Ishkur was one of two in the group who had held back. As the only immortal in the group with graying hair, Lenore quickly caught on. He wasn’t looking for a motherly hug. To him, Angie was a good looking woman, and hell, if you counted actual aging, he was older than she was. He was looking considerably more flustered than the rest at having his nakedness ogled by a peer and obviously didn’t know how to approach Lenore’s mom.
Angie, on the other hand, was having no such difficulty. Lenore’s mother’s dimples popped out as she peeked over at her studly contemporary. She recognized the resolve on her mother’s face and groaned. Total embarrassment was only a moment away.
“Now that I’ve hugged all my new found sons, how do I greet the best looking, and most impressively endowed male in the bunch?”
A higher color moved up Angie’s face as she regarded Ishkur.
“May I say, sir, that you put all these young bucks to shame?”
Lenore waited for Ishkur’s reaction.
Catcalls erupted from the watching deities as the salt-and-pepper haired god slowly made his way toward her mother, and Lenore realized he was going to give the boys a show.
“What?” He squinted over at his buddies, mouth cocked in mock arrogance. “You want me to kiss her?”
There was a plethora of eager taunts and nods, and Lenore had to bite her tongue. This was her mother, after all.
“They want me to kiss you.” Ishkur was looking down at Angie, and gods help her, Lenore thought, her mother wasn’t saying no. “Fine!” The god looked around the room. “I’ll give her some kisses that will make her toes curl!” In true god fashion, he swooped in to capture Angie’s lips in a crushing embrace.
Hoots and whistles sounded from all around as her mother melted into Ishkur’s arms. Lenore knew it was all for show, but damn! One thought stuck in her head as she watched. Like Anshar, that god could kiss! Was it some kind of immortal super-power?
When Ishkur eventually brought his head up for air, Lenore knew her mother was thinking the same thing. She looked a little dazed.
“I apologize for the liberties,” he said into the smiling eyes of her mom. “I might have gotten a little carried away. I haven’t kissed a woman in several hundred years.”
Lenore’s mother grinned back up at him. “Nice to know you haven’t lost your touch.”
The two drew apart, both looking extremely pleased.
It took a few moments for Marduk to clear his throat and ask everyone, once again, to find a seat. “Now that the entertainment portion of the morning is complete, let’s get on to business. Here’s how things look.” The thunder god wasted no time with preliminaries. “We haven’t gotten any closer to finding Holly in Chicago. Shamash is still working to find more female connections, and Dagon is going to be totally pissed off when he finds out we’ve liberated his prisoners.”
Lenore concurred with the nods of agreement that followed, all the way around. “Kulla has decided we need to put up a guest house, since we’re starting to split at the seams here…”
“Can’t one of us do it, instead?” Lahar spoke up.
Lenore was immediately puzzled. Wasn’t Kulla the architect and builder? Who better to create the new quarters?
Apparently Marduk understood what Lahar was saying and, for the benefit of those who didn’t, he filled them in.
“Each time Kulla completes a restoration or a new building, he is transported to the Underworld for three days.”
Well, that kind of sucked, thought Lenore.
The thunder god looked toward his divine architect. “What do you say, Kulla?”
“It’s a small price to pay so that we can accommodate our growing numbers.”
He was the only god who hadn’t hugged her relatives. Nobody had noticed but Lenore and, if they had, they weren’t saying. Even now, Lenore was aware of the surreptitious and slightly mistrustful look he was giving the two.
“Three days with Nergal and Ereshkigal won’t kill me. Besides,” he shrugged, “I might be able to skew things in our favor if I can catch Ereshkigal’s ear.”
Tess spoke up. “Since you have to spend three days in the Underworld anyway, why not complete two structures at the same time? Who knows how many people you’ll have to accommodate if everyone finds their Chosen. And if you take care of it now, you’ll only have to go down there once.” She gave him a sympathetic glance. “Two for the price of one?”
“Good idea, Tess.” Marduk sent a look of approval toward his wife.
“It shall be done.”
It was clear to Lenore that Kulla liked a challenge, and hadn’t had one in a long time. It would also keep him busy and away from the witches it weirdly looked like he wished to avoid.
“Lenore?” Marduk turned to her now. She knew instinctively, or god-channel-ly, exactly what Marduk wanted to know.
“I’m through with Dagon and his schemes. He’s proven to me that he’s the one with evil intent. I never would have tried to hurt any of you if I’d known you were all so…well, nice!” She looked determinedly around. “I only hope I can redeem myself and that you can all forgive me someday.”
Emesh smiled at her. “Sweetie, you were forgiven the minute we knew Anshar was your—”
“Argh!” Anshar’s cry of pain interrupted Emesh. What the fuck? Lenore narrowed her eyes. There was something the collar wasn’t letting her know, something that hadn’t worn off with the head-talking imperatives.
“—girlfriend,” Emesh ended sheepishly.
Lenore schooled her face. “That’s very nice of you, Emesh.” She went with his turn of phrase and eyed her blond god. “Anshar, are you all right?”
“Yeah, fine.” It was pretty obvious that Anshar had nearly choked on pain but had recovered.
“Speaking of okay,” Marduk changed the subject, “can you give us an update on how our patients are doing, Dr. Whitehill?”
Lenore commiserated with the doctor’s mental isolation from the group. Dani had been quiet during everything that had gone on, understanding bits and pieces, but generally being left out as she was not able to glimpse or hear nine of the beings involved in the morning’s discussion.
“Enlil has been cleared for active duty again,” Dani-Lee reported and narrowed her eyes at the god. “Luckily, traveling before I wanted to give him clearance didn’t seem to hurt him. Huxley…”
Lenore noticed that the doctor’s eyes darted over to where the human sat in a wheelchair that the gods had acquired for him and became aware of his obvious annoyance. “…will have to wait at least another two weeks before he can start any form of exercise.”
Lenore cringed at his immediate protest. “But if Enlil heads to Chicago without me, he won’t be physical—”
“I mean it, Huxley!” The doctor interrupted him. “If you start bleeding again, you’ll have to begin your recuperation period all over.”
Hux slumped back in his seat.
Shamash intervened. “You can keep me company in the computer room. I need someone monitoring the GTS while I pour through ancestral records.”
“GTS?” Both Anshar and Lenore asked at the same time.
Marduk nodded to Shamash. Good. Now that Dagon listening in on Lenore wasn’t a concern anymore—Dagon was either in Chicago or the power of the collar had totally worn off—it looked like she was going to be included in some of the group’s previous secrets. Lenore could only hope that the collar’s effects on Anshar would dissipate soon.
“That microwave your mother asked about, Lenore? It’s hard to explain without seeing it up close and personal. Join me in the computer room and have a peek.” He looked questioningly at Marduk. “That is if the meeting is over?”
“It is.” Marduk nodded, and Shamash disappeared with a word for Lenore that she and Anshar could join him when things broke up.
Lenore looked around at all the gods. Marduk was clearly keen to move on. “I’m just headed up to my room to pack a new bag for Chicago, then I’ll be on my way.” He c
leared his throat. “Tess?” He raised his eyebrows at his wife. Lenore bit her bottom lip and struggled not to snicker. She knew there’d be more than bag-packing going on upstairs.
Enlil, on the other hand, had nothing holding him back from making the trip immediately. “If you want, I’ll take off right away so you can take your time packing.” His grin told it all. “Anybody want to join me?” Several of the gods spoke up, looking for a change of scenery.
Ishkur was not among them. He seemed content to stay home and offered to help Kulla and Ninurta on the building project. Right, snorted Lenore to herself. It looked like her mother had an admirer.
Before anyone had a chance to dissolve, Shamash showed back up, and the look on his face sent an instant feeling of dread through everyone.
“We need to stay glued to the monitor. This is not good news.”
Lenore could actually hear the god’s accelerated heartbeat.
“When I turned on the device, I caught Dagon unaware. He was speaking to someone on his mind channel regarding his progress in Chicago.”
Enlil interrupted, puzzled like the rest of them. “Lenore is here, and there are no other immortals for him to chat with. Who the hell was he talking to?”
Shamash looked around at the gods, goddesses, witches, and mortals. He shuddered.
“Erra.”
Chapter Twenty
His words were met with total, stunned silence, but Lenore finally spoke up. She didn’t enjoy being left in the dark. Tess looked confused, too. “Who the hell is Erra, and why don’t I like the sound of this?” The women looked to Marduk with a worried expression.
Marduk was so upset he motioned for Enlil to speak. “You tell it,” he rasped, “and make it quick. We need to keep monitoring.”
The wind god cleared his throat. “Erra makes Dagon look like a pussy.” There were nods and grimaces from the other immortals. “He’s the for real, big time god of war, death, and disaster. There is no other way to put it. Erra is the coldest immortal in the universe. I’ve seen him kill beings in the Underworld just for getting in his way. In our time of rule, he was responsible for every war that erupted. Thousands and thousands of people died because of him and, if he’s let loose in today’s world, well, who knows what horrific things he’ll cause to happen.”
Marduk took over. “We can only hope that Nergal, the god who must have sent him to Dagon, either knows something about a successful rehabilitation, or has enough authority over Erra to make sure he stays under a modicum of control. If he doesn’t, it won’t just be our necks in trouble. It will be the whole damned planet.”
He rubbed a hand across the back of his head. “I can’t believe Dagon is any happier about this than we are. The two of them have never gotten along, not even close.”
“That might work to our advantage,” Lahar interjected. “If they’re fighting amongst themselves, or at least divided on their strategies, maybe they’ll have less time for us.”
“We’ll see.” Marduk didn’t look hopeful. He nodded at Shamash, Lenore and Anshar. “I’ll join you three shortly in the computer room.”
The trio instantly dissolved while the rest of the gods hung around, all clearly at a loss for word. Addie May spoke into the silence. “This is the bad thing that Angie and I saw coming during one of our scrys into the future.”
Marduk turned to her. He and the other gods looked expectant. The thunder god knew what he needed from the witches. He needed assurance that his group would defeat their evil foes. He needed to hear that the witches had seen the Blue Hills gods crush the bad guys and that all would be well. Marduk sighed at the shake of Addie’s head. She wasn’t going to give them the reassurance he sought.
“We weren’t able to see a final outcome, but we have every reason to believe that you will prevail because Angie and I have beheld many good things unfolding for all of you here that will take time to come to pass.”
At a cacophony of raised voices, Marduk put up his hand for quiet, and Addie continued, “You will all be disappointed when I tell you right now that neither Angie nor I will be coerced into scrying fortunes to let any of you see what, personally, is ahead. We will only reveal danger when we see it, in hopes it can be averted. So please don’t come asking if we know where the women are that will complete your destinies. We’ve had enough experience to know that our interference usually changes everything and, believe me, you don’t want to change the good things we’ve been able to divine.” She waved everyone away. “That’s all I have to say on the subject.”
Marduk noticed Kulla purse his lips, and it seemed the god was barely able to bite back a retort. Instead, he misted out. Strange behavior on the architect’s part. Better that Kulla start on his guest house plans immediately and take his mind off whatever petty grievance he was harboring.
Marduk assured Tess he would meet her in their room in a few minutes and misted to the computer room. He leaned over the desk where the microwave speaker crackled. No voices were presently emerging.
“Did you hear anything else?” The thunder god looked at Anshar, who sat with Lenore on his lap.
“Yeah,” Anshar supplied. “We know that both Dagon and Erra are in Plymouth. Erra told Dagon he wants to be introduced to all the PP as soon as possible and do a flyover to have a good look at our setup here in the Blue Hills.”
“It means we’ll need somebody monitoring this station at all times to keep track of Erra’s location,” Marduk speculated. He was only glad that the war god didn’t have the power to breach their perimeters. “Shamash,” he ordered the god, “make that happen 24/7. I want to know what they’re up to every minute. I especially want to know when they’re lurking outside the compound. Maybe we can find a way to do some damage if we can catch them unaware.”
He looked back at Anshar. “Since Enlil is invisible without Huxley by his side, I need you as my other corporeal buddy in Chicago.” He watched a heated look pass between the god and the goddess on his lap. “I don’t mind if Lenore comes along, now that Dagon’s not in her head. That’s between the two of you.” He caught the tension, and knew they’d probably been discussing it. “I’m just saying I need your help.” Marduk changed his tone and cleared his throat, looking toward Anshar. “Could I see you in private for a minute?” The god didn’t wait for an answer but misted out.
“Asshole.” Lenore groused. “I know you guys are still keeping a bunch of things from me, but don’t you worry your pretty little head about it. I’ll have my answers soon enough.” She tweaked one of Anshar’s nipples through his shirt.
The god yipped. Why did he have to get a smartass for a Chosen? Anshar grinned inside because he wouldn’t have it any other way. He chucked her under the chin. “Hold that thought. I’ll only be with Marduk for a minute.”
Lenore looked peeved, and Shamash obviously found it hard to hide his amusement. Anshar let his smile loose. Women sure had a way of making things more interesting around the house.
He followed Marduk’s energy pattern and was surprised to find himself in the basement.
“What’s up, my man?” Anshar looked around and spotted Marduk backing his way out of a storage area.
“You’ve been pretty reluctant to come clean with Lenore,” Marduk began, as he turned slowly to face Anshar.
“Well, because some of the collar’s orders are still working on me, it’s not like I can tell her what we’re supposed to be to each other or anything.” Anshar felt sheepish. “Maybe the reason I’m still under its control is my own reluctance to believe Lenore is my Chosen. Maybe the restriction is still in place because I’m not sure she’s into me as much as I’m into her. If I even had a hint that her amulet would light for me, I’d make more effort to overthrow Dagon’s orders. Hell. I’d be the happiest damn god in the universe!” His face fell again. “But it hasn’t…and I haven’t so I’m screwed. At least for a while.” Anshar shook his head. “Not that it would do me any good because I still couldn’t, well, you know.”
&nb
sp; Marduk shook his head. “Have you been left out of the light-up-loop?” The thunder god looked puzzled. “A few days ago, at breakfast, Lenore mentioned that she’d lit up.”
Anshar felt his gut clench.
“But it might have been a joke because Tess and I, well, we were both bright red in the shoulder at the time. She might have been teasing us.”
Anshar wasn’t getting the definitive answers he needed from Marduk. But things sure sounded more hopeful.
Marduk continued, giving Anshar a “suck it up” look.
“And it doesn’t matter, anyway,” he chastised. “First of all, because you were able to share your amulet with Lenore, she is your Chosen. And I’m calling bull-crap on the light-up shit. Having first-hand knowledge of the bond between mates, believe me when I say that Lenore is ‘into you’ as much as you’re into her. So stop feeling sorry for yourself. Secondly, I need you in Chicago by tomorrow morning.”
Yup. Marduk wasn’t cutting him any slack.
“And in the meantime,” Marduk pulled something from behind his back, “enjoy each other any way you can tonight.”
Anshar was speechless. He tried to get the words out but ended up extending his arm instead. Was he really pointing at the old collar that Marduk had hidden in the compound? “You don’t mean…”
“I do.” Marduk put the circlet and key into Anshar’s extended hand. “I’ve seen enough of Lenore to know that I trust her.” The thunder god’s eyes sparkled, and Anshar was only able to get out a few choked splutters.
“And I want my irreverent, potty-mouthed friend back,” Marduk groused, as tongue in cheek as Anshar knew he could get. The thunder god clapped him on the back. “So see if you can find him for me, okay?” Marduk poofed away without a backward glance.
Anshar’s dick was hard instantly.
****
Meet me in our room. Anshar’s voice invaded Lenore’s head. She couldn’t tell what was up by the tone of his voice, but he didn’t sound like his normal self.
Taken By Storm Page 19