It seemed hypocritical to refuse to even stand up for yourself but ask for the help of others, but it wasn’t my place to point out the discrepancy.
Shevron, however, wasn’t quite as discreet.
“You’re unwilling to fight for your daughter, yet willing to let us risk danger in order to rescue her?” She shook her head. “If my son were in danger, I’d be there in a second. I’d offer my life for him in a heartbeat.”
Shay’s eyes narrowed. “The fact remains we are a pacifistic people and cannot go after her. I would never ask strangers to go in our stead, but Tera insisted. As I said, my negotiations came to naught.”
“He plans to marry her on the next full moon.” Tera hung her head. “Please help us, even if you think we’re weak.”
“Of course Laren and I will help you.” Elan shrugged. “As to my friends, they owe me no favors and I won’t ask them to get involved.”
I closed my eyes, not wanting to deal with yet another fight. But I knew what it was like to be kidnapped. My mother and I had gone through it the night she died. And while Sara wasn’t on the chopping block to be killed, the fact that she wasn’t willingly going to her marriage bed made me want to clock the Alpha a good one.
I ducked my head. “I’ll help, too.”
Jason nodded. “Count me in, although I won’t allow my sister and her son to be involved. They don’t have the experience needed.” He shook his head at Shevron, who started to speak. “No, you will not take part in this.”
“Very well. But don’t tell Leonard what you’re doing, please. I don’t want any false heroics.” Shevron let out a long sigh.
“Leonard needs to get over himself,” Jason said. “A little hard work would do him good.”
“If you like, Leonard can help out in the stables.” Tera turned to Shevron. “We could use an extra hand right now. We’ll pay him so he doesn’t feel taken advantage of.”
Shevron gave Tera a long look, then nodded. “All right. He can start tomorrow morning. But no payment. We owe you for your hospitality.”
“Count us in,” Greta said, taking Hans’s hand.
Hans punctuated her words with a brusque nod.
Montran and Tymbur glanced at one another. “We must pass. We have spells to work on and it’s vital that we communicate with Hades as soon as possible. This is not our fight. But allow us to pay for our lodging. We cannot take your hospitality and refuse to help in return.”
“I don’t want your money,” Tera said. For a moment I thought she was angry, but the cloud passed. “I understand your decision and respect it. This is not your fight.”
The two rose and silently left the room.
“I still don’t see the use of this. What are a handful of travelers against an entire village of shifters?” Shay sucked on his pipe. “But if you want to give it a try, I can’t stop you.”
“Shay, we’re talking about my daughter. Your niece!” Tera shot him a venomous look. My dislike for the man grew another notch.
“Easy, Tera.” He held her gaze and she backed down. “Why not take a moment to give them news from their home? That is more to their concern.”
I still didn’t like him, but the lure of an update from Seattle was too much to ignore. “What’s going on?”
“Apparently, the research and development division of the Homeland Defense Department has come up with something to kill the zombies.”
Shevron perked up. “You mean we can go home?”
“I wouldn’t advise it,” Shay said roughly. “It seems that they plan on spiking the water supply with it.”
“How will that help?” Jason asked. “Zombies don’t stop to drink water.”
“They don’t need to. If they eat human or animal flesh that contains the formula, it will kill them.” Shay let out a rough laugh. “Get the picture?”
The realization hit me, slowly at first, then it rammed home. “They aren’t letting people leave. They’re counting on the zombies to kill themselves off by…”
“By feeding on the populace. They’ve pulled the Devani from the streets and are using them to cordon off the exits. Meanwhile, the Regent’s proclaimed that anyone caught on the wrong end of a zombie shish kabob is acceptable collateral damage.”
As he finished speaking, a flash of the horror that must be racing through the streets hit me and it was hard to shake it off. The thought of people being offered up on a silver platter to stop the zombies churned in my stomach and I thought that if the Regent were in front of me now, I’d happily wring his neck.
“You have to be fucking kidding me.” I stood, pacing. “The Elder Gods have to be told. I doubt they know.”
“They don’t,” a strange voice behind me said. “At least, I don’t think they do.”
Two men and a woman entered the room. Theosians, I thought.
Tera busied herself with introductions. “May I present Kendall, Dorn, and Tyrell. They came seeking sanctuary last night. They escaped from Seattle as well.”
“Actually, Kendall and Tyrell escaped Seattle. The Devani had just captured me and were about to transport me to their ‘research’ facilities when I managed to get away,” Dorn said. “I ran into Kendall and Tyrell as they were sneaking out the same city gate I was. We decided traveling together was safer than traveling alone.” Dorn looked pretty beat up, now that I took a long look at him. His skin was mottled with bruises and scrapes, and there were thumbprints around his neck.
“The Devani do that to you?” I motioned to his throat.
“Yeah. Luckily for me, a swarm of zombies broke through the gate before they could throw me in their armored transport. The Devani began fighting them and I took the opportunity to run away.” He looked me up and down. “You’re Fury, aren’t you? We’ve heard of you. You do know the government is looking for you? They want to know how you kill Abominations.”
Crap. I hadn’t known that. I didn’t even know if Hecate knew that. “No, I’ve managed to fly under the radar for a long time.” I wasn’t about to mention my altered chip. At least, not yet.
“Good for you. Otherwise, you’d be sitting in a cell right now.” Kendall, who was a striking redhead, sat down in a chair next to me. “I’m bound to Athena.”
Back in Seattle, out on the Peninsula of the Gods, the temples of the various pantheons were situated on a tiered rectangle, complete with shops and restaurants. They housed a good share of the gods who had played into history throughout the years—at least when they were in the office. Naós ton Theón, the temple for the Greek gods, was a four-story complex of cool white marble with gray veins. Hecate’s office was located on the third floor and I had been in that office more times than I could ever count. Athena’s office was on the second floor, I thought. Right now, I missed all of it. I missed being able to talk to Hecate and ask for her guidance.
“You say that they’re looking for me? The Corp-Rats? How do you know?”
“Because,” Dorn said. “The Devani started questioning me the moment they had hold of me. One question they asked was if I knew where to find you. When I refused to talk, they started to choke me. The Devani was dragging me toward one of their armory units. He asked me again, ‘Do you know Fury and where can we find her? How does she eradicate the Abominations?’ I was about to pass out when the zombies came pouring through the blockade. The Devani let go and I scrambled away. They were so busy they ignored me. I don’t know what they are, but they’re butt-strong and deadly.” He rubbed his throat, wincing.
“I know too much about that,” Tam said softly.
I glanced at Kendall. “She’s bound to Athena. To whom are you and Tyrell bound?”
Dorn cleared his throat. “I belong to Odin.”
Hans perked up. “Thor, here. I think I’ve seen you at some of the festivals.”
They clasped hands and slapped each other on the back. I grinned. The Norse liked to party down with their own.
“And I’m bound to the Dagda,” Tyrell said. “The father of the Tuatha de Dannan.”
“What I’d like to know,” Kendall said, “is why, if they want you so bad, don’t they just trace you down by your chip?” She gave me a long look.
I let out a slow breath. “I don’t know.” Then, to forestall any further questions on the subject, I added, “So the Corp-Rats of Seattle are using people as a weapon. We can’t let it happen, can we?”
“But it’s already happening. People have already died,” Shay said.
I turned to him. “You really don’t give a rat’s ass about anybody but yourself, do you? I have to question this pacifistic stance of—”
“Enough on that,” Elan interrupted, giving me a short shake of the head. “Let’s not argue.”
“Well, I have to go back.” Jason shook his head. “I have family there. We all have friends. But what can we do, though? How do we take on the entire army of Devani stationed there to keep everyone prisoner? Would it do any good to broadcast this? To let other cities know?”
“The Conglomerate owns the country. They own every council of every city worth noting. They’re not going to do a damned thing. We have to figure out a way to get in there and…” I hesitated. What I was about to say was treason, and even though I had no problem with the idea of it, once said, I couldn’t take it back. Finally, I looked up at the others. “I think we have to go in and take over control of the city. And then we’re going to have a real fight on our hands.”
Chapter 5
The silence was deafening but nobody looked shocked. They had to have been thinking along the same lines I had. One beat. Two. And finally, everybody started talking at once. After a few minutes, I whistled for quiet.
“Listen, this isn’t going to be a plan we can formulate tonight and rush out to finish tomorrow.” I glanced over at Tera, who sat there, listening, with tears in her eyes. “First, we’ve promised to see what we can do about Sara. Do you think she’ll be safe one more night?”
Tera shrugged. “The wedding is planned for the new moon, so we have time, yes. I don’t think he’ll touch her until then.”
“We don’t know that. Likely the brute won’t wait. She’s probably already his bride in the bedroom.” Shay’s voice was gruff. “If so, she might as well stay on as his wife.”
“How can you say that?” Tera turned on him. “The wolf-shifters are mountain people. They live by a different code. You know how women are treated there. They might as well be slaves. The children of the pack belong to the fathers and mothers have no rights. How can you suggest that my daughter stay there?”
Jason hastily interrupted. “You mentioned earlier that you trade with them. What exactly do they offer, and won’t the fact that they kidnapped Sara cut off your trade lines? Surely you wouldn’t do business with them after this?” He looked perplexed.
“We trade material, candles, and other assorted goods in exchange for berries, mushrooms, and some foods that only grow far out in the wilds. They’re expert foragers, as well as hunters, and it just seemed smart to create a trade agreement. As for right now? If they refuse to return her, yes, we’ll modify our trade agreements. The truth is, they can do without what we supply easier than we can do without what they offer us. Carn won’t back down. So we may have no choice other than to accept the loss of the girl.” Shay stared at his feet. “I know it seems cruel to you, but it’s our way.”
I debated on saying what I was thinking. I was a guest here. But then, I decided fuck it, I may be a guest but I couldn’t keep quiet. “You seem extremely quick to write her off. Callous, even. And the fact that you’re willing to deal with aggressive packs, but won’t act to protect yourselves? Your code of honor’s fucked up. You remind me of the bogeys back home.”
Tera bit her lip, but Shay was the one who answered. “You don’t understand. It’s not for you to question our ways. We have our reasons.”
I glanced over at Elan, who gave me a subtle shake of the head.
“Fine. We’re guests in your establishment, so I apologize. But we’ll be leaving as soon as we’re able.” It took every ounce of reserve I had to apologize, but this wasn’t my home, and it wasn’t my community.
“I hope you can help. Please accept my gratitude for the offer.” Tera’s hand fluttered to her chest. “I will give you everything you need. The Fir Mountain Wolf Pack lies seven miles to the east. We can provide you with horses to ride. Your own animals are pack-bred, and would not take to the saddle, I believe.”
Elan nodded. “Yes, they are the best we could do under the circumstances. But I will not head into the forest tonight. I will not put my friends through the rigors of a long, cold journey after the trek we just came through. Tomorrow morning we can discuss plans. Now, to bed.”
She motioned to the rest of us and we stood. Shay and Tera wished us a good sleep and we filed upstairs, heading for our rooms. I kissed Tam at the top of the stairs and he joined the other men. As I closed our door behind us, Elan yanked off her belt and tossed it on her bed.
“Damn it. I’m sorry. If I could have avoided bringing us here, I would have. But we needed a place to stay and this was the closest village. Verdanya is far to the south. By car it would take an hour or two. Walking through this snow? Days.” She sat down on her bed and pulled off her boots and socks, wiggling her toes. “Fury, I really am sorry.”
“Why? You weren’t the one acting like an asshole.”
I pulled off my clothes, wincing as the last of the bruises on my side gave a tired twinge. The wounds from the lycanthropes were also healing up, but still ached. I slipped into a nightgown, then pulled a blanket around my shoulders. The bed felt wonderful as I crawled under the covers, but I realized I was lonely. I missed sleeping with Tam beside me. And I missed Hecate and Queet.
“I should have explained to you what happened, and why they’re the way they are.” Elan frowned as she stripped out of her clothes and belted a light robe around her waist. “Maybe you’ll understand them better with a bit of their background. Or at least, you’ll understand Tera better.”
I settled in to listen, as did Shevron and Greta.
“Shay and Tera were out one day in the woods near Verdanya, foraging for mushrooms. This was years past. Tera’s husband was still alive back then, and Sara was a faint whisper in her mother’s heart. Anyway, they happened on a group of bogeys roughing up a woman. Tera wanted to help but Shay refused. He didn’t want to get involved. The woman saw them and she remembered them as Shay dragged Tera away. The woman happened to be a priestess of Artemis, out in the woods training.”
Oh hell. Artemis was a bitch on wheels when you crossed her. I liked the Elder Goddess, but I was very wary the few times I had met her during my sojourns to the temple.
“The thugs had murdered the priestess’s partner. They raped her and beat her within an inch of her life. She survived, somehow. And though she didn’t know who my cousins were, she remembered their faces. That was all Artemis needed to track them down. When she found them, she laid a curse on both for refusing to help. She hexed them with the inability to defend themselves. She wanted Shay and Tera to know what it felt like to be at the mercy of others.”
I blinked. That sounded like Artemis, all right. Although the fact that she hadn’t let her hounds tear Shay and Tera to pieces surprised me more than the curse she put on them.
“That’s quite a whammy, but the gods take their servants seriously.” Even as I said it, I could feel it into my bones. If something happened to me, Hecate wouldn’t let it go unpunished.
“I’m sorry to say but they deserve it,” Shevron said. “At least Shay. Tera sounds like she got caught in the crossfire. The Cast teaches us never to walk away when there is need. We’re there for each other, and for those outside the Cast as well. It’s a matter of honor.”
Whether she offended Elan, I couldn’t tell. Elan had pulled the blankets up to her neck, but she was still sitting up. As she took her hair down out of the tight braids, it softened her face and she suddenly looked very young.
“
My people—well, my immediate family—would agree. If Laren or I had done such a thing and our family found out, they would have turned their backs on us. We were born to hunt, to fish, to rely on ourselves. We were taught to help where there is a call. But Shay, he’s never been one to put himself out for others. When I contacted them, I knew they wouldn’t be able to turn us away. The curse also forces them to offer help and hospitality regardless of the situation.”
“But the rest of the village—they won’t protect themselves either? Surely Artemis didn’t curse everyone.” Greta was brushing her hair. She was unselfconsciously naked and her nipples mesmerized me, they were so huge and ruddy.
“No, but here’s where it gets…questionable. Tera and Shay were too embarrassed to tell anyone outside the family why they dropped out of the guard. I’m pretty sure it was Shay’s idea, but they decided to parlay their pacifism as a lifestyle. Whatever the case, they gathered enough followers to hive off from our main village and moved everybody out here. They set up this village, and ask for tithes each month to help support the village leaders.”
Regardless of how cultish this was starting to sound, I felt for Tera. “It must have torn her apart when her daughter was kidnapped.”
“I’ll second that,” Shevron added. “I know how scared I was when you were young, Fury. Jason and I worried night and day about you. If something like this would have happened, we would have been there in a heartbeat.” She lowered her voice. “I know if something happened to Leonard, I’d be the first one out there searching for him.”
Greta yawned. “If we really are going to rescue the girl, we need to sleep. I’m tired.” She lay down and within seconds, had set up a soft snoring.
“I honestly don’t know if we can do much, but we’ll talk again in the morning. Sleep now.” Elan blew out the lantern.
I snuggled under the covers, turning on my side so that the pressure on my lungs was less. The ribs were healing, but it would take some time before they were back to normal. And being on my side gave me a chance to watch the door from my bunk. I thought it would take me some time to fall asleep because there was so much on my mind, but to my surprise, a few minutes after the light went out, I did, too.
Fury Awakened (Fury Unbound Book 3) Page 7