by Alessa Thorn
Dante shoved him out of the way. "Do you have any idea what Liddell does to the guys you procure for him?"
Caleb muttered. "He promised he wouldn't kill anyone else. You don't understand. I had no choice. He's got… he's got this power that forces you to do whatever he wants. If I didn't help him, he was going to hurt my little brother."
"Well, then you'll understand how I feel about you hurting Leo. He's like a little brother to me. Like those other men were someone's brothers," Kon replied. He looked at Dante and nodded, giving him the option.
Dante didn't hesitate; he just took Kon's gun and put two bullets in Caleb's head.
"We need to go. We can fix this mess later," Athena said. Wrapping the towel around the dead guy's head. They tipped him onto the plastic and wrapped him up before shoving him into the corner.
Athena's phone buzzed, and she lifted it to her ear. "Iz, what did you find?"
"The number plate of the guy that picked up Leo. Traffic cams have him heading out of the city towards—"
"Silverburn."
"God damn it! I don't want to know how you found that out," Izabella sighed. "Do you know where it is?"
"A property called Silver End. I don't think it's going to come up on any Google Earth searches."
"Then it's a good thing you have a beautiful hacker you interrupted before she could tell you that she got the VIN number from the registration records and has pinged the GPS antitheft security on the engine. I'll be able to let you know as soon as it stops. For now, head to Silverburn," Izabella instructed.
"Iz? Have I told you today that I love you?" Athena asked.
"Say it with diamonds, pendeja," Iz replied and hung up on her. Athena grinned. The fun was finally about to start.
28
Tension was coiling tighter and tighter inside Kon the closer they got to Liddell. He had waited over twenty years for this moment, and never in all that time did he think he would be doing it with other people. Especially not with a woman he was in love with.
A part of him was anxious about her getting in the line of fire, but this was Athena fucking Edgeworth. There was no one that Kon would rather have on a murder spree with him.
Athena drove fast, all of them eager to find Leo and get the fighting started. Kon thought they would be more hot-headed before a fight, but it was the opposite. Athena's expression had gone wolf-like, and Dante was dead-eyed. It reassured Kon that they would be able to take care of themselves if they were met with any resistance. They were out for blood as much as he was.
Dante leaned in between them from the back seat. "Iz just sent me through the location of where the car stopped. We are ten minutes out, and they have found a spot at the back of a small wood."
"That explains why all the other victims were babbling about a forest," Kon murmured. He put spare magazines into his pockets. Liddell would have people out guarding the woods if he was paranoid enough. "Tell Silas to keep an eye out. Liddell will have cameras or men on the ground."
"On it," Dante replied, typing away.
Following Izabella's instructions, they drove through the small town of Silverburn and out along a side road to get close to the Pentland Hills Regional Park.
So much for thinking he would be living in a city. Liddell was playing the country gentleman with his own estate and parklands. It made Kon mentally rethink just how big of a collection he had.
They found Silas and Izabella a short time later, the former loading a large black rifle. "How are we doing, kids?" he asked.
"Ready to find Leo and get this over with," Dante said. He slung on a holster of guns. "Have you found him yet, Iz?"
"Working on it," she said from the front seat but didn't look up.
"I'm going to find some higher ground and get some eyes on the mansion. Liddell seems to be having an actual party, so be careful where you're shooting. We don't want the police up our asses before Kon has got the bastard," Silas said, shouldering the gun. "You going with him, Cub?"
"Someone’s got to have his back. Besides, the more people trying to find Leo, the better," Athena replied. She fixed a tiny camera on Kon's jacket before fastening her own. "So Iz can keep an eye on us."
"And make sure no one tries to jump you," Izabella called back to them. "I'm in his system. Idiot is on wireless, and for someone with so much to hide, he skimmed on cyber security."
"Finally, some good news." Silas glanced over at Kon. "What are you thinking, Basty?"
"That I'd like to go through the front door," Kon replied with a smile that was all murder. "It will also give you a chance to sneak in the back. I'd like Liddell to be surprised I'm working with a team."
Silas nodded. "Fair enough. Just don't get Athena shot."
"According to her, if we ever got into a fight, I would die way before her," Kon replied.
Athena slid on the last of her knives and two handguns, her black jacket going back over the top. She tugged a beanie over her pale hair and looked so damn adorable, Kon wanted to kiss her.
"And don't you forget it. I plan on using you as a human shield to get you back for being a pain in my ass all these years."
"Keeping mouthing off, and I'll show you what a pain in the ass I can be," Kon threatened.
Athena only smiled slyly. "Really? You promise?"
"Stop flirting right now before I shoot the both of you," Silas said. "Keep your comms on. I'll see you out there."
Athena kissed Silas's cheek before he and Dante melted into the trees and were gone. She looked at the side road that led up to the property's main gate.
"You ready for this?" she asked.
Kon nodded and then hesitated. "Athena, if I don't make it…."
Athena's blade was suddenly under his chin. "Not another word. We don't have time for you to get all pathetic on me, Konstantius."
"Fine. I'll wait until we are done, and I have my dick in your mouth, so you can't talk back when I try and tell you I give a shit about you!" Kon shoved the knife away and kissed her until she melted against him, her hands twisting in his shirt.
Athena hummed against his lips. "It's a deal."
"Now, we can go," he said, releasing her.
Izabella cleared her throat. "Ah, comms were on for that, guys."
"Sorry about that, Dad," Athena giggled, her cheeks going red.
"Fuck you both. I'm going to have to kill so many people tonight to get that shit out of my head," Silas's reply came in Kon's ear.
Athena tossed her daggers two-handed and winked at Kon. "Let's go get your revenge, handsome."
Kon took out his guns, and like shadows, they slipped down the edge of the woods. They reached the tree-lined road that led to the main set of gates. Two armed guards were smoking cigarettes outside of it.
"You want them?" Athena asked, just as the two men both dropped to the ground.
"Too slow, kiddies," Silas said through the comm. Kon looked around to try and spot him. Athena only laughed softly.
The mansion in front of them was made of pale stone and wrought iron. A fleet of identical black BMW sedans was parked on a gravel area that overlooked extensive gardens with pretentious statues of naked women.
"Looks like he owns a limo service. You think they were picking up other people like they did Leo?" Athena murmured and opened the front door.
"I wouldn't put it past Liddell. I bet none of them know who he really is," Kon replied. He kept his guns lowered as he stepped into the main entranceway.
Music was coming through hidden speakers, and everywhere he looked was fine antique furniture, rich oak paneling, and overpriced carpets. They pushed open a set of double doors, and Kon stared.
"Shit. There is a lot more to collect than I thought," he murmured. He knew that Liddell was obsessed, but it was like stepping into a museum of magical and religious arcana.
There were glass cabinets and cases packed with relics and jewels, grimoires and athames, crystal wands, and deformed skulls… Kon had to pull his attention away from it al
l so he wouldn't start touching things to see what they were. Some of the items Kon recognized as things he had procured, including the manuscript he had stolen from Athena in Cyprus.
"If this is the stuff he has randomly lying about, I can't wait to see what he's really hiding," Athena said slowly.
"Hey, you two aren't meant to be in here. This is the Grand Masters’ private area," a man snapped. He was wearing a flimsy velvet robe and nothing else.
"We are the extra security. Liddell asked us to do a sweep. He was worried about an intrusion," Kon said calmly.
"Probably just someone stepping too close to the warding. The hunt will begin soon, and people are already starting the ceremony," the stranger replied with a gleeful smile and went back through the stacks to a far door.
"Kon, what the fuck did we just walk into?"
"I'm not a hundred…" Kon began when he felt a surge of magic roll through him. He looked up and saw metal rods carved with symbols that had been placed on the walls. They led from the gallery and through the door the man had disappeared through.
"What's wrong?" Athena asked, pulling out a dagger.
"Magic. Something is happening, and those spikes up there are acting as lightning rods to channel power through the house," Kon murmured. He had never seen anything like it.
"The creepy naked guy did say something about a ceremony," Athena said. She moved over to the door on the other side of the room and opened it a fraction. Sounds of moaning and ecstatic shouting echoed out of it, mixed with heavy drumming.
"What the actual fuck?" she muttered, sticking her head around the door. Kon followed her quickly, worried she would accidentally step into whatever fucked up ritual Liddell was in the middle of.
They walked down a dark corridor, and the sounds of people fucking and the drumming got louder and louder. There was a cloud of smoke in the air that smelled of…
"Shit, don't breathe too deeply. That's opium and incense," Kon muttered. At the end of the corridor was a velvet curtain. Kon hid his gun by his side before pulling the edge of the drape to the side and looking in.
They were in a large circular room lined with velvet curtains. Burning stands of coals and braziers of the opium concoction were placed around the room. In the center were at least twenty naked people with symbols painted on their bodies in blood and gold. They were dancing and fucking, crying out in the throes of ecstasy.
Three figures stood, watching on and beating on drums. They were wearing black robes and horned masks that obscured their faces. Each was carrying a golden spear and had a hunting horn on their golden belts.
"Kon?" Athena whispered, but he only shook his head and held a finger to his lips. He didn't know what the ritual was, but it was generating a massive wave of energy. Kon glanced up and pointed at the rods in the walls that were leading in another direction.
"That's what we need to follow," he whispered in her ear.
They were about to move when the drumming got louder, and a figure came through the other side of the curtain.
"Fuck, it's Leo," Athena murmured. They had stripped him down and put on him a golden loincloth. His hands and feet had been cuffed with golden bands. The same symbols in blood and gold had been sketched on his skin. His eyes were blurred, and he swayed, drugged off his face. On his head, they had put on a pair of golden antlers.
"Give thanks to our Golden Stag that brings in the Autumn with his blood," one of the horned figures declared. The people stopped whatever they were doing and, in their opium fuelled haze, started chanting.
"Let the sacred hunt begin!" The three figures pushed Leo past their adoring hands, and they went back through the curtain.
"This way," Kon said, and they skirted around the back of the velvet drape to where Leo had disappeared. The hall had been decorated with freshly cut pine and fir bowers and made to look like a forest.
"Iz, I need some eyes on the back west end of the property," Athena said low. "We've spotted Leo, and I think they are going to hunt him."
"Headed that way through the woods," Dante's voice came through, deep and pissed.
"Leo's wearing golden antlers, don't shoot him by accident," Athena replied.
Kon pointed to more of the rods. "These will lead us to whatever ritual Liddell is attempting."
Athena nodded. "Let's see if we can find those creepy bastards with the horns before—"
They froze mid-step as a cry of pain echoed back to them.
"Leo." Kon took off running, pushing aside the branches, and went through another curtain.
They were outside in a sloping terraced garden, with burning torches lining a path for them.
Sticking to the shadows as much as they could, they followed them through a winding path that made the hair on Kon's neck stand up. He gripped Athena's arm, halting her.
"What's wrong?"
"This path, the torches, it's…I don't know. It's a part of the ritual, and if we stay on it, we will get sucked into the magic," he struggled to explain.
"Okay, then let's cut straight through that way," Athena said, pointing through a row of decorative flower beds. "The torches are looping back around, so we go the easy way."
Kon nodded, his heart kicking involuntarily that she didn't question him or think he was crazy, just followed his lead. He pushed down the soft feeling and refocused on Leo.
They trampled through the flowers and decorative hedges until three horses came into view at the edge of a looming forest. The horned figures were mounting, their golden hunting horns at the ready.
"God, they really are dramatic," Athena muttered. "No sign of Leo."
"The stag is released. Let the glorious hunt begin!" the master of the hunt declared and blew his horn. The other two followed suit, and their horses sprang into action, racing into the woods.
Athena tapped her comm again. "Dante, you have incoming. Hunters are in the woods with Leo. He's hurt. We heard the screams."
"On it," Dante replied.
The master of the hunt raised his arms. "May Cernunnos grant us good fortune and—" Kon shot him twice in the chest, and he fell off the horse with a scream.
Kon ran over and pulled the horned mask off his head. It wasn't Liddell but a balding man in his fifties.
"Where is Liddell?" Kon demanded as the man coughed up blood. His eyes went to Athena and went wide.
"It's you." He reached out a bloody hand toward her. "T-the girl from the forest."
The woods weren’t the worst that Dante had slogged his way through in his life, but it was the first time he had been worried about someone's life other than his own. The full moon was bright enough that he didn't even need a flashlight. It didn't make the whole thing any less eerie. He kept his SA80 rifle high as he scanned the trees around him.
Dante hesitated and then swore. He was tired of being subtle. "Leo! Where are you?" he shouted. He shifted as a golden spear sailed through the air towards him. "Fuck!"
"Intruder!" a man's voice shouted, and a horse charged through the undergrowth, a monster on his back. "You dare interrupt the sacred hunt!"
The creature lifted a horn, but Dante shot him three times before he could raise it to his lips. The horse reared in fright, and the dead man toppled off the saddle.
Dante kicked the body in sheer frustration. How many more of these fuckers were hiding about? He pressed the small button on his earpiece.
"Silas? We have assholes on horses loose," he said.
"Noted, thanks. Do you have eyes on Leo?"
"Not yet." Dante looked at the golden spear, imagined it in Leo's body. He hurried away, burying the horrible image amongst the mire of all the others in his brain. He was getting turned around in the darkness, so he switched courses to aim back towards the mansion.
Leo is going to be okay. Other men less intelligent than him got away.
A hunting horn echoed through the trees, and Dante ran towards it. A flash of light caught his eye. Dante turned as a creature with golden horns came through the brush.
"Leo? Leo! Over here!" he shouted. The golden flash turned its course.
"The monster is coming!" Leo screamed and followed it up with some kind of shout in Italian. The horn sounded again as another mounted hunter crashed through the trees, golden spear raised.
Dante caught Leo with one arm and shot the hunter off the back of the horse in a rain of bullets. The horse reared, and Dante pulled Leo out of the way and underneath him. One hoof clipped Dante in the back of his Kevlar vest, and they tumbled down. The horse neighed again and raced away.
"Dante, Dante, Dante," Leo murmured, his hands gripping his back tight.
"You're okay. Just breathe. There are no more monsters. It's the drugs." Dante eased off him. Blood was smeared all over Leo's body from slashes in his arms and legs. Dante gently pulled the antlers from his black curls and tossed them away.
"I'm burning. It hurts. Dante," Leo murmured, reaching out for him again.
"You're going to be okay. Let's get you somewhere safe." Dante lifted Leo up in his arms. Leo began murmuring under his breath in Italian and wrapped his arms around Dante's neck.
"You came to rescue me," he said in English and then began to cry.
Dante tightened his grip on him. "Of course I did. No one’s going to hurt you ever again. I promise."
29
Athena stared down at the bloody man and gave him a hard kick. "What the fuck did you just say?"
"He's dead." Kon stepped back from the body and swore. "I don't think Liddell is any of the hunters. He's somewhere else."
Athena's hands clenched around her daggers. She didn't recognize the dead man from her memories.
"We can figure out who he is later, Athena. We need to stop whatever Liddell is about to do," Kon said and shined the flashlight on his phone around him.
"What are you looking for?" Athena asked, dragging her eyes away from the dead man.
"More of those spikes. If my guess is correct, all of this, the relic room, the ceremonial orgy, the hunt…all of it is to generate the power Liddell needs. I know it doesn't make sense," Kon replied.
