Olivia jolted up and spun, barely managing to remain upright. A tiny demon stood across the bedroom, its eyes bright red with malice. Its claws were elongated and ready for attack, its teeth sharp and bared. Even its green scales seemed sharpened, standing on end like pieces of broken glassready to cut.
This time, she hadnt fallen into hell. Hell had come to her.
No! A scream formed in her throat, but just before it could unfurl, it lodged in the knot growing there, so all that emerged was a choking sound.
Calm, steady. Shed caught a glimpse of this creature a few times while following Aeron and knew who it was. Legion. You dont have to be afraid.
Squaring her shoulders, she tried to unfold her wings for balanceonly to be reminded that she no longer had them. She gulped. Hello, Legion. My name is Olivia. II mean you no harm.
Sssorry, but I cant sssay the sssame.
Now, now. Cameo jumped in front of Olivia, acting as a shield. Therell be none of that. Were all friends here.
Ill kill you, too, if you get in my way, Legion snarled. Move! That angel isss mine.
Kaia pressed into Cameos side, the two more than a shield. They were a wall. Well, I guess youll have to kill me, too, then.
They wereprotecting her? Guarding her? Despite her fear, Olivias chest swelled with pleasure. They didnt know her, yet they were treating her as one of their own. As if she already belonged.
So? Kaia demanded. Whats it gonna be, demon girl?
I accept your offer. Ill kill you, too. Then Legiondisappeared.
O-kay. After her words, that disappearance was a relief. But why would
She reappeared between the two warrior women. Before either had time to deflect or prepare, shed bitten them both on the neck. Both women collapsed on the ground, writhing and moaning in pain.
Olivia barely had time to process what shed witnessed. How could you do such a thing! I thought they were your friends. They hadnt hurt you, only wanted to save me.
Those red eyes locked on her, the hate intensifying. Aeron isss mine. You dont get to have him.
Well, Im afraid I cant agree with you. Though Olivia trembledshe was alone, weaponless, defenseless and unstableshe stood her ground. Aeron will be mine. One way or another. She wouldnt lie about that, even to save herself.
A forked tongue swiped over those pointed teeth. You gonna pay for that, angel. With your life.
Legion leapt at her.
CHAPTER SEVEN
SEVEN DAYS. Seven damn days, and not a single result. Strider, keeper of Defeat, wiped his sweaty face with a towel. He propped himself against the boulder at his back and surveyed his surroundings. The sun was shining brightly, hotter here than it had ever been in Buda. Pristine water gently washed toward this island near Rome, the soft hum of it a balm for his ears.
All that remained of the Temple of the Unspoken Ones were battered pillars identical to the one at his backsome fallen, some standingand an altar still stained and splattered with crimson. There was a vibration of energy in the air. Energy that caused his hair to stand on end. And yet, despite the altar and the energy, Strider felt an odd sort of kinship with the place. After all, a lot of people considered him an unspoken one. Evil and unnecessary.
Not that he agreed. He was paired with Defeat and couldnt lose a single challenge without suffering for it. Where was the evil in that? Wasnt like he killed indiscriminately just to win an Xbox game or anything.
Anyway. Last time hed been here, archaeologists had been studying every nook and cranny. Hunters had been among their numbers, hoping to find one of Cronuss powerful artifacts or even Pandoras box itself. They werent here anymore. Why?
Though the temple had risen from the sea only a few months ago, trees had already grown, tall and lush and green. They circled the area where the temple had once stood proud, but they didnt quite touch that temple. They actually arched away from it, as if afraid of getting too close.
What was here that hadnt been the last time hed visited was bones. Human bones. The archaeologists, most likely. What had killed them, he could only guess. There was no trace of flesh or blood. Yeah, an animal could have devoured so many people in the handful of months since hed last been here, but wouldnt there have been some trace of the feasting? Well, besides the bones. A bloodstain here, a piece of rotten meat there. Claw marks where the humans had fought for freedom. Footprints where they had tried to run away.
There werent.
So. What could consume so cleanly? A godly creature, thats what.
Anya, (minor) goddess of Anarchy and Luciens girlfriend-slash-soon-to-be-wifehorror of horrors, the naughty little vixen had decided to plan a wedding for herselfdidnt know much about these Unspoken Ones, so wouldnt verify his idea that they had turned the humans into meals-on-heels. The gods had never, well, spoken of them, shed said, so she wasnt sure what they could do. The gods had feared them, however.
Still, Strider wasnt leaving. He had to find those artifacts. He had to find Pandoras box. He had to destroy the Hunters. Finally. His life depended on it. Hell, his peace of mind depended on it. Every day Defeat spoke a little louder inside his head, so every day he was reminded more and more of the first days of his possession. Days he wanted to forget.
His demon had been a roar, a constant scream, the consuming need to challenge everyone he encountered driving him. No matter the consequences. Kill a friend? So be it. As long as he won.
Hed hated himself back then. His friends had probably hated him, too. Well, not true. Theyd been as wild from their demons as hed been from his. It had taken centuries to learn how to control themselves. But while they now had control of their darker halves, he was edging closer to its loss.
Looks like someone decided to take his break before the rest of us, a raspy voice teased from behind him.
Strider turned. Gwen, a redheaded beauty who was stronger and more vicious than any of the Lords, approached him, a glistening bottle of water in her hand. She tossed it at him, and he easily caught it. Within seconds, he had the entire thing drained. Gods, the cold felt good as the liquid moistened his dry throat.
Thanks.
Youre welcome. Slowly she grinned, and he knew exactly why Sabin had fallen in love with her. Naughty women ruled. I stole it from Sabin.
I heard that, wife, Sabin said, striding around the boulder across from them. He increased his speed until he reached Gwens side, then draped an arm around her shoulders.
Immediately she reached up and twined her fingers with his. She even leaned her head against his side, trusting the man to hold her up and keep her safe. They might enjoy one-upping each other, but they were unified. That much was clear.
Their pairing had initially shocked Strider, truth be told. After all, Gwen was Galens daughter and Galen was leader of their greatest enemy. More than that, Sabin was the keeper of Doubt and Gwen had been a timid little mouse the first time the two had met. The demon had practically eaten her alive.
Now, there wasnt a more confident woman alive. How the two had reached this point and made things work, Strider wasnt sure. He was just glad he wasnt the one in a committed relationship. He liked womeneven the un-naughty ones. Oh, did he like women. But relationships? Not so much.
Hed had a few girlfriends over the years, and at first, hed loved it. Loved the commitment, the exclusivity. When theyd discovered his penchant for winning, however, most of them had tried to work it to their advantage.
Bet you cant make me fall in love with you.
I doubt you can convince me that were meant to be together forever.
Hed played that game too many times before, winning hearts hed no longer had any interest in winning. Now, he enjoyed them oncemaybe twicefine, maybe three timesand then it was goodbye old, hello new.
Whats this about breaking early? Sabin ushered Gwen to the altar and leaned his hip against the stone. He guided her in front of him, again wrapped her in his arms and held her tight against his chest, her head resting under his chin.
Strider shrugged. I was thinking. Rather than examining the stones for symbols or messages as hed been ordered.
Sabin had been Striders leader his entire life. Yeah, Lucien had been commander of the elite army while theyd lived in the heavens, but it had been Sabin that Strider had looked to for advice and guidance. Still did. The man would have beheaded his own mother if it meant winning a battle. Not that any of them had a mother. Theyd been born fully formed. But Strider valued that kind of commitment.
Did I hear someone say it was break time? Kane, keeper of Disaster, asked with a grin of his own as he rounded a corner. His hair, which was a mix of brown, black and gold, as well as his eyes, which were a mix of brown and green, gleamed in the amber sunlight.
Had he always been that colorful? Strider wondered. Theyd been together forever, but Strider didnt think hed ever seen the man sohappy. Almost glowing. Maybe the temple agreed with him.
A gust of wind suddenly rose among the trees. A branch snapped off and flew toward the men. Of course, it smacked Kane in the back of the head. Used to such catastrophes, his stride didnt even slow. Maybe the temple didnt agree with him.
Strider chuckled. That wouldnt be the last of Kanes woes, he was sure. Rocks tended to fall and ground tended to crack whenever the warrior arrived at the scene.
Behind him, gravel crunched under boots and Strider turned again. Amun, Reyes and Maddox, the last of their group, were closing the distance.
Break? Amun said, his deep voice almost raw from disuse. He was dark from head to toe and as the keeper of Secrets, he rarely spoke, too afraid he would reveal devastating truths the warriors wouldnt be able to recover from. But as hed recently spilled many of those secrets, anyway, to calm Gideon from a rage, hed been a bit more talkative.
The change did Striders heart good.
Guess so, he replied.
Sabin rolled his eyes. Look what youve started.
Whats wrong with a break? Im tired. And gods know were not making any progress. Maddox was, perhaps, their most dangerous member. Or rather, had been. Before hed met his Ashlyn. Now, there was a gentleness to his violet eyes that none of the other Lords possessed.
Too bad that gentleness only extended to the delicate Ashlyn. Maddox was paired with the demon of Violence and when that boy erupted Ouch. Strider had been on the receiving end of the mans need to hurt and maim a time or two. And yes, Strider had won, even then, dishing more punches and slices than hed received. He just couldnt help himself.
Weve searched the grounds, x-rayed the stones hoping to find something inside them, and spilled our own blood hoping to draw the Unspoken Ones out with a sacrifice. Reyes, as dark as Amun but far more tense, splayed his arms, still cut and bleeding from his latest offering. Or from self-torture. One never knew with Reyes. Whats left for us to do?
Everyone looked to Sabin.
They were the ones who told us Danika was the All-Seeing Eye. I dont understand why they wont help us out again, the warrior said, his own frustration clear.
The All-Seeing Eye could see into heaven and hell. She knew what the gods were planning, what the demons were planning, as well as the outcome of all those plansbut not necessarily at the right time. Details came to her in spurts, out of sequence.
Sabin spun in a circle, calling, All we want to know is where the other two artifacts are. Is that too much to ask?
Just help us, damn it, Kane shouted, getting into the spirit.
Otherwise, Ill rip each stone from this island and toss them into the sea, Maddox added.
And Ill help him, Strider vowed. Only Ill piss on them first.
As his voice echoed from the rocks, the air seemed to thicken with challenge. The insects in the trees even quieted.
Whoamaybe you shouldnt have threatened to violate their property, Reyes muttered.
Oopsie.
Next, the world around them faded, leaving only the pillars and the altar. Only, every one of the pillars was suddenly upright and the altar was now gleaming white marble scrubbed clean of debris.
Unsure what was happening, each of the warriors stiffened, straightened and grabbed for a weapon.
Strider was proficient with both guns and knives, but usually preferred to slice and dice. Today, however, hed make use of his Sig Sauer. He kept the muzzle down, but that didnt mean it was any less dangerous. He could aim and fire in less time than it took to blink.
Whats happening? Gwen whispered.
Dont know, but be ready for anything, Sabin warned.
Any other warrior would have shoved the woman behind his back to protect her. Not so with Sabin. Men and women had always been equals to him, and even though he loved Gwen more than life itself and wanted her protected more than he wanted victory, everyone here knew that Gwen was the strongest among them. Shed saved more than one Lord already.
Strider, though, did inch to the frontof her, of everyone. That sense of challenge He had to be the one to win this thing.
His demon was already chanting. Winwinmust wincant lose.
I know, he growled. I will.
He pivoted, gaze roving, searching. Finally, he spotted his prey. A huge manno, that thing couldnt be called a man. A huge beast had materialized between two of the pillars.
Even as Striders stomach tightened, he took his quarrys measure. The beast wasnt dressed, but then, he didnt need clothing. His skin was furred like that of a horse. Snakes danced and hissed from his head, their thin bodies acting as his hair. Two long fangs protruded over his bottom lip. He had human hands, but his feet were hooves.
Muscle was stacked upon muscle on his torso, and his nipples were pierced by two large silver rings. Metal chains circled his neck, wrists and ankles, and those chains kept him tethered to the pillars.
Who are you? Strider demanded. No need to ask what the thing was. Ugly as shit covered it.