The Darkest Secret lotu-8

by Джена Шоуолтер

  Concentrate on your breathing, he said, and she jumped at the gentle intrusion in her mind. And close your eyes.

  Every friend she had would have called her stupid for trusting a demon like she was about to do, but she didn’t care. Amun had given her the necessary blind trust, she could do no less. Her eyelids fluttered closed, hiding the features she’d come to crave, and she drew in a large quantity of oxygen. Slowly she released every molecule.

  Good girl.

  On her next inhalation, she felt tendrils of something…warm and dark drifting through her, rattling her mind as the wind often rattled the leaves on trees. She had experienced this before, but she’d been drugged, lethargic, and unaware of what that warmth and darkness represented. Now she knew — and tried not to panic.

  She had asked for this. She wanted this.

  But she didn’t stay calm for long.

  Demon, she thought wildly. Her heart crashed into her ribs, threatening to burst from her chest.

  Blindly she reached up and wrapped her fingers around the solid warmth of Amun’s wrists. In and out she continued to breathe. She held on as tightly as she could, not to push him away, but to remind herself that he was with her. That he wouldn’t let his beastly half hurt her.

  And, to be honest, the demon had never really tried. Actually, the demon had helped her, revealing her sister’s beautiful face, showing her the joyous minutes before her husband’s death. Why had the creature done that? Why had it shown her good things? Weren’t evil beings supposed to focus on the bad?

  Though she couldn’t fathom the answers, she relaxed. And as the rigidity melted from her spine, colorful images began to flash through her mind.

  Once again she saw her little sister’s cherubic face, smiling back at her as they raced through a lush meadow. Innocent, carefree giggles echoed between them, and for a moment, only a moment, the cold completely washed from Haidee’s body, leaving her drenched in radiant heat.

  The image shifted—come back! she mentally shouted, not yet ready to be separated from her sister again. But then she saw the adult version of herself standing on that long-ago veranda, lavender wedding gown draping her slender frame, her golden curls practically glowing in the moonlight.

  This was it. What she wanted to show Amun — what she dreaded showing Amun.

  «Are you nervous, my sweet?» her former servant said, pulling her back into the vision.

  Haidee watched herself turn, heard herself reply to Leora. A conversation followed, dragging into eternity. When would they quiet? When would they—?

  The old woman pivoted on her sandaled heel and led Haidee inside a torch-lit hallway. Toward the master’s bedchamber.

  This was it, she thought again. Haidee’s grip tightened on Amun, tremors rocking her. Just as before, the arching doorway loomed closer…closer still…only this time, she didn’t try to stop herself.

  Closer…

  As Leora slowed, she smiled over her shoulder. Finally they reached the door, and the servant stepped aside.

  Haidee wanted to vomit as she saw herself reach out. Saw her fingers curl around the edge of the curtain and move the material aside. Her shoulders squared as she stepped inside the chamber, the curtain falling back into place behind her.

  At first, the Haidee in the vision couldn’t make sense of what she was seeing. But the smell, oh, God, the smell…metallic, coppery…mixed with the stench of emptied bowels. She knew that smell very well: death.

  Once white walls were splattered with crimson. On the floor, her husband lay in pieces. Hysteria bubbled inside her as she spun. The carnage — there was no escaping it. Solon…a piece here, a piece there, a piece everywhere. The words filled her mind, her encroaching madness making them a song. Her knees knocked together, and dizziness nearly drowned her. Frigid breath sawed in and out of her nose, uncontrollable now.

  Then she saw something far worse than the carnage.

  In the center of the room, the creature from her nightmares floated above a coagulated puddle of blood. Just as before, the black hood was drawn over his face, shielding his features. But in the midst of the shadows, she could see the glowing red of his eyes.

  Slowly he lifted one arm, a single gnarled finger extended in her direction. Rage pulsed from him, so much rage, enveloping her in malevolence. Hate followed. So much hate.

  The eeriness of his presence jolted her out of her quiet horror, and she screamed. Screamed and screamed and screamed. She couldn’t stop herself, even though each new wail scraped her throat raw. She pressed her palms over her ears. That didn’t help. Still the screaming ravaged her.

  The creature floated toward her, and she at last quieted. So close…almost upon her…she scrambled backward until she hit the wall. Just before he reached her, several black-clad men stormed from the terrace and into the room, their weapons raised.

  «There!» one of the men cried.

  «He was right! The demon’s here!»

  Demon? He? How had «he» known?

  They pounded toward her nightmare, blades raised, ready to hack him into bits, just as he’d done to her husband. Oh, God. Her husband. Maybe the creature hadn’t killed him after all, because there were others just like him in the room, and now they exited the shadows, their eyes glowing bright red.

  The creature disappeared before either the humans or the others could reach him.

  Beside her, the curtain swished open. Haidee’s knees gave out as Leora and the guards that Solon had ordered to remain nearby stormed inside. There were so many of them, and in their haste to discover what had happened, they failed to see her. She was kicked forward, Solon’s blood soaking her beautiful gown.

  The guards attacked the men from the terrace and the shadows, clearly blaming them all for their master’s murder. Metal whistled through air, swords clanged together, skin popped as it ripped and men grunted in pain. Then another set of warriors flew into the room. They, too, came from the terrace. They must have scaled the side of the house. They were far bigger and more muscled than any of the others — and their eyes glowed that same shade of evil-red as every one of Solon’s possible killers.

  «More demons!» someone shouted.

  «These must have followed us!»

  «Hunters,» one of the new warriors growled, the word somehow echoing with a thousand other voices. Each of them tormented. «Die. Will die.»

  A new battle began, this one a macabre dance of glinting silver and sharpened claws, and body after body fell around her. Even the aged, defenseless Leora was struck down, a dagger protruding from her chest. There were more grunts, many agonized moans and brutalized screams, each blending with the renewal of her own. She couldn’t breathe, had to breathe. Had to escape.

  More servants and guards rushed into the room, but they, too, quickly became victims of the bloody battle. Breathe, breathe. Haidee tried to scramble away, to hide, but the floor was so slippery, blocked by all the fallen, and she gained no ground. And then someone fisted the back of her robe and dragged her to her feet. Oh, God. This was it, the end.

  In reality, Haidee braced herself, knowing what came next. She tried to distance herself from the scene, to pretend she was only watching a movie. That the people dying around her were actors, that their pain was faked.

  That’s when the scene slowed, and, through Amun and his demon, she was able to see things she’d never noticed before. Suddenly, the players had names, faces she recognized. There was Strider — Defeat — lost to his demon and slashing at a Hunter. There was Lucien — Death — his mismatched eyes colder than the ice storm inside her.

  She’d seen pictures of him over the years, and knew he was now scarred. But he wasn’t scarred as he fought with lethal menace, and his beauty was breathtaking. Or would have been, if someone else’s blood hadn’t dripped from his mouth. He’d just ripped a man’s throat out with his teeth.

  Sabin, Kane, Cameo. Gideon, Paris, Maddox. Reyes. Baden, his red hair actually crackling with living flames. Aeron, his black wings
outstretched, the ends as sharp as daggers. All but Torin and Amun were there. No, not true, she realized as her gaze caught on the man who had grabbed her robe.

  Amun. Amun held her.

  So dark, wild in a way she had never seen him before. His eyes, like twin rubies plucked from the fires of hell. His lips, etched into a permanent scowl. His teeth, sharp and white and almost…monstrous. His cheekbones were sliced open, bone revealed.

  He had one arm anchored around her waist, preventing her from bolting. Not that she could have. Her muscles were paralyzed with fear. Even as a Hunter leapt toward them, sword raised.

  Amun swung her behind him — and a sword that had been arcing toward him cut her from one side of her throat to the other. A scream of agony gurgled from her as her legs gave out. But she didn’t drop to the floor; Amun still held her. He turned then, and the real Haidee registered the glint of shock that suddenly consumed his features as he saw what had happened to her.

  She’d always thought the man holding her had used her as a human shield, but just then, she realized he’d tried to save her. Even then. Even lost to his demon.

  In the vision, she sagged from his now-loosened grip, her world going dark.

  That was the first time she died.

  But even then, the vision didn’t fade. Amun’s memory must have picked up where hers had left off, because the fight continued around her lifeless body. She watched as an enraged Amun stepped over her and ripped into the man who had killed her, tearing him from limb to limb, just as Solon had been torn.

  Amun made sure the rending hurt. The Hunter screamed with every new slice, horrified pleas for mercy. But mercy wasn’t something anyone in that room would experience. And because Amun was distracted by his task, another Hunter managed to sneak up on him and make a play for his head.

  Fast as he dodged, the blade merely cut into his neck, nicking him. With a roar, he spun around, arm rising to bat the offender away. The Hunter had already repositioned himself, however, and slashed once again. This time, the blade struck true, hitting spine, and Amun’s throat opened up all the way.

  Blood poured, and he collapsed, his body beside hers. They were facing each other, and his blood mingled with hers, pooling between them, soaking into their wounds.

  Binding them, from that moment on?

  Seeing their friend down, the other Lords became all the more enraged — and all the more vicious. The remaining Hunters and guards were soon felled in the most savage massacre she’d ever witnessed. And when it was over, the warriors panting, sweating, but far from calm, they gathered Amun and dragged him from the chamber, the home.

  Finally the vision faded and Haidee’s mind catapulted back to the present. She was still seated in front of Amun, but ice had crystallized over her skin. Either he hadn’t noticed, or hadn’t cared, because his hands were still flattened against her temples, the only bit of heat she felt.

  With a moan, he severed contact, tiny ice crystals flying in every direction. His expression was tormented, and his eyes sparkled with red. Strangely, seeing the red didn’t scare her. Even with the memory of what had happened so long ago still playing through her head.

  I’m so sorry, Haidee. So sorry. His voice was as tormented as his expression.

  «Why?» The single word scraped her raw throat, her voice hoarse and broken. Had she screamed during the vision and just hadn’t realized it? «You did nothing wrong.» She knew that now. Was amazed by it. He’d done everything right.

  The Hunters must have been chasing the other demon. And I don’t know if the robed creature killed your husband or if it was one of the Lords who reached the bedroom first. All I know is that I was part of the group that arrived last. I wasn’t trying to hurt you, he rushed out. I swear to the gods I wasn’t.

  «I know. Now.» Just as she knew he had almost died for her, avenging a veritable stranger. God, she’d wanted to absolve herself with the memory. She’d only managed to weaken her case.

  She had destroyed this man for nothing. For nothing!

  I never saw your face that night. I saw a frightened female and tried to move her — you — from the battle. But I put you in the middle of it instead. You wouldn’t have died if I’d left you on the floor.

  He would not feel guilty about that. She wouldn’t let him. «You don’t know what would have happened to me, Amun. You can’t—"

  Don’t try to make me feel better. Don’t try to comfort me. Gods, I don’t deserve it. Don’t even deserve to be here with you. You, helping me. Me. The man who placed you in the path of a blade. A bitter laugh left him as he flexed and unflexed his hands. All these centuries, I’ve never understood why the others allowed themselves to be filled with remorse over actions they hadn’t been able to control. Meanwhile, I’m the worst offender of the lot. Because of me, you died. Because of me, you came after Baden.

  That was not the reaction she’d expected or wanted. «Amun, I—"

  He tore his gaze from her and pushed to a stand. If you want me to summon the angel, I’ll find a way to do so. He can return you to your…friends. You don’t have to do this. Don’t have to help me.

  «I’m not leaving you,» she told him, angry now. «And you saw for yourself that you weren’t the one who killed me. You tried to save me. More than that, I blamed you when I—"

  You blamed me, and rightly so! He swiped up the backpack, commanded it to provide clean clothes for both of them and then tossed her a shirt and jeans. The robes are good for the caves, but not for movement. You need to change. We’re leaving.

  «Listen to me. I wrongly blamed you and—"

  We’re done discussing this. Change. Now.

  He’d never, ever treated her like this, even when they’d first discovered who the other was, and she had no idea how to reach him, how to make him understand. Shaking, Haidee removed the robe and tugged on the new clothing. «We — we can’t leave yet. Not until we know what we’ll be facing.» She claimed the backpack and said, «Give us instructions for successfully navigating the next realm.»

  When she reached inside, she found a small, yellowed scroll.

  Without a word, Amun took the backpack and settled the straps over his shoulders. With every second that passed, he seemed even more removed from her, and still she didn’t understand. She didn’t blame him for what had happened, so why did he blame himself?

  Because he’d failed? Because he feared failing again? «Amun,» she said, trying again to reach him. She had to reach him.

  Come, he replied, striding from the cave, forcing her to follow or be left behind.

  The scroll crinkled as she unwittingly tightened her grip. «I’m not going to let you shut me out,» she said, knowing he couldn’t hear her but feeling better just saying the words.

  She forced herself to relax and trail after her man — and he was her man, there was no question of that now — as he headed into the unknown.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Vacation sucked. Strider sat in the passenger seat of the caddy William had stolen, peering out at the barren landscape and waning sunlight. This was the road trip from hell.

  After the debacle with the invisible girl, who just had to be Paris’s obsession, Sienna, Paris had flipped his ever-loving lid and attacked William for not preventing the god king from leaving with her. It had taken all of Strider’s strength — and a dagger through his friend’s broken heart — to defeat the hysterical warrior.

  Afterward, bleeding and far from calm, Paris kicked Strider and William off his ranch, along with the strippers. But Paris had soon realized Sienna could escape Cronus again and return to him, and without William, he wouldn’t be able to see her. So, the injured Paris had tracked them down and insisted on coming with them. Not a difficult task since they’d merely hiked to the mailbox at the end of his driveway and decided to rest. For a few hours.

  Ambrosia hangovers sucked as much as vacations.

  They’d been on the open road for countless hours, and for most of those hours Paris had shout
ed for Cronus, issuing threats and generally annoying the hell out of everyone. Finally, though, he’d quieted and now slept fitfully in the back seat, blood loss having drained him. Just before falling asleep, he’d vowed to call Lucien and demand the keeper of Death flash him to the heavens when his injuries healed.

  Paris was going hunting for his female.

  That kind of obsessive desire for one specific woman wasn’t smart, and Strider acknowledged that he himself had been speeding in that direction with Ex. Unlike Paris, he had willingly given the woman up, and suddenly, he was grateful. Had he continued down that path, he eventually would have fought Amun for her.

  Fighting a friend for a woman was the epitome of stupid. Wrong on every level.

  One, he valued his friendships. Two, no woman was worth the trouble she caused when he knew he would one day lose interest in her. Three, a Hunter really wasn’t worth the trouble she caused. Four, sex was sex. A man could get it anywhere, as proven by his time at Paris’s ranch.

  He sighed and concentrated on the shitty scenery. Trees. Rolling hills. And — oh, hells yeah. A convenience store, dead ahead.

  «Pull over,» he commanded.

  «What?» William flicked him a now’s-not-the-time-to-joke glance. «We just got a little peace and quiet and you want to ruin it all just to piss? You’re such a baby.»

  «Red Hots, dude.» He’d ruin anything for a mouthful of those. «Now pull the fuck over.»

  «Oh, Gummy Bears. You should have said so.»

  The car merged right, hit the service road and finally halted abruptly in front of the twenty-four-hour shop. Burly truckers hustled in and out, as well as families traveling the countryside.

  William jerked a thumb toward the backseat. «What about sleeping beauty?»

  «He’s not gonna kill himself while we’re gone.»

  «Do you have any self-preservation instincts?» Ice-blue eyes glittered with sardonic humor. «I meant, what if he wakes up, steals our car and abandons us?»

  «Easy. We steal a truck and play chase. I’ve always wanted to drive a big rig.»