Claimed by Sin: an Urban Fantasy Novel (The Gatekeeper Chronicles Book 3)

by Jasmine Walt

  “It will cease to be a threat in the other realities.”

  “Yeah. I’ll just need to convince my alternate of that. Look, I don’t know how it all works. I know it’s complex, and I could be completely wrong, but my gut is screaming that I’m right.”

  He cupped my face, his breath warm on my cheeks. “I believe in you.”

  I sighed. “I’m sorry this is so shit.”

  “What?”

  “Us.”

  His lips twitched. “Well, I wasn’t expecting that.”

  I pinched his bicep. “I mean, look at us. We should be going on a date, having awesome sex, and eating Chinese food in bed naked.”

  “Instead, we get to fight the forces of evil together.” He leaned in and placed his forehead to mine. “Don’t you get it? I’d go to the ends of the world with you, Malina Hayes.”

  My heart felt as if it would burst. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The words were on the tip of my tongue. The three words that would change everything, but I bit them back. Now wasn’t the time for such a declaration.

  “So we have a plan?”

  Garuda nodded. “It looks like we do.”

  He took my hand, and we rejoined a bickering Kosmos and Loki. They broke off their argument at the sight of us.

  I raised my chin. “We have a plan.”

  21

  Ajitah

  They had no plan, only determination. His boys were in danger, and he’d do whatever it took to save them. Drake drove like a demon. Hah! Ironic, that. This was hell spawning on earth. The smells of sulphur stirred something in the back of his mind. But then they were screeching around a corner so fast he found himself pressed up against the passenger door.

  Aaron checked that his gun was loaded for the fifth time. Hopefully bullets wouldn’t be needed on this occasion. If Malina were here, her hand would be hovering at Vindra’s hilt.

  Stop that.

  She wasn’t his to worry about. Not anymore.

  “Almost there,” Drake said.

  They had to be all right. They just had to. Those darned symbols. He’d known there was something strange about them. His gut had gone into alarm mode as soon as he’d spotted them, but Eamon had been so calm in explaining that they were merely decorative.

  “We’re here.” Drake hit the brakes.

  Thank the gods. Ajitah leapt out, followed closely by Aaron. Drake exited on the driver’s side, and they took the steps to the house two at a time.

  Drake went to insert his key into the door and jumped back, shaking his hand. “Fucking hot.”

  “Let me.” Ajitah snatched the key from Drake and pushed it into the lock, ignoring the burn of the metal against his hand as he twisted.

  The door swung open, and heat slammed into them. Ajitah braced himself, raising his arm to shield his face before stepping over the threshold. The world shimmered, and flames surged toward him, blocking him from going any further.

  “Oh god!” Aaron said. “Carmella! Carmella!”

  “Back up,” Drake ordered. He took Ajitah’s place in the doorway, chanting low and fast, his hands moving at incredible speed. The flames began to flicker and die, until they were barely knee high.

  “I’ll hold the flames,” Drake said through clenched teeth. “You two go.”

  Lungs burning with each inhalation, Ajitah backed up a few steps then took a running leap over the flames to land in the foyer.

  “Boys! Boys!”

  The symbols were glowing white, bleeding out into the surrounding marble as if melting from the unbearable heat.

  “Carmella!” Aaron shouted. He skirted the symbols and headed for the stairs.

  Ajitah rushed into the living room. Empty. The kitchen was a sweltering inferno. Backing out, he made a beeline back to the foyer. Aaron met him at the foot of the stairs.

  “Nothing,” he said.

  Shit! The library and the study were both empty.

  “Maybe they got out?” Aaron suggested. The flames behind them surged upward.

  “Hurry, guys, this place is about to blow,” Drake said.

  “The pool room!” Of course. Ajitah ran.

  He burst into the room to find Carmella and the boys huddled on the other side of the kidney-shaped swimming pool. Aria was standing over them protectively, face pale and shiny.

  “Dad!” The boys rushed toward him, falling into his arms with frightened sobs.

  “There’s fire. We tried to stop it, but it keeps coming back,” Adam said.

  “The boys were very brave,” Aria said. “Unfortunately, their earth magic is no match for the power of the underworld. The protective sigil is almost gone. You must leave.”

  Ajitah herded the boys to the door while Aaron helped a frazzled Carmella to her feet. Aria followed but faltered at the door.

  Ajitah turned back. “Aria, come on.”

  She smiled. “I’ll meet you at the front door.” She winked out.

  They barreled into the foyer just as the flames exploded upward, blocking their exit.

  “Drake!” Aaron called out.

  Drake’s shadow was visible through the angry flames. “Working on it. As soon as I get the flames down, you need to jump.”

  The boys were too small; they’d never make it. The flames began to die again. “Aaron, I need you to go first and catch the boys as I throw them to you.”

  Aaron nodded, took a running leap, and made it.

  “Okay, kids. Do you trust me?”

  They stared up at him with frightened eyes.

  “You’re going to throw us,” Adam said.

  “Yes.”

  Adam held up his arms. Ajitah lifted him up and kissed him on the forehead. “I love you, champ.” And then he hurled him over the wall of flame.

  “Got him!” Aaron called.

  Danny went next and then Jimmy.

  Carmella was staring at the flames, shaking her head. “I can’t. I just can’t.”

  She was about to panic. He’d seen it happen before, and it would get her killed.

  “You can do this.” He held out his hand. “Come on, we’ll do it together.” Where the heck was Aria? “Aria? Come on!”

  She appeared on the other side of Carmella. Was that smoke rising off her clothes?

  “I’m ready, Ajitah,” Aria said calmly.

  “One. Two…” He ran, pulling Carmella with him, but, at the last moment, she jerked her hand from his grip and he leapt alone.

  “Carmella!” Aaron cried.

  Carmella began to sob. “I can’t. I can’t.”

  Behind the ladies, the symbols were nothing more than a blazing, smudged mass. Time was running out.

  “I’m done, guys,” Drake said. His forehead was dripping sweat, his chest heaving so hard his words were gasps. “I can’t hold back the flames any longer.”

  “I’m going back in,” Aaron said.

  Carmella screamed, and both women dropped out of view. For a moment, he wasn’t sure what he was seeing, and then it clicked. The floor had given way. The symbols…the gateway…

  “No!” Aaron rushed forward.

  “Aria!” The boys began to sob.

  Ajitah grabbed Aaron and pulled him back. “It’s too late.”

  “Wait!” Aria’s voice drifted through the roar of the flames. “Catch!”

  What the… Carmella came hurtling over the flames. Thanks to his quick reflexes, honed from years fighting in The Circle, he caught her, staggering back to be braced by Aaron.

  “Aria. Now,” Drake shouted.

  Aria appeared on the other side of the flames, her hands clasped primly before her. A soft smile lifted her lips. “It has been a pleasure serving you.”

  What was she doing? Why wasn’t she jumping? “Aria, come on! You can do this.” He held out his hand to her, and she locked gazes with him, that serene smile still fixed to her lips. Suddenly, he understood. Aria controlled the house, and the house controlled her. They were one and the same. It wasn’t just the house that was burning. I
t was Aria, too. There was no escape for her. He dropped his arm, his eyes pricking, nostrils flaring as a tide of sorrow rose in his chest. “Thank you. Thank you for everything.”

  She inclined her head.

  “What the heck?” Drake said. “Dammit, woman, get over here. Argh. I can’t…hold…”

  Aria turned away and dropped into the chasm.

  The boys screamed and the flames surged up, roaring to block out their cries.

  “Run!” Drake took the steps two at a time and sprinted toward the van.

  An explosion shook the air.

  The boys clutched at his legs, whimpering.

  Carmella’s soft sobs tore at his heart.

  “She saved my life…” Carmella buried her face in Aaron’s shoulder.

  They watched the house burn.

  “The gate’s really open now,” Drake said.

  Yes. Aria was gone, and the worst was yet to come.

  22

  Our plan to find an alternate was no good without a way to locate the Daughter of Chaos. But Loki and Kosmos had that covered.

  Velocity was the key.

  She’d been touched by the void and was connected to it, not like Elara was, but still. I’d seen it in the vision I’d had when I’d touched her. The void’s voice in her head, embracing her and pulling her into madness. She was still connected to it. Could she have acted as its eyes while it lay trapped in a slumbering host? She was our only hope of locating the Daughter of Chaos. Our only link.

  As the chopper took us back up into the skies, we watched Loki and Kosmos brave the Red Zone, running low and keeping to the shadows. I prayed to whatever benevolent powers were listening to keep them safe from harm.

  My phone vibrated in my pocket. A text from Indra, informing me Carmella and the boys were safe at Brahma Corp. No mention of Aria. I showed Garuda the text, and then tapped out a response.

  What about Aria?

  I’m sorry. Aria is gone. She was part of the house. Without it, she couldn’t exist.

  My breath whooshed out of my lungs and my throat pinched. Aria, sweet Aria. This wasn’t right. She’d controlled the house somehow. Not been a part of it. Not had to die with it.

  Garuda leaned in close to my ear to be heard over the roar of the chopper. “The house was more than just sticks and stones. It was alive, as I’m sure you suspected, and Aria was its soul. She hasn’t ceased to exist, simply moved on. And when we fix this mess, she’ll be able to find her place in whatever afterlife was created for her.”

  But she’d been more than the house; she’d been my friend. “I didn’t get to say goodbye.” A sob caught in my throat. I pocketed the phone. I couldn’t deal with another loss. Not now.

  Garuda’s warm hand covered my thigh. He squeezed gently. We remained like that, riding the night sky in silence, until we reached our destination.

  The bridge was carnage and chaos. The coppery scent of blood stung my nostrils, and reedy wails, interspersed with anguished screams, scratched at my ears. Monsters had taken over the monument: hunting, feeding, and fucking. There was nothing we could do to save these people. Nothing, except stop the Daughter of Chaos from finishing what the Kubera had started. The vortex over the city was growing, and inky tendrils licked at the tumultuous sky surrounding the rapidly growing anomaly.

  The chopper dropped us onto the riverbank before wheeling away.

  I held out my hand. “Quick, pass me the ring.”

  Garuda handed it to me. I placed it on my finger, curling my fist to stop it from falling off. My phone rang just as I spotted a stone to throw into the river. The stone landed with a plop, and I answered the phone.

  “Hey?”

  “Malina, it’s started,” Indra said. “The Kubera demanded the council withdraw from power and hand over the reins to the city. They promised to call off their army. The council agreed over an hour ago, but the army is still active, and we haven’t heard back from the Kubera. I don’t think they are in control any longer.”

  “The Daughter of Chaos…”

  “Yes. I think she has the army in her thrall somehow.”

  The ground rumbled. Wait, there was something… “A kill switch.”

  “Sorry?”

  “The Kubera added kill switches to every creature they created. If we can find the switches, we can deactivate them.”

  “I’ll get in touch with the IEPEU.”

  “Ask for Melody Parker.”

  “Malina, the staircase is here,” Garuda called.

  “The first shaitan have emerged,” Indra said. “We go to battle. The rest depends on you.” He hung up.

  No pressure, then?

  I took the lead, climbing into the bowels of the earth and holding on as the stairway began its descent.

  “I hope they haven’t replaced Nalini,” Garuda said.

  Dammit. “Maybe you should go back.”

  “Not happening.”

  “Garuda…”

  “No.” He moved down three steps to stand behind me. “We face whatever comes together. I’m not leaving you to do this alone.”

  I leaned into him, savoring his calm, solid presence. Please don’t let them have replaced Nalini. We entered the chamber filled with golden sand—the spot where Garuda had slain the serpent guardian of this gateway. The gems encrusted in the walls gleamed and glowed, filling the chamber with colorful illumination.

  Garuda raised his chin, nostrils flaring. “It’s deserted. What now?”

  “We wait.” I held up the ring. “This belongs to Vasuki. It’s his personal key to the multi-verse. He must have some kind of mojo connecting him to it. He’ll know it’s back here.” I slumped to the ground, my back against the wall. “Or maybe I’m making up shit to give myself hope. Maybe this is all a lost cause and I’m just killing time.” I buried my head in my hands.

  Garuda joined me on the ground and nudged me with his shoulder. “If we are killing time, then I’m glad I’m doing it here with you.”

  The gems in the walls cast a rainbow glow across his face, turning his eyes into a shifting miasma of color. I climbed onto his lap and pressed my forehead against his. He wrapped his arms around me, locking me against him.

  I breathed him in. “What if we fail? What then?”

  “Then we fail together, and we go out in a blaze of fucking glory.” He reached up to cup my cheek and ran his thumb back and forth across my skin. His throat bobbed, and his pupils dilated. “If this is the end of all time, then there is nowhere else I’d rather be than by your side.”

  My eyes grew hot, but I couldn’t tear them away from him. Was this one of the last few precious moments we had left? I kissed him. His lips softened against mine, and then he was gripping the back of my neck and kissing me back, urgent and desperate. Forget about the world. Forget everyone, just for one moment. There was only this—his lips, his tongue, his hands, hot and demanding on my body, the pound of my heart, the roar of the blood in my ears, and the throb between my legs. This was living.

  “Malina?”

  I broke the kiss, chest heaving, and glanced over my shoulder to find Vasuki looking down on us.

  “You came back.” His eyes were dark pools of regret.

  I scrambled off Garuda’s lap. “We need your help. I need access to one of my alternate’s realities.”

  “You won’t be getting access to anything.” Harish appeared behind my grandfather.

  I looked at Vasuki, noting the shackles on his wrists for the first time.

  “I’m sorry,” Vasuki said.

  Harish snorted. “Finally, solid proof of your treachery. Did you honestly think you could fool me?”

  “He figured out we executed your alternate,” Vasuki said. “After the execution, he examined the body. The difference in weight, her gauntness…he knew… He convinced the others of the same. You shouldn’t have come back.”

  But we’d had no choice. I looked to Harish. “You don’t like me. I get that. But there is more at stake here than you can i
magine.”

  Harish snorted. “The problems of your world are not ours. We exist outside the multi-verse.” He clicked his fingers. “Guards!”

  Several naga slithered into the room, their tridents glinting in the light of the gems.

  “Arrest them!” He pointed an accusing finger in our direction.

  The guards slid toward us.

  “Wait!” Garuda held up his hand. “Take me in her place. Execute me in her place.”

  I grabbed his arm. “Shut up!”

  “No.” He stepped away from me, toward the guards. “If you don’t stop the Daughter of Chaos, we’re all fucked anyway. The multi-verse will fall. After that, the void will devour everything else, including Nagalok.”

  The guards faltered, trading glances with one another.

  Harish blustered, “You lie to save your lover.”

  “The Garuda does not lie,” one of the guards said, his tone timid.

  His brethren began to murmur.

  “Just arrest them,” Harish ordered.

  But the guards didn’t move. The one who’d spoken strode over to Vasuki and unlocked his shackles. He stepped back and bowed deeply.

  “What are you doing, you fools? He is a prisoner of the realm, charged with treason.”

  The guard spoke to Vasuki. “Your Majesty, we are willing to commit treason if it will save our realm.”

  Vasuki smiled. “Thank you, Nilan.”

  Harish made a grab for Vasuki, but the guards converged on him. His screams echoed throughout the chamber as they dragged him from it.

  I turned my attention to Vasuki. “Will you be all right? What happens when you get back to Nagalok?”

  Vasuki shrugged. “What happens to me won’t matter if you’re unsuccessful. And if you prevail, I’ll send a message. Quick, tell me what’s transpired thus far?”

  I gave him a rundown—devastation, world about to end, and all that. “There’s a vortex above the city, and it’s growing. We don’t have long.”