by Haley Weir
“Another victim...this one was alive when Deputy Harris answered the call.”
“What? Did she say anything?”
Seth waited until Diana changed out of her dress and slipped her shoes on to answer, “She was screaming your name.”
"Seth...what the hell is going on around here?" Diana asked hysterically. He admired her strength, but it was clear that Diana was tired of being strong.
"I don't know, but we'll figure it out together. We have to." He led her down to her car and they drove to the station together. Seth hadn't even cared about his own car as they pulled into the station. Deputy Harris met them at the door. He took the report from her hands and read through the details. "Anything you want to share that isn't in this file, Deputy?"
"There was a...dog."
"A hellhound."
"Exactly," the female deputy responded. "The victim was like the last one. Even the mark on the wrist was the same."
"Except this one was alive."
"And screaming Diana Kelly's name with her dying breath. Luckily, I was the only one on the scene when she died or else we would be in deep water with the mayor." Harris cleared her throat and held her hand out. She dropped something into Seth's hand. "It's a tooth that I pried from her arm."
The sharp, jagged canine had a pungent stench of sulfur wafting off of it. "Demon…"
"Excuse me, what?" Diana gasped. "Did you just say the tooth belongs to a demon?"
"I had suspicions, but it was too soon to tell."
Chapter Six
Destiny Falls,
Alaska
Demons. Like, actual demons were hunting down women that looked like Diana, and she wasn't sure how to react. The amount of blood on the tooth was jarring enough without the knowledge that it belonged to a freaking demon. "What kind of demon, exactly?" she questioned. "The kind you kill with holy water and a bunch of prayers, right?"
"Not quite."
"Then, what kind of demon is it?" Diana looked between Seth and his deputy as she waited for an answer.
In the end, it was Harris that told her the truth. "Demons aren't supposed to walk on Earth. To do so, they have to possess someone temporarily. But this demon is here...in the flesh, so to speak."
"How?"
"Someone let it out," Seth said grimly. "Someone who wants you dead, Diana. Only a god has that sort of power."
"Lovely. Just what I needed."
"How do we keep her safe if a god wants her dead?" Harris demanded. "There's nowhere she can hide."
Seth scratched at his jaw. "Did the woman you found look like Diana when she was alive?"
"Exactly like her. If she hadn't screamed out Diana's name, I would have assumed it was her."
The door to the sheriff's station opened. An officer waved them inside and led their small group into the morgue. "I thought someone should see this," the young man said nervously. He opened up four drawers that were empty aside from toe tags that had been left behind. "The bodies are gone, Sheriff. All of the Jane Does are missing."
Seth punched the wall. "I want security footage of the last forty-eight hours. Right now." He wandered over to a panel on the wall and typed in a code. An alarm blared and bars slammed down over the windows. "Until I check everyone that has come in and out of this room, no one leaves."
Diana sat in Seth's office away from the others as he worked. She looked at the picture on his desk of Seth and his brothers hugging in front of an enormous man she had only seen in paintings at the palace. It must have been difficult for him when he learned that the father he had looked up to wasn't the man he thought he was. Diana's own father had been a poor excuse for a dad. Richard Kelly had abandoned nearly a dozen children. Never once had she felt the need to find him or mend their relationship. Diana had no interest in opening that proverbial can of worms.
The day drifted by slowly. Diana nodded off several times before the office door opened. Seth collapsed into his chair and kicked up his feet. He checked his watch with a frown. "Want to order Chinese or something?" Seth asked casually.
"That's it? I've been sitting here for hours and you come in to ask me what my takeout preferences are?" Diana sat up straighter in her chair. "Seth, talk to me. What happened?"
"They vanished."
"Who took them?"
"No one took them," he replied. "They vanished. I checked the footage. No one went into that room after the last Jane Doe was autopsied. The drawers show no sign of tampering."
"But…"
"They had no names, no faces, and no one came to claim the bodies after the murders ended up in the paper. Missing persons came up with nothing, trace evidence was inconclusive, and DNA results were tagged unreliable because we couldn't get complete dental—”
"So, what does all of that mean?" she asked.
"It means a demon killed five women who don't exist."
"But they have to exist. We saw the bodies, Seth."
He lowered his legs and spread the contents of the case file on top of his desk. "I'm sure there's an explanation for what's going on, but we won't find it in here. The mayor called and said we were chasing ghosts to rig the next election. My job is on the line here, Diana."
"Fine. What do we do?"
"We let Giddeon find us a way into the underworld and then we ask Plutus who's unleashing demonic assassins in the human world."
"So, we just sit around waiting for someone else to give us an answer?" Diana snorted. "I'm not very good at staying in one place for very long."
"The lockdown is over. You can leave whenever you want, but it would be best if we leave this alone for now."
"Not likely."
Seth lurched up from his desk. "What do you want from me, Diana?"
"I want you to actually do something! Stop waiting around for your big brother to rescue you. Rina and Caleb found a way into the underworld, and so can we."
"Get out."
Diana grabbed her coat and left without looking back. Instead of heading home, she drove to the library and used one of the computers to research gateways on Earth that led to the underworld. She searched through fable after fable until she found a website that gave detailed instructions on how to summon Cerberus. Diana took notes and ordered the supplies online. If no one was going to help her, then she was determined to help herself.
She spent the rest of the night looking up information on the three-headed dog that guarded the underworld. The symbol on the Cerberus's collar was identical to the mark on Jane Doe's wrist. Diana knew she was on the path to finding something big.
***
Castle Black
Seth banged on Balor's door, hoping to avoid his other brothers at all costs. When the youngest of his siblings slumped into view with a lit cigarette hanging from his lip, Seth forced his way into the cluttered confines of the sage sanctuary. Bookshelves line the walls from floor to ceiling and every flat surface was covered in large tomes filled with a vast wealth of knowledge that paled in comparison to Balor's own wisdom. Seth didn't envy his brother, for he saw Balor's powers as a curse more than a gift. "You really should stop smoking, brother."
"It's elfroot."
"So?"
"So, it helps me think," Balor said as if he were already bored with the conversation. "I hold the knowledge of the gods in my mind, Seth. Their voices are like unending static ringing in my ears. Spare me the lecture."
"I came to ask for your help."
"Not Giddeon?"
"He's already helping in his own way," Seth uttered. "But he can't help me with this."
"Go on."
"You've had dealings with Atë in the past. What were they like?" Seth stepped closer to the center of the room. "Were her requests...unreasonable?"
"I fucked her; I didn't make any deals. Why do you ask?"
"Diana told me everything, Balor. I know what you've all been keeping from me. But I want to know the full truth of why she wants us to fall, not an interpretation colored by emotion."
"Atë d
oesn't exactly tell the truth," Balor chuckled. "She's all about deception."
"If I make a deal, I mean."
The mirth left Balor's eyes and he used his power to lock the door. "You can't be serious. You would strike a bargain with a goddess whose very nature is to inspire betrayal? What for?"
"Diana."
"What about her?"
"Someone wants her dead—a god, I think—and I promised that I would protect her." Seth placed his hand on his brother's shoulder. Physical touch had been repulsive to him before Diana came into his life. "A demon hunts her."
"Then kill it."
"What's to keep more from coming after her?" he asked. "How many demons will I have to battle before she's safe?"
"Will you give your soul to Atë? Because that's what it might take." Balor put out his cigarette and grabbed a book from the top of a disorganized pile. "Kill the demon and use your powers to look into its mind. Find out who wants your ward dead and kill them too."
"I...haven't used my powers since I returned from the island. It isn't the same as it once was. I feel hollow inside."
"Caleb can barely shift because of his injuries, but he still tries." Balor flipped open the book and held up a picture. "This is your demon. It will most likely be in the sewer."
Seth took a picture of the book with his phone and left Balor to his sulking. He went back to the alley where he had first seen the creature and knelt down beside a manhole cover just a few feet away from where the first body had been found. The bear beneath his skin reverberated with the urge to shift. Seth lifted the cover and was hit by the stench of the sewer below. He climbed down the ladder quickly with a grimace as his knuckles brushed the slimy brick wall.
His boots hit the ground with a splash. Rancid water coated the bottom of his pants as Seth made his way along the narrow path beside the slow-moving stream of sludge. Rats scurried out of sight, along with a slew of maggots and roaches. He covered his sensitive nose with the sleeve of his jacket and delved deeper into the sewer until the smell of sulfur overpowered everything else. Seth gagged on the pungent aroma and pushed aside a slab of wood that concealed the entrance to the demon's layer.
He slipped inside and caught sight of the creature crawling behind water purification tanks with glowing eyes. Seth summoned the great strength within himself, and the beast came forward. The demon's head cocked with interest. Thick, leathery skin covered its body. A spine of horns trailed down its back and large wings spread from one end of the chamber to the other. Taloned feet scraped along the steel walkways, causing sparks to fly near the maintenance shaft that led to the controls of the machines.
Seth shifted into an enormous bear. One of his ears was torn, and a scar slashed along his right eye. A roar echoed through the chamber, and the demon attacked. Seth dodged the first swipe of claws. He stood up on his hind legs and snapped his jaws at the wicked creature. It hissed a foul breath before slashing with those brutal talons once more. Fire exploded across Seth's shoulder as nails sunk into his flesh. He shook the demon off and pummeled it into the ground.
The demon was hurled into the wall. It dropped dead with a sick crunch as its neck snapped. Seth shifted halfway back into his human form and sank his claws into the creature's chest. He wrapped his fingers around the faintly beating heart and forced himself into the demon's memories. A spire stood tall in a sea of fire and brimstone. Demons writhed in a pit of torment...Seth pushed deeper until he saw a throne room. A woman sat upon a throne fashioned from the bones of a manticore.
He pulled his hand free from the demon's chest and shifted back into his human form. Seth returned to the surface more confused than ever before. The woman on the throne looked identical to Diana. Seth was afraid of what he might find if he pushed any further.
He got in his car and drove home long enough to shower before he went up to Diana's apartment. His hair was still soaking wet when he knocked on the door. Seth heard a crash from the other side and reared back to break the door down. "Stand back!" His boot connected with the lock and splinters of wood went flying through the air.
The first thing he noticed was the circle of blood drawn on the floor. He followed a pattern of red drops that led him to the bedroom. Seth dropped to his knees as he stared at the bed. At its center was the lifeless body of Diana Kelly.
Chapter Seven
The Underworld
The scent of apples floated on a gentle breeze. Diana opened her eyes and stared up at a radiant sun amidst an amber sky streaked with lavender. White, leafless trees with golden apples surrounded a meadow of white lilies. She stood up and touched the place where she had cut her palm, surprised to see that the wound had healed despite the lingering sting. Diana heard a low growl and turned to see a large three-headed dog lazing in the field. Sunlight glittered off of the collar around Cerberus's neck as a man in black robes patted the beast's side affectionately. "Welcome home, Diana," the man said without facing her. "It has been a long time since we met."
"You must be mistaken. I'm almost certain that we've never met a day in my life."
"Almost certain," he taunted. "And no, not in life. But we have met in death many times. After all, you keep trying to get back to the one you love no matter how many times we play this little game of ours."
"You're speaking in riddles."
"Oh? I thought I was speaking quite plainly," he chuckled as he finally faced Diana. Like her, he had one blue eye and one green with flecks of brown at the center of the iris. But that was where the similarities ended. "By the gods, you look like your mother."
"I wish I could have met her."
"But you have, Diana. Many, many times."
"I'm here for answers," she snapped. "If you don't have them, I'll be on my way."
The man walked through the flowers until he stood just a foot or so away from her. "My name is Hades, Diana, and I am your father. Your mother, Nemesis, wanted better for you than a life here in the underworld."
Diana tossed her head back and laughed. "This is some hallucination brought on by blood loss. There's no way I'm your daughter."
"It is not a hallucination," he insisted.
“Then tell me who’s trying to kill me.”
“No one is trying to kill you, Diana. The demon was sent to warn you.” Hades offered his hand with a smile. Diana took a deep breath and tucked her hand in his. He led her over to Cerberus, placing her palm flat on the symbol that dangled from his collar. “This gentle beast was your guardian when you were a child.”
“I have no memory of this place.”
“Sadly, that was how things had to be to keep you safe.”
“You sent a demon after me that mauled women until they weren’t recognizable,” she argued. “How is that meant to keep me safe?”
Hades dropped his arm and leaned against Cerberus. “You have a gift, Diana. It’s a rare ability that is both wonderful and dangerous. You can tear off pieces of your soul and manifest them into perfect replicas of yourself. They are less powerful, but perfect, nonetheless. Once the doppelgangers die, the souls are supposed to return to you.”
“The demon was trying to obscure the evidence so people didn’t think I was dead?”
“It started the night you fell in love with Seth Black,” Hades said.
“That’s impossible. I’m not in love with Seth.”
“The moment he walked out of your door…your soul has been reaching out to him. It’s something you can’t control. At least not yet.”
“This is insane. The bodies had mate marks on their wrists. I don’t.”
“You will,” he claimed. “Now that you know who you really are, the truth will no longer hide. But you must try to master your abilities or else it will take more than a demon to cover your tracks.”
“My mother...is she alive?”
“Nemesis is with you always.”
“That isn’t an answer,” Diana protested. “Can I see her?”
“I have not seen her myself for many years. I k
now she is alive because you stand before me, but I know not where she is. This realm is as much my kingdom as it is my prison. If I could leave here and find her for you, then I would.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Seize your destiny,” Hades laughed. “Hone your abilities and punish those who have wronged you. If anyone tries to stand in your way, tell them you had a devil on your shoulder. I don’t mind taking the blame if it means you live a long and happy life, darling.”
“The people who raised me...who are they?”
“Kind mortals who wanted to show their loyalty to your mother. As Goddess of Retribution, Nemesis has many devoted followers.” Hades pulled a ring from his fingers and set it in the palm of her hand. “It will allow you to visit as often as you wish. No more blood rituals, all right?” He chucked her under the chin and disappeared into thin air.
Diana felt as if she had plummeted back into her skin. She shot up off of a metal table and landed on frigid tile that smelled of disinfectant. The door opened with a burst of bright light. Deputy Harris stood with a wide-eyed expression as Diana began to shiver from the unholy chill in her bones. “Y-you going to stand there all day or help me up?”
“You were dead.”
“What?”
“Dead! Like no pulse, cold as ice, pale as a ghost!” Harris hurried over with a sheet and wrapped it around Diana. “I’m totally going to lose my job. The mayor is going to think I can’t tell the difference between a dead body and someone sleeping in their apartment.”
“I-I’ll be s-sure to vouch for you.”
“Thanks, I guess.”
“Where’s Seth?” Diana stuttered. Her teeth clicked loudly in the sterile room.
“He found you. The sheriff didn’t take it well. I think he blames himself. Honestly, it would have looked like a suicide if not for all the creepy occult stuff.
~*~
Destiny, Alaska
The revolver sat at the center of the table beside his badge. Seth flipped open the cylinder and loaded only a single bullet. He spun the cylinder, cocked back the hammer, pressed the muzzle to his temple, and pulled the trigger. The gun clicked with the sound of an empty chamber, causing a rush of adrenalin to course through his veins. Seth ignored the knocks upon his door until they drowned out the sound of the screams in his mind. He had failed to protect Diana. How could he be expected to protect an entire county?