The Brazen Amazon

by Sandy James

  Ra was still staring at him, no emotion showing on his tanned face. “I can offer you what you seek.”

  That got Zach’s full attention. “How?”

  “Should I endow you with the power to bind, your status in this world will change. You will not be immortal, but you will be blessed with a long life should no tragedy befall you.”

  Johann shook his head. “Tragedy would follow you like a damned shadow if you had this power, Zach.”

  Artair mirrored the action. “He’s right. You’d be blessed by living to a ripe old age but cursed with a power that will make some Ancients see you as a threat. ‘Twill be a long life of looking over your shoulder for assassins.”

  Johann put a hand on Zach’s shoulder.

  He was starting to hate that gesture.

  “At least take some time to think about it,” Johann warned, “before you do something stupid. Let’s get Gina back. That’s the priority right now. This decision can wait.”

  As tempting as it was to take Ra’s offer, Zach nodded at Johann. So much had been thrown at him in such a short time, he needed to take a deep breath and consider the ramifications of such an important decision. Thoughts about his choices, about what the goddesses might do to his mind, about how he’d always known he was destined for something important, and about what the future held whirled in his mind. But they always came back to the same conclusion.

  He couldn’t lose Gina.

  “What say you, inventor? Will you accept the gift I offer?” Ra asked.

  Everything in him wanted to scream yes, but Zach put his trust in the Sentinels. For now. “I need to talk to Gina, and I need some time to think.”

  “So be it,” Freyjr said.

  “This is not over,” Ra added. “Speak with your women and decide, but I leave you with a warning. I know my daughter well. I created her and also faced her as an enemy. Sekhmet must be properly bound or she will succeed in destroying your world any way she can.”

  Freyjr snapped his fingers and the gods disappeared.

  Zach whirled on the Sentinels, letting loose all the anger and fear inside him. They might have cost him the best shot he had of rescuing Gina. “I hope to hell you both know what you’re doing.”

  Because if they didn’t they might have just condemned the woman he loved.

  * * *

  Gina steadied herself against the pain as Helen took her hand, ready to transport her to her sisters.

  “You’re sure Rebecca isn’t in Avalon?” Helen asked.

  Gina shook her head, wishing Helen could take her home. Sarita would be back by now and would help her, and Zach had to be worried sick. But it was protected by powerful magicks that Helen couldn’t breach. “On mission.”

  “Well, then... Earth can always find Earth.” Helen snapped her fingers.

  The cabin disappeared, and there was nothing but darkness for a long, dizzying moment. Then Gina found herself in a hotel room—judging from the size, the neutral colors and the two double beds.

  Trying to focus and remember what city Rebecca and Megan were in, Gina groaned when a shout pounded through her head.

  “What the hell?” Rebecca came through the open bathroom door. “Gina.” The Guardian hurried toward her.

  With a low growl, Megan launched herself at Helen from the end of one of the beds.

  Helen held out a palm.

  Megan stopped in her tracks as if she’d been frozen.

  “I come in peace,” Helen said. “May we call a truce long enough to help your Air?”

  Struggling to get to her feet, Gina tried to keep Rebecca from engaging Helen in a fight. She still wasn’t sure whether she should trust Richard’s claim of an alliance with the former Earth Amazon, but she didn’t want her sisters hurt.

  Rebecca crouched at Gina’s side. “Stay down. I’ll handle Helen.”

  Gina’s pain did more than Rebecca’s request to keep her from rising. “She came—to get me—to you.”

  “Really?”

  Gina nodded.

  “Fine, Helen,” Rebecca said, leveling a menacing stare. “You’ve got your temporary truce since you’ve given us back Gina.” The next two words were forced out between clenched teeth. “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome, Rebecca.” Helen turned to chuckle at the still-frozen Megan. “As are you, Megan. But, alas, I must return to my host or she’ll question my loyalty—as if I’d give my loyalty to anyone but myself.”

  “What are you talking about?” Rebecca asked.

  “Sekhmet,” Gina rasped. It still hurt to breathe, and she needed this to be over.

  “Well, hell.” Rebecca glared at Helen. “You’re allied with Sekhmet? You stupid bitch.” She got to her feet and reached for her sword. Before she could grab it, she froze, apparently held fast by a wave of Helen’s hand.

  “Amazons.” Helen gave them a dismissive flip of her hand. “So sanctimonious. So self-righteous. So damned sure you’re always in the right. Just listen for once. I’m here to help. I swear it. Why else would I bring Gina back to you?”

  Rebecca snorted.

  “Think, Rebecca. You’re my blood-sister. You’re a smart Amazon. What purpose would it serve me to be Sekhmet’s ally? If I helped her in her quest, she’d kill all the people I plan to rule. I’m not her ally. I’m her worst nightmare. I’m cozying up to her to find a way to bring her down, to take away her powers and bury the Destructor back in the sands for all eternity.”

  “Richard, too,” Gina said, her voice a hoarse whisper.

  “Yes,” Helen added. “Richard’s involved as well. He will help, but I fear the two of us aren’t enough. Should the Amazons join our cause, we can see Sekhmet destroyed.”

  Helen smoothed her pink velvet skirt, copying another habit of Rhiannon’s.

  Perhaps Helen wasn’t quite as self-assured of her position as an Ancient as she wanted them all to believe, and that might be a weakness the Amazons could one day exploit.

  “Think about it, ladies. I’m your best shot at stopping this threat. I’ll be in touch soon for your answer.” With a snap of her fingers, Helen disappeared like most of the other Ancients—in a flash of light.

  The moment she left, Rebecca and Megan jerked back into movement. Rebecca hurried to Gina while Megan called out for Freya to get them all to Avalon. As always, Megan’s mother answered immediately.

  “Artair!” Rebecca shouted the instant they arrived on the grassy compound. “Sarita!”

  Artair came striding out of the house, dressed in nothing but his hastily donned plaid.

  After brushing a no-nonsense kiss across Rebecca’s lips, he lifted Gina into his arms.

  “Watch her left arm and ribs,” Megan cautioned. “I’ll go to watch the kids so the changelings can help Gina.”

  Rebecca followed Artair toward Gina’s home. “Where’s Zach?”

  “Sleeping in his cabin. We had to convince him to get some rest and wait to talk to you and Megan before we went after Gina.” He adjusted his grip, sending pain sizzling through Gina’s ribs.

  She cried out then bit her bottom lip to try and stay silent.

  “Sorry, lass.”

  When they reached the cabin, Rebecca held the door open as he carried Gina inside.

  “I’m gonna get Zach.” Before Rebecca took a step, Sarita came charging inside.

  She tugged on Artair’s plaid. “Artair, move your ass.”

  Artair took a step back.

  “Go on,” Sarita said, shooing him away. “You’re just going to be in my way.”

  “I’ll wait on the porch,” he replied.

  Despite the love and concern she felt flowing from her sisters, Gina wanted everyone but Sarita to go. And she wanted Zach. Why wasn’t he here yet?

  Rebecca must have picked up on her thoughts because she turned to go. She ran right into Megan. Their heads bumped with an audible thud.

  “Geesh, Megan. You’ve got a hard head.”

  Megan rubbed her forehead. “Didn’t feel
good to me, either, Rebs. Beagan and Dolan said they’d stay with the kids since Sarita could do more for Gina than they could.”

  Rebecca nodded. “I was going after Zach.”

  “Let me help her first,” Sarita said.

  With her good hand Gina grabbed Sarita’s wrist. “Zach.”

  “Not yet, sis. He’ll just get in the way. I’ll go get him later.”

  “You’re sure?” Rebecca asked.

  “Very,” Sarita replied. “This cabin’s too small for everyone to be in here.”

  “Is there anything you need?” Megan asked.

  “Some peace and quiet to work on Gina,” Sarita grumbled.

  “Fine. I get it. I’ll get out of your hair.” Megan ducked back out the door.

  “How are you feeling, Gina?” Rebecca stood at the foot of the bed, watching Sarita work.

  Gina didn’t bother to answer. The pain was drowning her, and she wanted nothing more than to slip into the blessed darkness.

  Sarita’s hand glowed orange as she passed it over Gina’s arm. After only a few moments the throbbing eased.

  “What’s the damage, Sarita?” Rebecca asked.

  “She’s not as bad as she looks. The arm’s broken. I need to see how many ribs she fractured, but she’s strong. A lot stronger than she was after Richard’s shock.”

  Frowning at them, Gina had reached her fill of being fussed over. She hated the way they made decisions for her as though she were a child and talked about her as if she wasn’t there. “I’m—fine. Let me—sleep.”

  “Sure, Gina,” Sarita said in a sarcastic voice. She smoothed her healing hand over Gina’s ribs. “I know you hate it when we help you. So I’ll just leave all those bones broken. No problem.”

  Artair stuck his head inside the cabin and growled. “’Tis verra late. If the lass will be fine, I need to find my bed—and I need my wife in it.”

  Rebecca arched an eyebrow at Sarita.

  “She’ll be good as new soon, Guardian. Go on. Go with your husband.”

  “Aye,” Artair said. “Go with your husband.”

  Sarita picked up the fleece throw from the end of the bed and draped it over Gina. “Get some sleep, sis. I’m going to get something to drink, then I’ll come back and sit with you.”

  “Just get Zach.”

  “You don’t want me to stay?”

  “No. Thanks. Just Zach.”

  “Fine. I’ll look for him and send him to you.” She kissed Gina’s forehead. “Now sleep.”

  Without another word, Gina obeyed.

  Chapter Twenty

  Richard rubbed his fingers over the raw wound on his shoulder. He strode to his bedroom mirror and looked at his injury.

  A perfect ring of teeth marks—Sekhmet’s “gift” for him being gone longer than she thought he needed to be and for his failure to capture Zach. The wound hadn’t bled too much. She could have killed him if she’d wanted to. Shit, she sure hadn’t shown any restraint with any of his brothers who’d disappointed her.

  While they numbered near three hundred, only sixty of the Sons of Gaia had decided to follow Freyjr to the mansion he created for them. Of those, fewer than thirty had remained to give their allegiance to Sekhmet. The rest either returned to their island prison or had been killed by the lion goddess. Now, eighteen of his brothers still lived in the mansion. The other dozen were nothing but rotting corpses.

  Sometimes vowing loyalty to an Ancient paid a high toll.

  All he’d ever wanted was a life—a real life. A chance to choose his own destiny. A chance to be something more than a demigod his mother feared would rise up against her.

  Twice he’d begged an Ancient to save his brothers from exile.

  Twice he’d been burned.

  Richard shifted his gaze to Helen. Would the third time be a charm?

  Maybe since she’d once been an Amazon, she would understand. Maybe she’d help liberate him and his brothers from the shackles of the divine. So far, she’d done all he’d asked and all she’d promised.

  He would keep a wary eye on her nonetheless.

  Just as Helen had predicted, Sekhmet’s strength was beginning to wane. Her own fault. One by one, the lioness had murdered her followers. With each death, she’d destroyed the adoration that enhanced her powers—perhaps enough to make her vulnerable.

  How typical of an Ancient to cut her own throat rather than allow any of her followers to have some all-too-human fallibility.

  She was still a threat, but now Richard had a fighting chance. With Helen’s alliance and with Zach aware of what Sekhmet had planned, the Amazons might just win the day, and the world wouldn’t go up in a storm of mushroom clouds.

  He worked quietly to speak to each of his remaining brothers, hoping to sway them to his side. Helen had charmed a few. Richard had convinced a few more. Still, he wasn’t sure he could count on his brothers when the ultimate battle came. Were they more loyal to Sekhmet and her dreams of creating a new world or to family and the preservation of the human race?

  Sekhmet’s enraged shriek echoed through the mansion. The sounds of running footsteps followed right behind. The lioness was angry enough to eat someone. Again.

  Now what?

  He should go to her, but he took his own sweet time, refusing to shuffle off to her every beck and call like some lapdog. First, he bandaged his wound, then found a clean shirt and donned it.

  When he reached the enormous family room she now called the throne room, he found Sekhmet standing amongst several of his cowering brothers. Cradled in her hands was Zach’s Toy.

  “What happened?” he whispered to Jory, the only other brother still brave enough to be on his feet.

  Jory was one of Richard’s five full-blooded brothers. All six men had obviously been infused with stubbornness and pride, a combination that tended to find them in more than their share of trouble. He and Jory resembled each other so closely—same height, same long, dark hair, same blue eyes—they’d often been mistaken for twins. Even their own brothers mixed them up.

  “I think something’s wrong with her gadget,” Jory replied in a hushed voice. He elbowed Richard and pointed at the Toy. “Just listen.”

  “Game over, mate. Game over, mate. Game over, mate.” The tinny voice droned on and on.

  “Is that Jack Sparrow’s voice?” Richard whispered.

  Jory grinned. “Yep.”

  Richard almost laughed aloud.

  “I think that inventor you hate so much did this,” Jory added.

  “Wouldn’t surprise me. He was working on one of the computers at the Pentagon when we got there. He had to have done something. Uploaded a virus maybe?”

  Jory chuckled then faked a cough to try to hide his slip.

  Sekhmet’s head snapped up as she narrowed her eyes. “Dare you laugh?” She hurled the Toy at Jory.

  He ducked. The gadget sailed over his head and smashed against the wall.

  Jory gave the goddess a half bow that Richard knew was more to tweak Sekhmet’s temper rather than cower to her. “I’m sorry, m’lady.”

  Her powers were definitely waning, otherwise she would have sent Jory flying the same way she had the Toy. The cocky grin on his face told Richard that his brother had been testing her and was pleased with the new weakness he’d found.

  Sekhmet fisted her hands at her sides. Rearing her head back, she let loose a rumbling roar as her face began to change into the lioness she held inside. “I want them dead. Dead!”

  Helen stepped into the throne room. “Now what?” She glanced at Sekhmet and frowned. “Oh, bother. Who set her off this time?” A smile formed, one of the smiles Richard had grown to loath because it usually meant Helen was taking delight in another’s misery. “Did she eat another brother? She keeps that up she’ll run out and might have to resort to take-out. Chinese, perhaps.”

  Only someone as cold as Helen would joke at the notion of a Son of Gaia having his throat ripped out.

  Richard shook his head and pointed
at the Toy, which now sat on the floor, a twisted mess of wires, parts and plastic.

  Helen’s eyes widened. “Why would she break it? She needed it to command the weapons.”

  “Not anymore, she doesn’t,” Jory replied. “The guy the Amazons are protecting fried the thing with a virus.”

  Turning her lion face toward Richard, Helen and Jory, Sekhmet roared again. “For that alone, they will die.”

  “I thought we had bigger goals in mind,” Richard said.

  Sekhmet picked up a gold goblet and flung it at him. Jory grabbed Richard’s arm and jerked him out of the line of fire. The goblet hit the wall and landed in a shower of rubies and emeralds that rained over the shattered Toy.

  “I have but one goal for now—one reason to live.” Her eyes glowed red with her anger. “The Amazons must die. The wise man must die. I will kill them all.”

  “But you’re the Destructor,” Helen said. “Have you forgotten your destiny?”

  “Dare you tell me my purpose?” Sekhmet reared her head back and roared again, loud enough the brothers cowering on the floor flinched and several windowpanes rattled. “First, I will kill their children. Then their mates. When they’re writhing in grief and stricken with pain, only then will this world—the world they would protect—perish.” She turned her hard gaze to Helen. “You shall show me how. You shall lead me to their home—to Avalon.”

  “Gladly. I want them gone every bit as badly as you do.”

  Helen’s response chilled Richard to the bone. Gina had been right—Helen was a scorpion.

  “Grab her,” Jory said, nodding at Helen as she strolled out of the room.

  Richard reached out to snake a hand around her upper arm. As he jerked her aside, Jory followed.

  In the quiet hallway, Richard gave her arm a rough squeeze. “You can’t lead that bitch to Avalon.”

  “You’re going to get us all killed,” Jory added.

  A blond eyebrow arched as cool, blue eyes glared at his hand. “Stop being a fool. Of course, I’m going to take her to Avalon.”

  “I won’t let you hurt Gina.”

  “I won’t hurt her. I’m counting on her help.”

  “What?”