Kulla went cold, and this time it had nothing to do with Enten. “And is Ken…”
“Dorian has been checking in periodically. Apparently Beletseri meant to interrogate him late yesterday, but Ken was sufficiently weakened. Therefore our warlock friend kept him under a mild sleep spell that can’t be detected and so far she’s left him alone. Thank the gods Dorian denied Beletseri her fun.” He lowered his voice so that Vesca, with Girin in her arms, couldn’t hear. “He said it looked like they planned to use an old fashioned cat-o-nine-tails on him.”
Kulla grimaced.
“Matthew and Beletseri have ignored their prisoner this morning, and Jake’s team is now in place for an extraction when the opportunity presents itself.”
“Shit.” Kulla echoed the sentiments of everyone there, and then waved his hand at the construction. “So why this?”
“We were all feeling frustrated that we couldn’t help Ken, and Obedience came up with this idea to keep us busy.” Marduk’s lips twisted up into the semblance of a smile. “Actually, the women have all been plotting. Tess tells me―via some goddess grapevine―that you won’t take Obedience to bed until you finish this damned thing. And your witch is getting twitchy.” This time a real smile broke through. “Just think of us as cock-unblockers. If we build it…”
“…she will come.” Huxley supplied helpfully.
Kulla nearly choked on the piece of bacon he’d been nibbling. “Nice picture.”
“We aim to please.” Marduk lost his fun edge, as Ken’s predicament clearly nudged back into his brain. “But seriously, we might as well be sweating out our frustration. There’s absolutely nothing we can do for Ken but wait.”
Kulla knew Marduk suffered all kinds of guilt that this happened to a human he had vowed to protect, but he couldn’t be blamed.
“There was nothing you could do,” Kulla wished he’d been able to kill Matthew during their last confrontation, then all of this would have been moot. “Ken wanted the job of driving Angie. You couldn’t have stopped him.”
“I know.” Marduk ran a hand back through his thick, dark hair. “But it doesn’t make it any better.” Tess approached with Marduk’s cell phone, having just answered it.
“It’s Dorian.” She held the instrument out and a look of dread passed over the thunder god’s features. He took it, but within seconds his shoulders relaxed.
“That’s good news,” he said into the phone. “I don’t suppose the agents can infiltrate now, in broad daylight.” He shook his head at whatever Dorian said, and stroked his jaw. “Should we come and set up a distraction…maybe compel the demons away? No, no. I see your point. We’ll wait to hear from you again. Yeah, later.” He handed the phone back to Tess. He and the other gods were all stripped down to loincloths, which didn’t leave a lot of room for carrying things.
Kulla and everyone else waited for Marduk to fill them in.
“Dorian says that Matthew and Beletseri have taken off somewhere, and Ken’s safe for now. There are too many demons for us to go in, but he’s waiting for the right opportunity to make a move. He thinks eventually they’ll all congregate someplace, and he can effect an earthquake or something to keep them busy while the DEA guys save Ken.” He looked stoic in the face of helplessness. “In the meantime, we need to…”
“Incoming,” Razure, the head of the Lauernley security team announced. “Speak no more.” Everyone looked to where he pointed. Beyond the perimeter protection, the rogue goddess and god appeared in a dramatic puff of smoke.
“Someone’s been watching too much Wizard of Oz.” Emesh sneered at Bel as she walked forward to the edge of the barrier.
“There’s something to be said about a theatrical entrance.” She preened, then looked around. “So what do we have here?” She tapped her bottom lip. “A gathering of everyone. Oops. Except for one measly little human.”
Kulla heard the frantic instructions that Marduk sent out to their group only. Several of you, quickly mist out and conceal yourselves. We don’t want her knowing that Dorian isn’t here, If she’s aware of our numbers, she’ll pick up on his absence pretty quickly.
Kulla saw three gods and one goddess who were hidden from Bel’s view around the ziggurat, disappear. Quick thinking on Marduk’s part.
“We want him back, Bel.” Marduk’s strong voice cut through the goddess’s bullshit. “What do you demand in return?”
The goddess threw back her head and laughed. “That’s pretty obvious now, isn’t it,” she goaded. “I want you all back in the Underworld. Without your loved ones.” She bit out the last words, sarcastically. “Which means…” her gaze roamed the assemblage until they rested on Obedience. “…we’d like that one,” she pointed to Bee-Dee, “in exchange for Ken. I know she’s the next unmated Chosen, so you don’t have to pretend otherwise. She’ll be my guest until your time on earth has run out. You know she’ll be safe. The agreement, unfortunately, says I can’t harm your mates.” A pout marred her otherwise perfect mouth.
“We’re not giving up any of our Chosen.” The thunder god’s words indicated an unmistakable finality. Bel had probably figured that, but she scoffed at giving up.
“Perhaps we can strike another deal,” she prevaricated before her regard rested on the hulking form of Tiny. Her dark orbs widened. “An exchange for a more worthy hostage? And who might this be?” she asked, practically licking her lips. Tiny towered over even the tallest of gods, a massive and impressive male. He showed no fear as he approached the goddess. They stood on opposite sides of the containment field, mere inches apart.
“The name’s Tiny, and Ken’s a friend of mine. If you hurt him, I’ll personally tear you limb from limb.”
Beletseri sniffed…then sniffed again.
“Human? Bah.” She turned her back and stalked away toward Matthew. “A waste of such a magnificent body.” She drew herself up and sent every ounce of malice she could toward the assemblage. “Let me tell you something,” she warned darkly. “This Ken fellow is just the first of many that I’ll be sending back to you in pieces.” She looked at Tiny. “I have your essence now, and you’ll be next. After I use you in any way I see fit,” her gaze rested on the big man’s prick, “I’ll carve you up as well.” She swept a hand to encompass the entire gathering. “Along with everyone else who dares to associate with you.
“You have until tonight at seven to hand over the Chosen, or I will take my vengeance out on your friend.” The words lingered in the air as she and Matthew disappeared in a puff of smoke that duplicated the one that heralded their evil entrance.
Chapter Thirteen
Dorian, his phone on vibrate, took the call from Marduk. Ah. The compound had received a visit from the evil deities. He figured it would be mere minutes before the pair arrived from their travels, to torment Ken once more. He moved toward the hurting captive, lying cold and stiff on the dirt floor. He’d woken up dazed a few minutes before. Time to let him know that all was not lost.
“Ken,” he whispered close to the agent’s ear. The human jerked back as if burnt. Dorian sighed. Invisibility being such a natural state to him, he sometimes forgot who could see him and who couldn’t. “It’s okay,” he soothed. “It’s Dorian.”
“Wh…?”
“Don’t talk. The demons might be alerted. They don’t need to know I’m here.”
Ken’s eyes focused, and his demeanor lost some of its befuddlement. He slowly nodded.
“You’re in a shed next to an old hunting lodge in the Berkshires. Your DEA guys are out in the woods, hidden, waiting for a good opportunity to get you.” Dorian pursed his lips. Now to give the poor guy the bad news. “Unfortunately you’re being guarded by a slew of demons, and Beletseri and Matthew are on their way back, so it might be a while before they can get you free.” He put out an invisible hand and it seemed to calm the agent’s agitated breathing.
“I’m afraid the enemies won’t be easy on you.” The warlock eyed the evil whip, lying on a crooked wooden bench,
that Bel had been stroking the night before. “There’s nothing I can do to stop their actions that won’t tip them off to a rescue, and we’re vastly outnumbered.”
Ken nodded again, and this time the agent spoke. “I’ll handle it.” He coughed and grimaced. “Broken ribs,” he mumbled, “but the headache is gone.”
“I put you into a deep sleep last night and it helped the head injury. I can’t do the same now because you’re too alert, and the amount of spell I’d have to cast would clue in your captors that I’m here. Sorry.”
“No worries. Just get me out…no matter what state I’m in.”
Dorian knew what the agent requested. That his body be returned to the compound. He didn’t expect to live.
“You just hang on. No matter what they do to you, I’ll be here.” Dorian left it unsaid that if the torture became too intense, he’d end it for the agent. A human could only take so much.
“Thanks man.” The brief ghost of a smile came to his mouth. “You’re okay for a witch.”
“Warlock,” Dorian corrected. “Witches don’t have dicks,” he joked, trying to keep up the banter. It fell flat. Dorian gave up and looked around. “I’m moving back to the shadows now. Good luck.” One last invisible sweep over Ken gave him a mild protective coating that would stave off the most excruciating pains, but Dorian dared risk no more. And it wouldn’t help much.
The warlock stood waiting, until minutes later when he heard a commotion outside that heralded the arrival of god and goddess. Ken noticed as well. The agent struggled to sit upright. Obviously he wanted to face them on his own terms. Not theirs.
When the door finally opened, Ken managed to prop up against a wall. His breathing rasped rapid and shallow, and a drenching of sweat covered his face from the effort of getting up. Or perhaps from fever?
“I see our guest is awake.” Matthew appeared gleeful as he took in Ken’s position. “What’s the matter, you figured if you were flat on the floor, I’d give you another good kick to the ribs?” Matthew approached him menacingly. To give Ken his due, he didn’t even flinch. The god gave a quick tug on Ken’s bound ankles, and the agent slammed back onto the hard-packed floor. Matthew nudged his mid-section, tauntingly with a toe, ready to haul back and deliver a hurtful blow. A soft hand on his arm stopped him.
“Now Matthew, we don’t want to puncture his very human lungs,” Bel warned, but in a blasé fashion. “Then there’ll be nothing left to torture. Come.” She beckoned. “Now that we know he’s awake, let’s make sure all of our demons have their orders. The gods will come for their man tonight, and I want to be prepared. Our new friend, and the god’s old friend, Sal, has a special place to confine the immortals if we’re able to get them to Hell. I don’t want to lose this opportunity.”
The minute they walked out, Dorian spelled a few miles away to make a crucial call to Marduk. He dialed and waited. When he connected to the thunder god he barked, “Marduk. Who the hell is Sal? Why does his name sound so familiar?”
“Sal?” He could hear the hesitancy in Marduk’s voice. “I don’t know, but you’re right. I know it too. Is it important?” Dorian heard a commotion and raised tones somewhere near Marduk. He instantly recognized Candy’s voice being put on speaker.
“Dorian, what the fuck is going on? What’s this about Sal?” Her tone reproached, angry and accusing.
“Calm down, Candy.” He liked Enlil’s wife. A feisty and tough goddess, but sometimes it was hard to get a word in when she got wound up. “Bel said that her new friend Sal, in the Underworld, has a special place to jail the gods. She thinks they’ll come to rescue Ken tonight, and she can capture a few to send below.”
“Gods-damned asshole, motherfucking prick.”
He held the phone away from his ear as Candy went off on a rant. The next voice he heard belonged to Enlil.
“This is bad news. Sal is the one who kidnapped Candy and tried to kill us in LA. You remember, the drug-lord she stabbed after he killed her friend Stave?”
“Yeah. I remember now.” He knew the name was familiar. “So he’s running loose down there, and playing on Beletseri’s team? What the hell is up with King Nergal? Has he gone soft? He can’t keep one human soul under control?” Dorian spouted incredulously. He heard attitudes to equal his, back at the compound.
Marduk spoke again. “I’m calling Nergal as soon as you hang up to find out what the fuck is going on.”
Candy growled in the background, stating she’d head to Hell just to kill the douche-bag, cock-sucker a second time.
“Okay. I’ll talk to you later.” Dorian hung up. He’d leave the gods to sort through the Underworld problems. He had some of his own. It grew late and he still hadn’t filled the agents in on Ken’s jeopardy. He hung up from Marduk, and made his next call.
“Dorian here,” he clipped, connecting with the number Jake had given him. “Who do I have?”
“You have Z, warlock-man.” Dorian knew all the guys from their nicknames: Z, short for Zion, the special equipment expert; Gramps on computers; Cub the albino who, despite his coloring, could blend in with just about anything. There was also JP, a shortening of Jett Pahuyama, a martial arts master, and Emiliano-Flick-Santavera an artist in his own right…with everything incendiary. It was an awesome crew, and not easily intimidated.
“You’ve seen the lodge?”
He got an affirmative grunt from Z.
“Ken’s in the shed, ten meters southeast of the main structure. He’s coming out of a possible concussion, and absolutely has one or more broken ribs.” He paused to find the right words, then figured they should just know the worst. “Bel and Matthew plan on stringing him up by a meat hook tonight and using a cat-o-ninetails on him. I don’t know what they expect to get out of him, but you know your man. How much can he take before he talks?”
Z cursed in a language Dorian didn’t know, but a curse was a curse, no matter the origin. “Ken won’t let anything go,” he confirmed. “He’ll die before anything gets past his lips. Ken made the mistake of throwing Candy under the bus once, and he’ll never slip up again.”
“I was afraid of that.” Dorian brooded. “And right now, there’s no opportunity for you to go in and get him before they begin their torture.”
“Yeah. I know. We moved in close under cover of darkness last night, but every time we tried to get a few meters closer today, your black cat told us we couldn’t.” Did Dorian hear the man snicker? “Fucking thing doesn’t like to be patted, does he?”
The warlock barked a laugh. “You’re lucky you still have your hand if you tried.”
“I think he’s warming up to me,” Z mocked. “He brought me a dead chipmunk this morning.”
Dorian snorted, surprised. But with Wizarr it could go either way. The rodent was either meant as a gift to atone for his bad attitude, or a warning that Z could end up like the chipmunk if he didn’t behave.
“Just watch your ass around him, okay?” Dorian warned.
“Copy that,” Z came back, then got serious. “We’ll move closer after dark then wait for your signal that it’s safe to extract Ken. We’re standing by, and on your word, we move.”
“I’ll let you know,” Dorian punched off, then muttered. “Here’s hoping it won’t be too late.”
He moved back to the shed and the hours crawled by. The spring day got warm, and the stale air got thick. He could see Ken slipping in and out of sleep, and eventually, when the demons didn’t seem to be bothering to check on him anymore, Dorian “spelled” in some water and a couple of power bars to keep up the agent’s strength; a small conjuring that wouldn’t attract attention. Ken grunted gratefully, but the pair refrained from talking. With the super-hearing immortals back on site, it wouldn’t do to have them picking up conversation.
Seven o’clock fast approached. In April, here, darkness fell around seven-thirty. Dorian thought that Ken would only have to endure a half an hour of pain before darkness allowed the team to move closer. The warlock inched his inv
isible body farther back into the shadows as bad-guy footsteps approached. Game on.
Ken woke from dozing on the floor and became instantly alert. He’d obviously heard the footsteps, too. The weakness afflicting him earlier seemed to have eased with the fortification of water and food, and other than a hitch in his breathing when he inhaled due to the broken rib, he looked strong.
Beletseri walked in, flanked by Matthew and followed by two of the ugliest Hell-spawn Dorian had ever seen. The pair were a putrid shade of green, and had little sucking mouths all over their bodies, each one dripping a yellow effluent that sizzled as it hit the ground. These were not the ones who looked like ghosts and could become invisible. It seemed that Bel branched out to more and other species for her recruits.
“String him up,” Bel ordered, and the two drippers moved toward Ken, easily hauling him to his feet between them. One wrapped an additional rope around the agent’s bound hands, and dragging him forward, slung the rope up and through a hook on the ceiling. They stretched his hands above his head, far enough so that his feet just touched the ground. Dorian could see the pain reflected in Ken’s face from the strain this put on his ribs. He wished he had the ability to mind-speak. He wanted to assure Ken that no matter what happened, he would stand witness.
“So, Ken.” Bel moved forward and ran a long red fingernail from the agent’s neck, down the front of his shirt, stopping just before she reached the top of his jeans. “I think you may have too many clothes on. It’s rather warm in here.” Indeed the temperature hadn’t dropped much as the sun lowered in the sky. Bel snapped her fingers at the demons and stood back.
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