“Too bad we can’t summon them like the fucking messenger god.”
“If only the Underworld had cell service…”
At my remark, he smiled. The sight of it was more glorious than I remembered. “Never hurts to try. I would, but I’m pretty sure Kaine smashed my phone before he chained me up.”
My expression tightened. “Then I shall punish him for that as well.”
The air between us grew thicker, and I walked over to the bed and pulled back the sheets.
“Want to finish what we started in the spotted house?” he asked with a quirk of his bruised brow.
“I want you to lie down and be silent. I need a partner to help me bring down those who hunt me, and you cannot do so in your current state.”
He walked over, hovering next to me and the bed. “Maybe you could ‘love’ me back to health like Kierson did for Aery…”
“I am not a nymph of the Underworld,” I said, pushing him away, “and you do not wish for me to love you.”
“You’re right,” he said, sitting down on the bed’s edge. “You’re not a nymph of the Underworld, and you’re not going anywhere until I can go with you.”
He lay back against the down mattress and closed his eyes. Moments later, he was so dead to the world that I found myself leaning over to feel his breath on my cheek. His exhaustion was so complete that I could not understand how he had functioned as well as he had upon his return to Earth. I would have collapsed the second my feet hit the ground. But that was the mystery of Oz.
His strength and determination knew no bounds.
I moved to walk away, but once again, his hand clamped down around my wrist. Even in his slumber, he would not let me leave, as though he could sense my plan before I could even execute it.
His pinched features relaxed slightly as I brushed a stray hair off his face.
“All is well, Oz,” I whispered, stroking his cheek one last time, though it was not necessary. “Rest now. We will bring the world to its knees when you wake.”
His hand fell away from my arm.
Minutes ticked away slowly as I stood next to the bed, unmoving, wanting to make sure he was sleeping deeply enough for me to do what I had planned. I had not wanted to lie to him. It had felt strange and wrong. But I needed to get word to my brothers, and that could not wait until he woke.
His wrath would be epic if I did not return—unharmed—before then.
4
Wind whipped my face as I raced toward the gates of the Underworld. Time was of the essence; lives depended on my warning. I could not help but wonder if, in saving Oz, I had doomed my father, my brothers, and anyone else Kaine might harm to get back at me for what I had done. My actions in the in-between had been brash and un-weighed—all reaction without thought of consequences.
And those consequences would surely be dire.
As my destination came into view, so too did an unexpected and unfamiliar sight. Lurking near the entrance was a figure I did not recognize, but as I grew closer, something about him called to me, as though I knew him innately. I landed with plenty of distance between us.
I did not wish to walk into an ambush.
The large male stared, eyes as black as Casey’s, a hint of a smile on his face as he assessed me. A thrum of familiarity hummed through my veins, and my wings shot wide, as Oz’s always did when a threat was present. At that, the one before me laughed, the booming tenor echoing through the woods surrounding us.
“I see their lies have tainted you,” he said, taking a step closer. “Deimos was right—you are truly stunning.”
“Deimos must learn to hold his tongue,” I replied, my black wings twitching behind me. The one approaching looked at them with the same expression of wonder that my twin, Sean, had when he had first seen them.
“When Celia delivered your brother to me, I have to say, I was disappointed to see that he was not blessed with her markings.” He continued walking toward me, as though I would not slice his throat open if he came closer. “I could not figure out how that had come to pass, given that all my other sons had so strongly taken after their mothers. It took some time to figure out what had happened.” He stopped only feet away, his smile widening. “Celia always was so clever—one of the qualities that attracted me to her. I should not have underestimated her ability to trick me.”
Ice shot through my veins.
“Ares.” My expression soured as his name escaped. “Why are you here?”
“Not to kill you, if that is what you fear.”
“I fear nothing,” I replied.
His smile turned to a grin. “So I’ve been told.”
“I do not have time for this,” I said, circling past him.
“Because you must save your brothers from Kaine?” His question was meant to bait me and I knew it, but I could not walk away. How did he know about that? How did he know about so many things? I turned to look at him, that maddening grin still intact. “I fear you have a greater threat headed your way, Daughter. One that will not be so easily dealt with as Kaine.”
“Kaine will be easy?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest in a way that would have made Oz proud. I felt his absence like a wound in that moment. He would be livid when he learned I had faced my true father without him. “I may have been able to derail him temporarily, but the Dark Ones are formidable.”
“You would know a thing or two about them, wouldn’t you, Khara?” The amusement bled away from his countenance, leaving anger in its wake.
“Possibly three.” My flippant reply did nothing to improve the tension brewing between us. That thought made me smile.
“I sent Deimos to protect you, and this is how you thank me? By bedding those that would enslave you?”
“Deimos has never protected me,” I snapped, “and Oz may wish to do many things to me, but enslave is not one of them.”
“He is a Dark One—”
“He is a rogue and my ally, unlike you, Father.”
Rage flashed in his black eyes until he steadied himself, his calm façade returning.
“He cannot help against all who come for you.”
“Then he will die trying,” I replied, fighting against the empty feeling in my stomach as I spoke those words.
“He cannot stop Phobos…”
Every hair on the back of my neck stood up at the sound of his name, and I looked over my shoulder as though he had sneaked up behind me while Ares distracted me.
“He is your monster,” I said calmly. “Perhaps you should end him. He did kill your precious Eos, did he not?”
That rage emerged once more and stayed at the forefront, burning like a funeral pyre—like the one Eos’ body would have been reduced to ash upon.
“I would if I could, but that ability was stolen from me long ago. Now it is up to you, Khara.”
“I will not do it for you—”
“Of course you won’t,” he said, heading toward me. “You will do it for you—because he is a threat.” He stopped only inches away this time, once again admiring my wings. “I raised your twin to be ruthless—devoid of emotion—but in that regard, he has too much of his mother’s Light nature. But you…you, Khara, are something of wonder. All power and no soul to burden you, just like my Eos—”
“I have a soul,” I countered. “Deimos attempted to have it sucked from me to suit his twisted purposes.”
Ares’ eyes narrowed. “Or mine.” His admission had only begun to settle upon my mind when he continued. “He said he’d failed, but I see that isn’t the case.”
“I inhaled the soul of Artemis,” I said, my tone empty. “She angered me. Be careful you do not do the same.”
At that, he smiled. “There she is—my true daughter. You are so much like Eos.”
“Will you let Deimos’ brother kill me, too, just like your beloved Eos, or will you help me defeat him?”
“I cannot help you, but I know what it will take to bring him down.”
I cocked my head, await
ing an explanation. One that never came.
“You want something for this,” I said. He nodded in response. “Name it and be gone. I have matters to attend to.”
“Pressing ones, no doubt,” he mocked, looking to the sky for a swarm of black wings. Then his eyes fell back upon me, any hint of amusement in them wiped away. “In the interest of time, I’ll be blunt. I want you to replace your brother as the head of the Patronus Ceteri.”
“Why would you desire this? He has led them for as long as they have existed, from what I have been told.”
“He is weak. You are not. It’s as simple as that.”
“How would you suggest I do this, given that he is invincible? I could not kill him even if I wanted to.”
“No,” he replied with no lack of resentment in his tone, “you could not. But you could lock him away somewhere,” he said, his tone leading me gently toward the conclusion he wanted me to reach. “Like the Oudeis, perhaps? I’ve heard the Underworld has taken a shine to you—that it obeys you.”
“It did,” I replied flatly. “It no longer does.”
He quirked a brow, amused by something I did not understand. “I think you might find that it still does, Khara. Perhaps it does not only because you commanded it not to. I suspect that it would welcome you back with open arms, so to speak, should you wish to control it yet again, even if only for a moment—enough time to lock someone away for eternity…”
I schooled my features, as I so often had to in the Underworld, not allowing any hint of what I was thinking into my expression. My lack of reaction served two purposes: to reinforce Ares’ illusion as to who and what I was, and to hide the unease growing within me at the thought of doing what he had asked so I could learn how to eliminate the threat posed by Phobos. I would not be putting anyone in the Oudeis at his request—most certainly not my twin.
I would have to find another way.
“I will leave you to consider my offer,” he said, walking away toward the trees. “I’ll be in touch soon, Khara. And I must say, it was lovely to finally meet you after all these years…”
He disappeared into the fog that had rolled in, and without paying him further thought, I ran through the gates of the Underworld. I flew down the corridor that led to the Acheron, never stopping as I crossed it without even a hint of magic trying to stop me. Through the Great Hall and into the corridors leading to Hecate’s former domain, I continued undaunted. I had to get to my brothers before Kaine came.
As I approached, I found them heading toward me. One look at my frantic pace and their weapons were drawn.
“What is it?” Kierson asked, running toward me.
“We must go. I will explain on the way,” I said, landing in their path.
Without argument, we stormed back through the halls I had just traversed, headed for the Acheron. Aery stood in the Great Hall as we tore through, and she soon joined our party, headed for the unknown.
“Kaine and the Dark Ones will be coming here to find me soon,” I said, leading the pack. Casey growled at the warning. “I killed some of them with fire and stole Oz out from under their noses. My actions were not appreciated, and I do not wish for you to die fighting them over a mess I created all on my own.”
We arrived at the edge of the Acheron, and I turned to Aery. She nodded once before grabbing Kierson and escorting him to the other side. I took Drew and Casey over, then turned to get Pierson, but Aery waved me off.
“Go. I’ll get him, then return to warn Hades that unwelcome visitors are headed this way.”
Her words halted me for a moment as I pondered the implications my actions might have for my father and his wife.
“You’re not staying, Aery,” Kierson said, his words a half order, half desperate plea. His love for her was so plain.
“I’ll be fine. Now go.” Before he could argue, she was on the opposite shore, grabbing his twin and bringing him over. She stopped long enough to kiss Kierson, then took off, headed for my father’s chambers.
“We need to get above and have Trey take you four somewhere that Kaine will not look for you—”
“We’re not fucking running like pussies,” Casey said, true offense in his tone.
“You, dear brother, are most certainly not a pussy, but you have no house to return to, and Kaine will seek vengeance any way he possibly can. He will strike down anyone I care for to bring me to heel, and if it is all the same to you, I would prefer you not face an entire army of Dark Ones alone just to prove your archaic sense of manhood.”
“I won’t be alone,” he said, looking at our brothers.
“Do this for me,” I said, stepping closer to him. “Please. I care for so little in this world…”
Those eternally dark eyes softened, and he nodded.
“We will go to Chicago,” Pierson said, heading toward the gates.
Together, we ran until the light from Earth shone through the opening. Then a deep voice stopped me short. I turned to find Deimos lurking behind us, standing where he had not been standing just seconds before.
“Go,” I said to the others. “Get Trey to come for you. I will check in soon.”
“Khara—”
“Go!” I shouted, looking back at them. Their stern expressions let me know how much they disliked being sent away, but they knew I was not in danger. Not from Deimos, at least. They had seen what I was capable of. If Deimos challenged me, he soon would, too.
“I have news of my brother,” he said.
“I do not have time for this. I need to return above and see to matters.”
“You mean see to Oz.”
“Jealousy does not suit you, Deimos.”
“As Oz does not suit you,” he said, coming closer.
“Kaine and his Dark Ones will certainly be here soon to reclaim what they feel is theirs. If that small part inside you that you claim to have truly does exist, then you will keep my father safe from harm when they arrive.”
“Khara,” he growled, snatching my arm, “My brother grows bolder by the hour—”
“He is a matter for another time, Deimos.”
“He will kill you!” he shouted, pulling me close. “He will break you as he broke Eos if he finds you.”
I leaned in close, my lips painfully near his. “Then do as my father has asked and eliminate the problem. Ares seems to think he knows how to do this. Perhaps you should ask him about it.”
His eyes went wide, and I capitalized on his surprise to pull away and fly down the corridor, his anger chasing me through the open gates. My brothers and Trey disappeared just before I could join them.
With a sigh of relief at the knowledge they would be safe, I looked above, prepared to return to Oz. Instead of a clear, open sky, I found one peppered with hundreds of black, deadly wings. They were too close to try to escape to the cabin, as they would surely follow. Instead, I pulled my phone from my pocket and scrolled until I found what I needed. I sent an urgent message, then tucked it away, freeing my hands should I need them.
The seconds passed like hours as the Dark Ones approached, tightening their ranks to appear like a swarm of locusts—a plague upon the Earth. Kaine led them into a dive, their speed unnerving as they plunged toward the gates—toward my position in front of them. He slowed, undoubtedly hoping the speed of his approach would allow him to scoop me up and take me away; or perhaps he planned to cut my head clean from my body, which seemed likely given the sword he pulled from its sheath.
Prepared to call my lightning, I stood still, unwavering under his attack. As he grew close enough for me to see the rage in his eyes, my fingers sparked. Then Trey appeared out of nowhere beside me. His hand captured mine just as the blade sliced through the air, and the two of us disappeared into the ether.
5
We stood before a massive building I did not recognize, Trey’s hand still holding mine. I felt unsteady on my feet, the effects of his travel magic still coursing through me.
“It gets easier over time,” he said. �
��The first time is always the worst. It used to totally drain me to courier people around. Now it’s not so bad.” He released me and headed for the exterior door. “This is the warehouse. It is home to the PC of Chicago.”
“I need to get Oz,” I said, concern surging through my foggy mind. “You must take me there.”
“Where?” Trey asked. His monotonous voice battled with the concern furrowing his brow. I opened my mouth to explain but could not. There was no way to give detailed directions there unless I could navigate while traveling, and given the nature of his gift, that would not be possible. “I cannot take you somewhere I have not been or you cannot explain…”
My body went tight as I fought to find the words necessary to direct my waiting brother. Then an idea struck.
“Is Muses here?” I asked. Trey nodded.
As if summoned by my question, Muses emerged from the warehouse, a wicked smile on his face as always.
“Sister. I hoped you would be coming—”
“Wherever you see in my mind, can you make him see it?” I asked, interrupting him.
Muses frowned, either upset by my question or my lack of proper greeting.
“Where must you go?”
“To my former home above.”
His eyes narrowed. “Oz is there.”
“Yes.”
“I see…” He shook his head. “I cannot do what you ask, Khara, but not because I do not want to.”
Trey looked at me expectantly. “Is there somewhere near there you can go and then travel the rest of the way by flight?”
Yes. There was.
“Take me near Apollo’s Oracle. It is close enough.”
Again, Trey nodded, then reached for my hand. Muses pulled me away before he could touch me.
“Khara, do be careful. The Fates will be very disappointed if you get yourself killed or captured before they have a chance to meet you.”
“I shall do my best not to, then.”
His smile widened at my words, and he stepped away so Trey could take my hand. In a flash of darkness and disorientation, we landed near the woods I had long called home. With the trees too thick to navigate by air and the threat of Dark Ones in the sky, Trey and I ran toward the cabin, my heart tightening with every step. I had been away far longer than I had planned, leaving Oz vulnerable as he healed. My guilt fueled my pace as we wound through the trees. Trey kept up silently, his head swiveling at every sound the forest made. It was clear from his reactions that he was not familiar with nature like I was.
Unmade (Unborn Book 4) Page 4