Into the Void (The Godhunter, Book 10)

by Amy Sumida

  “I told them you're a Faerie Queen,” Gruach added, “that you are honorable and kind, even to the smallest of fey. I told them you would do everything you could to help them.”

  “Thank you,” I smiled at her, “but I have no idea what we should do. I thought you were doing research with the merfolk, Kanaloa. Have you learned anything beyond what they showed me? Anything that can actually help us?

  “Just that the decibels have gone up very recently and only seem to be coming from US Navy ships,” he said with seriousness. “There have been reports of high level sonar blasts near the Canary Islands, off the coast of Washington and North Carolina, and now here. A lot of the merfolk have retreated into their caverns but there have been echoes heard even there and they're afraid, Vervain.”

  “I know,” I sighed and took the mug of hot cider that Gruach handed me. “Thank you, Gruach. I know they're scared and I know that their fear can easily escalate into violence. We need to find out who's doing this and stop them. Fast.”

  “So we know the US Navy is responsible, knowingly or not, and Hawaii has one of the most important naval bases in the world,” Darius started. “Isn't that the obvious place to start?”

  “I would think so,” I nodded, “but Dare, have you ever been on a military base?”

  “No,” he shrugged. “What's the big deal? We go in under cover of invisibility. No one will stop us.”

  “That's not the problem,” I glanced at Trevor to see if he understood.”

  “Pearl Harbor has a lot of ships and it's not even the biggest US naval base,” Trevor explained for me. “Searching those ships is going to take forever.”

  “Not if I can narrow down the search,” Torrent said nonchalantly. He took a sip of his cider and then looked up to find us all gaping at him. “What? You do recall that I'm practically one with the Internet? I can access the naval records, see which ships have gone out recently and which are scheduled to. Do you know when the sonar blasts occurred in Hawaiian waters?”

  “Yes,” Kanaloa nodded. “The most recent was two days ago.”

  “Easy peasy,” Torrent shrugged. “All I have to do is see what ships were out on that day and then I can search those ship logs to see which one set off their sonar.”

  “Damn,” I huffed, “but sometimes you make me feel like an idiot, Torr.”

  “Was that a compliment?” He blinked at me.

  “And then you say something like that,” Darius laughed.

  “Yes, it was a compliment,” I shook my head at Darius. “Go ahead and perform that search, Torrent. We need to get going on this as soon as possible.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Pearl Harbor doesn't let just anyone through its gates. You have to be military or a sponsored guest to get on but they were going to make an exception for us. They just didn't know it.

  We went directly from Kanaloa's house, tracing straight onto the base itself. I've been to Pearl Harbor several times before, though I admit it was the first I'd bypassed the gate entirely. Kanaloa came with us but Gruach stayed back at his place, while Darius and Kirill headed home to Pride Palace. It just would have been too much people traipsing about invisibly and on a military base, that's asking for trouble.

  I let Torrent lead because he knew where we were headed and he took us across the main road and then down a side street without pause. But then I guess finding places was a lot easier when you had direct access to map quest inside your head. He walked steadily on, holding my hand while I held Trevor's and he held Kanaloa's. Four little ducklings all in a row.

  The huge naval ships were lined up as well, looming like metal beasts above us. Metal stairs were beside each one, the only way on or off the ships unless you could fly. I eyed them critically, giving serious consideration to the flying idea, but I didn't think I could carry more than one person. So we'd have to climb the stairs quietly and at just the right moment, two things which would be difficult to do. If someone started down them while we were heading up, it could be disastrous.

  “Which ship do we want?” I whispered to Torrent

  “That one, with the nine-zero painted on it,” he whispered back and I had a feeling he was pointing at the ship even though we couldn't see each other. “It's the USS Chafee.”

  “Sheesh,” I looked it over. “Could it be any bigger?”

  “Very easily, yes,” Torrent missed my sarcasm completely.

  “Alright, let's go,” Trevor took my hand and I grabbed Torrent's. Hopefully he took Kanaloa's hand so we would all stay together. Infiltrating a naval ship was looking a lot like a family outing. Well, if anyone could see us it would.

  We made it safely to the stairs but then had to wait awhile for the coast to be clear(no pun intended). Then we began the slow climb up the loud metal stairs. I made numerous stops and small shushing noises to my companions but it was difficult to walk on creaky metal without making noise. At least we made it to the top without someone attempting to use them at the same time.

  The interior of the ship looked much the same as the exterior. Everything was painted in tones of gray. It was a bit depressing actually. Couldn't they paint a couple walls a bright yellow and liven things up a bit? You know, to keep up morale or whatever. Would it really hurt to have some artwork on the walls? But I digress, it was ugly and cramped, and that's pretty much all of it.

  There were some tense moments when sailors passed by and we had to squish ourselves up against the wall. I did alright but it wasn't as easy for Trevor and Kanaloa. I saw a couple of guys bump into them but luckily the sailors just gave the wall a confused look and kept walking. I heard Trevor let out his breath and realized that he must have been trying to hold in his stomach even though his belly was all muscle. Those hallways were just not made to accommodate god physiques.

  “They're due to be leaving any minute now,” Torrent whispered excitedly as we made our way to central, where the ship was controlled.

  “What?” I hissed to him, my heart starting to pound.

  “Yeah, isn't that lucky timing?” Torrent sounded like he was practically jumping up and down.

  “Lucky?” I was horrified. “We'll be stuck out at sea.”

  “We can trace off the ship, Minn Elska,” Trevor whispered in a calm tone.

  “Oh,” I deflated, “right. Sorry, too much water today.”

  “Here we are,” Torrent said as a door came into view, it was the same as every other door, gray and boring. Oh, and made of metal. It also happened to be open, which really was lucky.

  We crept through and pressed up against the walls again. The room was crowded with terminals and there wasn't much space to spare. A man in a dashing white uniform walked behind men seated at monitors and lights were blinking everywhere. Things hung from the ceiling, off the walls, off the sides of terminals. Maps flashed on the wall and monitors beeped. I was a bit overwhelmed by all of it. I'd thought at least there, in the control room, they'd have a bit more space.

  “You and Kanaloa need to trace out of here,” I whispered to Trevor.

  “What? Why?” Was his immediate response. “We just made it here.”

  “Do you see this place? Someone is going to bump into you guys, you're just too big to hide on a naval ship. Now I know there's all kinds of jokes in that but I unfortunately don't have the time to make them. So just go back to Kanaloa's and wait for us there. Me and Torr will find out what we can.”

  “Fine,” he sighed and Kanaloa must have agreed because a moment later I felt a displacement of air as they traced away.

  “The Navy doesn't have openings for seamen that big but there's probably a few sailors who would enjoy trying to squeeze them in.” Torrent whispered to me.

  “What?”

  “It's a joke,” Torrent paused like he was considering what he said. “You said there were a lot of jokes about their size and the Navy, so I thought I'd try my hand at one. You see it's a play on both the word seamen and openings.”

  “Yes, I got it, Torr,” I
tried to muffle my laughter. “You just took me off guard.”

  “So it was funny?”

  “Very.”

  “Oh good,” he sighed. “Sometimes my humor goes misunderstood.”

  Then the ship lurched and I realized that the captain must have given the order to embark while we were talking. I looked around the room and found one tiny nook between a couple of machines that I thought I could squeeze into with Torrent.

  “Come on,” I reached out blindly until I found his arm and then pulled him over with me.

  “Where are we going?” He whispered. I think he was even more excited now that it was only him and me.

  “Just here,” I pushed him in first. “We need to stay out of the way. And make yourself comfortable because it's going to be awhile before anything major happens.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  By the time we were out to sea, my whole body was starting to ache from being cramped up in the little space. Torrent's excitement hadn't lessened one bit though and I could feel his fascination like a weight on my neck. I however, would have fallen asleep if I wasn't so damn uncomfortable.

  “Something's happening,” Torrent whispered and I blinked myself into alertness.

  Sure enough, there was a twitter of nervousness running through the room. I looked at the tense faces and at the monitors displaying information that I had no idea how to decipher, and then I remembered that I didn't have to. Torrent was there.

  “Can you read the monitors and see what's going on?” I asked him.

  “Read them?” A puff of air hit my neck. “I've been inside their computer network from the beginning. They're preparing to use the sonar.”

  “About time,” I sighed. “Wait, do you know why?”

  “Looks like a routine test but they seem excessively agitated over something routine.”

  “No kiddin-” my mouth dropped open, the words hanging half said from my lips, because there, in the boring gray oval doorway, was the Archangel Gabriel.

  He was dressed in a white navy uniform with more pins and medals on it than the man I'd assumed to be the captain, and he looked completely human, his wings withdrawn, his demeanor one of intimidation. He'd aged his face a bit, gone were the boyish looks, replaced by lined skin and white hair but his hazel eyes were the same, much too vibrant for such an elderly face, and with that same scornful look to them.

  “What is it?” Torrent pressed against me and Gabriel's eyes shot around the room.

  I reached back and squeezed his arm in response, hoping he'd correctly interpret my request for him to be silent. Someone with better hearing than the humans had just walked in. Torrent seemed to understand and kept quiet. Gabriel was still searching the room suspiciously but the captain approached him and drew his attention away.

  They went over to stand in front of a screen and I focused on their conversation. Gabriel wasn't the only one with enhanced hearing.

  “With all due respect, sir,” the captain was saying. “That's much too high a frequency to be using in such quantity within these waters. There's all kinds of marine life we'll be putting at risk and there's no reason for it. I've let you have your way on our last run but I've got to put my foot down now. I won't allow my ship to be a part of this.”

  “Oh yes you will, captain,” Gabriel's voice lowered and I could feel the tingle of magic crawling over my skin like ants. “For God and Country, right?”

  “For God and Country,” the captain echoed and then he turned to a man seated on his left. “Up the sonar to maximum output.”

  “But, sir,” the young man was sweating.

  “Just do it,” Gabriel leaned over and looked the man in the eye. Who knows what the poor guy saw in the archangel's eyes but he looked as if he was on the verge of peeing his pants.

  “Yes, sir,” he choked out.

  “Torr,” I whispered as low as possible. “We're leaving. Head back to Kanaloa's.”

  “Now?”

  “Now,” I took his hand, just as Gabriel lifted his face and looked directly into our little nook. He started forward but we traced away with my next breath.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  As soon as we reappeared in Kanaloa's house, I grabbed Torrent, ignoring everyone else who had jumped to their feet at our entrance.

  “Can you stop them?” I practically yelled at poor Torr. “Mess up their computers or something?”

  “Well yes but why didn't we-”

  “Just do it, Torr, do it now!” I yelled. “They can't set off another sonar blast. It's whale watching season in Hawaii, our beaches will be ridden with the bodies of dead whales and mermaids!”

  “Merfolk,” Torr whispered.

  “Torrent!”

  “It's done, Vervain,” he took my arms, shaking them a little to get through to me and then pulling me into a hug. It was such a human response that it broke through my panic.

  “Are you sure?” I said more calmly.

  “Their entire system has been shut down,” he nodded. “They're dead in the water.”

  “Good,” I breathed the word out and shuffled over to Kanaloa's couches, where I fell back into one.

  “What happened?” Trevor plopped down beside me. He looked over to Torrent when I didn't answer right away.

  “They were going to run the sonar at maximum output for multiple blasts. They would have basically done a sweep of the area, the equivalent of standing in Times Square with an artillery rifle and firing it in a circle,” Torrent's eyes were fixed on my face. “But I don't think that's why Vervain's spooked.”

  Everyone looked back at me.

  “It was Gabriel,” I shook my head in disbelief. “He disguised himself to look older but it was definitely him.”

  “Who the hell is Gabriel?” Kanaloa frowned at me.

  “Close,” I huffed slightly hysterical laugh. “Try the opposite direction.”

  “The Archangel Gabriel?” Trevor's mouth fell open. “When did you meet him?”

  “When I went to see Azrael to ask him to introduce me to his father,” my head was spinning with possibilities. Was Jerry behind this? Why? What could the Christian God possibly have to gain from mermaids... excuse me, merfolk dying. “Azrael was in a meeting with some other angels when I arrived and Gabriel was one of them.”

  “So what does the Christian God have to do with this?” Torrent echoed my thoughts.

  “Jerry,” I said distractedly.

  “What do you mean, Jerry?” Trevor looked over at me with a little frown.

  “That's his name.”

  “Who's name?” Kanaloa inquired.

  “The Christian God's,” Gruach rolled her eyes. “Pay attention. I haven't spoken English for thousands of years and I understood her.”

  I looked at Gruach, shocked by her outburst, and had one of my own... of pure laughter. It was exactly what I needed, a little comic relief. My shoulders relaxed and I sank back into the couch, laughing until my stomach hurt and tears came to my eyes. I wiped them away and was suddenly able to think clearer. There was a reason I often used humor as a shield.

  “Thanks for that,” I winked at Gruach.

  “No problem, Fire Queen,” she smiled sweetly.

  “Okay, we need to get back to Pride Palace and call the God Squad together for a meeting,” I stood up, Trevor and Torr followed suit. “You guys coming?” I looked at Kanaloa and Gruach.

  “I would love to see your god home,” Gruach stood.

  “Um, I think you'd better change or there might be a stampede of lusty lions in your direction.” I looked over her bikini-clad figure.

  “I have just the thing,” Kanaloa jumped to his feet and pulled her from the room.

  A few minutes went by with only the sound of Gruach's angry voice drifting back to us. I glanced at my guys and grinned. Evidently she didn't like what Kanaloa had picked out for her.

  “Five bucks on Gruach,” I smirked at Trevor.

  “No way,” Trevor laughed. “I don't take losing bets.” />
  Sure enough, she came out in a lovely cotton sundress, yellow with pink flowers... as pink as Kanaloa's cheeks. He followed behind her glumly, a look of pure defeat written across his face.

  “We're ready now,” Gruach smiled brightly, her pearly skin almost glowing.

  I grinned at Trevor and he just shook his head at me. A werewolf wouldn't have ever tried to hide his mate's beauty. In fact, a Froekn would probably enjoy seeing other men chase after his woman for two reasons. One- it was a compliment to his own prowess that he had such a desired woman, and two- he'd have an excuse to start a fight. I know, it's a little barbaric but that's wolves for you.

  I gave Kanaloa and Gruach the chant to get them past my wards and then we all traced over to the palace. Well, all of us except Trevor, who went to gather the Squad.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Azrael's coming too,” Trevor took a seat beside me at our massive dining table. “I thought he'd want to know.”

  “Good call,” I nodded as I watched everyone shuffle in.

  I had a moment of peace, watching them. I wasn't alone anymore, hadn't been for awhile, but it still shocked me a little every time I saw all the support I had. Another surprising thing was the growing size of the God Squad. When we'd first started working together, there was only ten of us, including myself. Now we had added Trevor, Azrael, Finn, Blue, Hades, Karni Mata, Torrent, and occasionally my sons Vidar and Vali. Samantha usually joined in and of course my Intare. Even Fenrir helped out once in awhile and we could call on the Froekn in a pinch.

  And perhaps even Brighid.

  I smiled at the bright goddess as she walked in on Thor's arm and she smiled warmly back. I was so happy for him. He deserved this, deserved to have someone wonderful. Also, I liked her a lot more than Epona, his last girlfriend.

  “Thank you for coming,” I said to Brighid as she took a seat beside me.

  “I was hoping you wouldn't mind,” she glanced at Thor and he smiled at her, his blue-green eyes sparking just a little with lightning. “Thor said you wouldn't but I didn't want to intrude.”