minutes.”
“Fine,” Re said. Then he looked me over again. “Would you like some help?”
“Re,” I groaned as I headed toward the elevator.
“What?” Re attempted to look innocent.
“Even in the middle of a rant, you still find the time to be a lecher.” Odin shook his head at Re before following after me.
“Says the man chasing after my girlfriend,” Re noted.
“She's my wife,” Odin called back. “It's not lecherous if I want to bathe with my wife.”
“It's not?” I whispered to Odin.
“Maybe a little.” Odin grinned. “But don't tell Re that.”
Chapter Fifty
When we arrived in Sekhmet's home, her twin sister—Bast�
�was with her. The women stood to greet their father, but he barely acknowledged their reception; simply nodding before he launched into his tirade. I cringed as he verbally attacked Sekhmet.
“Where are they, Sekhmet?” Re snarled.
“Who?” Sekhmet looked from her father to the rest of us in confusion.
My husbands and Toby had come along with us, but the rest of the Horsemen had stayed behind. This was a family matter.
“Not who; what,” Re corrected with a narrowed-eyed glare. “And you know exactly what I'm talking about. I know you stole the goggles.”
“The far-seeing goggles?” Sekhmet's eyes rounded. “Why would I take them?”
“To help your cohorts raise Dvārakā!” Re shouted. “With those glasses you could find the Control Room and access it.”
“Why would I want to raise Dvārakā?” Sekhmet looked baffled. “How would I raise it? I have no magic.”
“Father, that's enough!” Bast shouted. “Sekhmet is not behind this Dvārakā thing, and she certainly didn't steal the goggles.”
“Very few people know where I stash my treasures, and you two are among them,” Re said.
“You showed us your treasure room years ago, in case of your unlikely death,” Sekhmet huffed. “I haven't even been near it since then.”
“If not you, then who?” Re growled. “Ma'at? Anubis? They never come into Aaru; they're too busy judging souls to go past the gate, and neither of them know about the goggles.”
“And how would I get to Aaru?” Sekhmet asked sharply. “Isn't it more likely that one of them would betray you than one of us? We're your daughters while they are only grandchildren.”
“I don't know why you showed them the treasure room in the first place,” Bast added.
“Because Anubis and Ma'at have the weight of Duat upon their shoulders,” Re said as if he had explained it numerous times before. “They could make good use of several items in that room, while the rest of our family would not.”
“Just because Ma'at and Anubis are busy with souls, it doesn't mean they don't have any free time,” Sekhmet said. “They could have easily gone into Aaru. Maybe someone told them that you had the goggles.”
