by Unknown
“She was working with a sorceress,” I shrugged. “Perhaps Rebecca cast these before she died. Or maybe Eztli found another witch to lay wards for her.”
“Or a god,” Blue whispered and his jaw clenched.
“Why would she be here if she was involved with a god?” I asked Blue gently.
“That is a very good point,” he sighed. “Please forgive my erratic moods, she has always made me so.”
“Yeah, I get it,” I glanced at my guys and smiled. “Love makes you do stupid things.”
“So are we going to just bust down the front door or do we have a plan?” Azrael gave me a sexy grin.
“I'm good with busting down the front door,” I looked around and everyone nodded in agreement. Everyone except Blue.
“Hold one moment please,” Blue held out an elegant, dark hand. “This doesn't feel right.”
“What do you think we should do?” I went serious. It was never a good idea to disregard the instincts of a god.
“Let me go in first,” Blue held up a hand as I began to protest. “She won't hurt me. She can't.”
“Um,” I looked at my men frantically. Should I tell Blue that she actually could hurt him?
“But if she has help of the non-vampire variety, they might be able to hurt you,” Trevor observed smoothly and I shot him a grateful glance.
“I will take my chances,” Blue said as he moved forward.
“But Blue,” I caught his arm.
“I need to see her alone, Vervain,” he eased my hand away and left.
We all watched in silence as he crossed the quiet street. The entire neighborhood seemed eerily somber actually. No voices drifted out of the surrounding homes. No music or even the bark of a dog. Nothing. I looked around, understanding Blue's unease, and reached out with my little witch senses. There. I felt a shimmer of magic around us.
We were already within a ward. Someone had laid multiple wards here and one stretched out from the house to enclose us within it. It wasn't the type of ward which prevented people from getting in. No, it was much more subtle than that. A ward for preventing sound from passing through in either direction. A silencer, great for doing loud bits of magic... or for killing your enemies.
I started to call out to Blue but he was already gone, having found the front door unlocked. I ran across the street after him, calling out that it was a trap, and the others followed me unquestioningly. We flew into the house, pulling up short when we found the small entryway empty. I listened and sniffed the air to determine which direction Blue had headed in.
I caught his scent easily and raced after Blue, down a long hallway with an echoing wood floor. I was almost to him when I fell, overwhelmed by my sudden reconnection to Jared. I sucked in a shaky breath and stood, keeping a mental grip on that bright line. I decided to head towards Jared instead of Blue, who was going in the wrong direction entirely.
Jared's cord led me to the back of the house, where I found him subdued under layers of chains like some cartoon criminal. He was blindfolded and gagged but he knew the moment I stepped into the room. His whole body went calm, muscles relaxing with a sigh. I rushed forward and pulled the blindfold off.
Jared blinked up at me and when I removed the gag, he licked his dry lips and smiled. “Hey, Tima,” he said with his lilting Irish accent. “What took you so long?”
I gave a little laugh and shook my head as the Intare who were with me came forward to undo his chains. The words reminded me of Vero and they once again had me wondering how I inspired such faith.
“Where are the others, Jared?” I asked as I tried to sense the rest of my missing Intare but couldn't.
“I doona know,” he shook off the chains and stood. “She separated us and then moved us. I lost their scent after that.”
“Damn that vampire biatch,” I growled but then a shout came from above us. From the direction Blue had been heading in. “Blue,” I whispered as I realized that Jared had been a distraction and I had made a huge mistake. Again.
I made it to the foyer and grabbed the banister as I swerved around it and shot up the stairway. Wood creaked wildly beneath my harried steps as I raced up to the top floor. I ran by empty rooms, the rapid pound of my footsteps echoing through them, until I finally found Blue, sitting forlornly on a fluffy white bed draped in delicate lace curtains. His hands were in his lap, his shoulders hunched, and blood was dripping down his neck from two dainty holes.
“Blue?” I stood panting a little in the doorway.
“She bit me,” he said in wonder and looked up at me with sad eyes. “She lured me in and then bit me. As if she could ever hurt me with her bite,” he huffed. “What was she thinking?”
“Maybe she thought she owed it to you,” I crossed over the thick carpet and sat beside him. My heartbeat started to slow with the knowledge that Blue was safe. I hadn't irreparably screwed up this time.
“Perhaps,” he gave a bitter laugh. “And perhaps she was right.”
“She got away?” Trevor came skidding to a stop before us. The rest of our group was behind him.
“Yes, she surprised me,” Blue's voice went hard. “And while I lay stunned, she traced away.”
“Lay?” I glanced at the bed and then back to Blue. His eyes shifted away. “Gotcha,” I nodded. It wasn't like I had any room to talk, I'd had make-out sessions during some pretty inappropriate moments myself. “Uh, Blue?” He finally lifted his gaze to mine. “We got Jared but she still has five more of my lions.”
“Yes, I know,” he swallowed hard. “Jared was a distraction so she could have a moment alone with me. She says she'll keep the rest of the Intare until your child is born and then she will trade them back to you in exchange for vials of blood.”
“She wants to trade my men for my baby's blood?” I growled.
“It would not kill the baby to have a few vials drawn,” Blue offered reasonably.
“And I'm sure she'll treat my lions like princes until Rian's born,” I snapped.
“She didn't hurt me,” Jared said as he came into the room, “didn't even drink my blood and that's kind of her thing, right?”
“I don't care how well she's treating them,” I set my eyes on Jared. “They don't deserve to be held hostage at all and I don't intend to reward her for abducting them. Blue can track her. He'll lead us to her and then we'll just take them back.” I looked to Blue expectantly.
“Alright,” he sighed and closed his eyes. A few minutes passed and then a few more. Finally, he opened his eyes and looked at me in shock. “I can't feel her. She's gone.”
“What?” I growled, a deep rumble lifting through my chest.
“The blood,” Odin said, his expression grim. “She took his blood. If she has a witch working with her, they could easily cast a spell to block Blue from using his blood to track her.”
“A reverse location spell,” I whispered. “Damn.”
“Maybe you should consider the trade,” Azrael said gently.
“I am not taking blood from my son and handing it over to that manipulative vamp!” I shouted. “If nothing else, this spell against Blue should have convinced all of you of how bad an idea that would be.”
“She could use the babe's blood against him,” Trevor whispered.
“Or me,” I snarled. “Who knows what she could do with the blood of a fairy god?”
“I do,” Odin's jaw clenched. “She could do many things. Many horrible things.”
“She's not getting a drop of Rian's blood,” I swore but my stomach churned with what that could mean for my lions. “We'll just go back to your Santa TV and if that doesn't work, we'll try the list of properties Torrent discovered. We'll find her.”
Chapter Forty-Two
“How will she even know whether or not I accept this bargain?” I asked as we gathered in the dining hall of Pride Palace.
After searching every property on Torrent's list and trying the Santa TV, both to no avail, we had called the God Squad in for assistance. The Squ
ad sat pensively, sipping glasses of wine and nibbling at plates of snacks which my lions had set out in an effort to be hospitable. It wasn't often that it was Intare who we were trying to save and I think they were grateful everyone had shown up. They really didn't have to be; the Intare had been there for all of my god friends on numerous occasions. They were owed. Big time.
“She'll be calling me on this,” Blue slid a cell phone down the long wood table towards me.
“Blue,” I caught the phone under my hand and picked it up, “why didn't you mention this sooner?”
“I didn't think it mattered,” he shrugged. “You're refusing to bargain with her.”
“But that doesn't mean I want her to know that,” I grumbled.
“We can use this to find her,” Torrent came over and took the phone from me. “It's a burner but I can still track the call through the Inter Realm.”
“I thought phone calls used satellites and towers and stuff,” Aaron, one of my lions, shook back his Fabio hair.
“A cell phone signal is broadcasted through towers,” Torr nodded. “But those towers and transmissions are monitored by the mobile phone companies. All that information is online. Also, I've enhanced our signal here by using the Inter Realm, so if Eztli called, her call will be forced through the Internet and I will be able to track it.”
“Have I told you how much I love you?” I kissed Torr's cheek.
“Hey, you've got enough loving,” Artie teased from where she sat a few seats down. “Leave my man alone.”
“Hands off,” I held my hands up with a smile, “you got it.”
“Ladies, ladies,” Torrent smirked and drawled in a perfect imitation of Artie's brother, Apollo. “There's enough Torrent to go around. There's no bit in front of my name.”
“I'm going to stop letting you hang out with my brother,” Artemis shook her head.
“So what shall we do when she calls?” Blue got us back on track.
“I think you should tell her you'll take the deal,” Thor suggested. “Draw out the conversation as long as possible so Torrent can find her and then we'll go in and rescue your lions.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me,” I nodded to him.
“How many of us do you want with you on this?” Morpheus asked.
I looked around the room and considered. All of my Intare had sworn to go along, that was around seventy right there. Azrael, Kirill, Odin, and Trevor were all a given as well, and then we had my ever growing God Squad who were all in attendance. Even Naye had come with Toby and their parents. The only one missing was Ull and it was hard to look around the table and not see him. I found my hand trailing to my belly absentmindedly. There was a lot of fire power in the room but something twitched inside my chest, warning me that I had no idea what we'd be up against. Eztli was unpredictable and I knew for a fact that she was capable of killing her maker.
“All of you,” I finally said. “I want all of you to come along if you don't mind.”
Naye groaned.
“Of course we don't mind,” Toby hit his brother.
“Good, I have a feeling Eztli isn't going to be defeated easily,” I exchanged a worried look with Blue.
“I can handle any vampires she has with her,” Blue said grimly, “but she must have help beyond that, strong help if those wards are any clue, and that concerns me. We don't know what kind of witch she's working with.”
“It concerns me too,” I stared at him pensively, wondering if I should come clean and tell him that his death was a part of the future we needed to change.
“We can take down one witch,” Pan chuckled and then his eyes found me and he sobered. “Oh, right, you were just one witch.”
“I was,” I nodded, “and I still managed to kill gods. We can't let ourselves get too cocky. Yes, we're powerful, especially when we work together, but there's always someone more so and even if they aren't; wit and wile can often win the fight.”
“Wit and wile,” Torrent laughed, “I like that.”
“You won't like it so much if we lose to it,” I said grimly and his face fell.
Chapter Forty-Three
Three hours later, we were all wondering if we should send everyone home and call them back in after Eztli called us. The only ones who really needed to be there, on guard as it were, were Torrent and Blue. We'd already planned our attack in detail, forming units of fighters for my Intare and the gods. So all of us sitting around, waiting for the phone to ring, seemed ridiculous. I was about to say so when the phone finally rang, its strident voice shocking us all out of our stupors.
Blue gave Torrent a pointed look as he picked up the phone and Torrent rushed forward. Torr gave the phone the barest tap with his fingertip as Blue answered, “Yes?” We couldn't hear what was said but Blue's face went tight in irritation and he handed me the phone. “She wants to speak to you,” he said stiffly.
“Torr?” I whispered.
“I got the line,” Torrent disappeared as he jumped into the swath of invisible Inter Realm that snaked out from our tracing room.
“Hello?” I spoke into the cell phone.
“Have you made your decision?” Eztli asked bluntly.
“I have,” I replied crisply. “I'll make the trade but I have some conditions.”
“I'd expect nothing less,” her voice sounded so smug, I couldn't wait to see her in person and obliterate that smugness.
“I want proof of life everyday,” I started and she laughed.
“Proof of life?” Her voice mocked. “You can determine that yourself can't you? You would know if one of them died.”
“I would,” I admitted, “but the proof of life is so that I can see that they're not beaten or abused.” The line went silent for several seconds.
“I would not hurt innocent men for no reason,” she finally said.
“Really?” I scoffed. “Cause that's not the vibe I got from you when the ceiling was crashing down over your vampires. I felt more of a I'll hurt whomever I want, whenever I want, and I don't give a rat's ass vibe.”
“Then you read me wrong, Godhunter,” she inhaled deep and slow. “I'm not doing this to inflict pain on you or yours. I simply want the best life I can get for myself. I'm sorry that your child's blood is the only path for me to achieve that but, as I'm sure Huitzilopochtli has already informed you, I do not have to kill the baby. All I need is a few vials of blood, my clairvoyant has promised me this will be enough. It won't affect your child at all. Surely a few vials of blood is worth the life of your men?”
“It is,” I agreed, “but I'm not inclined to give you anything after all you've done.”
“I couldn't very well walk up to you and ask nicely, now could I?” She huffed.
“You might have,” I mused. “And I might have agreed but now we'll never know. The fact is, you've threatened me and those I love and no matter what your reasons are, that's unacceptable. You will have your deal but it will be on my terms. I want video showing proof of life daily, comfortable living conditions including entertainment for them, and they are not to be harmed in any way. You will return one lion for each vial of blood I give you and you will consume that blood in front of me. If you don't wish to agree to these conditions, go ahead and kill them. I know how to bring them back.”
The Intare around me inhaled sharply at my declaration but I waved them down with a head shake and they settled. It was a bluff but one based on facts. I could bring them back if I wanted to but the process would be difficult, especially for so many of them, and since they already had an afterlife awaiting them in Duat, I probably wouldn't risk it. Eztli didn't know that though.
“What did you say? You know how to return the dead to life?” Her voice hissed through the phone. “You lie.”
“It's the truth,” I gave a grim chuckle. “I've brought two gods back from the Void already. Tobadzistsini of the Navajos and Odin the Allfather.”
She went silent again as I cast my eyes over the men I'd mentioned, both of them looking
like their old selves, despite the new bodies I'd put them into. Odin had given me a bit of trouble but Toby seemed to have taken to his new body easily and I was glad for it. He deserved some peace.
“Your lions have just confirmed your story,” she said finally and I nearly growled in frustration. She was standing right next to them. “You've shocked me, Godhunter and that doesn't happen very often. I didn't even think there was a place for our souls to go upon death but you say there is a void?”
“The Void,” I sighed, not sure if I wanted to share that information with her. “It's where both human and god souls go if they aren't otherwise bound.”
“Like to a deity?” She asked.
“Yes, exactly,” I confirmed. “I know how to travel there and bring a soul back. So you can threaten my lions all you like but it won't help your case. You'd do better to work with me than against me.”
“Fine,” she snapped. “You will have your proof of... health. Your lions will be comfortable, entertained, and untouched. I will trade one for each vial of blood you provide and I will drink the blood in front of you. That one was a very wise addition, by the way. It looks like you've considered every possibility. Is there anything else that you require?”
As she asked that, Torrent reappeared with a big grin on his face and nodded to me. I smiled back and had to stop the glee from seeping into my voice when I replied.
“Nothing,” I cleared my throat. “I want to be sure they're safe. If you treat them well and return them unharmed, you will have your blood and your damn divinity.”
“Thank you,” she whispered and hung up.
“No, thank you,” I growled and tossed the phone on the table. “Let's go get my lions.”
The Intare roared.
Chapter Forty-Four
“Now this is more like it,” I said after I stepped out of the Aether.
“No vampire jokes here,” Torrent agreed.
“Well, there are several Italian stories of blood drinkers,” Hades sniffed at the crisp citrus-scented air of Tuscany and peered at the rolling hills with a slight smile.
