Thousands of miles away, Gabriel was with one of his death dealers surveying the gruesome discovery. His dealers were beating the demons to the souls. Gabriel was working them – and himself - overtime to try to catch up. Their list of outstanding collections was growing smaller.
So was his list of dealers able to collect them. Landon reported one more going missing and another killed in a fight with five demons when he went to claim a soul.
Gabriel rose from his position crouching over the body of someone he knew. This Ancient Immortal hadn’t given up his soul without a struggle. Erik, one of Rhyn’s half-brothers, was bloody and bruised from what looked like a prolonged battle with several demons. Four demons lay dead in the living room of his house, while the Immortal had dragged himself into the garage.
Not that it mattered. The fifth demon had finished him off by crushing his skull and taking his soul. Gabriel studied the scene before deciding finally he had to tell Rhyn.
He summoned the half-demon and waited.
Each of the Council members had a unique gift. At the moment, he wasn’t able to remember what Erik’s was. The quietest and most distant of the brothers, Erik was charged with protecting northern Europe from demons. Gabriel doubted Darkyn was after the Immortal because he was fighting demons. Rhyn reported Erik missing months ago. It appeared as if he’d been living quietly here, until discovered by demons.
“Yo,” Rhyn said, stepping through a portal.
Gabriel moved aside. Rhyn froze, staring at the body of his half-brother. Gabriel knew from his history with Rhyn that there was no love lost between Rhyn and any of his half-brothers, none of who wanted him alive, aside from Andre.
At the same time, Rhyn’s undying loyalty to his family was what made him do everything he could to keep the Council together. It didn’t matter that he’d been sentenced to Hell by the very people he was now charged with protecting. Gabriel assessed the half-demon was conflicted.
“What message is he sending me?” Rhyn growled.
“You think it’s a message?” Gabriel asked. “Could there be anything Darkyn wanted from Erik?”
“Damned if I know. He went missing and refused to come when any of us summoned him. I went looking for him at one point,” Rhyn said. “I almost assumed he was dead-dead but thought you’d tell me if so.”
“I would,” Gabriel agreed. “Darkyn is already slaughtering kids. I don’t know if this is a message or something else.”
Rhyn was quiet. He knelt beside his brother.
“His soul is gone,” Gabriel said quietly.
“What the fuck would Darkyn want with Erik’s soul?” Rhyn asked angrily. “He’s not Sasha. Sasha was fucked up. Erik was just … stubborn.”
“I don’t know why either.”
“He took out four demons and still didn’t summon me before the fifth took off his fucking head.”
Gabriel said nothing, sensing the half-demon’s explosive temper was close to the surface. He looked around to make sure he hadn’t missed anything else that might give him a sign as to what Darkyn was doing by killing off an Ancient Immortal.
“He had to know I’d come!” Rhyn added and stood.
“This isn’t your fault, Rhyn. Don’t start down that path.”
“Easy to say when you’re not fucking up everything.”
“But I am,” Gabriel said, laughing.
Rhyn snorted.
“If nothing else, keep an eye on your brothers, I’d say.”
“Maybe Darkyn is still pissed at me for breaking into Hell to rescue our friends a few months ago.”
“Maybe,” Gabriel said. “There’s no telling with that sadistic bastard.”
“I’ve gotta do something about the kids, Gabe.” Rhyn’s voice was hushed. “We’re tracking the demons now but not fast enough.”
“You’re not thinking of a deal with Darkyn.”
“I am.”
“You’re a brother to me, Rhyn, but let Andre negotiate, if you do that,” Gabriel advised. “I don’t think it’s wise at all. You’ve got Andre. Let him help you. You’ll catch up.”
“How many more die before we stop him?” Rhyn asked. “Gabe … I’ve got a hatchling on the way. All I can think about is what I would do if something ever happened to her. Darkyn tried to grab Katie already to get to her.”
“Darkyn preys on the desperate, Rhyn. Remember that,” Gabriel cautioned his friend.
“I know it. I also know I’m feeling desperate right about now. Will you let me know if you find Erik’s soul?” As he spoke, Rhyn fingered the black necklace he wore. On it was one soul, that of his brother Kris, who had given up his life to get Katie out of Death’s underworld.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll issue an alert to the Immortals. Except Tamer. Darkyn would be doing me a favor if he took out that jackass.”
Gabriel said nothing. Rhyn and Tamer were similar enough in temperaments that nothing would make them get along.
“I’m headed to see him next,” Gabriel said casually. “I’ll let him know.”
“Whatever.”
“You want Erik’s body taken to the basement at the castle?”
Rhyn considered. Gabriel knew how sensitive the crypt in the basement was. It had been where Wynn, the father of all the Immortals on the Council, had lain for hundreds of years before being dragged out by Sasha, the son who betrayed them all to Darkyn.
“Yeah,” Rhyn said softly. “He’s my brother. He deserves a burial of some sort.”
“I’ll have someone bring him over.”
Rhyn nodded. His gaze lingered on the body of his half-brother. Gabriel summoned Landon and gave a quick order for the dealer to deliver Erik to Rhyn’s fortress. He then called a portal to visit Tamer, the Immortal making the soul compasses. Gabriel withdrew a piece of paper from his pocket as he went, studying the symbols. Tamer, Rhyn’s half-brother and the least friendly member of the Council, had deciphered five of the twenty symbols on the compass. The keeper of ancient Immortal histories, Tamer was able to read scripts from the time-before-time. It was his secret power, the one few others knew about.
Gabriel emerged into Tamer’s palatial home in Cairo. The limestone and marble foyer was lined with artifacts, a sign of Tamer’s passion for all things ancient. The door to the secret library was open, as if Tamer expected him.
Gabriel strode down the narrow hall to the only open door and entered. Muscular and dark-skinned, Tamer was hunched over the table in the center of the room, putting the final magic touches on a new compass.
“Wait,” the Immortal barked.
Gabriel snorted and sat in one of the plush chairs. He studied the five symbols on the paper in his hand. Tamer had translated them, but they meant little to Gabriel.
River, ravine, tree stump, cloud, rain.
Magic vibrated in the library then faded.
“Alright. Here’s another,” Tamer said and held out the compass.
The tool lit up at Gabriel’s touch, the symbols swirling around the edges then settling. He handed it back. Tamer hefted it.
“Looks good,” he said with a satisfied nod. “What do you want?”
“Good day to you, too,” Gabriel said, always amused by Tamer’s curtness.
“You had to tell Andre about all this, didn’t you.” Tamer motioned to his library.
“I didn’t tell him anything,” Gabriel replied. “I sent him to ask you a question. Whatever happened from there is on you. You’re welcome for bringing him back, by the way.”
“Now I’ve got two brothers in my hair.”
Despite the words, Gabriel knew Tamer was pleased about Andre’s return. All the brothers were, because Andre alone had been able to manage the different personalities in such a way that they all trusted him. He debated what to tell Tamer. Technically, it wasn’t his business or duty to tell Rhyn’s brothers about Erik.
“Speaking of people in your hair, you may want to keep an eye out for any pesky demons,” Gabriel said. “They may be aft
er you all.”
“I don’t give a shit.”
“Alright. You get any farther on these?” Gabriel asked, holding up the paper.
“A little.” Tamer rustled through a notebook. “Figured out three more. Shrub, well, mountain.” He scribbled them down onto another piece of paper and tore them off for Gabriel.
“Well,” Gabriel said, recognizing the symbol. “That’s the one the demons seem to be after. Any clue how a hole in the ground equates to an evil soul?”
Tamer was pensive for a moment. His eyes went from Gabe to the paper in front of him. He started to sketch something, paused then leaned forward with more interest and continued.
“I saw something in an ancient text,” Tamer mumbled. “It compared the earth to a cesspool.”
“Helpful.”
Tamer scowled. “The sky was given the status of something pure and clean, the earth sort of a dirty wasteland, and anything below water level or the ground considered Hellish. See what I’m saying?” He showed Gabriel the drawing of the different symbols with a sketch of the sun on one end and the ground on the other.
“Hole, meaning a bad soul,” Gabriel said, gazing at the symbols. “Darkyn is after the bad apples. Makes sense. He’s building an Army of Souls to attack the human world. He won’t want anyone with a conscience.”
“I’d say not. I have no fucking clue what the rest of these symbolize, except that it’s a ranking structure. These in the middle, I’m guessing about,” Tamer said, circling half the images he’d drawn.
“You’re certain about the bottom three? The bad ones?” Gabriel asked.
“As certain as can be, based on what I know. The top three and bottom three seem pretty solid to me. But who knows if a shrub or flower is more or less pure, based on the distance from the sky? Is this a sunflower that’s taller than me or like, a daisy?”
Gabriel laughed. “Yeah, I get it. Great work.”
Tamer rolled his eyes then smiled. “You’re not so bad to work for. You need any death-dealers?”
“Don’t joke about that. The dealers lose their souls when they come work for me.”
“Offer’s always out there. I can fight, and I hate most people.”
“I’ll let you know.” Gabriel stood. Tamer was serious, but Gabriel wasn’t about to take him up on it when his own dealers were ditching him. He always hated the enslavement of the death dealers; he refused to give Death his soul until forced to make a deal with her for Rhyn’s life a few months ago. It never sat well with him that those charged with enforcing Death’s mission served not out of choice but obligation to the deity that stole their souls.
It was one of the first things he’d change, if he ever made it back to the underworld.
Gabriel. Andre’s summons came a little later than Gabriel was expecting.
“I’m out. Let me know if you get anything else,” he said, standing.
“You serious about demons being after me?” Tamer asked.
“Talk to Rhyn.”
Tamer shook his head at the mention of Rhyn. Gabriel returned to the study of the Immortals stronghold. Andre was seated, as if he’d never moved. Midmorning sunlight streamed in through the large windows at the rear of the study. Gabriel squinted, unaccustomed to so much light after all his years in the underworld. He sat with his back to the windows.
Andre was grave, the first warning things hadn’t gone well.
“Do you want to clean up first?” the Immortal asked politely, gaze on the demon blood on Gabriel’s clothing.
“No,” Gabe replied. “I gotta go back out after this. The tumor?”
“Gone.”
Gabriel nodded and felt himself relax. His mate wasn’t going to die after all. He didn’t need to stop with a kiss next time. He liked that idea more than he thought he should.
Except that Andre wasn’t smiling. The Ancient Immortal was studying him hard. If Gabriel wasn’t immune to the mind manipulation magic, he suspected Andre would be using it on him right now.
“This sounds like good news to me. What’s wrong?” Gabriel asked.
Andre was quiet for a long moment. Gabriel sensed he was trying to balance his natural inclination to be discreet with his obligation to serve the deity that raised him from the dead-dead.
“There never was a tumor in the head of this Deidre,” the Immortal said cryptically.
Gabriel waited for more. Andre smiled.
“You’re certain there was one in her head the other night, right?” Gabriel asked.
“Yes.”
Of course, it was possible that Darkyn combined the souls into Deidre’s new body, after raising her from the dead-dead. Perhaps the other body hadn’t been salvageable. Deidre hadn’t tried to dye her hair pink or hide the fact she was different.
If it was so simple, Andre wouldn’t be trying to drop a hint without betraying the confidence of Deidre.
“Do I need to be careful?” Gabriel asked uneasily.
“Careful? No. She’s completely enamored by you and has no power, so she poses no danger. But” Andre paused, debating silently “I’d say you need to determine how much you are willing to trust her.”
“I figured that much.”
“Then you know what you need to know. Keep in mind there’s more to the story than what there appears to be,” Andre added. “I’ve said more than I feel comfortable saying.”
“Thank you, Andre.”
Dread was heavy in Gabriel’s stomach. Andre read her mind. It was clear Gabriel’s instincts about his inability to trust her were right, and Gabriel had no idea how to interpret Andre’s warning.
Gabriel. It was Deidre summoning him.
“Speak of the devil. I’ve gotta go,” Gabriel said, standing.