Serpent's Kiss

by Deborah Cooke

  Chandra evaded him, but only just. There was no telling what had sparked Snow’s warning or what kind of battle might result. She didn’t need the distraction of the firestorm, or Thorolf’s presence. Her foe could easily use her concern for Thorolf against her.

  She knew how hard the divine could play.

  “You can’t follow me,” she insisted, backing toward the surrounding trees.

  “Watch me.” Thorolf came after her anyway, purpose in his every move.

  “You are infuriating.”

  His sudden grin took her off guard, making her heart skip. “It’s part of my charm.”

  Chandra swore, then struck him between the eyes with the heel of her hand. The blow sent Thorolf stumbling backward and he tripped over a root. He tried to recover his balance, but failed. He fell hard and didn’t get up again.

  Chandra checked on him, although the firestorm’s shimmer told her that he was okay. He was out cold, and there was no telling for how long.

  He’d certainly come after her when he awakened, and the firestorm’s light would help him as much as his keen senses. She eyed him for a moment, debating her choice, then Snow screamed insistently again. Chandra had to take her chances on Thorolf staying safe while she dealt with whatever Snow had discovered.

  * * *

  The lacquer red salamander was the only warning Viv Jason had.

  She was touring a luxurious house with a real estate agent. She had plenty of money now, thanks to Chen’s gratitude, but she’d discovered that she liked the idea of spending it more than actually letting any of it go. While she still had the money, she had freedom and opportunity. Once she bought a house, the capital would be tied up and she’d be bound to one location.

  It was fun to savor material comfort and pleasure. Plus, being an immortal meant she couldn’t be adversely affected by any indulgence. She could drink as much champagne as she wanted and feel fine the next day. She wouldn’t age or sicken—she could only die if someone killed her, and there didn’t seem to be anyone left to do that. She’d done a favor for Chen, which really was had been a fulfillment of her own oath to avenge herself against the Pyr, and now she was rich. The best part was that Chen was doing the dirty work of completing her vengeance and eliminating the Pyr.

  The worst part was that he was using Thorolf to do it. As a defender of justice herself, Viv wasn’t entirely happy to see Thorolf used like that—never mind that she’d been key to getting him into Chen’s clutches. While he was one of the Pyr, and she was sworn to destroy them, he’d never personally done anything to her.

  In fact, he’d been good to her.

  He’d been a passionate lover.

  He’d been game for any pleasure or indulgence and had defended her more than once. He had a loyalty and sense of honor that reminded her of her relationship with her sisters. It hadn’t been all bad having a pet dragon, and she sure hadn’t rushed to keep her bargain with Chen. In the end, though, she hadn’t had a choice. Chen’s spell had to be worked before these four total eclipses, and the old Slayer had insisted it required time to be effective.

  She still felt guilty about that bite.

  Maybe Viv was shopping because she didn’t want to watch the end of the Pyr, or the end of Thorolf.

  She wasn’t quite sure what would happen to her after the Pyr were gone. She had a pervasive sense that there was a change afoot in the world, but without any contact with her own kind, she wasn’t sure what it was. She supposed she could be returned to Hades and her sisters at any time. It hadn’t happened yet, but so maybe it was keyed to the complete elimination of the Pyr. Given Chen’s determination, that had to happen soon. If so, there was all the more reason to enjoy the pleasures of this sphere so long as she had the ability to do so.

  Shopping for the perfect house seemed like the ideal choice to fill her days and nights. As long as Viv had so much money, there were people willing to pay for her to see properties, to fly her to private locations, as well as buy her meals and drinks, to court her business. Viv saw no reason to make a decision quickly. She’d been “indecisive” for nearly two years and was wondering how much longer she could make it last.

  Although she did like this house. A lot. It had everything she needed, which mostly meant complete privacy. Against all expectation, it was also close to the city, offering the best of both worlds on its large, perfectly landscaped lot. There was, after all, a possibility that Chen might fail, and that she might have to re-assume her own quest to destroy the Pyr. She’d need a place to live. To hide. To build her strength and plan her campaigns.

  Why not this place? She could envision herself living in it so easily. She even liked the decor, which was eclectic—she guessed from the real estate agent’s reaction that he expected the bold color scheme in the main rooms to be an issue with finding a buyer.

  Maybe she could even get a deal on it.

  Viv loved the blood red walls in the living room, especially against the gilded gold of the dining room. The furniture was black lacquered wood with upholstery in bright striped silks. It was bold, modern yet traditional. It might not be to everyone’s taste, but it perfectly suited her own.

  The house would look fantastic at night. Viv could see it lit by a thousand burning candles. The living room had one long glass wall that opened to a patio and pool with an infinity edge. Steps led down to the extensive gardens, all of the property surrounded by a high impenetrable hedge. The relaxing sound of falling water carried into the house as the real estate agent opened the glass wall. The glass panels folded back to disappear completely into receptacles in the wall on either side, letting the house and the garden meld into one living space.

  It reminded Viv of someplace she’d been a long time ago, someplace she really didn’t want to think about anymore but that she had admired. She smiled at the realization that there could be a serpent in this garden, too. She stepped out into the sunlight, seeking fault but finding none.

  When she saw the red salamander dart across the garden path, she started. Did it have gold edging on its lacquer red scales?

  But it disappeared into the undergrowth, in exactly the way Chen wouldn’t have done. Viv exhaled with care, telling herself that she was jumping at shadows.

  The agent excused himself when his cell phone rang, but Viv was glad to be alone. She wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d faked the call, because he’d sensed that she needed a few moments to agree that this was the house. Viv strolled the garden, enchanted. It might be worth it to surrender the power of having money in exchange for having this house.

  It might even be worth letting one or two Pyr survive to ensure that her task carried on after Chen. She knew which Pyr she’d choose.

  She’d missed Thorolf.

  Imagine that.

  Viv saw a blue shimmer of light in the periphery of her vision and spun to face it.

  She was too slow. She caught a glimpse of Chen in his female form, then he snatched her up in his fierce grip. “The job’s only half done,” he whispered in her ear, even as a cold wind began to spin around her. She tried to shift shape but couldn’t. His grip on her was like a vise, one she couldn’t escape.

  What was going on?

  “Hey!” Viv shouted and struggled but it made no difference. “I kept our deal!”

  “But I let him go. Collect him again,” Chen insisted.

  “That’s your mistake.”

  “It was part of the plan!”

  Viv smiled, glad that Thorolf had changed the rules of play. She didn’t care how he’d done it, but she liked that Chen wasn’t getting his way easily. “That’s your problem. I did what I promised!”

  “You’ll do more.”

  “You can’t force me. I kept my promise…”

  But Chen only laughed and held her tightly. Sparkling dust, like snowflakes, suddenly appeared on all sides of her. The garden and the house were gone, that snow swirling around her as if she’d been plunged into the middle of a blizzard. Chen’s grip disap
peared but Viv still couldn’t control what was happening. She fell onto a hard stone platform as if it had risen out of the depths to collide with her body.

  The snow cleared.

  A woman with a long blond braid smiled down at her, her confidence a sure sign that she wasn’t human. She was dressed in black, pants and boots and a leather jacket, and she carried a crossbow in one hand. She had tattoos all over her arms, blue Celtic knots that seemed to writhe when she moved. Viv could have admired that, but the woman also had a collection of human skulls hanging from her belt. She could have been vengeance personified. She lifted an arrow from a quiver on her back with casual ease and fitted it into the crossbow.

  Then she lifted the weapon to aim at Viv.

  It was close enough range that Viv could see the scratches on the side of the arrow point. It looked kind of like a lightning bolt cut into the stone.

  “Sowulo,” the woman said, her voice pitched low and filled with a humor Viv didn’t find appropriate. “Another perfect choice.”

  “I don’t understand,” Viv said, stalling for time.

  “The rune on the arrow head. It means the triumph of light over darkness. Exactly right.” The woman’s eyes narrowed as she chose exactly where the blow would strike, and Viv tried again to shift shape.

  This time it worked.

  Viv slithered away in her serpent form, moving rapidly across the stone. She’d take cover, then strike at her assailant by surprise.

  Light over darkness. Who was this warrior and what did she know?

  Viv never reached the undergrowth. She screamed as pain shot through her. The woman had shot the arrow into Viv’s tail, securing it to the ground. Viv spun, coiling upon herself, and saw the head of the arrow wedged into a moss-filled chink between the stones. It was buried deep. She tugged, felt excruciating pain as her tail tore and saw her own blood flow. The arrow didn’t budge.

  The woman smiled. “It wasn’t a lucky shot,” she said calmly, and loaded the crossbow again. “The vengeance of the sun is upon you, Tisiphone.”

  Viv’s eyes widened.

  No one could know that name without having followed her from Hades.

  And no one could have done that who wasn’t immortal.

  Which explained a lot.

  It also meant that all bets were off.

  Viv lunged at her assailant, baring her fangs to bite. The woman kicked her in the face, spinning smartly, then landed a trio of fast kicks that sent Viv reeling backward. Viv had a moment of fear that she might have met her match. She tore her tail free, nearly fainting at the pain, then shifted fast. She was on her feet in the blink of an eye, aiming a kick at the woman’s face.

  The woman ducked, caught Viv’s ankle and twisted it hard. Viv spun down to one knee, unable to help herself. Who was her opponent? If she knew her name, she might know her weakness. The woman jerked Viv’s ankle then sent her sprawling on her stomach. Before Viv could rise, her assailant landed on her back, her weight pinning Viv to the stone and her knees locked around Viv’s waist.

  Viv thrashed and kicked, but couldn’t dislodge her. She couldn’t shift shape. She couldn’t do anything, and the powerlessness terrified her.

  “Who are you? What do you want?” Viv stilled and swallowed when she felt the point of an arrow at the base of her skull. Her heart was galloping in terror. If the woman shot the crossbow from such close range, there was no chance Viv would survive.

  “I’m the huntress,” the woman admitted easily. “I’ve been looking for you, Tisiphone.” She paused and Viv heard that damn smile in her voice. “Or should I call you Viv Jason? Do you still remember your old name or not?”

  “I don’t have to tell you anything.” Viv writhed and struggled, but it made no difference. The woman’s knees were tightly locked around her and that arrow point was drawing a trickle of blood. Viv tried to roll over, but her head was abruptly slammed down into the rock by that loaded crossbow.

  “We can make a deal,” she began, hearing the desperation in her voice.

  The woman scoffed. “Is that what you said to Thorolf?” She leaned down, her voice dropping to a whisper. “How did you overcome him? Where did you take him?”

  “I’ll tell you if you release me.”

  Her captor laughed. “Not a chance. It’s too late for you to negotiate.”

  “But I know what happened to him,” Viv said, using her most enticing tone of voice. “I know how to break the spell that was laid upon him…”

  “Your price is too high if it means you get to live.” The woman dropped her voice to a whisper. “Don’t worry. I’ll find the truth another way.”

  Viv felt a trickle of sweat on her temple as the crossbow clicked. It must have a safety guard, which the woman had removed.

  “Think of it this way: you won’t have to face his anger,” the woman said. “At least not in this life.”

  “I’ll find you,” Viv said with heat. “I’ll find you and I’ll make you pay for this…”

  “If you pray to anything or anyone, say your prayer now,” the woman said coolly, interrupting Viv’s tirade, and the crossbow moved slightly. She had to be depressing the trigger.

  It was over.

  A furious Viv closed her eyes tightly.

  Which was why she didn’t see Thorolf coming.

  * * *

  What the hell was going on?

  Thorolf awakened alone, the light of the firestorm faded to a glimmer. Chandra had left him. Even worse, she’d insisted that he couldn’t follow her. She’d been protecting him, a dragon shape shifter, and had decked him when he’d refused to agree to her crazy plan. He had the lump on the back of his head to prove it.

  He could defend her. Even if they were arguing, he’d protect her with everything he had. That’s what the firestorm was about.

  It occurred to him that his mate wasn’t much used to relying on anyone else.

  But then, she’d admitted early that she always worked alone.

  Was that why she couldn’t trust in the firestorm’s promise? Every possibility just made Thorolf more determined to change her mind.

  What had the falcon been screaming about? Could she understand what the bird said? Either way, something was going down and Thorolf was going to follow his mate. He shifted shape and flew hard, following the silver gleam of the firestorm. When it brightened, he knew he was close to her.

  But the sight before him couldn’t be true.

  It was Chandra, it had to be, even though she’d changed form again. She was blond now, dressed in the same black hunting gear, her hair braided into a thick plait that hung down her back. He thought she looked like a Valkyrie, especially with the skulls hanging from her belt, but the firestorm revealed that it was his mate. But then, Freya was the leader of the Valkyries. A bird was circling around her, silent and watchful, but it was a black raven instead of a silver falcon.

  He rubbed his eyes, looked again, but nothing important changed.

  Chandra was going to shoot Viv in the back of the head.

  Not if he had anything to say about it.

  “What the fuck?” Thorolf roared. He fell on his mate in his dragon form, his claws locking around her shoulders. He groaned as the seductive heat of the firestorm surged through him, reminding him of what they hadn’t finished.

  His weight forced Chandra from Viv’s back, and they tumbled together across the stone. He would have gathered Chandra close, but she elbowed him hard, then kicked him, fighting with amazing strength.

  She’d been strong before, but in this guise, she was nearly as tall as him in his human form, and powerful.

  Maybe more powerful than him.

  It was a bit late to remember that she was, after all, Vanir.

  “Run!” he shouted to Viv and she did.

  “Idiot!” Chandra roared and Thorolf knew he’d invited the wrath of the goddess. She bit him, then rolled to her feet in one fluid movement. She fired the arrow loaded into the crossbow after Viv before he could stop her.
Thorolf did manage to smack the weapon with his tail as she fired, disrupting her aim.

  She swore thoroughly, turning on him with blazing eyes. She cracked the crossbow across his snout in retaliation, making him blink at the pain, then jabbed one fist into his gut. No normal person could have driven the wind from him with that punch, but Chandra did. At least, Viv was running into the jungle, the sound of her passage loud to Thorolf.

  “She’ll get away!” Chandra fumed.

  “Exactly!” Thorolf had to give Viv time to escape. He owed her that much.

  Meanwhile, the firestorm burned with distracting power. Thorolf found its heat more compelling in his dragon form. He wanted Chandra, this goddess who might just be able to kick his butt, more than he’d ever wanted a woman before. He wanted to defend her and gather her close, maybe take flight and find some place they could be alone to consummate the firestorm. He wanted to wrestle, winner take all, and he’d be glad to lose so she could take advantage of him.

  He could install her as the prize gem in his hoard, secure her in his well-defended lair. It could take the rest of his life to understand her, to figure out all of her powers and to convince her to confide in him fully. The firestorm urged him to go for it. That she’d changed form again only increased his interest. He could discover her all over again, which was a tantalizing possibility.

  The problem was that Chandra was furious with him. He didn’t want to hurt her, but she didn’t seem to be worried about injuring him. She fought him with remarkable strength, biting and striking so ferociously that Thorolf knew he’d be bruised. He roared and seized her, holding her in a tight grip. He even wrapped his tail around her, although her struggles turned his thoughts in a predictable direction.

  “Let me go,” she demanded. “There’s no telling what trouble she’ll make in this place.”

  “I can’t let you hunt her,” Thorolf insisted.

  “I’ll explain later!”

  “I’m not letting you go.”

  Chandra swore, muttered an apology that made no sense, then drove her boot heel into the place where it hurt the most. Thorolf fell back, stunned by the pain, and shifted involuntarily back to human form. He cupped his hands over his groin and moaned a little. Chandra stood over him, looking like a warrior queen.