Going Deep

by L. J. Vickery

  Matthew laughed uncontrollably in response.

  Dagon, confused by Matthews’ glee, laid his phone down, putting it on speaker for everyone to hear. The voice that came out was not in the least bit contrite.

  “Dagon, you’re the one making the big mistake here, not me. I won’t be dead after this is over. I’ll be surprised if I’m not up for a friggin’ promotion.” Matthew laughed again, and Dagon wondered if the new PP leader had gone over the edge.

  “Oh. And tell Lenore and her new squeeze that, before they go down, I’ve got permission from the new boss to fuck her and make the immortal prick watch. It would be a shame not to fondle her tits one more time before she’s slug food in Hell.” Dagon ended the call before Anshar’s snarl could reach his ears.

  “He’s mine!” Anshar’s eyes had turned black, but Lenore, with her newly discovered powers, saw no need to calm her mate down. As a matter of fact, it was probably a good time for her to clue the guys in that they didn’t need to worry about Anshar going all ravenous beast-out-of-control anymore. Dagon had heard, first hand, what Lenore’s Lauernley voice could do. Her lullabies brought instant calm, and Anshar’s serpent responded to her singing as if tailor made to soothe his beast.

  She patted Anshar’s hand. “It’s okay, big guy. We’ll kill him together.”

  Dagon was certain that, between Lenore and Anshar, Matthew wouldn’t be laying a finger on anybody. He filled with pride as Lenore told the gods what they needed to know about her mate.

  “All this time you’ve been sedating Anshar because everyone thinks he’ll go postal if his serpent takes over. But Dagon found out Anshar didn’t kill his parents, it was Erra.” She looked over at her new husband and Dagon nearly choked at what he glimpsed. She’d received an erotic flick of Anshar’s tongue, suspiciously on its way to being forked.

  Jaws dropped all over the group, both for the tongue, and for the fact that Anshar hadn’t killed his own parents. Marduk must have been broadcasting the goings on to those outside because the mind-channel was full of WTFs!

  “Pretty cool, right?” Lenore preened smugly. “Not only that but, thanks to my mom, turns out I’m more mutt than I thought. We’re all aware of my witchy blood, and then you guys threw in a good dose of god. I’m also part Lorelei…or Lauernley, which is the male version. And for those of you who may not be onboard with the different flavors of European immortals, that means I can make music to soothe the savage beast. No more out of control Anshar-serpent.”

  Everyone was so flipped that when Holly came and joined them at the table, nobody noticed her right away except Dagon, who pulled her down onto his lap. She didn’t protest. “What’s happening here? Mass hypnosis?”

  Dagon laughed at Holly’s question. She’d left the table understanding that they’d be working on a strategy for getting away without dying, and had come back to them sitting around looking dazed and confused.

  “Guys!” She snapped her fingers over the table.

  “Don’t mind them.” Lenore laughed. “I just read them a chapter from Fun with DNA.”

  “Okaaay,” Holly responded warily, the way someone does when they know they’ve missed the joke. “But have we come up with a plan? Max wants to storm out of the castle.”

  “Max.” Dagon called across the room to the take-no-prisoners bartender. “Join us. I’ll tell you what the cops want us to do…” He relayed the official’s orders to the barkeep.

  “Bullshit!” Max responded when Dagon finished outlining the plan. “If the cops have the alley secure already, we shouldn’t be waiting for them to let anybody slip back in. We should leave now while they’re busy out front.”

  Dagon thought he had a good point. He sent a shout out to Absu.

  Have all the gods in the alley in two. We’re coming out.

  Of course. We will comply, oh mighty asshole.

  Dagon wished the gods would cut the bullcrap, but at least he could depend on them for backup. He took a deep breath. The plan, as formed, was that Huxley―incognito because of his humanity and the fact that Erra hadn’t met him―would start things off.

  “Head for the car as soon as we’re out the door,” Marduk went over it again. “I don’t care who you have to knock over to get it back here, but we need you, Holly, and Enlil in that vehicle. You are the only three who can’t mist out. Don’t think twice. If you have to take off without us, do it. Cleveland is five hours away. Stop there. We’ll find you and regroup before we head home.”

  Dagon hoped this would keep Huxley out of any fighting. The human remained tender from the wound he’d received from the PP. If the gods fought, this would at least keep him safe. It assuaged some of Dagon’s guilt.

  Max was another matter. As he thought it, Anshar sent the question out to the table. What do we do about the bartender? He’s a good guy, but we can’t let him see what we’re all about.

  Dagon answered, Let me do a partial mind-suck on him. It’ll just knock him out for a few hours, and gods know, I need a better download than I got from my first human. They all understood he referred to taking memories from a mortal to bring himself up to speed on the twenty-first century. We can tuck him behind the bar when I’m through.

  Okay. Do it. They all hated the move, but Marduk conceded the efficacy of keeping the barman safe and in the dark. Tell Holly first, so she doesn’t freak.

  Dagon tightened his arms around Holly and whispered his intentions in her ear. The gods could see her respond with a lot of vigorous, negative head shaking. Dagon pulled her closer and said more. She relaxed in his arms, and he breathed a sigh. She was okay with it. He lifted her aside and got to his feet, striding over to where Max stood, ready with baseball bat in hand. It took less than a minute for the bartender to be safe…and oblivious.

  Dagon was more than pleased with the new information that flooded his head as he sucked the informational top off Max like foam from a freshly poured beer. This guy was a fountain of knowledge. Dagon was also comforted to find that the older man thought fondly of Holly, in a fatherly way. He would have wrung him out more had he found the man lusted after his Chosen. Dagon sent a head-reminder to Anshar, telling him to send word when things wrapped up, so Max would know Holly was safe. He got a nod from his cousin then moved smoothly to the back door.

  “Are we ready?” Dagon cracked open the portal and paused while Enlil instructed Holly.

  “There’s no need for you to try and fight.”

  Dagon’s gut seized as Holly’s fists readied.

  Enlil continued. “You and I will be heading for the car as soon as Huxley brings it around.”

  When she opened her mouth to protest, the wind god held up a hand for silence, “I know. I know. All you Abelards are sparring prodigies, but what you don’t know is that gods have super strength so we can more than take care of anything out there that’s human…and you wouldn’t have a chance in hell against anything immortal, so don’t even bother.”

  Holly’s mouth set into a mutinous line and Enlil groaned. Let’s keep a good eye on her, Dagon.

  I plan on it. Dagon clenched his jaw. There would be no room for error.

  Dagon headed out first, followed by Huxley who traversed the alley, hugging the side wall and skirting the dumpster. Dagon let some tension drop. Emesh had Hux’s back, floating above his new best human friend, making sure no surprise attacks occurred. An evil energy moved over their heads, but luckily it missed Hux.

  Bad vibes headed our way. Dagon warned. It can only be Erra, but it seems big. Watch your asses…and I don’t mean that in the fun sense.

  The gods spilled from the door and spread out over the alleyway; Dagon and Anshar shielded Holly from the front, while Tess and Lenore made up the rear guard. It was eerily silent as the evil approached. Dagon’s fears proved true. It did seem big. Too big to be Erra alone. Who…or what…had he brought with him?

  The gods were weaponed up to the teeth, and true to form, they itched for a fight. But they also understood the stakes; Holl
y’s life, not to mention Tess and Lenore’s also in jeopardy, although the two of them would be hard to kill now that they had become full-fledged goddesses. It was clear that each immortal took the oncoming battle personally. Now, or in the future, it might be their Chosen at risk.

  The first indication that something was amiss came with the stench that suddenly suffused the alley.

  “Eww! What is that horrid smell?”

  Tess appeared to be trying hard not to gag.

  Dagon’s adrenaline spiked. Only one thing made that kind of stink and Marduk must have realized it too.

  Change of plan! The head god sent out urgently. Form a circle. Backs to the center. Spare no weapons. We need to hang tight until Hux brings in the vehicle. Lenore, Tess? You two dissipate right now. Get out of here!

  No can do, king-man, Lenore sassed back.

  Dagon groaned. Lenore did not take dismissal easily. Tess and I will be inside your circle protecting Holly. Another line of defense, goddess style.

  Tess. Marduk growled.

  Lenore’s right. A suggestive smirk insinuated into her next words. I’m staying. Punish me later.

  There was a chorus of I’m in! from the other gods, which Marduk obviously chose to ignore as he, like Dagon, kept one eye on the cloud of malevolence fast approaching, and the other to where Hux and the vehicle should appear…hopefully soon.

  Luckily, they had rented a tough-ass SUV and imbued it with as many protections as they could conjure. It would keep everything short of Nergal himself at bay. If they could get Holly to it safely, she was home free.

  Right now, they had to survive.

  Chapter Four

  Gravity took over as Erra and a huge contingent of demonic minions from the Underworld materialized with their feet—and various other appendages—firmly on the pavement.

  Dagon was vaguely aware of the women retching in reaction to the fetid air that now surrounded the close-knit circle, but he and the other immortals had long since become immune. The miasma would be even worse once they started treating the demons like shish-kabob. Yummy. Not your average barbecue.

  Dagon sneered at the interlopers. Erra stood back, mind-directing his bootlickers on a channel he and the rest of the gods scrambled to infiltrate. The microwave operated in full swing back in the Blue Hills, as Shamash frantically searched for the frequency that would have all the brothers tapping into big, bad war’s communications. In the meantime, demons attacked as if to take no prisoners.

  “Enlil, your left!” Marduk shouted.

  “Absu, low!” Enlil barked at the same time.

  To everyone except Holly, the battle appeared fairly even. She, however—unable to see the invisible gods—had to be freaking out. Dagon was acutely aware of her horror even as he stabbed and ducked.

  “My God!” Holly cried. “There are so many of them. Just like in our dreams, Tess! How can only four guys…gods…battle all these monsters?”

  “Don’t panic, Holly.” Tess hacked at a tentacle that had made its way through Dagon’s legs. “There are seven more gods here who you can’t see.” Which was a huge problem, because Holly couldn’t possibly intuit the circle around her that, while fighting, inched its way toward the entrance of the alley. Without Tess and Lenore’s constant guidance—and they were pretty busy with demon seepage—Dagon had witnessed her almost crossing through the invisible gods’ protection line twice in the first few minutes of battle.

  Still, he refused to panic. He didn’t know what to do, but apparently Tess did.

  “Dagon,” the goddess cried. “Connect your mind to Holly’s and help her see the other gods. It worked for me and Marduk. Let’s hope it will work with Holly. She needs it.”

  Dagon attempted a mind-mesh, but failed. “She’s blocking me,” he came back, as levelly as possible before gutting a particularly fat, grease-gray hell-spawn. “She’s too panicked.”

  “Holly, you have to calm down.” Tess reassured her sister, while Dagon spied two demons who looked suspiciously Gloop and Gleep-ish. They each ejected a small bit of themselves from their extended arms. The two globules went airborne over the gods, breaching the circle.

  “Lenore!” Dagon yelled. “Incoming!”

  The blonde woman looked up, and without losing a nail, sliced and diced the blobs coming toward them using a wicked machete Dagon had never seen before. Where did she get her cool toys? No time to ponder as the previously animated objects flattened into green puddles.

  “Thanks.” Tess breathed out. They’d been headed straight for her, but once she regained her composure, she downed two of her own.

  “Keep your eyes high and low.” Dagon warned, also swirling and stabbing before getting back to Tess. “Try to calm Holly down, so I can give her my sight.”

  “Holly, listen to me,” Tess soothed. “We’re surrounded by gods. Everyone is going to be fine, but you have to take a deep breath and let Dagon into your head. He’ll help you see and hear everybody.”

  “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Holly gasped for air.

  Dagon did. Holly was far from a wimp. Her panic came because these slimy beings had previously haunted her nightmares. He called out to her. “I’m here to protect you this time, Holly. Trust me.” Was it his imagination or did she send him a look of faith? Her next words confirmed it and infused him with power.

  “Okay. Hit me, baby.”

  He felt her inhale deeply, close her eyes, and let her body go lax. It was just the signal he needed. Let me in. Dagon attempted to speak into Holly’s head. He’d been privy to her thoughts almost from their first meeting, but this was his first attempt at having her hear him. Would it work?

  He went a little deeper and pushed through her previous limitations to…see through her eyes. She yelped. The connection worked.

  With her sudden power, her thoughts wafted out there for everyone. I’m surrounded by huge males. She actually squealed. More muscles than I’ve ever seen in one place before, and that’s saying a lot because I’ve been to enough gym workouts in my life.

  Dagon didn’t like her appreciating the other male gods and growled.

  My God, they’re gorgeous, she exclaimed, not picking up on Dagon’s displeasure. But the guys ate it up. He heard the asshole’s voices, despite fighting for their lives.

  Ditch Dagon and you’re mine, baby…

  Any sister of Tess’s is welcome with me…

  You’re way too good for that slimeball…

  Dagon grew more and more pissed that Holly heard all the voices flood into her head, and also recoiled at her response. This is so cool.

  He needed to interject. Forgive their coarse ignorance, Holly. Dagon’s voice was rough but he’d gained control. Holly’s reaction had to be one of wonder, not lust. Ignore them. They’re just jealous that you’re mine. Dagon said it not to Holly, but as a warning to the other males. He had no right to be possessive considering he’d no longer be in the running once all was said and done. But right now, dammit, Holly was his.

  She must have felt his jealousy, because she sought to mollify him so he could concentrate on the battle. You know you’re the only one for me, sweetheart.

  Dagon’s chest swelled at her words, and he took down two demons in one sword strike.

  The battle proceeded well. The gods moved their tight circle fifteen feet closer to where the car should appear. Only twenty more feet to go. Untold demons had fallen and only a handful remained. Any goblin parts the men inadvertently let penetrate the circle, the women easily took care of. Someone had tossed Holly a blade, and Dagon puffed up proudly that she’d gotten busy on a feeler or two. He started to relax. But then the temperature abruptly plummeted.

  “Shit!” yelled Marduk. “Do you feel that? What the…” They didn’t have long to wonder. Erra’s second line of defense swiftly moved in…and shit, these were the real bad guys. This badass demon group always did the finishing off in the Underworld as soon as the gods tired from fighting the initial fiends. This meant trou
ble.

  “Time to kick it up a notch.” Enlil wasted no time. His body twisted and swelled. His muscles ripped through the thin material of his T-shirt. Dagon was aware that Holly looked on in shock as horns appeared out of the god’s head, and he let forth an ear-shattering bray. Another mind-fuck for Holly, Dagon worried. God to bull was a tough pill to swallow.

  Some of us have alter egos, Dagon assured her. Don’t be afraid. We’re still the good guys. He wondered what she would think of his beast, but he couldn’t let it hinder his transformation.

  The part of him that stayed aware, followed Holly’s eyes as they traveled around the circle and witnessed other transformations. Some gods just increased in size, others grew horns, curled and straight. One sprouted enormous wings. Dagon sensed her trepidation. How would she react once she saw him?

  Turn your eyes to me and see me for what I am.

  Her gaze skipped over Anshar, who had golden dorsal fins slicing through the back of his jacket, to focus on him. There was no mistaking the shock on her face. Dagon was dark, where Anshar was fair, but there was no getting around the similarity. Black scales lined his back in straight protrusions. He turned fully so she could see his face.

  Dagon’s nose had flattened, his eyes had darkened into shiny orbs of coal, and two short, lethal fangs pressed down, punching out from above and landing on his lower lip. Her gaze dropped to his hands, now tipped with sharp claws. Holly shook her head in confusion. What are you?

  “Serpent,” said Lenore, from her spot next to Holly. Dagon thanked her for running interference. “Mine too.” She nodded her head in Anshar’s direction. “You’ll learn to like it. It’s hot,” she grinned naughtily.

  What’s not to like? Holly replied with bravado. She challenged him, the little minx, daring him to disagree. He gave what he hoped Holly might interpret as a smile and snarled his approval before turning back to engage the new enemy.

  The fighting intensified, and Dagon took his attention from Holly. The previous melee seemed like a mere warmup for what occurred now. Acid-like spittle rained down from the new beasts, burning his flesh and melting weapons. Demon limbs regenerated as fast as he sliced them off and noxious fumes made it hard to keep a clear head.