Snorting at his screwed-up sense of humor, Urian opened the envelope. Then gasped. “Is this right?”
Davyn nodded grimly. “Yeah. They’re planning to take down Acheron and stab at his mother.”
Urian had been trying to tell Acheron what he’d learned from Davyn, but his boss wasn’t in the mood to listen. Even Simi was staying clear of him. And that said it all.
She hadn’t even asked for Acheron’s black Amex.
Doors had been slamming. Glass had shattered. Danger was in hiding. Not even Alexion would show himself.
If Urian had a lick of sense, he’d run for the hills, too.
But his sense had taken a hike a long time ago and left him sadly wanting. So here he was, grateful he was suicidal as he knocked on the big guy’s door. The thundering AC/DC riff stopped immediately. Well, at least Ash was back to playing his usual ear-splintering repertoire.
“Yeah?”
That was not a friendly sound. More like a bear clearing its throat to make more room for the prey it was about to shred to pieces and shove into its hungry jowls.
Preparing himself for the possibility of death, Urian pushed open the door to find Ash sitting on his black tester bed with his guitar in his lap and his cell phone lying on his thigh. “You’re really not right, are you?”
Ash narrowed his gaze. “I hope you mean that the way I’m going to take it. Otherwise, in the mood I’m in, you might get your ass kicked.”
Urian laughed. “Yeah, I do.” He entered the dark room, which was lit only by flickering red candles, and shut the door. Then he moved to stand by the bed so that he could finally tell Acheron what’d been on his mind. “Look, I heard you when you came in. Not what you said, but what was underneath it. I know it’s in my best interest to stay out of it. However, you saved my life once, even though I didn’t want you to at the time, and I feel like maybe I should return the favor.”
The look on Ash’s face said that Urian was one syllable away from searching the cold marble floor for his teeth. But after a moment, his expression softened. “I shouldn’t have interfered with that, Urian, and I’m sorry for the pain you live with because of it.”
“You know, it’s all right. If I’d died, Phoebe would have followed me to the grave, anyway. She wasn’t capable of taking a human life, even if the human deserved to die. The only way she could have continued living would have been to feed from another Daimon, and that she wouldn’t have done either. So you didn’t really change her fate by saving me. My father was going to kill her regardless.”
The only thing that would have changed was the years he’d missed of helping Davyn and Spawn.
And the biggest gift of all …
“Besides, if I’d died that night, my niece and nephews wouldn’t have someone to threaten their dad when he’s over-protective of them.” Muppet was much worse with his own flesh and blood than he’d ever been with Chris. Poor Erik, Tyr, and little Phoebe. Urian was the only thing that stood between them and sanity. “I’m the only uncle they have. Kids need an uncle, you know?”
That priceless expression on Acheron’s face said that he heartily disagreed, and made Urian wonder what was in his past to cause that look. And his instincts were verified by Ash’s next words. “So why the sudden girlspeak, Urian? Neither one of us is really into discussing our feelings … and no offense, I like the fact that we don’t.”
Urian couldn’t agree more. There were some things he really didn’t want to know about his boss. “I do too most times, and I’m truly grateful you don’t pry. But as a man who defied everything he once valued in this world, and one who sacrificed the love of a father he worshiped … even though it ended badly, the days I had with Phoebe were worth every wound I’ve suffered.”
He moved closer to Ash. “I know what it’s like to be torn between a love so pure it burns you deep down in a place you didn’t know someone could touch you and between your oath and duties. Between the love of a father you’ve always known and one you know you can depend on forever versus a love that’s new and untested. But you know what I learned? It’s a lot easier to live without my father’s love than it is to live without Phoebe’s. I just thought you ought to know that.”
“There’s a lot more at stake. You know? Like the survival of the entire world.”
“There always is, and my father is sending everything he has after Tory. Who, given the way you’re acting, I would say is your entire world. I stayed away from Phoebe because I thought she was safer that way. In the end, Ash, I should have been there, fighting for her, by her side. ’Cause I can tell you one thing beyond a shadow of doubt. The greatest regret isn’t what you did, it’s what you should have done.”
“I hate you, Daimon.”
“Only because you know I’m right.” And with that, Urian left him to ruminate on it, as he felt his phone vibrating in the unique pattern that meant either Styxx or Cassandra needed him.
With Cass, he had the fear that something might be wrong with Tyr since he was only a few days old, and with Styxx …
He didn’t have anyone else who gave a damn about him. Ash had dumped him alone in the middle of New York City, and the poor guy was trying to figure out modern existence.
Speaking of which …
“Hey. What’s up?”
“Jumbo shrimp?” Styxx had the baffled tone he always got whenever he tried to shop for food. “How? Is this some trick of Lyssa’s or Poseidon’s?”
Urian laughed. “Neither. It’s a trick of marketing, to make you buy it.”
“Ah. Is that why it looks so strange?”
“No, that’s because the store already prepared it for you. You can take it home, wash it, and eat it.”
Suddenly, Styxx was real quiet.
“Hey, you there? Did I lose you?”
“Um, yeah. Urian … they have worms in alcohol that you drink. My God, man, what is wrong with you people?”
He laughed at the serious tone Styxx used. “It’s tequila. You’re fine.”
“That’s all kinds of wrong.”
Like Styxx had any room to talk given what his people had eaten back in the day? “Cobra hearts? Blood soup? Bitter vetch?”
Styxx blustered. “I only ate those during war, and because it was that or starve. And they were disgusting … and speaking of? Casu marzu? Is this what I think it is?”
“Yeah, maggot cheese. Stay away.”
Styxx made a loud sound of disapproval. “That’s it. I’m getting Pop-Tarts and I’m going home.”
Urian laughed at his horror. “Can you identify them? Or do you need me to come and help?”
“Little blue box. I’ve got this. And I know what milk looks like. Get a jug from the back. I remember what you said.”
“All right. I’ll be there tomorrow to help you shop for groceries.”
“Thank you. Sorry to be such a pain in your ass. I’m slowly learning.”
“It’s all good, brother. Think nothing of it. See you tomorrow.” Urian hung up, feeling bad for him.
That was the worst part of what Ash had inadvertently done. He’d forgotten the small fact that while Styxx could speak English, he couldn’t read it. Unlike Acheron, he wasn’t a god who was fluent in all languages, nor was he like Urian and the other Hunters who’d been exposed to modern culture throughout history. He’d been imprisoned away from everything and everyone.
Styxx’s native tongue was ancient Greek. He couldn’t even read the modern Greek version. Nor did he understand modern currency. He knew nothing at all about the modern world or how to navigate it.
So when Ash had literally dumped him in his apartment without any kind of orientation, Styxx had been at a loss on how to do anything, such as write a check or use a credit card.
He’d never used a phone or computer. Had Urian not tracked him down, he’d have starved to death.
But to be fair to Acheron, Styxx had asked to leave at a bad time. That very day, Acheron had been in a near-fatal accident and had almost lost Tory. Normally, Ach
Even to Styxx.
But his mind had been on other things and other concerns. As the old saying went, bad times made for bad people. And these times were making for some of the worst. So in anger, Acheron had lashed out, and sadly Styxx had been in the line of fire to catch the fury that should have gone toward the ones who hurt Tory.
They were all under threat, and the most insidious part of their enemies was that the darkness was trying to drive a wedge between them. To isolate them.
And it was working.
Divided we fall. It was much easier to take down an enemy when they were fighting among themselves than it was one united against you.
But what Urian couldn’t figure out was how to unite two brothers who were determined to destroy each other, any more than he could figure out how to stop his father and get his own vengeance.
November 20, 2008
Urian went to Styxx’s apartment to find him sitting at his bedroom desk, playing the New Atlantis campaign for Age of Mythology on his PC. Okay … that just messed with his head on a multitude of levels.
The irony of the Stygian commander reliving his past. And for an ancient warlord to be playing a conquest game on a modern PC.
Yeah …
Suddenly, Styxx jumped out of his chair and turned on Urian as if he were about to take off his head.
Holding his hands up, Urian made sure to let him know he wasn’t a threat. Especially since he was here to ask something he knew would piss the man off.
Styxx immediately curled his lip. “What does he think I’ve done now?”
Urian scowled. “Huh?”
“Acheron. Is he not the one who sent you for me?”
Urian shook his head. “He actually didn’t send me. I came to ask a favor.”
That appeared to shock him. “What do you need?”
“Acheron’s woman, Tory, has been kidnapped and taken into Kalosis, where his mother is. Ash is ready and willing to go get her.” Which would free his mother from her prison and end the world.
Styxx took that news with complete stoicism. As if he didn’t care at all.
Not until he asked one simple question. “Is Tory immortal?”
Urian shook his head. “Completely human. She’s being held by my aunt Satara, who is unstable at best. Viciously brutal at worst.”
The daughter of Apollo, that bitch was about as crazy as anyone Urian had ever known. And given some of the stellar loons his father kept for company …
Said it all.
That familiar tic started in Styxx’s jaw. “You’re going in with him, aren’t you?”
Urian nodded. “You did it once to help an enemy. Would you do it again to help a friend?”
Styxx laughed bitterly. “How would I know? I’ve only had two friends in my life and both were brutally murdered.”
That stung the shit out of Urian. Especially given everything they’d been through together. “You don’t consider me a friend?”
“No, I consider you a hemorrhoid.”
Well, that was fair enough, he supposed. Urian grinned. “Ah now, that’s just mean.”
“Yeah, yeah … Fine. But I am doing this for you and the innocent woman, not Acheron.”
“Well, on behalf of myself and Tory, I can’t thank you enough. By the way, how are your battle skills?”
Styxx snorted. “According to my father, I never had any. I shoved my men out in front of me and hid behind their fallen bodies for cover.”
Scowling, Urian didn’t comment as he teleported Styxx to a small room where everyone had gathered to plot out what they wanted to do.
Ash was already there with Savitar. Every bit as tall as they were, Savitar had dark hair and a perfect goatee. His eyes were an iridescent lavender. He hadn’t changed much since the last time Urian had seen him.
His jaw slack, Savitar looked back and forth between Acheron and Styxx. “Holy Were-shit. This messes with my head.”
Acheron glared at Styxx, then Urian. “What is he doing here?”
Urian shrugged unapologetically. “You can’t go in. Styxx can.”
“No.” Acheron was emphatic.
“Stop,” Savitar snapped. “The kid has a point. Think about it. You can get Tory out of there and not end the world. Win-win.”
The hatred in Acheron’s eyes was searing. “I’m not leaving him alone with Tory. I don’t trust him with her.”
Styxx was aghast. “What do you think I’m going to do?”
“Rape her, kill her … with you there’s no telling.”
Urian’s jaw dropped at the severity of that particular allegation. Where the hell had that come from? Yet the vim of it said it was deep rooted.
“With me? Really?” He shoved Acheron.
Acheron ran at Styxx, but Savitar caught him and pushed him back a step. “Stop thinking with your emotions. Calm down.” Then Savitar turned to glare at Styxx. “And you, punk, lay off him or I’ll fry your greasy ass where it stands. I know I can kill you and not kill Acheron. So don’t push me.”
Styxx snorted in derision. “That is not the way to motivate me to leave him alone, Chthonian. But it’s a hell of a way to make me attack.” He met Acheron’s swirling silver gaze.
Instead, he snatched his sleeve back to show his brother his forearm. “I know what it’s like to lose the only thing you love, and to be forced to live without her for eternity. As bad as I want to cut your throat and watch you bleed out at my feet for the insult you just dealt me, I won’t see your woman dead for it. Unlike your fucking whore mother, I don’t kill innocents.”
Both Savitar and Acheron blasted him for that comment. Styxx hit the wall behind him so hard, he broke through part of it.
Stunned, Urian teleported to him.
This was bullshit! Furious at them for their unwarranted and unreasonable attack, Urian glared at them both. “What are you doing? I asked him here to help you and you kill him? Good job. Both of you. Congrats, you stupid assholes!”
“He insulted my mother,” Acheron roared.
Urian scoffed. “No offense, boss, your mother killed his wife and his son. Instead of putting him through a wall, I want you both to take one second and imagine his loss. I have buried almost every member of my family. And the one thing that truly tore my heart out was losing Phoebe. You mourn your sister, Ash? So did I. Trust me, it ain’t shit till you lose your wife, especially when you know you should have been at home protecting her, and not leaving her to die brutally by the hand of your enemies.” He turned and helped Styxx extricate himself from the wall.
In that moment, he actually hated Acheron.
And he didn’t think much more of Savitar. What kind of Chthonian could do this?
Styxx had come here to help them. To hell with it.
“I’m sorry,” Urian said. “I shouldn’t have asked you to come.”
Styxx spat the blood in his mouth on the floor, then wiped his hand over his lips. “Trust me, they’re pussies compared to the real Atlanteans I fought.”
They went to blast him again.
Holding his arms out, Urian shielded Styxx with his body.
Styxx stepped around Urian, then patted him on the shoulder. “I’m not afraid of them. Hits, I can take. After all, I was slapped on the ass the minute I was born, and not a damn thing has changed since.”
Acheron curled his lip. “Don’t listen to him, Urian. He’s a liar and a thief. He was never married. He was only engaged, and he didn’t have a son.”
The pain in Styxx’s eyes refuted those words and left no doubt in Urian’s mind. His pain was too real to be faked. “You know nothing about me, brother. After all, I’m just a liar and a thief to you.”
Styxx swallowed. “By the way, tell Artie thanks for the memories. ’Cause now I not only know everything about what really happened to you, I know what you really think of me. I would say that one day I would love to return the favor, but honestly the only person I hate that much is your putrid mother.”
Styxx wiped his hand across his face. “Now either use me or send me home. I’m in no mood to play.”
Urian winced at the tremor in his friend’s voice.
Savitar took a deep breath as he faced Acheron. “Urian’s right. Styxx is the best shot we have at getting her out alive. We don’t know what going into Kalosis will do to you, Ash. It could rip out your human soul and leave you nothing but your mother’s tool for destruction. If that happens, you’re as likely to kill Tory as they are.”
Acheron shook his head. “It’ll never work. His voice is hoarser than mine. And no one’s going to believe I cut my hair off and bleached it blond.”
Savitar snapped his fingers. Instantly, Styxx’s hair was an exact copy of Acheron’s. He even had fangs and matching clothes. “I can’t mess with his voice. But they can assume you’ve been screaming insults at them. It would account for the difference.”
Urian ran his gaze up and down Styxx’s body and then Acheron’s. “That is creepy. Really creepy.”
“He still doesn’t move like me.”
Styxx scoffed. “People aren’t that observant. As you saw in New Orleans.”
He was right about that. Urian remembered when Styxx had easily passed himself off as Acheron. And that had been to Acheron’s fellow Dark-Hunters, who should have known better.
Savitar inclined his head to Urian and Styxx. “Let’s do this, ladies. And Styxx … for the record, you let anything happen to Tory and I will hand-deliver you to Apollymi for her eternal enjoyment.”
Styxx laughed out loud at the impotent threat, which made both Acheron and Savitar scowl at him. “What’s she going to do, Savitar? Drag me out into an arena butt-ass naked, make me fight elite Atlantean champions until I can barely stand, set her starving dogs or leopards on me, and then have me publicly fucked for her entertainment? Or better yet, gut me on the floor … or how about this … murder my wife and child, and make me live with that for eternity in a dark hole by myself? Sure … threaten me. Go ahead and make me live in total fear and terror.” Flipping Savitar off, he turned to Urian. “Get me out of here.”
Urian scowled at him as he digested details that were a little too specific to not be real. Yeah … holy shit. None of that had been listed in a history book, and it explained a lot about Styxx’s personality.
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