Going Deep

by L. J. Vickery

  “Speaking of changes…” Holly turned the subject to something else she’d been wondering. “Now that you’re here, Anshar, why don’t you fill me in on the little presto-chango thing you and Dagon did while fighting. Did I see fins and fangs, or was I delusional?”

  Lenore laughed at Anshar’s sudden and obvious embarrassment, and answered while he remained tongue-tied. “The cousins have a unique ability to turn into serpents when things get…uh…hot.”

  Did Lenore just do a mostly surreptitious grind with her ass into Anshar?

  “I won’t give you any particulars, but let’s just say it’s highly entertaining. And one hint, if I may.” Her voice had lowered to a husky caress. “Go for the fins.” Lenore rolled her eyes and Anshar responded with what could only be a growl. The couple needed a timeout if Holly was not mistaken. Unfortunately, they’d be denied. The queen approached and clearly had a different agenda.

  “Let’s head to Marduk’s situation room and get this trip planning underway.” Ereshkigal led this time. Holly and the rest followed. They all took chairs upon entering, and the queen positioned herself at the head of the room.

  “With the exception of the women, and Huxley,” Eresh bowed her head in his direction, “you’ve all been to the Underworld before.” Holly knew that to be true. “And since you gods are forbidden to make the trip, Nergal has given permission for you to arm your females with whatever you deem necessary for their protection.” She gave a serious stare. “Think well as you outfit them. They are allowed one personal valise each—I believe you call them backpacks—in which everything they bring must fit.”

  “Carry-on luggage.” Anshar joked. “Toiletries and underwear.”

  Eresh raised her eyebrows and Lenore poked him in the ribs, but not before Holly and the rest chortled. If what Tess had told her was true, the thunder god was ecstatic that Anshar’s insolent tongue was back, and the timing was perfect. The head god would need somebody to keep his spirits light when Tess descended below, without him.

  “I know not what a carry on is, but coming from your mouth, Anshar, it must be anecdotal.” The queen responded in an acrid tone.

  Ouch. Holly winced. Good put down from the royal.

  “To continue.” Eresh gave Anshar a stern look. “I will be giving Holly this to carry.” She pulled a soft, leather wrap from a pocket in her gown, and reverently placed it on the table in front of Holly. All eyes glued to the small square.

  Ereshkigal took her time loosening the leather thong that held it closed, while the anticipation in the room built. She was clearly not disappointed. When the last flap was turned, a gasp came up from the crowd. A perfect amulet had been revealed. Holly had seen her sister’s under the skin of her shoulder, but it was pretty clear to her that seeing one outside of the body―except during a sharing ceremony―was an oddity for the gods.

  “You see how it is opaque.” Eresh pointed, and indeed it looked like a small glass chamber with many channels, waiting to be filled. “This amulet is empty. For those of you born with one, it fills with your heart’s blood the minute you take your first breath. Every now and then, when a child dies at birth or soon thereafter, the amulet disengages from the body, becoming empty again. Thereafter, it becomes a powerful talisman, imbued with many powers. The power it will confer on Holly is the ability to enter the Underworld. In normal circumstances, only gods with permission from Nergal, or damned mortals who have died, are allowed to breach our gates. But an exception has been made for Holly.” She wrapped the thing up carefully again and handed it to Holly, who took it with trembling fingers.

  “This one is precious, and I bestow it upon you with the admonition to take care. If you lose it, or damage it beyond repair while down below, you will never be able to leave the Underworld. Do I make myself clear?” The queen stared deep into Holly’s eyes, and something she couldn’t put into words passed between her and the goddess.

  “I understand.” Holly felt like kneeling again, but instead she touched her heart. “I will protect this with my life, your grace.”

  Ereshkigal seemed satisfied. “That is all, then. You have one Earth hour to fill your backpacks and prepare.” She looked toward Shamash, the technology god. “While they are busy, I wouldn’t mind a quick lesson in your new operating system. Our window-like system below has been very bogged down lately.”

  One hour later, after lightning fast packing and some tearful goodbyes, the three women loaded up with all the gear the gods had deemed necessary. They each carried weapons forged with an alloyed osmium compound; a metal known to be deadly to immortal gods and creatures alike. It would be the best deterrent to the demons who would torment them.

  Along with the weapons, Marduk had included a magic collar in Holly’s pack. He explained that the material from which it had been forged had originated in the Underworld, and rendered the wearer a slave to the one who placed it on them. Marduk hoped that one of them could collar a strong demon, and use him to help fight others.

  Dr. Dani-Lee was not in residence at present, but it hadn’t stopped them from rifling her medical supplies for hypodermics filled with sedatives also designed to put fiends out of commission.

  They had everything that any of the gods could think of, including the toothpaste, toothbrushes, and undergarments Anshar had joked about. They were as ready as they would ever be.

  Ereshkigal called Holly forward first. “Hold tight to that amulet, my dear.” Holly had pushed the small packet down into her bra and pinned it to the inside. She would take no chances.

  The queen continued. “Now. Because I don’t know your bodies in the way that I know these gods,” Ereshkigal lowered her lashes provocatively, “I need to…I guess the word you would use is scan, each of you to fold you through the portal to my world. Stand still, this will only take a minute and you’ll barely feel a thing.”

  Holly held herself at attention while the goddess closed her eyes and moved her hands in an arc around her mortal body. She felt a quick tingle.

  “I have your signature.” She nodded and pointed to her next victim. “Lenore?”

  Lenore stepped forward and the action was repeated.

  “Now Tess.”

  Tess disliked anything medical, and this smacked of some type of body scan, but her sister hid her distaste well and moved to the goddess.

  Ereshkigal repeated her hand gestures, and then, without opening her eyes, she frowned and did it again. After the third pass, Holly began to worry. What was going on?

  Slowly, the queen performed the action a fourth time, leading—Holly surmised—everyone to wonder if things were okay. Holly got a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. She got hit with the same creeping fear she got when a doctor looked at test results with pursed lips and a shaking head.

  “What?” she couldn’t help but ask. “What’s the problem?”

  Ereshkigal opened her eyes, and rather than look alarmed, she actually smiled. “The problem is that your sister Tess will not be making this journey.”

  “What?” Marduk sounded alarmed. “What’s wrong with her? Why can’t she go?” He was so jazzed up that he’d obviously forgotten he hadn’t wanted her traveling to hell in the first place.

  The queen reached for his hand and placed it in the quivering grip of his Chosen. Holly held her breath.

  “I can’t let her into the Underworld now,” Ereshkigal said, “because she is pregnant with the first of a new generation of gods.” Joy suffused the queen’s face.

  Moisture sprang to Holly’s eyes at the happiness and surprise on the two expectant parents faces. There was an eruption of applause and then back-slapping, laughter, and tears from everyone. The room filled with elation, and Tess announced the immediate need to call her father in Maine and tell him the good news. She hurried off to a private room with Marduk at her side.

  Holly stood bemused. She was going to be an aunt. Looking around, she saw similar expressions on the other faces in the room. Why then, did the queen look so odd? C
ertainly this was cause for celebration? Holly put it out of her mind. Things were as they should be.

  Chapter Nine

  In all the excitement, no one noticed Enlil pick up Tess’s backpack until he spoke. “I’ll be going in Tess’s place,” he claimed definitively.

  Everyone raised their heads, waiting for Ereshkigal’s verdict.

  “I understand your desire, but it’s not my decision. I have to clear it with Nergal.” The queen sighed. “Everyone relax, this could take a while.” She looked at the clock on the wall. “We will reconvene here in three of your hours.”

  Holly protested. “Not to overstep my bounds, Queen Ereshkigal, but I can’t wait any longer.”

  “But you must. It will do you no good to start your search unaccompanied by immortals. They have powers you do not yet possess; powers you will need to defeat the demons that await,” she explained. “Be patient…I…” the queen paused thoughtfully, “…you know what though? It might not be a bad idea for you to come and meet Nergal while I negotiate with him for Enlil’s admittance into our domain. He’s always more open to feminine persuasion, and my charms are currently lacking where he’s concerned. Will you help me sway him to our cause?”

  “I’ll beg him on my knees if it will help move things along.” Holly spoke desperately, thinking of Dagon suffering by himself.

  The knees might be necessary, Holly got from Anshar who snickered, but not for begging. Holly straightened her spine and skewered the god with eye daggers. She’d cross that bridge when she came to it.

  “Let us be gone then.” The queen brought her hand to Holly’s shoulder. “Three hours,” she reminded the rest, “and we’ll be back with Nergal’s decree.”

  They misted and disappeared.

  “Where’s Holly?” Marduk questioned moments later as he and Tess re-entered the room. They’d spoken on the phone to Gregory Abelard, the twins and Huxley’s father, and the older gentleman was elated about becoming a grandfather. He couldn’t wait to visit, but Marduk had talked him out of traveling from Maine until the group heading to Hell was safely back from their rescue mission. Only then would it be advisable to tell the older gentleman Holly had been found and was back on the East Coast.

  Marduk was filled in and, although not happy, there was nothing he could do except hold on to Tess so she didn’t fall apart. He was grateful for a knock on the meeting room door.

  “We hate to interrupt anything.” Lenore’s mother and grandmother appeared at the entrance to the office. “But we’ve been eavesdropping in our scrying bowl.” They didn’t look in the least apologetic. Lenore’s mother, Angie spoke for both of them. “You’ve done an admirable job outfitting the group who will descend into hell, but we’ve seen an important item that needs to be added.”

  The witches, easily distracted, caught sight of the newly expectant couple and, forgetting what they’d come in for, rushed to their side. “Congratulations, my dears, on your little god in the oven.” First Angie, then Addie-May hugged them both. “We’ve already started crocheting noise-blocking headpieces for you. Your male’s little lungs are going to be quite powerful.”

  Marduk’s mouth dropped open. “A-a-are you saying that we’re having a boy?”

  Tess glanced down at her flat belly. She shook her head, her disbelief mirroring his own.

  Angie must have noticed the bemusement on their faces. “Oh, yes! You’re having a son. I hope we’re not upsetting you by giving you the news so early, but with a baby god, one needs to be prepared.”

  Marduk would digest all that later, wondering what he and Tess had in store for them as new parents. Right now, had Angie said something about another item that needed to be brought to the Underworld?

  Lenore picked up the thread. “Mom, focus, please. What did you see in the bowl that we need to bring to hell?” Marduk silently praised Lenore’s prodding.

  Angie shook her head as if to clear it. “Oh, right.” She found her original thread. “Do you remember a couple that you visited a few months back, Irving and Linda Schapiro?”

  Enlil answered, “Those nice folks in Merrymount in the house where we unearthed a key?”

  “That’s right.” The witch nodded. “We witnessed that retrieval,” she said it offhandedly, and Marduk’s bemusement increased before she continued. “The gentleman, Irving, has something in his collection that will be very useful. It’s an idol carved of stone, about six inches tall, and it must accompany you.”

  She looked at her daughter, clearly not in the least bit worried that her only progeny was headed to hell, which made Marduk feel better. He took it as a good sign.

  The thunder god was thoughtful for a moment and then turned to Enlil. “If this is a cherished component of your friend’s collection, you must give him something of worth in return. I have an extra set of ceremonial robes with a spare gold torque. Let me retrieve them for you to offer in trade.” He dissipated, only to return several seconds later with the garment in his hands. “Hopefully he will deem this an adequate barter.”

  Enlil dumped the weapons out of the nearest backpack and carefully folded the vestments, placing them within. There was just enough time for a road trip.

  They had to travel the hard way because Enlil and Hux were the only faces of Irving and Linda’s acquaintance, and Enlil needed Hux nearby to remain corporeal. Hux, being human, couldn’t mist.

  At a nod from Marduk, who would accompany them but remain invisible, the two headed to the elevator, making their way to the huge, subterranean garage that held an impressive collection of motorcycles. They went for speed today, so bypassed the antique bikes in favor of two late-model Japanese rides, all gassed up and ready to go. They made time to slip on their leathers before boogieing out the back doors.

  Marduk scouted ahead for them, and told them which way to go to avoid the PP who remained on constant vigil outside the mansion. They picked a fire-road that kept them far enough away to not be shot by the osmium bullets the Posse now possessed, but unfortunately the bad guys―if Erra or any of his demons hung around keeping track―would still have knowledge that two god bodies had left the compound.

  The trip to Merrymount was fast and uneventful. Enlil had told Marduk that he looked forward to seeing the interesting couple again. The last time he’d visited them, he had compelled them into thinking he and Hux were their long lost nephews from California. This time, Marduk hoped, they’d be able to waltz right in.

  They parked their bikes, grabbed the backpack, and strode up the steps. Huxley raised and lowered the brass doorknocker. No one came to the door, but the sound of saxophone music wafted out of an upstairs window, playing some swinging jazz tune Marduk couldn’t quite name.

  Enlil looked up and called to the open portal. “Irving?”

  Marduk felt Enlil send a little compelling with the call, and was satisfied when the music stopped.

  “Who’s there?” A slightly raspy voice called down. “Linda, did you forget your key again?”

  “It’s not Linda.” Enlil chuckled. “It’s Enlil and Huxley, your nephews.”

  “Oh. Right, right. Did you let us know you’d be coming by today?” There came more mumbling. “I’ll be right down.”

  Soon after, the door to the moss green arts-and-crafts style home opened wide and a smiling, bespectacled gentleman—who could only be Irving—beckoned them in, leaving the door open to the warm air.

  “It’s great to see you boys. Linda had to go out to do some thing or another,” he waved his arm, airily. “She’ll be sorry she missed you.” Irving eyed them astutely. “To what do I owe the honor?”

  Enlil got right to the point. They had no time to waste. “Last time we visited, you showed me your collection of early Mesopotamian artifacts.”

  “Sure,” Irving nodded, “I remember. You resembled the guy on the toy chariot.”

  Enlil gave a shrug and Marduk noted the way Irving stared at the wind god.

  “Right. Funny thing, huh?” Enlil removed the pack fr
om his back, looking self-conscious. “Well yeah. Anyway. You have an item that I haven’t been able to get out of my mind.”

  “And what was that?” Irving’s face took on a shrewd look.

  “It was a small idol about six inches long.” Enlil held his fingers apart. “I wondered if we might work a trade. I really felt a…connection with that little statue, and just in case you would part with it, I brought something I thought you might like, if you’d be willing to swap, that is.” Enlil could compel the older man into giving them what he wanted, but he’d try the ethical approach first, and only bring out the big god-guns if Irving wouldn’t budge on the matter.

  Enlil unzipped the pack and brought out the robes. Marduk grinned. He ran a hand over the vestments like a salesman. “These are ceremonial garments the ancient gods wore when performing various religious rites.”

  When Irving gave no reaction, Enlil pulled out the solid gold torque; a thing of beauty, embedded with some serious jewels.

  “As you can see, what I’m offering you clearly has more value than a little stone figurine.” Enlil waited, seemingly patient. Marduk, not so much, while Irving handled the garments.

  “I’d be foolish not to take you up on this.” Irving fingered the elaborate beadwork on the robe. “But to tell you the truth, I don’t go for the showy stuff. I like things that are dirty, gritty. Stuff that’s got a little more character and shows its age…like me.” His voice lilted at the end.

  “These mantles, though,” Enlil spluttered, “they’re one of a kind. You won’t find anything like them even in a museum.”

  Irving gave Enlil a half smile. He slowly put the robe down on a nearby table and turned, pinning his visitors with a stare. “All right, son, let’s cut the bullshit.”

  Marduk was suddenly all ears.

  “I like you,” Irving intoned, “but don’t give me this boatload of crap. I figure you’re not here to rip me off, or my things would have disappeared weeks ago. But now I want you to tell me who you are and what you’re after.” He turned astute eyes toward Enlil. “Because I’m pretty sure I already know the answer.”