by Amy Sumida
Torin and Declan sent their magic into the fight, and it was clear that this wouldn't take long. Nachzehrer were falling like flies.
“But we forgot about the others,” I said urgently to Gage.
“What others?” Gage asked.
“Do you think she means us, Chamer?” A woman inquired casually.
A handful of Latin-looking people had entered the room through the same door we'd used; effectively blocking that exit. They were all very attractive; with dark, glossy hair, and eyes that were too full of age and magic to be human. My hand clutched at Gage's shoulder as my heart began to race.
Danger, Will Robinson, danger, RS said.
It's time to leave, my love, Kyanite added.
Who are they? I asked inside my head.
I don't know, but their power is the same that fueled Isis, Kyanite said. Except this is the source, and there are many more of them waiting throughout this building.
In short; we're fucked if we stay, RS translated. Let's blow this popsicle joint! How do you say popsicle in Spanish? Whatever it is; let's get away from it now!
“Prepare to travel,” I said to the others.
“What?” Torin dispatched the last Nachzehrer and turned to face the new arrivals. “Who are these people?”
“They are the power that was fueling Isis,” I said as I watched them warily.
“Oh; she's smart,” the man who had been identified as Chamer said. “I like her.”
“A moron could have worked that out,” the woman sniffed as she held up a hand. A bee landed on her lifted finger, and she cooed at it before it flew away.
“Who are you?” Declan demanded as he strode forward. “We have no issue with you.”
“Oh, I'm afraid you do,” another man said. “See; you just killed our ally; the woman who freed us from Metnal.”
“Metnal?” Gage growled as he clutched me tighter. “You're Maya?”
“We are their gods,” yet another man said with thunder in his voice. “But yes; well done, griffin.”
“Now, if you could just put the Spellsinger down and back away, we'll permit you to leave,” Chamer took over.
“She's my mate; I'm not leaving her,” Gage growled. “And trust me when I say; that's doing you a favor.”
“Yes; we saw her in action,” the woman said. “Wasn't she lovely, Hurucan?”
“Lovely,” the man with the thunder-voice agreed. “But our ally must be avenged. It's about honor, you see? No offense intended.”
“Where was the honor in the attempted extermination of my race?” Banning sneered. “That bitch needed killing.”
“That bitch”—Chamer paused to smile—“asked for only one thing in return for freeing us; Blooder extinction. It was her prize, and there is honor in that.”
Just get us the fuck out of here! RS shouted.
“Time to go,” I whispered to Gage.
He looked down at me and nodded, then shared a look with the others. Banning eased back with his blooders, and they clasped hands; preparing to travel.
“Enough small talk,” another man growled. “Give us the singer, or we will kill you all.”
“You can fucking try,” Torin growled and set his shoulders as if he were about to charge all of the Maya Gods.
“Torin,” I whispered and widened my eyes at him; trying to convey that this was a bad idea.
“Cease!” A powerful, deep voice snapped, and the Maya Gods flinched.
A new man came striding into the room, and the gods parted for him. He was taller than the others and more wide in the shoulders, but he had a similar look to his face; sharp brow bones, a long, strong nose, and heavy-lidded eyes. His full lips lifted into a smile when he saw me.
“Hello, pretty bird,” he said.
I knew that voice.
“The ghost in my head,” I noted. “We've already met.”
“Not formally,” he cocked his head at me and looked me over. “You are far more lovely in person.”
“But, Kukulcan, she killed—” Chamer started to protest.
The man—Kukulcan, evidently—waved his hand at Chamer, and the god simply lost his voice. “Shh,” Kukulcan said after the fact.
I couldn't hold back my horrified chuckle. Kukulcan smiled brilliantly at me; his dark eyes continuing to roam my face. Then he bowed.
“I am Kukulcan; Greatest God of the Maya,” he said. “But I am also known as Quetzalcoatl; you may use either of those names to address me.”
I gaped at him; the latter name was very familiar to me.
“Ah; you've heard of me,” he declared joyously. “I had hoped you would know of a fellow bird.”
“Bird?” Declan muttered.
“The Feathered Serpent,” I whispered. “You're a myth among myths; you aren't supposed to exist.”
“We all exist,” Kukulcan said softly. “We were just imprisoned beneath the earth for a very long time; long enough that people—even fellow Beneathers—have forgotten that we are real.”
“Imprisoned by who?” I couldn't help it; I was too fascinated to flee. Charmed by a feathered snake.
“Angels,” he huffed and made a disgusted face. “The motherfucking Christians.”
One of the Maya men spat on the floor.
“Angels imprisoned you?” I asked in surprise.
“It's a long story,” Kukulcan waved his hand. “What matters is that we were able to contact Isis; our cousin. She found a way to free us.”
“Cousin?” I asked.
“Are we leaving or not?” Gage whispered.
“We are from the same world as the Egyptians Gods,” Kukulcan said. “We are Aaruns. You didn't know?”
I shook my head.
“But our pyramids; we had our followers build the same monuments as the Egyptians did,” Kukulcan said in surprise. “Didn't anyone suspect the connection?”
“Not so much,” I said softly.
“Hmm.” He frowned. “I thought it was obvious. No matter. I've decided to let you live; despite your actions here.”
The other gods moved restlessly but remained silent.
“Thanks,” I said with a grimace.
“But that doesn't mean you're free to go,” he continued. “I have saved your life, and now it's mine.”
Well, that was enough of that.
“Go, go, go!” I shouted as I clutched my traveling charm.
Everyone vanished around me, but my charm was jerked out of my grasp at the last second. Gage's eyes widened as he was pulled through the Veil while I was left behind. I fell to the floor with a thud and gaped up at Kukulcan as he strode over to me; swinging my traveling stone from his finger.
Kukulcan bent down and helped me to my feet as I watched him warily.
Sing! Kyanite shouted. Sing something; anything!
I opened my mouth to sing, but Kukulcan shook his head at me. Nothing came out. My voice was gone; I couldn't even throw it. My heart started to race as he stroked a hand over my hair.
“Come along, my dear,” he said. “We cannot tarry here. Your lovers will return soon, and I'd hate to have to kill them. I think that would sour our relationship, don't you?”
Kukulcan pulled me in against his chest as he shifted into a giant snake. His colorful, feathered wings—so like Isis'—closed in around us as his powerful tail lifted us off the floor. Magic pulsed in my ears like a shift in atmosphere, and then there came the telltale feeling of piercing the Veil.
The Feathered Serpent had taken me to another realm.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Kukulcan's vibrant wings opened to reveal a room of sapphire walls and snowy columns. A polished obsidian floor stretched out into the open air. The room appeared to be at the top of a tower, with one wall sliced away to showcase the view. It had to be a high tower because the only view was one of clouds. Silvery, silk curtains billowed in the cool breeze, and the scent of ripe fruit ebbed in and out like the tide.
Kukulcan shifted back into human form—sans clothing�
�and I got the full monty. I would have appreciated the curves of hard muscle and silky skin if I hadn't been scared out of my mind. He frowned a little at me—possibly for not appreciating the show—and ran his hands through the choppy layers of his shoulder-length hair. In that odd state of horror and fear, I found myself focusing on the little things; like how the cut of his hair mimicked feathers. Isn't it funny how the brain deals with panic?
But I don't think Kukulcan was trying to show off his haircut. The movement displayed his body better and drew my attention to a prominent piece of flesh between his thighs. I scowled and looked away. Damn men; it was always about their dicks.
Now, would be a great time for a scathing remark; if only I could speak.
Kukulcan huffed in annoyance and turned around as he held his arms out to his sides. At first, I thought he was trying to give me a view of his—I admit it—phenomenal ass, but then a fur-lined robe floated down and settled over him. I looked up into a mist-covered ceiling and narrowed my eyes at it. Maybe I could lift my hands, and a dagger would fall into them.
Kukulcan turned around and smiled at me as he fastened his robe. But then he noticed my clothing and scowled. With a flutter of his fingers, a silk gown floated down from the mist and puddled at my feet.
“For you,” he said. “A gift.”
I pulled it on over my jeans and T-shirt. Kukulcan sighed heavily and waved toward a black-enameled door.
“The bathroom is through there; feel free to use it to change into the dress properly,” he said. “I'm not a rapist or a lecher, Elaria. I simply didn't expect you to be ashamed of your body when you have four consorts who you share it with.”
Why did loving four men make me a nudist? I glared at him as I headed into the bathroom and then slammed the door on his smug face. There was no lock, but I took the opportunity to look around for a way out. Against the far wall, there was a window, and I ran for it. I opened the curtains and peered out into a clear blue sky. Angling my head over the sill only revealed more sky and then a layer of clouds. I couldn't even see the base of the tower; if this was a tower at all.
Fuck.
Exactly, Kyanite growled. We are so very fucked. Why didn't you leave when I told you to?
I don't know! I screeched in my head.
You have to get your traveling stone back, RS said.
Yeah; thanks. I hadn't thought of that. I grimaced at my reflection in the mirror. He has my contact charm too; it was on the same chain.
Wonderful. Kyanite huffed.
I yanked off the dress and then the rest of my clothes until I stood in my underwear. I glared at the Golden Girdle before I pulled the dress back on. Why hadn't it protected me from Kukulcan's attack? I thought I was invincible in it? I made a face at my new reflection; the dress looked pretty good. The aquamarine silk slid over my curves as if it were made for me, and the color looked nice against my hair. No zipper, no ties; it just settled into place on its own.
Those clouds sure know how to make a good dress, I muttered.
Are you seriously thinking about fashion right now? RS screeched.
Sweet stones; tone it down. You're in my head; I can hear you just fine, I growled.
Look, girly, that guy just flashed you his goods; he's into you. You need to work that; you feel me? Get in nice and close, and when he's distracted, grab your fucking stone and get the fuck out of this fucking cloud cage! RS shouted.
A shiver of dread coasted through my body. Did I really have to resort to that?
It's just sex, Kyanite said gently. Your consorts will understand.
I won't understand, I said firmly. No; that's not happening.
Admirable, Kyanite said. But possibly stupid, my love.
Hey!
When you are imprisoned, you must use whatever tools you have available to free yourself, he said. Your voice is gone.
So, that leaves my body.
Yes.
Kukulcan won't believe it, I said. If I suddenly come on to him, he'll be suspicious.
Be subtle, Spellsinger.
Fuck! I hissed.
It may not come to that, Kyanite said gently. Perhaps you can get away with a few kisses. Play coy. I have faith in you.
Just seduce the motherfucker, RS growled. He's a man; they're easy once you get them thinking with their dicks. And that guy has a big dick; he'll be putty in your hands.
Can we not talk about his dick? I whined.
“Are you ever going to come out of the bathroom, Elaria?” Kukulcan asked through the door.
Here we go, I thought as I opened the door.
Kukulcan's obsidian gaze trailed over my body and back up again. He smiled brightly and extended his arm.
“You look lovely,” he said as I took it. “Allow me to show you around my home.”
Is this guy for real? Am I a prisoner or a guest?
I have no idea, Kyanite said. But he did mention that he was imprisoned for a very long time; maybe he went insane.
Wonderful, I huffed.
Try projecting your thoughts again, RS suggested. He got into your mind once before; maybe he can again. Gods know this will go a lot smoother if you don't have to seduce him like the Little Mermaid.
Why am I here, Kukulcan? I projected at my possibly nutso abductor.
Kukulcan jerked to a stop and stared at me in surprise. You're allowing me back in? He projected into my mind.
Well, you've taken my ability to speak, I huffed. How else am I going to communicate with you?
“If I return it to you, will you promise not to use your voice against me?” He asked.
I gaped at him. You're just going to trust me?
“You've seen what I can do on Earth,” Kukulcan noted. “Now, we are in my heaven; the plane of existence I created with my fellow gods. Here, I am at my most powerful. As soon as you try to sing, I can silence you. So, yes; I can afford to take that chance. If you prove to be dishonorable, I will lose nothing, but I will learn that you are untrustworthy.”
Fair enough.
“Then speak freely, Elaria Tanager,” Kukulcan said as he moved his hand through the air before my face.
I cleared my throat and tested my voice. “How do you know so much about me? About all of us?”
“Some things I learned from Isis, some from the Beneather Community.” He shrugged. “You're not difficult to investigate.”
“Then you knew we were coming?”
“You weren't secretive about your own investigation,” he pointed out.
“I suppose not.” I frowned.
As soon as my voice returned, I went back to thinking inwardly; protecting my thoughts from Kukulcan. I cast a sideways look at him and then out toward the drop-off where we were heading.
“Are we going flying?” I asked.
“As a matter of fact”—he slipped out of his robe, and it floated back up into the ceiling mist—“we are.”
Kukulcan shifted into his winged serpent form, and this time, I allowed myself to really look at him. His serpentine body was covered in sleek feathers; everywhere except for his belly which was protected by pale-green scales. The glimmering feathers were in jewel tones of emerald, ruby, citrine, and aquamarine—the last color matching my dress perfectly. Kukulcan had a mane of feathers around his dragon-like face, and they trailed down his temples to end just above his gleaming eyes. His wings were in the same hues as the feathers on his body; arching above him proudly as he slithered below. The tip of his tail had a fan of the jewel feathers which he used to brush against me; urging me onto his back.
“Would you care to see Heaven, pretty bird?”
“Can you stop calling me 'pretty bird' like I'm a damn canary?” I huffed.
Kukulcan chuckled. “As you like, Elaria.”
I sighed and climbed onto his back. It was comfortable with all the feathers for padding, and there were two conveniently placed horns near the base of his skull which I used for handholds. As soon as I was secure, Kukulcan slithered off the floo
r and dove into the sky. Then his wings caught the currents, and we soared upward. The freedom of flight lifted my heart, and I sighed as I stared around us in wonder.
There were brightly painted palaces floating among the clouds, and massive islands as well. Kukulcan dipped down to skim over the tops of some blossoming fruit trees on one of the islands; scattering their petals through the air like confetti. The scent of orange blossoms surrounded me briefly. Flocks of birds took flight around us in bursts of blue, and long-legged deer sprinted over the ground below us.
“I missed this the most,” Kukulcan called to me past the hiss of the wind. “There is no greater feeling than that of flight.”
“You couldn't fly where you were?” I asked.
Kukulcan looked back at me, started to speak over the wind again, but then gave up, and spiraled us down onto an island; right in the center of a flower-filled meadow. I slid off his back, and Kukulcan shifted into his human form. He held his arms out, and the robe floated down to drape around his body once more.
“Does that thing just follow you around?” I waved a hand at the robe.
“It's manifestation magic,” he said with surprise. “I'd thought you'd be familiar with it. Isn't your lover accomplished in the art?”
“Yeah; Declan does things a little differently though,” I murmured.
“To answer your earlier question; I was in Hell. So, no; there was no flying. Not like this.”
“You were trapped in Hell?” I asked with horror.
“We all were, and although we were the gods there, it was not a pleasant place to live.” Kukulcan waved his hand toward a lake, and we headed in its direction. “We spent a lot of our time in the Underworld; gathering our magic and our anger.”
“But why take it out on the Blooders?” I asked.
“I regret that,” Kukulcan said as he sat on the grassy shore.
I hesitated a moment and then sat beside him. “You do?”
“Isis was obviously insane,” he said. “But she helped us, and we were honor-bound to give her payment. I'm relieved that she's dead; I have no wish to annihilate an entire race. But I will speak honestly with you, so you can truly understand me; the attack served a purpose for us as well as it did for Isis.”
