Styxx (DH #33)

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

  “Good. Because if you want her back, you’re going to have to bleed Apollo and battle the worst of the Atlantean gods for her.”

  “And you’re not going to fight without us.” Maahes and Ma’at flashed into the room, next to Savitar.

  Savitar growled. “Anyone else you want to bring to the party?”

  Maahes grinned insolently. “Mother, may I?”

  The look on Savitar’s face said that Maahes was barely a step away from becoming a lion throw rug on Savitar’s floor.

  Ma’at stood up on her tiptoes to place a kiss to Savitar’s cheek. “Remember, you like me.”

  “I don’t like anyone who barges into my home uninvited, Mennie.”

  “You’ll get over it.” She turned her attention to the group. “All right, children. Where are we?”

  “From what I’m hearing … screwed.” Styxx crossed his arms over his chest as he considered everything they’d told him. “I’m going to be dense for a moment because I’m having trouble wrapping my head around this.… Bethany can be brought back. Yes?”

  Ma’at and Set nodded.

  Pain exploded inside him at the news. All these needless centuries he’d been forced to live without her.… He glared his fury at Acheron. “Why didn’t anyone tell me this before?”

  His brother held his hands up in surrender. “I had no idea your Bethany was Bet’anya or that she was in my basement garden of statues. That’s the truth. I was a little distraught and disoriented eleven thousand years ago when my mother took me to Katateros the first time. After I teleported their statues to the basement, I locked the door and never went near that area again.”

  Even so, it took everything Styxx had not to punch Acheron where he stood. Had his brother ever bothered to meet her and speak to Styxx for five heartbeats this could have been resolved centuries ago.

  You stupid bastard.…

  He looked at Set and Ma’at. Why hadn’t they told him?

  “Sugar, every one of us thought she was dead,” Ma’at said gently. “Believe me, had we known she was frozen in Katateros, we’d have freed her for all of our sakes.”

  “Well, we would have tried.” Set sighed. “Probably would have failed. It was the alignment on the twenty-first that made this possible … that and the demon.” He turned his gaze to Simi.

  Simi flashed a happy smile at Styxx that melted him on the spot. How something so lethal and cold could be so adorable and cute defied his best attempts to explain. Yet she succeeded. “I told you wishes can come true, and not just at Disney World. The real world does a good job, too, sometimes.”

  Acheron scowled at Simi’s familiarity with him. “When did you two become friends?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “On your birthdays, akri. Did you know akri-Styxx don’t gots no one to spend his special day with? He all alone on it and so the Simi went to apologize and make him her friend, too, so he won’t be alone on his special days anymore. But he done broke my heart so now he my other akri-baby like Baby Bas and akra-Kat. The Simi has officially adapted him … no … adopted him.” She grinned so wide, her fangs flashed.

  Instead of being angry, Acheron laughed and kissed her cheek. “All right, Styxx. Your show. How do we do this?”

  Styxx glanced around at the gods and demons. “Still the sole human in the room. I don’t know what we’re up against or who we’re fighting. I need more details.”

  Acheron spread his hands out and a schematic of his temple on Katateros appeared on the wall that showed the basement and the statues housed there. As he spoke, the animation illustrated his words. “A dozen gods woke up while Simi was in the basement with Xirena, looking for Bet’anya. Since I was in Vegas with Sin and Katra fighting off Ren’s nightmare, and Tory was with my mother in Kalosis, the two demons were alone to create well-intentioned mischief. As soon as the gods began to stir, Xirena ran to tell Alexion and Danger. The three of them grabbed Simi and escaped here to Savitar to let him know what had happened.”

  “That’s when they called me in Minnesota,” Urian said. “And told me not to come home for a few days as we had ancient interlopers in Katateros who most likely would not host me a Welcome Back party.”

  Acheron sighed. “We’re also flying blind.” He motioned to his wall decoration. “We have that tidbit based on Simi’s recollection. After Simi and crew vacated the premises, Archon and the others have blocked out our sforas. None of us can see where they are or anything inside the main temple.”

  Styxx nodded as he absorbed it all. “Do we know who we’re up against?”

  Acheron glanced to Simi before he answered. “We’re not one hundred percent sure. Because Simi was an infant when they ruled, she’s a little iffy on some of their identities and she was the only one who got a look at them. Best we can figure, it’s…” He again turned to the images on the wall—one of which looked more like Wreck-It Ralph than an actual god … go Simi. “Dikastis, Ilos, Isorro, Asteros, Epithymia, Diafonia, Nyktos, Paidi, Teros, Phanen, Demonbrean, and we know for a fact Archon is with them as he’s the one we’ve been talking to. And of course everyone’s favorite dickhead, Apollo.”

  “Beautiful.” Styxx ground his teeth as old memories churned. “My ideal guest list … for a fête in hell.” The Who’s Who of the gods who had personal grudges against him and who’d gone out of their way to leave a scar on his soul. The Fates were definitely mocking him with this.

  Letting out an exasperated sigh, Styxx went over them for the others so that they’d know who they were fighting. Unlike Simi, he knew the names and faces of every one of them … even Wreck-It Ralph aka Demonbrean. They were forever seared into his memories.

  Styxx used Acheron’s diagram of the gods he’d named to highlight each one. “Apollo’s not a problem. He’s an effing idiot when it comes to things like this. And he’s a bully with no courage who will back down to someone more powerful.” Which sadly wasn’t him. “He won’t be leading a charge, but will stay back until he can land a punch from safety. Unfortunately, Archon isn’t any of that. He’s sharp and deadly. Vindictive as hell. Brutal. But out of the list, Epithymia and Asteros”—he highlighted them—“are the two we have to neutralize immediately. Do not underestimate them, especially Epithymia.”

  He swept his gaze around the room’s occupants. “And do not let that bitch touch you … Demonbrean is even dumber than Apollo, but he’s also the size of an effing house. His skin is armored and he lives to crush things. Treat him like a python and don’t let him get his arms around you. Dikastis will hang back to get the lay of the situation and might not fight us at all. The rest are followers. Lethal, but pawns nonetheless. They were servants for Misos in war, and only did what they were told to do. You take out Archon and they will stand down.… Now what do we know of their demands?”

  Savitar let out a bitter growl. “Because I was their Chthonian, Archon contacted me, not knowing my relationship with the Grom. They want Acheron as a sacrifice so that they can use his blood and heart to bring back the rest of their merry band, except for Bethany. Archon blames her for this, as if he wasn’t the one who caused Acheron to be cursed … what were you telling me about his intelligence?”

  “Steadfast denial is not the same as intelligence.” Styxx rubbed at his eyebrow as he digested the little gold nugget no one had bothered to tell him about when they’d asked him to be Acheron. “Just out of curiosity, what was the game plan you had once you sent me in to die and they discovered my blood and heart couldn’t bring back their dead?”

  Savitar shrugged nonchalantly. “Buy us time to gather enough Chthonians to take them down.”

  ’Cause the Chthonians were such known people pleasers … yeah. Their official motto—Does Not Play Well With Others. Do Not Mix With General Population or People. Period.

  And whatever you do, don’t feed them after midnight or any other time of the day as they would take the hand feeding them and shove it in an uncomfortable place on your body.

  Styxx would be tempted to laugh
if he wasn’t so pissed. “Thank the gods none of you were among my military advisors. We’d have had our asses handed to us,” he mumbled under his breath. Then louder, “Are they at full strength?”

  Acheron shrugged. “No idea.”

  “Let’s assume yes.” Styxx ran over the facts. “So our numbers are basically even. The weakest link in our group is me.… What are our strengths?”

  Simi opened her bag and pulled out her barbecue sauce. “Demons ready to eat, Sir Akri-Styxx! Gimme!”

  Laughing at Simi’s enthusiasm, Acheron jerked his chin toward his other daughter. “I don’t want Katra in harm’s way, but she’s a siphon.”

  That was a good power to have, especially when it was on your side and not theirs.

  “I’m also a trained soldier, Dad.” Kat rolled her eyes at Acheron then looked at her husband, Sin, and warned him with her gaze not to say a word. She turned toward Styxx. “I was my mother’s primary kori, and unlike my seriously overprotective father and husband, she—”

  “Put her ass in harm’s way all the damn time with a blatant disregard for her safety that still pisses me off,” Sin growled.

  Kat smiled and cupped his cheek. “Yes, baby, but had she not been so careless, I wouldn’t have you. Now would I?”

  He grumbled under his breath.

  And like Bethany, Kat was born of the two pantheons they were up against. A definite plus.

  “What else do we have that they won’t know about?”

  Set folded his arms over his chest. “For thousands of years, my son was the High Guardian for Noir in Azmodea.”

  Seth nodded. “I’m used to battling angry gods. I can also get us a bird’s-eye view of anything you need. What I use, they can’t block.”

  “And thanks to Davyn,” Urian said, indicating the friend he’d brought with him out of Kalosis. “We have this.” He held up a necklace that meant nothing to Styxx.

  However, Set’s eyes widened with recognition. “How did you get that?”

  Urian snorted. “My enemy’s enemy is my best damn friend. Davyn borrowed it from my father who was more than happy to lend it and wants us to tie it in a bow around Apollo’s neck.”

  “What is it?” Styxx asked.

  Set laughed, low and evil, and made no moves to touch it. “The Eye of Verlyn. That will deplete the powers of any god it comes into direct contact with.”

  Styxx looked at it with a new respect. “For how long?”

  “As soon as it touches them, they’re wiped. Then it depends on how long it’s on their body and how strong they are. Too long, it’ll kill them.”

  Styxx smiled and inclined his head to them. That was a nice toy. “Does it work on just full-bloods or any other species?”

  Set shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  Before anyone could react, Simi grabbed her sister and put her hand on it.

  “Hey!” Xirena snapped at her sister.

  “You still got power?”

  Xirena shot a blast of fire at her.

  Grinning and ducking, Simi looked at Styxx and let go of Xirena. “It don’t work on us.”

  Urian laughed. “I’m only a quarter demigod, and it doesn’t seem to affect me.”

  “I think I’m the only true demi then.” Seth bravely took it into his hand and waited. After a couple of minutes, he shook his head. “No affect on me, either.”

  “Since my powers are borrowed from Apollymi, I’m not chancing it. We’ll assume I need to stay clear of it. Urian, let’s leave it in your custody.” Styxx hesitated as another thought occurred to him. “Can the stone be broken apart or duplicated?”

  Set shook his head. “Not without destroying it.”

  Styxx frowned at Acheron who was an unknown in all of this. “Would the stone just suck out your god powers and leave the rest intact?”

  “That’s what usually happens. Why? You thinking of giving me an early Christmas present?”

  “Don’t distract or tempt me.” Styxx ran over the rest of their arsenal and the layout of Acheron’s temple. They’d definitely use Seth to get a peek of what they were going into.

  But first …

  “My most important question of all … Where’s my Bethany?”

  * * *

  As Styxx reached for the doorknob, Katra placed her hand on his arm. “I know this is the first time we’ve met, Styxx, but I’d rather you not go in there alone. Someone should be with you.”

  The compassionate concern in her green eyes shocked him. “How are you Artemis’s daughter?”

  Kat smiled. “She’s not as bad as you think.… Apollo, however, is probably worse.”

  Simi stood on his other side and leaned in to whisper in his ear. “We’ll be super quiet. Akri-Styxx won’t even know we’re there.”

  Urian put his hand on Styxx’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. What happens happens and we won’t think anything about it. We’ll just be here for you if you need us.”

  Their kindness overwhelmed him. He wasn’t used to anyone being concerned about him. Not since Bethany and Galen. “Thank you.”

  Taking a deep breath to steady his dizzying emotions, Styxx opened the bedroom door. The floor-to-ceiling windows were open, letting in the soft ocean breeze. But it was the huge canopied bed in the center of the room that held his attention. White linen drapes were pulled back with gold cords, obscuring most of the bed’s contents.

  All he could see was a bump beneath the stark white covers.

  Right before the Atlanteans had attacked on Katateros, Simi had carried Bethany’s body out and brought her here for safekeeping until they found some way to wake her.

  He wasn’t sure what he expected, but every step that took him closer to her made his heart pound harder.

  And as soon as he saw Bethany’s peaceful face, he froze as his entire body locked up with so many emotions, he couldn’t even begin to define them. She looked just as she had the last time he’d seen her.…

  Flawless.

  Except her stomach was flat. His hand trembling, he pulled the covers back and saw the blood that was still on her gown from where Apollymi had assaulted her. Throwing his head back, he roared in anger and pain at the sight of what the bitch had done to his heart. Unable to stand the guilt of not being there to protect her, he gathered her body into his arms so that he could finally hold her again.

  She was ice-cold.

  “Beth?” he breathed against her cheek as he cradled her head to his shoulder like he’d done all those centuries ago when it’d only been the two of them. “Please come back to me. Please. I need you so.…”

  But she didn’t move or breathe. She merely lay in his arms in silence.

  Tears fell down his cheeks as his heart shattered all over again. It was just like losing her the first time. He felt so lost and alone. Useless.

  Broken.

  Why were those other assholes up and around and not her? Why? It didn’t make sense.

  And it wasn’t right.

  He felt a large hand on his shoulder. Expecting Urian, he was stunned to find Acheron with him as the others quietly gave them the room. And the sight of his brother there hit him like a hot poker on his skin. He wanted the bastard’s blood for this.

  Gently, he laid Bethany back on the bed.

  With a furious bellow, he turned on Acheron with a wide punch. Acheron blocked it and yanked him into his arms. Styxx tried to fight, but Acheron held him close against him in an iron grip.

  “It’s all right, Styxx. I know it hurts.”

  But Acheron didn’t know. His children were all alive and well. Tory was healthy.…

  No one was going to kill her baby and leave her frozen and alone like this for centuries.

  Yet something inside him splintered as he felt Acheron finally embracing him. Styxx didn’t see them as men. He saw them as desperate, hated children who only had each other.

  And it burned him to the core of his soul that Acheron would dare to embrace him now after all this time.

  “
I fucking hate you,” he growled in Acheron’s ear.

  “I know, brother … I know.” And still Acheron held him the way he used to when it was just the two of them against the world that begrudged them their very lives. When the only affection they could count on was a brother’s love and respect. “I wish more than anything that I could take it all back. Everything,” Acheron breathed. “That I’d listened to and followed the advice I gave to others. I hurt you and I abandoned you and it was wrong. I was wrong and I am so incredibly sorry.”

  Styxx wanted to rip him apart. He did. Deep inside, he needed to feel Acheron’s blood on his hands.

  And yet …

  That piece of his heart that had only wanted his brother back savored this moment. Long before Bethany, this was what he’d craved. This was what he’d sought when he’d gone to Atlantis, sick, scared, and alone to free Acheron.

  In spite of everything and everyone, even them and their own stupidity, he still loved his brother.

  “Why can’t I just hate you?”

  Acheron’s arms tightened around him. “Because you’re a better man than I am. You always were.”

  But that wasn’t true and Styxx knew it. He would never have been able to do for the Dark-Hunters what Acheron had done. While his brother had been a complete douche to him, Acheron had been the saving grace and sole champion for countless others. And he’d done it with a dignity and kindness that Styxx knew were hard-won given their brutal pasts.

  They were both branded whores who’d been used, betrayed, and thrown away like garbage.…

  His brother had risen above it and built a life in spite of all the people who’d tried to destroy him. And Acheron still stood strong.

  Acheron pulled back and placed his forehead to Styxx’s just as he used to do when they were children. He gently fisted his hand in the hair at the nape of Styxx’s neck and stared into his eyes. “I will never turn my back on you again, brother. I—”

  Styxx covered his mouth with his hand, cutting off his words. “Don’t make a promise you might not keep.” It would kill him if he did. He wiped at the tears on Acheron’s face. “Gah, we look like two old women.” Styxx balled his fists in Acheron’s hair, that no longer fell down his back. Rather, it hung now to just past his jaw. “But at least you finally got a decent haircut.”