by Brux, Boone
“Nobody else is qualified.” Tabris’s amber gaze held mine. “Not yet, anyway. The easiest solution is to convince Charon to return to work.”
“How are we supposed to do that?” Nate asked.
“Carefully.” Tabris shook his head “There are a lot of obstacles to overcome.” His gaze settled on me again, making me flinch. “The first one involves you.”
I tried to look away but couldn’t. I was able to work up a solid glower, though. “Me? What have I got to do with this?”
“Nothing directly,” Tabris said. “Indirectly, everything.”
Some of my defensiveness melted. “Meaning?”
“Your porter is Hal Lee Lewya, correct?”
“Yes.” My porter may have looked like a drag queen circus master with his shiny pantsuits and array of hats, but he was dangerous and unpredictable. We had an understanding—I’d bring him souls, and he’d transport them to where they needed to go. If something went wrong with the reap, we’d handle it. I didn’t tell on him when he broke the rules, and he didn’t drag me to the ninth circle of Hell. It worked for us. “Why?”
“Because…” Tabris stood and paced again. “As of yesterday, Charon’s ability to move freely between the physical plane and Styx expired. If we’re able to convince him to go back to work, Hal is the only one who can transport him.”
Cam groaned and rubbed his face with his hand.
Mara gave a humorless laugh. “Good luck with that.”
My gaze darted between Cam and Mara. “Pretend I have no idea what’s going on,” I said. “First off, why is Hal the only one who can transport Charon?”
“Because Charon is a mystical being and it takes an equally powerful being to transport him back.” she said, drumming her fingers on the arm of the chair. “Hal is the only porter who is his match.”
“I know Hal is stubborn.” Boy did I. The guy rarely made my reaps easy. The better I got, the craftier he became about transporting my souls. “But, if you tell him he has to do it then he will—right?”
A heavy sigh heaved from Tabris. “Again, no.”
“Hal and Charon hate each other.” Nate shook his head. “Big time.”
“That’s why we need you, Lisa.” Tabris edge toward me, stopping a foot away. He towered above, his copper gaze swirling like a tiny galaxy of stars, compelling me to do as he asked. “Convince Hal to transport Charon.”
Compulsions were a sensation I was very accustomed to and I immediately recognized Tabris’s attempt. Every time I turned around Hal was trying to make me do his bidding. Out of instinct, I clutched the raven pendant hanging around my neck. It was my connection to Fletcher, my raven familiar, and my shield against Hal’s compulsions. Though Tabris’s pull lessoned slightly, it didn’t vanish completely. In Alaska, Fletcher usually found a way to be around when I needed him. Now he was thousands of miles away. That’s probably why the power of my pendant was weak. Good information if I’d end up dealing with Hal.
“Slow your roll.” I stood and walked a few yards away, trying to break his influence. “What makes you think Hal will do what I ask?”
“He seems to genuinely like you.” Tabris paused and nodded. “That is no small accomplishment, Lisa.”
“Really?” My gaze narrowed on our fearless leader. I didn’t care if he was the big GRS boss, my gut told me he was keeping something from me and I wanted to know what. “Why is Hal liking me something special?”
“You know how he is.” He attempted one of his dazzling smiles, but the effect fell short. “In general Hal hates everybody. Even my bosses were surprised with how easily you two took to each other.”
“Obviously our definitions of ‘easily’ are very different. I’ve got the bruises and nightmares to prove it.” Again, I folded my arms over my chest. “If your superiors are so surprised with Hal and me, why did they pair us up in the first place?”
“As reapers go, you were the best option.” His smile widened. “Your partnership could have gone either way and we credit you for its success.”
My mouth sagged open and I turned to glare at Nate. “Did you and Constantine know about this?” I held up my hand, stopping him from answering. “Of course you did. That’s why you freaked out when you learned he was my porter.”
“Partly,” Nate said, “but mostly because I knew Hal got assigned very specific reapers—ones who were skilled.” He grimaced. “I didn’t even think you’d make it through the physical testing.”
“Thanks, partner.” Nate’s skepticism about my reaper skills had never been a secret, but hearing him admit it still sucked. “I feel like one of those piglets at the zoo they wrapped in tiger skin and set in the mother tiger’s cage. Will she adopt them or will she eat them?” I raised my fist to the ceiling. “Hooray, she adopted them.” I refocused on Tabris. “If I get Hal to agree—and that is a gigantic flippin’ if, which will probably require a lot of promises I don’t want to make—” I inhaled. “Who’s going to convince Charon?”
“You four will work as a team to locate and persuade him he’s needed back at work.” The way Tabris stated this brooked no argument. “None of us have a choice in the matter. If we don’t get the ferry moving again, the ethereal shit is going to hit the fan.”
“Is that why the GRS Convention was pushed up a week?” Nate asked.
Nodding, Tabris said, “Yes, we’re almost certain he’s here. Personally, I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
“Meaning?” Cam sat forward, his gaze riveted on Tabris.
“Meaning, I think Charon purposely chose Vegas because the convention would be here.” A sigh huffed from him and his shoulders sagged a fraction. “But I have no idea why. Maybe after you talk to him we’ll have a better idea about his true motives.
The group fell silent for a minute, the tension humming between us.
“What’s he living on?” When they all stared at me with the same confused expression, I clarified. “For money?”
“Ah.” Tabris nodded. “The gold he’s collected for millennia from his tolls.”
“So, basically a bottomless supply.” I rubbed my hands up and down my thighs, trying to cull my nerves. “I was hoping he might run out of money, but that didn’t seem likely—at least no time soon.”
“No chance of that,” Cam said, standing. “The gold is bottomless. Before the dead can pass through the arch to Styx, they pay the toll.”
“Exactly. Until he officially retires, he’ll continue collecting,” Tabris added.
“Just like Disney World,” Mara said. “So even if Charon isn’t ferrying, he’s still getting paid.”
“Gee, how do I get that job?” I laughed.
Mara cocked her head. “You said Charon was the only one qualified, but I know the river. Why not let me ferry souls until we get Charon back on board?”
“That’s generous, Mara, but you can’t.” Tabris’s gaze darted to me, held a few seconds, and then cut back to the demon. “Only a handful of people are capable of commanding the ferry, but none of them are available right now.”
“Then time is of the essence,” Nate stood and pointed to the group. “Our first challenge will be finding Charon. Do you have any idea where he is?”
“He’s been moving around, so locating him won’t be easy.” Tabris strode to the gold desk and plucked a slip of paper off the top. “Here is a list of places we know he’s already been.” He handed it to Mara. “Maybe take a quick look at those hotels, but my gut tells me he’s moved on.”
Cam leaned in and scanned the paper. “The Venetian isn’t listed.” He straightened. “Let’s scope out the casino here tonight and if we don’t find him, we can regroup tomorrow, come up with a plan, maybe divide and conquer.”
“I’m a hundred percent in.” At that second my stomach released a loud, protesting growl. “But I need to eat first. The only thing I’ve had since yesterday were two tiny pretzel packs and diet soda.”
“Eating. Great idea.” Mara clapped her hands together
and rubbed. “I’m starving too.”
“You’re always starving,” Cam said.
She shrugged. “It’s the secret to keeping my curves.”
“Me, too,” I said. “Except my curves look nothing like yours.”
“Your curves are perfect, Lisa.” She locked her arm through mine and looked over her shoulder. “Coming, boys?”
I liked her. A lot. Anyone whose appreciation for food matched mine was okay in my book—even if she could probably burn my soul to cinders with just a touch. Yeah, Mara was definitely friend material.
Chapter Three
The list of Italian options stretched along the giant menu, but my eyes zeroed in on my favorite dish. “I’ll have the four-cheese fettuccini with chicken and a side salad with ranch.” I handed the waiter my menu. “Plus a big glass of the house merlot.”
Nate’s brows lifted. “Is that all?”
“Oh, and garlic bread,” I added.
“Sounds good.” Mara held out her menu. “I’ll have the same.”
I nodded my approval. “I’m sensing a real connection here, Mara.”
“Scarier words were never spoken.” Nate turned to the waiter. “I’ll have the halibut and rice pilaf.”
“I’ll have the halibut, too.” Cam handed off his menu. “Thank you.” After the waiter left, he eased back against the chair. “So, is it just me or does this whole Charon-Hal situation seem like a disaster waiting to happen?”
“Definitely,” Mara agreed. “It will be a miracle if we can even locate Charon, and if we do, there’s no way he’ll agree to let Hal transport him. Or vice versa.”
“What’s up with Hal and Charon?” I leaned forward and laid my arms on the table. “Why do those two hate each other so much?”
“That’s a long story, Lisa.” Cam peered at me over his water glass and sipped. I waited, enjoying the way he said my name and the few seconds I got to stare into his mesmerizing eyes under the guise of listening. He swallowed. “They didn’t always hate each other.”
“Were they friends?” Even though I asked, I couldn’t imagine Hal being friends with anybody.
“More than that,” Mara interjected. “Brothers.”
My mouth dropped open and then snapped shut as I wrestled with the information. “Brothers? As in the same parents?”
“Yes, they’re the offspring of Nyx and Erebus,” Nate said. “Nyx is the primordial deity of night and shadows. She’s beautiful, but extremely powerful and ruthless.”
“Erebus,” Cam continued, “is also one of the first primordial deities of darkness—and Nyx’s brother.”
I scrunched up my face. “That’s disgusting.”
“I know, right?” Mara said. “A whole lot of weird stuff went on back then. Anyway, that’s how Charon and Hal came to be.”
“Hal’s real name is Thanatos,” Nate said.
“Wait.” After becoming a reaper I’d researched all I could about superstitions of death and remembered seeing that name. “Wasn’t Thanatos the original Death?” All three of them nodded. “Then I’m confused. Why is Charon the ferryman?” I asked.
“In the beginning Thanatos ran the ferry and was the only grim reaper.” Shifting, Mara crossed her legs and folded her hands in her lap. “That was thousands of years ago. Times were simpler, fewer people. Being a reaper was less corporate and more…hands-on. In those days Thanatos personally retrieved and transported the souls.”
The waiter arrived with our drinks, stopping Mara’s explanation. Under the table, I tapped my foot, mentally hurrying the waiter along.
“Your salads will be out in a few minutes,” he said.
“Great.” My mouth stretched into a smile I didn’t feel. Once he was gone, I swung back to Mara. “And?”
“One day the soul of an old man came due, but when Thanatos arrived to take him, his daughter, Katrina, didn’t have any gold to ensure safe passage across the river Styx. Instead, she offered herself as payment to Death.” Mara paused and took a deep sip of wine. “Mmmm, that’s good.” She set her glass down. “Where was I?”
“She offered herself,” I said, glancing at Cam and Nate, who appeared equally enthralled by her story even though they probably knew it.
“Right.” Mara leaned back again, settling into her tale. “So Thanatos accepted, because even though he encountered hundreds of people every day, they were dead. He was lonely and Katrina was filled with life.”
An ache pushed against my chest. This wasn’t some ancient fable Mara was retelling. This was Hal, my porter, the crazy transvestite-looking guy who scared the hell out of me. Though I didn’t know how the story ended, I knew it wasn’t good. Hal and his brother hated each other and he no longer ferried the dead. Nor did I believe Katrina was part of his life. Though Hal and I had never braided each other’s hair and gossiped about the people we once loved, I got the distinct impression he was a loner.
“Did he take her to Styx?” I asked.
“Oh, yes.” Mara nodded but didn’t smile. “And they fell in love.” She inhaled, then slowly let out the breath. “But the thing about the Underworld and the banks of the River Styx is that they’re for the dead. The living can’t survive there.”
A sinking feeling pushed down on me. “What happened? Did she die?”
“That would have been a blessing,” Cam said, frowning. His eyes were so full of sorrow it made my entire being ache. “She wasted away, her soul fading until there was nothing left but an empty shell—neither dead nor alive.”
“But still Thanatos couldn’t let her go.” Despite her steady voice, Mara’s eyes softened. “He loved her too much.”
“That is so sad.” My words came out as a whisper. “Poor Hal.”
“Katrina being in the Underworld offset the natural balance of things,” Cam said. “And finally, Nyx had to step in and handle the situation.”
“What did she do?” I absently sipped the merlot, my attention riveted on the angel.
“At that point Katrina was more dead than alive, so Nyx did what Thanatos couldn’t and reaped her, sending her on to Hades,” Cam said. “In his mother’s eyes, Thanatos had done the unthinkable. Because she couldn’t trust him to do his job, Nyx replaced him as the ferryman with his brother, Charon.”
“I don’t know what other punishments she inflicted on Thanatos, but I heard they were brutal.” Mara sighed. “Charon had always been in competition with his brothers and took every opportunity to rub Thanatos’s nose in his failure.”
“Sounds like a real jerk.” An uncharacteristic wave of protectiveness toward Hal surged through me. My mission was to get Charon back to Styx. I just hoped I didn’t throat-punch him first. “No wonder Hal wouldn’t want to transport him.”
“That is some seriously messed up family dynamics,” Cam said.
“Yeah, and we have the pleasure of tip-toeing around it.” I drained my glass and held it up. “I’ll be needing another one of these.”
Our meals arrived and even after listening to Hal’s tragic history, I managed to enjoy my delicious fettuccini. Not only did I savor every bite, I cleaned my plate and still had room for chocolate mousse.
After dinner, the four of us strolled out of the restaurant and rode the escalator down to the casino level. Bells from the slot machines increased in volume the closer we got to the lower level, sparking the dull ache in my head again. What I really wanted was to go to bed, but knew Nate wasn’t going to let me off so easily. “Where to now?”
“Let’s split up.” Mara stepped off the rolling steps. “Lisa and I will go this way.” She pointed to the left. “Cam and Nate circle around to the right. Be sure the check the high stakes rooms.”
Nate looked as if he wanted to argue but said nothing. I appreciated his protective nature—or maybe he wasn’t convinced we’d stay on task.
I smiled, enjoying his struggle over not being lead dog. “Great. Let’s meet back here once we’ve made the rounds.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Cam said.
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Not waiting for my partner’s approval, I turned and strolled with Mara along the gleaming inlaid walkway. Ornately patterned carpet stretched throughout the casino and massive crystal chandeliers, taller than the walls in my house, hung over the gaming table area. Nearly everything was gold and reflected off the chandeliers’ prisms. I scanned the area, my gaze sweeping over the people. Suddenly, I realized I wouldn’t know Charon if I saw him. “What does Charon look like?”
“Dark hair, dark eyes, but he can take on any form he wants.” She lifted onto her tiptoes, straining to see into the center tables. “It’s better to look for a man surrounded by a group of women or a fawning entourage. Charon is very vain and loves his admirers.”
“I keep imagining him decked out with thick gold chains and a lot of chest hair.”
An exaggerated shudder rippled through Mara. “Don’t say that too loudly. It might give him ideas.”
We wandered in and out of the gaming areas but saw no sign of the ferryman. By Las Vegas standards it was still fairly early, but the people were starting to filter into the casino. One thing I did notice was and inordinate amount of men ogling Mara, but either she didn’t notice or didn’t care.
“So,” I said, attempting casual conversation, “again, I want to apologize for that succubus comment.”
She gave an absent wave. “Really, don’t worry about it. I get that all the time.”
“Is that because people don’t understand demons?” I was dying to know more about Mara and her world, but at this point I wasn’t sure which questions were politically correct and which were taboo. “I mean…you’re the first one I’ve ever met.”
“Are you asking if demons are misunderstood?” She gave a noncommittal shrug. “Sort of, but in a lot of ways people are wise to be afraid of us.”
Goosebumps skittered across my skin. “I’ll be honest, when someone says demons, I think of the Exorcist.”
“Oh, my God!” Mara halted, her cool demeanor tightening into a full-on grimace and cringy spasm. “Scariest movie ever!” She held up her hands as if warding off evil and shuddered. “Scared the hell out of me, and that is saying something.”
