by Amy Sumida
“A soul-eater?” I whispered. “One springs to mind immediately, but I don't think she ever leaves Duat.”
“I doubt that it's Ammit,” Re said. “She doesn't have many independent thoughts, and her only motivation is to consume what's cast to her. She was a beautiful woman once, but now she's little more than an animal. It's a damn shame, really.”
“There are a couple of Japanese demi-gods,” Samael said with a frown of concentration. “A white woman—no; a snow woman. She feeds on human souls. And then there's a wheel with a man's head who guards Hell.”
“I think we can rule out the wheel,” Trevor said.
“You never know; wheels get around. That's kind of the point of them,” Lilith said and then snickered. “Or the lack of points.”
“There have also been human soul-eaters,” Samael said ominously; cutting off his wife's laughter.
We all stared at Samael in surprise. I had said in the beginning that this was either a god or a really powerful human. Why had we let ourselves get distracted by angels and left that stone unturned? Maybe because there was one problem with the human theory.
“How would a human consume a soul?” I asked.
“Magic,” Lilith said with a shrug. “Or extreme malice. Humans are capable of far more than we give them credit for. Willpower alone is sometimes enough to achieve results that would normally require a spell.”
“So, we have soul-harvesters and soul-eaters; possibly human ones,” Toby summed up. “And not a clue which ones to start with.”
“We need more information,” Samael said. “Let me do some research and get back to you.”
“I don't know how much time we have,” Azrael said.
“Do you think that I don't realize the urgency of the situation?” Samael countered. “They're family to you, but they're not your children. A parent's love goes far deeper than anyone else's.”
“My apologies,” Azrael said immediately. “Please contact me when you find anything, and I'll do the same for you.”
“I appreciate your help, Azrael.” Samael stood and held out his hand to Az. “And the apology.”
Az blinked at the slim, elegant hand a moment before he lurched to his feet and shook it.
“Don't fluff your feathers; this doesn't mean we're friends,” Samael said dryly. “Just temporary comrades in arms.”
“I'll take that,” Azrael said. “Thank you, Samael.”
“Oh, this is just adorable; the death angels together.” Lilith sighed. “Where's my camera?”
Both Samael and Azrael grimaced at her.
Chapter Eleven
Azrael went to Hell to let his father know what we'd discovered, and the rest of us went home; Re to his palace in Aaru, and Toby to his cave. I was beyond tired; I was weary—that emotional, bone-deep exhaustion that comes from a combination of adrenaline, anxiety, confusion, frustration, and plain, old fear. I needed to fall into my bed and not get out of it for at least eight hours.
But I couldn't fall into my bed because it was already occupied; by an owl.
“Begone foul fowl!” I shouted at Alex as I shooed him with waves of my hands.
“Please tell me that one of those 'fowls' didn't have a U in it,” Alex—aka Aleksanteri, Athena's pet owl—said in a pained tone.
“You're damn straight it did,” I said. “I have no patience for birds in my bed. The only feathers I want near me are Azrael's wings and my down pillows. Since Az isn't here right now, I'll settle for the pillows. Get out; I don't care what Athena wants.”
“What's with you?” Alex huffed as he fluffed his feathers and hopped off my bed.
Alex is a large owl; nearly the size of my daughter (and that's without counting his wingspan). He cocked his white head at me in an extreme and extremely disturbing angle.
“We've been following leads on an exorcist who's murdering demons,” Trevor said tiredly. “Vervain's right; whatever Athena wants, it's going to have to wait.”
“But she told me to summon you immediately,” Alex said. “And I've already been waiting here an hour. I've had to raid your farm for a quick bite to eat.”
“What could you have possibly found to eat at the farm?” I asked in confusion. “We don't have mice.”
I'd made the farm awhile back when it became apparent that feeding a Pride of werelions was really expensive. If they'd been regular lions, they would have been content with the antelope that ranged free here, but they were also men, and they wanted variety. Not that I blamed them; I couldn't eat raw antelope for the rest of my life either. So, I had used my territory magic to make a farm with chickens, pigs, and a few cows. But that was it, and nothing existed in my realm without me inviting it in or creating it. So, I was certain there were no rodents for the owl to eat.
“A chicken, of course,” Alex said. “I didn't think you'd mind; laws of hospitality and all.”
“I don't mind but... a chicken?” I gaped at him. “You ate another bird? You really are a foul fowl.”
“Owls eat other birds; it's perfectly natural,” Alex said haughtily. “I am a predator. How do you not know that?”
“It just seems like cannibalism to me,” I said with a shudder.
“First of all, your birds are magic so I don't think that counts either way,” Alex said. “Second; I didn't eat other owls. Although, I've heard of owls who do.”
“Cannibalism!” I declared and flopped into bed. “Now, off with you, you fowl cannibal!”
“You're always so dramatic.” Alex sighed and rolled his huge eyes. “And third; haven't you eaten people?”
I froze. “That was in dragon form,” I said. “It's perfectly acceptable for dragons to eat people.”
Alex grimaced. “What do you care about a bunch of demons anyway?”
“They're family,” I said into my pillow.
“What was that?” Alex asked.
“She said zey are family,” Kirill said as he stalked closer to the bird. “And here, you are prey.”
“How rude!” Alex flapped up into the air and circled the room. “You must present yourself to the Mistress of Olympus, Godhunter. The other Olympians are already there. You are needed.”
“I am needed to sleep,” I muttered; half asleep already. “One of my representatives will go in my stead.”
“Representative?” Alex asked. “Who?”
I chuckled as I rolled over onto my back. “What did you say?”
“Who?” He repeated. “Who are you sending?”
I burst into more exhausted giggles.
“Why is she laughing?” Alex asked as he landed atop one of the bed posters.
“Because you're a talking owl whom she just got to say 'who,'” Trevor said with a smirk.
“Children!” Alex screeched. “Absolute infants; the lot of you.”
I laughed more. Then Kirill and Trevor joined in. I have one of those infectious laughs that's so silly, it makes people laugh just to hear it sometimes.
“What's with all the laughter and hooting?” Odin asked as he came downstairs from his tower. “Lesya just got to sleep and it took me hours to get her down so if you wake her, you'll be the one dealing with a cranky lion cub.”
“Sorry,” Alex muttered. “But I've already told you, Odin; Vervain must attend the Council.”
“No; you said she must attend Athena,” Odin reminded the owl. “And I told you we'd see how Vervain felt when she got home.”
Alex stuck his thick, black, bird tongue out at Odin. I laughed even more. I hadn't been aware that owls could do that.
“Now, who's the child?” Trevor asked.
“Childishness is like a disease; it's catching,” Alex declared. “Which makes my behavior your fault.”
“Narcolepsy is also a disease,” I said as I flopped onto my side. “And I feel a case of it coming on.”
“You cannot come down with a sudden case of narcolepsy,” Alex said.
I snored loudly as my answer.
“Unbelievable!” Alex scr
eeched again.
A small cry came from upstairs and then it grew into a wail. I sat up and glared at the owl with a look that should have turned him into barbecue; at the very least, singed a few feathers. Alex flew out to the balcony and settled on the railing in shame.
“Get out of my territory!” I snapped at Alex.
“But I—” Alex started but was cut off by another of Lesya's cries.
“I'll get her,” Kirill said as he headed up to Lesya's nursery.
“Get out!” I shouted, and Lesya began to wail.
“Tell Athena that we'll see her tomorrow,” Trevor said. “We're not going to be any good to her in the state we're in anyway.”
“What about the representative?” Alex asked.
“Here's my representative.” I flipped the bird the bird.
“Fine,” Alex huffed and flew toward the doorway. “But I'm telling Athena all about the way I've been treated!”
“Out!” I shouted again.
Chapter Twelve
I felt much better in the morning. I sighed, rolled onto my side, and opened my eyes. Then I screamed.
Lesya was standing beside my bed, staring at me. My scream startled her, and she started screaming. Trevor—who was sleeping beside me—woke up and shifted his hands into claws; ready for war. While he was still searching for assassins, Odin and Kirill came running down the stairwells half-dressed.
“What in all the realms is going on down here?” Odin shouted. “And why do I have to keep asking that? I hate sounding like a grumpy old man.”
Lesya and I looked at each other and started laughing.
“The females have gone insane,” Trevor declared as he shifted his hands back to normal.
“Lesya startled me,” I said as I slipped out of bed and picked her up.
“And Mommy scared me.” Lesya sniffed for added effect.
“You were standing at the side of the bed; staring at me like a psychopath,” I accused her.
“What's a sigh-cone-path?” Lesya sounded out the word as best she could. “Does it have ice cream?”
“No; it's a crazy person,” I said dramatically as I tickled her.
“I'm not crazy!” Lesya shouted as she giggled.
“That's what all crazy people say!” I tickled Lesya more before handing her off to Trevor and heading toward the bathroom. “Normal people don't stand beside beds and stare at other people while they're sleeping. Don't do it again; leave that creepy stuff to vampires.”
“I was just waiting for you to wake up,” Lesya whined as I shut the door.
“As if I don't have enough creepy stuff in my life,” I muttered as I went about my morning routine. “Now, my daughter is becoming a stalker.”
After I was clean, relieved, and refreshed, I braved the world outside my bathroom. I swear; there are days when I just want to stay in there. But today, the smell of coffee and bacon lured me out. My husbands were making breakfast, and Lesya was in her highchair being fed by her father. Trevor handed me a cup of Earl Grey Creme as I walked up. Damn; I love that wolf!
“When do you want to head over to Olympus?” Odin asked me.
“Olympus?” Azrael asked as he walked in. “What's wrong with the damn Greeks now?”
“Damn Greeks!” Lesya declared.
I glared at Azrael, and he turned red.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “I've had a rough night.”
“It's okay,” I sighed and went to hug him.
“Damn Greeks!” Lesya said again when she didn't get the reaction she was hoping for.
“Lesya!” I snarled. How's that for a reaction?
Lesya made a rebellious growling sound, and I turned around fully and roared at her. She whimpered and sank down in her seat as Kirill chuckled.
“You've got many years before you can challenge your mother,” Kirill chided our daughter. “And even zen, I don't recommend it, Kotyonok. Fight battles you can win.”
“Damn Greeks,” Lesya whispered.
“Lesya, do not say that D word again,” I said sternly. “Uncle Azrael shouldn't have said it, but he's tired and upset so we're going to let it slide; as I'm going to let you slide this once. Got it?”
“Got it, Mommy,” Lesya said like a little soldier.
“Good.” I sighed deeply as I turned back to Azrael. “Are the Demons all right? Did something else happen?”
“I'll take Lesya for a morning run,” Kirill said as he lifted our daughter out of her highchair.
“Yay!” Lesya clapped.
Lesya knew that “morning run” meant they were shifting, and my baby girl loved to be a lion.
“Thank you.” I kissed Kirill's cheek and then Lesya's as they passed by me.
“Don't leave vithout me,” Kirill said. “I'll take Lesya to Samantha after we're finished. I just don't vant to disturb zeir breakfast. But I vant to go to Olympus vith you.”
“Okay; we won't leave you behind,” I promised.
I watched Kirill and Lesya leave—Kirill looking so blissful with our daughter in his arms—and then turned back to Az.
“Everyone's fine,” Azrael assured me. “They're just worried—terrified, really—my father especially. I don't think I've ever seen him scared, Carus. It shakes the foundation of my world.”
“This isn't a fair battle,” I said softly. “He doesn't know what to do, and that can be devastating to a man like Luke.”
“I stayed up most of the night with him drinking,” Azrael said tiredly as he went to the coffeepot.
“Luke was drinking?” Trevor asked in surprise.
“Hellbrew,” Azrael said with a nod. “It was bizarre. There he was throwing them back like a barfly, but between bouts of intoxication he'd sober up and have moments of industrious clarity. He started making lists and complicated plans. Poor Cid has been running around like crazy trying to carry out Dad's orders; assigning tasks and organizing demons. Luke sent most of the demons to scour the Earth; searching for exorcists and gods who might have the means and motive to kill demons. They're out in teams so that no one is alone at any given time.”
“In case someone gets pulled into a possession,” I concluded.
“Precisely,” Azrael sipped his coffee and took a seat. “And Dad gathered all of those who aren't out looking so that they wouldn't be alone. He's calling in debts left and right; doing anything he can think of to find whoever is behind this.”
“He loves his family,” I said gently. “I'd be doing the same. I'm glad Luke isn't just relying on us to find the killer.”
“Especially since we have to take a break from the search this morning,” Odin said.
“Olympus?” Azrael asked.
“Athena wanted me to go last night, but we were all too tired,” I explained. “I told Alex we'd go today.”
“That put him in a foul mood,” Trevor said with a chuckle.
I giggled.
“I'll go with you,” Azrael said after shaking his head at us. “Maybe Athena will know something helpful.”
“It doesn't hurt to ask,” I said.
Chapter Thirteen
“Ow!” I rubbed at my head as I scowled at Athena. “What the fluff?”
“I summoned you last night!” Athena shouted. “You finally saunter in this morning and you have the nerve to ask me for help before I even tell you why I wanted you here?”
“I figured I'd get this out of the way first and then we could focus on your problem,” I said.
Azrael picked up the gold arm cuff that Athena had thrown at me and calmly walked over to the Mistress of Olympus. He held out the cuff, and although his back appeared relaxed, his expression must have been something entirely different because Athena paled, and the hand she reached out to take the cuff trembled.
“You're obviously going through something disturbing,” Azrael said in his soft, dangerous tone. “I understand, as I'm in a similar situation. But if you ever throw anything at my wife again—even a paperclip—I will tear you to pieces and cast them to you
r owl to eat.”
“Holy cannolis,” I whispered. “Azrael, that's a bit extreme—”
“The fuck it is,” Trevor growled and cut me off. “How dare you assault our wife after she came here during the midst of our own troubles?”
“You're right; I'm sorry!” Athena held up her hands before Kirill and Odin could get in on the action. “I'm distraught and acting out of sorts. I shouldn't have done that. Children throw things, adults use their words.”
“It's okay, Athena,” I said as I went past Az and took a seat on the couch beside her chair. I glanced up at Azrael and caught the tail end of his eyes fading back to normal. “Jiminy Cricket, Az! Were you using death-angel-eyes on her?”
Azrael stretched his neck and took the seat beside me. He claimed my hand and kissed it before saying, “I'm done being nice; nice doesn't stop people from hurting my family. It's time that everyone understood what I'm capable of... and feared it.”
“I'm a little turned on right now,” I whispered.
Odin cleared his throat.
“I'm sorry about the demons,” Athena rushed on as if Azrael hadn't just done the angelic equivalent of pounding his chest, and I hadn't just inappropriately enjoyed it (inappropriate only because we were in public, otherwise I see no reason a wife shouldn't be turned on by her husband's bad-assness). “I don't know of any soul-eaters offhand. We only have Charon to ferry the dead and Hermes to lead them to Charon; neither of them harvest or consume souls. But I will look into this for you and ponder your problem if you would help me with mine.”
“What's going on, Athena?” I asked.
“Hephaestus and I have been in business together for years now,” Athena began as the rest of the men sat down. “I have several mines, and he uses the precious metals and gemstones I give him to make jewelry.”
“You own mines?” I asked in surprise.
“I'm not only the Goddess of Wisdom,” she said. “I'm also the Goddess of Handicrafts.”
“Jewelry is a handicraft?” I asked.