I opened my eyes to discover we were back in the glass treehouse. He set me down on a pile of velvet cushions and sat down across from me. Without clocks or the sun, time was hard to discern here. A chill crept into my bones at the thought of being stuck here without the knowledge of how many days had passed.
As if reading my mind, his eyes twinkled, a hint of mischief caught in his gaze. “It is day two, little one.”
A tingling started, then stopped in my loins as he eyed me. His lips were smooth and for a split second, I imagined kissing them. I wondered what he would taste like. My head was spinning.
I struggled to catch my breath. “You’re holding back. You could seduce me, intoxicate me at any moment and I wouldn’t be able to resist. I can feel it pulling at me.”
He grinned and poured me a drink. “I gave you my word, no tricks. I’m just having a little bit of fun though.” He chuckled as my fingers fumbled for the glass.
I took a long sip and then a deep breath. “My world is dying. My cities are being destroyed. Our war has spilled over and is affecting the humans. If the demons succeed, it will upset the balance.”
Chaos raised a playful eyebrow at me. “Are you quoting me now? Appealing to my love of balance? It may or may not be working. Tell me more.”
I swallowed hard. “I was foolish and wrong to enter the Underworld without permission. But I was trying to stop an enemy. I was wrong in that too. I know this breach is my fault, so punish me. Don’t let the rest of the world pay for my mistakes…please.”
He had a childlike demeanor I hadn’t noticed before. He studied my face, fascinated, and seemingly trying to memorize every curve and crevice. His silence unnerved me. A sigh of relief left my lips when he finally spoke.
“You would sacrifice yourself for the rest? Is that an offer?” His lips pursed, and his eyes narrowed.
My heart thumped wildly in my chest. My hands shook. “I…yes. If that’s what it takes.” I stuck out my chin in an attempt to seem confident.
After an intense stare-down that seemed to last an eternity, he burst out laughing. “Relax, Gray Wynter. I am too fond of you to take you up on that offer. There will be no sacrifice permitted.”
I knocked back my drink and said a silent prayer to Apollo, wishing he were here to guide me through this.
He grinned. “You are not like the other souls. You lack self-preservation and vanity. I like that about you. But you don’t allow yourself any pleasure. You’re racked with guilt and duty. Why do you think that is?”
A part of me felt he already knew the answer. “Pleasure comes and goes. It never lasts. I don’t like getting my hopes up. It never ends well.”
Chaos feigned a gasp. “Ah, there it is. Do you see? There is no need to punish you. You have taken on that role for yourself.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. “I’m tired of losing. I’m sick of seeing the ones I love suffer because of me.”
He cocked his head to the side. “You have much to learn about the nature of man, woman, and beast. Choices are like ripples in a stream. They cannot be caused by only one current. Suffering is a dance with many steps and many partners. And this war has been brewing long before your existence, little one.”
I shrugged and poured another drink. “Then why do I feel responsible? Why does my guilt suffocate me every day?”
He smiled. “Dhampir guilt, perhaps. As one who is all knowing and all powerful, I command you to let it go.” He winked, and that playful air of mischief returned to his eyes.
I chuckled. “Very funny. How long have you been wanting to say that to someone?”
He shrugged. “Thought it was worth a shot.”
The ease between us was growing. The longer I sat in his presence, the more my fears melted away. But, he was a god. No matter how much I wanted to believe my mood was authentic, I had to remember that his effect on me was something out of my control.
Sensing my hesitation, he covered my hand with his. “I told you, no tricks. Trust yourself.”
The heat from his hand soothed me. A surge of curiosity filled me. “I want to see you in your true form.”
His eyes lit up. “Are you certain? I don’t want to be responsible for you ravaging me.”
I rolled my eyes. “I think I can control myself. Seriously, I want to see who you really are.”
He grinned as he stood up and took a few steps back. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He winked, and in an instant, he shot up two more feet. His clothes peeled away, and two magnificent ebony colored wings unfolded from his back.
I let out a gasp. His body appeared as if it was carved from bronze, glistening like it was made of sunlight. I stood up and approached him with caution and wonder. He nodded as I reached out and ran a finger across his wings. They were cool to the touch, slippery like satin sheets. He flapped them slightly and the scent of honeysuckle drifted out. My heart swelled as I dropped to my knees.
He knelt down and lifted my chin. “Open your eyes, little one.”
I did as he asked and let out a sigh. He had returned to his previous form—black T-shirt and jeans and not a feather in sight.
I wiped the tears from my cheeks and whispered, “You’re beautiful.”
He smiled and caressed my cheek. “And so are you, Gray Wynter. So are you.”
I took a deep breath and let his scent fill my lungs. I let his hand linger on my flesh. I let the intoxication take over and folded into his arms like a rag doll. He hummed a sweet tune in my ear as I wept into his shoulder. All my pain and heartache poured out of me like wildfire. It flooded out and drifted away until there were no tears left to cry.
Chaos’s eyes stayed on me as I stood and wandered to the window. I gazed out at the emerald trees, in awe of their beauty. The darkness inside of me was a faint memory, but I knew it was only a matter of time before it rose up again. Being here was only masking it. I had one day left and then reality would set back in.
I turned to face him. “I have to return soon. My friends need me.”
He raised an eyebrow. “And you need them, yes?”
I nodded. “We are a family. A coven. I have to see this through.”
Chaos folded is arms to his chest. “Before you give me your final answer, there’s one thing you must know.”
My heart raced. I knew he would do anything to convince me to stay. I hoped it was something I could refuse. I swallowed hard and nodded for him to continue.
“There is a catch in the Hades Protocol. In battle, if you begin to lose, if I think you will fail to defeat the demons, I am bound to destroy your whole world and everyone in it.” His eyes burned into mine.
A lump formed in my throat. “You would kill all of us? Humans included?”
He smiled sadly. “Yes. I can’t allow Cerberus to roam free. They need to go back to the Underworld, Gray Wynter. One way or another. That is why I have asked you to stay. You would be safe here. There would be no battle to fight. I can go into your realm tonight and take care of it. Just say the word.”
My stomach lurched as bile rose up in my throat. “You—you would destroy my friends, my world, and all of humanity while I sit here and stare at trees?”
He grinned. “You would see them again. Their roles would all be different, but I could arrange for you to meet with them from time to time.”
I shook my head. “No. I will not agree to this. That’s not who I am. We have been through too much together for me to just walk away. To leave them like lambs to the slaughter without so much as a warning.”
Chaos chuckled as he looked at me in amusement. “But if you lose, I can’t protect you, little one.”
I was beginning to think that everything was a game to him. For the first time since I had arrived, my eyes flashed—black as night. “If I stay here, no one will be able to protect them. You might think we are weak, but we are not. We are so much more than that. We will fight together. With or without your help. We will find a way to win.”
Chaos regarded me with curiosity. He
walked over and stood so close I could feel his breath on my face. I locked my knees to keep them from shaking and prayed to Apollo that he wouldn’t go back on his word.
He reached out and wiped a bead of sweat off my forehead. “You are stubborn, but brave. You remind me of myself. You have made your decision and I have made mine. Go now. Gather your forces and wait for my arrival. This war will end, and the Fates will decide who will be victorious.”
I raised my chin to look him square in the eye. “I make my own fate.”
Fourteen
Chaos brought me back to the oak tree where I first entered Elysium. He started to put his hand on the stump, but hesitated. My heart beat wildly in my chest. I was so close to getting out. Dragos and Aldric were only steps away—in another realm—but still, I just needed to step through this tree.
His eyes sparkled as he grinned at me. “Last chance, Gray Wynter. I cannot guarantee your safety once you leave.”
I nodded and breathed a sigh of relief. “I understand. Thank you for your offer, but I need to get home. I am linked to another in blood magic. We cannot be separated any longer.”
A flicker of jealousy passed through his eyes, but only for a brief moment. His warm smile returned and his eyes lit up. “You are linked to me now too, little one. You will always feel me in your bones and in your veins. My cities will haunt you and someday you will return.”
I swallowed hard. “Are you threatening me, Chaos?”
His eyes widened as he burst out laughing. “Never. It is just the way it is. You’ve spent three nights with a god. A part of me will never leave you. Inevitably, you will crave my presence and seek me out.”
My stomach fluttered. Was he being honest, now? We weren’t supposed to meet the gods, not yet. Maybe it would drive me to madness. I prayed he was only toying with me, taunting me with his mischief.
I nodded toward the tree, eager to be out of his presence. Chaos placed his hand on the stump and closed his eyes. Within minutes, the tree split open and a path emerged. He winked and stepped aside, studying my face as if he was savoring it for all time.
I smiled and stepped in but paused to look back when I was halfway through. “I have your word?”
He nodded with a smirk. “I’ll see you on the other side, Gray Wynter.”
I sprinted through the tree like a bolt of lightning. Dragos rushed to me as soon as I came through. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my neck. I held him tight, afraid if I let go, it would just be a dream. The scent of clove filled my nose and I let out a sigh.
He pulled away to look at me, checking my face for any sign of pain or struggle. “Are you all right?” His pulse raced.
I nodded, dazed, as if coming out of a trance. “I will be. Let’s go home.”
Aldric’s eyes filled with sadness as he watched us. He cleared his throat. “So, are they going to help us?”
I nodded slowly. He looked like a stranger to me now. Just a shell of the man I used to love. “There is a condition, but yes. Chaos will come.”
Aldric furrowed his brow. “What kind of condition?”
I rubbed my temples, exhaustion setting in. “I’ll explain later. Let’s just get out of here.”
Iris snickered. “Afraid you might be tempted to go back inside?” Her smug look told me she had met Chaos before.
Dragos raised an eyebrow. “What is that supposed to mean?”
I shook my head. “I don’t have the energy for this right now.”
I stomped off ahead, leaving Dragos and Aldric puzzled as Iris chuckled behind me. The after effects of Elysium were dizzying, like I had been drunk on too much whiskey and my senses were amplified. The sun was blinding and my head pounded. As I neared the Harpy Forest, Chaos’s words echoed in my head. I shuddered and shrugged them off at the sight of blood red hair in the distance. I started to let out a sigh of relief but froze. Valentina and Nemesis crouched down across from each other, squaring up for a fight.
The others had caught up to me as I raced over to the stone bench and wedged myself in between the Harpy and my friend. Valentina’s eyes were bright red, and saliva dripped from her fangs.
Iris yanked her sister backward and tossed her on her behind. Dragos and Aldric stood across from each other, clearly drawing a line in the sand.
I shook Valentina by the shoulders. “Val, snap out of it. I’m here now.”
She blinked a few times and shifted her eyes back to normal, but her fists were still clenched around her blades.
Dragos spun around. “What happened?”
Val spit on the ground. “This feathered freak tried to pluck my eyes out.”
Iris glared at her sister. “Nemesis, what is the meaning of this?”
She snorted. “I was bored.”
It suddenly hit me that these creatures were unstable and deeply sadistic. I shifted my eyes to black. “We will be taking Nadia back with us.”
Iris’s cheeks flushed red. “We had a deal. She stays here and answers for her crimes.”
I stepped closer to her. “You changed the deal when you forced me to break my link to Aldric. Now I’m making a change of my own.” The tension was thick as we glared at each other.
Aldric moved toward us. “Make that a couple of changes. Iris, I’m going back with them too. I can’t hide here anymore.”
Iris erupted. “After all I’ve done for you? You pathetic coward. No one is going anywhere. Especially you.” She pointed a trembling finger at me.
Before I could stop myself, my Narcissus magic kicked into high gear and I had my hand wrapped around Iris’s throat. Mayhem broke out.
Nemesis lunged at me just as Valentina knocked into her, sending her flailing to the ground. Feathers sprayed out as they collided.
Within seconds, dozens of Harpies swooped down from the treetops. Dragos positioned himself behind me and tossed Aldric his bow. “Time to choose a side, Bannister.”
Aldric hesitated but then quickly drew it up and began firing at the Harpies as they dove down, scratching at my hair and my flesh. I swatted at them with my free hand and squeezed Iris’s throat with the other.
Her eyes bulged out of her head as she clawed at my hands—her nails dug into my skin, creating a stream of blood that dripped down my wrists. I ignored the stinging and held on tight as I flung her to the ground like a rag doll.
Nemesis and Valentina rolled around, grunting and taking turns slamming each other into the ground.
Aldric tossed Dragos his bow as he called out. “I’ll go get Nadia. I know where they are keeping her.” Dragos nodded as Aldric sprinted toward the thick of the forest.
Iris thrashed underneath me as I pinned her down. “Let me go, or you will regret this.”
I lowered my voice, jaw clenched. “The only thing I regret is trusting you. You’ve seemed to forget who you are dealing with. Let me remind you.” A burst of electricity jolted out of my fingertips and her body convulsed.
A low growl erupted to my right. I glanced over to see Valentina on all fours, her limbs contorting. Nemesis’s eyes grew wide and she cowered as Valentina’s body jolted forward and shapeshifted. Red fur covered her flesh and her eyes glowed like torches. She stood over Nemesis, salivating and baring her fangs.
Dragos and I both gasped. She had never changed in front of us before. Iris cried out to her sister and in my stupor, she slipped out of my grasp. She leaped on Valentina’s back and dug her talons into her side. Valentina let out a whelp and charged forward. Before I knew what was happening, she sank her fangs into Nemesis’s neck and ripped out her throat.
Iris screamed and flew to her side. Nemesis writhed on the ground, spitting and coughing up blood.
Dragos rushed to Valentina’s side. Back in human form, her body was covered in bruises and blood. He covered her with his own body as Iris spun around and dove back down toward her.
I leaped in the air and crashed into her, knocking her back. In one swift movement, I whipped out my dagger and thrust it into her skull. B
lood trickled out her eyes and mouth as her body went limp.
Aldric’s face twisted in horror as he ran up with Nadia at his heels. “Gray…what have you done?”
I wiped my bloody dagger across my pants and glared at him. “Why don’t you ask yourself that question? What have you done? The answer is nothing. As usual.” My tone was sharper than I intended, but my bitterness was permeating into every cell in my body.
Aldric winced and looked like he’d seen a ghost. He shook his head. “I don’t know you anymore…”
Dragos snickered and flashed his eyes at him. “You never did.”
Nadia stepped forward cautiously. “You were never going to leave me here, were you?”
I clenched my jaw. “Of course not. But if you ever kill again without my permission, I will rip out your throat and feed you to the rest of them.”
She nodded, bowing her head.
Valentina limped over to me. “I’m over this place. Let’s get back to the Hall so The Keeper can fix me up.”
I nodded and threw an arm under hers to steady her. I glanced up at the treetops and waited for another attack, but it didn’t come. The sky was still. Not even a single tree rustled.
Dragos put an arm underneath Valentina’s other side as we dragged her back to the ship while Aldric and Nadia followed silently behind us.
The journey back to the Hall was tense. After dropping Nadia off in Romania, the four of us kept to ourselves until we docked in the Sea of Magia.
Aldric spun on me. “Why did you kill Iris?”
I took a deep breath and clenched my fists. “I don’t have to explain myself to you, but those Harpies cannot be trusted. She manipulated you.”
Dragos snickered. “He’s easily manipulated. First by Jezebel, and then by Iris. I can only imagine what he’ll do when Cerberus starts whispering sweet nothings in his ear.”
Aldric fumed. “That’s not likely. Jezebel did not manipulate me, she put a spell on me. You know that, Gray. Maybe if I had your blood too, then that wouldn’t have happened. But Dragos was the only one lucky enough to get that privilege.”
Gods and Demons (Blood and Darkness Book 3) Page 9
