Amelia Elias - [Guardian's League 02] - Outcast

by Outcast (lit)

  Only when she was safe would he make her attackers beg for death.

  He saw her at once, her slender form surrounded by six Outcasts, her back to a half-crumbled concrete wall. He smelled blood on the air, hers and a human’s, as the Outcasts stood together and taunted her. A man’s body lay drained of blood at her feet. She stood there with her head down and her dark hair spilling limply down her body, the clothing he had chosen for her an eternal time ago ripped and stained crimson. She wasn’t even trying to escape despite the steadily lightening skies. It was only as Eli charged toward her that he saw the fine chains binding her to the wall.

  The Outcasts turned at the sound of his enraged shout, their weapons already drawn. “So he did decide to come for you,” one said tauntingly to Renee, baring his fangs. “We were worried he’d miss the fireworks come sunrise.”

  Renee raised her head at last and met Eli’s gaze. Her dismayed cry tore through him. “No! It’s a trap. Go, Eli, get out of here!”

  His blood boiled. Of course it is, little one, he murmured in her mind, careful to keep from sharing his rage with her, sending her only confidence and reassurance. They wish to test their strength against me. I wouldn’t dream of denying them the battle they desire.

  Even though his tone in her mind was soothing, the need for vengeance burned him. He’d never known anyone braver or more selfless. Even knowing the Outcasts planned to kill her, she thought of his safety instead of her own.

  It enraged him. How could she think, even for the smallest instant, that he would leave her here to burn?

  Eli whipped his swords out and plunged into the midst of the group of Outcasts, his only thought to kill, to punish these beasts who had tortured and bled his woman.

  They fought with more skill than any adversaries he’d battled in centuries, but it wasn’t enough to save them. Nothing on Earth could save them now. Eli cut them down ruthlessly, the first one falling almost before he knew what had hit him, and with each plunge of his swords into flesh, the wild wrath in his heart grew and snarled for more.

  But the sun was coming. He felt it nearing the horizon, closer with each passing second. His skin tingled with its approach and the new nightmare it promised.

  The Outcasts had recognized Eli’s mark on her. Apollo, so much more powerful than they, would surely do the same, and her death at his hands would be horrendous. The sun god would delight in making Eli’s Chosen suffer the torments of hell.

  Eli attacked faster, a whirlwind of blades. Desperation threatened to choke him. There was no way even he could defeat the rest of the Outcast band in time to get her to shelter before the dawn came and brought Apollo’s wrath down on them all.

  One of the Outcasts spat at him. “I’m going to love watching you burn, Slayer,” he growled, his tone poisonous. “By the gods, we’re all going to cheer when you catch fire. How many of our brothers and sisters have you left for the day?”

  Eli turned murderous black eyes on him. “Clearly one too few.”

  He whirled, simultaneously plunging one of his swords through another man’s chest and hurling the other, javelin-like, at the one who had spoken. It speared him cleanly through the heart and quivered there for a moment before the Outcast fell dead to the ground. The rich reek of his blood filled the air and Eli felt a savage triumph. This was the one whose blood had mingled with Renee’s in the alley.

  This must be the bastard who had presumed to claim her.

  He grabbed the largest Outcast by the throat and lifted him with one-armed ease from his feet, crushing his windpipe. Still a shadow in Renee’s mind, he knew this must be Niko, the one who had filled her head with the foolish tale of the Outcasts’ superiority. “You presume to know much about the god who created you,” he snarled, his voice low so only Niko heard him.

  “He would—despise you,” Niko managed to gasp despite the terrible grip on his throat.

  Eli’s smile was deadly. He summoned powers he had not used in a millennium, letting them surround him and making sure Niko felt the truth of what he was.

  “You know nothing of Me,” Eli whispered deliberately, every word sending a shaft of pain through the Outcast’s head. Niko’s eyes widened in realization and terror in the instant before Eli’s sword pierced his heart.

  But as he turned to the two females, he knew his time was up. Eli felt a burst of searing pain at the same moment as he heard Renee’s scream of agony. He dropped his sword and sprinted to her, ignoring the torment screaming from his own skin, his only thought to reach her before it was too late. He focused his powers and tried to dissolve them into mist, but something stopped the transformation from changing Renee, some power holding her in human form. He tried again and again but it was impossible. He could save himself, but she was bound here by more than chains.

  Frantic to do something, anything to help her, he whipped off his duster and threw it over her, thankful she was small enough for it to cover her from head to toe. Still curls of smoke rose from beneath the leather.

  The coat wasn’t enough. Eli shielded her from the sunlight with his own body, bending his head over hers, closing his arms around her, enveloping her completely between himself and the wall. Her screams stopped as the burning finally ceased, but he didn’t dare relax yet.

  Only a miracle would get her out of this alive, and he no longer believed in them.

  Myra and Lisette laughed at his predicament. They’d obviously killed last night and stood unfazed by the morning light, relishing the trap they’d set. Eli wished them dead a thousand times as Renee pressed her head against his chest, shuddering with terror. “Easy, baby. You’ll be all right,” he murmured, hoping he wasn’t lying to her.

  The reek of his charring skin filled the air. “Oh, God, you’re burning,” Renee gasped, horrified. “Go, Eli. Don’t do this. I don’t want you to die for me.”

  Even if death was a possibility for him, Eli wouldn’t have left her. Every inch of his skin a burning agony, he pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head through the leather. “It won’t kill me, little one, only hurt a little,” he murmured gently, carefully keeping the pain from his voice. “Didn’t I tell you nothing in this world can kill me?”

  Something slashed across his back and he felt the warm trickle of blood down his skin as the Outcasts took their revenge on him while he didn’t dare to fight back. He didn’t give them the satisfaction of any kind of response as more blades pierced his flesh. If this was what he had to endure to save her, it was a small price to pay.

  Suddenly the air filled with an anger so oppressive, it made it difficult to breathe. Even the two Outcasts clearly felt it. Their laughter at their cruel game faltered, then became forced.

  He braced himself for anything. The Outcasts could only torment him. Apollo would almost certainly do much, much worse.

  “How dare you presume stand in my sight, Lycidas!”

  Renee gasped at the terrible, echoing voice as Eli went still as stone against her. It seemed to come from everywhere at once and nowhere at all. The laughter of the Outcasts stopped this time as though cut off by a switch.

  “Eli?”

  “Shh,” he breathed, hoping against hope that she would escape the god’s notice.

  “You dare to bring your cursed child into my realm?” the voice demanded, rage vibrating in every word.

  Eli closed his eyes and took the ultimate chance. “I am surrounded by my children, Father.”

  There was a moment of silence before screams shattered the stillness. The stench of burning filled the air as Apollo saw through the cloaking human souls to the Outcast vampires beneath, and set Myra and Lisette aflame. Renee pressed her face against Eli’s chest and he wished he could shield her from the sound of their horrible deaths.

  Eli’s anxiety eased a fraction at the cessation of the stabbing. He hadn’t been sure Apollo would do anything to the women while they were tormenting him. He knew all too well that the anger of the gods did not wane with the passing of years—his certainly
had not—and he hadn’t been certain Apollo wouldn’t simply sit back and enjoy his torture. He smiled tightly as the screams died away, thankful that Apollo’s disgust at the unnatural creatures had at least momentarily outweighed his anger at Eli.

  His relief was short-lived.

  Apollo’s voice echoed through the sudden silence that fell over the wrecked concrete landscape. “You give me these, yet shield another. Do you think I could not also have this one if I chose?”

  Anger sparked in his veins. “You won’t have her,” Eli growled, enraged, as his flesh burned and blistered. He didn’t care if his words amounted to a blatant challenge. The threat to Renee was enough to bring every territorial bonding instinct screaming to life. He ignored the pain and summoned every ounce of power he possessed to wrap a shield around her and lock the other god out.

  No one could touch her now unless they killed Eli first. Not even Apollo.

  Another long silence fell. When Apollo spoke again, his voice was different—not gentle, never that, but quieter. Closer. Eli shuddered as he heard a footstep behind him, felt the heat increase beyond bearing.

  But he bore it. There was no other choice unless he exposed Renee to the light, and he would rather roast alive.

  “You would fight me for her?” Apollo challenged softly.

  Eli felt his fangs lengthening, his nails turning into claws. “I would kill you.” Only a god could kill another god, and he’d ached for this showdown for centuries. “Or die trying.”

  Apollo laughed softly. “The latter is more likely.”

  “I wouldn’t be so confident if I were you.” Every muscle vibrated with the urge to attack, but he couldn’t. Renee needed his protection now, and her need was the only thing keeping him from giving in to his desire for blood and vengeance.

  Apollo changed tactics, dropping the taunting tone. “True. You are not to be underestimated. You have become a powerful warrior in your time here.”

  “Let this one go free and we’ll find out just how powerful,” Eli offered, knowing his father wouldn’t accept the challenge.

  “An interesting offer.” Apollo’s voice became sympathetic, almost remorseful. Eli distrusted it immediately. “You know, it has been many years since you last walked our halls. There are those who miss you.”

  Eli closed his eyes tightly and wished he could close his ears as well against this new torment. “And what of them? I didn’t notice any of them coming to my aid when you conspired against me to have me banished. I no longer care about any of the gods.”

  “That was a long time ago, even by our standards,” Apollo replied quietly. “Can you forgive them?”

  “Does it matter? They would never know if I did. You made damn certain I couldn’t come back. Don’t tell me you’ve had a change of heart.”

  Apollo took another footstep, and the burning of Eli’s back intensified to a point far past pain. He locked his jaw, determined not to give voice to his torment. He would not give his father the satisfaction of making him beg.

  “And if I did tell you that?” Apollo spoke softly, as if he wasn’t tormenting his son without mercy. “What then?”

  “I would call you a liar,” he replied, sensing Renee’s sudden surge of hope at the prospect. Don’t believe anything he says, little one, he thought to her, carefully stripping his thoughts of pain before touching her mind. He would not share this agony with her. This is merely a game to him. Believe me in this. The gods do not change their minds when it comes to revenge.

  He felt a brief, light touch on his shoulder and the burning abruptly ceased. It was all Eli could do not to fall to his knees in sudden relief, but he still refused to expose Renee. It would be just like Apollo to use an act of kindness to clear the way for more cruelty.

  “There, now. Is that better, my son?”

  “You never do anything for free, Father. You came down here for a reason. What do you want?”

  The god sighed as though Eli’s words had hurt him. “Fairness. Resolution. Don’t you agree we should have justice at last and put this behind us?” When Eli didn’t answer, Apollo went on in the same quiet, reasonable tone. “I never meant your exile to go on this long. Your pride created this situation. Can’t you admit that?”

  Eli laughed bitterly. “You go to outrageous lengths to banish me, to eliminate your competition for a woman who didn’t even want you, and now you speak to me of pride?” He shook his head, still careful not to expose any part of Renee. “Get to the point. What do you want from me?”

  “I know you must want to return home to Olympus. We can end this now. You took my woman from me. Wouldn’t it be fair to give me something of equal worth?”

  Eli stiffened as the implication ripped through him. Apollo wanted Renee, the only one who had ever loved him, the only one he had ever allowed into his heart, the woman who was one step away from becoming his bondmate for eternity. He had indeed felt Eli’s claim on her and now struck the cruelest blow he could devise.

  His Chosen, or an end to his suffering.

  “You bastard,” Eli whispered. Rage burned bright in his heart and he bent protectively over Renee even though he ached to rip out Apollo’s black heart.

  Renee twisted her wrists in her bonds and managed to press her hands against his chest. He heard Apollo draw a breath to speak but Renee beat him to it, and Eli knew what she would say before the words even passed her lips. She was too generous for her own good.

  “Eli—” she began hesitantly.

  “No,” he cut her off. What had he ever done to deserve the love of such a woman? Don’t listen to him. Don’t speak to him. It’s a trick. Don’t believe a word he says!

  “Eli, you could go home,” she murmured, pressing on despite his silent warning.

  “No!”

  “Your Chosen agrees,” Apollo said, his voice triumphant. “Stand aside, my son. It will be over in a moment. It will be quick, and I won’t even hurt her—much.”

  “No!”

  Renee pushed against him, but he refused to be moved. “Eli—”

  He stole her voice and her words stopped instantly. He couldn’t stand to hear her beg him to let her go. But she was just as stubborn as he and it was only a moment before she reached for him with her mind, her touch as soft as the sweetest caress. I know you suffer here. I want to do this. Don’t you want to go home?

  He replied without hesitation. Not at this price.

  Renee bit her lip and thought desperately. She was certain this chance would never be offered again. If Eli was ever to return to Olympus, she had to make him stand aside. She tried not to contemplate the death awaiting her, tried not to think of the Outcasts’ terrible screams as they’d burned. According to them, her life was over anyway—the poison burning in her veins would see to that. At least this way her death wouldn’t be in vain.

  Giving up this argument was not an option. It’s my life. Who are you to tell me what to do with it?

  The man who loves you, he murmured back, and her heart turned over. You don’t know what he’s like, little one. I won’t give you to him!

  She latched on to the only thing that might make him stand aside. You promised to destroy me if I turned, she told him, trying to imbue her thoughts with feelings of shame. The man at my feet—I killed him. It wasn’t the Outcasts, it was me. You won’t be giving him an innocent, Eli, you’ll be giving him a killer!

  Eli stood there, not moving, not reacting to her words even though she knew he must have felt the man’s blood in her body. She pushed at Eli again, frustrated tears filling her eyes at his complete lack of response. Damn it, you promised! I don’t want to live as an Outcast—

  She felt him press another kiss to the top of her head. “That’s enough, little one. I know what you’re trying to do, but you could not hide such a thing from me. The sun still burns you. You haven’t killed.”

  She rested her forehead against his chest as the tears slipped down her cheeks. I want to do this for you, she whispered in his mind, ref
using to give up. I want to, Eli. Please let me. Don’t you understand he’ll never offer you a chance like this again?

  It doesn’t matter if he offers it a million times, he thought back just as stubbornly. He will hear the same answer every time. You will not die for me!

  “What is your choice, Lycidas?” Apollo asked.

  Eli didn’t even hesitate. “There is nothing on Earth or Olympus that could convince me to give her to you. Lycidas died a long time ago. There is only Eli now, and this is the only home I need.”

  Apollo hissed in rage. “So be it,” he snarled as he vanished.

  Eli sucked in a sharp breath as the burning returned, a thousand times worse than before, so terrible he momentarily doubted his own certainty that he could not die. Death would be a welcome relief from this torment. He tried again to transform himself and Renee into mist, but as before, it was impossible. There was nothing to do, nowhere to go, no way to escape Apollo’s wrath.

  The day crawled by as the sun beat down on him. No one came to the demolition site, no one to aid or save them. The torment was indescribable and Eli cut himself off from Renee completely. He stood still as a statue, moving only to shift in miniscule increments as the sun traveled across the sky. He was only vaguely aware of Renee trying to give him strength as he had done for her and of her screaming at the sky, begging Apollo to have mercy on him. He wanted to tell her not to waste her words but the act of speaking was too difficult. He needed all his concentration to fight the instincts urging him to escape the agony and save himself.

  During the height of the day, Renee hung limp in her bonds, leaning against him, unable to fight the lethargy the day forced on her. He envied her that unconsciousness as his skin cracked and scorched, healing almost as fast as the damage was done, only to burn again and again.

  And each time the pain was greater and the healing slower. He retreated into a far corner of his mind. It was the only way to survive such torture. He didn’t even hear Renee when she managed to rouse herself in the afternoon and called to him again and again.