Tied In Knots (Immortals Book 7)

by LJ Vickery

  “Yes, because I’ve honed that skill over many years. Remember, I’ve been alive for millennium. When the atrocity occurred, I was a very young, undisciplined immortal. Of a certainty, I committed the crime.”

  “Really?” Charlie arched a brow. “What does Enten think?” She wasn’t going to let it go.

  Absu snorted. “It does not matter what he thinks, but yes, he regards it as bullshit. No matter. I was convicted and sentenced for my crime by my own father.” He paused, gazing worriedly into her eyes. “Now that you know what I’m capable of…does it alter your path?”

  “Nope.” Charlie shook her head. “Not even close. You’re stuck with me, no matter what.”

  His body gave a great heave of relief, and he sank down into the mattress, relaxing next to her.

  But Charlie’s mind churned. Absu was a good man…a kind man. She pounced. “Tell me. Does anyone besides Enten know your story?”

  “No. I’ve never shared it, and Enten has honored my wishes to keep it silent.”

  So no one, not one of his friends, had ever had the opportunity to disprove the charges.

  She’d see about that.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Charlie poked her head out the doors onto the patio, where Anna was having a lively reunion with her sister, Ishtar-Dinatu, the goddess of the dawn. The pair sat with their other sister, Ereshkigal, as well as Tess, Holly, and Candy. They were all drinking tea. “I hope I’m not interrupting?”

  “Not at all. Come out.” The queen smiled. “I want to get a good look at the new goddess recruit.”

  Charlie hugged her sweater closer and stepped outdoors. It was one of those rare, early March afternoons, where New England thermometers soared into the sixties, and the hearty folk left coats behind, sniffing the air for spring.

  Charlie was aware of Ereshkigal’s perusal, but most of her attention turned to the goddess of the dawn. “I heard you’d be here.” She made a small curtsy in the direction of both sisters, not knowing protocol, but kept her eyes fixed to Ish-Din. “Is it true you can detect truth from lies by the tone of someone’s voice?”

  She knew the question hit everyone as incongruous to the day’s activities, which were to be purely festive in nature, after the joining of Anna and Jake later in the early evening. But curiosity came over their faces.

  “I have the ability, yes,” Ishtar answered. “Is there a problem between you and Absu that you would like me to mediate?”

  “No. No. He’s been one hundred percent honest with me…I’m sure of that.” Charlie gazed down at her hands, then back at the women. Definite looks of encouragement came from them for her to continue, so she dared forge on.

  “It’s…the problem is…Well, Absu thinks he killed a whole village full of people and that’s why he was sent to the Underworld so many years ago.” This revelation involving Absu had to be new to the goddesses, but it turns out the situation was not.

  “You know each of us has heard a similar story from our men,” Tess revealed. “And subsequently, it has been proven untrue in every case.”

  “Yes, but the difference is that Absu really thinks his beast is guilty of the crime for which he was accused and punished.”

  “And you’d like me to confront him, and ascertain whether he speaks the truth?” Ish-Din seemed willing to work with Charlie.

  “Oh, he thinks he speaks the truth as he understands it.” Charlie was quick to explain. “But he was very young when it happened, and has no recollection of committing the crime. He’s only able to repeat what he’s been told.”

  Ish-Din softened her tone. “Perhaps love is clouding your judgment,” she attempted. “If witnesses say it was him, most likely it was. Not only that, if his heart believes he did it, I would be unable to detect any lie in his voice.”

  Charlie wasn’t about to give up. “But he was never given a trial, so no witnesses were ever called. Enten was his friend in those days. Will you let him speak on Absu’s behalf?”

  “Of course,” it was the queen who interjected. “I’ve seen this group of gods wronged too many times and I’m very willing to open an inquiry.” Enten. Would you join us on the back terrace?

  Since Absu’s amulet lit, Charlie often was able to hear the god’s head-speak. She absolutely loved it.

  Of course, my queen.

  Enten appeared almost instantly, but she held up a finger to silence him while she contacted the Underworld. Stave. Would you find the records for the god Absu, somewhere around 1500 BC. Alert me when you have them and I’ll flash you to my position.

  Certainly, Queen Ereshkigal.

  Charlie had heard that the once right-hand man of a drug lord/gangster had been making himself indispensable as Nergal’s new secretary.

  “So, Enten.” The queen’s lips pursed in thought. “Charlie tells me you were a friend to Absu back in the old days.”

  “In the Himalayas, yes,” Enten qualified. “When Absu was very young.” He raised his eyebrows at Charlie as if asking whether she knew what this was about, and she could see the cold hesitation on winter’s face as the ambient temperature dropped several degrees.

  The ladies all shivered, and Candy groused, “No need to go all chill-ass on us, Enten. Charlie’s just trying to prove the guy’s innocence.”

  The temperature rose back to comfortable levels. “Forgive me,” he demurred. “I gave Absu my promise that I’d never reveal what he considered a shameful secret.”

  “But I don’t believe he did it,” Charlie exclaimed. “And you don’t either. Am I right?”

  “Correct. I never believed he was capable of that kind of violence.” Enten shook his head. “As I was the only one who’d ever seen him in his bear form, I can say that, apart from when he was hunting for food or threatened by unwise predators, he always retained his gentle nature. I was certain he didn’t have it in him to kill those villagers, but I heard that the death and destruction was horrific. They say the evidence was definitive and conclusive.” Enten looked troubled. “And by the time he was thrown in with the rest of us already in hell, it was a done deal. And at the telling of the story from some of the souls in hell, I was in no position to demand a trial for him.”

  “Who sentenced him?” Ereshkigal asked. “Do you know?”

  “I always assumed it was Nergal and his tribunal. Who else could it have been?”

  Ereshkigal shook her head. “My husband can be heavy handed and overworked at times, but still I wonder why Absu hadn’t been shown due process.” She paused and Charlie could hear Stave reaching out.

  I have his file, my liege. Shall I bring it to you?

  Hold tight, Stave. I know you haven’t been transported before. It can be very disconcerting the first time.

  No more disconcerting than the rest of my life…uh…death the past couple of months.

  Ereshkigal laughed. “I really like Stave’s droll take on things. Thank you, Candy, for recommending him to us.” She transferred the guy from below with a blink.

  “Stave.” Candy launched herself across the flagstones and wrapped herself around what had to be an old friend. “My gods. It’s so good to see you. Are they treating you right?”

  Charlie noticed that color flushed up Stave’s neck. Had there been a crush there?

  “I’m good. I’m good. The king and queen are great bosses. Better than Sal ever was.” He laughed. “The king is so pleased with what I’ve done with his records that he’s going to let me vacation on some island getaway in a place he calls the Overworld.”

  It was Ereshkigal’s turn smile. “Nergal just purchased the retreat for me,” she revealed, “to be nearer to my sister. It’s a great place to relax.”

  “I’m so happy for you.” Candy unwound herself from Stave, unable to diminish the wide smile on her face. “If it weren’t for my husband, you know, I might have had a thing for you.”

  Charlie heard growling overhead.

  Grow up, she sent to Enlil, so that all the ladies could hear her. He’s de
ad you know. The rumbles settled down.

  “Here’s the god Absu’s file,” Stave cleared the obvious embarrassment from his throat and addressed the queen. “I’ve taken the liberty to look it over, and it seems that Absu was never given a trial.”

  “We’ve ascertained that already.” Ereshkigal nodded. “What we need to know is, why and who sentenced him?”

  Stave flipped through the paperwork, and Charlie watched his face hardened visibly.

  “It seems the request for incarceration was put through by an anonymous source in the Overworld, and the order was stamped and signed by Beletseri as acting agent for the king.” Silence filled the patio until Charlie broke it.

  “Why would she do such a thing?” Charlie couldn’t believe she’d ever been taken in by the evil goddess’s act of friendship.

  Candy filled the silence. “It seems like the bitch has always been looking for more power. I’ll bet, if records in the Overworld are accurate, you’ll find that some big fat boon was given to Beletseri as a bribe.”

  Now Charlie was on board. “That makes perfect sense,” she exclaimed. “Absu’s father was an active member of the senate and married to Desdora, the stepmother who hated Absu. I’ll bet it was pretty easy for Desdora to frame Absu for a crime he didn’t commit, and have him railroaded straight to hell. The bitch probably had Absu’s father convinced of his guilt, and he greased the wheels of justice to keep his little wife happy.”

  “I know Desdora,” Ish-Din spoke up. “She’s a real grasping social climber and a backstabber. I’ve never been friendly with her and her group, but if we want to get to the bottom of this, I will interview her on the pretense of having her to dinner. I’ll invite her to my home tomorrow evening, where she’ll be served with more than a meal.”

  Charlie nearly clapped her hands. The goddess of the dawn would figure things out and perhaps even clear Absu’s name before their mating ceremony. “Thank you. It will mean so much to Absu.” Charlie impulsively hugged Ish-Din, while holding back tears. “And if I can bring peace to him, what a wonderful wedding present that will be.”

  Charlie took the time to also thank Ereshkigal and Stave, before the secretary was flashed back to the Underworld. And when she went on to thank everyone present, they all assured her that this got-your-back stuff was de rigueur for the close-knit group in the compound.

  Talk lightened considerably and turned naturally to the ceremony that would be performed later in the evening.

  “So Dani has explained the order of operations to me and Jake,” Anna confided. “My part of the ceremony mirrors what you’ve all gone through, but Jake’s procedure makes me want to throw up.” She gave a little shiver. “Of course, in true macho-guy form, he’s poo-pooing the whole thing as minor discomfort.”

  The ladies leaned forward to hear more. Charlie had heard rumors of what the female-to-male transfer entailed, but now she’d hear it firsthand.

  Anna filled them in to looks of fascination and horror. The afternoon would be a first for all of them. Ereshkigal and Ish-Din chose to stick around.

  ****

  Beletseri had been extra playful today. Matthew wondered what was up. He’d questioned her any number of times on her strange mood, but she’d giddily avoided each one of his inquiries. Now, she was preparing their bed for what Matthew could only assume would be a very interesting S&M session. She’d placed special, rigid restraints from the bedrails to the center of the mattress. The cuffs for the wrists would allow for no side-to-side movement. The foot restraints seemed normal, running from the corner bedposts, but the headgear was new. It was a series of bands attached to the headboard, and when looped around the skull, would hold the wearer immobile. The setup precluded any wiggling at all by the victim. Add to that, the rubber sheets she had spread to protect the bedding, and Matthew’s imagination ran riot. What he couldn’t do with Bel, restrained in that way. She’d upped the kink factor by about a thousand with this stuff, and he’d been a walking hard-on for the past hour, watching her work.

  He had his first inkling that things weren’t what they seemed when she clapped for her demons. Two of the noxious fellows appeared by her side, and he watched with narrowed eyes as she head-talked to them. When they approached him, Matthew backed up.

  “What are you playing at, Bel?” He was no submissive, only giving in to her occasional need to top him, and he’d made his limits clear. He absolutely didn’t like the looks of the deal if he were the one to be immobilized on the bed.

  The demons reacted quickly to his panic, and grabbed for his arms. He fought them off.

  “What the fuck? Bel, cut the shit.” His voice held fear now. He couldn’t win against the unyielding fiends. Matthew lunged for the door, but was caught by four ghoulish arms, and little by little, they forced him to the bed.

  “Whatever you’re doing, Beletseri, stop it right now.” Pricks of moisture broke out on his neck, and he swallowed a burst of bile.

  She refused to answer.

  “No,” he cried, as he was forced down on his back. He rocked his body, trying to avoid the restraints, but was quickly locked in place, powerless and sweating profusely by this time.

  Beletseri came toward him with a knife. Words hissed from between Matthew’s clenched teeth. “We’ve already been through this. You can’t kill me, remember?”

  “I’m not going to kill you.” Beletseri smiled down at him with a serenity that scared the piss out of him. “I’m about to make you my Chosen.”

  ****

  In the infirmary of the compound, Jake had elected to forgo the restraints. He was surrounded by people he trusted, and Anna lay in an identical bed no more than two feet from his side.

  “I’ll make this as easy as possible,” Dani assured him, coming forward with a short needle.

  “I’m not stupid, Dani. I know you’re keeping the large one out of sight.”

  She huffed, but did keep the damning needle hidden, probing to determine where the numbing medication should go. She chose a spot located between Jake’s neck and shoulder on his left side. “A pinch,” she warned, and inserted the needle, dispensing the numbing agent. Jake didn’t flinch. He knew that was the easy part.

  Dani drew the larger needle forward. Jake looked at it and swallowed hard. “That’s going to be more than a pinch.” He tried to breathe easily, but his audience probably heard the hitch in his respiration.

  “That’s right. This one will burn for a few minutes.” Dani-Lee slid the needle into the bundle of nerves she needed to block, slowly and patiently sending the anesthetic into Jake’s shoulder.

  “Shit. That’s some burn.” Jake choked a laugh, his eyes tearing up, trying to joke as the needle continued its work.

  “Nothing like what you’d feel if she had to do it without the anesthesia,” Marduk reminded him.

  “Yeah. I’m going to give you gods a lot more creds on the wuss-o-meter,” he managed to strangle out.

  Dani removed the needle, found another spot, and began again.

  “Dammit. Once wasn’t enough?” he hissed.

  “It’s a nerve block, and I have to hit all the right ones.” She calmly administered the rest of the solution, before sitting back to wait. “We’ll give it a few minutes before we test to make sure you’re numb.”

  “Okay. Weird sensation,” Jake admitted five minutes later, trying to flex his left hand and arm, but unable to make it happen.

  “Let’s check for feeling.” Dani poked softly, then deeply with the first needle she’d used. “Anything?” she asked.

  “It’s dead as far as I’m concerned.” Jake heaved a sigh of relief.

  “Good. We can begin.”

  ****

  Beletseri stood over Matthew, momentary indecision on her face. She looked from his left shoulder to his right hand, and back again a few times. Was she having second thoughts on whatever it was she planned to do? Matthew certainly hoped so. He wasn’t so sure he wanted to be a god.

  “What?” His dry m
outh finally allowed the one word.

  “I’m not absolutely sure where to cut first.” She stuck her tongue out, pondering deeply.

  “Cut first?” Matthew rasped, but was saved from further speech when Bel made up her mind and ripped the shirt away from his shoulder.

  “This will hurt, I’m assuming. But you’ll thank me later.”

  Matthew hissed as Bel cut an “H” pattern in his shoulder, blood welling up. It wasn’t the worst thing Matthew had ever felt. He let out a breath.

  “That wasn’t so ba…arghhh—”

  The goddess plunged the knife right though his muscle.

  Matthew fought against pain and the restraints. “You fucking bitch,” he roared in agony. “I’ll kill you for this.”

  His eyes threatened to roll back in his head, but he refused to give over to blackness. He wanted to know just what his woman was capable of.

  “Aaahhhh,” he screamed as she peeled back the flesh and prepared the site. It was clear to his crazed brain that Beletseri wasn’t nearly through.

  ****

  Jake watched Dani-Lee work with fascination. He’d seen Enlil do this with Candy just last month, and knew what to expect. But being the subject under the knife felt completely different. Even if he was numbed up.

  The scalpel made the first cuts and Jake blinked at the blood that oozed from his body. Dani’s gloved hand followed the deep cuts through skin and fascia and parted tissue to cut more. Jake forced back the bile at watching his inner parts pulse with life, and remained stoic.

  Dani inspected her work before sliding through Jake’s muscles. Thank the gods, he was numbed. He didn’t feel a thing.

  ****

  Beletseri changed position. Where the hell was she aiming next? Matthew closed his eyes and waited. When the pain came, it was nearly too much to bear as she severed his pinky finger. Matthew held onto consciousness, bellowing at the top of his lungs.

  “Almost done now,” Beletseri crooned. Her hands were shaking imperceptibly. She was not quite as cool as she pretended. She held Matthew’s digit aloft. It looked larger, disassociated from his hand. Don’t drop it, he wanted to tell her. It might be the pain that sent him over the edge, but his mouth simply gaped open and words refused to come.