She’d been a teenager.
Evesse growled, opening her eyes and focusing on the man again. Her fingers curled. She jumped on the ledge, ready to vault, her teeth bared as she stared at his back. That was her target. That was who she needed to punish.
Yes, punish.
She was a breath away from pouncing, when something caught her attention from the corner of her eye. Eve turned to see Dimithinia frozen, her now black eyes fixated below. Her stance was stiff, legs spread and back straight, her own fingers flexed into claws.
She was holding herself back from doing something.
Eve shook, refusing to look down at the humans once more. She stepped off the ledge and stopped next to Dimithinia. The ex-queen’s mouth opened slowly, her voice hissing out in a double whisper. The word she uttered made Eve’s heart plummet.
“Death.”
“Come again?” Eve said.
Dimithinia’s fingers flexed. Her eyes jumped around, her brow furrowing with distress. “I see death. The ones that are going to die. How . . . I see how they . . .”
Eve stepped back, heart racing. What the hell was happening to them?
“The emergence of powers. It can be a headache. I would know. Thousands of years and I’m still developing new ones.”
Dimithinia blinked and turned at the same time Eve did.
Evesse almost didn’t recognize the Nylicia that stood before them.
Her body was surrounded by black wisps of energy. Evesse could still see through her, but Nylicia was the most corporeal Eve had ever seen her. Her black, strapless dress ended in a trail of mist. Her hair was loose, the dark brown strands falling down to her waist and merging with the maelstrom around her.
There was a choker around her throat, one that had tendrils of that black energy slithering out and flaring behind her.
“What the—”
“What you see when you look at the humans is the result of your powers,” Nylicia said calmly, beginning to walk toward them as if nothing was wrong.
As if she didn’t resemble a creepy version of Morticia Adams come to life.
“My powers?” Eve stared at Nylicia’s feet. “And on another note, what the hell is wrong with you?”
The closer she got to them, the more Eve could see that she wasn’t really wearing a dress. It only looked like she was because of the way that black smoke encircled her. Leather pants and fighting boots peeked out with each step Nylicia took.
She stopped and stared down at the street.
“I’m worried.” She said it so easily; a simple statement of fact, yet her eyes turned black as she studied the mall before them. “I am showing you a projection of myself from deep within my mind. Unfortunately, that also means that I resemble my deepest emotional state like this.”
“So, this is what you look like pissed off?”
Nylicia looked at Eve. Her eyes were wide and unblinking while the black inside her irises started to spread to the rest of her eyes.
“No. I am worried. I told you.”
Well, then. Eve would hate to see what pissed off looked like.
“Back to the issue of your powers,” Nylicia said, her gaze focused somewhere in front of her.
Eve frowned. “What powers are we talking about?” In her memory, she saw Nylicia waltzing into the main hall of Enzyria with that colorful, glowing Aristi and flinging it at Ismini.
“I gave you the powers of Justice.”
“What?”
“Shit,” Dimithinia whispered.
“She was one of the goddesses who died during the last war. You were destined to take in her powers.”
Dimithinia raised an eyebrow at Eve. “Goddess of Justice, huh?”
“And you tell me this now?” Evesse growled at Nylicia, her mind revolting at the idea. “Why me? I’m not suited for that shit!”
“But you are. More than anyone else in existence today.”
“You couldn’t ask for my permission first? How about Ismini’s?”
Don’t try to harm her, Evesse. Sadistic insanity aside, she means well.
I think.
“No. Too much is at stake.”
Before Eve could lose her ever-loving mind, Dimithinia cleared her throat.
“And me? What is happening to me? Why can I see how those people are going to die?”
Nylicia shrugged one shoulder. “You were dead for eleven thousand years before being resurrected. It makes sense that you would have a connection to death.”
She was lying. Eve knew it. Dimithinia knew it. It was obvious in the way she glared at Nylicia.
Nylicia stayed motionless, her eyes resembling bottomless pits. “I must leave. You are to meet with a human down there. She is known as Spari.”
“A human?” Dimithinia asked.
“Yes. She is my sister.”
“Your sister?” There’s no way Eve heard that right.
“Yes. My sister.”
And still the bitch didn’t move.
Eve held back the urge to growl, frustrated beyond the point of belief. She didn’t like being confused. “How can a human be your sister?”
Nylicia finally turned, her irises surfacing amongst a sea of black. They were a solid color, a light blue so bright that it was almost white. “That is not my story to tell. If Spari wants to explain to you how she came to be as she is, then she will. She’ll be waiting for you down there.”
Evesse gave up with a small inhale and decided to go along with it. “What exactly are we supposed to do with her?”
“Go shopping with her, what else? That’s how you’ll find your male.”
Nylicia disappeared, not giving a damn that she was leaving two confused females behind.
Motherfucking bullshit, Eve thought, exhaling roughly. She was trying real hard to convince herself that Nylicia was a good, well-meaning being, but it was hard as fuck when Eve constantly wished she could hurt the female. But it didn’t matter as long as she found Zen. At least, that’s what Eve was telling herself. “Alrighty then. I don’t see how this is going to help, but let’s get to it.”
Dimithinia gave her a nod. Together, they dematerialized and reappeared behind the hospital, on a less congested street. It was darker there and there weren’t as many people around. Evesse still looked both ways, making sure no one had seen her appear out of thin air.
She and Dimithinia walked side by side. A huge rat ran under the hospital fence, followed by another three, and she hissed, barely stopping herself from blasting them. She and Dimi continued around the block and walked toward the corner.
The empty parking lot next to the hospital had a Popeye’s in it. The back wall of the fast food joint was built against the hospital.
The rat infested, abandoned hospital.
And the parking lot of the Popeye’s was full of cars.
Gross. Most people were idiots. They didn’t bother to think before doing things. There’s no way she’d fucking eat at a place with a rat mansion pressed up against it.
Evesse kept her stare locked straight ahead once they reached the corner, afraid to look at anyone for too long. She didn’t even need to see Dimithinia to know she was doing the same thing. Neither of them wanted to focus too long on the humans around them. Seeing how people were going to die must’ve sucked ass for Dimi.
For her part, Evesse knew that if she saw one more crime, or felt one more wave of anger that demanded punishment, she would launch herself, claws bared, at the first guilty motherfucker she found.
Nope. Better to focus on finding Spari. Although, she did wonder how they were going to pinpoint her amidst all the humans.
She didn’t have to wonder for long. A tiny female was leaning against the glass wall next to the entrance of Macy’s, large gold and black steampunk goggles perched on her head. Her large eyes were dark brown, her skin was a golden tan, and her long, dark brown fell in waves to her waist. She was a good two inches shorter than Nylicia, but the resemblance was striking. They even had the same exa
ct cheekbones.
Eve came to a stop in front of her. How was this possible? Nylicia was a goddess. The woman before her was human, Eve could sense that. No, wait. There was something else there, some kind of energy thrumming beneath the surface of her aura. Eve tried to focus on it, but whatever it was she was feeling felt like a fish bobbing in and out of the surface of water, playing peek-a-boo with her senses.
Spari straightened and came toward them. “You’re Evesse and Dimithinia?”
They nodded. Eve continued the whole up-and-down with her eyes, trying to scan Spari’s form and make sense of what she felt. Spari either didn’t notice that Eve was practically checking her out, or she pretended not to.
“Cool. I’m Spari. Amazing sister to the universe’s most annoying being and . . . well, generally, I’m amazing all around. Except for the whole part about being cursed and whatnot. You’re the new Goddess of Justice right?”
Eve raised an eyebrow. Yeah, there was no doubt. That was definitely Nylicia’s sister. “Let’s not talk about what I haven’t come to terms with, yet. I just found out a minute ago.”
Spari smiled. “No prob. I’ve felt the same way. Many times.”
She stopped smiling and her brow tensed. A far off look fell over her and she tilted her head, as if listening. With an annoyed huff, she snapped out of it.
“Did I mention I was the sister of the most annoying being in the Universe?” She pulled the collar of her black pea coat up.
“Yes, it was mentioned. What I’m wondering is, how is she your sister?”
Spari turned and opened the door to the mall. “Oh, that’s simple. I’ve been cursed to reincarnate over and over in human form. They thought it was a punishment, but the joke’s on them. I’m having a blast. Especially in this century.”
Chapter 21
Dimithinia’s wide eyes met Evesse’s. Eve wanted to pry, she so wanted to know more, but Spari was already rushing ahead, racing onto a short escalator that led into Macy’s. Eve caught up and stepped on behind her.
Dimithinia, however, did not. She stopped in front of the escalator, looking at it in shock. Her nostrils flared slightly, her eyes following the movement of the stairs.
“Stairs that move. I learned of this.”
Eve and Spari arrived at the top and turned to stare down at the still-frozen female.
“Dimi, get on,” Eve said in a low voice.
Did she move? No.
Eve was tempted to shout down that she had powers now—how the hell could an escalator scare her more than that?—but there were too many humans around to say anything of the sort.
Two women passed Dimithinia, giving her an odd look.
“Dimithinia, just step on it. Step.”
Spari stood behind Eve, trying to muffle a giggle. Eve pressed her lips together, trying to hold in her laugh as well.
Dimithinia rolled her eyes at them and slowly stepped on. She glowered at them when she reached the top.
“Humans have become the laziest bastards, I swear. Four steps, and they had to make them moving ones? This is why a good number of them are fat nowadays.”
Eve’s laugh burst out of her. Spari chuckled too, then walked in front of them and took the lead.
“Can we please know why we are here?” Eve asked.
“You need to know where your male is. You lucky bitch, by the way. I always thought Zen was one of the hottest. Not that I’ve ever met him, but I’ve seen.”
Eve had to momentarily bite the inside of her cheek. Better than anyone, she knew how hot her man was. Hearing Spari, or any other female, comment on it was the last thing she wanted to do. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Your male has been tracking down Enteax, and there’s someone here who might know where Lisrn was last spotted. Those two are generally inseparable. But, first”—Spari stopped in front of the Ed Hardy cologne display—“we have to buy something. Fucker doesn’t like to tell me anything unless I spend some money in his store.”
Eve was about to ask which “he” Spari was talking about, but then decided against it. What for? She was going to find out in a few anyway. She might as well sit back and let the ridiculous-train chug on.
“Let me get the Villain for Men,” Spari told the sales lady behind the counter. “It’ll totally suit him.”
The lady smiled at Spari and moved to get her the cologne. “Gift for your boyfriend?”
“Pfft. He wishes.” Spari gave her credit card to the sales lady and paid for the cologne. She turned down the shopping bag when the lady offered it to her. “No need. Can you please call the sales supervisor, Mr. Eberhart? Tell him his Spari is here to see him and I bear a peace offering.”
The sales lady blinked in confusion.
“No need. Mr. Eberhart is aware she is here.”
Eve jumped and turned to find the source of that deep voice. And, of course, hello, tall-big-and-sexy. Oh, yeah. There seemed to be some German ancestry going on there. Boy reminded her of Chris Austad. Inches taller and much, much broader, but this hottie definitely looked like him.
Except for one thing: Eve sensed barely contained energy thrumming underneath his skin, waiting to be unleashed. Unlike Spari though, he was barely concealing his powers.
“Vy’shi,” Dimithinia whispered.
Vi—what? Eve thought, staring at the man before her and trying to figure out what it was that she sensed in him.
Spari rushed forward with a little squeal. “Dago!”
Dago rose up a hand and stepped back before Spari could jump him. His motions put space between them, but his light blue eyes were alive with energy as he looked at her.
“I would be much happier to see you, little one, if you weren’t so blatantly wearing what you stole from me.”
Spari stopped and stared up at her head with wide eyes. A quick swipe had the goggles off and behind her back, her expression going sugar sweet.
“But I bought you a gift.” She held out the cologne to him.
Dago’s lips twitched. “I already have it.” When Spari gave him a crestfallen, nearly teary-eyed look, he hurried to take the cologne and held it to his chest. “Of course, since it’s you who got it, this will be the one I treasure most.”
Spari clapped her hands together, her smile growing larger, the goggles hanging off her wrist.
“Come, you have a loud mouth and I know you want to talk about things best left unheard.” Dago motioned for them to follow, leading them deeper into the department store.
Spari stuck her tongue out at his back.
“What is he?” Eve asked Dimithinia the moment they were moving.
“He’s a Vy’shi. Reality benders, I think would be an appropriate term. They say humanity was introduced to magic by their kind.”
Spari grinned, and it was the definition of shit eating. “In other words, he’s a witch. But my Dago-baby gets annoyed if I call him that, so the ‘appropriate term’ is warlock.”
“A warlock named Dago,” Eve commented as they came to a stop in front of a door.
Spari laughed, oblivious to the glare Dago threw over his shoulder at her. “His name is actually Dagobert, and it means shining sun. Isn’t that the cutest? Come here, Dagobert. Come here, baby.” She continued cooing, walking up to him and jumping up to pinch his cheek. “Isn’t that adorable?”
Dago swatted her away. Even though he tried to look annoyed, it was obvious he loved having Spari near. There was a glint of happiness in his eyes, a shit load of endearment, and enough heat to make the temperature feel ten degrees hotter.
“One more from you, brat, and I’m not telling you shit.”
Spari stepped back with a small, affronted gasp.
Dago’s gaze landed on Eve, moved away, and immediately jumped back.
“You’ve been in contact with Flux,” he said, taking a step toward her. “I can sense it on you. Flux.”
Reverence began to shine in his eyes. He grabbed Eve’s arm, ignoring how she twitched and tried to p
ull back. His wide eyes stared at the spot he held, and then he lifted his head to look up at her.
For the first time in her life, Eve wanted to back away from someone’s stare. The intensity level in his eyes confused the hell out of her. “When did I touch Ismini? I don’t remember.”
“She was in your room while you were unconscious. She was worried. Your hair might have gone yellow when she touched you.”
Eve stared at Dimithinia in horror at the visual of herself as a blond.
“Flux has been given form once more?” Dago asked in that same awestruck tone.
Dimithinia nodded. “The powers of Flux gave birth to his kind,” she said to Eve. “From the first humans on Earth, a select few were chosen to harness the power to alter reality around them. They changed, they . . .” She paused, obviously frustrated when she couldn’t remember the word.
“Mutated,” Eve supplied for her, staring into Dago’s eyes. This close she could see whispers of his crimes, could see how many sins he’d committed in his life. And yet, she didn’t want to punish him. The urge, the instinct to do so, just wasn’t there.
“Yes. And they became a new species, the Vy’shi.”
“You know the new Goddess of Flux?” Dago asked, not breaking their stare.
Eve nodded again. “She’s my best friend.”
The smile that Dago gave her was breathtaking. He straightened, beaming at her, and then at Spari.
“You do know what this means for all of us, yes?”
He rushed to open the door, still smiling, although Spari was glaring at him.
“Don’t tell me I could’ve saved myself the money on the cologne had I merely told you this upfront.”
Dago threw Spari an offended look. “See? That’s why your gifts mean nothing to me. You only give them because you want something in return.” His tone was playful, but there was a layer of honesty to his words. And a whole lotta hurt. “Now come inside. There are those that might honestly kill me over what I’m about to tell you.”
They all followed him inside. It was a tiny office. The kind you wouldn’t expect to find an immortal chilling in. Dago locked the door behind them and touched two fingers to the wall. Everything went from barely comfortable to ultraswag instantly. The floor was replaced with black marble, the walls became red velvet, and the desk became the medieval version of a throne.
Blood Stained Tranquility Page 19
