Immortal Desires: A Depraved Gods Novel

by Elle Lincoln

  “Think about it.” He steps toward the inner wall, Flynn following beside him. “A spell to keep people out. A catacomb that only goes one way. The inability to access the veil. With a center that must be the size of a football field.”

  “Anything could be in there.” Flynn now runs his hands along the brick. “What are the chances my father is aware of this?”

  “I hadn’t thought about him all day, to be honest. There were other things on my mind.” It’s foolish to forget about the biggest predator in our midst.

  “He’s never far from my mind,” Flynn mumbles, like we aren’t here. “I’d like to know what’s in there.” He turns to me, his dark eyes lit with fire and excitement.

  “Don’t look at me like that,” I chastise, even though his excitement is contagious, the thrill of the unknown spreading through me like a virus. A secret that stayed put in here for... hell, I don’t even know how long. It’s almost too good to resist. “Fine. Any ideas?”

  Rocco damn near jumps up and down with excitement. “No, but I saw a movie once—”

  “No.” A small laugh escapes me. “This is obviously magical in nature. Movies only make movie magic.”

  Flynn stands beside me, his palm a warm brand along my lower back. “A puzzle.”

  “A puzzle with absolutely no instructions whatsoever.” I point toward the long outer wall. “This goes on for a mile at least. We’d have to search every square inch.”

  “Then it’s a good thing there are three of us.” Flynn literally hops away with Rocco down the tunnel. “Everyone take a third.”

  “I suppose this is my third.” I sigh, realizing the magnitude of the extremely daunting task ahead of me. “There has to be a marker of some sort, in fact, I’m betting there are several openings spread out all along this wall.”

  Great, now I’m talking to myself. I’m officially insane. That is where my life is leading me. Shaking away the mental cobwebs, I stand back, searching the bricks for patterns that don’t fit. Section by section, I scan the brick. I’m starting to wonder if I’m wrong, and there really is only one way to get in and it’s not here, when I notice an odd looking brick.

  The pattern of bricks is laid both horizontally and vertically, creating a square pattern with a smaller, complete square in the center. It follows this all along the wall, then it creates larger squares with those four. It makes the eye twitch when looking for something that just doesn’t fit. It appears chaotic, but overall it isn’t.

  “It’s a Celtic fucking knot.” I smack my face, feeling like an absolute idiot at this point. Every so many feet, those individual squares have one that’s slightly different where there is no center square, because the bricks are cut to use only four instead of five. The difference is minimal and easily overlooked.

  I glide my fingers along the square with only four bricks. It almost looks like there is absolutely nothing there, but I’ve watched movies too. So, I push. When the bricks move, I jump back because I really wasn’t expecting that.

  “Ha! I think I’ve got it, guys!” But my voice just echoes down the tunnel. “Probably shouldn’t have split up.”

  Gears grind and whirl, spitting dust at me. Coughing, I wave it away until a small archway forms from the retreating bricks. Inside, a witch globe hangs, dust covering the surface. Hoping this place hasn’t been sealed for eons with poison saturating the air, I take a chance and step through. Ahead, another globe lights up, until I enter a hallway. Once there, more globes light up on either side of me, while directly in front of me a bookshelf rises up nine feet, floor-to-ceiling and full of books.

  My eyes widen and I look both ways, seeing the same thing.

  “It’s a library!” I shout. Now I’m excited! I step forward, grabbing a book off the shelf, and blow on it to read the title.

  Secret Worlds and Their Dangers.

  Worlds? How many worlds are there?

  “I see your interest is piqued now.”

  I scream, dropping the book as Flynn’s voice scares the shit out of me. “Don’t do that!” Then I frown. “You figured it out too.”

  “As did Rocco.” He waves his hands around. “It’s one big Celtic knot.” Awe flashes across his face.

  “What kind of library is this? And that book—” I pick up the one in question. “Says there are other worlds.” I wave the tome around before placing it back on the shelf in its dusty home.

  “This is as new to me as it is to you.” He grabs my hand. “Come on.”

  Around and around we weave. The shelves make up the walls that spiral around like a knot. If it wasn’t so out of place and a bit creepy, I would be in my element. But one question remains. “Flynn, there was someone else down here.”

  “Who?” Rocco pops into view with a black book in his hands.

  “First of all, the puca. Did they know this was here? Were they living here? Also, they said someone came through their home.” I begin to scan the shelves, wondering if anything is missing.

  “The puca were in another tunnel. One branches off the initial one, but she did bring us here.” Rocco clucks his tongue.

  “She knew.” Flynn nods his head.

  “Right, so I’m going to assume she knew that that person, whatever he may be, was also in here.” I keep scanning the shelves. “Look for anything out of place.”

  “Can I take this with me?” Rocco hold up a book while munching on a candy bar. I sure as hell hope he brought that with him, because if it was down here hidden away then it’s ancient and gross.

  “Guess we’ll find out if you try to leave with it.” I rethink that. “Actually, try and leave with it.”

  Rocco runs off, disappearing from view. A few moments later, we hear a shout before Rocco barrels back into view. He holds up a finger before sweeping past us and scanning the shelf for the book he’d been holding. “Ah-ha!” He pulls it back down. “No, you cannot take them.”

  “How are we going to figure out which book is missing then?” I feel like I’m stuck in one of those escape rooms, wrapped up in a labyrinth centered around a library, all while watching a murder mystery. I just wanted to kill some bad guys today. Is that too much to ask?

  “Well, for starters, everything is covered in a layer of dust. Guess the self-preserving spell wore out,” Flynn reasons.

  “That a thing?” I swipe my finger along the shelf, wiping away a layer of dust.

  “Indeed. It will have to be put back up.” Flynn turns toward me, his face scrunched up in thought. “I only trust Argos. We need to keep this place a secret, at least for now. The books in here... it’s more than just how-tos. There are entire histories of every species imaginable and then some. Ones I haven’t even heard of before. And that’s only scanning the books at my height.”

  The implication sends a child through me. “We need to know what that intruder read.”

  “Technically,” Rocco singsongs, “we are also intruders.”

  Flynn and I both ignore him.

  “Oh fine.” Rocco waves his hands, “Come on, I’ve already found several dust disturbances.”

  “Lead with that next time.” Flynn curses under his breath at Rocco.

  “What? How many times am I going to lead with dust disturbances?” He reaches about a foot up before pulling a book down. “Never mind, I know that answer, my life is no longer boring.”

  He throws a book at me that I catch it just as it slams into my chest.

  “Was your life ever truly boring?” Flynn inquires, as we move down the bookcases once more.

  “I mean, there were times when it was dull. I need constant action. No need to make deals, if ya know what I mean.” He wags his eyebrows as he grabs another book, and this time throws it at Flynn.

  I glance down at the tome in my hands. Someone had already wiped the dust from the cover and the spine. Neither of which hold a title. It creaks open, the leather worn and dry. I make a mental note to bring Argos down here as soon as possible. Carefully, I balance the book on one hand while
turning the yellowing pages with the other. Then the word hits me like a ton of bricks. Blood rushes to my head, leaving me dizzy for a brief second. I slam the book closed and catch up to the guys.

  “What book do you have, Flynn?” The thread of fear in my voice turns my question into a shaky mess.

  “We will look shortly, there’s a center with tables and such.”

  “Last one!” Rocco grabs the final book before leading us to a cavernous center.

  “This is impossible.” My heart flutters slightly as multiple entrances come into view. All leading from different parts of the knot. Sconces flair to life at our arrival. I glance above to what looks like a painted dome, yet I can’t quite make out the details—intricate little lines that may or may not be a map. “This is some Indiana Jones shit right here.”

  “Incredible, isn’t it?” Rocco slams the book down. “Okay, what do you guys have?”

  “Changelings.” I place the book gently on the counter.

  Flynn holds three, and he speaks as he lays each one down on the table. “The Gods’ Family Tree, Mortal Magic,” he eyes me with that one, “and last, Morgana’s Books of Spells.”

  That can’t be fucking good. “What do you have, Rocco?” I ask, even though I almost don’t want to know.

  “Overtaking the Throne.” He glances at the book as though it might burn him. “There is some scary shit in there too. I looked. Violent fuckers.”

  “This combination of books worries me.” I cock a brow at Flynn. “Still think we aren’t dealing with a changeling?” I hum.

  “It would appear that the evidence may possibly lead to that conclusion.” Flynn is still trying to deny the possibility. “But a changeling wouldn’t be able to perform magic to a scale of overthrowing a king or a god.”

  “What about that little magical organ?” I cross my arms, preparing for a debate I’ll win. The quicker we can solve this, the better, so we can find this asshole.

  “Why must you speak of squishy bloody things?” Rocco groans. “Look, you can’t just pull it from an immortal and eat the damn thing.”

  I tilt my head. “Are you sure?”

  “That’s absolutely disgusting.” He shudders.

  Flynn holds up a hand. “My father found a way to extract magic from blood using only a syringe. I don’t know how, but he did it, drawing the magic to his little device,” he spits, telling me just what he thinks about that. “Then he injects it into himself. Why can’t it be eaten?”

  “I wonder if there’s a book here that would tell us if a mortal can eat a magical organ.” A clatter startles the three of us into a crouch as a book whistles by, landing on the table. “No fucking way.” I hop up, watching as the pages open by themselves.

  Flynn leans over my shoulder, while Rocco looks like he wants to be anywhere but here, and reads, “Right here it states, ‘consumption of the organ will aid in magical rites and spells.’”

  “But that sounds like witch’s magic. He ate the God of Wisdom. It isn’t going to grant wisdom.” I snap my fingers. “But will it help develop a magic solely for that person?”

  A page flips. We both scan the pages.

  “Mae, it looks like you might be correct.” I smile smugly at him. Never underestimate a woman, we are usually always right. “Wipe that smile off your face. Better yet…” He leans in and brushes his lips against mine.

  “Now what?” We are officially looking for a changeling.

  “I’m not sure how to find a changeling or a mortal with a mixed magical signature.” He leans back, resting against the table before groaning, and his next words make me see red. “We should ask my father.”

  “Nope.”

  “Mae, don’t be ridiculous. It would take hours to figure it out in here. Plus, I have no sense of time here. Or where here even is.”

  “Guys,” Rocco interjects.

  “Your father isn’t someone who will freely give information,” I argue, ignoring Rocco.

  “Guys,” he repeats.

  “But he’s old, he’ll know more than you give him credit for. I don’t like him either, but our choices are limited.”

  “Guys!” Rocco yells, pointing to the door we walked through.

  I turn as the witch globes wink out down that hall, then the next and the next until the hallways are nothing but pitch-black.

  Then the lamps wink out, one by one, leaving us with just one lamp. It’s weird how these situations unfold. I thought I’d do everything I could to keep the light, but panic and fear root me to the spot until we’re standing in nothing but inky darkness.

  Chapter 12

  Mae

  Disoriented, I grip the chair in front of me. A pulsing begins in the back of my head, beating to the rhythm of my heart, a heavy staccato that the fear of the dark brings out in me. There isn’t much I can do besides stay very still until the situation presents itself to us.

  Because there is no light here. There is no shadow or lingering lines in my vision. There is just the darkness that swept through the room, consuming everything in its wake, muting all sound so I can’t even hear Flynn or Rocco.

  However, waiting increases the need to act, to move, or the fear will ravage the senses. I can feel my pulse hammering in my veins, my palms itching and sweating. As helplessness does its best to devour me, I take calming breaths.

  “I see you’ve found my little secret.” A voice reaches out to us in the dark, seemingly from every corner of the room. Surrounding us.

  None of us reply.

  “Don’t worry about responding, I just wanted to meet you three.” I can’t decide if the voice is familiar or not. It tickles my brain, but no memory surfaces. “I see you’ve found my books.”

  Dread worms its way into my body. Is this how he did it? Sensory deprivation, until his victims are disoriented from fear? Then he kills with a sweep of his blade.

  I swallow back the retorts I want to voice. My muscles scream as I keep them frozen while they want to act. To rip my blade from the ether and find out exactly what this man is capable of. But I do nothing, because I’m fucking powerless in this library, which makes my body scream. How did he wink out the lights?

  “You’ve a reputation here. The son of a powerful God of War and a fae warrioress. Another born of the djinn who aren’t supposed to exist.” The intrigue in his voice is like a child inspecting a bug for his collection. “Then the beautiful Goddess of Death, manipulated from birth. That I can relate to. Tell me, Mae, why do you fall into line with their needs, their wants?”

  My mouth opens and closes while my mind demands I stay quiet. But my heart? That bitch wonders how he knows so much. This stranger, this changeling, because that’s surely who it is. So calm. and sane. We aren’t dealing with a man out on a killing bender to feed some sick desires. No, we are dealing with something much scarier.

  “You don’t have to reply, I’ve been watching for quite some time.” He tsks, the sound echoing in the cavernous room. “In fact, I know your secrets.”

  A witch globe flickers on at the back, that small, delicate light like the sun to my strained eyes. But my ears strain to hear what the man has to say.

  “What secrets?” I can’t help but question him, though the direction where he must have come in through is still swathed in black.

  “Ah, I knew you’d be the first to crack. We all hold secrets after a time. Our world is full of mythical dangers and fantastical tales we only ever dreamed of. And with it, the horrors of our deepest, darkest nightmares.” His tone is that of a perfect storyteller weaving his tale. Enrapturing me. “Everything will demand its moment where words become the voice that was rendered speechless. When it is, know I’ll be watching.”

  The lights blink back on, one by one. My eyes scream as spots dance in their wake. My body already moving toward the archway I know he went through. My eyes scan the corridor, but he can’t be seen anywhere.

  I try once more, reaching for my scythe, but magic fails me. I huff in irritation. “I need to
get the hell out of here.” I turn, heading down the hall and back toward the original tunnels. This night was nothing more than a bust.

  “Mae, wait!” Flynn’s feet pound the ground as he sprints to catch up with me.

  “What the hell was that, Flynn?” My pace speeds up, a part of me hoping that this man or changeling is still just an arm’s reach away.

  “I’m not sure,” he admits, while Rocco catches up as well.

  “Magic, here. He clearly did magic, while we cannot. How?” I always thought Flynn was this all-powerful man and that was even before I knew he was a god. Then when the wool was pulled from my eyes and I knew the truth, that belief only increased.

  But his magic was stunted in here, in there as well. Why could a mortal with magical skills out power us in mere moments?

  I freeze, the realization sending fear tingling up my neck. I look at the men before me. “He could have killed us and he chose not to. We are powerless in here.”

  “You are asking the wrong questions, Mae. Why didn’t he kill us?” Rocco counters, though something has the Djinn spooked with the way his eyes keep darting around.

  “That’s where your brain sticks?” I throw my arms up, rounding a bend back into the original tunnel. Behind me, the wall closes, concealing the library to sit once more in complete abandonment.

  “You’ve got to remember, Mae, I grew up with Flynn and his parents. Before I became immortal.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal.

  “No ghosts either.” I frown as I enter the tunnel that will take us back to Madam Delores’s.

  “No?” Flynn asks, but something there makes me hesitate just a moment.

  “No ghosts, though perhaps there is something sentient in there,” I growl, walking blindly through the dark. “A part of me would like nothing more than to explore every book in that library. But life seems to be making all of my decisions for me.”

  “I promise once things quiet down, you can have all the time you’d like in there.” Flynn’s voice drifts to me on a somber wave. “Not only that, but if winter is going to be as dreadful as we suspect, then we will have nothing but these tunnels to explore and discover.”