by Jean Murray
She fisted her hand, remembering the reasons why. She couldn’t falter.
It was for everyone’s safety.
“Katherine.”
Kit whipped around to confront the source of the musical voice, regretting instantly she hadn’t opened the door. “What are you doing here?”
“We have avoided each other long enough. It is time we talked about your future.”
She glared at her mother with a level of hatred greater than she reserved for her father. “We both know there is no future.”
The Mother Goddess looked away and fidgeted with the gold belt of her gown, not unlike Lilly when she was nervous. In fact Lilly might as well be their mother’s twin with flowing blonde hair and green eyes. Kendra had inherited the full curls and small features. Kit would gladly trade her nightmare of a gift for bigger boobs.
“I am doing everything in my power to not let that happen.” Her mother walked towards her. “It is the very reason, you, Lilly and Kendra exist.”
“Is that the only reason?” Kit asked, furious she and her sisters were nothing more than a plan B for the end of the world. Not to mention, their father.
“No.” Her mother stopped a few feet away. “You are this world’s hope.”
“You are in denial, Mother.”
Mother Goddess sighed. “We will fail if you do not transition.”
“Well, it’s not going to happen.” Kit stalked past her mother to the bathroom. She yanked off her wet boots and uniform and threw them in the corner.
Her mother floated into the room and held out a towel.
Kit ignored the offer in favor of new clothes from the bureau. She struggled to pull her new leather pants over her damp skin.
“What did you see, Katherine?”
“What haven’t I?” Kit spat. She was barely twelve when the visions first appeared. Relentless to the point Kit thought she was schizophrenic. Her father never told them of their heritage, even when Kit would run crying to her father about her disturbing visions. Day dreams, he would call them. There was nothing dreamy about any of them. Horrifying, in fact.
Blood. Carnage. Death.
“It pained me to see you suffering. I am sorry for that.”
Kit choked out a laugh. “You’re sorry? Sorry, that I had to relive my father’s death over and over.” Her first vision was her father’s death and subsequent resurrection into a reven, an undead monster with a craving for human flesh and blood. “I was twelve, damn it!” She slammed the bureau’s door shut and pulled her top down.
“I know this is hard to understand, but your gifts will aid the war.”
“Gifts?” Kit gasped. The one she had was bad enough. It sickened her to think her mother had given her more than nightmares. All the more reason not to transition into a demi-god. Lilly’s gift of healing and Kendra’s gift of magic and touch only strengthened after their transition. Fear rippled through Kit, thinking of the horrible possibilities.
“We are done talking.” Kit headed for the door, knowing her mother would refuse to leave.
“What I did was to protect you?”
Kit paused with the door ajar. “Protect us?” She growled and looked over her shoulder. “Have you not seen what this war has done to us? I have a fucking snake imbedded in my back. Thousands have died under the reven curse. Our father—” Kit’s voice broke.
Her mother held out her arms.
“No! You weren’t there to see him suffer. Become something Lilly was forced to kill.” Kit couldn’t get the image of her father’s red eyes and mottled gray skin out of her head. Or, the other humans he had attacked and infected with the undead curse. Her father had been the first to fall ill when he and Lilly opened the goddess Kepi’s tomb. Kit had seen it coming, but her father refused to heed her warning.
“Katherine, please. Your father sacrificed himself to save this world. You must not let his soul and the souls of the cursed languish.”
“How do you expect me to do that, exactly?”
“Lead them home. Save their souls.”
Lead them? How the hell was she supposed to do that? They were cursed. Doomed never to reach the afterlife. Kit couldn’t be the one. “It is too late to save them.”
Kit slipped out into the hall, surprised to see it empty of her sentry. Her bare feet gained traction on the rough stone floor as she searched for a place to escape. She eyed the beach but thought better of it. Backing away, she ran the other direction to the one door just as unwelcoming.
Silence greeted her ears. Nothing moved on the other side. Maybe he left on some errand for Asar. The sound of the door opening down the hall had her grabbing for the handle. The room was pitch black. She turned and carefully closed the door behind her. It took only a few moments for her vision to adjust. Her mother’s aura crept across the floor beneath the gap of the door. Kit back peddled across the room as the glow grew brighter.
Fearing her mother would barge in any moment, Kit slid down against the wall and pulled her knees to her chest. The pressure to conform to her mother’s wishes bore down upon her shoulders. The eclipse was less than a month away. Time was running out.
Kit had to find a way to make this all stop. Unlike her father who met his fate, she would give hers the finger. Gods decreed fate—well, fuck them. The gods had done a pretty shitty job protecting the human realm. Maybe it was time for humans to decide their own fate.
The glow receded and disappeared back into the hallway. Kit blew out a breath. Escaping out the gates was looking better and better, but even Kit knew that path was more treacherous than the one facing her here in the palace. Someone or something had called her name from the deck of that boat floating beyond the gates.
How did it fit into her vision? She had thirty days to find out.
And, stop it.
Chapter Four
A night of reflection in the chamber had given Kamen the time to rebalance his energy. The ache in his chest and back had dissipated to the point power flowed through his veins and muscles. He clenched his hands. The rush of strength was worth all the pain he suffered the day prior. He shifted the lock and jogged the staircase to the bathroom. Like a million times before, he rolled the stone back into place.
The scent of roses floated in the air. He jerked his head to stare out through the doorway. The scent was far too strong to be out in the hall.
He stalked into the bedroom. With a wave of his hand he ignited the torches on the wall. An extra blanket was tossed, not folded, as was usual onto the chaise. The duvet cover was ruffled in the center of his bed. He ran his palm over the still warm fabric. Lifting the pillow to his nose, he inhaled a bouquet of sweet sunshine.
He straightened the covers, removing all the wrinkles, and folded the blanket. He swept the room. Besides the bed, everything was in its place. He could not fathom the reason for Kit’s visit or the fact she had slept in his bed. Then again, her behavior was becoming more erratic, not unlike his own. At least his head was clearer today. His control solid, as if it never failed him. He was going to need it.
Kit would find a new way to test him. Her invasion of his privacy was just the beginning of her games. He headed towards Asar’s office, scanning Kit’s room as he passed. Empty. He slowed his walk and stared out over the veranda’s wall to the beach. She would not dare, would she?
He shook his head and continued on his way. Asar’s office door opened and Siya stepped out. Kamen stopped as the goddess sized him up.
“They are not here.” She squared off.
Kamen stared past her shoulder into the office. The gold chair sat empty. He scanned the palace. Warriors roved in groups of six around the perimeter. Bomani was with Kendra in the archive. “Where have they gone?”
“To the Nehebkau base to unpack a weapons’ shipment.” Siya rubbed her swollen belly.
“Weapons? A shipment arrived today?”
“No, it arrived sometime yesterday. A day earlier than expected. They rushed off this morning to get it unloaded.”
Kamen frowned, irritated they left without him. Not to mention, Kit very well may not have been lying. “Thank you,” he said, turning to leave.
“Kamen.” Siya grasped his forearm.
Tension coiled the minute her hand made contact. Instinct and demon blood did not mix. “Careful,” he said as gently as possible.
She released her grasp but did not back away. “Listen, we do not need to like each other, but I need to know where your loyalties lie.”
“Mine? What of yours?” He leveled his stare at her, angered she would even question his constitution. He had millenniums of service to Asar. Siya, daughter of Menthu, had less than thirty days.
“I have, unlike you, always served the Mother Goddess,” she countered.
Despite her maternal state, she was just as lethal and volatile. Bold and direct was her nature, not unlike his own. He and Siya had more in common than he would like to admit. Control was always an issue for both of them. The demons always wanted to be set free.
Kamen forced himself to relax. “I serve only Asar. You need not worry.”
“Do I?” Her arms tightened around her belly.
Kamen narrowed his gaze upon her. True concern laced her light green eyes. Her fear was not for herself or the Underworld, but the growing child.
“I lost consciousness several times. Anything could have happened during that time.” Siya cleared her throat and looked away. Captured by her father she was tortured by Nebt. Siravants surrounded her and fed off her misery. All tainted with the Dark Lord’s blood.
Other than Asar, no one dared ask Kamen to use his gift outside of the chamber. It was too dangerous. Siya’s demon blood was one thing. Shit, all the Underworlder’s were part demon, but Apep was evil in its most potent form. Undiluted wickedness.
“I do not think it wise without Bomani here.”
“Bomani need not know.” Her eyes strayed to the library doors at the far end of the hallway. “I fear what he would do if the baby is—compromised.”
His nephew, Bomani, was a born guardian in the most extreme form. Half god. Half dark warrior. Their child had prophetic significance. The first of its kind, created by two half-bloods. A blending of their worlds. Bomani would charge head long into trouble to enact his vengeance.
Kamen glanced up and down the hall. It was forbidden to touch a mated goddess. He swore under his breath and placed his palm over her abdomen. He closed his eyes and focused on the blood flowing in and around the baby. Siya’s demon blood resonated through his fingertips. He found the rapidly pounding pulse. Siya’s power muted his ability to sense the evil, if it was present.
The baby definitely shared its mother’s blood, bitter, but absent of the stench of death. For now.
Apep’s evil could be insidious, like cancer. Starting small and then slowly spreading. Before the gods knew what had happened, their souls were owned by the Dark Lord. Kamen’s thoughts strayed to Nebt and her descent into darkness. She had betrayed the Underworld. Her family. Her mate, Inpu. Kamen had been the one to pull the venom laced stakes from Inpu’s arms and legs.
He pulled his hand away. “The baby shares your blood. No other that I can sense.”
“Thank the gods. Although, I hoped it would be spared of my curse.” Siya smiled weakly.
He nodded, understanding that more than he would let on. He would go to great lengths to spare a child of his own curse by not having any offspring. “If you will excuse me.” Asar had left without him and did not ask him to watch over Kit.
“I am grateful Bomani did not give up on me, no matter how hard I pushed him away.”
“That is good.” He turned to pass her, but she stepped in his way.
“Sometimes when we fight our destiny, it comes faster and darker than we want.”
“What are you saying exactly?”
“The fates will not be denied. Kit may think she is determining her future, but the gods have already spoken for her.”
“And, what is that supposed to mean?”
“Something does not feel right. Apep is getting closer.”
“Do you know something?”
“I wish I did, but Kit might.”
“Kit? What makes you think—”
“Kit has that same look on her face as her mother whenever something bad is about to happen. My suggestion, do not let Kit out of your sight.” The War Goddess turned and walked towards the library.
Kamen stared after her, stricken by the thought Kit was in danger. Apep had made attempts on Lilly, Kendra and Siya.
And, then there was Set. His brother could not refuse his mandate to battle Apep and deliver his precious cargo, just as Kamen could not deny the beast. Yet, night after night, Set’s boat failed to arrive at Aaru’s gates. The how and why had Kamen’s hackles on end, and then to find Kit so close to the barrier between Aaru and Duat.
Unacceptable, all of it.
He dematerialized and reappeared in the shadows of the Nehebkau warehouse. His skin blackened in the human realm as did every Underworlder. A millennium’s old curse set by the Creation Pantheon as a reminder the Underworld Pantheon did not belong among the living. Coldness replaced the warmth. He was always careful to reveal himself so as not to scare the humans. Despite several months in their presence, they still startled easily when he appeared.
He followed Kit’s floral scent to a large lift alongside one of the Nehebkau’s iron birds. Despite the over hundred huntresses in the room, it took him less than a few seconds to target Kit. Long leather clad legs stretched up to the round curve of her ass as she leaned over the fifty caliber gun. Her snake marking dipped between two dimples before disappearing below her belt line. She planted her foot against the lower rail and pulled the wrench back.
Kamen had no use for the large flying machine. Although, the aircraft’s weaponry packed a punch against the siravants, effectively dropping the winged creatures from the sky. Apep’s minions were something to be feared. In their true form, the siravants were lethal to a god with a poisonous bite and talons to tear flesh. If the god survived the battle, the poison would slowly settle in their soul, devouring them from the inside. When they were not killing, the demons fed off the souls of the fallen. Worse yet, they had the ability to possess gods and humans, infiltrating and destroying from within.
He swept the hanger’s floor, looking for the one that would make eye contact with him. Humans avoided his stare. Siravants had no fear but for their master. Kit’s foul folly of expletives drew his gaze upward. He dematerialized and reappeared next to her. He covered his hand around the wrench she held and torqued the metal until the thick bolt seated in place.
He slid his hand away, waiting for her rebuke as to why he was here in her business. Her blue eyes raked over him but refused to make eye contact. Instead of an offhanded comment, she handed him the wrench and pointed at the five other bolts. “Do you mind?”
She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned, her irritation palpable in the small space between them. Instead of cussing him out, she stewed. Not her usual manner, which sent a stab of guilt through his chest. He had overstepped his bounds yesterday. His control was his only redeeming quality. For the first time, he lost it on many levels.
He was never good at words, let alone an apology. But damn if he did not owe her one. He should have never touched her. He had forced himself into the chamber fearful he would follow through with any one of the numerous thoughts of Kit naked and spread out against her white sheets. To know she had slept in his bed, threatened to undue his control once again or at least leave him completely dumbfounded as to why.
Forcing those thoughts into a deep corner of his mind, he gripped the wrench and tightened the last of the bolts. He permitted himself to remain in close proximity to her long enough to complete the job. Heat radiated off her body, burning his now cold skin. He was fully under the spell of the Underworld’s ancient curse. Again, something he had no control over. Sensing the shiver running down her body, he stepped
away.
Regardless of the agony, he would fulfill his duty to protect the Mother Goddess’ children. The only reason—the only acceptable reason.
“Are you going to make me go back?” she asked, wringing the grease laden red towel. Her knuckles whitened with each twist.
“That is not my decision,” Kamen replied. Unless her life was directly threatened, he would do as assigned. He scanned the warehouse and beyond but failed to sense his brother. Who had Asar left to protect her? As part of the Nehebkau’s protection force, a platoon of warriors were stationed throughout the warehouse. His gaze rested on a dark corner of the room. Silver eyes flashed against the florescent lighting above.
Bakari, Kamen sighed his relief. There were few he would trust to protect Kit. The God of Death nodded and dematerialized.
Kamen turned his attention back to Kit. She stared at him with those tortured blue eyes for a long moment. She threw the rag down and walked down the steps, leaving him to stare after her and soak in her lingering scent of roses.
Damn the gods.
He exhaled a breath and followed her. His eyes swept the crowd of females, even among allies the enemy could be lurking. Watching. Waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Kamen filtered through the scents, looking for that distinct sour stench.
The women scurried out of his way. Their sins tickled Kamen’s senses. Each of them had a past—the only ones desperate or crazy enough signed up for initiation into the Nehebkau. Only women were amenable to the spell that bound the powers of a snake to their soul. A second chance for these wayward criminals. Or, a death sentence, considering what was in store for all of them.
Lilly and Kit had been the first to undergo the transformation to combat the revens. Immunity to the undead curse, strength, agility and night vision were just a few of the perks, if the female survived the initiation process. Kamen tracked the diamond patterned scales down Kit’s spine beneath her small leather top. The snake chose the host. It had to be a rattlesnake for Kit. She had sent him plenty of warnings to stay away. He was just waiting for the moment she sank her teeth into him.
