“What the fuck is that?” Sal barked, suddenly alert and suspicious.
“It was in his pocket with the mints. It’s his favorite necklace and he said he wants it on when he dies,” Candy said in explanation, shrugging in an airhead kind of way. Given time, Sal wouldn’t buy it, but she didn’t give him time to think.
She bent over, shooting Sal and his boys a magnificent shot of her bare ass to distract them, then reached into her boot.
Candy stood and spun―naked and poised―facing Sal with her knife raised.
****
The humans stood stunned, but Enlil remained equally as confused. She’d snapped the collar on him, but hadn’t given him the order to rid him of seasickness. Instead, she’d placed herself in front of him―as a fucking shield―to protect his ass. With hers.
Enlil was pissed. Wait. Make that proud. Heat flared up into his face. No woman had ever done anything like that for him before. Risked her life for him, a god. And Candy was a mortal. Not one female of his acquaintance had ever cared beyond what he’d been capable of giving them in money and in power. But here stood Candy, the crazy human, stark naked with her wild, spiked hair whipping around her head, waving her knife to take on all comers.
His chest expanded. She looked mind-blowingly fearsome, like a fucking superhero in those sexy, leather, thigh-high boots…and nothing else. Enlil’s cock twitched.
“Sweetheart,” he implored in a low voice. “I can handle this. Please tell me not to be seasick.” He didn’t want to panic. But she needed to see reason. One knife against a bunch of guns wouldn’t cut it.
“I can hold them off, just get yourself loose.” The collar lay in place and Candy had commanded it, therefore Enlil had no choice. He ripped easily through the stout sea worthy ropes as if they were paper. But something wasn’t right. Had he been shot? His body felt like it was on fire. He burned, but not in an altogether bad way. No shit. Seriously?
Enlil looked down.
His amulet blazed out of his shoulder like a fucking beacon.
Enlil roared a great bull roar and put his hands on Candy’s waist to lift her aside.
Sal fired his gun and a bullet caught Enlil in the chest, but he didn’t flinch. The wind he controlled became a different story, it picked up again, and Enlil swayed. Dammit. Despite his glowing amulet and the love that coursed through his veins, he felt himself turn green all over again.
Luckily, Candy noticed.
“Don’t be seasick, Enlil.” She fairly danced as he rose up to become the all-powerful god, and grinned. “Really, Enlil? Now you get your glow on? Well I fucking love you too, you big bull.”
Candy moved toward him, but the tall guy, whom the head asshole had called Stave, grabbed her back. “Stay out of the way,” the man said in her ear. “It looks like your man can take care of himself.”
Damn straight, thought Enlil.
He tread slowly toward Sal now and mowed down like pins the guys the boss ordered to stop him. When Enlil stood less than ten feet away, he recognized it would be over soon and wanted to bray…until the cornered boss pointed his gun in Candy’s direction.
“Look, asshole. Your girlfriend’s dead meat,” Sal yelled maniacally and took careful aim at Candy held fast in the guy named Stave’s arms.
Enlil lunged. Bodies spun. The deck became suddenly overrun by gods holding back bad guys. But the report of Sal’s gun cut through it all.
Two bodies hit the deck; one dead on impact.
Fuck, no!
Enlil became aware that Marduk grabbed Sal from behind and cracked the wrist that held the gun, sending the weapon tumbling. But the damage had been done.
Enlil sprinted toward Candy, his heart in his throat.
Naked limbs parted, and oh gods. Thank fuck, Candy’s head emerged from the bloody pile. Enlil drew in a shaky breath, dragging her to his chest.
“He’s dead, isn’t he?” she moaned against him.
Stave’s full weight had fallen on her, so she had to know. Enlil reached down to the side of the man’s neck. No heartbeat.
“He spun me out of the way at the last minute,” she sobbed. “And took the bullet himself.”
Square in the back if Enlil wasn’t mistaken. Straight through his heart.
Enlil held her shaking body and stood up from the one who had saved Candy. “Yeah, sweetheart. I’m sorry. He’s dead.”
Tears coursed down her face as she pushed away from Enlil. She stumbled across to where Sal stood, collared by Marduk. She didn’t pay any attention to her own nakedness, her grief and anger were that great.
“You killed him,” she hissed at Sal. “You’re best fucking friend. A man who would have done anything for you, and you killed him.” Without warning, she roared and lunged at him with her knife, but he grabbed her hand and a struggle ensued. Marduk easily took control and pulled the blade away from Candy, but the downward momentum from Sal’s own grip saw it plunge deep into drug lord’s gut. He twisted in the wind until he fell limp.
“You bastard. I hope you rot in hell.” Candy stifled a sob. Not for Sal, but for Stave. What a waste.
Lenore came up behind Candy, whose whole body wracked with tremors, and draped her in Anshar’s shirt.
“It’s done, Candy. And if it’s any consolation, I’m sure he will. Rot in hell, I mean.” Lenore curled her lip. “Nergal will see to it he doesn’t bother anyone again. Come away.”
Candy thrust her arms into the sleeves of the borrowed clothing, but didn’t button up, and refused to take the shoulder that Lenore quietly offered. She raised her head, blinking.
Nergal. That was it. If she had any shot at all… A slightly hysterical laugh left her lips, but both in and out of her head she followed that with a yell.
“Nergal.” Nergal, you come to me right now. “If you fucking know what’s good for you, you better heed my call.” I have business with you, big man.
The deck fairly exploded with energy.
“Whatever is the fuss about?” Nergal, god and king of the Underworld popped into being with little fanfare.
“Candy, my darling girl… Oh. Nice outfit.”
Well, shit. She’d temporarily forgotten her state of undress. And she knew Nergal had a keen eye for a female body, even though he’d married the hottest babe in hell, but Candy wouldn’t be distracted. He’d answered her summons and he’d hear her out.
“No time for that, Nergal.” Candy strode right up to the king, not using any titles, not playing any god games, and told him exactly what she wanted.
“Do you see that man over there? That’s Stave.” She pointed to the still body of her friend. “I have no doubt he’s headed for hell right now.” Candy paused when Nergal got a faraway look on his face.
“Yes, yes, he is. His papyrus work is just coming through.”
“Well, you’re not going to take him,” Candy stated with certainty, laying a hand on the royal’s tattooed chest.
“Now, Candy,” Nergel demurred, “there are rules.”
“Fuck the rules.” She wouldn’t listen. “I know he did horrible things with his life, but the very last thing he did was throw himself in front of a bullet to save my life.” She looked pleadingly up at the king. “He was better than the rest of them, Nergal, and in the end, a good man.”
Nergal and Candy both looked around at the god’s impassive faces. They were not giving any negative indications, and Candy took that as a good sign.
Nergal sighed loudly, clearly trying to buy time. “What about that one?” He pointed to the body of Sal, still on the deck.
Candy snorted. “You can take him to the lowest depths of hell and feed him to the demons every night for the rest of eternity.” She spit out her reply.
“Well that should appease the fiends somewhat.” Nergal chewed the inside of one cheek. “But they hate being denied a new recruit.” His puzzled gaze slid over Stave. “And this one certainly won’t be allowed into the Overworld with the things that he’s done. But maybe,” he tapped
his lip. “I suppose I could…”
“You could what, Nergal?” Candy experienced a glimmer of hope.
“If you vouch for him, I guess I could take him on as a personal body guard. Of course, the glowies will have to thoroughly vet him first.”
“They’ll find him ready and willing,” Candy plunged on, anxiously agreeing. “Just tell him he’s got the job because I put in a good word for him and I promise you he’ll behave.”
Nergal looked down at her, and she knew she had him.
Yes.
“Fine.” The king gave in. “I’ll sign him up and let him know.”
“Thank you, Nergal, thank you.” Candy attempted to kiss him on the cheek, but he pulled back, listening.
“Ahoy, the ship.” Candy hadn’t noticed the approaching cutter in all the commotion. Jake’s voice cut through the thick emotions swirling through her gut.
“Okay. I’ll take a raincheck on the kiss. Gotta go.” Nergal cut to the chase. “And button up, will you?” He urged. “Enlil’s about to have a fit.”
The king poofed out.
Candy’s adrenaline fast disappeared, and her knees wobbled. She grabbed for Lenore. Shit. Time to use that proffered shoulder.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Someone found Candy a pair of sweatpants, and she stood at the rail of the cutter as it berthed at the pier. Enlil stood behind her. He too had borrowed clothing. The full length of his front pressed securely up against her back. The collar remained locked in place, doing its job. He hadn’t had a moment of seasickness since Candy issued the order.
Given a few minutes of quiet, Candy had readily figured out why he’d brought the collar to the West Coast. Chicken. As if his bull would stop her from having sex with him. But what a bit of luck he’d had it with him.
Jake approached the pair where they stood in complete and companionable silence. “Candy, you and Enlil need to come back to the office for a debrief.”
Candy broke the silence for her boss. “Go fuck yourself, Jake,” she told him quietly, but without a trace of vitriol. “I have a date with Enlil, and if you think you’re going to cockblock us, let me warn you. It will be detrimental to your health.”
Enlil’s head snapped back, and Jake looked like he almost snorted his coffee.
“Shit, Candy, I get the picture. As a matter of fact, I think we all get it. Especially since the image of you standing nearly naked in your fuck-me boots, spread legged in front of a glowing bull will be etched onto the back of my eyeballs for way longer than I like.” He grimaced and Candy snickered. “Just let me know when you’re fini…uh…free,” he mumbled and backed away.
Good. Jake wasn’t going to stop her. But, just as Candy congratulated herself, Enlil found his tongue.
“There’s no need to hurry into anything now, Candy.”
Well wasn’t that sweet. Her enormous, badass, god-man was backing off.
“We know for certain now that you’re my Chosen,” he assured her. “The amulet doesn’t lie. So, if you’d rather wait, we can…uh…put this off until we’re fully mated.”
Candy chose to ignore Enlil’s new-found altruism. “Yeah, right. Like that’s going to happen,” she said beneath her breath, knowing that Enlil would hear. But just in case he missed it, she made her next words crystal clear. “What I really want to know is why you lit up for me today? At that particular moment? I’ve been naked with you a bunch of times before.” And they’d done every sort of physical acrobatics without a single blinking beacon. It couldn’t have been her bare ass on full display that caused the light show today. Enlil sighed, and his body tightened up.
Oops, she’d forgotten he had the collar on. Well, shit. Now the cagey god was compelled to answer her honestly whether he wanted to or not. Candy wanted to pump her fist but refrained. Enlil put up a great fight, but she remained patient. It would be a losing battle.
When he finally spoke, it sounded as it his larynx were being torn out. “In ancient days, I became one of the most powerful gods on Earth.” The words poured from his mouth. Candy barely kept her eyes from rolling at his arrogance. But she’d hear him out.
“Like Nergal in the Underworld, I was a king of sorts, but my power extended over the entire cosmos. I had been given possession of the Tablets of Destiny by the supreme Overgod, and that gave me dominion over every living thing.”
He’d certainly caught Candy’s interest now. No wonder Enlil acted so fucking full of himself.
“The tablets were capable of revealing to the holder all that was, all that is, and all that would be. I did not abuse the powers they gave me, I used them judiciously. Therefore, I did not suffer madness from the keeping of them as had many before me.” His eyes weren’t focused on the present, but instead remained far back in time. As Candy listened, his voice took on an ancient cadence.
“I remember the day well. The day when my destiny changed. Perhaps I would have foreseen it had I used the tablets for selfish purposes.” He sighed.
“Children were always welcomed to my temple, a ziggurat called Ekur, the House of the Mountain. The worshipful people of the valley built it in my honor. I lived there with my good wife, Ninlil.” Candy caught her breath. This was the first she’d heard of a wife, even if it had been thousands of years ago.
Enlil kept on with his story, not sensing Candy’s dismay. “This particular balmy spring day, the sun shone brightly off the blue and gold inlaid bricks of my temple. I stood high on the steps, overlooking the countryside as a group of four children struggled to bring something up my stairs. I knew not what it was, but it started out small and grew in size the higher the children climbed.
By the time the group stood in front of me, I could see that the unknown thing was a beast. A creature completely unknown to me. It had the body of a lion and the head of an eagle. Its beak gleamed bright gold, sharpened to a lethal point. I was not afraid, even though the animal seemed unusual, and had presented as a chick mere moments before. I myself held the bull within me, and intimately understood such transformations. It was a mistake, but instead of preparing for battle, I inquired of its name.”
“Imdugud, it said to me. And I asked why it had come.”
“To help you guard the Tablets of Destiny, it squawked. And fool that I was, I believed it.” Enlil shook his head. “Imdugud spent months building my trust, standing on his lion haunches, immobile for hours, watching over my treasures. Then one day, after coaxing me for the hundredth time to allow him to perform guardian duty by himself, I finally relented and left him alone with the tablets. My steps had taken me only halfway down the temple when the traitor cried aloud in triumph and flew off with the destiny of the universe clutched in his claws.”
The way he spoke made Candy see it as if it were happening right in front of her. She wanted to kill that beast.
“I was unable to move. Some spell the creature had woven kept me glued to the steps of my ziggurat. But I did not lament alone. One very young god saw the treachery and rushed up the steps to my rescue. ‘What can I do, my lord?’ he asked of me. Ninurta was in training to be the ruler of many powerful things: the god of fog, of earth opening, of healing. He also boasted being the most natural and accurate archer I had ever seen. Go. I said to him. Fly with your quiver and your bow and slay the evil defiler.
“It took Ninurta every arrow he had and the perseverance of several days. When finally, he came down to his last arrow, he saw, alas, it was twisted and malformed. With a prayer, he strung it anyway and let it go. It flew true into Imdugud’s heart, killing the evil thief.”
Ninurta remained one of the gods whom Candy had been unable to see, but he, along with Marduk, were two of Enlil’s closest friends.
“When Imdugud was dead, Ninurta brought the tablets back to me, but I no longer felt worthy of caring for them. I had disgraced myself for letting them be stolen. I called to my good friend Marduk, and into his charge I had Ninurta place the tablets.”
Odd. Enlil didn’t sound sad that he�
�d lost his omnipotence.
“Many people, hearing the story, believed that Marduk had taken the privilege from me, and we two became mortal enemies. Nothing could be further from the truth. I distanced myself from my esteemed companion, not to sully his good name with my scarred reputation.” Enlil twisted with discomfort. Candy could feel it in his body where he leaned up behind her. She almost told him to stop his tale, but thought better of it. If this was a catharsis, he should follow it to the end.
“My wife, Ninlil.” He paused, and it seemed like he almost couldn’t go on, but Candy remained silent until he continued, “I believed she loved me.” His tone hardened. “However, as soon as the power over everything was no longer mine, she let me know her true feelings. I was dirt in her eyes. Good for nothing. If I didn’t have omnipotence, of what use could I be? It didn’t matter that I remained a god. I no longer held the title of the best god. She mocked me at every opportunity. She made me undesirable to everyone, men and women alike. She managed to have me banished from my golden temple, and refused me my rights as a husband. I grew embarrassed, downtrodden.” Enlil’s body folded up behind her. “What a good thing she was not my Chosen, or I would have died a thousand deaths at her final betrayal.”
Clearly, he built up to some awful, last humiliation.
“She no longer wanted to be with me, so she made up a story. She bloodied her face and rent her clothes, then appeared before a council of gods. She told them I had beaten and raped her. She wept real tears, but not of pain. She wept tears of frustration for having to remain wed to one she considered a weakling god.
“Through her deception, she got her fondest wish. Our marriage was dissolved. Ninlil had won. We were no longer connected. Soon, she captured the attention of an Overworld god, whom she later wed. I’m now certain she’d had him in her sights for quite some time. And me? I got sent to the depths of hell for defiling her, fighting demons for an eternity.” Enlil finally stilled, and his next words came out softly.
“It seems I got the better deal in the end. She never did become immortal. She was not the Chosen of the god she picked, which had been her objective. As a human, she lived a finite thirty more years.
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