GEARY TOOK A STEP BACK AT THE SIGHT OF M'ADOC AND the Dolophoni... at least that's who she assumed they were. There were three of them, but she'd never seen them before. Unlike the first group, these were all women. Dressed in black leather, with black hair, nails, and lipstick, they looked mean and nasty. They were also fanged, with eyes so dark, she couldn't even see where the pupils ended and the irises began. All they needed was snakes in their hair to be even...
Oh wait, one of them had that. Black snakes slithered out of her ponytail to curl around her neck and hiss at them. Lovely. Just lovely.
Solin moved to stand in front of Geary and Kat. "This is over, M'Adoc."
"No, it isn't. Not until she's"-he indicated Geary with a jerk of his chin-"dead. Now either you and Katra can hand her over and leave or you two can bleed."
Solin let out an exaggerated breath. "Looks like I'm bleeding then. Unlike some people I know"-he duplicated M'Adoc's action, indicating him with his chin-" I keep my word."
M'Adoc narrowed his eyes before he turned his head to address the women over his shoulder. "Kill them."
Geary tensed for the coming fight. Before she could even blink, Kat turned to her and grabbed her. Kat whispered something in Atlantean and then she kissed Geary fast on the lips.
Stunned beyond belief, Geary closed her eyes as she felt something hot and powerful spreading through her body and Kat stepped away to confront the others. For a full ten seconds Geary couldn't move as indescribable power filled her. It was comparable to when she'd held Apollymi's medallion in her mouth, only this felt stronger, deadlier. And this time she was definitely in charge and not someone else. The power was incredible. It was as if her brain was alive and growing.
And when she opened her eyes, she no longer saw in the same colors. Everything was more vibrant
now. More vivid.
The snake-haired woman seized her. Without thought, Geary dodged the punch and returned the blow with one so fierce, it knocked the woman off her feet and sent her flying. Literally. She cleared the ground by a good five feet before she slammed into the wall and fell to the floor. The snakes hissed and strained in anger.
Kat dispelled her attacker every bit as easily. But Solin appeared to be reticent to strike his. However, when the woman backhanded him and laid open his cheek, he changed his mind. Head-butting her, he knocked her to the ground, then turned to face M'Adoc.
The three women came to their feet to renew the fight. They took a step forward in unison.
"Enough!"
Geary was expecting it to be Zebulon, but it wasn't. Instead, there was another Dream-Hunter who was leaner than M'Adoc and Solin. He appeared between them and held his hand up for the women who strangely obeyed him. His ebony hair was long and braided down his back. He was dressed all in black and held a look that said "I'm in the mood to kill anyone who pisses me off." But more than that, there was an aura of power around him so strong that it actually made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
"Whose side are you on, D'Alerian?" Solin asked as he wiped the blood away from his face with the back of his hand.
"Ours," another man answered as he appeared beside D'Alerian. Equal in height to D'Alerian, he wore his black hair cropped short and had on a pair of jeans and a -button-down shirt. His eyes seemed to be a blue so pale, they looked colorless. Those eyes were eerie and deadly as they settled on Geary with purpose.
M'Adoc smiled in approval. "So you finally see my way of things."
It was D'Alerian who answered. "No. We can't let you kill the human. It's wrong and this isn't who and what we are. We protect, we don't assassinate."
Kat and Solin exchanged a puzzled frown.
"What's going on here, M'Ordant?" Solin asked the newcomer.
"We're taking M'Adoc into custody."
M'Adoc cursed. "Are you insane? You can't do this."
D'Alerian turned to face him. "Yes, we can, and yes, we are."
The women looked confused but didn't interfere as D'Alerian covered M'Adoc with some sort of shimmery web. M'Adoc tried to fight, but it held him tight and constricted more with every movement.
Finally, it was so tight that all he could do was curse them.
"It's called a diktyon ," Kat answered Geary's unasked question. "It's something Artemis uses to capture animals and not hurt them. Although how they"-she indicated the Dream-Hunters-"ended up with one
of them I don't know."
D'Alerian looked at the women. "Your services are no longer required. Furies, return."
They vanished instantly while M'Adoc continued to curse the others. "Do you understand what you're doing? What the gods will do to us?"
D'Alerian's eyes were sad and dark. "Sometimes our worst enemies are ourselves, M'Adoc. You are becoming the very thing they fear us to be, and that we can't allow." He met Geary's gaze. "You understand that you can never speak a word of us to anyone?"
Like this was something she'd be bantering about? Yeah, right. "Who would ever believe me?" she asked seriously.
D'Alerian nodded in approval. He took a small ring from his pinkie and placed it in Geary's palm. "I know what you plan and I wish you luck with it. Give this to Persephone and tell her that Neco supports you, that you're calling in the favor she owes him."
Geary was baffled by his actions and his words. "What?"
He closed her hand over the ring. "Don't question it, Megeara. Just do it."
Grateful and amused by his commanding tone, she couldn't help teasing him. "You're a bossy bunch, aren't you?"
One corner of M'Ordant's lips twisted. "You've no idea." An instant later, he vanished with M'Adoc in tow.
D'Alerian offered her a kind smile before he released her.
"What's really going on?" Solin asked D'Alerian as he turned to leave.
The humor fled from his face and he returned to being stoic again as he addressed Solin over his shoulder. "Nothing that concerns you, Skotos. Just know that we'll keep M'Adoc away from you."
She saw the suspicion on Solin's face. "Given our history, why would you do that?"
There was true regret in D'Alerian's eyes and in his stance as he turned to face Solin. The sincerity on D'Alerian's face was heart wrenching. "I was wrong for what I did to you, Solin. I'm sorry."
Solin scoffed in derision. "Rote words to you, Oneroi."
"No, it's heartfelt, I assure you." He hesitated as if considering the repercussions before he spoke again.
"Things change, Solin, and so do people. Even gods."
Solin froze as he finally understood what D'Alerian was telling him. "After all this time, you trust me?"
D'Alerian nodded. "Arik did, and you proved yourself by protecting Megeara even when it could have cost you your life. You had nothing to gain and everything to lose. I think that makes you trustworthy."
Then he did the most unexpected thing of all. He offered his hand to Solin. "Brothers."
"Brothers," Solin said, taking D'Alerian's hand and shaking it. "Thank you."
He inclined his head to them before he vanished.
Kat cocked her head as she frowned over their exchange. "What did I just miss?"
"Nothing," Solin said quickly. "It's just Oneroi weirdness." He let out a deep breath as he faced them. He smiled at Geary. "Last I heard, Persephone was on Olympus with her mother. I can't go there, but Kat can and she can take you with her."
Geary didn't understand that. He was a god and should be as welcomed on Olympus as any other god.
"Why can't you go there?"
"Solin is under a death warrant," Kat explained. "There are too many gods who would kill him on sight if he were ever dumb enough to pop into their backyard."
"Oh," Geary said in understanding. How awful for him. No wonder he'd been so angry over them in the past. It sounded like he was fully entitled to it.
Geary stepped forward and kissed him on his cheek. "Thank you for your help, Solin. I really appreciate it and I'm sure Arik does, too."
Solin nodded. "Just make me one promise."
"And that is?"
His gaze burned into hers. "If you get Arik back, you won't be stupid again. Love is a rare thing, Megeara. Hold on to it with both hands."
Tears gathered in her eyes as she realized he was speaking from his heart and from a past he had no intention of sharing with her. But his words were too genuine to be an arbitrary recitation. "I fully intend to."
"Then it's worth it."
That confused her. "What is?"
Solin chucked her gently on the chin. "Whatever they throw at me." He inclined his head to Kat. "You two kids have fun, and good luck." Then he vanished, too.
Geary frowned at Kat. "Is it just me or was that the oddest exchange?"
"No," she breathed, "it wasn't. You're just missing part of the story. Remember, at one time the Oneroi had feelings. Some of them were in love and even had families at the time they were rounded up and punished."
A bad feeling went through Geary as she noted the ominous tone of Kat's voice. "What happened to their families?"
"Let's just say Zeus was really angry."
It didn't take a genius to ascertain what that would have led to. "He killed them."
She nodded grimly.
Even though Geary had guessed it, she was still aghast that he'd be so callous to his own family members. " All of them?"
Kat nodded again.
Tears gathered in Geary's eyes as the magnitude of their punishment truly hit her. She couldn't imagine the horror that they must have been put through. No wonder M'Adoc was psycho. "Did Solin-"
"No," Kat said quickly, cutting her off. "He was the family they tried to destroy and he survived by the skin of his nose."
"Arik told me that, too. God, I feel so bad for them."
"All of us with any decency do, but there's nothing to be done for them as a group. Not unless you go up against Zeus, and that takes more god power than what we have." She offered Geary a smile. "But right now we have one god in particular we might be able to help."
She was right. Before they plotted a war, they needed to win a battle, and Geary was ready to take on all of Olympus for Arik. "Let's get on it."
GEARY DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM Olympus and the gods. True, she'd spent the whole of her life listening to her father and grandfather tell stories about them. But that had only been speculation on everyone's part.
Now she was actually here.
And it was scary and invigorating to know that those legends were real. That things she'd taken for granted as fiction weren't. Wow.
Just like the stories told, Olympus was breathtaking. The weather was perfect. Not too hot. Not too cold. It was like a mid-spring day. The sky was so blue as to be unreal in its celestial hue, and the mountains around her were lush and green. The air was fresh and laced with a sweet scent. She'd never experienced anything like this.
Dreamy was the only word for it.
But what fascinated her most was that she could look down and see the world below in all its glory through the misty clouds that kept the gods isolated from the world.
"This is incredible."
Kat smiled. "Yeah, I know." She looked around with pride. "I was raised here."
Geary couldn't imagine having a childhood like that. "Really?"
"Yes." Kat pointed to a large circular gold building at the end of the golden cobblestoned street. "That is Artemis's temple. When I was a little girl, I used to sneak out of it and run to there"-she pointed to another temple at the opposite end-"to Athena's temple, and play with her owls." She laughed at the memory. "It used to make Artemis crazy."
"Why?"
"They have a long-standing feud with each other over some nonsense that happened aeons ago. And Artemis wanted me to stay as far away from Athena as I could."
"But you couldn't resist, huh?"
Her smile widened. "Not really. According to Artemis, I've made a lifetime study of irritating her."
Geary laughed as she looked around and saw three fawns sprinting across the walk ahead of them. The deer vanished into the woods, where she swore she glimpsed a centaur running. "I can't believe this is real."
"Oh, believe it. Scary as it can be." Kat pointed to a huge hall made of gold and ivory that was on a hilltop above them. "And that is where Zeus resides with Hera. It's the great hall where everyone gathers to mostly bicker and complain."
It was as magnificent as the rest of the area. Truly, it was like walking in a dream. "Is that where we're going?"
"No. Persephone doesn't play politics. Even though Zeus is her father, she only goes there when she's summoned, especially since Hera can't stand her because she's one of Zeus's bastards. She tries her best to stay out of their business." Kat pointed to another of the buildings down the street. "She'll most likely be hanging out at her mother's temple."
Geary followed Kat as she crossed the street and they were almost run over by a blur.
"Hermes!" Kat shouted. "Watch where you're going!"
"No time..." A faint voice drifted back to them as he vanished out of sight. It strangely reminded Geary of the Roadrunner cartoon, as nothing but dust was left in his wake.
"That happen a lot?" she asked Kat.
"Yeah, he's always in a hurry. You have to be really careful or he'll run you down. It's like being hit by a Mack truck, too. Bloody bastard."
Okay... no hostility there.
But luckily no one else tried to mow them down as they walked the short distance to the smaller domed building. Geary paused outside to look up. It was only about half as tall as everything around it and not very large. Though it was still beautiful and bigger than any home Geary's family had ever owned, it lacked much of the awe factor that the rest of the buildings around it had. "Why is this so small compared to the others?"
Kat shrugged as she looked up at it. "Demeter isn't one for pretense. She's very simple compared to the
others."
Moving forward, Kat opened the door to a massive foyer that was made of marble so white, it hurt her eyes to look at it. The entire room was surrounded by columns that were carved to look like people.
And as Kat and Geary entered, one of the male statues on her right opened its eyes to stare at them.
"What brings you here, Katra?" the statue asked in ancient Greek.
Kat was completely unfazed by the fact that a living statue was addressing her, while Geary gaped at it.
"I want a word with Persephone."
"She is in the garden," a female statue answered before she pointed to the opposite set of doors. "But she is not in a happy mood, so be warned."
"Thanks, Chloe."
Befuddled, Geary trailed along through the doors that opened of their own volition into a massive garden atrium. The wind was gentle as it stirred the scent of hyacinth and lilac. "Ooo, nice."
At least that was what she thought until they heard someone cursing. Repeatedly and with relish.
"Gardening is crap, Mom," the light, cadent voice whined from the bushes in front of them. "I hate it!
Look at that. My manicure's going to be completely wrecked and for what? Dig the earth, plant some crap, do this, do that. Blah!"
"Seph?"
The bushes rustled before a small woman wiggled out from between them. Geary hid her smile as a very petite and extremely beautiful blond woman stood up. Dressed in dark green overalls and a white T-shirt, she had dirt smeared across one cheek and on the tip of her nose. Her hands were covered by large gardening gloves while green and brown leaves were stuck in her upswept hair that still managed to be breathtaking on her. She slung her hands out and sent the gloves flying to the ground.
"Hi, Kat," she said as if completely unperturbed by the fact that they'd overheard her complaints.
"What's up?"
"I wanted..." Kat's voice trailed off as a small set of flowers started to move toward the woods.
Persephone blasted them with some kind of energy from her hands. She laughed, then sent her gloves to go pull up more flowers.
"What are you doing?" Kat asked with a frown.
"Revenge," Persephone said proudly. "It's a small revenge, granted, but it's these little things in life that mean so much."
Kat cocked a brow and looked at Geary before she asked for clarification. "Revenge on who and for what?"
"My mother, who else?" Persephone gestured around the lush garden. "Sticks me in this godforsaken place nine months out of the year and thinks I ought to be grateful for it. Meanwhile all I want is to be
with my husband..." She gave them a meaningful look. "Have you any idea how hard it is to go nine months out of the year with no sex when you're married to such a fine piece of male anatomy that he should have been the god of fertility instead of the god of death?" She paused in her tirade as she finally saw Geary over Kat's shoulder. "And you are?"
"She's a friend. Megeara, meet Persephone."
Persephone frowned sternly as she raked a gaze over Geary's body. "You're not the Fury Megeara, are you?"
"No, but I was named after her."
"Ah." Persephone extended her hand as her features softened. "Nice to meet you then."
"You, too."
"So," Persephone said, looking back at Kat. "What brings you two here?"
"We"-Kat indicated the two of them with a wave of her hand-"are in need of some serious help."
Persephone scoffed. " I'm in need of some serious help." She sighed as she gave Geary a hopeless smile.
"I know we just met, Megeara, but bear with me. I'm so horny I could die and my mother's answer to my complaints... weed her prized garden. Weed! What is she, insane?"
This was definitely more than Geary wanted to know about the goddess.
"Yeah, and on that happy note," Kat said with a hint of laughter in her voice, "it's your husband who brings us here."
"Oh, what'd he do now?"
"Made a pact with a Dream-Hunter who wanted to be human. Now the Dream-Hunter has been killed and we'd like to get him back from Hades."
Interesting summation Kat had come up with. Geary would have never been so succinct.
Persephone screwed her face up. "That's a bummer. You know Hades doesn't like to let anyone leave.
Ever. He's kind of attached to those souls."
"I love Arik," Geary said, her voice cracking. "I'll do anything to get him back."
Both of the women cringed at Geary's words.
Persephone motioned for her to lower her voice. "Don't say that too loudly around here. There are a lot of folks who would take you up on it, and bargaining with a god is what got you guys into this mess in the first place."
"I'm sorry," Geary said quickly. "But I do love him, with all my heart."
Kat sighed. "The gods have really screwed her over. They've taken almost all of her family, and given that, I was thinking that we might be able to help her just this once."
Persephone shook her head. "You know the rules, Kat."
Geary frowned. "What rules?"
"Quid pro quo," Kat said irritably. "You have to give something in order to get a favor from a god."
Oh, that was just wonderful. But it still didn't stop Geary. She had to get Arik freed. "Tell me what I have to do."
Persephone looked surprised by Geary's response. "She's an eager little bunny, isn't she?"
"She's desperate, Seph. Of all people, I think you can relate to what it's like to be taken away from the one you love."
Persephone nodded. "Yeah, and you picked the right moment to approach me on this. I'm really missing my Hades."
Suddenly Geary remembered the ring D'Alerian had given her. "Wait!" She pulled it out of her pocket.
"One of the Oneroi gave me this. He said to give it to you and to tell you that Neco wanted to call in his favor."
She saw the pain in Persephone's eyes as she took the ring from Geary's hand. Persephone's eyes shimmered from tears as she traced the scrollwork on it with her fingertip. "How was he doing?"
Kat gave her a sad smile before she answered. "Well."
Persephone placed the ring on her thumb before she nodded. "Well, there you have it. Neco is trading in his favor for this, so it's Neco you owe."
Who is Neco? Geary mouthed the words at Kat, wanting to understand exactly what was going on. And who she owed for this favor.
"Neco is D'Alerian."
Geary was floored by the news. "Why would he trade his favor in for me?"
Persephone brushed away her tears. "Because my brother is a gentle man. He doesn't like to see anyone suffer and he hates injustice. I imagine this is his way of making amends for something he feels they've taken from you."
Still, Geary didn't understand. "Isn't that hard to do for someone who doesn't have any feelings?"
Persephone didn't respond.
Kat, on the other hand, scowled at the much shorter goddess. "The curse on them is weakening, isn't it?"
Persephone gave a subtle nod. "But you can't tell anyone, Kat. No one. I won't have Neco punished again. Father was more harsh on him than the others because he was his son. If he ever learns this..."
"Don't worry," Kat assured her, "I won't tell anyone. Keeping secrets is what I'm best at."
"Good," Persephone breathed. "They've all been through enough."
Geary shook her head. "But I don't understand. I thought the Oneroi were the sons of Hypnos and Morpheus?"
"Some of the Oneroi are," Persephone said quietly. "Neco is my half brother. He was born of Zeus and D'Aria, one of the original Oneroi. So long as one of their parents is an Oneroi, then they inherit those powers and are given those duties."
Geary rubbed her brow as she tried to make sense of it and fit it into her mind. "You guys have the most convoluted family trees."
Kat laughed. "Believe me, we know."
"Yeah, and you don't ever want to try and figure out Kat's. It's scary." Persephone craned her neck to look around the yard. "Come on, guys, we have to hurry. If my mother returns and finds me gone, she'll launch a tornado or something."
One second they were in the sun-filled garden, in the next they were in a dark, stinking cavern. Geary held her hand to her nose in an effort to squelch the awful smell. "What is that stench?"
Screwing her features up in distaste, Persephone waved her hand in front of her face. "Cerebus's dinner.
We picked a bad time to come."
She led them down a narrow corridor and through a door that opened into a large throne room.
Geary paused in the doorway as she saw the glistening ebony walls. But what held her enthralled was the gorgeous man sitting on a black throne that was made of what appeared to be bones. With shoulder-length black wavy hair, he was absolutely stunning.
And ripped.
Dressed in black leather armor, Hades had a presence that truly suited a god of death. It sent a ripple of fear over her, but even so, she understood why Persephone had been attracted to him.
He was compelling.
And as Persephone neared him and he saw her, the look of joy on his face actually made Geary's heart ache. He rose slowly to his feet.
"Seph," he breathed as if he were dreaming.
Persephone ran to him.
Laughing, he scooped her up in his arms and twirled around with her. "Oh, my precious Seph." He laughed again before he kissed her soundly.
Kat cleared her throat. Loudly. "Sorry for the interruption, but before clothing starts to fly or disintegrate, I wanted to remind you two that you're not alone."
Persephone blushed at the same time Hades growled at them. He took a step toward Kat, but his wife stopped him. "She's right, Hades. We have to be quick before my mother finds me gone and thinks that you've kidnapped me again. The last thing we need is for her to call out my father."
Hades cursed under his breath. "Like I fear that bastard."
"Hades," Persephone chided.
He relented, but by his face Geary could tell he did so reluctantly. "So why are they here?"
"They come seeking a soul."
He scowled at his wife. "Whose?"
"Arikos," Kat said.
Hades looked even more confounded. "The Skotos?"
Geary nodded.
"He's not here."
"What?" Geary asked in disbelief, her heart sinking.
"Arikos hasn't made his way here," Hades repeated. "If he had, I would know it. I have a bone to pick with that bastard, too."
Kat ignored Hades' heated tone. "We were told he's on the other side of the river Styx and isn't able to cross. M'Adoc killed him and didn't bury him. Arik has no money to pay Charon for the crossing."
"Why would M'Adoc do that?" But before they could answer, Hades shook his head. "That little bugger.
Trying to pull one on me. He doesn't want me to know Arikos is here. Bloody, freaking bastard. And you." He looked at Megeara. "You're the human Arikos bartered for. You're supposed to be here in his stead. So have you come to exchange places with him?"
Geary couldn't speak as fear took root in her.
But before she could think of something to say, Persephone slapped Hades on the arm. "Don't you even start that."
Rubbing the spot she'd hit, he scowled at her. "Start what? Arikos and I had a bargain."
"So what?" Persephone asked in an irritated tone. "Do you mean to tell me that you are going to stand there and make her die to save him? How could you?"
"It was a bargain," he said defensively.
"Yes, and my parents made a bargain, too, and look how that's turned out. I can't believe you would do this to someone else. I thought you were different."
His features turned placating. "Baby, I am."
"No, you're not. You're just like them . You intend to break up two lovers and for what? A stupid, meaningless bargain. You who know how much it hurts to be away from the one you love, and yet you would do something so cold and mean. Oh, that's it. I'm going home to my mother's and I'm not coming back."
His dark eyes snapped fire. "You have to come back. You have no choice."
She narrowed her gaze on him. "You're right. I have no choice about coming here, but I have a choice about where I sleep once I'm home."
His face went pale as he realized he was on losing ground. "You wouldn't dare."
Persephone put her hands on her hips as she stared down the man who was practically twice her size. It would have been comical if Geary's future with Arik didn't hinge on the outcome. "You break these two up and it'll be a cold day in Hephaestus's forge before you enter my bedroom. In fact, I'll get Eros to make you impotent. Yeah. Forever. That'll teach you."
His face completely ashen, Hades looked at Geary. "Take him. Get his ass out of here and don't look back."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
Persephone winked at Geary before she pulled her husband into a tight hug. "Now was that so hard?"
He answered her question with one of his own. "How long until your mother returns?"
Persephone turned to them. "You two better hurry along and claim him. Arik will be a Shade until you return to the sunlight in the human realm. Kat, you know the way. Once he's back in the world, he'll be human and flesh. But remember, Megeara, that you have to lead him out of here yourself, and you can't look back. If you do, you'll lose him forever."
Before Geary could even say "thank you," the two of them vanished.
Kat turned toward her with a laugh. "Fun, huh?"
"Yeah," Geary said lightly. "I think I'm a bit shell-shocked. I can't believe we have no test or anything to fulfill."
"We don't have him out of here yet. Remember, when they say don't look back, don't."
Geary nodded as she remembered that from her studies. They weren't out of the woods yet. And if they didn't find him soon, it would be too late.
ARIK WATCHED AS CHARON PASSED BY HIM ON THE RIVER. The old man was a sulking bearded figure, dressed in dark brown. His pitiless gaze scanned those who were gathered on the banks of the river. Charon would only take those who had an obulos , a Greek coin, or a Persian danace to pay
the ferryman's fee. Only those with the coin could go to the other side, where they were divided up-those who'd done good deeds in their lives were taken to the Elysian Fields for a divine rest, and those who'd committed evil deeds were destined for Tartarus to be tortured.
But only a fool would give Charon the coin before he delivered them to the opposite bank. It was custom to show the coin to Charon, then wait and hand it over once the journey was complete.
If you couldn't show him the coin, then you were doomed to wait on the bank for a hundred years before you could cross. And if you paid Charon before he delivered you to your destination, he'd dump your soul in the river, where you'd suffer in eternal misery.
Personally, Arik knew where he was headed once he crossed the river and he could easily wait a hundred years before his torture began. Then again, he didn't have to. He was already aching from the loss of Megeara.
He felt her absence with every part of him. The despair weighed like a stack of anvils on his soul. All he wanted was to see her face one last time. To touch her cheek or to feel her hair on his flesh. Those memories seared him as he prayed for her safety.
"I hate that miserable old bastard."
Arik looked to his left as the Shade of a middle-aged man joined him.
The man was glaring at Charon, who no longer paid them any heed as he cut his way through the black water. "I wish that boat would turn over and drown him in the river Acheron. Would serve him right if it did."
Perhaps. Acheron was the river of woe and it was here that all the troubles of the world were gathered.
It was said that if any part of your body were to touch it, those woes would seep into you and tear your body and soul asunder with grief.
All the dead must cross it to reach their final destination. It was supposed to be a symbolic journey where the dead left such concerns behind.
The man looked up at Arik. "You didn't have a coin, either, huh?"
"No."
He spat on the ground by Arik's feet. "That's for both our families then. Leaving us stranded like this. A pox to them. May they all fall into the river Acheron and drown in their stinking misery."
Arik lifted a brow at the man's rancor. He sounded like he'd been bathing in the river Styx, where hatred flowed freely.
The man eyed him carefully. "So what brought you here?"
Arik answered without thought. "Love."
"Killed yourself, did you?"
"No. I traded my life to keep the one I love safe."
The man was aghast. "Why would you do something so stupid?"
"It's not stupid."
"Sure it is. Do you think she'd have done the same for you?"
Again, Arik answered without reservation. "Yes."
"You're a complete jackass if you think that." He made a rude noise before he wandered off.
"He's right, you know."
Arik froze as he heard the last voice he expected to hear. It was Wink, no doubt come to gloat. "What are you doing here?"
Wink shrugged. "I hang with the dead sometimes. They can be extremely entertaining, especially the whiny ones." He paused and smelled the air around Arik. Wink's actions reminded him of a hound on the scent of a skunk. Finally Wink pulled back and gave Arik a gimlet stare. "Where are your powers?"
"Don't worry about it." Arik tried to move away, but Wink followed him down the bank of the river even while he was weaving between other Shades.
"What gives, Arikos?"
Arik had no idea why he didn't rat out the others and tell Wink that all of them were regaining their emotions. He should. It was what they all deserved, but some misplaced sense of loyalty kept him from it. Wink would run with whatever Arik told him straight to Zeus and start trouble.
Arik had too much humanity in him now to do such a thing, and in the back of his mind he knew that Megeara would be disappointed in him.
Even though she hated him, Arik didn't want to disappoint her.
And still the god trailed after him. "Arikos?"
"Go away, Wink," he snapped. "I'm dead and I just want to be left alone."
Wink took Arik's arm, then hissed and recoiled. "You and your human?" he said, his tone accusing. No doubt that one touch had told the god everything about how Arik had ended up here-everything that had to do with Megeara anyway. "Have you lost your mind? Why would you give up your immortality for her?"
Arik couldn't explain it. It was stupid and he knew it. But it still seemed right. His life for her happiness.
It strangely worked for him even though it shouldn't.
He was definitely a mental case.
Still Wink wouldn't relent and leave him in peace.
"You gave up immortality for her," Wink repeated. "Haven't you learned yet that humans aren't worth it?
She was one of millions who are out there."
"No, Wink, you're wrong. She's one in a million. She's unique."
He snorted in response. "So unique that she let you die for her? Believe me, there are millions of women who are that selfish."
"Yeah, but there's only one willing to walk through hell to get him back."
Arik came instantly to a stop as he saw Kat in the darkness. But that wasn't what stunned him most. It was the sight of Megeara moving to stand by her side.
He wanted to run to Megeara and scoop her up in his arms, but he couldn't. For one thing, he was no longer corporeal. For another, he wasn't sure she'd let him.
But she was here...
Geary covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her cry as she saw what was left of Arik. His translucent skin was ashen gray. His eyes were no longer blue but rather dark and sunken. And he bore a hole in his middle that looked like someone had stabbed him.
"Arik?" she asked hesitantly.
He appeared to be speaking, but she couldn't hear him. Terrified, she looked at Kat.
"He's a Shade now, Geary. Only the gods can hear him."
"What's he saying?"
"He wants you to leave before it's too late for you."
That succeeded in making her tears flow down her cheeks. "Can he hear me?"
"Yes."
She turned to him. "I'm here to get you, Arik. I won't leave unless you're with me."
The disbelief on his face tore through her. Even so, he held a hand out toward her. She tried to take it, but her hand went straight through his.
The Oneroi beside him snarled at her. "You don't belong here, human. Leave."
Kat stepped between her and the man who looked as if he wanted to kill her. "Leave her alone, Wink."
He turned his hostile glare to Arik. "Don't be stupid, Arikos. She won't be able to take you out of here.
No human has ever been able to resist Hades' test. And he'll make you pay double for trying to leave."
Arik hesitated. Wink was right. Until Kat and Megeara had notified him, Hades hadn't even known he was here. Now the god did. If Megeara didn't safely lead him out of here, Hades would take pleasure in torturing him forever.
No, he was already damned and tortured here without her. There was nothing Hades could do to him that was worse than the thought of her with someone else.
Arik needed her more than he needed anything else. He had no choice, but to follow her.
I love you, Megeara.
Geary sobbed as she read his lips. "I love you, too, Arik, and I'm taking you out of here. I promise."
He gave her a wan smile before he nodded.
Wink curled his lip at them. "It's not that easy, little human. Just-"
Kat cut his words off by clenching his throat in her fist. "Lay off, Wink. We're not in the mood."
"You can't help her," he choked out from his constricted windpipe. "She's going to die, too."
"Then you should be happy. Now go your own way or the world will be in need of a new Sandman."
She let go of him so quickly that he stumbled through Arik.
"I'm going. But I plan on enjoying the sight of your failure."
Kat reached for Wink again, but before she could grab him again he dissolved.
Geary wiped her tears away. "What was he going on about, Kat?"
She let out a deep breath before she responded. "Getting here was easy. Getting out won't be. You know the old Eagles song 'Hotel California'?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah. That's our situation. And once we start out of here, if you look back or try to help Arik in any way he's a goner and, since you're not born of a god's blood, so are you."
A cold feeling of dread settled as a knot in the pit of her stomach. "Nice. Could have told me this before we got here."
"Would that have changed your mind?"
Geary looked at Arik and felt the love inside her swell past the unsettling lump. "No."
"Good, then I didn't waste my breath."
Geary shook her head at Kat before she turned back to Arik. She wanted to touch him so badly that she ached from it. But that would be impossible until they freed him. "Lead on, MacDuff."
"I'm leading, but I can't look back, either. So stick tight and remember, stay on the trail. Don't worry about anything that comes at us. Just pretend we're in a haunted house and don't get distracted."
"Ooooo, scary." But even though she was making light of this, she knew just how serious it was. One misstep and all three of them would pay dearly for it.
Kat led her off into the bitter darkness that was so oppressive it made her eyes ache. The only way she could tell Kat was still in front of her was that she could hear her breathing. At least she hoped that was Kat. In the dark, Geary's imagination was playing havoc. For all she knew, it was some creepy beast bent on eating her.
"Kat?"
"I'm right here. Keep your eyes forward."
"I am."
Something slithered beside her. Geary squeaked in dismay and had to force herself not to jump away from it. C'mon, girl, you've been on dives with sharks and eels swimming around you. You can handle this. This is nothing. Stay your course ...
But in the water, she wasn't this blind.
"Don't look back," Kat warned again. "They're trying to get you to glance behind you and see Arik. If you do, it's over."
That was easier said than done, especially since something seemed to be glowing in her right peripheral before it drifted back, away from her. And she was desperate to know if Arik was still there. There was no sound or sign of him.
Nothing. For all she knew, they'd grabbed him and pulled him away from her.
And to think she'd always thought Orpheus was an idiot for checking to see if Eurydice was behind him.
Now it all made sense. No wonder the demigod had been so paranoid. No doubt they'd been tormenting him every step of the way, too.
What if Arik became distracted? What if he'd fallen and needed help?
Suddenly a light flashed before them. It was followed by a shriek and a green face so horrendous that Geary actually screamed out loud. Instinctively she started to turn to Arik, but she caught herself as the loud shrieking continued. "What was that?"
"Gorgon," Kat shouted. "Stay to the course and ignore them. They guard the barrier between the Underworld and the Outerworld. Their job is to keep us in here. Don't let them."
"I'm trying."
"Don't try, Geary, succeed."
She intended to.
And as they walked, more and more gorgons appeared. They marched alongside the trio, shrieking and lashing out. Feinting toward them. But the gorgons never touched them. They only did it to make them flinch.
The gorgons were every bit as hideous as the stories had foretold. Their green skin was scaly like a
snake's and they had red eyes that glowed in the darkness. There was a shuffling, slithering noise that followed them through the cavern.
But the worst was their breath that would make toxic waste proud.
"He's not there, human," the gorgon to Geary's right said evilly. "You've lost him already."
"Shut up, Euryale," Kat snapped. "Leave her alone."
She hissed at Kat.
Geary did her best to distract herself from them. "I thought people turned to stone if they looked at a gorgon."
"Only men do."
A new fear went through her at Kat's words. "Arik?"
"I said men , Geary. Not gods or Shades. He's safe. Just keep moving forward and don't try to check on him."
That was so much easier said than done, especially when her mind was going wild with what-ifs. "Are you sure?"
"Well, are you stone?"
Not yet, she wasn't, but if Kat didn't take the condescension from her tone, Geary might "stone" her. "I don't mean me. I meant Arik."
"If you turn around to see, Geary, you will lose him."
"I know." But the compulsion was so strong. It was unnatural.
"She's lying to you, human. You've lost him in the caverns. He's weeping for you, wanting you to help him."
Geary shook her head to dispel the image in her mind of Arik doing exactly what the gorgon said.
"You're the one who's lying to me."
The gorgon bared her fangs before she moved to walk directly beside Geary.
"Megeara, help me." It was Arik's voice coming from behind her.
It's a trick; it's a trick.
"Please, Megeara. I need you. Don't let me suffer here..."
"Stop it!" Geary said from between clenched teeth. "He's a Shade. I know I can't hear him and Arik would never beg like that. You're just trying to piss me off."
One of the gorgons behind Geary clucked her tongue. "Poor Arik. See, she doesn't love you at all.
She'd let you suffer rather than endanger herself."
Then she heard the muffled sound of a masculine cry that sounded like it could be Arik.
She clenched her fists, struggling not to turn around and check on him. She had to know he was okay...
"Kat," she whimpered. "Help me."
"Don't listen, Geary. Sing a song and drown them out."
"Sing what?" she asked in frustration.
"What's your favorite song?"
Geary plugged her ears with her fingers and started singing Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive."
Now it was the gorgons' turn to scream out in pain as they shirked away from Geary. Realizing that they couldn't stand her off-key harmony, Geary sang even louder.
"Stop! Stop!" they begged.
But Geary refused. It was time someone returned the favor to them and let them exist in torment for a while.
After she finished Gloria's song, she broke out to Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music" and then
"Funky Town."
To her misplaced delight, the gorgons continued to writhe and moan in agony, which caused Kat to help her serenade them with more disco tunes.
Geary was just finishing the Bee Gees' "Staying Alive" when she finally saw light ahead. Her heart pounded as raw excitement filled her. They were almost done.
A few more steps...
Her singing faltered as she struggled to hear some sign of Arik behind her. There was nothing.
Nothing.
"Down!" Kat shouted an instant before a blast of fire darted over their heads.
Geary squeezed her eyes shut and prayed with everything she had. She wanted desperately to touch Arik.
He's there.
He had to be. Trusting in Kat and in Arik, she opened her eyes and saw that Kat was already moving forward again.
It took some doing to make it up the sharp rocks that led to the small opening above them.
"I can't help you up, Geary," Kat said from in front of her. "Like you, I can't turn around, and you can't
turn to help Arik up, either, understand?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Remember, we have to get clear and you have to wait right beside me, facing the east. Got it?"
"Got it."
As she neared the opening, Geary's foot slipped. She slid back and cursed as the rocks cut into her hands and knees. Before she could stop herself, her head turned, but she again slammed her eyes shut.
Would the gods count that?
Surely not. But if she opened her eyes to double-check it would be over.
Counting to ten, she straightened her head and looked forward. "Don't let me down, Arik. Do you hear me? You better still be there."
With a deep breath, she started climbing again even though her cuts stung and her body ached from the fall.
It seemed to take forever before she was clear of the cavern. Kat was outside, waiting by a small clearing that overlooked the sea.
Geary joined her. "What now?"
Kat turned her head slightly to look at Geary with a frown. "What the hell happened to you?"
"I fell."
Kat screwed her face up in distaste and pity. "Sorry."
So was Geary, especially given how ferocious the pounding pain was.
But Geary stood there, silently waiting. After a few minutes, her panic set in. "Where's Arik?"
"Don't look for him."
"I'm getting sick of that warning, Kat. He's not here..."
"Be patient, Geary." Her tone was placating and calm, and it was pissing Geary off more and more.
"We're in daylight. We're clear. Why isn't he here with us?"
"What if he's right behind you now and you turn to look? You'll send him right back into hell."
Geary pressed her hands to her eyes as she wanted to weep in frustration. This was cruel and mean and it made her hate the gods for it. "Don't die, Arik, please."
And then she felt it. It was a cold touch against her cheek. Light and gentle. She'd know that touch anywhere. Lowering her hands, she saw Arik next to her, but he was still pale and gaunt.
Even so, he was the best-looking thing she'd ever beheld. Before she could stop herself, she pulled him to her and kissed him senseless.
Arik growled as he tasted Megeara again. And the longer she kissed him, the warmer he grew. He held her tight against him, reveling in the feel of her warm body next to his. In all his life he'd never felt anything like this.
He could swear he could fly without wings right now. Never once had he even dreamed she'd come back for him, and the fact that she'd saved him...
Unbelievable.
Megeara pulled back to look at him, then laughed. "You're back!" She rained kisses all over his face.
His own joy filled him as he savored every touch of her lips on his flesh. "I can't believe you came for me."
"Are you kidding? I would always come for you."
And that was why he loved her so dearly.
"Uh, guys," Kat said, clearing her throat, "no offense, but this is getting awkward for me. You two take care and I'll see you around."
Before either could speak, she vanished.
Arik laughed as he picked Geary up and twirled around with her. "I can't believe you're really here and this isn't a dream."
"Me? Look at you..." Geary frowned as a weird thought went through her. It was a question she hadn't even thought to answer before. "What are you now?"
"He's human."
Arik paused at the sound of D'Alerian's voice. He set Megeara down, expecting a fight. "What do you want?"
D'Alerian held his hands up in surrender. "I just wanted to make sure Megeara made it out alive. Now that you're together, I thought I'd take you both back to her home to celebrate."
"And we're supposed to trust you why?"
Geary put her hand on his arm to calm him down. "Don't, Arik. We owe him everything. He's the one who called in a favor from Persephone so that I could free you."
He gave her a confounded look, then turned it toward D'Alerian, whose face was completely stoic.
"Why would you do that?"
"Because I lost what I loved, Arik, and I don't want anyone to know that pain. You two have earned the right to live in peace."
Arik scoffed at his good wishes. "M'Adoc will never allow that."
"Yes, he will. We'll make sure of it."
Geary didn't miss the ominous note in D'Alerian's voice. "What are you going to do to him?"
"Don't worry. We won't hurt him. We're taking him someplace where he can learn compassion. It's a simple emotion, but it escapes so many. He needs to relearn it."
Then D'Alerian held out his hand and a bright flash of light encompassed them. One moment they were outside the Underworld, and in the next they were in her flat.
Geary glanced around in disbelief. It seemed like a lifetime had passed since she'd last been here.
D'Alerian gave them a gentle smile. "Treasure each other."
Geary nodded. "Don't worry. We will."
He inclined his head to them, then dissolved.
As soon as they were alone, Arik leaned his head down and nuzzled her neck with his warm lips. "I love you, Geary."
She smiled as he used her nickname without her forcing him to use it. "I love you, too, babe." She reached to take his hand into hers and pull him toward her room.
"What are you doing?"
She glared menacingly at him. "I'm going to make you suffer like no man has ever suffered for the lies you've told and for putting me through so much."
His mouth opened and closed as he looked a bit shell-shocked. Finally, he clenched his teeth and narrowed his eyes on her before his features settled down to resignation. "And what do you plan to do to me?"
A slow grin spread across her face. "First I'm going to strip you naked and then I'm going to bend you like a pretzel and lick your body until you beg me to stop. I'll have you begging me for mercy in no time."
"Hmmm," he breathed. "That sounds positively awful."
"You've no idea... My tongue has been known to let blood on four continents."
He laughed deep in his throat as she pulled him into the bedroom. "Well, in that case, let the torture begin."
