by Leia Shaw
But she’d stood her ground, though her knees shook. The dragon had laughed then told her he’d let her through for a price.
“That had to cost you.” Geo’s voice pulled her from the unsettling memory.
“An unnamed favor of his choosing,” she mumbled.
“Fuck, woman!”
She startled and looked up into his seething eyes.
“You might as well have given your soul!”
She yelled back, “I had no choice!”
He scowled as they curved around a rocky bend. She stared at her shoes, caked in dirt and blood and worm guts and other…things she didn’t care to think about.
Geo’s arm came across her chest, grinding her to a halt. She looked up. A gate with two arched doors the color of the dusty ground blocked their path. Beyond the gates a small mountain with jagged edges took up the rest of their view.
“This is it,” he whispered.
She inhaled a deep breath then slowly released it. Come on, Gaia. Now’s the time to come through for your loyal and worshipful daughter.
Silence.
She pursed her lips. Well fuck you too.
With a determined stride, she headed for the doors. Two sandy stone statues on either side of the door came to life, placing their spears in her path.
“Halt,” they said in unison. They wore Romanesque military uniforms and they each held a long spear in their hands. Their eyes were stone and unfocused, but they still blinked every few seconds. They looked less like statues and more like dead soldiers mummified. “Password is required.”
Password? “Um…one, two, three, four, five?”
As one they turned their spears on her. She let out a frightened yelp then Geo pulled her back before the stone guard shish kabobed her. He pushed her behind him and addressed the guards.
“We’ve come to watch the Games.”
“Spectators are by invitation only. Gamblers may enter with a three thousand arian minimum.”
Arian must be the Underworld currency and by the look on Geo’s face she guessed they didn’t have it. Her heart began to sink. What now? She felt the warm brand of the feather on her chest and her heart kicked back to life. Her sister was here. And they didn’t have much time.
“Geo –” She peered out from behind him but he held up a hand to stop her.
“Wait. These aren’t sentient beings but there’s somebody controlling them. If I focus, I can force them to let us in.”
He closed his eyes and she waited behind him, digging her toe in the dirt. Nothing happened.
“Shit,” he whispered after a few moments. “They’ve cloaked the whole place. Probably to keep demons from winning too easily.” He looked left then right, then gestured to the gate around the mountain. “Maybe we can climb it.”
“Yeah, right. Like it’s that easy.” They didn’t have time for this. She stepped in front and announced, with false bravado, “I’m here as a contestant.”
The guards moved their spears to clear the path. “Blood oath is required.”
She reached back to unsheathe her sword when Geo grabbed her upper arm and began pulling her away.
“What are you doing? Let me go!”
Ignoring her, he dragged her around the corner then spun to face her.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded.
“Getting my sister.” She rubbed her arm where his fingers had dug into her flesh.
His nostrils flared. “You’re going to get yourself killed!”
She watched him pace in front of her, alternating between rubbing his face and his horns. He mumbled about keeping her safe and something else about instinct. She’d never seen him so agitated.
“What do you care what I do?” she asked, crossing her arms. “I said I’d pray to Gaia and I will but –”
He cut her off with a sharp glare. “I’m not letting you do this.”
The hell he’s not. “I don’t see how you can stop me. Your powers don’t work here.”
He took several steps toward her, looking, for all the world, like he was going to throw her over his shoulder.
She took two steps back. “Now, Geo…” She put her hands out in front, warding him off. “Just wait…my sister…”
He stopped and sighed in resignation. “Sign up for doubles.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “What?”
“I’ll fight with you.”
“But…I thought…” She opened her mouth then closed it, unsure of what to say. “Going home…don’t you want –”
He stabbed his finger toward her. “You’re still going to contact Gaia when we’re done so you better stay alive to do it!”
She nodded. “Okay. Okay.”
He was really going to do this. He was going to fight with her. Beside her. For her.
Their gazes locked. A flood of emotion rocked her. Tears sprang in her eyes.
He shifted awkwardly, gazing at her from under thick brows. So strong and earnest. No one had ever fought for her.
Before she knew what she was doing, her feet were carrying her to him and she flung her arms around his neck. He caught her and pressed his face into her hair.
“Thank you,” she whispered and the tears spilled over.
After a moment, he set her away. “You’re going to do everything I tell you,” he said with a stern look.
She nodded and wiped her eyes.
“You’re not going to take any stupid risks. And you are going to think with your head, not your heart or by the gods, Samantha, I will toss you over my shoulder and walk you straight back to the door you came through.”
“Yes. Okay.” Anything, so long as he helped her get to Nikki.
His eyes softened and he wiped a lingering tear from her cheek. “Ah, matia mou, what have you done to me?”
Chapter 11
Geo had a bad feeling about this. The blood oath meant they promised to fight at least three rounds before they could leave the premises. After they spilled their blood outside the gate, it opened and they walked through.
The Underworld Games arena had been built inside the desert mountain. Walking through the wide opening and into the long corridor reminded him of the death worm’s tunnel – something he wished never to experience again. The lit torches on the walls helped less than he expected.
Samantha looked uncertain but didn’t break stride as they followed the roars of a crowd deeper and deeper into the mountain. A short time later the corridor opened to a large arena. Big fiery lanterns hung on the ceiling, keeping the area dimly lit. They couldn’t see much as spectators stood in the way. Some were walking by, some standing and all were cheering. It was a tight, crowded space that reeked of sweat and blood. Smoke lingered from someone’s pipe. Accents and languages of all kinds drifted among the clanging of swords and growls of the fight.
A heart-wrenching scream of pain rose up over the crowd.
“Die fucker!” someone yelled.
The crowd roared with delight.
Sam gasped then rushed ahead, trying to push through the creatures – most much larger than her.
“Hey!” a man at a desk to the side yelled at her. “You have to sign in!”
Geo grabbed her wrist. She tried to pull away, even scratched his fingers to get him to let go. With a growl, he tightened his grip and dragged her back the way they came.
“We’ll be right back,” he told the man scowling at them.
Geo stopped when the fight was out of sight and turned on Sam.
Her breath quickened and tears formed in her eyes. She looked back in a panic. “It’s so violent. My sister…oh God!”
He held her shoulders and gave her a shake. “Get control of yourself.”
She started to tremble and her eyes darted around, unfocused.
He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. “Stop this. You need to keep your head on straight if you want to save her.”
She stilled.
“You said your sister has no magic yet. The
y won’t put her in the fights. It’d be a slaughter and that doesn’t make for good betting. Most likely they’ve got her locked in a room somewhere waiting for your father to come for her.”
He paused and she nodded her understanding.
“Now, you won’t be helping her if you lose your head. We have to play the game until we find her. That means you have to take this competition seriously. They may make us fight this very night. People die here, Samantha.”
She blanched but he didn’t reassure her. She needed a little fear.
“I need you focused and at your best. Can you do that? Because if not, we’re turning right back around and going to the portal.” Fuck the blood oath. He’d find a way out of it.
“I can do that.”
He studied her for a moment. Her breathing slowed and she appeared to have gained some control.
“I can do it.” With her eyes, she pleaded. “Please.”
He released her shoulders and stepped back. “Alright. But I better not see you panic like that again. You’ll get us both killed.”
She nodded. “I won’t. I promise. I just…freaked out a little. It won’t happen again.”
Gods he wanted to clutch her to him. Every instinct he had screamed to get her out of there. He sighed deeply. “Good.”
They walked back to the arena.
“Registration,” the pale man at the desk said with a glare.
Geo stood at the desk, Samantha behind him. “Um. Doubles.”
“Names.”
“Geo and –”
Sam tugged on his arm. He turned. “I’m thinking I need a fighting name. Something intimidating. Samantha sounds kinda wimpy and I’m not much to look at.”
He rolled his eyes.
She pursed her lips. “You want me to take this seriously, don’t you? How about…Samantha the Wicked Witch of the – no, that’s been done.” Her eyes brightened. “The Witchinator.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off.
“No, you’re right. That’s lame. Um.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Big Red!”
Damn, she was cute. He bit back a smile.
She patted his arm excitedly. “Oh! Oh! Sam the Savage. That’ll scare the competition.”
“Ridiculous,” he muttered. Ignoring her little pout, he turned back to the registration desk and gave their names.
The slender man rose and wrote their names at the bottom of a long list on the chalkboard behind him.
“Just Sam?” she said disappointedly.
His heart clenched. Never make her sad.
He whispered to the man at the desk who was getting ready to stamp their names into leather bracelets.
The man arched a brow then shrugged. “You fight tomorrow evening,” he said, pressing the letters on the leather with metal stamps. “Come back an hour before to see who you’ll be competing against. The rules are written here. Your room number is forty two, on the second floor.” He handed Geo a piece of paper with the rules and the two bracelets. With a small grin that flashed his fangs, his gaze swept over Sam. “Good luck.”
Geo grabbed the paper and the bracelets roughly from the vampire’s hands. “Thanks,” he grated, eager to get Samantha away from his heated gaze.
He corralled her to the other side of the entrance and lifted her wrist. With a smirk, he snapped the bracelet into place. She read the inscription while he fastened his own.
“Red Phoenix?” She looked up at him and grinned.
***
Geo’s hand felt warm and a bit sweaty around hers as they walked the corridor that circled the ring. The hall was crowded with all kinds of…creatures. Most of them appeared human – aside from the occasional fang and pointed ears – but she knew better than to judge a person by their looks. Other than being bumped here and there, they mostly ignored her. And she wasn’t the only female, which made her feel a little better for some reason.
Noxious odors filled her nostrils and she started breathing through her mouth. But the air tasted like death. She coughed a few times until she got used to it. Angry shouting came from her left. On her right, two tall fae-like creatures spoke in Irish accents. Every once in a while the crowd erupted in cheers. She tried to tune out the fight.
Geo’s hand tightened around hers to the point of pain.
She tossed him an irritated look. “I’m not a toddler. I’m not going to wander off.”
Hesitantly, he let her go.
The corridor opened up a bit and all along the side opposite the ring, peddlers sold goods. A man yelling gibberish held up meat on a stick. A woman dressed like an old-fashioned gypsy sold cheap costume jewelry. Others had weapons and gadgets and clothing.
Clothing!
She moved slightly to see the mostly leather collection. Damn, she wished she had some arians. Maybe they took Visa card.
Someone grabbed her upper arm roughly and she yelped. She spun around and bumped into Geo’s hard chest.
Whoops.
She must’ve wandered off. His withering glare made her shrink back. He growled once then took her hand, pulling her along again. This time he wasn’t letting go.
A stairwell broke off to the side about halfway around the ring. They climbed it and came out at another corridor. It also circled the ring but the other side was lined with doors, each with a number etched into the wood.
The Underworld version of Motel 6.
They walked the nearly empty hallway until he stopped them at number forty two. He looked back at her. “This should be interesting.” He opened the door.
Motel Underworld wasn’t too much worse than her trailer growing up. There was a real bed, though the mattress was bare. Guess it was a bring-your-own-sheets establishment.
A lantern, already lit, sat on a small table with a kerosene refill. The floor was clay bricks, like the rest of the place. The walls were made of what looked like clay bricks. In the back corner, a pile of junk waited to be pilfered. Ah, just like home.
Geo looked around then said, “Not so bad, right?”
“Mm. Cozy. Wonder if they have room service.”
He gave her a puzzled look then shut the door behind them. After taking the blanket out of his pack, he laid it on the mattress. The rest of his belongings, he placed on the table. Samantha stood frozen in the middle of the room, feeling lost. This was so surreal.
Geo looked at her. “What’s the matter, dove?”
She shook her head. “Nothing.” She placed her bag on the bed and rolled her head to loosen her stiff neck.
A pair of hands landed on her shoulders and began kneading them gently. She started to protest – it felt entirely too intimate – but Geo cut her off with a firm shush. Then his fingers worked magic on her aching body. She leaned back with a groan. Her muscles melted under his touch.
Her eyes drifted shut. “That feels so good.”
“Later I’ll do your whole body.”
Her eyes snapped open. “Um…”
He chuckled and it vibrated her body. “Don’t worry, matia mou, you have plenty of time to make up a reason to get out of it.”
She peered at him over her shoulder. Was he joking?
His lips lifted in a smirk. “A reason I’ll completely ignore.”
Her cheeks heated and she turned back to stare at the blank wall, ignoring the tingling sensation his hands awakened in her body.
“What does matia mou mean?” she asked to change the mood.
“My eyes.”
“Eyes?” How strange.
“A term of endearment.” He moved his hands to the back of her neck and kneaded the muscles there. “Like my sweet or my dear.”
Goose bumps rose on her arms. The only person who’d ever called her something like that was her grandmother. “My sweetling,” she’d say, bending down to look her in the eye. “You are so very strong for such a little girl. Never forget there’s more to you than being a Blackthorn. We Chapmans are made of hardy stuff too, you know.”
Tears prick
ed her eyes. Her grandma had passed on before she’d been able to say goodbye.
Geo stopped his massage and patted her upper arm. “I’m going to see if I can’t trade something to get you some new clothes.”
She swiped her eyes then spun around. “Really?”
He grabbed his hunting knife and slipped it into a sheath on his belt. Then he filled his pockets with small odds and ends she couldn’t identify from the table. “Yes, but I want you to stay here.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want them to get the idea that you might be up for trade.”
“Me? What would –” Her face paled. “Oh.”
He looked her over with a stony expression. “I mean it, Samantha. Do not leave the room.”
“I won’t. The idea of being considered a piece of meat doesn’t appeal to me.” She crossed her arms over her chest and shuddered.
Geo nodded then took something out of the front pocket of his pack. A bone? He placed it in the corner of the room and whistled.
In seconds, Erebus flew from a shadow. She was glad to see he wasn’t carrying lifeless body parts of any kind. Taking the bone from their meal last night in his mouth, he plopped his big body down on the floor.
Geo stooped and scratched behind his ears. “Stay here for me, boy. I’ll be back shortly.”
Sam rolled her eyes. “Is he here to protect me from what’s out there or make sure I don’t leave?”
Geo’s eyes twinkled with humor. “Both.”
She grunted irritably and sat down on the bed. Geo left and she eyed the junk pile in the corner, wondering what treasures she could find. Well, she was no stranger to dumpster diving.
Erebus watched her as she walked to the corner. He gave a little growl when she went by the door.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she told him. “Don’t want to anger the big, bad demon – er – demigod.” In over my head. “Why are you on his side anyway? After all the dead treasures you brought me, I thought we’d bonded.”
