Enlil’s chin wobbled, and Marduk gave him an invisible shrug. The thunder god didn’t know what the hell was going on.
Huxley shuffled from foot to foot and cleared his throat, but no other sound emerged.
“Oh, and I’ll get to you too…nephew,” he scoffed. Irving should have smoked a pipe because this is where he would have poked the stem of it into one of their broad chests.
Enlil, at Marduk’s silent urging, finally muttered, “You’re not going to believe anything I tell you.”
“Sure I will. Try me.” Irving was not to be deterred.
“I’m Enlil…”
“I know. I looked you up.” A twinkle appeared in Irvings’ eyes. “Mesopotamian god of wind, among other things. Invented the mattock…which I don’t have in my collection by the way…”
Marduk cursed. If they’d brought one of those damned things, maybe they wouldn’t be having this awkward conversation right now.
“…tried to kill off humanity with a flood. Favorite number—fifty. Shall I continue?” Irving’s gaze was very sharp as he waited for an answer.
“No. You’ve got it all, I’m sure. But that flood thing? That was not my fault.”
Marduk grinned. Enlil was forever taking the blame for that disaster.
“Now you, Huxley.” Irving was a little more curious. “There’s no mention of anyone with your name in the books. How do you fit in?”
Huxley finally grinned. As a mortal, Hux was so damned used to the gods being able to talk and compel their way out of everything, he was overjoyed he finally had an advantage. “Me? I’m just along for the ride because I make him visible.” Huxley backed up and out of the door, onto the porch, and down the stairs. “Watch.”
He continued across the street until he was a hundred yards away, and Enlil lost his body.
“See?” he called. “I’m nothing but an enabler.” Hux jogged back, popping Enlil back into the picture.
“Smart ass,” Enlil grumbled.
Marduk was amused, but they didn’t have time for this. He gave Enlil a mental poke.
The wind god addressed Irving again, without a long explanation.
“We need the idol for a trip to the Underworld to save a god, and,” he pulled his cell phone from his pocket, “we only have approximately an hour and a half to get it back to the Blue Hills. How’s that for telling it like it is?”
“That’ll do for a start.” Irving headed for the door to the room that housed his collection. “But when you’re through with your little trip, come back and tell me the whole story.” He pointed to a notebook on his desk. “While I’m getting the statue, why don’t you write down the names of all the gods you hang around with. I’d like to read up on them, so I know who you’re talking about next time I see you.”
It wasn’t as if they had a choice. With an assenting nod from Marduk, he went to the desk and obediently did as he was told. The thunder god grimaced. Why couldn’t all humans just follow the rules? First Huxley, then Lenore’s mother and grandmother, now someone who wasn’t even related to them had figured things out. Marduk didn’t like it. Irving came back into the room and held out the small bit of carved stone.
Enlil took the small idol in his hand and turned it over and over. “Just what I thought.” He showed it to Marduk and Huxley.
“That’s Ereshkigal.” Huxley recognized the queen who had visited.
“And on the opposite side is Nergal,” Enlil puzzled. He looked at Marduk but all the thunder god could give him was a shrug. He was as clueless as them.
I have no idea what it’s for. Enlil handed it over to Huxley and a strange surge of energy bolted out of it.
“Whoa! Did you feel that?” Huxley nearly dropped the talisman.
Enlil nodded, shocked, but Marduk, reeling from the jolt, attempted a guess.
I think it’s made of an odd kind of stone that’s rumored to hold unknown power. It’s whispered about in the Underworld. No one I know has ever seen any, but it must have originally come from there. Ask Irving where he got it.
“Where did you come across this?” Enlil questioned his human host, and Irving was quite eager to share the story.
“I was in Turkey on vacation a number of years ago. I stumbled across what you might call a museum yard sale. There lay a bunch of little stone items in a box, but this one in particular caught my eye. It was 1980, and I think I paid 1,800 Turkish lira for it, which at the time was the equivalent of about twenty dollars.” Irving smiled. “Of course, I had to hide it on the way through customs. They frown on having any of their antiquities removed from the country, but I couldn’t let this be thrown out with the other rubbish in the box.”
“Thank the gods you didn’t.” Enlil breathed out. “This may just save some lives. It has to be fate”
Huxley nodded and handed the idol over to Enlil who wrapped it carefully before stowing it away for the trip home.
“That may be so, but you know what they say about fate.” Irving saw them to the door, showing every confidence his visitors would be back. “Watch out because it might just bite you in the ass.”
Chapter Ten
Holly and Ereshkigal arrived in the throne room. The queen had warned Holly her husband would be regally seated on his throne when they arrived, but the king was nowhere to be seen.
“Nergal?” Eresh called, “Are you here?”
She received no answer, and wrinkled her nose at Holly. “I apologize. The king is not usually so rude. I’m going to contact him in my mind. I’ll let you listen in.”
Holly nodded.
Nergal, where are you? Ereshkigal sent out, and eventually received a reply.
I’ll be with you momentarily. Not to worry.
“He’s many miles away.” The queen worried her lower lip. “I can feel it. What could be the reason for his absence? I smell a rat, and it has the aroma of my devious husband. I’m going to attempt to locate Dagon,” the queen continued. “Nergal is approximately twenty miles away…straight down, and if I’m not missing my guess, I’ll bet he’s with your mate. It’s possible the king has been leading Dagon astray, and I intend to find out.”
“Forgive me for asking,” Holly ducked her chin, “but from what I’ve been told, immortals can only communicate within a ten-mile limit, unless they’re a mated couple. How can you talk to Dagon?”
“Those limits don’t apply to royalty, my dear. My husband and I have the ability to…eavesdrop on gods who are any distance away.”
That made sense to Holly. Both the queen and king had known about her before being introduced.
Dagon? Ereshkigal’s voice called out. This is your queen. Do not speak on an open channel. Ereshkigal did a pantomime, pointing from her head to Holly’s, which Holly could only imagine meant that she’d be able to hear it all, despite their not being on an “open channel.” I believe that Nergal will be trying to find out if I’m contacting you, so we need to be careful. Now, excuse my language, but where in hell are you?
Dagon’s voice came back and Holly’s throat swelled with tears, listening to his rich tones.
I’m not sure. It seems that Nergal has compelled me to a location I am completely unfamiliar with. It’s darker and warmer than your chambers, and the excavations seem more primitive. He sounded very puzzled, and the queen didn’t keep him guessing.
I sense that you are twenty miles deeper into the mantle than normal.
There came a resounding Shit! from Dagon.
Those pathways were forged many generations ago, and I am unfamiliar with the terrain. You need to find your way back to our main level. The best I will be able to do is to let you know, periodically, if you are coming up or heading farther down. Make sure you mark your trajectory and contact me often.
Thank you, my queen. I will do that. But may I ask why Nergal felt the need to send me to a different level so far below? Believe me, the demons on your normal plain inflict adequate pain and suffering.
Holly had already figured that out.
Nergal would try to keep Dagon as far away from her as possible. But they couldn’t let Dagon know that. She didn’t want him finding out she was here. She shook her head to Ereshkigal.
I’m not sure. The queen fibbed on her behalf. I’ll see if I can find out. Knowing the gods attitudes regarding their Chosen, Dagon would not be pleased Holly was about to undertake a dangerous rescue. No. They would keep that news from him until Holly’s team had gathered, and argument would be moot.
Dagon? Nergal is coming. I will speak to you soon. Ereshkigal cut the mind connection, and with a bland expression and sure hands, she smoothed her dress, and stood with Holly, awaiting the scheming king.
The god who could only be Nergal appeared before them, standing next to his throne. Holly gasped. She looked up. Way up. The gods she’d met were enormous―Dagon being one of the largest― but Nergal dwarfed them all. He had to be seven feet tall. He made Ereshkigal, who had moved next to him, look petite, and the queen stood eight inches taller than Holly.
She studied him while he and his goddess held some kind of private dialogue. His cold eyes flicked toward her every now and again, sending shivers up her spine. His look remained hard. Neither soft flesh nor laugh lines showed around his eyes or mouth to give a promise of leniency. His long hair―caught in a loose ponytail and trailed over his right shoulder―was the dark, chestnut color of one of her childhood friend’s horses, a deep, dark red that seemed to mimic the color of hell itself.
Thick bands of intricately carved bronze clasped around huge biceps and wrists, and his bare chest looked massive, marked with black swirls and ancient runes. His only piece of clothing was a gilded, heavily beaded loincloth that barely covered what were sure to be impressive man-parts. Holly was scared to death, and he wasn’t even the worst of the bad guys she’d have to face down here. She realized Ereshkigal spoke.
“He wants you to bow before him.” The female sovereign looked distinctly put out, but Holly quickly obeyed.
“Your highness.” She sank to her knees and lowered her head.
“Up, human.” Nergal seemed to like the groveling. “So you consider that you belong to Dagon?”
“Yes, your majesty.” Holly didn’t know whether to look him in the eye or keep her gaze averted. She opted to stare at Nergal’s belly button.
“Has he penetrated you yet?”
Holly’s mouth dropped open. That was none of his fucking business! Did she have to answer? She glanced at Ereshkigal for guidance, and the goddess nodded her head indicating that Holly should reply.
“No…no…we haven’t.” Holly bit out, not knowing what else to add.
“But you are not a virgin, am I correct?”
Again, none of his business, but Holly gave him the answer through gritted teeth. “I’m not a virgin.”
“Good. I’m not fond of virgins. They’re such timid souls.” He looked her up and down disdainfully. “Take off your clothes.”
“I beg your pardon?” Holly couldn’t have heard him correctly.
“I said, remove your garments. I would look upon what you have to offer.”
“I’m not offering you anything, buddy!” Holly grew incensed. The chamber instantly turned hotter and she wondered whether it was her outrage or the king’s anger raising the temperature in the room.
Ereshkigal placed a hand on her arm. “Do as he says. I will not let harm come to you, I promise.” She said the last with a hard look toward Nergal.
Their eyes flashed, glaring back and forth and she wondered what they said to each other in private head speak. With no additional orders forthcoming, Holly sighed. It looked like she had to get bare-assed for this megalomaniac. It was a good thing she wasn’t particularly shy, but she let him know her limits. “I’ll peel down for you, but that’s it. Understand?”
“I will tell you how far things go…human.” He almost spat the last word at her, and the earth trembled.
Great. He looked to be losing patience. Not good. She had come to make him more compliant to their wishes. Holly slowly removed her clothes.
****
Dammit. Nergal tapped his foot, impatiently. He was tired of things not going his way. It was bad enough Eresh caught him in a part of the Underworld he didn’t want her to be aware of, and had questioned him closely, but then she’d hit him with the devastating news of the goddess Tess’s pregnancy. The wind had momentarily been knocked from his chest.
He couldn’t go after Marduk’s woman now. If his relationship with Ereshkigal was strained before, incarcerating an impregnated goddess would kill all chances for any future reconciliation. He would have to make do with the goddess Lenore and this insignificant mortal who disrobed and…as he suspected…did not stir his interest in the least. Couldn’t she have been more voluptuous? She was built like a teenage boy, albeit with muscles, but her body did not entice him.
Ereshkigal’s latest request, whispered in his head, was that she wanted Enlil instead of Tess to accompany the two women to the Underworld. He didn’t like that one bit. Dagon was shrewd enough on his own, but an additional god working with him, as well as the goddess Lenore? How was he to capture and imprison the females with those odds?
“Turn around,” he ordered the girl in a bored tone.
She was naked now, but he couldn’t keep his mind on her, even as she turned to show him all. Nergal strummed his cheek, distracted. What rules could he come up with that would level the playing field if he allowed Enlil to participate.
Holly turned her back to the king, and by now she realized she was being ignored, which looked to be pissing her off. Fine. Let her steam. The chit should feel grateful. Better to be unacknowledged than sexually accosted.
Holly had told Ereshkigal―and Eresh had told him―that she would do anything to assure Dagon’s release. That meant he could demand that she give him the blow-job of her life, or bend over so he could fuck her. Hmm. Fuck her… An idea came to him and he rubbed his hands together. Here was something that the girl really wouldn’t like.
“Eresh.” The king called to his consort. “I have a suggestion.” His mind had hit on a plan of action, one that would keep Enlil in the Underworld not a moment longer than necessary. The golden haired god, along with Marduk, had been one of his wife’s extra special pets.
Ereshkigal quirked a brow in his direction, wondering what he had up his proverbial sleeve.
“In order for Enlil to accompany the goddess Lenore, and this…human…” Holly stood with her back to him and he addressed her before continuing. “Go lay on that altar. Face down.” He pointed to a slab of rock that stood at waist height, big enough to accommodate a large body.
Holly shakily obeyed him, clearly wondering what came next.
“Where was I? Oh, yes. To get your way, my queen, you must make the following concessions.”
Ereshkigal listened.
“As soon as Dagon is found, Enlil will immediately be sent back to the surface and Lenore will become my prisoner. Dagon and his female must attempt to breach all hazards and make their way to the throne room without the help of the god and goddess.” His excitement increased. “But understand, I will be doing my best to stop them.”
He pointed to Holly, squirming uncomfortably on the stone altar. “If they succeed in making it back here, Lenore will be released and you may send them all home to the surface, in which case you win.
“If I capture Dagon and the girl, I will keep this female and Lenore as my slaves, after making sure—of course—to give Dagon’s woman half of the amulet so that she will not die. I will then send Dagon back to the lower depths to deal with demons for the rest of eternity. Anshar’s everlasting grief will become my happy little collateral damage.”
He put a very smug look on his face, and damn her, Ereshkigal didn’t look worried. She clearly had a few strategies of her own.
“I think…” she began.
“Wait!” Nergal held up his hand. Here was the brilliant thing he planned. “There is one more safeguard to pu
t in place. I realize that even if Dagon is located, it could take him and the human a very long time until they make it to your throne.”
Ereshkigal waited again.
“Since the girl is not a virgin, I assume there will be a surfeit of copulating once they find themselves alone.”
“What do you care?” Ereshkigal stalked closer to him. “You seem to have little or no interest her. And this is not jealousy talking,” she scoffed.
“Of course not.” As if. “No. My problem is, that if she proves to be as ripe as her sister, she may become pregnant before the game is over, in which case I would be obliged to forfeit and send her home. I will not be denied in that way.”
“So what do you propose Nergal?” His wife questioned. “I will not allow a chastity belt. It will slow her down with its bulk. Do you have something else in mind?”
I do, my queen. He sent to his queen, alone. But we will need to restrain her on the altar before we tell her what I have planned. He put his intent into Ereshkigal’s mind and the queen sighed.
She won’t be happy…but if we must…
Go to her now and compel her into the wrist cuffs. I will take care of the rest.
As you wish.
His goddess approached the stone. “Move onto your back, Holly. I need you face up.”
Holly seethed, but curbed her mutinous inclinations. “The bastard hasn’t had a good enough look?” Holly spat, but obeyed reluctantly, turning over to face the queen. The next thing she knew, her hands were bound in irons and fastened to the table above her head.
“Wh…what just happened?” Holly didn’t like the looks of this. Especially since the queen had been the one to restrain her, and goddammit, Ereshkigal was supposed to be advocating for her side.
“What are you doing?” Bile moved up into Holly’s throat. Ereshkigal didn’t answer. She merely looked resigned.
Nergal approached, massively foreboding.
“I will not have sex with you!” Holly screamed at him. “Do you understand me?” She clamped her legs together and scooted her bare behind as far to the edge of the table as possible. She should have saved the effort.
Going Deep Page 9
