by Ford, Lizzy
Andre, the deity Peace, lowered his book with elegance and poise that made her think she should change into a dress and curtsey. His teal gaze settled on her, and he waited politely.
“Uh, hi,” she started and took a deep breath. “This is a long story so I’ll keep it short. I’m your long lost sister, Stephanie, a half-breed. I’m here to break you out so you can stop Wynn from being Wynn. I have no soul because my mate hid it, which means Darkyn can’t sense me, but Tamer brought me and we have four minutes to make it back to the portal room before someone freaks out.”
Andre rose as she spoke and set his book down. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He held out his hand. “I always thought our clan could use a sister.”
She blinked, not expecting the tranquil response or warm smile. “Um, thanks.” Something about him calmed her frantic thoughts.
“I look forward to hearing your story once we’re free.”
No smart ass remark like she’d hear from Tamer or Kiki, no cold plotting like she’d sense from Wynn, no games like she’d expect from Fate. Andre was genuine. Warm. Friendly.
“I don’t even know you and I missed you!” she said and hugged him hard.
Andre chuckled. “Welcome to the family.”
She released him, optimistic for the first time in weeks about her chances of surviving the Immortal disaster. “We have to hurry.” She took his hand and pulled him into the hallway, pausing when she saw the deity awaiting them. She almost asked who he was or at least, whether or not he was going to fuck them over once they were free.
They had no time to talk about anything – just to run. Stephanie bolted forward once more. She led them through the corridors at a sprint, more concerned about reaching the portal before Tamer left them than whether or not she ran across any demons.
When she reached the spot they’d agreed to meet, she was gasping for air. Tamer greeted Andre with a nod before staring at the fourth member of their party.
“Who the fuck is that?” he demanded.
“Let’s go!” Stephanie begged and gripped his arm, tugging him towards the portal room.
“You don’t just pick up hitch hikers in Hell. There’s a reason Darkyn captured him.”
“Puh-leeeeeease, Tamer!”
“I can’t get three of you out of here!”
“Don’t concern yourselves. I can take it from here.” The strange deity said and strode around the corner.
Tamer looked from him to Stephanie. “Do you have any idea what Darkyn will do if you freed the wrong person? What Gabriel will do to me once he figures out who was involved?”
“Yell at me later. Please!” she said and trailed the strange deity. She stayed at the corner until he disappeared into the portal room. Stephanie cringed, waiting to hear some horrific sounds of violence.
No noise came. Seconds later, the deity popped his head out of the door and grinned. “All clear!” He ducked back into the room.
“I hope he hasn’t killed anyone,” Andre said in disapproval.
Stephanie darted down the hallway, trailed by her two brothers, and entered the portal room.
She relaxed. No one was present except for the deity. “Oh. I thought there’d be someone guarding it.”
“There was,” Tamer said grimly. “There are six demons here at all times.”
Her gaze settled on the deity. I really hope I didn’t fuck up the world by setting him loose.
“Come quickly.” The deity motioned to them from his place on the platform.
Tamer sighed and went to the control panel to open the portal. Seconds later, a cool breeze swept through the room, and a hole yawned open.
Stephanie had never been so glad to see the fabric of the universe torn. She bolted forward, followed by the others, and formed an image of the lake in her mind. One door glowed in response, and they rushed through it.
She burst into the cool night air of the human world and bent over, swallowing rapidly to keep from throwing up. The portal closed behind them, and she straightened. She wouldn’t feel safe until she was at the castle, locked in her room, hiding in her bathroom or safely under the covers of her bed.
“I’m in so much fucking trouble,” Tamer snarled. “I’ve gotta tell Gabe before Darkyn does.” He strode through a portal and disappeared.
“Much obliged, soul-less one,” the strange deity said and approached Stephanie. He held out his hand, and she accepted it, once more entranced by his eyes. “Until we meet again.” He kissed her knuckles and then walked away.
“Wait,” she called. “Who are you? How do I summon you for my favor?”
“I’ll be in touch,” he promised.
She shivered. “I really, really hate this world.” When he’d vanished, she faced the only brother she wanted to claim as such. “I’m sorry Wynn traded you to Hell.”
“You grow accustomed to these types of deals,” Andre said. “Although, you really can’t adequately prepare for the outcomes.”
She started to smile. “No. You can’t.”
“What’s your plan?”
“This is as far as I’ve gotten,” she admitted. “Fate said you and Kris were the only ones who could stop Wynn.”
“Fate.”
“Yeah.” She cleared her throat. “He’s kind of my mate. And kind of sitting in Hell right now.”
“Perhaps we should start from the beginning.” Andre offered her his arm. “I know a café near here that serves the best hot chocolate.”
Stephanie nodded. Her throat was too tight for her to respond. Of everyone she’d met, Andre was the only person who seemed to care, understand and above all – have the wherewithal to figure out what the fuck she was supposed to do next. She rested her hand on his arm, and he summoned a portal.
Chapter Seventeen
“You’re strong to have gotten through all this.”
The more time she spent with Andre, the better she felt. Her adrenaline had long since worn off since they began talking. Coupled with three cups of hot chocolate, she was craving a nap. Stephanie glanced at her watch and almost groaned. She was due to listen to petitioners in less than an hour.
“I have to go,” she said and straightened in her seat. “But I don’t know what to tell you to do next. Can you go somewhere safe?”
“Don’t worry about me,” Andre replied with a smile. “I’d recommend not telling Wynn about any of this. He’ll find out soon enough I’m missing. If Darkyn tracks you down personally, don’t deal with him. Summon me.”
She nodded. “Where will you be? Or is it better I don’t know?”
“I’ve got friends.” Andre winked. “Focus on staying alive and off Wynn’s radar. Fate is right – Wynn is the worst kind of dangerous. I’m going to find Kris and have a talk.”
Stephanie rose. “I’m so happy I got to meet you,” she said. “You’re the only almost-normal person I’ve met.”
“I’m as normal as Immortals come.” He smiled. “I’ll give Fate’s position some thought. After recent dealings with Darkyn, I understand better why everyone says not to deal with him directly. There is a way to free your mate. We just have to find it.”
Hope bubbled inside her. She feared dwelling too long on what Fate was going through and how horrible it had to be. When Andre explained the mating bond, their society and why things were so fucked up, her perspective began to shift from entrenched denial into consideration of a future most Immortals could only dream of.
Stephanie left Andre at the café and returned to the fortress through a portal. She had time for a quick shower and breakfast before she went to the audience chamber to listen to petitioners. The moment she sat down, she wanted either a quadruple shot of espresso or to run and hide in her room.
Kiki had texted, and she messaged him back between petitioners. She started to relax about her midnight adventure and assume she’d pulled it off. Darkyn and Wynn didn’t confront her, and she made it to the evening family dinner in peace.
Kiki was late to dinner. With
Wynn at the head of the table and no Kiki to ramble on about logistics, it was more awkward than any other night. Wynn didn’t wait for her brother to join them but began eating.
Stephanie did as well, sneaking a peek at her cell phone to see if Kiki had texted. His last message came an hour before dinner.
“Kiki isn’t joining us?” she asked finally.
“He is not,” Wynn replied.
Stephanie waited for the second course to be served before the awkward silence between them grew unbearable.
“I saw sixty people today,” she said.
“Good. How are you enjoying the work?”
“It’s … interesting.”
Wynn leaned back. “There’s no better way to learn the names and struggles of our people than to interact directly with them. Petitions maximize this opportunity.”
“I’m definitely meeting a lot of people,” she agreed.
“Tomorrow you can start working on the infrastructure issues.”
“Kiki’s job?”
He nodded.
She grinned. “I can’t wait to tell him he’s got petition duty. Or did you tell him?”
“I did not,” Wynn said. “I’ll leave that pleasure to you when he returns.”
“Returns?”
“It seems Andre escaped from Hell, voiding my agreement with Darkyn. He demanded another child to replace him.”
The fork fell from her hands and clattered against the plate. The sound jarred her but not as much as his words. Wynn appeared to be watching her, waiting for her reaction.
“Why … why him?” she managed finally. “He’s running everything.”
“Apparently your mate made a deal whereby Darkyn can’t touch, talk or make deals with you,” Wynn said. “I hope you can learn Kiki’s job quickly. He was running everything and now, you are.”
Stephanie said nothing, stunned. Of all the sons she’d met, Kiki was the least deserving of a stint in Hell. Did Wynn know of her involvement in Andre’s escape?
Would the master manipulator tell her if he did?
She picked up her fork, uncertain what exactly to do. The warnings from Fate and Andre replayed in her head, and she didn’t dare admit anything about her involvement in Andre’s escape. The moment she left the dining hall, she was summoning Andre.
“Sorry I’m late.” Kiki opened the doors and rushed in.
Stephanie stared at him then looked at Wynn.
“You think I wouldn’t know?” Wynn asked quietly as Kiki took his seat across from her. “Step out of this game while you have the chance.”
She folded her hands in her lap and twisted them.
“What’s going on?” Kiki asked, glancing between them.
“Father-daughter chat. Right, Stephanie?” Wynn replied.
“Yeah,” she managed. “Just getting to know one another.”
Kiki gave her a long look.
“She’s definitely my child,” Wynn said in satisfaction.
Stephanie’s appetite fled. She hadn’t considered the consequences of breaking Andre out and wasn’t at all certain Wynn wasn’t going to send Kiki to Hell after all. Worse, he knew of her involvement in the rescue. She’d fallen right into his trap – again.
Feeling like the world was closing in around her, she pushed away from the table and walked to the door. By the time she hit the hall, she was in a run. Stephanie raced through the corridors until she reached the exit to the back lawn. She stopped and threw her head back, sucking in the evening air.
Where did she go from here? How did she juggle a world so foreign to her let alone survive it?
She sank onto the stairs and held her head.
“You’re in over your head.” Wynn’s voice made her tense. He sat beside her and held out a glass of amber liquid. “Your instincts are good.”
Stephanie studied him for a moment before lifting her head and taking the drink. She wiped her eyes with her other hand.
“What’s your next move?” Wynn asked and sipped from his glass.
“I really don’t know.” Stephanie swirled the glass, wishing the liquid inside would either poison her or put her to sleep until this was over. “Are you going to send Kiki to Hell?”
“Darkyn gave me a day to decide which son to send,” Wynn replied.
“How could you send any of your children? I mean, isn’t the parent-child bond supposed to be the ultimate bond?”
“No one dies,” Wynn said and shrugged. “When you have an eternity, when you’ve lived an eternity, you begin to measure outcomes differently. There’s always a way to change your circumstances. You’ve learned this. In time, whomever is in Hell will have something Darkyn wants. When that time comes, he’ll negotiate for release. Everyone lives. Everyone gets what they want eventually.”
“That doesn’t make it right.”
“What does right and wrong matter when no one else is playing by those rules?” Wynn countered. “If the game is rigged, do you refuse to play or find a way to win?”
Stephanie said nothing.
“Kiki will go to Hell tomorrow night, unless you figure out a way to keep him out of it,” Wynn added.
She knocked back the whiskey with a grimace. “What would you do?”
“It depends on how far you’re willing to go to save your brother. If you’re going to play by human rules then there’s nothing you can do. You’ll tell me in the morning you’re out of the game, and you’ll do exactly what I say from here on out, and what happens to Kiki is no longer your concern,” he replied. “If you’re willing to become your father’s daughter, you will do whatever it takes to save someone you care about.”
She listened, surprised to hear him sound as if he were capable of caring for anyone.
“Darkyn claims another deity was set loose as well,” Wynn continued. “Any idea how that happened?”
“None at all,” she mumbled.
“Good.” He took her glass from her hand and rose, returning to the interior of the fortress.
“Wait,” she called. “What deity was it?”
“It’s not your concern now, is it?” He left.
Stephanie dwelt on the brief conversation. Wynn was right. Her distress came partially from the conflict between what she as a human would do and what an Immortal wouldn’t do.
She had her own limits, namely moral ones, and wanted no one hurt in whatever route she pursued. Leaving Kiki’s fate, or her own, up to Wynn was terrifying. Was it worse than taking on Wynn? Than refusing his directive to do what he wanted?
She needed help. Stephanie wiped her eyes once more, exhausted after her long night, and sifted through everyone she’d met who might be able to help her.
“Deidre,” she whispered finally.
Seconds later, the demoness appeared on the lawn before her with a smile.
Stephanie rose and approached her. “Hey. Thanks for coming.”
“How can I help?” Deidre asked.
“I’m wondering if there’s any way I can see Fate.”
Deidre considered. “You want an invite into Hell this time?”
Stephanie’s breath caught.
Deidre laughed.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have contacted you,” Stephanie said sheepishly.
“C’mon. I’ll take you to see him.”
“Really? You’re not mad?”
“I thought it was funny. Oh, and if someone offers to take you to Hell, make sure you specify they have to bring you back immediately after your visit is over.” Deidre winked. “Demons will take you to Hell in a heartbeat and leave you.”
“Seriously. I’m not in trouble with you-know-who?” Stephanie pressed. “He scares the hell out of me.”
“He doesn’t get mad,” Deidre replied. “He does get even, though. You made his short list of people he’ll one day corner.”
“That sounds absolutely terrifying.”
“Yeah. It is.” Deidre opened a portal and waved for her to follow. “You coming?”
Stephanie hesi
tated.
“You don’t have to be afraid of me,” Deidre said.
I don’t think it matters at this point. Stephanie trailed her, at a loss as to what to do next without Fate to offer some sort of insight.
Deidre led her once more into Hell, this time emerging from the place-between-places somewhere Stephanie didn’t recognize. The narrow hallway ahead of them was lined with open doorways every six feet. She could see nothing in each room aside from darkness.
“Third on your right,” Deidre said and pointed. “Stay in the middle of the hallway until you reach his door. Don’t talk to anyone else who tries to talk to you. I’ll wait here.”
Stephanie absorbed the odd instructions and followed them until she reached the third doorway.
“Hello?” she whispered, pausing before it.
She held her breath and heard nothing for a long moment. Finally, stirring originating from the cell was followed by, “You shouldn’t be here.”
Fate’s voice was lower, rougher, pained.
Stephanie froze, her imagination running wild with all the horrible possibilities of what had been done to him. Realizing she was dumbstruck and standing stupidly in front of his cell, she spoke. “Are you okay?”
“Relatively speaking.” His amusement was back. “He’s been messing with me. These cells are on auto-torture. I think he’s probably softening me up.”
She squinted into the darkness without being able to see him. “I came to complain about my own issues but … that’s probably not the right thing to do,” she admitted.
“I’m happy to hear your voice. Have a seat. Tell me what’s happening.”
She hesitated then sat cross legged before the doorway and whispered her latest adventures to him. Fate listened until she was finished – and then laughed.
“You are amazing,” he said.
“I don’t feel amazing. You’re here, and everything else is falling apart,” she replied. “Andre and Kris are in the wind, and Wynn’s onto me. I need a vacation.”
“Me, too. Where should we go?”
“Someplace with nice weather and no Immortals.” She squinted once more, hearing him shift but unable to see him. “Are you really okay? I mean … I know it’s a stupid question. You’re in Hell.”