The statues lining the halls were still there, the great gallery was still ensconced in the ivory and gold draperies, and the offering font seemed to be flowing with holy water as usual. But there were no supplicants in the main hall, and the temple felt unusually empty.
Leaving the guards to wait in the lobby, I led them to the elevator. “What floor is Athena on?” I asked Kendall.
“Second. But I just got a text from her to meet her up in Hecate’s chambers. I gather we’re going to get a double dose, huh?” She grinned. “Have you ever met Athena?”
I shook my head. “Not really. Oh, I think I was introduced to her one time, but it was brief and I doubt she remembers me. What about you? Have you met Hecate?”
“No, and to be honest, meeting the Elder Goddess of the Crossroads? Scares the shit out of me. Athena’s fairly straightforward, but Hecate’s the mistress of magic.”
“True,” I said. “But I would think that Athena would be all rules and regulations, given her nature. That would frighten me more.”
Tam laughed. “It sounds like you’re both paired up with the right goddesses, then.”
The break in tension was a welcome relief, but then the car stopped and we filed out into the waiting room on the third floor. As we swept through the double glass doors, I felt a rush of relief. Everything here looked and felt normal. The secretaries were busy, and Coralie—the receptionist—was at her station as usual. She had golden hair that was caught up in a messy chignon, and she wore her usual classical one-shouldered Grecian toga.
“Fury! I’m so glad to see you.” She almost jumped out of her chair as we approached the desk. Her smile warmed the room, but then faded slowly. “I wondered if you survived. But Hecate told me that you were due to come in this morning. Who…which one of you is Kendall? Athena is in Hecate’s chambers as well.”
Kendall raised her hand. “Me.”
“A few other members of our party may be straggling in after a while. They’re visiting their own gods.” I motioned to Tam. “This is Tam, Lord of UnderBarrow. And his bodyguard, Elan, and her brother, Laren.”
Coralie noted their names. “Who should we expect?”
“Hans—you’ve met him before. And Greta, from Temple Valhalla. Tyrell from the Celtic temple. I don’t know the name of it—especially since it’s a makeshift temple at this point.”
“Temple of Sacred Trees,” Kendall interjected.
“The Temple of Sacred Trees—that sounds about right. And Jason Aerie, who I think has been here before with me.” I let out a long breath. “So…the Elder Gods…did some of them leave already?”
Coralie nodded. “It’s been pretty quiet. I don’t know if they’ll be returning, but we can only hope. I haven’t been out into the city, Fury. Not since this all began. My family…I don’t know if they’ve survived. I’ve been trying to call them but nobody answers and I didn’t want to bother the gods with my worries.” She was struggling to keep from crying.
I rested a hand on her shoulder. “Write down their names for me. I don’t know if we can help, but we’ll try.”
She did, scribbling down a list of names and addresses. “Thank you. I’ve been so worried.”
“I understand.” I took the paper and tucked it away. Then, with a glance at the hallway, I motioned to the others. “Come on. It’s time to face Hecate.”
As we headed back to her office, I thought about all the people stuck in the temples who had family outside the walls. There were going to be a lot of broken hearts by the time all of this was over, and there was nothing much we could do about it.
Chapter 11
Hecate’s office was around the corner from the waiting room, down a hall to another passage, then to the end of the corridor, on the right. The Fates were next to her, and every time I passed their office, I shivered a little. The last thing I needed was to get tangled up in their machinations, although by now I had a feeling that everybody was tangled up with them in one way or another.
I tapped on the door, and a soft “Come in” echoed from inside.
Hecate had decorated her office in a calm, peaceful manner, with walls of pale ivory, a dark blue carpet, and furniture of white antique leather. Her desk was pecan, polished to a high sheen. The art on her walls was of landscapes, and plants overran the room, filling it with a heady woodsy scent. She also displayed her blade collection, and every time I visited, I paused in front of the blades and sickles, admiring them.
Today, she was sitting behind her desk, wearing a pale gray turtleneck and gray plaid pants with red and blue cross-stitching. She wore a black leather blazer, and her hair was neatly back in a high ponytail, with her diadem discreetly tucked in front. To her left, in a chair that was situated diagonally to the side, sat Athena.
Athena’s hair was as golden as Hecate’s was black, pulled back in a tight braid. She was wearing a pair of white jeans with a pale blue button-down shirt. Over the top, she wore a navy suit jacket and her eyes shifted from blue to green as she watched us file in.
Kendall and I knelt, while the others gave quick bows.
“Up,” Hecate said. She glanced over me. “Please, sit. All of you.”
Athena gave her a quick glance, but then motioned to Kendall. “You may rise. Do as she bids.”
Kendall bobbed her head and stood. “My Lady.”
I realized right there that the Seer had done a good job when binding me to Hecate. Athena was all rules and regs and by-the-book, and that was so not my nature. Whereas Hecate threw decorum to the wind when needed and was a think-on-the-fly goddess.
Hecate glanced at me, her lips curving into a smile, trying not to laugh. She knew me well enough to read the expression on my face. “Be seated, everyone. Welcome. I only wish the circumstances of our meeting were different.”
We settled onto the sofa and chairs.
I let out a long breath. “Before I forget, I was talking to Coralie out in the waiting room. She hasn’t been able to contact any of her family. Is there a chance you might be able to find out if they’re still alive? She’s worried sick. I can try if you’d rather.”
Before Hecate could speak, Athena let out a little huff. “That’s not our concern—”
“It is now,” Hecate interrupted. “When we opted to stay and throw our lots in with humans, we took on the responsibility for watching out for all our servants, and Coralie runs the entire third floor. Give me the contact information, Fury. I’ll set someone to the task today. Coralie should have come to me, but I can see how she might be reluctant.”
I handed her the paper, even more grateful I was bound to her. Hecate genuinely cared about people. “We just arrived in town tonight. We’re all tired and worn out, but we didn’t want to wait any longer to come see you. We owe a debt of thanks to Jerako. The Greenlings helped us more than they had any call to. They’re preparing for war, I think.”
Hecate nodded.
“Since I talked to you yesterday morning, a great deal has happened,” Hecate said. “The Order of the Black Mist has struck hard and fast. Atlantea lies in ruins, as are a number of other big cities around both this nation and the world. The Order found another artifact from the Weather Wars, similar to the Thunderstrike. This time, there was no one there to steal it away from them. They’ve used it, and pummeled the capital into the ground with tornadoes. The Conglomerate ordered retaliation using the Devani, but the golden soldiers refused and the fear grows they are going to wage their own strike against the country—” She paused as someone tapped on the door.
Coralie peeked in. “You might want to watch the news. The Order of the Black Mist is broadcasting right now.”
Hecate pulled a remote out of her desk and aimed it at the wall. A panel slid back to show a screen, and it flickered to life as she toggled another button. The local news was on—only instead of the announcer we were used to, a man I recognized stood there, facing the cameras.
Lyon Burkenwald, the leader of the local Order of the Black Mist.
<
br /> Tall, with wavy blond hair, he wore an indigo robe. His eyes were wickedly cruel, and his lips were crooked into a faint smile. There would be no mercy coming from him. Beside him stood two men, obviously compatriots, and in front, a man knelt, head down. His hands were tied behind his back. It was the Regent of Seattle.
“By the Order of the Black Mist, I claim this city. Seattle is ours. New London is ours. Black Forest is ours. We will soon hold Atlantea. People of Seattle, the world as you know it has come to an end. Out of the ashes, a new order is rising. We will open the doors on the World Tree and reunite the earth with the Elder Gods of Chaos.” Lyon paused.
I didn’t want to watch this train wreck, but it was impossible to look away.
“Well, at least we know his goal,” Tam said.
“Yeah, I suppose that’s something.” I bit my lip, wishing to hell the Order was only a localized group. It would be easier to stop them if they were a minor fringe element. But they were an organized worldwide association. Not quite so easy.
“Shush, he’s speaking again,” Hecate said.
Lyon turned to the Regent. “You are the embodiment of the old way. You represent a corrupt system.”
He had a point there, I thought. Unfortunately, the system that Lyon wanted to erect was freakshow nuts. Perhaps not corrupt, but far more dangerous.
“I sentence you—and your entire system—to death.”
The Regent began to plead but one of Lyon’s henchmen slapped tape over his mouth. Lyon motioned to them and the camera panned back to show a noose hanging from the studio ceiling. The Regent struggled as they dragged him over to it. Within less than a minute, they had draped the noose around his neck. The Regent’s gaze darted frantically as sweat beaded from his receding hairline. He was a thin man, shorter than Lyon, and he looked so incredibly overwhelmed that it was hard for me not to feel sorry for him. I cringed, trying to remind myself that the Regent was responsible for thousands of deaths, with no thought on his conscience about it, but the whole situation was still difficult to watch.
Granted the system was corrupt, but to televise the execution to a city held in check by force was just one more sign of Lyon’s cruelty. They hustled him onto a chair and then, without further ado, yanked the chair out from beneath his feet. The Regent went spinning around, the bones in his neck cracking so loud that it made me jump.
As we stared at the screen, Lyon motioned to the body in an offhand way.
“This is a symbol of your allegiance to the old system. Citizens of Seattle, what you might not realize is that this man is the reason you’ve been held captive, unable to flee the city.”
I froze. He was going to tell them and that alone would inspire riots.
Hecate had the same thought. “This is not the right way in which to inform the public.”
“No, but we can’t stop him,” I muttered.
“Your precious Regent was using you and your children as weapons. Homeland Defense managed to filter a toxin poisonous to my army of zombies. They leaked it into the water supply, infecting all of you, then locked the borders so you would be nothing more than fodder for the walking dead. The Regent’s plan was to eradicate them by allowing them to hunt you down, kill you, and eat your infected flesh.”
“But won’t they hate Lyon for bringing the zombies in the first place?” Kendall turned to Athena. “He’s to blame for the situation.”
“He may be to blame, but finding out those you thought were protecting you were actually offering you up to the enemy makes for a quick change of heart.” Athena held her finger to her lips. Lyon was speaking again.
“Citizens of Seattle, do not mourn the death of this man. I’m going to be magnanimous. I will open the gates. You may leave if you wish. We will not attempt to stop you. However, if you choose to stay, we bind you to accept the rule of the Order of the Black Mist. At this moment, all over the world we are tearing down the old structures. Join us now. The old kings are dead. Long live the Lords of Chaos.”
And with that, the screen went dark.
We sat in silence for a moment, trying to assimilate what had just happened. Finally, I turned to Hecate and Athena. “What are your orders? What should we do?”
For the first time since I had been bound to her, Hecate looked confused. She cleared her throat. “The Elder Gods must meet and discuss the next step. We think Gaia is rising again, but…so much is uncertain. I believe we’ll be forced to move against Lyon, but especially now, we can’t go in willy-nilly. For the moment, return to UnderBarrow. Destroy what Aboms you can—we don’t need them mucking about and making things even worse. Chances are, Lyon will try to figure out a way to use them as well. Sit tight and stay out of trouble, all of you.”
“There’s another matter,” Athena said. “While the Regent and Devani are no longer in charge, the information—all of your chips—is still recorded in their data banks. Lyon could make use of that. I suggest that we remove them all.”
Tam nodded. “Good point. My chip is gone. Neither Elan nor Laren have them. But Kendall—you and Tyrell do. Hans as well. All Theosians are chipped.”
“What about you, Fury?” Kendall asked.
I blinked. “My chip was altered years ago. I’ve been flying under the radar since I was thirteen. But any Theosians remaining in the city need to have them removed because Lyon will try to find a way to use our powers. He’s a Theosian himself. And if he can’t gain our cooperation, he’ll try to destroy us. He doesn’t want any opposition and he already knows that I’m his enemy. I’ll bet he’s already been trying to find me. He has to have figured out by now that my data isn’t accurate.”
“Before you leave here we’ll take care of your chips. I’ll call the Temple Valhalla and talk to Thor about Hans, and send a runner to the Temple of Sacred Trees.” Athena stood. “It’s a new world, and once again the power structure changes. To be honest, I don’t want the Conglomerate to remain in charge, but the Order of the Black Mist is more dangerous. And if they do manage to open the doors to the Elder Gods of Chaos… Gaia will not stand for that. The world would go down in flames.” She motioned to Kendall. “Come. I’ll remove your chip.”
With a frightened look, Kendall obeyed.
After they exited the room, I turned back to Hecate. “I need your advice on another, more personal matter. Would the rest of you give us some privacy?”
Tam gave me a long look. He knew what I was going to ask her about. But he motioned to Elan and Laren and they left the room. After they closed the door behind them, I let out a long breath and dropped onto the sofa, leaning my head back. To just be alone with Hecate for a moment felt good—almost as though life was back to normal.
She waited for me to speak.
Finally, I straightened up. “I found out that Jason slept with my mother. I don’t know how to process this.”
Hecate let out a soft sigh. She leaned forward, propping her elbows on her desk. “How do you feel?”
“Betrayed. Angry. Humiliated.”
“Humiliated? Why?”
I stared at my hands, not wanting to admit the reason. “I had a crush on him for years. He knew it, and yet…he had been fucking my mother behind my father’s back. He slept with her, but he let me go on thinking they had just been friends. How could I have a crush on someone who might be my father? Who was my mother’s lover?”
I had managed to stave off the feelings while we were on the road, but now they swept in, hot and fast, and I tried to swallow an ugly sob but it caught in my throat. I burst out in tears, curling up in the corner of the sofa, my face hot with shame and anger.
“I trusted him. I trusted him more than anybody and he never told me.”
Hecate waited for a moment, then she softly said, “Fury, sit up.”
I pushed myself up, trying to wipe my eyes and nose. She tossed me a box of tissues. “There’s more, I think, to this feeling than just betrayal.”
I nodded, gulping down the rising knot in my stomach. “He says
he’s not my father, and I want to believe him. I can’t stomach thinking that he might actually be and that I wanted to…”
“You wanted to sleep with him at one point. You wanted to be with him. And to find out that he gave that part of himself to your mother—” She paused. “He didn’t cheat on you, Fury. His relationship with your mother was before you were even born.”
That hit right to the point. I ducked my head. “Yeah, I guess I understand that. But I had a crush on him. And what if he’s my father?”
“He isn’t. That much I can tell you. The hospital sends over records when the Seers bind one of you to us. The DNA records prove your father actually is your father. I can show you the file, if you like, but if you trust my word…”
Heaving a big sigh, I shook my head. “No need. If you tell me that Jason’s not my father, that’s good enough for me. I just wish…”
“During the time you were growing up, he was engaged to Eileen. If he told anybody, it should have been her. He’s only been free a few months. If he were to develop feelings for you, yes, he should tell you. But Fury, think about it—you were thirteen when he took you in. You had been through a massive trauma. Don’t you think that he was afraid that if you knew, you’d run away? Maybe, just maybe, Jason was protecting you.”
Hecate’s words echoed in my head. I didn’t want to think about what she was saying—I felt like I was the wounded party here—but she made some good points.
“What really bothers you about the issue?”
I blinked, trying to sort out my feelings. After a moment, I slowly said, “When I had a crush on him, I kept hoping he would see me as a woman, but he’s always acted like I was a child. Now, I see he can probably never see me as an adult—he may not be my father, but he took over as my father, and he was my mother’s lover. How can he look at me as anything but a little girl?”
All my crushes, all my feelings I thought I had, would never have panned out. And knowing what I knew now, I wouldn’t have wanted them to. It felt like an entire side of my life had vanished as a delusion brought about by ignorance.
Fury Awakened (Fury Unbound Book 3) Page 16