Blood Revolution (God Wars, #3)

by Suttle, Connie

  "No. It's not that. I just feel—empty. I think I'll go for a walk."

  "Take one of the warlocks with you," Dee said and watched as Gavril strode out the door.

  * * *

  "It's the Founder, Teeg San Gerxon." Yes, he heard the whispers clearly. He had vampire hearing, and it worked perfectly. His mind, however, could no longer be trusted. It wandered. Blanked out at times. He had no idea what might be happening to him. In fact, he'd forgotten for a moment that Dee had said to take a warlock with him before he'd misted away from San Gerxon Palace and landed in one of the casinos.

  Gavril didn't even know which casino he walked through. His thoughts were almost empty. Bare. There was no joy in anything. No sorrow, either. Or guilt. Nothing. A fleeting moment of clarity informed him that this had started years earlier, but it had been so gradual, he'd barely noticed. The tipping point had passed long ago, however, and he'd only realized it recently.

  "May I get you anything, Master San Gerxon?" someone asked.

  "What?" Gavril turned to blink at the man. "Do I know you?" he asked.

  "We've met," the man smiled and plunged a knife into Gavril's heart.

  Chapter 14

  Lissa's Journal

  "He's dying, despite our best efforts," Karzac's eyes held worry. Larentii were inside the bedroom with Gavril—they were the best healers, and even Karzac couldn't compete with their ability.

  "Karzac, you have to save him," I wept. Gavin stood nearby, completely silent. He'd been mostly silent lately anyway, and I couldn't explain that. Didn't want to think about it, even, while our son was dying.

  "What about the Wise Ones? Can't they do something?" I was about to unravel, and I needed to keep my sanity.

  "Let me see if I can do something about this," Conner appeared, flanked by Graegar and Barrigar, her Larentii mates.

  "What?" I blinked at her.

  "We need to see him—Gavril. There's something we suspect, and if it's true, even the Wise Ones can't save him."

  "What do you suspect?" I wiped tears away to clear my vision.

  "That Gavril's soul has been leeched away by a former self."

  "What?"

  "I told you before that some were being pulled away from the other side. This is something else that can happen," Conner said grimly. "If someone with sufficient power goes back in time and pulls your former self into the future, where you also exist, only one body will get the soul. Without power of your own, or permission or protection from the powerful, both of you can't exist at the same time."

  "Are you saying that Gavril in a former life was brought forward, and now he's losing his soul to the other one?"

  "Because the first one gets priority," Conner nodded. "And he's not losing his soul. If I'm right, it's already gone."

  "But how long?" I blinked at her in confusion.

  "If the person is strong, it can take years. At times it will be so gradual it can appear natural, unless someone powerful enough to see the soul notices, anyway. Gavril hasn't been what I'd term himself, in a long time," she added.

  "If we find the other one," I began.

  "You'd have to kill him, and that would be the same as murder—he likely hasn't done anything wrong. I suspect he's a prisoner, wherever he is. If you carried him back in time, he'd still retain the soul. And if you did kill him, there's a good chance they'd both die anyway."

  "Lissa," Graegar spoke gently, "It is my hope that we can salvage the other. He will hold the soul—and the memories—of your son, in addition to those memories he had before. It may weary him at times, but the soul will be the same one—it will merely have grown since he held it before."

  "You're saying I have to let my son die?"

  "Lissa, he's dying. There's nothing we can do about it. What we can do is search for the other one, because he'll die too, the moment they learn that Gavril is gone." The Guardian had appeared in Conner's eyes and blinked at me with god-like sternness.

  "What happened?" Reah had arrived, with Tory, Ry, Aurelius and Edward. Edward cradled Lexsi in his arms; it was easy to see that Reah was trembling.

  "Too much," I whispered and let darkness take me.

  * * *

  Breanne's Journal

  I'd started three books and stopped reading all of them after only a few pages. Something was wrong—I could feel it. Of late, my prescience seemed to be unreliable, too, and I didn't know what to think about that. The thick, padded headboard of the bed was at my back as I sighed and tossed my e-reader onto the bed in frustration.

  Breanne, the voice came. Graegar.

  What is it, honey? I asked.

  Breanne, I feel we need your help. Gavril is dying, and there is nothing we can do to stop it, even if we Change What Was. His soul has been pulled away, and we need your help to find it.

  Where are you? I sent, crawling off the bed and preparing to leave. Hank would be pissed, as would everyone else, but this was what bothered me, and I hadn't even gotten any signal from it.

  At Lissa's palace, he explained and sent me the date. Bless Graegar; he knew I wasn't in the same time period.

  On my way, I sent and bent time.

  * * *

  I didn't need an explanation—I read it in Graegar the minute I set foot inside Lissa's palace.

  "How in hell is that even possible?" I breathed and shook my head.

  "We have to save the one from the past, because he holds Gavril's memories as well as his soul." I stared at Conner as she spoke.

  Yes, she'd been a Shining One once—a messenger for the One. She still ferried souls to the other side—if they couldn't find their way or refused to go. Now, she appeared human, with long, blonde hair, blue eyes and a faint resemblance to Kiarra. They were half-sisters as humanoids.

  "Any idea where to look?" I asked.

  "I can locate the soul," Conner sounded determined, "Now that I know which one to search for. But I'll need your help to get him away, more than likely."

  "I can't tell you how much it scares me that they can do this," I pointed out.

  "Usually they can't, because only a few have the talent to discern who somebody was in a former life. Lissa named Gavril appropriately. He was Tybus in his former life."

  "The architect? Who designed this behemoth?" I tossed out a hand, indicating Lissa's palace.

  "And the one on Kifirin, yes," Graegar agreed. "We feel that they may have been guessing when they stole Tybus away from his previous death, but they guessed correctly."

  "Well, let's hope they stop guessing correctly in the future," I muttered.

  "We can't guarantee that," the Shining One stared through Conner's eyes.

  "Wow. Thanks. Where do we need to go and how should we go about this rescue mission?" I asked.

  "It will take finesse, and the assistance of the Mighty Hand," the Shining One announced before leaving Conner behind.

  "Great. The mighty asshole," I muttered angrily.

  "I have contacted Renegar. He is close to Ashe," Graegar said and opened up his mindspeech to me. I heard Renegar contacting Ashe, and Ashe's reply. Both arrived in seconds.

  "Breanne," Ashe nodded to me. The sight of him—tall, with light-brown, unruly hair and blue eyes—squeezed my heart. I ignored it.

  "Ashe," I acknowledged, my voice as frosty as I could make it.

  "We need your strength to get past a barrier," Conner informed Ashe. "I can locate Tybus through the soul, but you two will have to get him out of there."

  "What do you need me for?" I asked, confused. If Ashe could get them in and out, why did they need me?

  "You have to heal him—with Love," Conner said simply. "He has likely been tortured and mistreated for years, while he leeched Gavril's soul away. He's damaged. You can fix that if you send him Love."

  "Well, that explains a few things," I muttered.

  "I will gather all of you inside my mist," Ashe announced. "Conner, guide us." I almost shrieked as I disappeared. I'd never been carried like this before—I'd always
been the carrier. The experience was slightly unbalancing at first.

  I won't hurt you, Ashe assured me as we folded space.

  * * *

  Lissa's Journal

  "Lissa, they didn't say where they were going." Reemagar settled on a barstool next to me in the kitchen. A cup of tea, gone cold, lay on the counter in front of me; I hadn't touched it. Cheedas busied himself at the sink opposite the island—he was terrified. As was I.

  Gavin had disappeared the moment he learned Conner, Ashe, Graegar, Barrigar and my sister had left to search for Tybus. Connegar, Lenigar, Pheligar and Renegar remained in the bedroom with Gavril, keeping his body in stasis.

  That's all it was, now—a body. Nothing of my son was left inside it. Whatever remained of Gavril was held inside an ancient vampire, who was likely insane after years of torture.

  "Honey, do you remember much of who you were before?" I blinked up at Reemagar—he'd been my husband Don, once.

  "No. What little I know, I know through Connegar and Conner. They provided vague memories. It is just as well, I do not wish to remember pain."

  "I think that's why people usually don't recall past lives. It would frighten them too much at times, to remember how they'd suffered."

  "I agree. I know some might bear it, if they only remember a few things. I realize you could tell me much, but those memories are for you, and not for me." He smiled gently at me and rubbed my shoulders with large, blue fingers.

  "Yeah." I brushed a tear away.

  "We will get through this," Reemagar pulled me onto his lap and began trilling. I closed my eyes and huddled against him as he soothed me with Larentii song.

  * * *

  Breanne's Journal

  If Ashe hadn't been with us, we'd never have made it through the shield. Somehow, he was able to bore the tiniest hole into what seemed an impenetrable barrier, and ferry us through. If I'd been corporeal, it would have felt as if I'd been spun as thin as a silk thread to flow through the opening.

  Once past that, Ashe had to keep the tightest shield around us—because power radiated through the place. They were looking for anything to set off their alarm, and Ashe was determined not to do that.

  Could I explain how he did what he did? No. I was the Mighty Heart, not the Mighty Hand. Perhaps the Mighty Mind could explain it, but I didn't want to dwell on that too long.

  Should I tell Ashe I'd seen Wisdom? I decided I still hadn't forgiven Ashe enough to have a conversation with him.

  We found Tybus in the lowest level of a dungeon inside a massive castle, perched upon a planet made of nothing but iron. It hit me, then. He was still vampire. He couldn't walk in daylight. Well, something would have to be done about that.

  Do this, dearest. Send him Love and wake him, Graegar sent mindspeech.

  Tybus was shackled with power cuffs. Ashe would have to mist him away, but that shouldn't be a problem. Taking a mental breath, I sent Love to Tybus.

  * * *

  "Did you feel something?" Acrimus asked Calhoun.

  "No. Why?"

  "Nothing. I imagined a brush of something against my shield, that's all. I can't feel it, now."

  "Your imagination, perhaps?" Calhoun was smooth in humanoid guise. Much smoother and more polished than Acrimus might ever be. He was from a lower level of the Hierarchy, and had dealt with humanoids in the past. He knew them and their emotions. He could duplicate anything a humanoid might do.

  "How goes it with the quarter-blood whelp on Earth?" Acrimus asked.

  "He will do anything I say. He has his own agenda, and as long as it aligns with mine, I will allow him his secrets."

  "Even their powerful are pathetic," Acrimus grimaced.

  "Was that a smile or a frown?" Calhoun lifted an eyebrow.

  "Contempt," Acrimus replied.

  "Ah," Calhoun nodded.

  * * *

  "What do you mean, you missed?" Obediah growled at one of his werewolf assassins over the phone. "What the hell do I pay you for? I didn't want you to send flowers and a note. I want him dead, and that fucker Winkler, too. I hear you only managed to graze Winkler, and missed Jennings completely."

  "They left Dallas," Obediah could smell the wince as his assassin told him of that development. "We figure they went to Port Aransas so we flew down, but the house here is empty. We're looking around, though, to make sure Winkler isn't someplace else down here with Jennings. Winkler knows the local Packmaster, and she may be hiding his worthless skin."

  "See if you can get information through that channel, then," Obediah snapped. "And call me with better news, next time." Obediah ended the call with a snarl.

  "Problems?" Wildrif asked innocently, running a hand along the curved horn of one of Obediah's prized possessions—the stuffed body of a white buffalo.

  "They'd better get this done," Obediah said. "Or I'll take care of them myself."

  "I have information you may wish to hear," Wildrif almost smiled.

  "What's that?"

  "A unicorn shapeshifter has been born," Wildrif announced.

  "Well, ain't that a kick to the head," Obediah was suddenly in a better mood. "How long do you reckon we ought to wait to get our hands on that?"

  "Maybe fifteen or sixteen years. Never hurts to plan ahead, does it?" Wildrif asked.

  "Not at all," Obediah agreed.

  * * *

  Breanne's Journal

  Tybus blinked dark eyes open. I marveled that he looked exactly like Gavril.

  Don't speak, I sent to him. We will take you out of here, I added. Don't worry that you can't see us, we're mist, I explained.

  He nodded, then tapped the cuffs on his wrists.

  We'll take care of that, I said. Are you ready?

  He nodded again. Ashe drew him inside his mist, being careful to lower the cuffs to the stone floor and leave them behind. Did we know that would set off the alarm? We did now.

  * * *

  "Do you have the list?" Jimmy asked.

  "Right here," Trina pulled it out of her purse and waved it at Jimmy. He grinned at her. He liked Trina—a lot. He'd even convinced her to get in bed with him the night before, and neither had been disappointed.

  "Don't grin at me now, we have stuff to buy," Trina smiled back.

  "You are gorgeous, you know that?" Jimmy leaned in to whisper as they walked down an aisle in the only grocery store Port Aransas had.

  "You know, maybe you ought to say that again. I'm not sure I heard you right the first time," Trina said.

  "That you're gorgeous? That you give me a rock-hard," Trina slapped a hand over Jimmy's mouth.

  "Someday maybe I'll learn," she said, taking her hand away.

  "Wait till I get you in the car," Jimmy laughed. Trina leaned in suddenly for a kiss. A shot rang out. Jimmy stared as blood sprayed against his temple and Trina fell. After that, the werewolf took over and death became his mission.

  * * *

  "Mr. Jennings, I had no idea this would end up being connected to your department," the local sheriff pushed a paper toward Bill. Bill signed it and nodded brusquely. "I got no problem letting him go—I just wanted to get him calmed down enough to allow him out. I hear he took out the shooter with his bare hands. We got the other one in a cell back there, and you can question him whenever you're ready."

  "Thank you," Bill said. "I'll come back later tonight, and bring one of my agents with me. We'll get the truth, one way or another."

  "Good. I'd like to close this case quick."

  "Where's Trina's body?"

  "County picked her up half an hour ago. I can take you to the crime scene if you want."

  "I don't think I'll find anything more than you did. Our answers are with that prick in your jail cell."

  "I think you're right."

  * * *

  "Calhoun, we have problems," Wildrif left a message on Calhoun's cellphone. "Obediah's assassins got caught. One's dead—he's not the problem. The other is in jail in Corpus Christi, and I think they're waiting f
or nightfall so a vamp can question him. We don't need this to come back on Obediah. At least not yet." Wildrif ended the voicemail with a sigh.

  * * *

  "What the fucking hell did they think they were doing, trying to take down Jimmy Tyler?" Obediah growled. "Instead, they shoot a woman; one of 'em ends up dead and the other's in jail, ready to spill his guts."

  "I have a message out to someone who might help," Wildrif ventured. Obediah's temper couldn't be calculated, especially if the evidence was stacking up against him. He didn't want the Feds or the Grand Master sniffing around his compound, and he sure as hell didn't want to spend the rest of his life in a jail somewhere.

  "Good. You handle it. Meanwhile, I'm heading to Juarez. I haven't seen my oldest brother in a while." Obediah lifted his hat off the white buffalo's head and slapped it on. "Don't call unless you have good news." Obediah stalked from his study.

  * * *

  Breanne's Journal

  The hole Ashe blew in the shield so we could escape was a lot larger than the one he'd created in the beginning. We had to get the hell away, because we had no idea whether we'd be able to take down what had been inside that castle.

  All I'd known was that it pulsed with a violet light. Maybe the others couldn't see it, but I figured Ashe and I both did. It scared me. A lot.

  Ashe folded space the moment we breached the shield, yet I still held my mental breath. Would they be able to track us? I sure hoped not. There wasn't any way I wanted whatever was behind us to follow. And, if we managed to get away, they'd relocate, just so we couldn't find them again. Our priority, however, was getting away now with our precious cargo intact.

  I shouldn't have been concerned. Ashe jumped from here to there and then back again, as if he were intent on losing any tail. Eventually I was dizzy with all the location hops, and that's when he took us back to Lissa's palace.

  Graegar was the one to settle Tybus on his feet while Ashe stood in a corner, breathing hard. We need water or juice or both, I sent to anyone listening.

  "Breanne?" Lissa arrived, Cheedas in tow. Cheedas held a tall glass of water in one hand, and orange juice in the other.

  "Ashe needs that," I snapped at Cheedas. His eyes seemed dead as he blinked at me. What was I supposed to do with that? What? I was glad when Cheedas walked toward Ashe and handed the water to him first.