“Are we agreed?” She straightened her clothing as if what she’d just done hadn’t affected her in the least. As if he couldn’t tell how excited she’d become with her hard nipples jutting through the thin black material covering her chest. Nice try.
Nergal breathed her in. Two could play at this. He put out his tongue and slowly tasted the cream his wife had so willingly given him. He made sure she witnessed as he savored every drop. “Yes, my sweet. We are agreed.”
Chapter Six
“Why, exactly, do you need to know?” Marduk, the unofficial leader of the Blue Hills gods tried to remain patient, but his Chosen, Tess, had just asked him some very pointed questions about the Underworld. It was extremely disturbing, to say the least. Marduk had been about to sit down in the sunlit kitchen for a peaceful and solitary breakfast with his wife.
“Holly’s sure that Dagon’s there. That he’s in danger…”
“Of course he’s there and in danger. It’s hell.” Marduk attempted to calm himself, but he had a bad feeling about where this was going. “Dagon knew what he was doing when he sacrificed himself so that Holly could get away. Believe me, he was aware of the consequences. Holly should honor his offering by staying put and out of danger.” He ran a hand back through his long, dark hair. “What is she planning? And don’t tell me it’s an excursion below. It’s dangerous enough in the Underworld for an immortal, but it’s suicide for a human. So if she wants to go down there by herself to attempt a rescue…”
“No.” Tess looked everyplace but at Marduk. “She wouldn’t be going alone.”
The thunder god took his Chosen’s cheeks between large palms and turned her head to look at him. “You’re not telling me what I think you are?”
Tess tried to move from his grasp and failed. Anger was a great fallback. Her eyes held his and blazed. “She’s my sister, my twin. Her pain is mine…a sentiment I’m sure you can understand.” She sent the force of her misery and worry over Holly’s situation straight to Marduk’s heart. As a mated couple, they shared the pain.
Marduk’s senses reeled. He took a deep breath and sighed. “Forgive me, Tess. Of course I understand…but…” He took one look at the mutinous set of her chin and then let go of her face with a wry smile. “Fine. It looks like we’ll be taking a family trip.” When Tess opened her mouth to argue, he cut her off.
“Forget it.” He held up his hand. “If you’re going, so am I. I know the passages of the Underworld like the back of my hand. You’ll need me to make this work.”
“Damn right!” Anshar misted in, holding Lenore’s hand. They had obviously just finished the same conversation. “I can’t talk Lenore out of this foolishness.” The serpent god growled. “She pulled the, I’m related to Dagon card, and I couldn’t deny her.” Anshar did not look happy, a feeling that mirrored Marduk’s own. He saw the stubborn determination in the petite blonde’s green eyes. Before he could say anything, Anshar added, “So I’m going too.”
“Going where?” Enlil walked into the kitchen. He picked an apple out of a large bowl of fruit and sent his white teeth crunching into its crisp flesh.
“Tess, Holly, and Lenore are determined to go rescue Dagon, and apparently Anshar and I are going as well.” Marduk couldn’t believe that, with all the difficulty they faced on Earth, they had added an Underworld excursion to their to-do list.
“Count me in,” Enlil spoke up. Marduk figured the wind god was not about to be left behind, considering he was the male who had started the bloodline leading to Tess and Holly. “But I wouldn’t let Huxley know.”
Yeah, thought Marduk. Hux couldn’t go. He was only human and could be hurt too easily, as evidenced by the gunshot wound from which he was currently recuperating.
“Doc Dani is already pissed off at him for going to Chicago without permission.” Enlil explained. “If he catches wind of this excursion and decides to accompany us, the good doctor might just go ballistic.”
“Too late.” Holly arrived on the scene and caught Enlil’s last comment. “Hux and I have been in the gym working out, and he’s coming, too.”
Dammit. The improbable group kept getting larger and larger.
Holly noted how pissed off Marduk appeared, and that he teetered on the cusp of shutting the whole thing down. Not happening. “Can we stop the arguing and get back on point? I don’t give a damn how many of you want to join me,” Holly spat testily, matching Marduk’s ire. “I’m going, and that’s final.” She gave a succinct nod, and pinned Marduk with a stare. “I only have one question.” Holly hated to appear needy, but had no choice. “How do we get there?”
Marduk rolled his eyes toward the ceiling as if seeking help there, but it wasn’t a direction that would do them any good. His action frustrated Holly. Couldn’t he just get on with it? The thunder god chuffed out a blast of air, but Holly crossed her arms over her chest and stared him down.
Eventually he gave in. “Fine. We have to call Queen Ereshkigal in the Underworld…but I don’t know how willing the goddess will be—after giving us all a get out of hell free card—to bring us back in. She may not even respond to our plea. I’m not sure how she feels about Dagon since he screwed us all in Merrymount, ruining her initial plans. She may tell us that we’re out of luck, and he has to stay.”
“That’s true,” Enlil pointed out. “You never know how Ereshkigal and Nergal are going to feel about anything.” Her great-great-grandfather looked her right in the eye. “I guess there’s only one way to find out.”
“Yes.” Holly did a fist pump and couldn’t prevent her pulse from ramping up. This would happen. She’d make damn sure of it.
Marduk finally nodded, then he, Enlil, and Anshar simultaneously placed their right hands over their left shoulders and a low, sixty-cycle hum filled the room. Their amulets lit, and the call had been made.
****
Ereshkigal, her eye always on the action at the compound above, waited for the call and responded instantly. She had known it wouldn’t be long before Holly became filled with the need to be with Dagon. Being a Chosen―even without undergoing the amulet ceremony―often produced an unexplainable yearning, almost a pain around the heart, if one separated from their mate. And the death of either after mating was so unbearable that the couple always went to one of the other-worlds together—whether heaven or hell.
That’s why this situation was so unusual. Dagon had formed a bond with Holly and then, as if dead, left Holly behind. Ereshkigal had never seen this happen before in all the thousands of years she and Nergal had ruled below.
She would put money on the most likely outcome. Eresh speculated that without Holly and Dagon reuniting, Holly wouldn’t survive. Further, when she finally gave in to death, she would be pulled to the heavens. Eresh had accessed Nergal’s files and could not find the name Holly Abelard anywhere as a future inductee into the Underworld. Therefore, even in the afterlife, Holly would spend eternity without her mate. Unacceptable. Time was of the essence.
Ereshkigal had never been to the surface world before. She had been born in the Underworld, daughter of the old king and queen. The pair had, upon carrying out their duties satisfactorily for 5,000 years, been given the right to ascend together to the heavens. She and Nergal had been married at that time, and had taken over. They had been at it for 4,000 years, give or take, but she had no illusions that they would be ascending any time soon. Their contentious relationship would be judged harshly by the overgod, who kept the balance between the two realms. So it looked as if, without a whole lot of luck, they might be stuck here for the rest of eternity.
This little side trip to the surface of Earth struck her as a nice bonus. There had never been both need and opportunity for the gods to call her above. Although when they had been below, she had always made herself available to her stalwart group. This would be such fun.
Ereshkigal appeared in the modern, stainless steel kitchen, preparing to look regal. Instead, she nearly went to her knees in pain. Her eyes! They instan
tly filled with what felt like scorching embers.
“The sun,” she cried out in agony. “My gods, help me! It burns!”
“I’ve got this.” A woman spoke, and quickly drew the Underworld queens’ head down, cradling it in an ample bosom.
Ereshkigal didn’t care where her head rested. Her tortured eyes instantly soothed.
Reassuring responses came from the gods. They sent their actions into her brain. Marduk, god of thunder, quickly conjured storm clouds and Enlil, who controlled wind, blew those clouds into place to cover the sun. Anshar, god of the whole sky, darkened the existing blue down to a dull gray. Without lifting her head, the queen sensed that the kitchen had moved into shadow.
“I think it might be safe now, your…um…holiness.” The bosom female stuttered. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Lenore.”
The queen nearly chuckled. She and Lenore had not met before, and clearly the new goddess groped for what to call her. Considering where her head rested, they shouldn’t be standing on ceremony
“Thank you, my lady Lenore.” Eresh rose slowly from between large breasts. “I am comforted.”
She brushed her hands slowly and intimately upward on Lenore’s lush body and smiled regally, suppressing her impish inclinations to add a little pinch. “You have a bountiful chest.” She inclined her head toward the magnificent tits. “I am sure our Anshar is finding much pleasure with you.”
Anshar clearly found pleasure in the way Ereshkigal’s hands played across Lenore’s front, and by the looks of Lenore, she hadn’t found it so bad either. Ah, a fortunate pair.
“Forgive me. I digress.” The Underworld goddess intoned, dropping her hands and bringing a more majestic cast to her voice. “This is my first visit to your world and I did not know the sun would be so brilliant.”
Marduk, ever her favorite, responded. “I remember well when we first arrived in England so many years ago. Even though we had all lived with the sun before, it shocked and pained us for many days with its brightness after coming from the Underworld.” Her thunder god bowed deeply as he spoke.
The other gods subjugated themselves as well, and the newly made goddesses and Holly followed suit. Soon, all the other gods had found their way to the kitchen, making their obsequence as well.
Ereshkigal intoned their names. “Marduk, Enlil, Anshar, Lahar, Absu, Ishkur, Ninurta, Emesh, Enten, Dumuzi, Kulla, and Shamash.” She didn’t forget the ladies. “Tess, Lenore, and Holly. Arise. I am honored to be welcomed into your home.”
When all turned their eyes to her, one blond head remained bowed.
“And who is this?” The queen sent her lilting question across the room to one who still bent in supplication.
A rich, male voice raised in answer. “I am Huxley, your eminence. Brother to Tess and Holly.” Well, she preened. This Huxley had no doubts on how to address her.
“In my dreams, your highness,” he stated. “I have been in your presence many times. But seeing you in person, I am…awestruck.”
Oh, Ereshkigal loved an admirer. “Show me your face, Huxley, friend of the gods,” she ordered.
Huxley turned deep-brown eyes toward hers, and Ereshkigal clutched at her chest and let out a gasp. My gods! She would have stumbled if Lenore hadn’t been quick to grab her again. She stared at Huxley. Her heart stuttered. She’d never thought… Ereshkigal regained her composure and struggled to keep her face impassive.
She turned quickly to Marduk. “Take good care of this one.” Eresh hadn’t meant to, but the words came out as a command. The thunder god, being who he was, did not question her strange behavior. He was fully aware that the uber-gods became privy to many things mere immortals were not.
“He is already one of us, my queen,” Marduk assured her. “Have no fear. We would all protect him to the death…which…” The thunder god cleared his throat.
“…which you would gladly do, if I allow him to go to the Underworld with you and his sisters,” Ereshkigal finished.
“Yes, my queen.” Marduk looked hopeful.
“Ah, Marduk. I’m afraid you’re going to be sorely disappointed.” The dark queen looked around and sighed. So impatient, these earth dwellers. Which one of them would speak up to question her first?
****
Holly couldn’t hold back. She’d been patient throughout the niceties, and willing to kowtow. But not if the Underworld goddess wouldn’t let them go find Dagon. She stepped forward. “Ms. Holy Underworld lady. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but you can’t deny us. You probably already know who I am, so you understand that I need to find Dagon.” She pleaded with the queen. “I feel so strongly about this, about him, a man…uh…god I met less than a week ago. I’m connected to him, and I can’t help but believe that something terrible is going to happen if I don’t get to him soon.”
Something permanent and terrible. Holly shivered. She peered from under her mop of curly hair into lovely dark eyes.
“I understand, Chosen of Dagon.” Ereshkigal’s voice consoled her.
But…wait…what? “Chosen? What’s a Chosen?” Holly blinked in confusion.
The queen looked around at the faces, avoiding hers. “Have none of you told her what she is to Dagon?” Annoyance and anger quickly rose on her face. “Shame on you. You let this woman be dragged from her mate without knowing the probable bond between them?” The queen mumbled. “You should all be ashamed, and Dagon…I’ll make sure Dagon is very sorry he didn’t confide in her.”
“No! Please.” Holly pleaded, still not knowing what the fuck was going on. “I’m sure Dagon is already in a horrible amount of pain. I can’t bear to think of him being punished any more…for some…Chosen thing. None of it even matters if you’ll just help me.” She dropped to her knees and took Eresh’s dress in her hands. “Let me find him so I can be with him again.” A sob escaped from between her lips.
“I’m not sure why you all persist in this wretched stooping. Get off your knees, child,” the queen chided. “Of course, you will go find your Dagon.”
“I will?” Holly looked up, dazed. She somehow regained her feet and hugged Ereshkigal before she could help herself.
“That’s much better, I think.” The queen blinked at the familiarity and gently extricated herself.
Holly wiped the tears from her eyes and backed off. “I’ll do anything you say, my lady, as long as we can go to the Underworld to rescue Dagon.”
Ereshkigal looked down at her and frowned. Had Holly gone too far with the hugging? No. It seemed that Ereshkigal’s concern was unrelated.
“Damn Nergal for his counterplotting,” the queen lamented, letting out a huff of breath. “I’m about to cause a lot of distress.” The queen paused. “Let me put it to you this way. Some of you will be going to the Underworld.”
Enlil spoke up before Holly could get her head around the goddess’s words. “That’s god-speak for we’re going to get part of what we want, but mostly it’s going to suck. Am I right?”
Ereshkigal sighed. “You are correct, Enlil. I have negotiated with Nergal on this, and he has set some strict guidelines if this is to happen.”
Holly held her breath and waited to see what the rules would be.
“He will allow the two goddesses and Holly to travel back with me, but that is all.” The queen gave them a look of apology.
“Not acceptable.” Marduk growled. “I must accompany my Chosen.”
“That goes for me too.”
Anshar’s fangs started to pop, and Holly shivered, remembering how Dagon looked with his. It was oddly stimulating.
Ereshkigal shrugged, apologetically. “I’m very sorry, gentlemen, but Nergal will not allow it.”
“Then Tess will not go.” Marduk spoke adamantly.
Anshar looked at Lenore. The goddess glared at him, daring him to lay an order like that on her. He backed down, but his jaw clenched with the effort it took.
Ereshkigal waited until the silent exchange ended. “I’m sorry, Marduk, but Nergal has made i
t a stipulation that the three women go. If your goddesses do not accompany Holly, there will be no trip to the Underworld.”
Marduk looked at Holly sadly, but his next words came out decisively. “I will not risk my Chosen to save Dagon. I just can’t do it.” He reached his hand out to Tess. “Forgive me, Tessa-mouse.”
His endearment clearly did little to assuage Holly’s twin, who pulled back from her husband’s reach, looking to deny him his veto power.
Words of understanding stood poised on Holly’s tongue, but Eresh had more to say. “I’m afraid you’ll be giving up more than Dagon.”
The group became all ears. What new fucked-up-edness was about to be dropped on them?
“The longer Holly is away from Dagon, the weaker she will get. It will only be a matter of time…perhaps a few years…before the will to live will leave her body, and her essence will not be far behind.”
“Are you saying…?” Tess’s face filled with horror.
“Yes, my dear. Even though Holly is not joined as yet by the amulet, she has met him, and their bodies are aware that they are meant to be mated. She will most likely wither away if she is without Dagon.”
Stunned silence filled the room.
“I’m sorry. It would be different if she had already claimed immortality, shared an amulet. Her goddess status would leave her devastated at Dagon’s loss, but still alive, with the option of conjugal visits.”
“Amulet?” Holly questioned. Nobody answered her. Shit. If the information turned out to be as fucked up as everything else going on, she could save it for later.
While everyone digested this horrible piece of news, Ereshkigal reiterated her husband Nergal’s terms. “The three women must make the journey to attempt a rescue, but no gods may accompany them.”
“That’s bullshit!” Marduk’s fist slammed into the wall behind him and thunder roared ominously through the sky. “Let me go to the Underworld and I will squeeze the life from Nergal for imposing such rules.”
Going Deep Page 6
