Green Tea and Black Death (The Godhunter, Book 5)

by Sumida, Amy

  It was dark. Why did vampire bars always have to be dark? You'd think they'd want to surround themselves with a little light, being trapped in eternal darkness and all that. The only lights were over the bar and from a few scattered sconces on the walls. The rest of the room was murky shadows filled with writhing patrons in matching dark clothes. How boring.

  I was led across the club and to another guarded door. These bouncers were vampires and looked a little more impressive. I gave them my yeah, whatever face and passed by. Eric led me up some stairs and out into a much brighter room. There was a couch and some chairs in front of a big desk and an open door that revealed a luxurious bedroom. To the left was a bar and the right held a few monitors showing the club. In the center of it all, sat a striking man with a glass or red liquid in his hand.

  “Vervain Lavine, I presume,” he put the glass down on the coffee table in front of him before standing to shake my hand. “I am Barnabus.”

  “Like in Dark Shadows, that Barnabus?” I raised a brow. “That's almost as cliché as Dracula.”

  “It was my name first,” he frowned at me.

  “Uh huh,” I looked him over. Dark suit, red tie, black hair cut stylishly, pale skin, slim body, and oh yeah, fangs. So very expected. “Can I call you Barney?”

  “No,” he frowned harder. “Please have a seat,” he gestured to the furniture, then shooed Eric out. I heard a bolt sliding home and had a moment's concern. “Would you like a drink?”

  “No, thank you,” I sat in one of the chairs. “When's Huitzilopochtli coming?”

  “Oh, we have a bit of time yet,” he sat in the chair closest to mine. “Why don't we talk a little? I'm so very eager to get to know you.”

  “I think I'd prefer to keep this professional,” I stared hard at him. What the fuck was going on?

  “Professional?” He reached a hand out to stroke mine and I recoiled. “I've heard you like to be more familiar with your associates.”

  “Can it, blood boy,” I growled. “I've had way better men than you try to seduce me. I'm not interested.”

  “Better men?” He was suddenly in front of my chair, a hand on each chair arm and his face leaning in to mine. “Doubtful. I know the company you keep, Godhunter, and it's nothing compared to I.”

  I didn't waste any more time on talk. This was not someone Blue would send me to, which meant this was some kind of a trap. I kneed ol' Barney in the belly and then followed through with a kick to his face when he fell back. He was on the floor when I got up and I stomped over to stomp on him but he was too fast.

  He flung himself up in a twist and got behind me. His hand was at my waist, tearing the fabric of my dress, the other hand was in my hair, wrenching my head aside. His mouth covered my neck and I bucked back, knocking us both to the floor. I'd be damned if I was going to come home with another vampire bite.

  “So feisty,” he laughed and rolled us, somehow managing to get on top. “I like it, fight harder.”

  “Okay,” I smiled and headbutted him.

  He rolled off me, holding his head, and I rolled over to where I'd left my purse. He got a grip on my leg and was pulling me back across the carpet but I had my purse by then. I pulled out my dagger just in time, plunging it into his neck when he rolled me over. His look of surprise was priceless but it got even better when I shoved him on his back to finish the job.

  Stakes won't do the trick with vampires. They can incapacitate them for awhile but they don't kill them. I got the low down from the Vampire God himself. You needed to behead a vampire to kill it for good. Sunlight might work but it depended on the age of the sucker and I didn't have any handy. So beheading was it.

  I was just pulling Barney's head free while cursing stupid vampires for thinking they were so bad ass, when the door opened and the real reason for me being there walked in. I found myself facing off with Phobos and Deimos, Barney's head in one hand and my dagger in the other. I was covered in blood, my dress was torn, and I was extremely irritated.

  “Well if it isn't the Brothers Grimoire.” I threw the vampire head to the side. “What do you guys want?”

  “To torture you,” Deimos answered as if it was obvious.

  I had killed Aphrodite, their mother, by draining her powers. It was how I'd become host to my Love, Lust, Victory, and War magics. Then Ares, their father, had come after me for killing his lover. First, Trevor took his hand, then I took his head.

  “You're just like your mother,” I huffed. Aphrodite had been a super bitch.

  “Don't speak of her,” Phobos growled. It was probably hard to talk around all those pointy teeth.

  “Yeah whatever,” I smirked. “So now I've killed both of your parents and you and your bro' here are pissed. Yawn. Get on with it then.”

  “My twin brother,” Deimos gestured to the skinny, fiery-eyed, snaggle-toothed man with wild white hair standing next to him. He himself was dark like their father and had normal teeth and brown eyes.

  “Sure, yeah,” I nodded, “I see the resemblance. Just one question before we start this fight. How did you get the vampires to work for you?”

  “We met Barnabus when Huitzilopochtli was working with us,” Deimos was so calm compared to his twin, who was twitching with anger. “He wanted freedom from his god and had already been keeping tabs on you, knowing how much Huitzilopochtli cares about you. He was just waiting for the perfect opportunity to present itself and then we met. It was perfect, your death would have made Huitzilopochtli vulnerable enough to attack while simultaneously satisfying our vengeance.”

  “Well he got his freedom,” I gestured to his rapidly moldering corpse.

  “And soon, you shall have yours.”

  Chapter Forty

  I fought as best I could but all I had was my dagger and there wasn't enough room to turn into a lion. I didn't have time to use my Love or Lust magics, didn't really want to, and I was wary about trying to drain them. I didn't think I could drain both of them simultaneously and I'd have to, or the one I wasn't draining could kill me either during or after the process when I was recovering from the drain. To top that off, when we began to fight, Trembling and Panic came in to help. Ares' attendants were exemplary fighters, as were his sons, and in the end, I was bested.

  I was chained to a table(always the damn chains), waiting for whatever torture they were planning. What really sucked was I was back in Aphrodite's dungeon, she must have left it to her dear sweet boys, so there were lots of toys for them to choose from. I was hoping it wouldn't be the whip again.

  I'd already healed from the wounds I received from the earlier fight, my super healing just as fast as when I'd first taken a drink from the Grayel. I wondered how long it would take to slow, maybe a few years. The healing was fantastic but I had a feeling Deimos and his darling twin, Phobos were going to use that to their advantage. They could torture me endlessly and I wouldn't die. Oh, what fun.

  “How lovely you look,” Deimos came in with Phobos on his heels.

  “Why thank you,” I rolled my eyes. “So what's it going to be, boys? What little toy of your Mommy's are you going to use?”

  “No toys just yet,” Deimos gestured his brother forward. “First, Phobos wants a little taste. I believe he enjoys blood even more than those moronic vampires.”

  Phobos took my arm and lifted it to his face. He grinned at me, showing off the numerous rows of his sharp teeth. Then he bit down, cutting through skin, tendons, and nicking the bone. I screamed and he suckled at my arm with a look of rapture on his face. Deimos just laughed.

  The pain was overwhelming, a burning avalanche that shot through my body and threatened to take my consciousness. Then I felt his tongue lapping at the wound and my body trying to repair itself, neither was a happy feeling but they were better than the biting and sucking. I focused on my arm in a haze, trying to make sense of the hamburger it had become. Those rows of teeth had cut vicious slices into me, ragged bloody crevices that were thankfully healing quickly. I shuddered as I fel
t the numerous cuts knitting back together.

  Then he moved on to my leg, pushing up the hem of my dress with hands tipped with long, yellowed claws. He gripped me firmer this time, his claws tearing into me almost as deep as his teeth went. Punctures and slices this time. I felt my head swim, feeling light as nausea roiled through my belly.

  Deimos was at my head then, brushing back my hair and murmuring to me about how sexy my screams sounded. The sick bastard. I should have puked on him but I could barely focus and I'd probably just get it all over myself.

  His hands swept down the sides of my neck and then tore the front of my dress open. He rubbed his palms over me roughly, then lowered his face to mine and licked my cheek before he viciously bit it, tearing the skin away from my face. The pain was as inescapable as my screams, coming from above and below all at once.

  Blood was pouring down my neck, my body was shaking uncontrollably, my breath coming in faltering gasps. Tears were running down my face in rivers, the salt stinging in the wound on my mutilated cheek, and I couldn't focus enough to try to pull their magic from them. I needed this to stop, I couldn't take much more, but I knew it wouldn't. I knew that this torture would go on all night and probably into the next day before they decided to take a break. Then they'd come back for more. It could be years before they decided to let me die.

  Oh please, just let me pass out. The pain of Aphrodite's whip had been horrendous but this was so much worse. A combination of physical and mental torture with my own immortality working against me, keeping me healing and awake to endure their talents. I wasn't sure what I hated more, the feel of Phobos' teeth or Deimos' wandering hands and tongue. Good ol' Afro had taught her sons well, they were surpassing their mother in both application and creativity. I'm sure she'd be proud.

  Phobos had moved onto my other leg when I felt Deimos jerk and pull away from me. He screamed but it was silenced abruptly. I saw Phobos lift his head and then his jaw went slack for a moment before he rushed off to confront whoever my savior was. Phobos didn't scream, all I heard was a thump, a gurgling noise, and then some shuffling. Whoever this person was, they were beyond bad-ass to kill those two so quickly. I didn't care though, I would have been happy to see anyone at that point. It was just so wonderful to have a reprieve from the pain.

  Then an angel appeared unto me.

  Azrael stood above me, his face full of misery, as his hand gently stroked my wounded cheek, folding the hanging flap of skin back up. My sight wavered for a second but then I took a deep breath and focused beyond the pain. I could feel the skin mend under his fingers, though I knew it had nothing to do with him, he was just encouraging my healing. I couldn't even work out how he got to be there. How had he got past Aphrodite's wards and saved me? Just as I had felt he could, he'd protected me when everyone else couldn't even reach me. How was it possible?

  “Vervain,” even his voice was a balm to me, so sweet and deep. “Carus, can you hear me?”

  “Who's Carus?” I smiled weakly at him and he gave a short, relieved laugh.

  “It's Latin,” he pulled the chains away like they were those colored paper ones I used to make in kindergarten. “It means beloved. I know, too soon, but you scared me badly and it just came out.”

  “Not too soon,” I held my arms out and he lifted me up into his embrace. “I love you so much right now,” I laughed. “How did you even find me?”

  “Not now,” he kissed me quick and then pulled the chains on my legs free. “Let's get you home first. Everyone's waiting and very worried.”

  “Right,” I sighed. “I do that to them a lot.”

  “I hardly think it's your doing,” he tapped my nose. “You just hang with a bad crowd.”

  “My crowd seems to be improving though,” I snuggled into his arms as he lifted me off the table and held me tightly.

  “Mine too,” he whispered as he traced me home.

  Chapter Forty-One

  I'd gone through the relieved hugs and kisses with all my friends and lovers. My living room was packed to the limit. Kirill had gone to tell the Intare the good news and Fenrir had done the same with the Froekn, so there were two less than we had started with but still, gods were overflowing into the dining room. At least my Mom had gone home already, I would have hated for her to have gone through this.

  I sat on one of my sofas, Trevor on one side and Odin on the other. Azrael was hanging back, his wings under wraps so there'd be more room, leaning against my front door. Anyone who wanted in was going to have to get past him. It was comforting but I wanted him closer. Hell, I kind of wanted his arms around me or his wings, both or either would do. I had Trevor's hand in mine and Odin's arm around my shoulder. It was wonderful to have them there but I really wanted the angel who had just saved my life.

  “Azrael,” I stopped everyone's chatter. “You haven't told me how you found me.”

  “I didn't,” he gestured to Odin.

  “I found you on Hlidskjalf,” Odin kissed my cheek, happy to be able to touch me, just this once, in Trevor's company.

  “Your Santa TV?” I frowned. “Huh, cool trick.”

  “It only works if you know where to look,” he shrugged. “I can't just look for you. I have to go by location. Luckily, you have a short list of enemies right now and we figured Deimos might take you to Aphrodite's if he ever got a hold of you. She has the best torture chamber in both the realms.”

  “That she does,” I grimaced and swallowed hard. “But how did you get in, Az? And come over here, will you? You just saved my life, I'd like to at least be able to touch you.”

  He smiled softly and made his way over to me, my god friends parting for him like the sea for Moses. He took a seat kitty-corner to me, which Pan offered, getting to his feet gallantly with a smile. I leaned forward and touched Azrael's leg. His hand went over mine and I immediately felt better.

  “How did you get to me?” I whispered.

  “Wards are nothing to me,” he gave me a cocky grin, charming on him really. “I'm the Angel of Death. I must be able to perform my duties without impediment. So nothing can keep me out. Nothing can keep me away from you. As soon as Odin discovered your whereabouts, Trevor sent word to me and I went after you.”

  “You killed Deimos and Phobos in seconds,” I thought back to the rescue.

  “Hello?” He waved at himself. “Angel of Death. Original Grim Reaper. I kick ass.”

  I gaped at him a second before launching into laughter. The whole room, in fact, started to laugh. It was perfectly timed comic relief and boy did I need it. I was still achy in places and I needed something to push away the memory of Phobos' face as he lowered it to my flesh. When I could finally breathe again, I took his face in my hands and kissed him soundly. The room got quiet around us. I looked up at the shocked expressions.

  “Right,” I forgot that I hadn't told the God Squad about our new relationship. “I was gonna tell you guys but I've been so busy. Uh, I've got a new boyfriend.”

  “Boyfriend?” Az smirked. “Okay, that's a title I've never had.”

  “Well,” Trevor leaned forward and took Azrael's hand. “I'd say you earned it today. Welcome to the family.”

  “Thank you,” Azrael's expression turned serious.

  “Another one?” Thor growled and I groaned. “You add this stranger to your list of lovers and won't even consider giving me a second chance?”

  Azrael looked over with surprise at the booming God of Thunder. Then he looked back at me with a questioning glance. I was grateful he did that, actually looked to me for direction before plunging into an unknown situation just because his masculinity got riled. I gave him a quick negative shake of my head and he sat back to allow me to handle it. Obviously Azrael was bad-ass, he had nothing to prove.

  “Thor,” I stood up and lost my remaining sympathy for my ex. “I've told you over and over that we will never be together again. In fact, I distinctly remember warning you that were you to make that drastic decision to cut me out of your life
because of what happened with Sif, I would never go back to you. You made this choice, not I, and now you must live with the consequences.”

  “Vervain,” he ground his teeth, “the way you look at me sometimes, the things you were thinking the other day when we connected, I know you still want me.”

  “I remember you,” I sighed. “What we had was fantastic, I can't help but remember it fondly, but this,” I waved my hand at him, “this is not what I want. There is no place for you in my heart anymore. I'm so sorry, Thor, but it has to be over. You need to accept that and until you do, I can't be around you.”

  “What the fuck are you saying, Vervain?”

  “I'm asking you to leave.”

  “No,” he shook his head and pushed his way through our friends until he was standing in front of me. Trevor started to growl but I put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and amazingly, he backed down. “I won't let you do this.”

  “Won't let me do this?” I huffed a shocked sound. “You did this. You're the one who nuked our life together. I've just been trying to deal with the fallout. I'm so done with getting burned by you. This explosion of a relationship is over, Thor. Now get out before I get really angry.”

  His face fell and my heart twinged for a second but truly, I couldn't take anymore of his insanity. Then his expression hardened and he turned away, stomping to the door and then tracing out without another word. Not even a growl. When he was finally gone, I felt an overwhelming relief and I sat back down with a sigh.

  “Yeah, welcome to the family. We're kind of dysfunctional at times,” Odin reached over to shake the angel's hand as if nothing had happened, “but we're generally pretty good people.”

  That incited a nervous round of laughter.

  “At least when our powers aren't being used against us,” Blue stepped forward and knelt in front of me. “I'm so sorry, Vervain. I was looking into the information you gave me but I was coming up empty handed. I never would have known Barnabus was a traitor if he hadn't abducted you and if you hadn't already killed him, I'd be torturing that back stabbing piece of garbage right now. The others who were connected with this treachery have been punished but if there's anything else I can do to make this up to you, I will. Just say the word.”