by Jean Murray
Nehebkau stared at Asar. “Are you responsible for releasing her powers?”
“Lilly is my mate.”
Nehebkau hissed. “We need to speak.” His eyes connected with Lilly’s briefly. “Alone.”
Lilly stalked forward. “If this concerns me and my sisters, I insist on being present.”
Asar grasped her by the arms. “I will brief you on our discussion. Please return to Aaru. I will join you when we are finished.”
“I need to know why the goddess would target us.” Lilly looked to Nehebkau, but he avoided her gaze. “Please, Nehebkau.”
Asar had no intention of backing down. The Snake god requested a one-on-one meeting for a reason. “We will honor Nehebkau’s request. You will return to Aaru. Kamen, see them home.”
Lilly and Kit dissipated in a cloud of black smoke before she could protest.
CHAPTER twenty-seven
“Damn it!” Lilly glared at Kamen. “Do we have to do everything he says?”
“Get used to it.”
“Asshole,” Lilly growled when he walked out. “We can’t wait around to get Kendra back. We need to do it now.”
“Nice plan, but how do we get back home?”
“Getting off this rock won’t be easy. Follow me.”
Lilly had never been to Nebt’s quarters without Asar as an escort. Hopefully the Underworld goddess wouldn’t be offended. It took several knocks before a servant opened the large golden doors. She gasped when Lilly and Kit pushed past. Another servant tried to block their path, but Lilly just side-stepped her. “Nebt?”
The goddess looked up from where she sat at her desk and stood slowly. “Lilly?”
Lilly approached with her hand up. “I’m sorry to disturb you. I need to get back home. It is imperative that we find our sister and bring her back.”
“Where is Asar or Kamen? Surely, they will take you back.”
“They are occupied at the moment. This is my sister, Kit, by the way.”
Nebt held her hand out, same as she had done for Lilly.
Kit grabbed and shook the goddess’ hand roughly. “Nice to meet you.”
To Nebt’s credit, she maintained the smile on her face despite the startled look in her eyes.
Lilly shook her head and looked at Nebt apologetically. “I was wondering if you could transport us back? We have some leads we need to follow up.”
The goddess’ smile thinned. Lilly could only guess she had read their intensions when Kit made contact with her. “I am sorry. I cannot.”
“Nebt, I can’t stand around waiting while Asar and Nehebkau determine our fate. What if Kendra is in trouble? Kit and I could be out there looking for her right now. We are wasting time.”
“Asar will not let anything bad happen to your sister. You must trust him.”
“This has nothing to do with trust. It has to do with control.” Lilly began to pace. “I feel powerless here.” Lilly’s voice rose in frustration.
“How do you feel about this, Kit?” Nebt asked.
“Ah, I’m with Lilly.”
“That does not sound like an opinion, just compliance.”
“I think we should go after Kendra.”
Nebt returned to her desk. “As I stated before, I cannot help you. Asar will be back shortly. You can take it up with him.”
Lilly suspected Nebt had gotten burned the last time she tried to help. The Underworld goddess wasn’t going to put her neck out on the line again.
“Sorry for disturbing you.” Lilly bowed, then stalked out of the goddess’ quarters and down the long corridor with her sister a few steps behind. A sufficient distance away, she turned abruptly to face Kit. “What are you not telling me? Obviously, you have some reservations about us going back to get Kendra.”
“No, I think we should go after Kendra.”
“Do you really?” Lilly glared at her sister. “I saw Nebt’s face. She read your soul when you touched. Don’t bullshit me!”
“Fine. I think I should go after Kendra, not you. And not for the reasons you think. You are more than capable, more so now than before, but...”
“But what?”
Kit threw her hands in the air. “The goddess has it out for you. You stole her man, and ruined her game at revenge. And, oh yeah. She wants to possess your body. Did I leave anything out? She knows your weakness for dad, and will use it. For once, if you could just not put yourself at risk and let me handle this—”
“The goddess isn’t the issue here,” Lilly grumbled. “I’m talking about retrieving Kendra and keeping her safe.”
“The goddess is the issue. As soon as you set foot back home, you’re at risk. Whether you are hunting her or not, she is hunting you,” Kit said, punctuating each word with a poke to Lilly’s chest.
Lilly dug her fingers into her hips. “You and Kendra are my responsibility.”
“No, we’re not!” Kit fired back. “We were Dad’s responsibility, and he chose his stupid love for dead pharaohs over us. As far as I’m concerned, the goddess can keep his ass.”
Before she could stop herself, Lilly swung around and slapped her sister. “Don’t you dare speak of our father that way. He loves us.”
“Don’t you mean loved?” Kit rubbed her red cheek. “He’s dead. He doesn’t know who the hell we are, other than dinner.”
“He does so! He just… can’t help himself.”
Kit rolled her eyes. “You see what you want to see. There is nothing left of our father in that rotting corpse. It’s your screwed up thinking about him that is going to get you killed. Your feelings for him are clouding your judgment, and will put you at risk.”
“Shut up. You have no idea what you are talking about.”
“What, and you do?”
Lilly cringed. The weight of her guilt crashed down upon her. Asar may have forgiven her but she had yet to forgive herself. Could her sisters ever forgive her for cursing all their lives? “It wasn’t dad’s fault the goddess was released.” She sighed. “It was mine.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I released the goddess. Dad is cursed because of me.”
“You don’t know that," Kit insisted. "Dad was the one who exhumed the tomb.”
Lilly looked down at her boots. “Asar thinks it was my powers that reanimated her body. The key held a spell that allowed her to escape. Only a god could release her.”
“So that’s what this is all about? Hell, Lilly! It could have easily been Kendra or me at that dig. Anyone of us could have released the curse. If the damn world wants someone to blame, they might as well blame all three of us.”
The thought someone might blame her sisters infuriated her. “I won’t let that happen. I will take responsibility for the mistake.”
“Don’t you get it? You’ve been punishing yourself for something that isn’t even our fault. The blame belongs to the goddess who had three bastard children. If you want to fault someone, blame her and our father who got her pregnant,” Kit said. “What kind of mother leaves her children?”
With the weight of her sister’s words, the pain she always held low and deep in her gut rose like acid. The feeling of being an unwanted child. Their dad had done his best to raise them, but that still didn’t mitigate the fact their mother abandoned them. She leaned up against the wall and sighed heavily.
Kit assumed the same position next to her and grabbed her hand. “I don’t even want these damn powers. It’s just a reminder that a goddess decided to slum it.”
“It’s your body. You can decide to release your powers or not. Unlike me, you at least have control over it.”
“Like I would shag a god anyway. They have too much holier than thou attitude for my tastes." Kit leaned her head on Lilly’s shoulder. "No offense to, Asar. He’s at least useful. Kamen? Don’t even get me started.”
“I’m sorry for slapping you. I want so much to find a cure for Dad. If it was me, I wouldn’t want you to give up.” She squeezed Kit’s hand. “So wh
at do we do about Kendra?”
Kit grinned. “We find a ride home.”
“What about Kamen?” Lilly pushed off the wall.
“What, Asar’s lackey? I don’t think he’ll help us.”
“So you are okay with me coming along?”
“No, but she is our sister. If we work together, we’ll have better luck finding her. Plus, the chances of us hitching a ride are low.”
Lilly smirked. She had always enjoyed a challenge. With renewed determination, she walked straight to the servant quarters and knocked on the door. If anyone would know where to find someone, they would.
A young female opened the door. She immediately cast her eyes down which irritated the hell out of Lilly. She didn’t like the idea of servants, but this wasn’t her world.
“Please look at me. I don’t do well with this lord-servant stuff.”
The servant meekly looked up, and shifted uncomfortably.
Lilly smiled. “It is okay, really. I’m Lilly and this is my sister, Kit. We are outcasts here, so please don’t bother with the protocols.”
“Excuse me, Madame. You are the Lord’s mate. It would be disrespectful to address you in any other manner.”
“Well, can I order you to treat me differently?” Lilly asked, continuing to look around the large well-appointed room. Lush red and purple pillows graced the seating area to the right. White curtains hung from ceiling to floor divided the living and sleeping quarters. Several women looked up from their work. Soft music carried in the room, along with the smell of lavender and vanilla.
“Yes, Madame.”
“Good, then it’s an order. When the Lord is not around, you are to address me as Lilly.”
The servant suppressed a smile behind her hand. “Yes, Lilly,” she said with a bow.
“My sister and I are looking for a location where the gods of the Underworld would gather. Is there a place like that here?”
“There are several places on the far end of the island. The dark warrior village houses several thousand soldiers. I would not recommend your visitation there.”
“Why?”
The young woman’s face flushed red and her gaze dropped to the floor. “There are things that go on there that would not be proper for a woman like you.”
Lilly laughed. Little did the servant know, she had seen her more than her share of houses of ill repute. The huntresses were far from ladies. “My sister and I are not interested in the activities that go on there. We are looking for transportation back to our world. Our visit will be short, I promise you.”
CHAPTER twenty-eight
The servant directed them to a building at the end of a long, dark street. The building’s architecture was less ornate than the palace, but still above Lilly’s expectations. It made the fortress look like a motel. The warrior hall had arched double doors painted blood red. The only color used in the village. Lilly wondered if it served as a warning for outsiders.
They had been warned it housed a rough group. Women were not permitted in the ranks of warriors, although there were women assigned to the legions. Lilly had pretty good idea what role these women played, and they would see some of that tonight. As they approached, the sweet sick aroma of drugs filled the air, along with loud music and voices.
“They aren't even going to let us in the front door,” Kit said.
“Oh, they’ll let us in. Trust me.”
Lilly scanned the enormous warrior standing sentry. Over seven feet tall, he had to weigh at least three fifty packing all that muscle mass. His hair was cut short, almost shaved to the scalp. A sleeveless tunic hung from his massive shoulders and tucked neatly into his weathered, leather pants. Oddly enough, he wore no shoes. As they got closer, Lilly noticed something very unusual. Raised tattoos covered his deep black-brown skin down the full length of his arms. The sculpted markings looked like scarifications from a blade. Either way, it was some of the most beautiful and unusual artwork Lilly had ever seen.
Undaunted, she strode directly towards the door of the establishment. The sentry’s golden eyes targeted her. He stepped in her way. “Where do you think you are going?”
His deep baritone voice tested her resolve. “I want to speak with the commander in charge of this unit.” She tried to side step around him, not waiting for his permission, but was blocked by his large hand on the door.
Amusement flickered over his face. “You ladies must be lost. Servants are not allowed in these parts. I will make arrangements to return you to your god.”
“You will take me to the man in charge of this house and you will do it now.” Lilly slipped her hand down to her katana, which was neatly tucked in its sheath.
The warrior pulled his lips back over large, white teeth. “Leave, before I show you ladies exactly what we do with insolent servants.”
The fool didn’t know who he was talking to. It wasn’t the fact she was Asar’s mate. She wouldn’t tolerate that shit from him or any man. “Watch your threats, Neanderthal.”
Before his muscles contracted to grab her, Lilly twisted his arm and pinned him to the ground. The sentry’s gaze narrowed in on the hieroglyphics on her arms. At ground level with him, she pulled back her vest and revealed Asar’s mark over her breast. His eyes about exploded out of his head.
“Now, you will take me to the commander without any trouble. Do we understand each other?”
He nodded. Lilly release him, allowing him to stand. He cleared his throat and bowed. “Madame, please follow me.”
“Oh, I’m going to like this,” Kit said, a shit eating grin on her face, and followed Lilly into the dimly lit building.
Hit with a cloud of offending smoke, Lilly stifled a cough and tried not to inhale too deeply. The last thing she needed was to have her judgment compromised in the middle of an orgy. The inside of the hall was even more impressive than the outside. Rows of Moorish-like arches and pillars spanned the length of the two thousand square foot room. Naked or bare chested men and women were spread out along the floor on cushions next to low tables, engaged in various sexual acts with one or several partners. The warriors mirrored the size and breath of their escort with short military cuts, linen tunics and leather pants. She struggled to keep her eyes forward.
There was no escaping the warriors’ attention. The room fell silent the minute they stepped into the room, and those who were once occupied stopped to look. The shocked expressions on their faces were unmistakable.
Looking down at her clothing, Lilly hissed out a breath. They'd shown up to a brothel in full huntress uniforms of skimpy leather and bladed steel looking ready for an S&M demonstration.
A defensive rush of heat flushed up her back and into her extremities, the same response she experienced hunting revens. If these warriors possessed any of their Lord’s skill, they would sense her reaction almost immediately, which would only make things worse. Based on the increase in warmth to her back, Kit had come to the same realization.
It was like entering a hungry lion’s den with scraps of fresh meat dangling from their bodies. And based on the warriors’ gazes, they were very hungry.
Several of the men got up and walked forward, eyeing them like a special treat. Lilly glanced at Kit. They had to stand their ground and show no fear. Kit immediately straightened to her full height and put her hand on her weapon.
“Is this tonight’s entertainment?” one of the warriors quipped.
Kit smiled and batted her eyes. “Don’t you wish!” The male closest to Kit focused in on her back. “Nehebkau!” he barked.
One of the women who had just finished satisfying one of the males sauntered up to Lilly. She licked her lips, removing the evidence of her partner’s enjoyment. “Care to have a little taste?” The whore leaned into kiss her. Lilly snarled and shoved the woman back into the man’s lap.
Several of the large warriors in the back moved forward. The largest stepped in front of Kit, separating the two sisters. “That’s a mighty nice blade you have there. Want to s
ee mine?”
Kit rolled her eyes. “I would have a lot more fun with mine, so no thanks.”
Several of the soldiers laughed at the senior warrior’s expense. Obviously he wasn't used to a female talking back to him. He raised his hand to strike her. Kit just stood there with a cocky smirk on her face.
Lilly caught his wrist as it swung down. His bicep bulged under the strain against her grip. “I wouldn’t do that, unless you want to lose it.”
The look of surprise crossed his face as he realized her strength. Not to mention the short sword she pressed underneath his armpit. The crowd exchanged muted protests.
“Go ahead, Kit. I don’t think he'll give you any more trouble.” She glared at the others that were standing just a few feet away. They didn’t move. Lilly pushed forward following behind the sentry.
Finally, they stopped at a large table that held the most senior officers. It stunk of power. They had the most beautiful women, and their spread of food and drink rivaled a wedding reception.
Lilly hooked her thumbs in her low waist band while the sentry leaned over and whispered to a warrior that stood out from the rest. His entire body was covered in raised tattoos, the detail shockingly gorgeous against his thick muscular body and ebony skin. A large brand marked his left chest. The symbol matched the engraved marble shield in Asar’s quarters. Underworld legion. The tattoos and branding must have to do with rank. This commander held the power and respect of his men.
The commander laughed, but cut it short when the sentry didn’t join in his mirth. Lilly crossed her arms over her chest when he looked at her and then her sister. His golden brown eyes slid down the length of her body and stalled at her hips, from which hung her arsenal of weapons. He measured every instrument with his eyes and reflected an appreciation only a fellow warrior could give. He finished his assessment with an approving nod.
Only when Kit turned to stand guard against Lilly’s back did his gaze shift and narrow in on her sister’s snake marking.
He straightened up and practically threw the girl that was clung to him across the floor. The whore got up and gave Lilly the most severe scowl. He ran his hands over his black skull trimmed hair, and stood up. Clearing his voice, he bowed slightly. “Please forgive me I was unprepared for your visit. In fact, we have just learned of your relationship to our Lord. To what do I have this pleasure, Madame?”