Gods and Demons (Blood and Darkness Book 3)

by Melissa Sercia

  She cursed me under her breath. “I hate you.”

  A sorrow filled me as I nodded my head. “I know. You always have.”

  Seven rushed over and slapped chains around her wrists. He shackled her ankles and dragged her toward the edge of the river bank. She hung her head low and followed him obediently, a sharp contrast to the kicking and screaming I had been expecting. The Resistance was waiting to take her back to the bayou, where she would remain until the war was over. Then I’d have to figure out what to do with her.

  More hellhounds tore through the streets. Everywhere I looked, Lupi and Rougarou wolves fought, savage and bloodied. Bits of flesh and bile littered the ground, permeating the air with their stench. But we were winning.

  I raced back to join the others at the same time as Seven was returning. He gave me a reassuring nod. “Arcadia is secured.”

  Valentina threw Lycos a nervous glance. His eyes were pained. “It is for the best. I tried to make her see reason, but she has always been so stubborn.”

  Valentina raised an eyebrow at him. “So, you’re okay with this?”

  He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “As long as you’re happy, I’m okay.”

  Her cheeks flushed as he winked at her.

  Dragos rolled his eyes. “Such a gentleman. Now, can we get back to the real problem? Cerberus’s demons are losing, which will make him desperate and more dangerous.”

  I nodded in agreement. “We should keep our eyes—”

  A loud bang, like thunder, erupted from the top of the Three Blind Mice. I ducked just as a large chunk of the roof came barreling at me. Everyone scattered as pieces of rock and metal rained down upon us.

  I jerked my head up toward top of the building and we locked eyes. Cerberus. His stare was menacing. Black sludge oozed from his mouth as he laughed, his serpent tail whipping around behind him in a blaze of fury. A chill passed through me, trickling down my back and up again. I shivered. And in the blink of an eye, he leaped off the building and landed onto the street just a few feet away from me, breaking the ground in half.

  Twenty-Three

  In my four hundred years, I had witnessed all types of monsters. I had felt fear, destruction, pain, and rage. Standing there, facing Cerberus, all I could sense was pure evil. A darkness that reached out like a black hole, threatening to suffocate me with its oblivion.

  His tail whipped around him like a snake. It slithered as he hissed. A wicked grin spread across his face as he looked up. He extended his tail and lashed up, pulling another piece of the roof down and flinging it toward Chaos. The impact sent him flying backward before he could react. Dionysus rushed to his side and tried to lift it off, but it wouldn’t budge.

  In a fit of rage, Dionysus charged toward him, wings flapping faster than the speed of light. Cerberus laughed as he wrapped his tail around Dionysus’s neck and flung him back hard. Dionysus crashed into the pavement with a force that created a hole as he fell deep down through the cement.

  Cerberus turned his attention back toward me as the covens began backing up in fear. Dragos, Valentina, Aldric, and Seven stood firm by my side. I clenched my fists and closed my eyes, drawing strength from the Narcissus. I summoned every ounce of magic from the depths of my soul.

  My eyes shifted to black and I slammed my fists on the pavement, unleashing a wave of thunder. The ground cracked and split toward Cerberus. He took a step back, unfazed, and burst into laughter. “Is that the best you got?”

  I grunted and charged toward him, blades out. His eyes flickered like flames as he watched me like a hawk. I leaped at him with the sun blade and missed as he dodged my attack.

  His tail whipped around toward my head. I ducked and slid as the tip of it grazed my head. Springing up from the ground, I bent backward as his tail came back around.

  Seven leaped from the crowd and landed on Cerberus’s back. Wedging an arm underneath his neck, he squeezed and twisted just as his tail slapped him on the back, knocking the wind out of him. Cerberus dug his talons into Seven’s side and tossed him like a rag doll. He hit the ground with a thud, writhing in pain. Valentina ran to him and cradled his head in her hands.

  Cerberus was too strong. I held out my hands. “Everyone stay back.” He was going to kill us all if I didn’t stop him.

  I gripped the sun blade tighter and felt its power radiate through my fingertips. My spine tingled as I dug deep into my bones. Desperate, I reached for every ounce of magic that pumped through my veins. My throat and chest burned as I let go and welcomed the darkness in. With each breath, I could feel the light fading.

  Cerberus watched in amusement as my fingers, my eyes, and my veins ran black like sludge. The venom swished and swirled through me like a hurricane. My flesh turned cold, and like a switch, my humanity shut off.

  The rest of the world blurred past me as my eyes narrowed in on Cerberus. My limbs were light and moved quicker with each step I took toward him. I could hear my friends’ voices calling after me, but I drowned them out.

  Cerberus crouched down and squared up with me. We circled around each other like a game of cat and mouse. For a minute, I thought I heard Zari’s war drums in the distance but realized it was just the beating of my heart, thumping in my ears.

  I took a deep breath and pounced. I lunged forward, slashing at the demon before me. His eyes darkened as the tip of my blade grazed his flesh. Tiny droplets of sludge trickled out. I leaped up as his tail whipped around, missing me by a hair.

  Before my feet could hit the ground, I slashed at him as his clawed hand sprang out. He let out a low growl and stepped back. I pushed forward. It was a dance—slashing, ducking, stepping sideways, charging forward—slash, stab.

  He was weary. His chest heaved up and down as he gasped for breath. His cuts weren’t healing as I drove him further back. His tail flailed in every direction, but I avoided it at all costs. Just a few more steps and I would have him.

  With my right hand firmly wrapped around the hilt of my sun blade, I dashed forward with my left hand daggered. I was closing in on him. I took a deep breath. This was my chance.

  In one swift motion, I leaped up and thrusted my dagger toward his chest while my sun blade was aimed at his belly. The world seemed to slow as I hurdled through the air and came down on him. Almost there.

  Within inches of his flesh, a wicked smile spread across his demonic face. I choked back bile as I drove my dagger into his shoulder and swung my other arm around to end him.

  His arms shot up with the force of a hurricane and swatted at my wrists, knocking the sun blade out my hand. It clanked to the ground and landed a few feet away.

  His fists slammed into my chest, knocking the wind out of me and sending me flying backward. A searing pain shot through me and my lungs burned. No.

  Cerberus grinned as he stalked toward me, ripping my dagger out of his shoulder in one clean swipe.

  My heart raced, and panic bubbled up in my throat. He reached down and picked me up by my collar, dodging his head away as I punched and kicked the air.

  He chuckled and slammed another fist into my gut, dropping me to the ground as I keeled over. I spotted my blade and started forward as his hand shot out and struck me in the side of my face. My vision blurred as my head whipped back and hit the pavement. My cheek swelled and tiny stars twinkled in front of me. I blinked to clear my eyes.

  I cried out as his foot connected with my side, my ribs cracking as I rolled. I tucked my knees underneath me and dry heaved over the pavement. Bile rotted in my stomach and climbed up my throat. I swallowed hard.

  Cerberus slithered toward me again. With all my strength I pushed myself up off the ground. My head spun and my knees buckled, sending me crashing back down to the ground.

  He hovered over me, taunting me with his sadistic laughter. My hands trembled as he leaned over me. “This is the end for you.” He raised his hand high above his head. Time seemed to stop. With broken limbs, I watched in horror as his sharp razor claws plunged down towa
rd me. I couldn’t move or scream. I just froze.

  Bracing myself for impact, I gritted my teeth and dug my nails into the ground. My mind spun out of control as four hundred years of images began to flash through it. I closed my eyes. Maybe I could duck or scramble out of the way. Maybe the gods wouldn’t burn this city to the ground. A million different paths twisted and turned in my peripheral. Paths I could have chosen. I forced myself to look Cerberus in the eyes. His hand inched closer and I sucked in one last breath.

  With one final thrust, his claws lashed forward and plunged into Aldric’s chest as he leaped in front of me. No.

  I screamed as his blond head jerked back and blood sprayed over Cerberus’s face. In shock, he yanked his hand out of his chest and Aldric’s body crumpled to the ground.

  Thunder roared in my ears. My pulse quickened. A surge of adrenaline shot through my veins. I pounded my fists onto the ground and screamed.

  Chunks of pavement split and sprayed out in every direction. Cerberus stepped back, his eyes widening.

  I sprang to my feet and darted toward the sun blade. Wrapping my hand tight around the hilt, I whipped back around. Cerberus charged toward me but was flung back, a bloodied Dragos gripped his tail, holding on for dear life.

  I ran like the wind, blade pointed out, plunging it deep into Cerberus’s belly. I twisted and turned it, lifting him up off the ground as I screamed into his face.

  His eyes filled with horror as black sludge spilled out of his mouth. His flesh began to sizzle as I pushed him back, pulling my sword out in one swift motion.

  Smoke singed off his body as I leaned in and whispered, “This is the only way it was ever going to end.”

  His eyes rolled back into his head as his flesh fell off and disintegrated. His bones splintered and crumbled into nothing but a pile of dust and ash. I collapsed onto the ground next to his remains and hung my head down. Everything ends.

  My hands trembled as I crawled over to Aldric. The air was still and silent around me. No one said a word or moved a muscle. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I hovered over him. His chest was ripped open.

  I clasped his hand to my heart, his breath fading. His blue eyes watered as he struggled to look up at me. “Did we win?” His voice was hoarse.

  I nodded, choking back sobs. “It’s over. You…you saved me.”

  He smiled. “Good…that’s all I ever wanted…I love you, darlin’.”

  I gripped his hand as the tears poured out. “I love you too, Aldric. I’ll always love you. Please don’t leave me.”

  He reached up and touched my cheek, his hand shaking. “I’ll always be with you, Gray. Always.”

  I bent down, sobbing, and covered his lips with mine. His breath quivered one last time. I pulled back…and he was gone.

  My heart clenched as I collapsed onto his chest and held him tight. I cried into his shirt as the pain in my soul threatened to suffocate me out of existence.

  Twenty-Four

  The hours that followed were a blur. Hands reached out to me, prying me off of Aldric’s body. Heads bowed in sympathy and remorse as I passed them, drifting aimlessly as I walked. Or was I being led? Or carried? I couldn’t remember. All I saw was Aldric’s face. His chest covered in blood. His eyes closing…forever.

  The crisp scent of saltwater filled my nose and snapped me back to the present. The cool wind whipped through my hair and soothed my swollen eyes. I sat on the deck of the Deam Morte like a broken rag doll. With wet cheeks, I pulled my knees in and hugged them to my chest.

  Valentina approached with caution. Her eyes welled up with tears as she sat down next to me. “I…I’m so sorry.”

  I stared straight ahead and whispered, “Me too.”

  It was as if a chunk of my soul had been ripped out and I knew I would never get it back.

  She drew in a sharp breath. “We’re going to get you through this. It won’t always hurt this bad.”

  I snickered. “But it will always hurt. My heart will always be broken.”

  She sighed. “I don’t believe that. Deep down, neither do you.” She gave my shoulder a light squeeze and sauntered off.

  Dragos watched me from a distance. His eyes were the saddest I’d ever seen. I was grateful for the silence and the space. I didn’t have the energy or the desire to speak.

  With a fleet of ships, we sailed into the Sea of Magia, white flags raised at half-mast. The Keeper was waiting for us on the docks. A look of relief flashed through his eyes when he spotted me, but it was quickly replaced with horror as Seven and Dragos carried Aldric’s lifeless body off the ship.

  I dragged myself behind them, willing myself to put one foot in front of the other. Without hesitation, The Keeper swung an arm around my waist and pulled me up the hill to the Hall of Secrets.

  The covens marched behind us, flanked by both Dionysus and Chaos. Despite our victory, the mood was somber and dark. They had lost people too and carried their weapons half-sheathed to honor their fallen.

  The Keeper ushered me into the healing clinic and sat me down. I shook my head as he offered me a glass.

  “I’m fine. My wounds have already healed. I don’t need anything.” I couldn’t look him in the eyes.

  He shoved the glass toward me again. “It’s whiskey. Your physical wounds are not what I’m worried about.”

  I eyed the whiskey for a moment, then gave in and knocked it back in one gulp. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”

  The Keeper bowed his head. “He is in Elysium now. You will see him again someday. But not for a very long time. He wanted you to live. That’s why he did what he did.”

  I nodded. “I know. It doesn’t make it hurt any less. I feel like a part of me died with him. What if it was the good part?”

  The Keeper cupped my face in his hands. “Listen to me, Gray, you have a light within you that is all your own. You do not need anyone else to give that to you. And no one can take it away.”

  My heart swelled and threatened to burst. He looked at me as if I were a child. I threw my arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder. He patted my back and caressed my head. I knew in that moment that he would always be there for me. That I was not an orphan any longer. The Keeper was the father I chose.

  I pulled away and looked lovingly at him. “We will bury Aldric and then I will address the covens. I will not let my anguish consume me. They are depending on me.”

  He smiled. “I am so proud of you.”

  I had made a promise to Aldric once that I would always protect him. But I knew in my heart that when it came down to life or death, he wouldn’t let me. In saving me, he had finally come to peace with his own demons. In his eyes, he had redeemed his soul. In the end, I did save him after all. His body was no longer his, but his spirit would live on.

  The sun shone bright over the garden like a beacon of light amongst the tall trees. Scents of honeysuckle and jasmine tickled my nose with each breath. As I stood over Aldric’s body in the ground, a beautiful hummingbird flitted around me. It buzzed sweetly and cocked its head toward me.

  I reached out to touch it, but it scurried off as footsteps approached behind me. I knew it was Dragos without turning around. He placed a gentle hand on the small of my back as he stood beside me.

  I let out a deep sigh. “He always loved it here. It was free from war. Free from the past. I thought it only right to rest him here.”

  Dragos nodded. “I know he and I had our differences, but I always admired him. I’d never admit to his face…but he was a good man. I often wondered if things would have been different between us under different circumstances. He loved you fiercely, and I owe him everything for saving your life.”

  Tears welled up in my eyes. “Thank you for saying that. I know it wasn’t easy, but I think deep down, he admired you too.”

  Dragos shuddered. “Gray…he pushed me out of the way. It was supposed to be me lying there right now. I ran over to jump in front of you, but…he wouldn’t let me.” His voice cracked and h
is hands trembled.

  I drew in a sharp breath and pulled him close. “He saved us both?”

  Dragos lowered his head, nodding. “It happened so fast…he didn’t want me to die.”

  I smiled as the tears ran down my cheeks. “He didn’t want me to be alone and he believed that he couldn’t give me what I needed… He doesn’t deserve this fate.”

  Dragos wrapped his arms around me and kissed my forehead. “I promise you, I will never forsake his sacrifice.”

  The Keeper led the covens into the garden for the ceremony. One by one, they whispered condolences and placed their offerings next to Aldric. The Witches placed crescent moon necklaces, the Rain Makers left wishbones, and the Lupi tossed in patches of their fur.

  Valentina placed a bottle of her finest whiskey beside him while Seven sprinkled salt water on him. “For the journey home. May the wind always be at your back.”

  Dragos stepped up and bit open his wrist. He held his open wound over Aldric’s heart as droplets of blood trickled out. “I give you my blood as you have given me yours. Ramas bun, Bann…Aldric Bannister.”

  The Keeper handed me Aldric’s frost bow. I knelt down and placed it over his chest. Brushing his cheek one last time, I whispered, “See you on the other side, my love.”

  We joined hands and formed a circle as The Keeper covered him in sacred soil. “May Apollo guide you. Blessed be.”

  I stayed by his side until the last speck of dirt was laid over him.

  Night had fallen by the time I went back into the Hall. I walked to the study and found Chaos and Seven huddled by the fire. They both stood as I entered.

  Seven clasped my hands. “You did it, Gray. You freed us from Cerberus. Thank you.”

  I let out a deep breath. “I couldn’t have done it without any of you. Without…” I couldn’t finish the words. It was too painful.