At its center is a massive inky smoke creature.
“That isn’t the one we met in France,” Mac says.
“No. This one is a lot smaller,” Tina agrees.
“There’s two of those things?” Shauna’s small voice asks.
“At least two,” I correct. There might be hundreds loose at this point. Before I can worry too much about it, a voice booms throughout the area.
“WHO DARES TO TRESPASS AGAINST—” There’s a pause then Themis steps into the clearing. “Mavis? What are you doing here and who are all these people?” Her eyes find Cassie with Merilee at her side. “Oh. That’s a shame. I had hoped it would be all over before you showed up, dear.” She studies me, hands on her hips. Right now she looks just like one of the many marble statues people have carved of her. Elegant. Graceful. Utterly cold, “How much do you know?”
“Nothing!” Shauna squeaks and Tina shushes her.
“She’s not wrong,” Mac agrees.
“What are you doing?” I demand of Themis. “Merilee is your friend, why is she caged? And what is that?” I motion toward the smoke monster.
Themis tilts her head. “I told your sister not to kill Zeus. He was meant to step down and then I was supposed to run Mount Olympus Academy. Instead, Edie went against my wishes. Zeus died and it threw the world into chaos.”
“That’s old news,” Tina tells her.
Themis lets out a dry laugh. “Yes, well, while you all have been trying to broker peace between humans and supernatural creatures, I’ve been working on a real plan to create harmony.”
“By killing more gods?” I ask.
“That doesn’t sound right,” Trevor says.
“Mavis, you should know how important balance is. What do you think those pills I gave you do to your body?” she asks, and my face reddens. “They make your body harmonic. I’m trying to do the same thing for the world.”
I dig in my bra and pull out the pill packet, throwing it on the ground at Themis’ feet. “Here. Have them back,” I yell.
“Yeah, shove them up your butt!” Shauna yells.
Griff growls his agreement.
“Now. What is going on, Themis?” I demand.
She sighs. Then holds her hands out palms up, one beside the other. I realize she’s making herself the scales that were destroyed when Zeus died. One hand lifts and the other falls. She looks back up at me.
“I suppose I can tell you. You can’t do anything to stop it.”
25
“We came from Tartarus,” Themis tells us.
“Tartarus is a prison,” Tina says.
“Like UWR,” Shauna agrees.
“A convenient lie. In actuality, it is our birthplace. All the supernatural beings. Fae and vampires and shifters. We lived there not as gods, but as hunted creatures,” Themis paces as she talks, her voice spiking louder in odd places. Almost like she’s a broken set of scales.
“When Zee, myself, and several of the other founding gods escaped here to Earth, we were grateful. It was a fresh start and we agreed that we must never do anything to threaten it. I fashioned the scales, to guide us in this new world. And to remind ourselves, always, what hung in the balance if we overstepped.”
Themis abruptly stops short. She whirls and stalks toward me, eyes wild. “I had Zee well in hand. He was subdued. But then your sister had to poke a sleeping bear—”
Griff growls at that.
“That was totally offensive,” Shauna chirps.
Themis barely seems to hear them. She is looking at only me. “I was wrong to save Edie. The scales warned me, but I only saw an innocent child.” Her eyes soften, and she curls her arms as if holding a baby. Slowly she begins to rock the imaginary baby as she coos at it and then brings a hand up over the baby’s mouth—smothering it. “There.” She drops her arms, letting the pretend baby fall. “Would it have been so hard?”
“That’s super messed up,” Tina whispers.
“Makes me glad I shoot blanks,” Mac adds.
“The Triumvirate said you were losing it—” I start to say.
“LOSING IT!?” Themis booms, levitating so that she hovers over us. “How wrong they are. I am gaining. Gaining strength. Gaining wisdom. Gaining power. Those three idiot children, how dare they claim Zee’s powers? Though they will not wield them for much longer. This”—Themis gestures to the cage holding the smaller smoke monster— “Is the key. As long as I have this baby wraith, its mother will do my bidding.”
“That’s a baby?” Shauna asks.
“The big one is just trying to keep you from harming its kid?” Mac asks.
“It was being a good mom,” I say. The one that killed Dionysus and Tamika was working at Themis’ bidding. That big bad monster was just trying to save its baby. I spent years spying for the so-called “monsters.” I should have known better than to jump to conclusions.
The gods always did hate anything ugly. They called it a monster and assumed it was evil. Maybe Tartarus isn’t such a bad place. Maybe everyone hunted the gods, not because they were mindless killers, but because the gods are endless assholes.
“But how can it kill gods so easily?” Trevor asks, curiosity on his face. “Asking for a friend, really…”
“We were just normal in our world,” Themis says. “Earth gave us these powers.”
“Like Superm—” Shauna starts.
“Don’t say it,” I tell her.
“Kryptonite,” she mutters.
“Things from Tartarus get the same boost of power when they pop through the portal. These monsters can kill us there, and they can kill us here.”
“Good to know,” Tina says, looking around. What is she up to?
“If you kill the Triumvirate won’t things go back to the way they were when Zeus died?” Trevor asks.
“Wait, isn’t one of the Triumvirate your brother?” Mac asks. “You don’t seem very concerned.”
Trevor shrugs. “Alaric’s a twat. The point is, Zeus’ death caused chaos. How does killing the three beings that are now keeping the chaos at bay bring the world back to balance?”
“Because I will take their power. And I will rule with my iron scales. There will be balance. I will make sure of that. No more Triumvirate,” Themis trills, a giant smile on her face. Obviously soothed by the thought, she settles back to the ground, her levitating psycho trick concluded. Again, she begins pacing, but this time she’s muttering to herself, about how everything is going as it should and this small glitch—us, I presume—will be removed shortly.
“She does this quite often,” Merilee says in a quiet voice. “The Triumvirate is correct about her not being in her right mind.”
“What a comfort that will be to them when they’re dead,” Tina says.
“No.” My hands ball into fists. “That’s not happening.” I turn to Cassie. “Can you send them a message?”
“You mean with my ESPN?” Cassie asks.
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “Yes. Warn BJ, Zahara, and Alaric.”
“Especially Alaric,” Mac adds. “I have heard he is a sight for sore eyes.”
Tina grabs Cassie’s shoulder. “Wait. If Cassie starts mental screaming, who knows who will hear it? Maybe the gods will get the message or maybe a hundred harpies will surround us.”
“We have to take that chance,” I tell her.
“No, actually we don’t,” Tina says. But then Shauna stands on Tina’s shoulder to whisper something in her ear. Tina’s face softens. And she sighs. But her expression is tough when she focuses on me again. “You’re freeing Kit for Shauna. Not getting him off death row. He goes free. Use whatever dirt you have on Greg. Or arrange another prison break. Whatever you gotta do to make it happen.”
It’s a big ask. But I’ll worry about that after we survive today.
“I’m a fugitive now, so it’s not gonna be that easy. But sure, I’ll do everything in my power to set the ravenous baby vampire free. Happy?”
Tina and Shauna both nod
. Cassie, meanwhile, closes her eyes and presumably turns her ‘ESPN’ on. I can only hope that she’s able to send out an SOS strong enough for any magical beings nearby to pick up on. And if there are some nearby, I also hope they’re on our side.
It’s a whole lot of hoping, but it’s what I have to work with.
“ENOUGH!” Themis barks at us. Once again her eyes settle on me, but this time they soften. “Mavis, my child, come here.” She holds out her hands to me. Reluctantly, I step forward and place my hands in hers. She squeezes, hard. “I always considered you my daughter, Mavis. Rule with me, help me to destroy this earth and build a new one. Together.”
I gulp. Yep, Themis has definitely lost it. But I decide to humor her for the moment. “That would definitely take longer than the time I have to live. I’m not immortal, remember?”
“A small problem; there are ways to gain immortality. And you’re a demi-god. It shouldn’t be too hard. Merilee will help us sort through the options. She’s so clever with her brain like a filing cabinet. If it wasn’t for her, Edie never would’ve known about the prophecy that let her kill Zee.” Themis sends an angry glare Merilee’s way.
Cassie’s eyes pop open, interrupting her ESP SOS call. “Hey!” she spits back, “My mother was only trying to help.”
“Zee was out of control,” Merilee coughs out.
“You stupid woman.” Themis looks about ready to lose her shit again so I try to distract her.
“But hasn’t Merilee helped you too?” I ask, my tone calm as I can manage.
Themis doesn’t seem to hear me. Her face grows tighter until I think she might be trying to burn Merilee with her eyes.
Gently, I place a hand on Themis’ cheek, turning her to face me. “Mother,” I say, the word sticking in my throat. But it grabs Themis’ attention; all her focus returns to me. “How did you trap that wraith?”
Themis smiles at this. “I told you, gods were not the only ones who came from Tartarus. The fae did too. And they had a trick for outwitting the wraiths. One they were silly enough to write down. Merilee found it and showed it to me. I believe she considered it a puzzle, something purely academic. But I immediately saw the possibilities.” Her eyes glitter with self-righteous fervor in a way that is truly disturbing—even for a god. Unexpectedly, she switches gears. “Mavis, do you enjoy running Underworld Reformatory?”
“I don’t run it—” I start to say, but she cuts me off.
“Of course you do. Do you really think I believe that moronic bat shifter is your boss?”
“Hey!” Cassie shouts, opening her eyes again. “Greg is NOT a moron.”
I give her a look and she shuts her eyes tight, hopefully getting our message out to someone. Anyone. I’d even settle for the harpies if that’s what it takes to stop Themis and get Edie back.
“But you are destined for bigger things,” Themis is saying. “I will give you Pandora’s Box and you will guard a larger prison. With the wraiths under my thumb, we will crush those who are against us or—if we are feeling kind—exile them to Tartarus. All the humans. All the so-called ‘supes’ will be sorted. Yes. No. Maybe.” On yes, Themis points to me. On no she points to Shauna. And Tina gets the maybe.
“Wow, a maybe,” Tina says. “I’m flattered. But I’ll be damned if you’re gonna take out my girlfriend.” With that she bares her fangs and slants her gaze toward me. “Can we start killing her now?”
“Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Nico! Stop tearing my ears off!” I spin on my heel. I’d know that voice anywhere. Hermes’ distinctive whine spikes higher as he comes into view. Nico is dragging him by his ear. He pulls him into the semi-circle we’ve formed and gives us all curious glances.
“What did I miss?”
“Well,” Shauna says, “this lady wants to be a fascist and make everyone her slave.”
“Also, banish all the humans,” Tina adds.
“And kill some gods,” Mac adds.
“And make Mavis her demi-god personal assistant?” Trevor asks. “I think that was the jist.”
“She’d be a terrible assistant,” Hermes pipes up. “Mavis can’t do anything right.”
Nico twists his ear harder and Hermes falls to his knees. With Hermes under control once more, Nico’s eyes fall on Cassie. “Are you okay over there?” he asks. He’s always been fond of Cassie.
Or maybe, I realize, Nico is just noticing the blood oozing from Cassie’s nose. It’s not great for Cassie, but maybe a good sign that her powers were on full blast and got our message of warning through to the Tri.
“I am very not okay,” Cassie says. She sways slightly and lands in Merilee’s arms. They prop each other up.
“Hermes, why are you here?” Themis asks.
“It’s not like I had a choice,” he answers petulantly.
“You are a god. How did this boy get the better of you?” she demands.
“Pain hurts!” Hermes says, as if that’s all the explanation required.
Nico kicks him over. “Look, I don’t know what weird shit is going on here. I just want the portal. Point me to Pandora’s Box and you can continue your little show-down.”
Of course, Pandora’s Box. We need to open that portal.
I turn to Themis. “You’re right. This world would be better off with a redo. I’ll help you, but you have to open the portal and get Edie back.”
“I can’t,” Themis tells me.
“Can’t or won’t?” I ask.
“Can’t, dear. There’s a trick to the portal. One in, one out. That’s why I can’t rescue your friends.”
“My sister,” I growl.
“Regardless, I would have to lose my creatures...and they’re the only ones that can kill the Triumvirate.”
One in, one out. “Equivalency,” I say.
“Exactly! Balance in all.”
“Then send one back,” I say. “Exchanged for Edie.”
“What about Val?” Tina asks. I wave her off. I hope she trusts me. I’m just trying to get Themis to agree to open the damned portal.
“Is that bitch trying to double cross you?” I hear Shauna ask.
Themis is shaking her head. “I can’t do that either. The only way I can control the mother is if the baby is in my...care.”
“Then…” I look around. “Hermes. Throw Hermes in.”
“No.” Hermes sniffs. “Please, Themis. I’m the one who procured the portal. I’m the one who risked opening it to peek into Tartarus. I’m the one who suggested using the baby to get the mother to do what you wanted. I’ve been helping you this whole time!”
Nico looks down at him. “Wow, man. Show some backbone.” Griff growls his agreement behind me.
“You are also the one who involved the seer,” Themis tells him. “You’re the one who ran wild with Zeus for all those years. I never liked you.” Themis turns to me. “I’ll exchange Hermes for Edie. And good riddance.”
“No,” Hermes cries out again. “Daughter. Daughter, please.” I ignore him and turn to Tina.
“Bitch, this better be a ploy,” she whispers.
I look at the cage where the small wraith is and make a gun with my hand. I really hope she gets it because Themis has pulled out the portal. A small pottery jar that looks like it’s from the dawn of time. Wait, not so small. It grows in size before my eyes.
She walks over to Hermes, grabs him by his shirt collar and drags him to the giant portal.
“Look,” Nico says. “I know I said I just wanted Pandora’s Box for my client, but we’re not really going to leave Val over in that place. I know I used to hate the guy, but…”
I flash a look his way. Nico and I were partners for a long time; he still knows my shut the hell up look.
Themis removes the lid from the jar and then sets it in front of Hermes. “Open it,” she orders.
“Not if you’re gonna throw me in!” he protests.
Themis rolls her eyes and then leans down to whisper something in Hermes’ ear. All the color drains from his face. Themis st
eps back. Hermes forces a smile. “I’ve always wanted to visit the motherland, actually.” He stretches out a hand with his palm open above the jar.
The artifact starts to shake and then begins to glow a black purply light. With an ear-splitting whine, the light above the jar takes the shape of a circle.
Looking at the portal it doesn’t seem all that different from ones that I’ve gone through hundreds of times. Except this one leads to a totally different world.
“How will you find Edie?” I ask Themis.
“I’ve been studying all kinds of ancient Fae texts,” Themis tells us. “Thanks to Merilee, the helpful idiot.”
“Hey!” Cassie calls. Her eyes are dark circles now, the energy of sending out her message draining her. “Eat a bag of penises!”
“That’s not how that expression goes,” Shauna tells her.
“It still works,” Trevor says.
“I mean, that just sounds like a Tuesday night,” Mac adds.
“Would you all just shut up,” I yell. Thank the gods they make it easy for me to sell this act.
Themis places her fingers on Pandora’s Box and draws markings that light up and fade away. I hoped I could learn how to “set” the portal, but that looks impossible.
“There, the portal will appear to Edie,” Themis says. “If she has a half a brain, she’ll jump through.” Good, that means Val will be nearby. If those two are still alive, and I have to believe that they are, chances are they’re together.
“Hermes, time to go.” Themis lifts him up. I debate waiting until he’s been thrown through the portal. He’s such a slimy bastard. But Themis is a god. We’ll need all the help we can get. Maybe, if he sees we're fighting, he’ll join in. Long shot, I know but…
“NOW, SHAUNA!” I scream, shifting into my cat form and jumping onto Themis’ head. I scratch at her eyes.
Shauna is airborne, does a circle, then shoots into the lock on the wraith’s cage, blowing it to bits. Metal flies through the air, and the baby streams out of the cage. Shocked, Themis screams, dropping Hermes. I jump onto his shoulder.
“Fight with us, or die in Tartarus,” I tell him.
Squad Goals Page 17