by Amy Sumida
“Submission?” I lifted a brow. “I'm not really into that.”
“And I'm not into sharing,” he said pointedly.
“Valid,” I muttered. “All right, Blue; in the spirit of compromise you can have your way when we're here.”
“Thank you.” Blue pulled me into a wild kiss. When he finally released me, we were both breathing hard. “I look forward to bringing you home again.”
“But I've already kept Re waiting far longer than I should have,” I said gently.
“I know.” He sighed. “Where should I take us?”
“Take us back to the rally,” I said. “They'll probably have someone posted there in case we return.”
“So be it.” Blue drew me in against his chest and traced us through the Aether.
As soon as we appeared in the park, a falcon came swooping out of a tree and landed before us. The large bird glimmered, and his form blurred and stretched until it became a man; Horus.
“Vervain!” Horus exclaimed. “Are you all right?”
“I am, thank you,” I said and then looked at Blue. “There have been some developments.”
“I see that.” Horus scowled at Blue. “We were afraid that Huitzilopochtli killed you, but Re was certain that you lived.”
“How is he?” I asked with concern.
“Not good.” Horus was still staring at Blue. “So, why didn't you kill her? What's going on here?”
“Can I explain it to everyone at once?” I asked. “Just know that Blue is trustworthy now.”
“Who's Blue?” Horus asked.
“Oh.” I huffed a little laugh. “You know; I have no idea why I call you that,” I said to Blue.
“I think it may have something to do with the translation of my name into English,” Blue mused. “It means; 'Blue Hummingbird on the Left.'”
“That's an odd name,” I noted.
“It's because the Aztec's believed that the Sun rose from the left of the world and was carried by a hummingbird,” Blue explained.
“They thought a hummingbird carried the Sun?” I gaped at him.
“Dear Gods,” Horus murmured as he stared at the bite marks on my neck. “You two have been intimate, haven't you?”
“Yes,” Blue said as I groaned.
“My grandfather is going to be heartbroken, Vervain,” Horus growled. “How could you do this to him?”
“I'm hoping that he will understand,” I said softly. “I believe I was married to Blue in my other life.”
“What?” Horus gaped at me.
“I took Huitzilopochtli's magic, and when I did, I healed it,” I launched into the explanation that I was hoping to put off. “Blue bit me and something happened with the blood and magic exchange. When he took his magic back, it was different, and it... ”
“It healed me,” Blue took over. “I have been angry for centuries; viewing the world through a red veil. Look at my eyes, Egyptian; they're as changed as my soul. She healed me; made me the man I used to be.”
“He's not going to manipulate humans anymore,” I went on. “He's truly a changed man.”
“Just like that?” Horus asked. “You won't stand against us anymore?”
“How can I when I love a human?” Blue asked simply.
“This is fucked,” Horus said.
“But also good, right?” I asked Horus. “I'm alive, and Blue is on our side. He was one of your most powerful enemies, but now, he's an ally.”
“True,” Horus mused. “Your husband, eh? I'm glad I'm not the one who has to explain it to your fiance.”
“He's not my husband in this life,” I said.
“But I intend to rectify that,” Blue added.
“What?” I asked.
“Here we go again.” Horus rolled his eyes. “Please do not continue, Huitzilopochtli. I have been a witness to one Vervain proposal already, and I have no desire to see another.”
“As you wish,” Blue said with a smirk.
“I'll trace you to Bilskinir,” Horus said as he held out his hands. “Take my hands, and I'll get us through the wards. Forgive me if I don't trust you enough to give you the tracing chant, Huitzilopochtli.”
“I understand,” Blue said.
Horus took both of our hands and traced us to Bilskinir. As soon as I reformed, I hurried out of the tracing room and down to the library. I could hear Re's voice raised in anger.
“Give me a moment with him,” I said to Blue as I rushed in.
I found the whole God Squad in the library; all of them wearing grim expressions as Re faced off with Thor.
“We have to get into his territory!” Re was saying. “There are ways around wards.”
“Re,” I called to him, and Re stopped mid-tirade.
“La-la?” Re asked in shock, and then he raced over to me and cried out, “Vervain! I knew you were alive.”
“Hey, baby,” I whispered. “I'm sorry it took so long for me to get back to you.”
“As if that were your fault.” Re shook his head as he eased away from me. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” Re blinked as he took in what I was wearing. “Where did you get that?”
“Can I talk to you in private for a second?” I asked.
“Of course, but—” Re froze; his gaze fixed on the doorway behind me. “What the fuck is he doing here?”
I looked over my shoulder and saw Blue standing there.
“I asked you to give me a moment,” I snapped.
“I did,” Blue said. “The moment has passed.”
“How did you get into my home?” Thor rumbled as he strode over to confront Blue.
“I brought him.” Horus eased between the men. Then he looked at me. “Take Re somewhere else for this talk; I'll handle them.”
“Thank you, Horus,” I said sincerely.
He nodded crisply.
I took Re's hand and headed out the door, but Blue grabbed my arm to stop me.
“Little witch, I—”
“Take your hands off her,” Re growled.
“Okay, okay.” I held my hands up between them. “Let's take a breath. Blue, I need you to wait here. Re, please come with me and let me explain.”
Re and Blue faced off; the heat of their fury literally making me sweat. They made the term “hot under the collar” literal. Finally, they nodded and turned down the scorching heat, and I was able to remove Re from the library. I pulled him down the hallway and into a massive dining room done in an Indian style; as in saris and brass plates, not buckskin and totem poles. I didn't stop there but went out through the arched doorways and onto the balcony. The fresh air cooled my skin, and I took a deep breath of it.
“Re, I—”
“You slept with him, didn't you?” Re narrowed his golden stare at the bites on my neck.
“I need you to give me five minutes before you lash into me,” I said calmly. “Can you do that?”
Re took a deep breath and nodded.
I went through the whole story; telling Re everything except for the part where Alaric revealed that Blue and I hadn't been married. By the time I was done, Re's eyes were wide and his hands were shaking.
“We've barely been engaged a day, and you've already found another lover,” he whispered. “I can't tell you how hurt I am by that, Vervain.”
“I know, and I would be too,” I whispered. “I'm so sorry, Re. It was similar to the way we came together; I couldn't stop myself.”
“And he's not the last?” Re asked. “You want me to not only accept him but also other men you find?”
“If I have the time to find them,” I said. “We're trying to fix this, remember? It all may be moot.”
“Then tell that Aztec to go fuck himself because he's never fucking you again,” Re snarled.
“I love him, Re,” I said gently. “But, I love you more. If you really want me to go in there and tell him that, I will. I will break his heart and mine for you. But it may make us an enemy that we can't afford right now.”
“I couldn't c
are less about making enemies,” Re said haughtily.
“Okay, I understand,” I whispered and turned away.
“Damn it all!” Re shouted as he grabbed my arm.
Re twirled me around and kissed me. Love rose up inside me, and I knew that I'd spoken the truth; I could have let Blue go, but breaking up with Re would have destroyed me. This was real; this amazing lightness that filled my chest and expanded beyond my body. Re made me feel as if we were a miracle, and as much as I cared for Blue and loved making love with him, he didn't make me feel miraculous.
We eased back a few inches as we continued to cling to each other; our breath mingling.
“I love you so much, Re,” I whispered. “I can't lose you. I'm sorry that I was blinded by Blue.”
“It's okay, La-la,” Re murmured as he nuzzled his face against mine. “If anyone can understand the enthrallment of passion, it's me.”
“I'll tell him we're over,” I said.
“No.” Re took a deep breath and let it out in a rush. “I've had open relationships with women before, just never one whom I treasure. This will be hard for me, but I can feel that it's necessary. I'll take you any way that I can get you, Vervain. If that means other men, then so be it.”
“Would you like the same option?” I offered, even though my heart ached at the thought of Re in another woman's arms.
“The same option?” He asked in shock. “You think that another woman could satisfy me after what we've shared? I've already told you that I don't want other women anymore.”
“You're amazing, and I love you so damn much,” I whispered. “Thank you.”
“I love you too,” he said ferociously. “And the fact that you would have left him for me is enough for now; I can live with that.”
“If we can find and kill Aion, maybe you won't have to,” I said.
Oh, he'll have to; just not with Blue, Alaric said.
“Then let's find this time god,” Re said as he took my hand and led me back to the library.
We walked into a calm scene of Blue seated in the middle of the room with the God Squad gathered around him. They were all warily watching the Aztec, but Blue looked absolutely comfortable. He perked up when he saw me.
“Have you made your explanations?” Blue asked me as he stood.
“Sit down,” Re said. “You've had her for over four hours, you can give us some space for now.”
“As you say.” Blue held up his hands in a placating manner and resumed his seat. “Vervain and I have come to an arrangement, although, we haven't decided upon a schedule. Perhaps you can come up with something suitable?”
Re nodded crisply and escorted me to a chair across from Blue. He sat in the one beside me; shifting our clasped hands into his lap.
“Is anyone else's mind blown?” Pan asked with wonder.
Everyone but Thor raised their hands. Thor just scowled.
Pan started to reach for his notebook.
“Pan, if you start taking notes about my love life again, I'm going to box your ears,” I said as I glared at him.
Pan dropped his hand to his lap with a pout.
“Well, Vervain, this wasn't how I envisioned the day going, but you handled Huitzilopochtli,” Thor said.
“All kinds of handled,” Pan muttered.
Horus smacked Pan and glared at him.
“Sorry,” Pan said.
“The point that I was getting to before I was so rudely interrupted”—Thor glared at Pan—“is that we may now venture into Tartarus and confront Nyx. However, I've changed my mind.”
“Thor, you can't back down now,” Re snarled.
“Not about Nyx; about Hades.” Thor held up a calming hand.
“Nyx?” Blue looked at me. “I thought you were after a god named Aion?”
“And Nyx,” I explained. “They are partners.”
“What about Hades?” Re asked Thor. “You think we should tell him?”
“I think the proof is right before us.” Thor waved his hand at Re, Blue, and me. “The three of you, what you've experienced and what Vervain knows; it's too much to be fantasy or coincidence. And if this is true, then I think we can assume that this being speaking to Vervain is telling the truth about Nyx and Aion.”
Blue nodded. “I agree. If I were Hades, I would want you to come to me first. Let's go speak to him.”
“Just like that, huh?” Pan laughed. “You do know that Nyx is in Tartarus; the Greek version of Hell? That's where we'll be going next if we tell Hades about her.”
“It's why I'm so eager,” Blue said with a wicked grin.
Pan gaped at Blue, and Blue laughed.
“I'm teasing, Pan,” Blue said. “But I have no fear of entering Tartarus. It shall be fascinating to see if the Greeks are as bloodthirsty as the Aztecs.”
“You may be surprised,” Pan said in a rare, serious tone. “Greeks are an innovative people; and that creativity wasn't left out of Tartarus.”
“Creativity.” Thor grimaced. “That's not the word I would have used.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
We traced directly into Hades' palace. Thor led the way from the tracing room and through a series of long hallways; several of which were open passages leading to magnificent gardens. I gawked at both the flora and fauna in these outdoor spaces. The plants were alien and monstrous... and so were the creatures. Although, the flying horse we saw coming in for a landing—near a bed of giant petunias—was more beautiful than monstrous.
We reached another wing of the palace that was guarded by a massive, carved door. Above the door were the words; Abandon hope all ye who enter here.
“Funny.” I grimaced at the carving.
“Hades does have a surprising humor.” Thor smiled fondly. “But Persephone's death has done away with that.”
“Of course, it has,” I whispered. “How tragic for him to lose the woman he loves.”
“Indeed.” Thor stared at me; his expression shifting into a confused scowl. Then he cleared his throat, “This way.”
Thor opened the door and led us through a luxurious home. The furnishings were extravagant, the artwork was priceless, and the style was Old World. But the rooms were empty and cold; not a sound to be heard besides those that we made as we searched for Hades. We finally found him in a sitting room; a bottle of wine in one hand and a picture of Persephone in the other.
“Give me a moment,” Thor said to us.
Thor went into the room, and the rest of us waited in the hall. You'd think that Hades would have heard us coming, or at least noticed Thor approaching him. But he was startled when Thor spoke.
“Hades, I need to talk to you.”
“Thor?” Hades blinked up at Thor until Thor crouched before him. “Thor, she's gone; I can't find her anywhere. Where did she go?”
Tears sprung to my eyes, and my throat constricted as I blinked them away rapidly. Even if I hadn't felt anything for Hades and Persephone, I'd be affected by his pain. I knew it had been years since his wife had been murdered, but Hades looked as if her death was still fresh for him. It was hard to see.
“Persephone was murdered,” Thor said gently as he laid a hand on Hades' shoulder. “Don't you remember?”
“Of course, I remember,” Hades growled and tossed the bottle of wine into the fireplace.
The wine bottle shattered and flames flared up into an explosion. Okay, maybe that hadn't been wine in that bottle.
“I've searched the Underworld for her soul, Thor,” Hades went on. “Persephone's not here. Where is she? Humans have souls, we must have them too. So, where do our souls go?”
“The Void,” I said as I stepped forward.
Hades gaped at me. “Who are you?”
“I'm Vervain; I've come with Thor to tell you that we've discovered who murdered your wife.”
“What?” Hades stood, stumbled, and then righted himself. “What did you say?”
“It's been a strange few days,” Thor said gently. “This human witch knows th
ings about us and our world that she can't possibly know. She speaks to an entity who calls himself the Consciousness of the Void; that's the place where he says our souls go upon death.”
“It's where human souls were meant to go as well,” I added. “Before Gods gave them alternatives.”
Hades frowned and tried to process it all through his inebriation. “I don't... I can't... just tell me who murdered my Persephone.”
“Nyx,” Thor said. “It was Nyx.”
Hades' jaw slowly fell open, and his expression went dazed. He ran a hand over his face and then shook his head like a dog shakes off water.
“Teharon? Are you here?” Hades called out.
“Yes.” Teharon came forward and laid a hand on Hades' shoulder. “Do you want me to heal your—”
“Sober me up, man,” Hades growled.
“Of course,” Teharon murmured.
A pale blue glow emanated from Teharon's hands and into Hades. The scent of fresh water filled my nose as a memory returned to me. I was in a dank cave with chains on my wrists and ankles. My insides were on fire, but then Teharon had cooled me with his magic.
Blue did that to you, Alaric said. He possessed you and tried to force you to go to him. Thor had to chain you to stop you from leaving. Then Blue burned you from within.
What? I glanced at Blue, and he smiled softly at me.
It was before you healed Blue, Alaric went on. Teharon saved your life that day.
Then Hades gasped and his eyes shot open. They had been a dull brown before, but now that brown had gone transparent, and I could see fire burning behind his irises. I blinked in surprise.
“Nyx!” Hades roared. “You traitorous bitch!”
“I guess we didn't need proof, after all,” Re noted dryly.
“I'll tear her throat out with my bare hands,” Hades growled as the ground began to shake. “And then I'll throw her carcass into the Pyriphlegethon.”
“Hades.” Thor took both of Hades' arms in hand. “I need you to get control of yourself. We're with you; all of us want revenge for Persephone. But we can't get that if you kill us first.”
Hades glared at Thor, but then he took a deep breath, and the quaking stopped. He nodded, and Thor released him warily.