by Vivi Anna
Turning slightly, she watched as Hades plodded forward. His head was slumped again, his chin touching his chest, and he seemed to drag his feet with each step. He stumbled once and nearly pulled her down. She helped him straighten up, and they continued to plod on.
“I don’t hate you,” she confessed, not sure why it mattered that he know. Perhaps because she didn’t want to die without making a connection with him.
Hades glanced over at her, a small smile playing on his cracked lips. “I know.”
She returned his smile. The man had an uncanny ability to pull at her. Her heart did not feel so heavy when he was near. He was the first man to make her feel more than a sense of obligation or affection.
Damian didn’t make her feel giddy. Damian didn’t make her heart pound so hard in her chest that it felt like bursting. He didn’t make her feel frustration and respect all at the same time.
Hades made her feel like a woman, not a warrior.
After stumbling again, Hades went down, pulling her with him. The weight of his body propelled her to the ground. Her body twisted and she landed hard on her back. A grunt of pain expelled from his mouth as Hades landed heavily on top of her. Any breath she had left was pushed out of her lungs by the impact.
Both motionless, they tried to gain their breath and their wits. Finally Kat was able to take in air regularly. She opened her eyes and stared into the side of Hades’s head. His face was buried in her neck. She could barely feel his hot breath on her throat.
“Get up, Hades.”
“I can’t,” he managed to croak.
“Yes, you can.”
“I don’t want to move. I don’t want to ever move again,” he said quietly.
“Hades, you asshole, get up. I refuse to die like this, trapped underneath you.”
“Would it help if you were on top?”
“It might.” Kat began to laugh. She couldn’t help it. The ridiculousness of the situation overwhelmed her. And Hades’s fondness for jokes made it seem even more ridiculous. He had the gift of making any dire situation bearable, even laughable.
Raising his head, Hades seemed to gaze down at her. She wished she could see his eyes through the tint of the goggles.
“If I was a normal guy and you were a normal girl, this might be the best time to talk about our feelings for each other.”
“But we aren’t normal, are we?”
Hades shook his head and leaned down, stopping a mere breath away from her lips. “Promise me one thing, and I’ll get us to safety.”
“What?” She breathed heavily, wanting him desperately to press his mouth to hers.
“That when we’re safe and healed, you’ll let me lay on top of you again.”
Kat chuckled, her lips cracking open. “I promise.”
With incredible strength, Hades pushed up with his hands and pulled Kat to her feet. They stood facing each other. Hades leaned down and put his arms around her waist. He picked her up and swung her over his shoulder.
Kat shrieked. “What are you doing?”
“Saving us both.”
He wrapped an arm around her legs to keep her still and then started to walk. His legs wobbled at first. Then he gained speed. Soon Hades pushed all his might and strength into his limbs, and he began to run.
Kat hung on as Hades ran. She clamped her eyes shut against the well of tears that threatened to erupt. She was unnerved at the reserves of power and survival Hades still had left in him. It was no wonder the man was a legend, revered like a god of old.
It was now that Kat prayed to her gods of old. She never prayed. Never felt the need to, or the point. But as she felt her energy drain and her will flutter like the wind, she needed to do something. She didn’t make any promises of being a better person or helping those in need, for she knew she would never keep them. But she did make an oath that she would release Damian from her care and make sure he had at least the tools to make a life of his own. A happy one, where love could find him whole and receptive.
She squeezed her eyes tighter as the first tear slipped out and ran down her forehead, evaporating into her dirty matted hair.
“We made it. We made it,” Hades whispered, his voice hoarse and cracked.
He stopped and fell to his knees, bringing Kat forward and dropping her onto the soft carpet of grass. He collapsed face first into the semicool shade of the trees. Kat opened her eyes and stared at the waving leaves in the overhanging branches of the big oak trees. She raised her hand and waved back. Grinning, she let her hand fall to the ground. They were going to live.
She closed her eyes and fell away into a deep, dark chasm.
11
K at’s eyes fluttered open as cool, sweet water dripped over her lips. She parted them and let the refreshing liquid drip into her mouth. She stuck out her tongue for more. She was not disappointed as more water slowly dribbled into her open, eager mouth. Pain shot through her as she swallowed. Her throat, withered into a piece of dried meat, barely opened for the liquid, and she choked.
“Slowly.”
Kat opened her eyes fully and stared at the person kneeling next to her. She quickly closed them and then opened them again. She must be dreaming.
The man crouched down next to her was shiny and pale. He was bald and completely hairless. Even the area above his dark blue eyes was smooth. He wore no clothes except a short white wrap of cloth at his crotch. It covered him, but barely.
Kat tried to raise herself. “Who…”
Considering his lanky frame, he pushed her back down with substantial force. “Do not waste your energy. I am no threat to you.”
He put the canteen to her mouth. “Drink some more. The water is sugar-laced. It will help you gather your strength.”
Kat took in more; this time she swallowed without choking. The liquid tasted like honey, a taste she had not experienced since she was a child.
“My name is Nemo.”
“Where are…”
“Your friends are being looked after.”
Kat turned her head and saw Hades being attended to by another man identical to this one. Hades was still unconscious.
“Your other female is…is of the darkness. We are not sure if we can help her.”
“Is she still alive?”
“Yes, but barely. What she needs we are not willing to give.”
Kat nodded. She understood, for she would not willingly give up her blood for Darquiel either. Closing her eyes again, she thought of the oath she’d made in her prayer. For Damian and his happiness. This certainly could not be part of the bargain. She would help him in other ways.
She swore softly to herself. “I will…feed her.”
Nemo appeared surprised. “She means that much to you?”
“No, but the man lying next to her does.”
Nemo nodded as he helped her sit up. Her head spun and she nearly passed out. He pressed his hand to the nape of her neck. She noticed the thin skin between his fingers, like the webbing of a duck’s foot. But it was cool and comforting, like a cold compress. Her nausea quickly passed.
She was able to get to her hands and knees and she crawled to where Darquiel was sprawled. A bald and shiny female crouched next to her, but not too close. She was naked except for a similar strip of cloth around her crotch. She scrambled backward as Kat neared.
“It’s all right, Naiad,” Nemo said as he touched the woman on the shoulder. “She has come to feed this…girl.”
Naiad nodded and stilled her movements.
Kat sat down next to Darquiel and gazed down at her prone form. Her skin was almost translucent. She could clearly see the veins in her face and hands. They were no longer blue, but a deeper color, almost black. Carefully Kat studied her. She stared at her chest until she could see the slight lift as her lungs filled. Kat’s gorge rose while she stared at the girl.
Nemo crouched next to her, concern furrowing his brow. “Are you sure?”
“No.” Kat contemplated Damian. He was still unco
nscious and lay close to Darquiel. He looked at peace, his face slack and line free. But Kat knew if he woke and found Darquiel dead, he would not go on. Somehow they were linked now that Darquiel had taken his blood. Her death might just catapult Damian into a self-destructive downspin that could possibly force Kat to defend herself and end his life.
Uncertain that she could live with that guilt, Kat reached down and unsheathed the small dagger from her ankle. She raised her hand above Darquiel’s mouth. With one quick swipe of her blade, Kat’s palm split open and thick red blood oozed out. Small drops landed on Darquiel’s mouth. Soon her lips were crimson with Kat’s blood and some ran down over her chin.
Darquiel’s lips parted. Kat didn’t think she had awakened, but assumed her predatory instincts kicked in. Her throat moved as she swallowed the liquid. Kat kept her hand over Darquiel’s gaping mouth until dark spots clouded her eyes. She withdrew her hand and closed it into a tight fist.
“I have fulfilled my oath,” she said quietly.
Naiad moved next to Kat and handed her a thin strip of cloth. The girl tipped her head as Kat took it and wrapped it tightly around her wound.
“Hopefully that will be enough to keep her alive,” Nemo commented as he helped Kat stand.
Kat wobbled and he held her firm. “You know what she is?”
“Yes, we have dealt with her kind before.”
“Where…?”
“Enough questions right now. We must get you to our village. There you can be properly cared for.”
“Ahhhh!” Hades sat up and opened his eyes.
The man attending him yelped and scrambled backward. Everyone else jumped.
Hades turned to find Kat. His brow furrowed when he noticed Nemo hanging on tightly to her arm. Hades pushed up with his hands.
“It’s all right,” Kat assured him. “They’re here to help.”
Hades blinked rapidly and returned to his position on the ground. Bringing up a hand to his head, he rubbed at his brow. “I have a killer headache.”
“The sun nearly fried your brain. Of course you have a headache,” the other man commented sarcastically.
“Triton, there is no need to be rude,” Nemo berated.
“What were you people doing out there? No sane, rational person would go out on the wastelands in full day,” Triton asked, a trace of annoyance in his voice.
Nemo held up his hand. “We will save our questions, too, until we are safely at our village.” Nemo glanced down at Hades. “Do you think you can stand?”
Hades nodded. He sat up again, this time slowly.
“Help him, Triton,” Nemo commanded.
The other shiny man stood and held out his webbed hand. Hades looked at it a moment and then up to Triton’s face. He took his hand. Triton pulled him to his feet.
“We will carry your other male, but you will have to carry the other. We will not touch her if we don’t have to.”
“Hades, do you think you could carry her?”
He nodded. “If you tied her onto my back. She weighs next to nothing.” He stumbled over to where Darquiel lay.
Nemo let go of Kat as she bent forward to heft Darquiel up. Still very weak, she couldn’t lift Darquiel high enough. Kat tried again, to no avail. Sweat popped out on her forehead and upper lip. She felt like fainting again. She glanced around at the shiny people. They retreated and watched Kat and Hades struggle in silence.
“Could one of you help me?” Kat snarled, exhausted from trying to lift Darquiel.
Nemo shook his head. “She is from the darkness. Their clan have raided our village and stolen our people. We cannot help those that harm us.”
“She may be from the ‘darkness,’ as you say, but she is not part of that clan,” Kat explained. “She came from Burnsbow, a village far from here in the southern plains. She escaped from the city years ago, and is now our guide back in. She will not harm you.”
Nemo eyed her questioningly. Kat couldn’t believe she was sticking up for Darquiel. Only a day ago she was ready to shoot her where she stood. Later she might regret this, but now she needed to get the girl onto Hades’s back.
Nemo continued to stare. She could see that he was thinking. Nodding, he stepped forward. With both their efforts, they managed to secure Darquiel onto Hades’s shoulders.
Triton picked up Damian with ease and slung him over his shoulder. Nemo steadied Kat with a firm hand on her arm. Hades shuffled up next to them, Darquiel hanging off his back. Naiad led the way into the trees. They followed the strange woman into the woods. They had no choice.
12
A s they walked through the thick trees, Kat wandered how such growth was possible. She could not ever recall seeing green so bright, so lush. Flowers even grew on the forest floor. She had not seen one outside a book. There were colors she had no idea nature could make. While she gaped around in awe, Nemo gave her a reassuring smile.
It was not long before they emerged from the trees and into a large clearing. A clearing that turned into a busy, vibrant village. Two shiny men armed with spears greeted them as they stepped out of the woods.
Kat gazed around in wonder as more shiny men and women appeared. Some came out of surrounding buildings made from wood. Buildings with wide porches and overhangs, providing much needed shade. Looking around, she noticed that most of the village was covered by overhangs or by thatched canopies held up by thick poles buried in the ground. They were very well protected from the harsh rays of the unforgiving sun.
As Kat gazed around at all the shiny pale faces, she felt nausea rise in her throat once more. “Who are you?”
“We will share our stories once you are rested and nourished.” Nemo regarded his kin, searching the faces. “Leucothea?”
A petite young woman parted the crowd. She was clothed like the rest, with only a cloth wrap around her waist, but she stuck out like a sore thumb. She had long, chestnut-brown hair and matching eyebrows.
She came quickly to Nemo’s side and bowed her head.
“You will help me aid our visitors,” Nemo instructed the girl.
“Yes, Nemo.”
Leucothea led the way through the village to a large wood longhouse. Inside the house were several beds with wooden frames, lined up against the wall. Triton set Damian down on one. Kat and Nemo untied Darquiel from Hades’s back and set her down on a bed in the corner. Both Kat and Hades found beds of their own.
Leucothea bustled around them like a flighty bird. She knelt down at Kat’s feet and began to untie her boots. Kat pulled away her foot.
“It’s all right. Leucothea will help you undress,” Nemo offered.
“I don’t need help,” Kat argued, her eyes heavy. “I just need to sleep.”
“You need to lower your body temperature or you may not wake from your sleep.”
Kat glanced at Damian’s still form. “You mean he might not wake up?”
Nemo shrugged. “I do not know. All I know is that we can prevent that for the both of you. If you quit being stubborn, that is.”
Hades shrugged like a man numbed by too much alcohol and then began to shed his clothes. He struggled with his cloak, and Leucothea helped him. As he tried to wrestle off his shirt, she aided him with his boots.
Kat stripped off her goggles and watched as Hades wrestled with his clothing. He looked at her and grinned. “C’mon, babe. Let’s get naked.” Then he began to giggle like a little boy.
Kat shook her head. “Will you be able to fix him? I don’t think I could stand it if his brains are fried.”
“If we can get him into the tub right away. The sun can turn the healthiest of folk into babbling idiots,” Nemo replied.
“I noticed,” Kat scoffed.
Hades finally managed to rip off his shirt. Underneath he was all rippled muscle. Kat marveled at the pure beauty of his form. Like a statue carved from granite, chiseled with deft skill and artistic flair. With what little saliva she had, she found her mouth watering as he reclined against the mattress and let
the girl remove his boots. He glanced over at her and grinned, knowing full well what she was staring at.
“Like the package, babe?”
Kat sniffed. “Yeah, the packaging is great. It’s what’s inside I’m beginning to doubt.”
“You can’t doubt this,” he stated as he stood up and unbuttoned his pants.
Tearing her eyes from Hades’s strip show, she glanced at Nemo, who was supervising all of this. He had an amused expression on his face. “What’s funny?”
“You are a mated couple?”
“Hell, no,” Kat snorted.
“Well, you should be.” And with that he walked over to Hades and held him up as he struggled with his pants.
Kat reluctantly turned and watched as his pants came off. As her eyes widened, she had no doubt whatsoever of his packaging. She remembered all too well when his arousal had been pressed like steel against her lower back. While she gazed at him, she took in a ragged breath. Even when not aroused, the man was a marvel to take in.
Once he was completely naked, Nemo and Leucothea helped him over to the large wooden tub that had been filled with water. Kat stared at his ass as he passed her. She had once come across a video box that proclaimed to be about buns of steel. It wasn’t until she read the back of the box that she realized they were talking about the muscles of the buttocks and not rock-hard pastry. Now, as she gazed at Hades, she understood what they were talking about. He definitely had buns of steel.
“You’re looking at my ass, aren’t you?”
“No,” she answered indignantly.
Leucothea smiled shyly at Kat. “He probably won’t remember any of this later.”
“Then, yes, I was staring at your ass, Hades, and your cock. You are the most incredible-looking man I have ever seen, and I desperately want to fuck you.”
Hades just smiled and nodded. “I knew it.” He glanced down at Leucothea. “I knew it.”
“Of course you did.” She patted him on the arm as if he were a child. “Now take a big step into the tub.”
