So he’d been a dick to everybody all day, and making the list had been his punishment. Marduk wanted him to think long and hard about each and every being in the household, probably to have his nose rubbed in his selfishness for not manning up and seizing the destiny that had been dropped in his lap while most everyone else remained in limbo. Enten looked at his extensive list of names.
For couples―who were at long last, happy―there was Marduk with Tess, Anshar with Lenore, and Dagon with Holly. Next, he’d listed himself, reluctantly linking his name to Glory’s. And then there was Huxley, fucked out of his mind that the douche-bag hadn’t claimed Dani-Lee yet.
The witches in the house were Angie and Addie May. Not to forget their cat-familiar, Wizarr, and the latest human addition, Glory’s mother Kate.
The visible, unmated gods were Lahar and Enlil―at least embodied when they were around their bloodline progeny―and the seven invisibles were Emesh, Dumuzi, Shamash, Ishkur, Ninurta, Kulla, and the very proper―but working on it―Absu. Archie the dog finished up the genus Mammalia in residence.
Enten had taken a few opinions on how everyone should be split up, but had mostly gone with his gut. There would be no argument that Marduk and Tess would stay put in the Blue Hills. Nobody wanted to take the pregnant goddess out of the safety of the compound.
Kate would also be staying, due to her fragile state, and Emesh had asked to stay behind with the older woman. Enten would gladly grant that wish. Shamash would cleave to the home hearth as well, continuing to monitor all incoming and outgoing communication and maintaining security measures while most everyone was away.
Anshar and Lenore would be heading to Plymouth and would find things a little tight, sharing the small cape cod style home with Lenore’s mother and grandmother, but Enten was sure they could get creative.
Ishkur, their older, resident biker expert, and Ninurta, god of excavation, would set up shop nearby in the old PP headquarters in Plymouth, which Erra had determined was now vacant and locked down by authorities. That problem wouldn’t bother the two invisible gods. They’d consider it a great crash pad where they could sit on the front stoop and be entertained by the passing Plymouth residents and tourists all day. A far cry from the isolation of the Blue Hills.
Dagon and Holly, along with Huxley and Dani-Lee, would head to Maine. Mr. Abelard had been warned―the minute Enten had finished his list―that company was on its way, and he was now happily making sure the bunkhouse got readied for the newlyweds, while designating his old room for Huxley and Dani-Lee to Tess’s. Dumuzi would go with them, along with the Archie the dog who had taken such a liking to the god that he wouldn’t abide a separation.
Enten would have to suck it up and accompany Glory to her apartment in Northampton, whether she liked it or not. It was a cozy two-room, one-bath walk-up, and if he couldn’t figure out how to overcome all of his insecurities and convince Glory to be his mate…well…he didn’t deserve to have a dick. The only fly in their pre-connubial ointment would be Absu, their invisible escort, but Enten figured he could coerce the god of sweet-water into spending most of his time on the street. After all, what a perfect opportunity for Absu to mix with the general populace and attempt to pick up current jargon. The guy’s sentences remained an odd mix of new and old, as evidenced by a recent conversation about what might go down in the Underworld.
“Cool,” he’d said, when apprised of his assignment. “I will gladly partake in some of that shit.” Ah hell. At least the guy tried.
As for Enlil? He, Lahar, and Kulla would be camping out in Dani’s vacant apartment in Quincy. They’d be close to the compound, and would make the rounds of all the other encampments regularly to make sure nothing went wrong. Nobody expected any bad-guy action outside of hell, but they would remain vigilant, just in case.
What went on down below was anybody’s guess. Nergal and Ereshkigal had returned home, with the queen headed reluctantly for a cage. Erra and Ish-Din had, after being unable to locate Matthew, followed them to the Underworld, preparing to see if Ish-Din could out the traitor or traitors in their midst once the gathering finally got underway. If there was a major insurrection, Lavarette the glowie had access to Shamash at the compound on speed dial, so all the gods, armed to the teeth could be called to active duty for Nergal at a moment’s notice. Depending on who was involved for the bad guys, it could be all out war.
Everybody report to me for your assignments. Enten called out to the group.
There would be some grumbling, but tough shit. He’d given his list a lot of thought. One by one, and in some cases two by two, the residents of the compound wandered in.
Once everyone was present, Enten read his edicts and looked around with a cold eye, waiting for argument. He must have appeared suitably chilly because no one even blinked.
When everyone eventually disbursed, Marduk approached and congratulated him, chuckling, “I’m not sure you’ve made a friend of Huxley today, Enten, but I couldn’t have done better myself.” The boss god had been handing some of his duties over lately to a few of the guys in preparation for a time he might not be able to lead, specifically upon the joyous occasion of the birth of his first child, and Enten actually preened under the compliment.
Yeah. Leading sucks, but somebody’s got to do it, Enten retorted. And you’re so busy getting laid these days, I’m surprised when I see your head outside of your bedroom door.
“Jealous, Enten?” Marduk smirked. “You don’t have to be, you know. Things are all in place, just waiting for you to man up and thaw out.”
Enten chose to ignore that. I’m just fucking glad I won’t be in residence while you and Tess have the compound mostly to yourselves. I’m betting there’ll be 99 percent chance of storms over the next few weeks.
It was common knowledge that the god of thunder’s orgasms were truncated with a large clap of…yup, thunder, and it was a constant source of fun for all the gods to comment on the weather patterns when Marduk and Tess were in the room.
But the boss didn’t let him off the hook. “Remind me to do some meteorological predictions when you finally mate-up, Enten. Which will it be do you think, ice storms or blizzards?”
Okay. So the god in charge had a point. They both grinned stupidly at each other until Marduk poofed out.
I want everyone to report in once you’ve reached your destinations, Enten sent out. Then he began to wonder where Glory had gotten off to. They should be headed to Northampton ASAP.
****
Enten heard from the Plymouth couples almost instantly. Their vacation from the compound started out well.
Fuck, Enten. These witches have a big-ass ‘71 convertible. Enten could hear the lust in Anshar’s voice. They only made this particular car for three years. It’s a fucking classic.
Lenore’s patient voice came through. That’s right, sweetheart. Mom did a conjuring spell over it when they first got it to keep it safe. Looks pretty good, huh?
Pretty good? Anshar sounded pumped. I can’t wait for Ishkur to see this. Yellow with white combination vinyl and upholstered interior…a bitchin’ black top, the car is mint.
Enten tuned out as Anshar continued to mumble. 455 V8…
And he wasn’t the only one in gear-head heaven. Enten had checked in with Dagon, and because of the human…and canine contingent, the group headed to Maine had opted to pick rides from Ishkur’s stable of bikes.
Dagon had chosen one of the Japanese rides for himself and Holly, while Huxley, with Dani for a passenger, took the older bike he’d arrived on several months before, simply because it had a sidecar for Archie the dog. The group reported the day as warm, the skies blue, and the traffic favorable as they made their way north through Massachusetts before traversing New Hampshire and on to Maine.
Dumuzi the invisible had gone on ahead to help Mr. Abelard with domestic chores. Enten knew Mr. Abelard got a huge chuckle out of conferring with an invisible being, although how they worked it out, he wouldn’t ask.
> Enlil, Lahar, and Kulla had settled in nicely at Dani-Lee’s apartment once they’d thrown out some spoiled milk and some unidentifiable meat she’d left in her fridge. It was lucky they were all insubstantial and couldn’t smell things. That would have put a damper on the fine afternoon they were going to have cheering at the baseball game on TV later in the day.
Enten, walking around while conversing with the relocating folks, finally located Glory, sitting with her mother―who looked quite comfortable, tucked up on the outdoor patio being attended by Emesh.
If Enten hadn’t been quite sure an hour before, he was certain now that Glory dragged her feet. First, she had to make sure Kate settled in all right. Enten could understand that. He’d been to visit the woman a number of times this morning. But Glory, after having assurances from his brother, Emesh, that he would take good care of the patient, still fussed with the phone, the television, the pillows on the chaise lounge. Anything, it seemed, to stall the impending trip. He had tried not to let his impatience show.
Once that hurdle had been overcome, Glory proceeded to slowly go through every cabinet in the kitchen so she could load her bag up with snacks for the ride. And now she made a big show of which bike from the stable they should choose, a situation a bit unrealistic since she was still highly immobile with a gunshot wound and broken ribs.
Enten stood by, grumbling while she hemmed and hawed, but she hadn’t said a word about Enten’s plunging temperature while he stood in frustration at the game she played. When the cowling of the bike she looked at froze over, she’d only succinctly arched a brow.
Finally, after much dedication to her decision, Glory had settled on a sleek, fast model, and before she could change her mind, Enten wheeled it out, calling her bluff.
He had to give her credit for valiantly attempting to swing her injured leg over the bike without wincing. But he finally stopped the nonsense. He told her, through head-speak, in no uncertain terms they would be taking the light-green, four-door sedan Anshar had picked up in Plymouth, on their jaunt westward.
She reluctantly gave in. With an odd expression pasted to her face, they shared the small interior of the automobile for miles in silence. They had yet to discuss the drug-induced hand job she’d given him in the hospital. And Glory either remained mortified beyond belief at her forwardness, or simply wanted to forget all about it. But Enten had made up his mind after the chiding from Marduk. He was not about to dismiss what had happened. Glory’s drunken actions had brought them one step closer to becoming mated, and all that aside? Dammit, he owed her one. What kind of a god didn’t reciprocate a mind blowing orgasm with a mind blowing orgasm?
He was glad they were finally underway, even if Glory kept silent for the entire trip. He had an idea how he could begin to loosen her up, and tuned the radio to her favorite station. Emesh had filled him in on her preferences―how Glory liked to sing and rock out on a pretend drum kit while driving. He turned the volume up when the opening bars to Madness by Muse hit his ears. Let’s see if she could resist that one. He glanced over. Enten could already see her body swaying inadvertently to the beat. This could work.
While she unconsciously started to drum, Enten plotted. Once he had his Chosen alone in her apartment―Absu would be going out a lot―he’d find a way to get intimate with her again. He’d take care of reciprocating, whether Glory liked it or not.
Chapter Twenty
By the time they reached Northampton and walked up to Glory’s apartment, Enten could tell she was not just silent, but stewing. Their hospital adventure had really given her fits.
Muse had done a good job of loosening her up for the first few miles they’d been on the highway; Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir continued the upward trend. A double play set from the Who had seen them a long way farther, followed by some vintage Stones, and then Journey. She’d momentarily lost her rock mood when the DJ played Macarthur Park, but amped it back up to Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall until they hit the exit off the Pike.
Alas, he knew he was in trouble when Carlos Santana failed to rock Glory’s world with Maria Maria, and she brooded instead of air-drummed when Enten turned down her street.
Now they both stood awkwardly in her small combination living room-kitchenette, with Enten looking out the oversized windows at the surrounding city, while Glory fussed about, slamming cupboards. Enten huffed. He was the king of freeze, but her current cold temperature began to be too much even for him.
Listen, Glory… Enten began.
“No. You listen,” she barked. “I’ve had it.” She threw a dishtowel down on the counter. “A million questions have been running around in my brain since my abduction, and all I can get from anyone is: ‘It’s not my place to say anything. Enten will explain.’ or ‘Enten’s the one you should be asking, not me’.” She delivered her speech in a high-pitched tone that sounded nothing like any of his friends.
He tried to assure her. I’ll let you―
But she cut him off again. Glory had clearly just started to roll. “You guys are all too strange,” she griped. “And secretive.” She put her hands on her slender hips and turned to face him, ass up against the counter. “I need to know who you are. What you are. And what you want.”
She pushed her body off the Formica and stalked toward him. “You come into my life and completely upend it, and all your cohorts act like it’s business as usual. But let me inform you,” she poked a finger into his pecs, “I’ve spent five years building a safe world for myself and my mother, after spending the previous twenty with my volatile asshole father, and an equally fucked-up husband. One is now dead, and the other, thank God, has a restraining order shoved up his ass.” She barely paused for breath.
“I told myself I’d never lose control of my life again, and then you show up, you and your invisible playmates. Since that happened, I’ve been kidnapped, manhandled, shot, and my mother relocated without so much as a single explanation. Not to mention why this is all happening to me or what the fuck a Chosen is.”
Her eyes really shot sparks at him, and it was…glorious. Enten’s shoulders slumped.
“I’ve been waiting weeks for an explanation of your body temperature and you? You haven’t trusted me enough to let me in on just who the hell you are and why you’re so fucking cold all the time, and I’m tired of it.” She ended on a shout.
Her big, brown eyes blazed, her chin jutted out, and attitude snapped off of her like so much wild electricity that Enten almost…yeah, almost backed up a step.
But he replayed her words instead. What he heard was: reasonable question, adequate concern, reasonable question…fucked up, cold guy. Shit. He closed his eyes as the familiar pain hit him. He tried to get a handle on it, as he had the thousands of other times he’d been confronted about his coldness, but Glory’s words worked their way in too deeply. It hurt worse than it ever had before, because Glory was his Chosen. She might just as well have stabbed him with a finely sharpened knife and twisted it into a spot just below his heart. He held in the roar of pain that would have erupted if his throat had fully healed.
Glory watched, stunned as the beautiful man/god across from her looked devastated enough that she became afraid he’d fall to his knees. Just what had she said? She had voiced her concerns and she’d expected arrogance, assurances, anything but the pain that emanated from his body in freezing waves.
“Enten…” She approached.
Sit, Enten ground out. He pointed a finger at the couch while attempting to do that yoga thing, breathing in through his mouth and out through his nose as if he fought panic. She vaguely wondered who’d taught him that move.
Sit there…please, he reiterated.
Glory quietly scooted around the arm of the sofa and sat rigidly where he indicated. She wanted to point out that he did it again, ordered her around, but since he’d softened it with a “please” and clearly he tried to deal with more shit than she was aware of, she clamped down on her need to speak. The temperature in the room d
ropped significantly, and she shivered.
Enten kept watch on her. His breathing came easier now that she’d gotten out of his face, but she could see his pain had not lessened.
Enten lowered into a chair across from Glory and met her eyes. I’m the god of winter, he said without preamble, and when Glory merely blinked at him blankly, he extrapolated. I’m the god who decides how cold your world should be. When it should snow, sleet, or hail…
Still she gave no reaction. What could she possibly do in light of those odd statements?
…when the fucking ice breaks up on Lake Winnipesaukee. Do you get that? he demanded.
Glory let that settle, and became one part amused, two parts ticked off. Chuffing an annoyed breath out from between clenched lips. “Do you really expect me to believe that? Do I look like an idiot?” She narrowed her eyes in his direction. “Okay. Let’s say I buy into the fact you’re a god…just for a minute, because of all the invisible stuff and, well, everything else that doesn’t tend to make sense unless it’s a fairy tale. But now,” she rolled her eyes, “you expect me to believe you control the fucking mercury in my thermometer?”
Yes…no…I mean yes. He ran a hand through his braids. What’s the temperature outside, Glory? Enten sat subdued and asked quietly. Fine. Now he just scared her.
“I don’t know,” she said hesitantly. “Eighty…eighty-five?”
Sorry, Emesh, my brother of summer. She heard Enten send apologies long distance, back to the compound, and wondered “what the fuck?”
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