by LJ Vickery
Marduk’s agitation built.
“One day, early in the spring season, as buds were bursting on the trees, we walked in my courtyard gardens amongst the shoots of new life, and she gave me the news that she was pregnant. As far as I was concerned, that was it. Now I would marry her. Despite what my court members had to say, they would accept her!”
He bowed his head. “How young I was to believe that. As soon as I announced the happy news, plots swirled madly behind my back. One night, as Zarpa walked down the hallway to my room, she was grabbed from behind and brutally stabbed.
“She barely made it to my bedside, where I held her and watched her bleed to death in my arms. The stories say I went mad and killed scores of people that night and over the ensuing months. That’s not the truth. In reality, I simply left. I abandoned them all, good and bad in the city, and never looked back. I brought Zarpa’s body to a cave outside of the city, buried her there, and stayed watching over her for a period where time had no meaning. It could have been days, months, even years. All I know is that when I finally emerged, I was swept to the Underworld and faced judgment for abandoning Babylon to famine and pestilence,” he explained.
“While I had been mourning, a drought, brought on by my absence, took the city in a choke-hold. A famine then consumed the population, which, in turn, caused greed, hatred, and chaos. Total decimation of the population followed.”
Tess was struck dumb. What could she say? That she understood? Marduk was not the killer that Dagon painted him to be. He had been an immortal in love who had unknowingly forsaken his people during a period of immense grief.
Tess pulled herself close to his great body and stroked his head as he shook off the memories of his painful past.
“You couldn’t have saved her,” Tess murmured. “And the anarchy in Babylon was not your fault.” Of that she was sure, and wondered why he was punished in the Underworld.
She drew in a sharp breath as remnants of Marduk’s horrible visions, once he’d been sent to hell, suddenly assailed her, visions that she knew well!
“What is it?” Tess’s distress brought Marduk swiftly back to the present.
“Tess.” Marduk shook her slightly as if to clear her head. “What’s happening?”
Tears streamed down her face, and she clutched at him, making sure he was real. “My dreams and Holly’s,” she anguished. “They were because of you!”
Dread filled the core of Marduk’s stomach. “What are you talking about, Tess. What did I do?” He was afraid to hear the answer. He felt the tremors in Tess’s body.
“When Holly and I were young, we were haunted by nightmares of the evilest kind. When we realized that we shared the same dreams…well, that’s when we started self-medicating.” Marduk knew she meant alcohol.
“Our dreams were always horrifying. Sometimes there would be giant, green scaly demons, dripping slime from huge fangs, chasing us. Other times there would be fire all around that would consume our flesh and burn us until we screamed. Holly and I thought we were the ones suffering the torment.” Tess turned tear-filled eyes to Marduk.
“It was you, wasn’t it?” Tess didn’t wait for him to answer. She must have seen the horror-stricken look in his eyes. “Because of some connection that we have, I…we witnessed hell…through your eyes!” A different kind of dread suffused her as she continued.
“You were torn apart by beasts, again and again! You were burned in a conflagration…how many times…and still you’re here. I don’t understand. How could you have survived that?”
Marduk ran a soothing hand up and down Tess’s back. Every piece of his heart ached that she had experienced any part of his torment, she and her innocent sister. He was incredulous, but he knew what it meant. Only his Chosen would have been privy to his torture in hell. It would be asking too much to hope she could understand her fate now. What she needed to hear, at this moment was that she and Holly had not been crazy.
“It was my punishment.” Marduk grimly faced his past again. “My punishment for turning my back on the precious lives that had been placed in my hands. It was no less than I deserved, and every time I was eviscerated or burned to near extinction, it felt like atonement.” He squeezed Tess tighter, his remorse overwhelming. “I’m just so, so sorry that you had to see it.”
“Why aren’t you dead?” Tess asked in a small voice.
“There are only a couple of ways to kill a god, and the punishments you saw being delivered would not deal a death blow. Needless to say, it was painful, but it wasn’t constant. In between trials of blood and fire, I formed a lasting bond with my brothers, who had to undergo the same tortures. We had free time. We were sometimes given weapons and were allowed to battle the creatures below that our jailers—Ereshkigal and Nergal—thought were getting out of hand. We got to know our captors and, well, sort of respected them.” Nergal would never be his favorite, but Ereshkigal…well, that was another story. When Tess still didn’t look reassured, he added, “I learned to play a mean game of poker.”
A dimple showed in Tess’s cheek. “Poker wasn’t played until the 1800s.” She poked his chest.
“Not by humans, it wasn’t,” Marduk replied smugly.
That produced the spontaneous smile he was looking for. But he wanted another. “So now that I’ve spilled my guts…”
“Marduk!” Tess could hardly believe he was joking about his demon overhauls.
He looked at her with a grin, then gave her a nod of encouragement.
It was time.
“Fine, but my story has no death…and only incidental incineration…” She took her time, wondering how to start. She bit the inside of her cheek and began with her siblings.
“You see, of course, how strong Huxley is.”
Marduk nodded.
“Well, late in his adolescence, he watched his two sisters really screw things up over what everyone assumed were bad dreams brought on by the death of our mother. Hux knew what we were doing to forget, drinking ourselves blind.” Tess squirmed, remembering how mean they’d been to Hux. “Apparently, he got the ‘gods win in battle’ visions, and we got the ‘gonna be eaten and barbecued’ versions.
“Unfortunately…or fortunately, Huxley got older, stronger, and had finally seen enough. He told us to clean up or get out.” Tess absently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Holly chose to run, and Hux thought I might go too, so he let me slide for a time.”
Considering it had happened so long ago, Tess couldn’t believe how difficult it was to reveal her weakness. “I had lost my drinking buddy, so I started hitting the local bar. That’s where I got caught up with a wild group.” Tess forced herself to go on. “I have no excuse. Gage was their leader, and he decided to take me under his wing.” Tess shivered at the strength of the memories.
“One morning after a particularly rowdy party, I woke up in his bed.” She swallowed convulsively. “I vaguely remembered what had happened, and…the way my body hurt…”
Marduk interrupted gruffly, before she could continue. “You were a virgin?”
“Yes. Before that, but not any longer.” Tess face burned with shame, but continued. “After that night, nobody in the group would interfere with Gage’s possession. I don’t know how it happened or why I didn’t run, but I became his plaything.” Tess wished she had it to do all over again, the pain and humiliation had been so much to bear, and she had been so weak. “I did what he wanted, when he wanted, and suffered badly if I didn’t.” Tess refused to meet Marduk’s eyes.
“The scars?” Marduk skimmed his hand toward the side of her breast.
This was the hard part. “If I complained or made a sound when things…hurt, the cuts were my punishment.” Tess felt so embarrassed, could not believe she had allowed someone to treat her like trash. But it was important for both of them that she finish this. “So I learned to keep quiet, no matter where his depravity went. But that pissed him off even more.” Slow tears leaked from her eyes and Marduk brushed them tend
erly away.
“I hid all this from my family. If Hux had known, he would have killed Gage, and I didn’t want that on my conscience.” She took a deep breath and shuddered to continue. “One night, things spun completely out of control. Gage flew into a rage and did things…bad things that hurt…” God, it was tough reliving this!
She sent him a mental picture instead, just like he’d done with the things he hadn’t been able to verbalize. She spared nothing and watched his face darken and his nostrils flare.
“He must have realized he’d gone too far because he dumped my unconscious and bleeding body on our front lawn. Luckily my dad didn’t find me. Hux picked me up and drove me to the hospital a couple towns away so no one would recognize us.” Tess could finally breathe after disclosing the worst from her past.
“And the rest, you know. I cleaned up my act, went to meetings, and here I am, leading a perfectly normal life in bed with a god after being kidnapped by a rogue immortal lunatic.” Attempting to inject some levity, she hiccupped back her tears.
“First, I want you to know that I will kill him.” Tess had no doubt as to who Marduk meant, and wondered if she’d have the strength, or even want to stop him, if it came down to it. “Second, I’m overwhelmed at the adversity you’ve had to face,” Marduk responded softly.
“Me?” Tess tapped him on the chest. “You’re the one who was exiled from Earth, only to be the lunch menu for scaly guys over thousands of years. How could you possibly think that I did anything extraordinary?”
“Because you’re human, Tess. Gods are used to taking a lot of crap. You, on the other hand, should have been married years ago, with little ones trailing after you, doing nothing more dangerous than going to the grocery store.” But I’m glad you didn’t.
Tess caught the thought and nuzzled deeper into his chest. She felt smug.
“You better learn how to hide your thoughts better, big boy, or I’m going to have you wrapped around my little finger.”
Once again he broadcast his feelings loud and clear. One can only hope.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Shamash hadn’t found much at the adoption agency. He had hastened back to town when Marduk’s frantic call had gone out. The information he’d gleaned was the last thing on anyone’s mind as they looked for Tess.
Besides, it would require a lot more research to discover the family’s roots. So when the latest crisis had arisen—the need to unearth the key—Shamash volunteered to head back to Quincy to use a GPS and locate the burial site.
Hux and Enlil would make the trip back to Quincy on their bikes, but Shamash, Ninurta, (the earth opener), and Enten (Mr. Freeze) would travel the fast way and lay the groundwork for the excavation.
The corporeal pair made the trip at breakneck speed and, as they maneuvered the dirt road into the Blue Hills, Hux was blown away when he got his first look at the compound. “You guys live like…gods!” was the brilliant comment that he dropped on Enlil. The place was huge and could only be described as a palace. It was certainly nothing like the McMansion Hux had envisioned. More like the Taj Mahal.
When he entered the garages, he almost forgot his mission in Quincy. “What? You’ve got to be kidding me!” Without even looking hard, he spotted three antique bikes he’d coveted his entire adult life. Hux stepped off his ride and pointed his feet across the garage.
“Later, dude,” Enlil said, not unsympathetically. He collared Hux to drag him from the machinery. “We have work to do.”
Reluctantly, Huxley walked away, taking short looks over his shoulder as he attempted not to trip over his feet. He was brought to an elevator, which led them up to a light-strewn atrium hallway, then hustled into what could only be termed “command central.”
Computers, monitors, closed-circuit equipment—you name it, it was crammed into wall space.
“We have a problem,” Shamash spoke as soon as Enlil and Hux entered the room, ignoring the two gods hovering nearby who had remained at home. Absu was not to be denied.
Who is this scoundrel, pray tell? Absu gave a disgusted look at the human who’d been allowed to enter their abode.
“I’m Huxley, Tess’s brother.” The god-seeing mortal stuck his hand out toward Absu, not commenting on the old-timey speech. “And you two are…”
Absu and Emesh, the brothers who hadn’t met Huxley, were momentarily struck dumb. Shamash tried to hold a straight face, but finally gave in to some strangled snorts.
“We are corporeal to you?” Absu sounded incredulous and not in the least bit pleased. He reluctantly shook Hux’s hand. “My name is Absu, and the fellow at my side is Emesh.” He looked down where their hands were clasped. “I feel your flesh!”
“Oh my gods! I want a hug,” Emesh emoted.
He didn’t wait for an invitation. The dark-skinned, bald giant swept Huxley up into a rib-crunching clinch, and Huxley started turning blue before Enten made him stop.
“You’ll have to forgive my twin,” Enten said, less coldly than usual, disentangling his brother from the human. “He tends to get carried away and, like the rest of us, he’s been tactile-y challenged for centuries.”
“You guys are twins?” Huxley choked while regaining his breath. He gave Emesh an enthusiastic grin. “Best greeting I’ve ever had in my life, except maybe from Archie…that’s my dog.” He slapped Emesh on the back, and the two looked to be instant friends.
“Hate to break up the love-fest, but what’s the problem, Shamash?” Enlil got down to business.
The computer-loving immortal pulled a map up on the screen and zeroed in on a portion of the city that the gods knew well. He had a residence tagged with a red pin.
“That’s where the key is buried.”
“Shit,” they all said in unison.
“I’ve looked up the address, and the house belongs to Irving and Linda Schapiro.”
“You have got to be kidding me!” Ninurta was not pleased. “How am I supposed to open the earth under someone’s house?”
Enlil took charge. “We have to get the key. Put your scruples aside. I think that Linda and Irving are about to become our new best friends.” He began barking orders. “Emesh, go acquire a bunch of Chinese takeout. Hux and I will take Furnace Brook on the bikes and meet you in front of their house in fifteen minutes. Ninurta, Enten, I’ll need you guys there as well.”
Ninurta, Enten, and Emesh misted from the room. Enlil and Huxley took the elevator back to the basement garage and grabbed some bikes. It was late in the day when they finally reached their destination, and Huxley wondered how the Schapiros were going to feel about company.
“You’re sure this is it?” Ninurta wondered aloud as they all stood in the street. They were waiting for Emesh, who had not yet shown up with the food.
“Yup, and this is the right number,” Enlil confirmed. They looked up at the moss green arts-and-crafts style home, clearly the pride and joy of Irving and Linda who maintained it impeccably. Emesh appeared holding a large bag.
“Sorry it took me so long.” He placed the bag in Huxley’s hands, and “unacquired” it.
“Okay guys,” Enlil said to the remaining group. “Time to do this. Hux,” he said, turning to the only human, “leave this to me.”
“It’s all yours.” Huxley looked uncertain as to how this was going to be accomplished.
Enlil knocked on the door. No answer. Maybe the couple wasn’t home and it was going to be easier than they’d thought. He knocked again and, from deep within the structure, he heard grumbling.
“I’m coming, I’m coming. Hold your horses. It must be someone young, Linda.” They heard a man complain. “Only the young are so impatient.”
Irving opened the door and looked up…and up…into the faces of Huxley, and then Enlil.
“Cool braids, man.” He raised an eyebrow, clearly not intimidated, and smiled. “What can I do for you?”
Huxley marveled at the man’s aplomb. He was easily eighty years old, and held himself with irrefutab
le confidence. The sparkle in his eye was evident, too. He obviously couldn’t wait to find out why they were on his doorstep.
“You know us,” Enlil looked deep into Irving’s eyes. “We’re your great nephews from California. We brought Chinese, just like we said.”
Irving nodded, thoroughly pleased. “Linda, the boys are here,” he called loudly back into the house. “Have you got the table set?”
Huxley looked nonplussed. He’d never seen the compelling thing before. Damn! You have to teach me how to do that! Enlil smirked.
Linda walked to the door and stood behind Irving. “Who?”
“You know,” Irving repeated. “Our great nephews from the West Coast.” He sounded a little impatient at being questioned.
A crease appeared between Linda’s brows. “Do I know you?”
“Absolutely,” beamed Enlil, staring and completing mind-compliance number two. “We haven’t seen you in a couple of years, but surely you remember us?”
Linda’s face lit up, and the couple backed out of the doorway. “I just didn’t recognize you right away. It’s so good to see you. Come on in!”
Linda led them through a charming living room, where Emesh sat, already ensconced in an easy chair. The furnishings were authentic Stickley, and Emesh was clearly enraptured! I want to adopt them as grandparents! His enthusiasm was effervescent.
Enlil shot back, in his head. They can’t even see you. Now settle down while Hux and I chat them up and eat. Head for the basement and help the guys do their thing.
Emesh dissolved with a pout. Ninurta and Enten followed. Linda continued to lead Hux and Enlil through to the back of the house where a well-loved mission oak table nestled between two upholstered benches in a dining room with built-in china cabinets done in the Eastlake style.
“Linda! You haven’t set the table.” Irving raised both hands. “I’m sorry, boys. We thought you were coming a little later and were listening to NPR. I’ll turn the radio off,” he indicated to Linda, “and you put out the dishes.” As he left the room, he called back. “I’ll want to know everything that’s been going on with the family.”