Kala shrugged. She’d have to kill the poor bastard. Kala loved animals, even ten-foot supernatural ones, but if it meant Talan getting hurt or worse, the dog would have to go.
Spot took a running leap straight at Talan, but Talan threw his hands out and water flowed out of his fingers this time. As it touched the dog’s body, it turned to ice. In less than a second, Spot had turned into a Popsicle.
“Well, that was disappointing,” Asmodeus observed.
Spot shook loose of the ice.
And now he was pissed.
Kala ran full force at the dog and knocked him right into Asmodeus’s smug face. It felt pretty good to hear both Asmodeus and the dog yelp from the impact.
Talan took advantage of the moment and sent another wave of fire toward Spot. This time there were large flames designed to burn. The fire engulfed Spot and turned him into a fiery ball of teeth and fur.
The dog quickly rid himself of the burning blaze with a full body shake.
Spot had had enough.
Before Talan or Kala could retaliate, Spot’s gigantic head snapped forward and swallowed Talan whole.
As in: no more Talan.
Legs and all.
Kala was too dazed to register what had happened.
One minute they were fighting the Titan’s guard dog, the next moment Talan was kibble.
Kala was about to break off a piece of purple rock and slice Spot’s stomach open when she felt Asmodeus’s hand on her shoulder.
Oh crap! Kala thought to herself as her surroundings blurred from Asmodeus teleporting her away.
Chapter Ten
Apparently, teleporting in Hell was the same as teleporting on earth. It took a few moments for Kala to adjust her eyes, but when she did, she smacked Asmodeus in the chest.
“Take me back!” Kala yelled at the Demon.
Asmodeus looked at her as if she were a child who didn’t understand something. “Relax. Your boyfriend will be fine.”
“He’s not my boyfriend! And I don’t believe you. Take me back now or I swear to God…” Kala started in anger.
But Asmodeus cut her off. “You’ll what? Punch me with your Titan strength?” He grabbed Kala’s hand and kissed it before she could react. “I’d much rather you use that strength for something more fun.”
That was it.
Kala punched Asmodeus with as much force as she could. His whole body flew across the room, but before he made impact he used his Demon powers to stop himself and land on his feet. He massaged his jaw with a smile. “Look around you. Familiar?”
Kala did as he asked out of military habit, more than any command from Asmodeus.
Memories from Atlas flooded back to her as she recognized where she stood. It was a chamber made of what looked like shredded steel on the walls and ceiling. The ground was some kind of rusted metal. The combination of old and new only emphasized the contrast between the two metals. There was a single closed door at the end of the rectangular-shaped room and Kala knew where it led:
Zeus’s prison.
Her Atlas memory remembered vividly. She knew that when she opened the door, Zeus would be chained inside a cell lined with the same shredded steel that surrounded her out here.
Kala threw up her hands. “Fine. You’re a Demon of your word. I’m here. Now take me back.”
Asmodeus casually walked over to Kala and put his hand out. “See for yourself.” A holographic image hovered above his hand. It was like watching security footage, supernatural-style. Talan was in the cavern they had just left, covered in Spot guts. What was left of the beast coated most of the purple rock. It looked as if there had been a hurricane made of dog entrails and Talan stood in the aftermath.
“How do I know this isn’t fake?” Kala asked suspiciously.
“Because you know. Am I wrong?” Asmodeus moved his hand and the image disappeared.
Though Kala couldn’t explain why, she did know. It gave her a sense of relief, but also made her furious. “Bring him here right now!” she threatened.
“Now why would I do that?” Asmodeus replied as if Kala wasn’t in her right mind. “The only reason I was not put in chains the second Talan freed me is because I turned him in. Turn in a Grigori and apparently all is forgiven.” Asmodeus was pleased with himself again.
“Is he with the Titans now?” Kala was incredulous. “We have to save him!”
“Talan won’t stay long enough for them to capture him. He’s probably teleporting back to earth as we speak.” Asmodeus reached toward Kala’s head in what she could only assume was to touch her face or hair in some way. She smacked his hand away.
“Just keep your distance.” Kala couldn’t really argue with Asmodeus’s logic. Talan wouldn’t stay. He couldn’t travel without causing more alarm anyway.
Then a horrible thought struck her. Talan was convinced that the two of them were soul mates. Kala knew he would throw caution to the wind and fight his way to her.
She had to get a message to him somehow. Tell him she was okay. That he should leave the 5th.
This would be a good time to find out that Atlas has some kind of telepathy power. Anything? Kala sighed inwardly. She knew Turner’s wife Roberta had powers like that. The woman had entered Kala’s brain to help her fuse Atlas’s essence with hers. Without Roberta, Kala would have died.
Kala? Roberta’s voice sounded in Kala’s head.
Kala stood very still. Was she crazy? Or did she just hear Roberta in her brain?
Asmodeus was apparently growing impatient. “Look, we’ll talk to Zeus, then I’ll take you back to earth…”
Kala put her hand up sharply. “Shut it. I’m listening.”
Asmodeus looked around the room confused but, to Kala’s relief, did as he was told.
Kala tried talking to herself, hoping she wasn’t imagining Roberta. I’m here. I need your help.
What do you need? Roberta answered fast.
Whoa. Kala thought. Is this real?
You and I have a connection now. Anytime you open your mind to me, I can enter and you can do the same to me. Roberta’s voice sounded as clearly as if they were in the same room.
Kala wasn’t sure if she liked this new development, but she didn’t want to lose Talan to the Titans. The old Voodoo guy that teaches you magic, he’s really that angel I brought with me when I became Atlas. Talan probably wouldn’t appreciate her telling Roberta about his disguise, but Kala wanted him safe, so she rolled the dice.
Interesting. Roberta sounded intrigued. He needs help?
Yes. How do you normally contact him? Kala asked.
The same way we’re communicating now. Remember what I told you the night I taught you the telekinesis spell? About contacting you?
Kala thought back to that night, when she had asked Roberta how to reach her in the future, Roberta had replied I have my ways. Kala figured it was a pretty good guess that this was the way.
That’s how you were going to find me? Kala had wondered how Roberta would track her down.
Helping you assimilate with Atlas made that a lot easier. Roberta confirmed. Now, what can I do for Pierre?
Contact him. Tell him you know he’s Talan, and that I’m okay. He needs to leave the 5th, Roberta. He’ll die or be imprisoned if he doesn’t. Just make sure he knows I’m fine and that I have Asmodeus in check. Can you do that?
Of course. Roberta responded. I’ll do it now.
Before Kala could answer back, she physically felt Roberta’s essence leave her mind. It was light, like a small breeze.
“What was that about?” Asmodeus asked.
Kala didn’t want to tell him. “Sometimes when I have memories from Atlas’s past, I zone out a bit.” It wasn’t a lie. She did zone out when she experienced Atlas’s recollections.
Now that Roberta was hopefully making sure Talan was safe and not playing hero, Kala decided to actually figure out what Atlas could recall about this place. Separating Atlas’s memory from the present moment was a little bit more d
ifficult for her after the mind-melding experience with Roberta. Regardless, she tried to focus on what Atlas remembered.
Atlas had come here to make Zeus fulfill his promise after the Titans captured all the Olympians. Atlas still couldn’t believe the war was over, not after picking the wrong side for a second time. If he could just talk to Zeus, Zeus could free him of his curse. It wasn’t fair that Atlas helped the Olympians and was still being punished. Helping Zeus should be enough to make him break the curse. It wasn’t Atlas’s fault that the Olympians had lost.
Kala really hated the way Atlas thought. It was such a weasel thing to think. But Atlas was a part of her now and she had to accept it. It was hard enough dealing with her own regret, now she had to deal with Atlas’s too?!
The memory became more vivid when Atlas opened the door to see Zeus chained to the shredded steel wall. The Olympian looked weak, skinny, and pale. Not at all what a powerful god should look like. He barely glanced at Atlas.
“I’m here to help you escape,” Atlas lied. He figured if Zeus thought he was going to free him, he might be more likely to break the curse.
Zeus may have appeared weak, but when he spoke, his words were pure power. “You betrayed us!” Zeus accused.
Atlas had not been prepared for that. “I did not! I did everything you asked! How was I to know that Cronus was two steps ahead of you? It’s not my fault your father is manipulative and evil!” Atlas felt his chances of Zeus helping him slip away.
Zeus growled, “You were always loyal to my father! I deserve this punishment for being so foolish as to trust you!”
Atlas panicked. “I swear to you, Zeus, I did nothing! Now break this curse! I did everything you asked!”
Zeus laughed. “You are despicable, Atlas. Groveling to me when it’s your fault I stand here chained for all eternity. I’ll never lift that curse. Never!”
The force of Zeus’s words jolted Kala out of the memory.
When she blinked her eyes to re-focus on the present, she was suddenly face to face with Asmodeus, his hands cradling her waist as he stared down at her.
Kala pushed him away. “Seriously? You need to find some nice Demon queen to settle down with, because we’re never going to happen.”
“When you’ve lived as long as I have, never say never.” Asmodeus smiled.
That brought Kala back to Zeus’s threat of keeping Atlas cursed forever. “I actually hope you’re right about that.” Seeing Asmodeus’s eyebrows rise in sudden hope, Kala quashed it. “About never saying never, not about hooking up.”
Asmodeus seemed pleased by this anyway. “What’s the difference?”
Kala didn’t want to argue semantics with the guy, so she plowed toward the door.
Once she reached it, Kala wondered if it was locked. If this place was a super prison, shouldn’t it be much harder to get to the prisoners? She paused in front of the entrance, not wanting to rush into any potential traps or surprises.
Asmodeus stepped next to her, a little close for her taste, but she was too on guard to do anything about it. “You know it’s unlocked, right?” Asmodeus peered down at Kala obviously curious as to why she had paused. “Or are we having another flashback?”
Before Asmodeus could wrap his hand around her waist in hopes she was in spaced-out-memory-lane mode, Kala smacked his hand away. “Why aren’t there any guards? What’s stopping Zeus from escaping?”
Asmodeus laughed out loud. “Because he’s in the same chains I was just in. Only Titans and Grigori can break them. And you saw for yourself: Grigori can’t get into the 5th without the help of a Titan.”
“But they can transport your ass here.” Kala pretty much verbally bitch-slapped Asmodeus. Her foster father, Owen, had banished the king of Demons to the 5th like it was child’s play.
Asmodeus lost his smile and shrugged. “True. But look how stupid your boyfriend was to free me.”
“Stop calling him my boyfriend,” Kala responded, not knowing why she always rose to the bait with the Demon. “Come on, let’s see what Zeus has to say for himself.”
Kala breathed in deep and opened the door.
The cell was as Atlas had remembered it. Except for one thing.
Zeus was no longer there.
Chapter Eleven
“Well, that’s a surprise,” Asmodeus observed. “The Elders are not going to like that.”
Kala was in shock for all of two seconds then her emotions turned to anger. “Do you think they moved him? Maybe when they realized I was here they took him somewhere else?” Breaking her curse was starting to feel like it was getting farther and farther out of reach.
“Anything is possible, but why move him after 2,000 years? Just because a half-breed – no offense – comes to interrogate Zeus is hardly cause for panic. Really? What could you possibly do?” Asmodeus mused.
“Thanks,” Kala retorted sarcastically. Nothing like the Demon King to make her feel completely inadequate. It was a new sensation for her not to be respected as a soldier. She was used to being the elite of the elite, and to be thrown into a world where she was lower than the bottom of the totem pole was very humbling. “If not the Titans then did he escape on his own?”
Asmodeus shook his head. “I told you: only a Titan or Grigori could break that chain.”
Kala had a sinking sensation in her stomach. I just did something that could get me killed, but it won’t be worth a thing if you don’t help me. Rotoph’s words echoed in Kala’s head. She was starting to imagine that Rotoph’s something had been freeing Zeus. But she wanted to see what Asmodeus would say about her suspicions first. “You don’t think a Grigori…”
“How? The Elder alarms would go off if they got anywhere near his cell. No. You were right the first time. They must have moved him. Maybe they’re more scared of you than I thought.”
“What about Rotoph? Doesn’t he work for the Titans? He could have done it.” The more Kala thought about it, the more she knew that Rotoph showing up yesterday morning was more than just a Grigori reunion. He had probably released Zeus and ran to the only person he thought would give him the time of day: Talan.
“How do you know about Rotoph? Never mind. Don’t tell me. Listen, sweetie,” Asmodeus said seriously, “Rotoph is not someone you can trust. He’s dangerous.”
“Ha! This coming from you?” Kala guffawed. But Asmodeus’s concern made her pause. “I stabbed him a couple of times.” Kala felt like defending herself.
“Really?” Asmodeus raised his eyebrow, impressed. Then his face turned ashen. “Stabbed him with what?”
Kala pulled out the Grigori blade.
Asmodeus’s eyes widened. “Where did you get that?”
“I stole it from Rotoph.” Kala was careful as to what she wanted to reveal to Asmodeus. She knew there were certain things she could trust the Demon with, but knowledge of Rotoph’s plan to free the Grigori wasn’t one of them. If Rotoph had helped Zeus escape, then Kala recognized that he had been sincere in his plea for Talan’s help. He really did want to free the other Grigori.
And Kala had left him vulnerable. Oops.
By the way he looked at Kala, Asmodeus was definitely impressed. “You are just full of surprises.” He eyed the knife again. “You know that drains your powers, right?”
Kala shrugged. “So far I’ve used it three times and I haven’t noticed anything. Maybe I need to use it excessively to trigger the power-sucking rune,” Kala voiced her theory.
“Maybe.” Asmodeus looked thoughtfully at Kala. “Or maybe the fact that you’re a walking anomaly gives you a certain amount of protection.”
Kala had never thought of that possibility. The fact that she was a human who had consumed a god apparently never happened before. Asmodeus might be right. Maybe her differences would protect her from things that would normally hurt a god. Only time would tell, but Kala decided to rest on the cautious side for now. “I don’t plan on hacking up any Grigori in the near future, so we’ll never find out if this knife drain
s me, will we?”
Asmodeus smirked as if hiding something.
“What was that look?” Kala didn’t like a smirking Asmodeus.
“Nothing. Good on you. No more stabbing Grigori.” Asmodeus led Kala out of the cell and back into the adjoining room. “We should get you back to earth.”
“Oh no, stop right there.” Now Kala was certain that Asmodeus was keeping something from her. “Spill.”
“Just tuck that away, and let’s get out of here.” Asmodeus eyed the knife with disdain.
Kala peered down at the blade. Kala couldn’t figure out if Asmodeus didn’t like her talking about not killing Grigori or the knife itself. But he was definitely acting squirmy. “If you don’t tell me what you’re hiding, I’ll have to stab you with this myself.”
“Is this what our relationship has turned into? Stabbing me if I don’t share my most intimate secrets?” Asmodeus smiled mockingly.
But Kala noticed he kept his distance.
It was all she needed.
“Ha!” Kala laughed. “I can read you so easily. This blade hurts anything supernatural, doesn’t it?”
Asmodeus didn’t look upset by Kala’s revelation. If anything, the hearts in his eyes appeared to grow even larger. “You can read me, can’t you?” Asmodeus obviously felt it was worth the risk of a good stabbing because he reached out and pulled Kala to him.
Kala debated whether or not to gut the Demon to escape his grasp, but his hands were loose enough around the small of her back that she could free herself easily. And letting Asmodeus feel like he was getting closer to her only made him reveal more information. There was another teeny part of her that was trying to ignore the tiny thrill that went through her at his touch. Something she wished she could squash from her brain entirely. “Tell me about the blade,” Kala said with as much seduction as she could muster.
It worked.
Asmodeus wore the same expression of every other guy Kala had ever lured into her bed when she wanted a one-night stand. Until she met Jack, Kala only believed in one-night-only deals. They were easy, no emotions, and it got the job done. And no one could deny the thrill of the chase.
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