Oathbreaker (The Godhunter, Book 3)

by Sumida, Amy

  “No,” Horus looked like his mama had just left him on the church steps with a Please take care of my baby note. “It can’t be.” He started running for the door and we all followed.

  The lack of light threw me off a little as we exited the hall. I must have been out awhile because the sun had still been up the last time I was awake, now it was clearly well into the night. Why would they attack us at night? I squinted into the dark and suddenly torches flared everywhere, illuminating a scene I kind of wished had remained in shadow.

  An army of gods doesn’t have the numbers a human army does but then it doesn’t need to. The ten or so gods at the center of the throng, Demeter of course was one of them, was terrifying all on their own. They hadn’t come alone though. I guess after seeing my Intare and the Froekn, they decided they needed back up. Standing at the forefront was a line of vampires, staring at us with hard but empty-eyed determination.

  My heart sunk as I searched for the only god who could have commanded their presence, while I hoped by some strange chance that I was wrong.

  I wasn’t. Blue stood with the others, on the opposite side of Demeter, speaking with Ares and his sons. He looked up, as if he’d felt my stare, and his eyes flared for a moment before cooling into chips of ice. He gave me a mocking half-bow before turning back to his new friends.

  “I guess we know why they attacked us at night,” I mumbled.

  Blue wasn’t affected by the sun but his little babies had lost something in the transfer and the magic of the sun that gave them the thirst for blood, was unbalanced in them. They couldn’t tolerate it, they’d burn. Unfortunately, all the other myths about vampires were dead wrong, if you’ll excuse my pun. Crosses, garlic, holy water, they had absolutely no effect. A stake through the heart would definitely put them out of commission for awhile but the only way to kill them was through decapitation, like a god.

  Trevor’s hand came up to the back of my neck, rubbing lightly over his bite marks, and it was strangely comforting.

  “Who cares about the damn vampires,” Horus waved impatiently, like a swarm of psycho flies were in his face. “Look at the jackals!”

  Sure enough, dark, dog-like shapes slunk around the vampires, flashing glowing eyes at us and flicking pointed ears forward in anticipation. I admired their sleek bodies a minute before I looked back at Horus.

  “Jackals?” I narrowed my eyes. “Do they have something to do with Anubis, by any chance?”

  “No, they’re baby bunnies here with Eostre,” Horus snorted, the most undignified sound I’d ever heard him make. “Of course they’re with Anubis, he’s the god of the werejackals.” He said the last like I was being deliberately obtuse.

  “There are werejackals?” I looked at Trevor since it was obvious Horus was beyond answering my questions politely.

  “Looks like,” Trevor looked over his shoulder at Fenrir and raised an eyebrow.

  “They’re just little pups,” Fenrir laughed, a big booming sound that rolled over the ground to the invaders. The Froekn joined in his humor, only TryggulfR and UnnúlfR retaining their stern visages as they stood to either side of their father, eying their opponents warily.

  A muttering started, a distinctly angry muttering, as the opposing side glared at Fenrir.

  “They are kind of small,” I admitted, “but Horus seems to think they’re dangerous.”

  “They’re of Anubis, you fools,” Horus peeled his eyes away from the black shapes to glare back at us. “The God of Death can reanimate any corpse his jackals bring down. The more those little pups kill, the more warriors he’ll have.”

  A shiver passed over me and I looked back over my shoulder at the Intare. I wouldn’t see my boys hurt like that. I couldn’t, not after I’d just saved them. Not after I'd just buried one of them. I sighed and walked over to them, where they stood in formation to the side.

  “Guys,” I began.

  “Nyet,” Kirill stepped forward and put a hand on my shoulder. “Ve vere forced to fight for centuries Tima, don’t take avay opportunity for us to fight battle ve actually believe in. Ve are vith you, in life or death. Let Anubis try magic on us. Even vithout my spirit, zis body vill not fight against you. I svear it.”

  “So do I,” Darius came forward.

  “And I,” said Fallon.

  “And I!” The shout of all my valiant lions rose as one and pride filled me when I heard the jackals whimper in response.

  “And I am with you,” I spoke past the tightness in my throat, “in life and death, I am with you all!”

  A roar answered my vow and then came the sound of clothes tearing away as my men became lions. I turned and led them back to the front of our line, my head held high and my shoulders squared. I peeled off my gloves, laying them on the ground, before unbuckling my sword as well. Trevor frowned a second and then smiled as he figured out what I was doing.

  “My Lady Lion,” he whispered as he hugged me close. “Shall we fight together tonight, flank to flank?”

  “Yes, my Wolf Prince,” I kissed him and a feeling of peace wrapped me tight. It didn’t matter what they brought against us. I’d fight beside him till my last breath and I’d find joy in it.

  “Prepare yourselves,” Odin warned before returning to stand in front of his fallen Viking soldiers. I blinked over at them in surprise, could the dead damage the living? Stupid question, I huffed, in Asgard they could. The magic of the God Realm and their own personal god would sustain them, giving them form enough to fight.

  I nodded to Odin, and Trevor moved in front of me, so I could remove my top. My long hair gave me enough cover as I took off my pants as well. He held me as the change rippled through us, lengthening and thickening our muscles as fur shivered over our skin. Soon, I was staring at him through lion eyes, my forelegs held on his shoulders. His wolfman face spread wide with what I knew was a grin as he lowered me down.

  “The Froekn and Intare will attack on foot,” Odin said, “as the rest of us attack magically.”

  I nodded and roared a command to my men, who immediately roared back and fell in beside me. I felt the rush of all my magic, even the Love and Lust swirled in me now that I gave in to the pleasure of battle. My claws sprang free and I delighted in the feel of them actually being a part of me as opposed to a weapon strapped to my arms.

  I felt a cold blast of wind and knew Demeter had begun the attack. I shook it off easily and waited for Odin’s signal to proceed, it was his war after all. My feline gaze locked onto the delicate looking jackals creeping before me and I felt my blood rush faster, hotter, through my eager veins. The wolf was leaping within me, singing an ancient song of the hunt.

  “No!” Odin yelled and I looked over to where Vali had crumpled.

  I roared, watching as his breath left him in frozen gasps and then looking over to where Demeter was. She held a hand straight out to my son, striking him down with winter before he could make a single step into battle. Keeping her vow to make my children pay for my crimes.

  “Mother!” The sweet voice cut through my bloodlust and drew my attention.

  In the middle of the two opposing armies stood a beautiful woman, her long hair the color of earth, streaming around her in the gale force winds. I felt a shiver go through me. No, not her, don’t let her be hurt.

  “Persephone,” Demeter’s voice shook and the wind started to die. I looked over at Vali and saw him get back to his feet. Relief flooded my limbs. “Stay back, you foolish child.”

  “No, Mother, I’ve had enough,” she held her head high and when a dark-haired man with glowing eyes moved up behind her, she stopped him with a smile. “I need to do this on my own, baby.” He nodded, a new respect making Hades’ eyes burn hotter as he backed away. “You've gone too far, hurting my husband. I can never forgive you now. You are my mother no longer; from this night forward, you are my enemy!”

  “Stop it, this instance,” Demeter strode through the line of vamps and reached out to take her daughters arm.

  Bef
ore she could close her fingers on Persephone’s soft skin, the earth rumbled and shoots broke through the ground beneath the Corn Goddess’s feet. She looked down in shock, as a tree sprang out of the earth, sending her flying as if a massive fist had punched her. In a pile of tangled cloth and limbs, Demeter sputtered and stared at her child in horror.

  “You dare attack me?” She started to rise but vines snaked quietly from the ground, wrapping around her body and pulling her down tightly. “Persephone!” Her cry had taken on a slightly panicked note and the fear in her eyes was growing exponentially. “Release me, child!”

  “I’m not a child,” Persephone walked calmly to where her mother was struggling with the rapidly growing and thickening mass of vines. “I’m a goddess, daughter to Zeus himself, and I will not be patronized any further. It’s time you learned that the power of creation will always defeat that of destruction.”

  When vines started to flow over Demeter’s horrified eyes, she finally recovered and started to freeze the offending foliage but even as a sound like breaking glass announced her triumph, more shoots sprang forth to take their fallen comrades’ place, and soon Demeter was nothing more than a writhing mass of greenery. Then the earth split open and the vines pulled her down into it. When the ground closed over her, there wasn’t a single sign of her passing.

  Ares recovered first. “She’s nothing, we don't need her. Attack!”

  Hades shot out, pulling Persephone to his chest as a wall of fire appeared before us, effectively stopping the rushing army. Their entire front line was caught in the blaze and the sound of shrieking vampires melded with the smell of roasting meat. The most horrifying thing was the way my stomach began to rumble. I do love barbeque.

  The flames held until Hades had Persephone safely behind us, stroking her face and beaming at her. I spared the happy couple a glance before I centered my attention on Odin. On either side of him stood his sons, and behind him were his Valkyries. Vidar looked over at me with a small amount of awe and a huge amount of love. I cried out my own love to him and even though it came out as a wild rumble, he smiled sweetly in understanding. Vali came up beside him, fully recovered from Demeter's attack, his bow in hand and an arrow at the ready. He didn't smile, just stared for a few seconds and then nodded. I huffed my approval at him. That's my boy.

  Odin pointed toward Pan and the unassuming god spread his hands as wide as his smile. A ripple flowed out from him, riding the air like the surface of a pond and hitting with the force of Godzilla. The remaining vamps hissed and spun, searching for possible attacks from every side, panic causing them to lose all reason. The gods withstood it better but the effect was still seen in their shaking limbs and worried glances.

  Pan sent out another wave and Anubis suddenly had his hands full, calming his little doggies. The pitiful howling hurt my sensitive ears but stopped quickly when Anubis went out amongst the throng. The jackals instantly quieted under their god’s hands. He looked up then, a dangerously handsome man with sleek, blue-black hair that hung in a harsh line to his shoulders and dark, deadly eyes.

  He stared at us sharply and then with a motion of his hand, he set his pack upon us.

  “Vervain! Fenrir!” Odin waved us forward and I roared in delight as I led my men into battle for the very first time.

  They cried triumphantly behind me, mixing with the Froekn who surged with us in half form. Trevor raced forward at my side and when I felt the first throat give way beneath my jaws, I knew the joy of the hunt. Magic warred with magic above me, great bursts coloring the sky and making day out of night, but all I cared about was the battle on the ground.

  I flung body after body away but still they seemed to keep coming. It took a little longer for my battle-crazed kitty brain to realize why. The bodies of the jackals rose after only a few moments of death, no matter how torn apart their forms had been. Chills crawled down my spine on little insect legs as I watched the jackal I’d just disemboweled, pull himself together… literally.

  His intestines started moving first, shrinking back into his stomach like the strings of a jellyfish. Then the skin flapped over it all and knitted up as if he’d been made with a zipper for just such an occasion. The body twitched, as animals sometimes do when they’re asleep and dreaming of the hunt, then the elegant head lifted and focused its eyes on me.

  It took me only a moment to knock it back down but it was obvious it wouldn’t stay that way. I growled low and scented the air. Magic was thick about me but the smell of it was moldy, the decaying scent that lies low in the forest primeval, the scent of death. The Guardian of the Veil was using his influence to bring back his warriors and there was only one way I could think of to stop it… I had to kill the source.

  I surged forward, leaving my mate behind in my mad dash through the jackals. I heard Trevor call out but I ignored the wolf inside me wanting to answer him. I didn’t have time to try to explain what needed to be done, either he’d follow me or I’d take Anubis down alone. Jaws snapped and claws struck out at me, tearing my hide in long thin gashes but I pressed on, pushing their smaller bodies aside like tall grass in a field.

  Before I could reach the Dark God, one of the Froekn attacked him with an impressive jump and swipe maneuver. I felt my heart pound faster and I quickened my pace but I knew I’d never make it in time. The press of jackals thickened around their god, slowing me down even further, and making me take precious moments to dispatch his most diligent dogs.

  When I was able to see clearly again, Anubis was lying beneath the Froekn, taking the vicious claws across his body calmly. His chest had been bare to begin with, magnificently muscled and dark bronze in color, so there was nothing to stop the wolf from doing his worst.

  Anubis’ chest was in ribbons and the Froekn was leaning in for the death kill to the throat, overconfident after his minor victory. I knew he wouldn’t deliver it, it was too easy, and Anubis was just too calm. Sure enough, Anubis looked up as I neared and smiled at me.

  I roared in protest but there was nothing I could do as Anubis drove his hand into the Froekn’s chest and pulled his heart out. The poor wolf stared at his prey in shock for a moment before rolling off to twitch through the last moments of his life. Anubis stood calmly, holding the heart in his hand and studying it with intensity as his skin pulled back together and his chest became whole again.

  “You are worthy,” his words thrummed with power and the heart in his hand lit as if he’d stuck a candle within it. It glowed and hovered up into the air before plummeting back into the werewolf’s chest. The body jerked and then lifted to its feet as if pulled by strings. My breath caught as I saw the lack of awareness in the corpse’s eyes. I was seeing my very first zombie.

  I leaped the last few feet between me and my prey, going straight for the jugular with the strength of my anger and fear. Anubis had time only for only the barest of reactions before his neck gave way to my teeth. I felt his spine crack in my mouth as his arms reached around me like a lover’s and my warrior’s heart exalted. I drew back, licking the sweetest blood I’d ever tasted off my lips as Trevor caught up with me.

  “Damn it, Vervain,” he swore as he surveyed the scene and then looked around at the disintegrating jackals. The Froekn zombie went limp and fell to the earth once more, hopefully for good. “Okay, I see your point but let me know before you go running off next time.”

  I raised a kitty brow at him and he chuckled.

  “Okay, I get that point as well.”

  His eyes widening in horror was my only warning before the biting pain spread into my body.

  “Mother!” I heard Vali's strong voice but my attention was focused on Anubis.

  His eyes held mine as easily as he held the dagger in my shoulder, rainbows swirling across their glassy black surface, keeping me in thrall, until two arrows pierced Anubis’ heart in rapid succession. Vali's arrows. Anubis’ eyes widened a hairsbreadth before he shimmered and disappeared. His knife however, remained where it was, imbedded deep in my
left shoulder.

  Trevor quickly pulled it free and not a second too soon, because the cold of the blade had started to seep into my flesh. I licked at the wound, desperate to remove the frigid feeling of the metal more than any pain it had caused, but Trevor’s hand on my head brought me back.

  “Follow me, Minn Elska,” he started off at a lope, “there are still more threats to neutralize.

  I scented the air, knowing instinctively that he was heading in the right direction, before stalking off after him. My Intare gathered behind me, blood streaking their magnificent manes and wild pleasure filling their eyes. I growled lowly and they answered me, letting me know we were intact. The jackals had taken none of mine.

  Then the night became blacker and the cries of ravens filled the air. We stopped and looked around us warily. The dark seemed to seep across the ground, an inky blackness that flowed like mist, and I backed away from the tendrils nearest me. This was not your average darkness. This was a dark filled with need and with a determination to fill that need.

  “Andrasta!” UnnúlfR's pained cry cut through my misgivings.

  I looked over to where UnnúlfR stood, his pale coat making him easy to spot, and saw him staring in shock and horror at the hillside before him. I shifted my gaze to where he stared and saw the source of the darkness. A woman with wild, black hair seemed to be emerging from a cloud of inky fog, tendrils of it wrapped around her arms and snaked through her hair. She was staring at UnnúlfR in much the same way that he was staring at her but she recovered quickly and replaced her shocked expression with a snarl.

  “Filthy cur,” she spat. “This time you'll die.”

  “You traitorous coward,” he growled back to her as he started to make his way forward. “You never could fight on your own. Always had to have someone do your dirty work for you. Not this time, bitch. This time, you're mine!”

  He launched himself through the air and impacted with her hard enough to send her shadows shooting away. Without the cover of darkness, the woman looked frail, completely outclassed by the werewolf on top of her. Her hands flung out to her sides, reaching, grasping, and the shadows returned, enveloping them both as a vicious snarling began.