Tied In Knots (Immortals Book 7)

by LJ Vickery

  Absu’s vision went white. His woman was in there.

  Hot on the ghoul’s tail, he watched as it sent the door crashing back against the wall to giddily approach the women.

  “Ahhhh. Chhhhhooooosen.” His beady black eyes pinpointed Charlie, and he flew across the room. His wet arms surrounded her as she clung to Maity, using her body to shield the toddler from the horrible slimy demon. “Miiiiiiy goooodesss, sheee will beee pleeeeesed.”

  Charlie screamed as they went airborne.

  “Let them go.” Absu’s roar blasted through the room, and he almost didn’t recognize that it had come from his mouth. Everyone’s eyes, including the demons, were riveted to him, and he knew what they now saw. A white, bear-like apparition filling the doorway. He was huge, broad across the chest, with arms like massive girders. And the snarl from his pale, fanged face was enough to dampen the demon’s excitement. It switched Charlie and Maity over to one slippery arm.

  “Miiiiiine,” it squalled.

  “Not even close,” beast-Absu rasped and growled, moving forward.

  “Iiiill pop hrrrr.”

  He watched the thing’s grip grow tighter around Charlie until it looked like she could barely breathe. Her eyes met his with silent entreaty. Even his bear brain told him to let her be the sacrifice if he could save Maity.

  The child sobbed hysterically. “Da,” she cried, buried in her mother’s arms. “Bad.”

  The plaintive cry sliced through his heart, and without hesitation, so godly fast that he had to have become almost invisible to the eye, Absu launched himself across the room. Upon contact with the evil being, he brandished one long, sharp claw and sliced completely through the arm that held his females, sending it wetly to the ground. The pair tumbled free and scrambled away as he faced off with the gibbering creature.

  “Noooo liiike yuuuuu,” the thing prattled, a new arm already squishing out from its body to replace the missing limb. It dragged in a breath to release its gas.

  Absu recognized the danger, and head down, drove his large skull forward into the demon’s gut. The gas disbursed ineffectually over his bear head. His claws extended and he swiped again and again across the thing’s chest, but the jelly-like flesh kept closing back in around itself. The demon managed to get its arms around him, and stuck its own claws deep into Absu’s back.

  His bear howled, but with blood dripping profusely down his back, he raised himself up to his full, near-nine-foot height with the fiend along for the ride.

  Absu let an evil grin pass over the snout of his bear. The spawn clearly ran more on instinct than brains. His bear elongated one claw, brought it between their compressed bodies and thrust it straight up under the demon’s chin with one massive punch. The lethal blade breached the demon’s mouth, continued until it pierced the soft palate, and drove hard into its life essence, shattering it in place.

  The demon shrieked then deflated like a burst balloon.

  It hung limply, skewered by the big bear, until Absu shook it free.

  The tableau of beast and women, without the demon for distraction, stared at each other until Waylon stalked into the room, breaking the tension.

  “They are all gone,” Waylon informed them. “The ones we didn’t kill simply vanished.” He was followed by Marduk―clearly still not assuaged by the amount of killing he’d done―and the rest of the guys.

  “Not only that, but the evil goddess―who watched the whole thing with detachment and oddly never entered the fray―has departed as well.” Waylon wiped his demon snot-covered hands on a nearby sofa, and then looked apologetically at Bee-Dee, who simply shrugged. Clearly, she was too busy taking in the still morphed personas of the gods.

  “They musssst have ressssscued Matthew.” Dagon’s serpent was still in high form, but at the same time as Absu, he’d figured what Beletseri’s agenda must have been. “We were jussst the dissstraction, while ssshe wwwent in for him.”

  Marduk agreed, and Absu could see him try to calm himself down from thunder mode to contact his wife. He took a deep breath. Tess. Are you there? What’s happening?

  Kulla’s voice came back to them. I’ve just arrived home to witness the aftermath of what happened here, and your wife is a little emotional right now, big guy, hugging your son.

  Absu watched as the last of Marduk’s bulk dissipated and his shoulders relaxed with the news.

  Kulla continued, Things are under control here, though a little freaky. There’s good news and bad, he added. The good news is that your son foiled his own kidnapping. The bad news is, Matthew got away.

  Marduk blinked. My son…what?

  Absu, listening, could almost hear the smirk in Kulla’s voice. Seems like the little guy takes after Daddy. He shocked the hell out of Matthew with some pretty impressive fireworks, then misted himself to safety. Pretty cool. As for casualties, Dorian and Holly took care of one demon, but three got away.

  Damn that bitch back to hell, Marduk growled. I’m heartily sick of Beletseri and her manipulations. Remind me, I need to let Nergal know she’s got an army of demons up here. We were surrounded by at least twenty, and by my estimation, a dozen got away. She’s probably sneaking more from Hell as we speak. He took a deep breath and continued, I’ll try to mobilize everyone from here within the hour. We should be home by nightfall.

  Already night here, Marduk. Time change, remember? Kulla sounded amused at how scattered the boss seemed.

  Right. See you before bedtime then, but right now I’ve got to go. Jake’s guys are coming up the hill and I need to fill them in.

  Absu, who for the moment remained bear, gave one swift look toward Charlie before he left the lodge with Marduk. It only took a few minutes outside for all the gods to calm down and become their human selves again. Absu’s superficial wounds healed as he shed his bear form.

  It took more than an hour after that to sort things out.

  With the help of Ken and the agents, the gods had travelled from nudist to nudist at the resort, explaining that all the excitement had been a government exercise. They compelled folks to forget all about the demon activity and the blue men. After accomplishing that, all the immortals, plus the DEA team and Charlie, met back at the lodge. Absu relaxed against a wall and listened.

  “It’s imperative we stick together now. Beletseri has amassed an unknown number of demons, and we can’t discount that she’s bringing up more,” Marduk addressed the gathering. Absu had never seen him so focused.

  “Huxley, you’ve been off hunting by yourself. That has to stop. If you feel the need to prowl beyond the compound, you will take one of the Lauernley with you to spot demons and detect ore.” He looked at his gods. “That goes for all of you.”

  He switched his focus to Charlie. “You and Maity will be going back to the Blue Hills for good.” He held up a hand when she wanted to speak. “You can have all the time you need, within reason, to sort out your problems with Absu, but your new home will be on the East Coast.”

  Absu caught the apprehensive glances she shot his way, but it didn’t bother him. Charlie was his whether she admitted it or not.

  Marduk continued, “Our priority remains the same—finding the Chosen and bringing them to goddess status. But we have to be smarter.” His eyes moved over the room, and Absu bit back a grin as they lit on Obedience, who had been attempting to hide in the back of the crowd behind a couple of the blue dudes. No such luck. The boss pinned her with a laser stare.

  “Obedience Trungle. You will be accompanying us back to our home. Willingly or not, it’s up to you. You will drop this one-mile barrier shit against Kulla and attempt to work things out with him.”

  Dorian cleared his throat. “Uh, Marduk? The council might have something to say about a witch being held against her will.”

  Absu figured this little fight would be good.

  “Oh really?” Marduk raised his brows. “How will the council like it if our group, the only faction that stands between them and the destruction of our world, is un
dermined and sent to Hell because Obedience refuses to face her destiny?” Marduk questioned with a growl.

  “Don’t shoot the messenger, Marduk.” Dorian held up both hands. “I’m only one of the council. You don’t know a few of the zealots you’ll have to deal with.”

  “Make them understand, Dorian. Everyone’s lives depend on it. If we get sentenced back to the Underworld by failing to fulfill the decree, we can never return.” He snorted. “And other than Erra, the war god who has been granted passage to the Overworld to mate his Chosen, there are only two other known warriors living above who could come to Earth and combat Beletseri’s forces. And you see how she has eluded us. She is cunning, and she’d take out those three without blinking.”

  Although, now that Marduk mentioned it, Absu might suggest that the thunder god enlist the help of Erra. It certainly couldn’t hurt.

  “Nergal might have hied his combat-ready self topside to help. But with his wife pregnant for the first time in thousands of years, I’m thinking he won’t stray far from their caves.” Marduk stared Dorian down, and his words sounded sharp to even Absu’s ears. “We are the world’s last line of defense. Waylon and his men are indispensable in the fight because they can see the evil forces, but they have no special powers. You and your fellow witches and warlocks have a good shot against them, blasting them with spells, but none of you can follow them into the sky and battle them on their own turf.”

  Dorian finally nodded, looking pained but understanding. “I will do what I can.”

  Absu watched him wince.

  “Sorry, Bee-Dee,” he sent to his cousin.

  Waylon chimed in. “We are at your disposal for as long as you need us, Marduk,” he offered up. “I have more men I can call from across the sea if they are needed.”

  Marduk nodded his thanks to both beings, then visually skewered Obedience again. “So what will it be, Chosen of Kulla?” Clearly, Absu thought, the thunder god used the designation purposely. “The easy way…or the hard way?”

  She regarded him petulantly. “I have some assistants who can take over here…for a while,” she qualified, cutting him with angry eyes. Which was never a good thing from a witch. “I’ll go with you,” she relented, “but don’t expect miracles where Kulla and I are concerned.” She turned her back on the group and flounced away toward the patio doors with more dignity than most clothed people could muster. “Give me ten minutes.”

  Absu let out his held breath. Travel arrangements were quickly made after the social difficulties had been dispensed with.

  The gods would divide into two factions. The unmated, invisible deities would fly next to the choppers bringing the humans, including Charlie and Maity, back to LA. Absu and Ishkur would fly inside. They’d accompany mother, daughter, and Ken back East on a commercial flight.

  The remaining mated gods, including Marduk and Enlil, would serve as drivers and escorts for the Lauernley, bringing them back to the ocean to swim to the Boston coast and call for a ride when they arrived. The gods would ditch the car after the drop-off at the water and mist home to the Blue Hills.

  Dorian and Obedience―with Planchette complaining heartily in a wicker basket―would spell their way back to the compound and arrive well ahead of everyone else.

  It was a fine plan, Absu concurred, and clearly Marduk was back in fighting form.

  ****

  Charlie told Absu she’d never been in a helicopter. Neither had he, but as unappealing as it sounded, he refused to leave her side despite her nervous looks in his direction. Ishkur, who had also chosen to accompany them, bothered one of the pilots with all things technical, and was having a glorious time embodied for a change while in the air.

  Absu couldn’t say he loved the ride. It was far choppier than his own mode of flight. But until he made Charlie a goddess, it was the best they could do together. He used the time in the sky to plot a course of action on how he should handle things with Charlie upon his return to LA. He’d made some serious mistakes before. This time, he would be damned sure everything fell into place.

  By the time they landed in LA, Gramps had procured airline tickets to Boston the next morning for the Dunskys, Absu, and Ishkur. The rest of the god contingency would fly alongside invisible and bored at the snail-paced speed, but a necessary precaution with evil about. They would all hunker down at Ken’s house tonight until they flew out, which would give Absu time to put an end to his troubles with Charlie.

  Not one of you will disturb us, Absu warned his fellow gods as they drove up to the expanded bungalow. I have plans for my Chosen this evening, and I don’t care what you hear from behind closed doors. You will heed my warning and stay away.

  Should we pop out and acquire some special equipment for you, since you can’t satisfy the lady with your own apparatus? Emesh attempted to keep from giggling.

  Or I could move some earth and create a cave where your bear will feel more comfortable. Ninurta wasn’t above razzing him. None of the gods except Enten had known what he was before his full-out reveal today. And they wouldn’t let him forget it.

  Dumuzi? Absu waited for the god of swamps and vegetation to chime in, which certainly he would.

  Vines for binding? Dumuzi yawned. But make your request fast. I’m dead tired.

  Thank you all for your concern, but tonight I will entertain the lady, Charlie, using my own personal charms. Now, bugger off.

  Absu left them laughing.

  Ken unlocked the door, and the gods did a quick search of the house before they let Charlie and a sleeping Maity in. They couldn’t be sure no demons―or a rogue goddess―were present now that Waylon wasn’t with them. But the bad guys would have to make themselves visible to do any grabbing or fighting. As long as one immortal stayed close to the baby all night, and Charlie was with Absu, they should be safe enough.

  Absu watched Charlie kick off her shoes and drop her bags.

  “The fast food we ate on the way home isn’t agreeing with me,” she announced to the room in general. “I think I might just crash here on the sofa.”

  Absu stepped in and swept an arm around her waist. “Oh no, little one. We’re headed for your room. Right now.”

  His let his eyes say “no argument,” and Charlie, acutely aware that he was on the edge, wasn’t about to disobey. She trembled as he took her arm.

  “You’re sure you don’t want to wait ‘til we’re at your compound to sort this out?” she asked, sounding hopeful. Interesting. Now that things were out in the open, his little Chuck was showing some nerves.

  The click of the door behind them as they entered her room gave Charlie her answer.

  He let her go and stepped back into the shadows, removing a collar from his pocket. He’d had Dorian spell it to him while aloft in the helicopter.

  “Is that a collar?” Charlie swallowed. “For me?” she squeaked.

  “No. Not for you.” He hoped she wasn’t disappointed. “We will purchase one for you very soon.” His stared down at her, letting all his lust for her lovely body finally show. “Only yours will have clips on it, so you can be restrained,” he promised. “This one is for me.” He clicked it into place around his neck. “We haven’t discussed specifics yet, but you’ve seen my alter ego just as you’ve seen that of my friends today.”

  “Enlil the bull,” Charlie acceded. “Anshar and Dagon the serpent twins. And some weird viney thing with Dumuzi. But you,” her eyes sparkled up at him in the semidarkness. “You are a polar bear.”

  “That is correct.” Absu looked at her with intense heat and threw her off guard. “Now remove every article of your clothing.”

  A lovely pink blush came up Charlie’s cheeks before her long wheat-blonde hair swung across her face like a veil, hiding her emotions. “But…”

  “Uh-uh,” he admonished sternly. “No questioning your master.”

  He heard her quick intake of breath before she bent to remove her shoes and socks.

  “My beast, for whom you expressed a marked
preference at the zoo…Do you think you will be able to satisfy him?”

  Charlie pulled the last scrap of silk from her body and stood lovely and naked before him. The flush on her body told him she was excited, but the tongue that darted out announced her anxieties.

  “Would…would it be possible to see, him…sir?” she asked tentatively.

  “You can. Just order me to do so. This collar will allow you to control my actions. If my beast should frighten you in anything he does, you will order him to stop. Do you understand?”

  Charlie gave a nervous giggle. “I do, sir. But that means, even though you’re in charge, I will have control too.”

  “Succinctly put, my love. But don’t let it go to your head, or punishment will ensue. Now proceed,” he ordered.

  “Polar bear, please,” she breathed, and his metamorphosis took place almost as soon as the words left her mouth.

  ****

  He stood very still while she looked him over. Funny. Now that Charlie had a modicum of control, she didn’t want to jump right into things. She wanted to take her time, running her hand across the fur on his chest and watching him shiver. Beautiful. The beast was Absu, but then again it wasn’t. His normally dark skin had a fine covering of white fur. His nose had elongated, and large incisors were apparent on either side of his mouth.

  Skimming her eyes downward, Charlie saw powerfully muscled arms, ending in hands tipped by giant, dark claws. Lower, a slight cause for alarm. His erect cock pulsed and thickened, far larger than any male equipment she’d ever seen. But she knew she could take it. He’d been inside her the other night, and though it pushed the barrier between pleasure and pain, he felt unbelievably good once he’d fully settled. Moistness flooded her pussy. Oh, yes. She’d be ready for him again.

  Charlie chewed the inside of her cheek. She couldn’t help but worry after seeing how out of control Absu had been today. So she did as Absu had suggested, and used the power of the collar to keep things within her comfort zone. “Let’s loose the fur and the fangs,” she ordered, “and remain in human control. But you can keep the claws, and the snout is kind of cute.”