by Janie Marie
Apollo winked at her, earning a snarl from David, but she put her hand over his, which seemed to calm him some.
“Ah, it is good to finally see you with a woman.” Apollo chuckled with a few of the knights. “I think we all look forward to watching your protectiveness over her. It has been boring dealing with these undead and Damned. Our champion knight destroying a few foolish Damned should be quite entertaining.”
Arthur cut David a sharp look but began his meeting. “Jane, you already know Hades, and I see you briefly made acquaintance with Apollo, his nephew.”
“Yes, we met in the halls before,” she said softly, blushing while remembering she’d openly stated she was David’s in front of Apollo and the donor human.
Arthur glared at Apollo. “You know better.”
“Apologies, Arthur.” Apollo held up his hands. “It will not happen again.”
Jane was slightly awed by the fact Arthur had such respect and power from beings she’d always believed to be gods.
“You know the penalties,” Arthur said. “Now, Jane”—he waved his hand to the person seated beside Apollo—“this is Artemis, Apollo’s twin sister and Hades’ niece.”
The room went silent as she and Artemis made eye contact.
This was her. This was the woman—goddess—who David might have replaced her with had David never met her. Who knew how long he would have really lasted without meeting her. Forever, Jane’s heart hoped, but she wasn’t confident. She still wasn’t certain he would truly stick around since she gave him little reason to. After all, Artemis was lovely, a true goddess compared to her plain-Jane appearance and personality. Worse, Artemis didn’t look as though she was trying to gain David’s attention—and she’d had it without attempting to in the past. There was no guarantee she wouldn’t have it again.
Despite the lack of throwing herself at David or flaunting her beauty, one thing was blatantly clear to Jane: Artemis didn’t like her. The dislike was clear as day in the way Artemis’ green eyes narrowed just a tiny bit on her as they continued to size each other up.
Threat, Jane’s mind hissed.
Finally, Artemis broke the silence and Jane cursed herself for not being the one to do it first. “Jane,” she said. The single uttering of her name in the condescending tone might as well have been a bitch slap.
Jane’s cheeks heated from rage as her emotions clashed between hatred toward Artemis and fury at herself for not comparing to this woman at all!
David turned his hand that was still under hers and intertwined their fingers while his other hand slid behind her neck. Jane didn’t move, not sure what exactly he was doing, but she noticed Artemis was following every movement David made.
With a gentle coaxing, he pulled her close and kissed her temple before giving her a sweet nuzzle and another kiss.
Her heart soared, and she nearly cheered when Artemis scrunched up her face in bitter disappointment and turned away.
“Artemis,” she finally said—not coldly, just confident. She’d never felt this way meeting women with Jason, yet David, without even being her boyfriend or expecting more, made her feel like she was something special. She felt important to him from that public and sweet sign of affection.
“Yikes,” Apollo said, not hiding a snicker when his sister glared at him.
Jane wanted to laugh, but she managed to hold herself back. No need to gloat.
Hades shook his head at his nephew. “Well, I shall get on with why we came here.” He glanced at Jane. “Death sent me.”
Her eyes widened, and she gave him her full attention. “What for?”
“He wanted me to ensure your safety, young beauty.” Hades threw David an apologetic look. “He sends his apologies for not coming to your aid during your final battle in Texas.”
“I’m sure he does,” David said, and she knew—they all knew—Death wasn’t sorry for not coming to help David.
David kissed her hair when she almost blurted out her demand to know why Death hadn’t come. That had been one of the most heartbreaking moments she’d ever experienced, and all Death had to do was come help her.
“Don’t let yourself think badly of him,” David said. “He has a duty, and it is not to me.”
Jane pressed her lips together. Her thoughts were screaming at her to be furious with Death, but her heart was asking her to stay calm, reasoning that David was right. Death cared for no one.
Hades spoke again. “He wanted you to know what we discovered. Thanatos, along with other high-ranking demons, are moving troops of Damned.”
“Where?” Tristan asked.
“North,” Artemis answered, sitting straighter. “We might have learned more, but the fallen angel Thanatos distracted Death from gaining more information. We were seeking the location of my hounds.”
“Artemis,” Hades said, his voice chiding.
“Is he all right?” Jane asked. She knew Death could take care of himself, but Thanatos seemed more threatening than the demons he’d faced when he saved her.
“He was stabbed by Mania when he was busy asking about you,” Artemis said.
“Enough!” Hades smacked the table, glaring at his niece.
Jane’s eyes watered as her thoughts spun out of control.
David rubbed her leg. “I am sure he is fine.”
“He is,” Hades said, looking away from Artemis when she finally lowered her gaze. “Do not be upset, Jane. Death will always put you above any business he has. You are no distraction; your role in the fate of the world is important to not only Death, but all of us.”
Arthur leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Do we know more about this alliance between Fallen, Demons, and Damned?”
Hades sighed. “The Fallen have always behaved more as guards for Hell’s demons, but now they are working together. Not all Fallen will achieve complete redemption, so this isn’t too shocking. There are some who have no hope of returning to the light. Thanatos, for example, once one of Heaven’s highest generals, is now Lucifer’s right hand.”
“Really?” Jane asked, her mind thinking back to the red eyes of the fallen angel who ordered Mania to attack her.
Hades smiled sadly. “Yes, he was thought to be very loyal to his duty, but, like Lucifer, his heart and path has been drowned in darkness. Anyhow, they have joined together. All of it connects. The infected wolves, the plague, the alliance of dark forces, and other matters in Heaven and Hell—it is clear we are only witnessing the start of a great war. The plague was no accidental manifestation.”
“What do you mean?” Jane asked quickly.
He looked at her with his pale blue eyes. “I mean that the dead walking the Earth was just the beginning. Soon, very soon, Heaven’s angels will join us to fight against evil. Hell is building its army, and we are now outnumbered with them joining together. The individual armies grow more every day. They gather innocent victims and force them into either Lancelot’s, Ares’, or Hermes’ command. There are others, I’m sure, but those are who we have seen. And this is only werewolves and vampires.”
“What else is there?” she asked, noticing Artemis roll her eyes.
David was there, though, kissing her temple again before he spoke. “There are more than just cursed vampires and werewolves, Jane. We may all be from the same origins, but there are more nightmares we battle on a regular basis.”
Hades nodded to David. “Keres surprised us in Texas. That is why we struggled to gather more information, by the way, not because of you, Jane.”
“I did not think any more existed,” said Gawain.
“Nor did I,” Hades said. “They are numerous, too. Clearly, they’ve been breeding, and no doubt hidden this entire time by Hell’s most powerful. If it were not for Death, we might have faced more casualties. It is unfortunate that even his team of Light were no help against them.”
Jane went to open her mouth, but David spoke before she could.
“Baby, Keres are difficult for a normal immortal to kill.
Keres can fly, and they are faster than any of us. Actually, less than a handful can claim to have killed at least one. And what he means by Light is they are Heaven’s angels. Apparently, Death has a team”—he looked at Hades and received a nod—“whom he employs, I suppose you could say. However, Heaven’s armies are forbidden to raise their swords against them.”
“But why?”
“Heaven forbids it because Keres are descendants of humans. They were among the first of Hell’s immortals. A demon created one, bred with her, and the rest have come about from their incessant breeding. They are as close as you can get to a true demon, but Heaven’s army is forbidden to destroy them. That is what we are for.”
“Have you killed any?” she glanced at David, the knights, and Hades.
“I have only killed a small number,” David said as he gestured to Hades. “The God of the Underworld, though, is famous for his slaughter of hundreds. It was believed he caused their extinction.”
“A lie, clearly,” Hades said with a laugh. “But he is correct about me slaying hundreds of those harpies. A benefit when you are at Death’s employment is the weapons you are granted access to.”
“Still, Uncle,” Artemis said, ignoring the disapproving glare Apollo gave her. “Death might have been more help had he not been distracted by Thanatos’ taunts.”
Hades balled his fist but did not turn to look at Artemis as he addressed her. “Need I remind you, dear niece of mine, what he promised to do to you should your attitude continue?”
“Besides Jane, what business did Death have with Thanatos?” David asked, rubbing his hand along Jane’s leg as she stared at the words around the edge of the table, her mind once again drifting to Death. She didn’t understand why his actions suggested he wanted to protect her, yet he had abandoned and ignored her when she called for him.
“We have been trying to locate his brother for over a year. Thanatos and other high-ranking members of Hell have been impossible to find as well. When word came that Thanatos and Mania were spotted in Texas, Death jumped at the chance to capture them.”
“But he failed,” Jane murmured, not looking up.
“He was caught off guard by Mania, yes,” Hades said. “She used a cursed blade to stab him in the back, which allowed Thanatos and Mania the chance to escape. But he managed to get some information before then: Thanatos revealed where Pest may be.”
“The cursed blade,” she said slowly as her heart ached. Maybe this was why he did not come to her. “Did it do anything to him?”
“Other than taking longer to heal, no,” Hades said.
“Oh.” Jane sighed and leaned against David.
“Once Death finds his brother, we’ll learn more about how the plague broke out, and who is plotting the attack.”
“We thought Lancelot was behind the plague,” Arthur said. The first victim was named Zev Knight.
Hades was nodding. “Wolf Knight . . . I know. Lancelot must have been involved, but he could not cause the plague. It would seem many are involved in the outbreak.”
“What does Death’s brother have to do with the plague?” Jane asked. “He never even mentioned a brother in all the time I’ve known him.”
“He has three,” Hades said hesitantly.
“Oh.” She still didn’t know why Death never said such a thing. “But what does his brother have to do with all this? Why has he been searching for him?”
“Jane,” Hades said with a sad smile. “Death is one of the Four Horsemen. His brother, Pestilence, is the only being capable of unleashing this plague.”
She had looked up, and now all she could do was stare at Hades. Why had she never made that connection? Why had she not even considered that Death was one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse?
“I always assumed the Horsemen would only be revealed during the end,” Gawain said quietly. “I also believed the Angel of Death and the Fourth Horseman were different.”
“Many do,” Hades said. “And very few know who the other Horsemen are. They are almost a myth amongst their own kind. Even I, a servant of Death, have never looked upon the other three.”
“Sorrow,” Jane said suddenly. “Sorrow is the Pale Horse.”
“Yes,” Hades said.
“Why didn’t he tell me who he was? I mean, who he really was?”
“Jane, you were a human child when he met you. Even we immortals are not informed of such things. I should not even be the one to tell you this, but I feel there is no reason to hide it now. It doesn’t change his feelings for you or who he is. He has always been the final Horseman of the Apocalypse.”
She felt so confused. It all made sense now, but she didn’t want to believe it. Her beloved protector was none other than the end of the world. He wasn’t just an angel of death, he was the end of everything. He knew they would die—that her babies would perish in his brother’s plague, and he had said nothing.
David wrapped his arms around her tighter as he whispered in her ear, “It will be okay, my love. We are all together. Our duty remains the same, and Death is still the same angel who protected you all these years. He loves you. He will always protect you. I am certain of this.”
She wasn’t anymore. Maybe this is the reason he didn’t come, she thought. Maybe he knows there’s no point in coming; he is preparing to end the world.
“Where is Pestilence?” Arthur asked.
“Tartarus,” Hades answered. “Death sent his team to locate the gate. It moves, and it takes time for even him to locate.”
“Why didn’t he go with them?” she asked.
“He did not say. He ordered me to come here, warn you of the threat, and strengthen our numbers because we will all fight very soon. The plague is the least of our problems now. We need to be prepared.”
“He wants the hounds,” Arthur said, drawing Hades’ attention.
“Yes. Lycaon has them. I will need your help if we are to rescue them, and we will need them with Nyc’s wolves still off the radar. Death does not trust Nyc now. With his experience in the past, and the methods Fallen are using to hide so many immortals, Death believes something similar may have come about with Nyc. He thinks the hounds will be necessary.”
David let out a breath. “I saw Nyc last in Colorado, a year ago. He’s out there, but I have no idea why none of us have not heard from him.”
“When were you planning to leave?” Arthur asked. “Lycaon will not be an easy fight. He tends to stay in unforgiving wilderness as well.”
“I think we should leave as soon as we can. If Hell is working with Lancelot and other immortal armies, Lycaon is likely receiving aid as well. I need to gain more information on their exact location, but I have a good idea where we need to go. I will need your help with that, Arthur.”
Arthur nodded but looked around the table. “Spend time with your wives. We will likely depart sooner than we expected. You are dismissed.”
The others didn’t wait around to find out more, and Jane didn’t blame them. They just found out the final apocalypse was upon them.
David lifted Jane off his lap as Hades stood and walked around the table.
Hades cupped her cheeks. “Jane, I know you are confused, and perhaps you feel he deliberately hid information from you, but you are still Death’s most precious treasure.”
Her eyes stung. “Thanks for telling me the truth about him.”
Hades frowned and opened his mouth, but David pulled her back.
“I think she needs time to process what she’s learned,” he said. “If she wants to talk to you more about him, she will come to you.”
“Of course,” Hades said as he smiled again. “You had a trying night—you should rest, Jane.”
“Come, Jane.” David tugged her hand.
As she turned to him, she realized Artemis had lingered behind. Jane felt so much rage when those stupid green eyes drifted toward David for a tiny moment.
She gritted her teeth. Of all the horrible things she had to deal with, she had to add
jealous women to the mix. She didn’t even know why they were jealous. Her life was awful, and although she considered David and Death hers, in a sense, they really weren’t. That was what hurt most for her. After all, Death was proving more and more that he wasn’t hers.
Jane clenched her jaw to control the violent thoughts building inside her. She felt betrayed and lost—stupid. How could she believe anything he said to her now, or anything he had ever said to her? He left her. He was a part of this chaos, and he left her. He bargained her soul and then tossed her aside when she became too much of a burden. Maybe he wanted something more from her. Maybe he saw her as a weapon. Why else would he and Lucifer start a bet over her?
A faint flicker of her smiling in the center of destruction touched her mind. Would she be by Death’s side as he destroyed mankind, or would she lead legions of Hell with Lucifer?
She squeezed her eyes shut before glancing back at her vampire.
David watched her, and his concerned, loving look nearly finished her. He was the one right by her side, and she was always pushing him away.
I won’t lose him, she promised herself before she reached up for him. He smiled softly and lifted her, pulling her legs around his waist as he hugged her.
“I’m here, baby,” he said, rubbing her back.
She buried her face against his neck, breathing him in. “Take me to bed, David.”
“Apollo, Artemis.” Arthur’s voice broke into her peaceful moment. “You two are dismissed as well.”
David was already carrying her out the door when Jane heard them walk closer.
“Chin up, beautiful,” Apollo said as he passed. “We have fought many wars in our long lives. This one will be no different.”
She watched him nod to David before he darted off. Artemis, however, took her time passing them.
“David,” Artemis said, sounding far too sweet for Jane’s liking. “Is that room across from yours available? The one you let me stay in whenever I visit?”
Jane dug her fingers into David’s neck. He stopped walking, gripping her tighter.