Wicked Ones - Dorothy
Chapter 6
Fay hid her awe of the palace behind a cold, stony face. If Thanatos saw through it he gave no indication. It seemed to her he was more pleased that he thought he’d cornered her, that he had her by her oath.
Fool, a dark voice snarled scathingly.
They walked along halls of vaulted ceilings and polished floors, with tapestries detailing ancient battles and tragic love affairs. Pedestals held statues of warriors, some in great feats of victory, others at their lowest moment. Many didn’t look carved…Fay looked ahead. Even when they passed vast halls of libraries and exquisite art, neither of which drew her attention. She knew if she let herself get drawn in, if only for a moment, then she’d be trapped. The lure of the Underworld called to her demon side and it was a strong pull.
Only picturing Abe in her mind kept her grounded, reminded her that there was something waiting for her, someone who needed her. Whom cared.
Thanatos led her down a grand staircase, through a cavernous foyer and out into a courtyard. The distance sounds of swords clashing rang in her ears. She smelt sweat and blood close by, hellhound blood.
“So, where is the boss today?”
“He’s here but given he hasn’t come personally to welcome the elusive hellhound Fay Childers I imagine he’s in a meeting,” he said conversationally.
“With who?”
Thanatos smiled indulgingly. “Not your concern, is it?”
Fay ignored him and flicked a hand dramatically, gesturing for him to lead. As he set off she felt something tug in her chest, a soft song of laughter and the smell of fragrant flowers. She spun around, just in time to see a dark-haired woman dart through a doorway.
“If Nebiru finds us he’ll have your head!” Her soft voice rang with humour as it faded away…
“Fay?” Thanatos’s voice cut like a blade through her thoughts.
She spun around and stalked up to him. “I don’t have all day.”
With a smile the God of Death led on.
The courtyard was one of several it seemed, stretching it seemed the entire length of the palace, and more courtyards descended beyond, right down to where a dark river cut the clouded landscape. Each courtyard was an oasis unto itself; a myriad of trees patterned in swirls and whirls, full of flowers bursting with colour and more statues. Some depicted lovers embraced, others warriors clashing. Most told stories, unseen glimpses into lives lost to the history. Fay envied them for that.
Her mind sharpened as the sound of clashing swords drew closer, louder. She involuntarily tightened her grip on the iron cage. The soul fluttered nervously. Then they stepped into the next courtyard where a sparring yard had been erected. Half a dozen similarly dressed to Fay stood off to the side as two girls sparred with thin, black swords. Her gaze drifted to the loner standing off to the edge, watching the sparring session with interest. As he shifted his stance a little she saw his face and paled.
The man from her dream, the one who called her Andromeda.
A wind stirred behind her, carrying Fay’s scent across the courtyard. In a flash all of them froze, including the man, and turned to her. Yet, instead of the frost blue eyes she expected, they were a jewel-red. Hostile, too, as they stared at her. She realised Thanatos had intentionally brought her to them; for them to see her, and for her to see them. She spun around and drew her dagger to his throat. Behind her the hellhounds rushed forward but Thanatos held up a hand, stopping them.
“Take me to the scrying pools now. I do not have time for your games,” she snarled and flashed a tempestuous look at the others, then at the man. “Or for distractions. I will not be one of your slaves, understand? Nor will you possess my soul.”
Thanatos leaned in, pressing his throat to the dagger, forged of Olympian steel. Golden blood jewelled around the dagger’s sharp edge. He flashed her a wicked smile.
“I adore a challenge.”
She withdrew and sheathed her dagger, then stared at him with fierce scorn. Hot enough to melt the stone. She certainly felt angry enough, having being manipulated into seeing the hellhounds, taunted knowing that she can’t talk to them. Not properly. Thanatos had dangled it front of her, only to yank it away. He cruelly smiled and set off, leaving the hellhounds snarling behind them, and the man from her dreams, watching her, silent as the grave.
Only once they passed beyond the sparring yard Fay released her anger in a deep exhale, well some of it anyway. She focused on the path ahead, not the treacherous God beside her, who was constantly trying to steal her soul – and not in any sort of sexy way.
They descended a steep set of steps to the River Styx below, flanked the whole time by statues of fallen warriors. Killed right in a moment of weakness or terror. Their panicked eyes tracked her strides down the steps until she reached a stone courtyard, filled with three pools of water, set on the bank of the river.
“Set the cage in the pool and the soul will be yours to command. Be careful, to control a soul is a tempting thing. You may find you like it like your partner, Abe, once did,” said Thanatos tauntingly.
She almost spun around to demand what he meant but she reminded herself that he’d spun her into webs before. So, she focused on the task at hand and getting the hell out of the palace. It was entangling her too much already. She went to the closest pool and gingerly lowered the soul into the pool, submersing it. As the water enclosed over the cage light burst from the pool, sending Fay staggering backwards. She scrambled to her feet as the light dimmed, a woman hovered translucently in a flowing dress. Her mangled arm was whole and she didn’t seem…tortured. In fact, she seemed at ease; at least, when her eyes didn’t flicker to Thanatos and chilled.
“What is your name?” Fay asked tentatively.
“You may call me Evie. Thank you for saving me.”
“I’m sorry about your friends.”
Evie chuckled. “They weren’t my friends.” Her smile fell, however, a moment later. “We were warned if we were caught our souls would be obliterated. Though, to be fair, that was our fate eventually, anyway.”
“Who did this to you?”
Evie worked her lips, as if to reply but frustration marred her sharp-boned face. She spat out a curse and fell silent, mulling over her words carefully for a moment.
“It seems I can’t say.”
Behind Fay Thanatos snarled. “That is not possible. The waters of the Styx compels you!”
Evie snorted defiantly. “Love, I’m compelled beyond death. Kind of funny now you think of it. I get to rest to eternally.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” said Thanatos.
Fay whirled on him. “Bite it. I still have questions, then she’s all yours.” She spun back before she could answer and saw the fear on Evie’s face. Fay winked. “Now, my questions. Can you tell me why the divinity dust is so important? Is it for a spell?” Evie couldn’t speak but she struggled with a nod. Fay plunged onwards. “Are the werewolves involved?” With another nod Fay continued. “Was Amanda there?”
Evie’s face twisted into a look of despair. “Save her, please! Save her!”
Then she began to scream. Fay realised that whatever spell had bound her hadn’t been dissolved by the Underworld. It had only weakened the bond for a moment. Evie knew it. That’s why she’d been so happy, so at peace because she knew it wasn’t going to last. Fay drew her dagger and drove it into Evie’s heart; her screaming stopped and she dissolved into the blue flame once more. Then, it exploded into dust. Silence descended like a lead weight around her.
Thanatos cleared his throat, as if to speak but Fay whirled around and held up a hand.
“You have your information. The deal is done. I’m…done here.”
Thanatos stared at the dust for a moment, then nodded. What had transpired went beyond his feud with Fay, well past his obsession to possess her. This entered into the domain of his responsibility, something that, she confessed, he actually seemed to care about.
He led her out of the palace without any more games or delays. At the gate he left her walk the rest of the way. She walked the forest alone, gathering her little demon army like a Goddess of Death, her mind full of Evie’s plea.
Save her.
Dusk swept over Lake Elysium like a paintbrush, burnishing the trees amber and the road flecked with gold. Shop fronts became mirages of burnt red and glowing yellow, mirroring the illusion of the town. She ought to have felt lightened by the wonderland, not detached from him, burdened by her tangled mind.
Walking down the main street, the night beckoning the locals back to their dens, Fay found herself alone. Something inside her cracked. The demon side stirred, snapping viciously at her overwrought walls. She ducked into an alley and crumpled against a wall, holding her mind. Tears didn’t come but she felt raw in her chest, stripped down, exposed to the world, to the Gods themselves. She hadn’t even known Evie but the finality of her death, of the other two, plus the complex mess of emotions at seeing the other hellhounds, hit her like a wave. That, and being back in the town, left her on edge, violently poised. Lowering her hands before her she saw her claws were out.
“Hello, miss? You okay?”
Fay’s chest tightened. Anyone but him. She lifted her gaze, saw that recognition flash in his eyes, then flicker tempestuously as he saw her claws, then linger on her eyes – no doubt an icy blue.
“Ben.” Just bugger off, she thought tiredly. “Go.”
“You and I need to talk. I…I’ve been trying to find you,” he said quietly. “Abe said you were out for a few days.”
Days. I’ve been gone for days, she thought acidly.
“Can we not do this now? I’ve just been dealing with the God of Death in the Underworld, so I’m liable to want to shred something right now. Unless you want it to be you I suggest kindly for you to piss off,” she said sweetly, exhaustion and venom bleeding through.
He paled a little at the mention of Thanatos, making her feel a tiny bit better. As if she’d gotten one up on him. Reminded him she was not the girl anymore, the one he betrayed, the one he claimed to have loved. Her vicious nature crowed with delight.
“Soon, then.” He glanced up and down the road. “Need a lift?”
Fay held his gaze when he looked back but she realised her weariness outweighed her scorn of him at that moment. She nodded. Silently, she followed him out of the alley and to his nearby car. The same car he learnt in when they’d been dating. He’d been so damn proud of it, crowing from the rooftops, preening like a silly bird. Back then, it had been endearing. Then again, back then, everything about him had been endearing.
She climbed in and looked out the window, anywhere but him. If she looked hard enough outside she was able to fool herself she wasn’t two feet away form him. That she hadn’t just agreed to get into the car with him.
“Why were you out? Not looking for me, of course,” she asked, regretting it instantly with a wince – small talk, really, Fay?
She didn’t look over to see if he was surprised.
“I work at the vet clinic,” he said by way of explanation.
“Not at the pack?”
He was silent for a moment. They’d arrived at the mansion and the living room light was on. Abe was up. Fay unbuckled herself and opened the door when Ben sighed. She lingered.
“I’m not with the pack anymore.”
She glanced at him, finally, in surprise and saw he, too, was staring at the road, as if looking at her was too much. Her effect on him should’ve made her feel good in a sick kind of way in that moment. Instead, she felt numb. She nodded in acknowledgement, even if he didn’t see it, and climbed out, shutting the door. Fay’s feet carried her slowly up the steps and in the front door, then into the living room where Abe had already gotten to his feet. He stared at her a few feet away, his eyes sweeping over, looking for damage. Then, as if seeing the wounds lay deeper, he crossed the space and yanked her into his arms, drawing her close.
“You’re home,” was all he said.
She sunk into his embrace but said nothing.
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