At Death’s Door

by Kenyon, Sherrilyn

  Grinning, he kissed her, relieved that it really was what she wanted to know. “Aye, he’s as good to his word as any.” He scowled at her. “What’s this about that has you so upset?”

  The teasing died instantly beneath a wave of fret. She dropped her hand to his chest, where she toyed with his necklaces. In particular, she picked up the cross she’d given him so long ago and stroked it between her thumb and forefinger. “Do you think he can release Circe’s son?”

  “I don’t know. Agrios’s hubris was extreme. But if you want, we can lend a hand.”

  Her eyes lit up. “What?”

  “I make no promises. It’s not my realm and I hold no real negotiating power, but we can try. Being what I am, I can get to him and at least see if there’s something we can do.”

  “You would do that?”

  “Vala … for you, I would do anything.”

  “Then why didn’t you offer earlier?”

  “We were attacked and then we were naked.”

  “Nibo!”

  “What?” he asked innocently. “I was going to tell you. As I said, I can make no promises. This is more Thorn’s territory than mine. I drop souls off at such places. Getting them out is not something I ever thought about doing. I’ve never made such an attempt and have no idea how to really go about it. But for you, mon ange, I’ll risk angering the great powers of the universe.”

  Those words made her heart sing.

  And he proved them as soon as they were dressed. She watched as he used his powers to paint his face in the loa style so that it bore a skull over his features, and his loose-fitting island clothes changed to his trademark dandy fashion of an ornate black overcoat with a purple sash and shirt. Skulls and crossbones bedecked his black-and-silver tricorne that he wore over a long purple headscarf trimmed with silver coins.

  He looked dashing.

  Dangerous. Mysterious and haunting. One glance and it was obvious he was a creature born of ethereal things. A man who walked between realms and who feared nothing and no one. While she knew his kindness, he was renowned for his vicious lethality that could come out whenever he sensed someone was in the wrong. He hated injustice and was highly protective of those who fell under his protection. His temper was legendary, and she’d seen him lash out at his own companions at times. Especially if he was in his cups. Oddly enough, he seldom drank around her. Maybe a few sips, but never to excess. Until now, she’d never given much thought about that.

  And that made her smile, for Xuri wasn’t known for his restraint. “Why is it you never drink around me?”

  He paused checking his pockets to stare at her. A slow, charming grin spread across his face. “Don’t you know?”

  She shook her head.

  Wrinkling his nose, he walked into her arms and kissed her. “Who needs rum when you already make my head spin, chère?”

  Aye, he was a sexy, incredible beast. Especially when he held her like this and she could feel every inch of his body pressed against hers.

  “You are far too charming.” She tugged at his feathers.

  He flashed a devilish smile. “That I am.”

  Then he dressed her in a dark burgundy gown with an outrageous feathered headpiece that held a ship in the center, where it appeared to be sailing in a storm of swirling silver-and-black feathers with pearl accents. Using his powers, he painted her face and teased her hair into a bold hedgehog style, with thick curls that fell to her waist.

  She smiled at him. “You are ever an outrageous dandy.”

  “Life is not for the meek, mon amour. And neither is fashion. Both always favor the bold. When you enter a room, you should turn heads, not stomachs.”

  “I don’t know. Sometimes restraint is the better form of valor.”

  “Not when you’re going to war. What better place is there to clash and be loud?”

  He had a point. They were certainly loud. There was no denying that.

  She liked it. “So where are we going?”

  His grin turned roguish as he tucked his skeletal cane beneath his arm and pulled on a pair of black gloves. “You know I try to take you to the best places, chère. We’re going to hell without a handbasket.”

  And with that, he took her not only to the hell he’d promised, but straight into the lowest, darkest pit of it, where only the most tortured of souls were sent.

  Valynda glanced around as they emerged from the darkness into a rather pleasant field. “This doesn’t look so bad.” Especially when compared to the hell realm where she’d been tortured and that Thorn had rescued her from. This one was bright and cheery, point of fact. Children ran about, singing and dancing, chasing each other. Granted, off-key, but still it was a nice, pleasant day.

  How could this be anyone’s hell?

  Nibo snorted. “One man’s trash is another’s rose.”

  No sooner had he spoken than she heard the agonized scream of someone in the throes of absolute misery.

  The sound sent a chill down her spine and brought her up short. “What the devil is that?”

  “What the devil, indeed.” He grinned at her as he turned around and spread his arms wide. With true psychopomp flare, he walked backward toward the noise.

  More curious than she wanted to admit, she followed after him. What could be going on to cause someone to lament this heavenly place in such a manner? ’Twas obvious the screaming person was in agony. But she couldn’t imagine why.

  Until she saw it.

  Then she was even more befuddled by a sight that made no sense whatsoever. Before them stood a man almost seven feet in height. With blond curls and a face that had been carved to perfection, he wore the ancient battle armor of a Greek god and was covered in …

  Baby vomit.

  And children. A lot of children, who clung to him and climbed on him and did everything they could to get his attention.

  Well, on second thought, she could see where that might be rather horrifying, after all. Come to think of it, she’d probably start screaming too.

  There were a lot of cloying children. And they weren’t exactly in a pristine, unleaking condition. Indeed, they seemed to be having an excess of mucus. Even for small children.

  “Sing to me!”

  “I need food!”

  “Help! Help! I needs go potty!”

  There were dozens of children around him, all vying for his attention as they tugged on him. Several pummeled him with their small fists and one …

  One bit his shin.

  “Damn you! Get off me!” He tried to escape them, but they were after him with a tenacity that was as impressive as it was terrifying.

  A little angelic girl tripped him, and the moment he was on the ground, the children swarmed him like ants running over a sweetmeat.

  “Give me a story! Give me! Give me!”

  Another began bouncing on his belly and clapping her hands. “More bounce! More bounce!”

  “By Hera’s hairy armpits, get off me, you little demonspawn brats!” He screamed even louder as a boy bit his thigh and a girl clamped down on his wrist.

  “Oh,” Valynda said slowly. “I see.”

  Nibo chuckled. “Now you know why I’m so glad we don’t have a hell in Vilokan.” A shadow passed over his face. “Then again, living a mortal life is its own form of torture. Reincarnation back into mortality is as bad a punishment as any hell ever conceived by any god.”

  He had a point there. One she didn’t want to think about.

  Cupping his hand around his mouth, Nibo gave a shout. “Agrios!”

  He froze, then turned toward them. “Help! For the love of Zeus, help me!”

  “Not for the love of Zeus, but …” Xuri pulled out his crook and enlarged it. “Demons, demons all around. Careful whose joy you come to drown. Day in and day without, you will learn not to strike out.” And with that, he struck the ground.

  A shock wave ran over them and sent the “children” flying in all directions. They spun and hissed like a glaring of wild cats.
Some even arched their backs.

  “Nibo!” One of the larger children bared a mouth full of razor-sharp, serrated teeth.

  “You don’t belong!”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Well, it wasn’t for the company, that’s for sure.” He held the end of his crook out toward Agrios, who gratefully seized it and allowed Nibo to help him to his feet.

  “I’m hoping you’re more friend than foe.”

  “To you. For the moment.” Nibo cast his gaze around at the others as they nipped and clawed at Agrios, who kicked them back. “Really? Your personal hell is children? Out of all the things you could have picked in the world that are terrifying, you fear small children?”

  Agrios passed him a stare that not only questioned his parentage, but also his sanity. “You ever been around any? Not only do they smell, they drool. Some part of them is forever leaking some kind of disgusting gelatinous goo. They ask too many questions that are none of their business. Have no tact. Eat things that make you shudder. Have no sense of boundaries. And the selfish little bastards take you for granted and stab you in the heart when you least expect it.”

  Nibo arched one eyebrow at his acrimony. “That pretty much summarizes every adult I’ve ever met, too, and most of my family. As well as my relationship with them. And they’re not nearly as cute.”

  By the expression on the warrior’s face, Valynda could tell he’d never thought of that. And Nibo was right. That had proven true in her case as well.

  In particular, certain members of the Sea Witch fit that category. Not so much the stabbing in the heart, but the drooling …

  Well, she didn’t want to think about that, as most of them, including herself, had been known to do that whenever some of the men came around. Especially when they took their shirts off.

  She cast a sheepish glance toward Xuri and felt heat scald her cheeks. It was probably best not to have those thoughts too close to Nibo, who would definitely be offended if he knew.

  Squelching the sudden need to whistle innocently, she diverted her gaze.

  Another demon came running for them. Nibo caught him with his crook and batted him away.

  Valynda was impressed. “So, how are we going to get him out of here?”

  Nibo sighed. “Well, a psychopomp led him in …”

  “You should be able to lead him out.”

  “That’s one theory.”

  She didn’t like where this was heading, and a bad feeling went through her. “You didn’t think this through, did you?”

  There it was … that adorable grin that came with bad, gut-wrenching timing. “You always said that was my weakness.”

  Aye, she did. Valynda ground her teeth. “I swear, Xuri …” He got himself into more disasters by his failure to look ahead. “So, what was your plan, then?”

  “Beg. Plead.” He winked at her. “Beat the shite out of whatever comes at us.”

  “Thought you weren’t a warrior,” she teased. Because she knew better.

  “There are times when we all surprise ourselves with what’s inside us. Today, I’m more akin to Sallie with me warrior’s soul in a bottle that’s been uncorked.” He slapped Agrios on the shoulder. “Come, good Greek, let’s see about getting you home, shall we?”

  That made him pause. He appeared stunned, as if he’d heard a promise too good to be believed. “Home?”

  Nibo nodded. “Your mother bid us to fetch you to her.”

  “My mother? Circe?” He spit on the ground and cursed violently. “She’s the one who got me cursed here. Why ever would I want to rejoin her anywhere?”

  Well there was something neither of them had foreseen. “I beg your pardon?” Valynda looked from Agrios to Nibo and back again.

  “Beg all you want. It changes nothing. I don’t want to be anywhere near my mother. Ever. She can rot in all of Tartarus for all I care.”

  “Fair enough.” Nibo whistled for the demons. “Here you go, kids. Bon appetit.”

  Panicking, Agrios looked about and appeared as if he were about to climb someone’s leg. “What are you doing?”

  “It’s us or them, mate. Choose your hell.”

  Valynda gasped as she finally saw the demonic incarnation of Nibo. No wonder the damned screamed in terror. His skin held a translucent quality that let her see the sinew and muscles beneath. It was macabre and yet strangely beautiful. Monstrously intriguing.

  An aura of lethal power permeated the air around him.

  Agrios staggered back as the demons surged.

  “Playtime!”

  “I need to potty!”

  “Feed me!”

  “Call them off!” Agrios screamed. “For the love of the gods! I’ll go! I swear. Just please, send them back to wherever!”

  Valynda had to stifle a laugh. Honestly, given the horrifying things they’d encountered, she rather liked these. They looked much more cuddly and cute.

  Without thinking, she reached out toward one. Its eyes widened before it opened its ravenous mouth and lunged for her.

  Gasping, Valynda smacked the demon on the nose. It bit her forearm.

  “You little bastage! How dare you! And here I thought you adorable!”

  “You’re going to die! All of you!”

  “I’m already dead.” Frustrated, she felt a peculiar surge within her. One she couldn’t explain. The next thing she knew, a bolt of lightning shot from her hands and blasted the demon back.

  Both Nibo and Agrios turned to gape at her.

  “What did you do?”

  She shrugged at Nibo. “No idea. I’ve never done that before.” Amazed, she stared at her hands as if they belonged to a stranger.

  As did Nibo. He took them each into his own so that he could study them. Then, he kissed her palm. “We will marvel over this later. For now …”

  “We need to go before we’re eaten.”

  He winked at her.

  This time, Agrios didn’t argue. He followed along like a dutiful pup as they made their way through the dark, murky depths of a hell realm where the souls of the damned echoed.

  Valynda scowled. “Where are we?”

  “Tartarus.”

  They approached a river made of fire. One that crawled with giant slithering snakes. “Now that is what you should have feared.” Valynda shivered at the sight of it.

  “And spiders,” Nibo added.

  Valynda drew up short as they turned a corner and found a giant spider’s web. “Nay …” she breathed as her heart lodged itself in her throat to choke her. There was something you didn’t see every day.

  Nibo cursed. “Forgot where I was.”

  “How so?”

  Agrios sighed. “You say your fear …” He gestured at the web. “You manifest it.”

  Beautiful. Leave it to Nibo to pick such a lovely terror.

  “Spiders?” she asked. Of all the things in the universe to fear, she’d have never put that one on his list.

  Nibo gave her a sheepish grin.

  The web around them began to shake.

  So did her legs. Especially when she could hear the horrendous sound of the arachnid moving from somewhere in the darkness, out of sight, and judging from the echoing clacking and clamor, it wasn’t just one great big spider.

  It came with friends.

  And neighbors.

  Probably a few of their friends and family. And some distant relatives.

  “Damn you, Nibo!” Valynda pulled out her sword. “Why couldn’t you pick a better fear. Like butterflies?”

  Agrios grabbed his sword as well.

  With a fierce grimace, Nibo chose his throwing daggers.

  “Harm one of them and you’ll never leave this place. And given that you’re all three dead, you might not anyway. But violate the laws here and it will be a certainty that you will become a permanent resident in our merry home.”

  They turned in unison to find a shadow speaking to them. One Valynda had seen before but didn’t know. Not much taller than her, h
e had eyes that were a peculiar shade of grayish blue and hair pulled back into a neat queue that was neither dark nor light. Rather, it was a mixture of the two, like two kinds of straw bundled together to make a unique shade.

  Well built and every bit as handsome as Nibo, there was something about him innately powerful. Innately sexual and cold. She would call him a demon, and yet there seemed something more to him than just their cruelty. While she had no doubt he could be as lethal as any and do whatever it was he needed to, something about him said that he wouldn’t relish the vile deed.

  Nay, this creature had a conscience.

  And it ran as deep as the searing intelligence that burned in those unique eyes.

  Most peculiar of all was his overcoat that was made completely of leather, with high brass buttons and a high collar. Unlike the dandies who preferred billowing lace, he wore a plain black tunic that was open at the neck, with tight black breeches and boots.

  Aye, he was dangerous. The kind that made the hairs on the nape of one’s neck stand up and sent a chill down the spine. She had no doubt he’d left a trail of bodies in his wake.

  Along with an untold number of broken hearts of women who couldn’t claim this one as their own.

  “What are you doing here, Shadow? This isn’t your realm.”

  His features softened into a teasing, roguish grin. “Au contraire, mon frère. My domain is anywhere the daylight and moonlight don’t reach. That nebulous nothing in between.” He moved to stand beside Valynda, which caused the spiders to back up as if they feared him. “You’re the ones who don’t belong here. Not I.”

  Nibo narrowed his gaze on the creatures. “Why are they afraid of you?”

  “Not afraid. Respectful.”

  Nibo snorted. “What? Did you eat their leader for dinner?”

  “Breakfast.” He flashed a debonair and charming grin at Valynda. “Now I’m looking for a tasty morsel for dessert.”

  A sword point appeared at Shadow’s throat, forcing him back from her as all humor left Nibo. “Well, you won’t be having none of that, mate.”

  With an amused glint in his steely eyes, Shadow tsked at Nibo’s sudden distemper and knocked the blade away with his bare hand. “Duly noted, and you can relax, old man. I was only teasing.” He jerked his chin toward something past their shoulders. “That was the morsel I came here for. And the dessert I was speaking of, anyway.”