Skin of a Goddess (Goddess Ascension Book 1)

by Victoria C. Johnson

  With that in mind, we all get into the water. In hindsight, it may not have been the best plan. This seems especially obvious a few minutes later, when I find myself underwater with my arms around a corpse. Apate has to swim down to the pond floor to break apart the rope, which is binding the body to bricks. Once that’s done, it’s fairly easy to swim the body to the shore. I just have to ignore the slimy feel of decaying, eaten flesh and the murky cloud surrounding it.

  “Definitely female,” Apate observes with a purely clinical eye.

  We’ve all seen death before.

  “Appears that she wasn’t in the water long, perhaps just put there a few hours ago. She’s been dead for about three days, though,” Ana says, kneeling next to her.

  “Assumed sexual trauma,” I say, looking at the jagged knife wounds on the woman’s breasts and considering the fact that she’s naked.

  “Slim, about five seven in height, long brown hair. Small wounds everywhere, especially to the genital regions. Death appears to be due to strangulation,” Ana continues.

  I frown. “She died before we were here. Do you think she was early to the convention, works at the castle, or lives around here and this was just a convenient dumping ground?”

  “I’d bet on her being a shifter, probably wild dog because of her height,” Apate says, pointing out that she isn’t beastly tall like most other shifters. Wild dogs tend to be more petite.

  Ana nods. “We should definitely call for Harold. This is going to cause major problems between the shifters.”

  “Who knows if that’s what the person wanted, or if it was even another shifter who killed her?” I add.

  “We should simply punish the person who did this and be done with the ordeal. Maybe one of the shifters can sniff out the perpetrator,” Ana suggests.

  “I agree. Whoever did this didn’t do it just for the purpose of causing trouble or stirring feelings. They took pleasure in this. That, in my book, is unforgivable. War is one thing, but pleasure from this sort of pain is not right. Torture for a purpose is something. Torture for the fun of it is not,” I tell her.

  “We need Nemesis.” Ana sighs.

  Nemesis is all things justice, and if ever there was a situation that called for it, this would be it.

  “All right, who wants to go back to the castle? I think two of us should stay here and watch over the body. Perhaps whoever goes should first get Nemesis, then Harold,” I suggest.

  Ana sighs dramatically this time. “I’ll be back as soon as possible. Try not to get into any trouble while I’m gone. Oh, and you should probably get dressed.”

  Ana is out of our sight in a jiffy.

  “I’m not sure how these shifter meetings usually go, but I don’t think this will set the right mood for the beginning of one.”

  “Do you think it was someone here?” Apate asks.

  “Don’t know, but it could have been. I hardly know everyone here and what they’re capable of. Some of the others may know. Lyssa may have felt a particularly strong burst of anger from someone. Or madness for that matter.”

  Apate says, “I guess it will depend a lot on who the victim is and if she really is a shifter here for the conference.”

  “Agreed. For now, we should just try to be as helpful as possible. That means keeping Enyo and them out of it. Sometimes I think we’re the only ones with even an ounce of tact.” I sigh, though even I know it’s true.

  “I smell pain. I sense betrayal. I seek retribution.” Nemesis appears, pupils bleeding into the whites, face a mask of power. She lands next to us, extending her great black, feathered wings.

  Apate and I do the only logical thing. We back away slowly.

  Nemesis stands over the corpse before kneeling down and over her. The wings fold against her back as her eyes close and she focuses. She knows when someone has been wronged and when others have gotten more than their due. This person has clearly been wronged.

  “This girl was tortured while alive. I believe she was kept for a week. After death, she was further mutilated.” Nemesis finally turns to us after a moment of concentration.

  “There are some sick people out there,” Apate says with a grimace.

  Nemesis nods. “Something feels odd about her. I almost get a … servitude feeling from her, combined with helplessness. As if she was a slave.”

  All three of us are confused by that one. “There’s still some slavery in the Earth, but within the shifters? In this part of the world?”

  “It’s what I feel.” Nemesis shrugs. “We will learn more.”

  “How much of that will you tell Harold?” I ask when I see him and Ana in the distance.

  Nemesis is silent for a moment, thinking. Normally we don’t tell anyone anything, so I can understand her taking a moment to regroup. “I will tell him everything. A crime like this is not the time to play power games or have trust issues. I would know if he felt … unsavory.”

  Meaning she’d know if he were a sadistic killer.

  “She is a wild dog shifter, twenty-three years old, and named Jessica Garcia,” Nemesis continues.

  “Did you see the evildoer’s face?” Apate asks her.

  Nemesis rolls her eyes. “It isn’t a magic trick.”

  “That is just like our ‘powers.’ We’re given just enough of them to feel like they should be helpful, but they really aren’t,” Apate complains with a pout.

  “Are you saying I’m not helpful? I even the scales.” Nemesis frowns.

  “Now, now, I’m just saying in this particular situation, having the name of the murderer wouldn’t be out of the question. Hell, maybe even a description. Zodiac sign? Eye color at least!” Apate tells her.

  “Here come Anaideia and Harold,” I interrupt them when I see Ana’s little figure next to the big bad wolf, heading straight for us.

  Harold spares us a glance before looking down at the victim.

  “Anaideia said that you may be able to tell me some things about the … body. She already told me that the corpse was found in the water, which I can clearly see is so. If you could point out where, specifically? Anything else I should know?” Harold asks us, finally looking up to our faces.

  Nemesis says, “Her name is Jessica Garcia, and she was a wild dog shifter. From what I can tell, the actual cause of death is strangulation. She was tortured before death for about a week, and her body was further abused after death, including sexually. I believe she was held captive.” Overall, her response is strong and clinical. Harold doesn’t seem to take kindly to it.

  “I didn’t know her. There are a lot of people here, and many of them showed up early. I’m sure someone here knows her. May I ask how you acquired this information?”

  Now my eyes narrow. Just because we aren’t swooning at his feet in a fit of sobs doesn’t mean we had anything to do with what happened here. He should really be thankful that we’re so levelheaded, not suspicious, as many before him have been.

  “I know because my divine powers are connected to crimes and unjust favors,” Nemesis says clearly, without seeming apologetic or defensive.

  “How did you discover the body?” Harold asks.

  “We were told how lovely this spot on the property was, and decided to some see it. We were swimming, and I sensed the body,” Ana explains.

  “This obviously wasn’t your assigned activity.” Harold raises a suspicious brow.

  Nemesis jumps in. “If we had anything to do with this, we would have been the last ones to bring attention to the crime.”

  “I see,” Harold says with a frown. “If there’s no way for you to know who the murderer or murderers are, then I’d like to thank you for your involvement, but it won’t be needed any longer. If you can all write down your statements, though, that would be greatly appreciated.”

  We exchange slightly annoyed looks, but if he doesn’t want our help, then we’re not the sort of women to go out of our way in the name of good deeding. Well, other than Nemesis. She’ll assist one way or another, as
she is compelled to. I quickly jot down my take on what happened. A short ten minutes later, I’m getting restless waiting for Nemesis to finish her no doubt perfectly recalled telling.

  “I’d appreciate if none of you told anyone about this incident. The body is far enough away from the castle and planned outing areas that I doubt the smell will be detected. I want to get our shifter forensics team out here and everything taken care of before the masses start stirring. I will make an announcement later in the evening, rest assured,” Harold says.

  “We won’t tell any shifters or anyone outside of our group of individuals,” Nemesis says.

  Harold thinks that over for a moment. “You’ll tell the other immortal representatives? If you could refrain from sending a report to the others before we know more details I’d thank you, but telling the others in your group is fine.”

  Nemesis smiles lightly before saying, “You don’t really think the high and mighty Olympians would be interested in this little crime, do you? We will keep it to ourselves. Good luck with the crime scene.”

  Harold looks truly horrified by that comment, and we leave before he has time to say anything about it.

  “So, the most important question must be asked. Are we really going to tell the others?” Apate asks us.

  I look at her like she’s nuts. “Of course not. Those whores would be spreading the word in a second flat.”

  Nemesis frowns at me.

  “Nemi, don’t look at her like that. She has a point. You know as well as we do that Lyssa has absolutely zero secret-keeping abilities, including being discreet,” Ana points out.

  “Fuck.” Nemesis sighs. “Here I thought this little convention would be like a vacation.”

  ***

  A few hours later and we’re with all of the others for lunch at the castle.

  “What’s up?” Dysnomia asks as she cops a squat across from us with a huge slice of pizza. “I swear it’s a good thing we don’t have to worry about calories.”

  “That’s true, especially with your chocolate addiction. Well, and the wine. Plus ice cream,” Apate lists off.

  Dysnomia glares at her. “As I was saying, what’s up?”

  “Nothing much on our radar.” Apate smiles with a wink.

  “I found out that there’s going to be a conference-wide meeting tonight. Not sure what’s going on, but Enyo’s hoping that some of the others took her advice on wanting to start guild wars,” Dysnomia gossips.

  Ana turns to Apate. “Told you she would end up telling ’em! You owe me. Cough up the cash.”

  They exchange a few choice bills.

  “Yum, who’s that? I haven’t been in a group with him yet, more’s the pity. He looks so big and rough. Guys like that are just begging to be tied up until they know who’s really boss. One night in my dungeon and he’ll know who to call mistress,” Dysnomia says, apparently eyeing a choice piece of ass.

  Apate starts laughing. “I’m sure he would.”

  “Yay, he’s coming this way!” Dysnomia grins, sitting up to pay tribute to her subject.

  “Peitho.” A massive hand lands on my shoulder, the first time he’s touched me that I can remember. I can feel that voice flow through me, and I’m not so much sure if it’s his presence or because I hear him in my head as well.

  “Hunter, how are you?” I ask, gritting my teeth.

  Dysnomia pouts. “It just figures you’d have already claimed him. Who did you get permission from? Ana and Apate? You really should keep us posted on which guys you’ve staked out so we don’t get our hopes up.”

  I look up to see Hunter regard her in confusion. “Permission? Guys?”

  Her grin turns positively wicked, and I know she’s going to do something to try to piss me off. “Peitho has a list of hookup rules that we helped her make. One of them is she has to get permission from two of the seven of us. She has really bad judgment, so it’s best if we approve of them before they get ‘involved.’ Quite the chore, let me tell you.”

  “Rules for hooking up,” he murmurs with something like disgust.

  Honestly, if he’s so convinced I’m the whore to his prude then why doesn’t he leave me alone? I will not be shamed and act like everyone’s dirty little secret for my very nature. I do nothing wrong. Sharing your body with another is one of the most natural acts in the world. I just wish he’d stop looking at me like that!

  “You’ll love the first rule—” Dysnomia begins with a grin.

  “Don’t!” I tell her.

  Sadly, she still finishes with, “Peitho has to see them in good lighting. It’s just horrible to wake up in the morning to find out last night’s fantasy is a nightmare in the light of day.”

  “Happened more than once to you, huh?” he growls.

  “You have no idea. I’ve seen some of them get kicked out before we made the no guys at the houses rule. I have to say, they were not the greatest of lookers, in any way. Luckily, Enyo and Lyssa take great pleasure in kicking her little friends out of our houses,” Dysnomia says, really starting to enjoy herself.

  Hunter’s hand on my shoulder flexes without tightening.

  “There’s really no reason to tell him about the rules. He’s not one of my guys,” I tell her.

  “That’s right, I’m not one of her guys. We’re handfasting for six months,” Hunter corrects me, sounding positively jolly about the fact.

  “Realllly, how did none of us know about that?” Dysnomia asks, eyes wide in fascination.

  “Actually—” Ana begins before I stuff a cookie in her wide, flapping mouth.

  I groan. “It’s very complicated, and we don’t agree on the matter. I thought it would be best to come to the group when I actually have something concrete to tell. So far, I don’t. I’d appreciate it, Hunter, if you wouldn’t speak about it either.”

  “Now, there’s another thing we don’t agree on. Telling people. The fact is, I thought it best to let our new arrangement be known, otherwise others will be hitting on you without knowing that you’re taken. I wouldn’t want them to insult you in such a way,” Hunter says, as if it’s really for my benefit.

  Ana laughs. “Right, insult her.”

  “Let’s talk about this later, in private,” I hiss.

  “Sure we can talk about this. In private. Alone.” He grins.

  I backtrack so fast I probably have whiplash. “Well, not completely alone. If we’re going to look at this seriously, then I really wouldn’t want to be with you until our wedding night. Best not to give in to temptation.”

  “Yes, she’s very pure and chaste.” Apate nods with a straight face.

  Hunter can’t help but roll his eyes. To tell the truth, I don’t blame him. “Fine, bring someone then. I’ll see you later tonight, after dinner?”

  “Okay, you can come up to our suite,” I say. “We’ll make a group meeting out of this bitch, since I’m sure these girls won’t be able to keep the gossip to themselves. Hope you’re happy.”

  He leans down over me, closer and closer, until I’m looking backward at him. “If you think you’re going to intimidate me with the idea of sitting with all of you, then you’re wrong. I’m looking forward to it. Until then.” With that, he leans those few vital inches more and lands a quick Spiderman kiss to my lips. He’s gone before I can even protest.

  “Looks like more’s been going on than I knew,” Dysnomia says with a little smirk.

  Ana grins. “She so has no idea.”

  ***

  “Hello, everyone! I’d like to thank you for meeting me here tonight,” Harold greets all of us sitting in the conference room.

  “I’d be a hell of a lot happier if we didn’t have assigned seating.” Ana sighs.

  “Agreed,” Lyssa says before hissing at the werewolf sitting in front of her.

  Assigned seating means that all of us representatives are together and the people that shift into the same animal are grouped together. I suppose it is good planning, since the wild dogs will probably want to be toget
her once they hear the news. Still, we’re right next to the wolves and lions. They have a whole “king of the jungle” complex, plus their long tresses get everywhere.

  The few humans who wiggled their way in here are stuck in the back of the room. Most of them are companions of a shifter or other here, though there is that one human running fast and free without his vampire master. He’s here as his vampire’s representative. When a vampire chooses to feed off of a human for a while, the human becomes a companion. This can include meal time, bed time, and everything in between. Or just for friendship, like that’s any fun.

  “I’m sorry that we had to cancel the afternoon activities,” Harold continues.

  “I’m not. I think we were supposed to have more group therapy. More like shoot yourself in the foot so you can’t be drafted. Here I come, Nurse!” Apate says.

  Enyo speaks up, “That’s not how you do it at all. You shoot the annoying people boring you with their speech.”

  “You know, this time, she might have a point.” Apate half-rolls her eyes.

  Harold clears his throat with a meaningful look at us. “I don’t have very pleasant news to tell you, but it needs to be said. Early this morning, a body was found on our property. The body belongs to Jessica Garcia, a wild dog shifter.”

  “What!” There’s an instant uproar in the wild dog circuit.

  “Jessie was supposed to show up next week. She had to stay behind for work but was meeting up with us,” a female says.

  “If you know her, we’d appreciate you coming to identify the body,” Harold tells her calmly. “She did not die a natural death, and the authorities are looking into who is responsible. I want you all to be very careful from now on, and avoid wandering off on your own.”

  “How was she killed?”

  “She was strangled,” Harold says after a moment.

  A nearby wolf asks, “Where was the body found?”

  “At a pond on the property. It is now off limits and a crime scene, so we’d appreciate it if you kept your distance.”

  “Were any scents zeroed in on?”

  “The lake is a well-visited area, and it appears some trysts had taken place there recently. That being said, there isn’t one scent that we can say belongs to a specific person related to the crime,” he says.