Stygian

  “Pretty much. I’m particularly fond of the one called ‘Acheron the Great Evil.’ ” Chris paused as he turned to another story. “Oh wait … You’ll love this one. They’ve got the story of the nasty Nordic Dark-Hunter. Remember the story with the witch and the oven? This one features you with a furnace.”

  “Phoebe!” Sasquatch’s glare turned to murder.

  She blinked innocently. “What? That’s our heritage. It’s not like you guys don’t swap stories on Andy the Evil Apollite or Daniel the Killer Daimon. You know I see human movies and read their books too. They’re not exactly nice to my people.”

  Wulf scoffed. “Yeah well, your people happen to be soul-sucking demons.”

  Crossing her arms over her chest, Phoebe cocked her head with attitude. “You ever met a banker or a lawyer? Tell me who’s worse, my Urian or one of them? At least we need the food. They do it just for profit margins.”

  Cassandra laughed at their bantering, then took the book from Chris’s hands. “I appreciate the thought, Phee, but could we find a book that doesn’t paint the Dark-Hunters as Satan?”

  “I don’t think one exists. Or if it does, I’ve never seen it.”

  “Great.” Sasquatch picked up another card. “Just great. My poor son’s going to have nightmares all of his childhood.”

  “Trust me,” Chris said as he upped his bet against Wulf. “That book’s going to be the least of your kid’s problems with you as his father.”

  Cassie frowned. “What do you mean?”

  Chris put his cards down and met her gaze. “You do know that as a small child, they actually carried me around on a pillow? I had a custom-made helmet that I had to wear until I was four.”

  Sasquatch scratched at his beard. “That’s because you banged your head every time you got angry. I was afraid you were going to get brain damage from it.”

  Chris snorted. “The brain is fine. It’s my ego and social life that’s in the toilet. I shudder at what you’re going to do to that poor kid.” He dropped his voice and imitated Wulf’s lilting Norse accent. “Don’t move, you might get bruised. Oops, a sneeze, better call in specialists from Belgium. Headache? Odin forbid, it might be a tumor. Quick, rush him for a CAT scan.”

  Wulf shoved his shoulder playfully. “And yet you live.”

  “Ever the better to procreate for you.” Chris met Cassandra’s gaze. “It’s a hell of a life.” Then Chris dropped his gaze as if he was thinking about that for a minute. “But there are worse ones out there.”

  He was right about that. Phoebe sighed as she wondered about Urian and what he was doing.

  Katra waited outside Urian’s bedroom until Davyn came outside to meet her. “Is he all right?”

  “He will be, but that was very close.”

  She let out a long sigh. “Yeah, I’ve never seen him like that. Didn’t know he could get weak.”

  “Me neither.”

  She glanced to the closed door. “Do I want to know what you did to fix him?”

  With grim expression, Davyn shook his head. “You wouldn’t approve.”

  “Pardon the pun. Sucks to be a Daimon.”

  “You have no idea. Believe me, it’s not something we enjoy. There’s not a one of us who wouldn’t give our souls to change it.”

  Kat saw the truth in his dark eyes. And oddly enough, she saw Davyn’s gentle soul, and his guilt. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, Kat. That’s an empty sentiment. You really don’t get what your uncle did to us.”

  “Pardon?”

  “I know who and what you are. Urian doesn’t.”

  Panic filled her. “How?”

  Davyn laughed. “I see and hear a lot more than anyone credits me with. And I’m not as dumb as everyone thinks. I’ve seen Artemis. You look just like her. Right down to the eye color. Given that, I figure you have to be related to Apollymi’s son in order for her to tolerate you to live. Never mind come and go here, whenever you like.”

  Katra’s jaw dropped. “You’ve never told him?”

  “Of secret things I am silence.”

  “The Bhagavad Gita?”

  Davyn shrugged. “I read a lot of things.”

  The door behind him opened to show Urian looking a lot better. His deep tawny skin had a healthy glow. His eyes were bright and for once he wore his long blond hair down around his shoulders. She would give Phoebe credit. Her husband was extremely gorgeous.

  Dressed black on black, there wasn’t much difference between Urian and a Dark-Hunter.

  “You look like you ate someone who agreed with you.”

  Urian wasn’t amused with her joke. “Ha, ha, Katra. Do you have any real reason to be here? Or are you just wanting to piss me off?”

  “I was making sure you lived. Sorry I cared.”

  “I’m not sorry you cared. I am sorry you feel the need to nettle.” Sighing, he met Davyn’s gaze. “Thank you, brother.”

  “You know I love you.”

  “You, too.”

  “Aw!” Kat threw herself against them both and hugged them close. “It’s a Daimon love fest!”

  Urian screwed his face up. “Gah! I’m getting Olympian cooties. Someone call an exterminator! Better yet, a Charonte!”

  Snorting, Kat pulled away. “Fine. I’m heading back. See you later.”

  Urian took a minute to talk to Davyn. “I got rid of the body.”

  “Thanks.”

  When he started to leave, Davyn stopped him. “Uri … it’s none of my business, but you know that’s not normal, right?”

  “It wasn’t her fault. I picked a particularly nasty asshole to feed on and it affected her. You were lucky—Paris was particular about the souls he took. To keep you safe, he preyed on gentle ones so that you wouldn’t have to listen to them screaming as much.”

  Davyn looked away, shame-faced at a secret they’d all kept from him. Paris had been the only one of them who had taken the lives of women and weaker humans so as not to risk Davyn going trelos. “Yeah, I know. I didn’t realize that until he was gone and I had to pick my own meals.”

  And it made a big difference. Urian was used to feeding himself only. Because he’d been doing it for so long, the voices had become a part of him. He could ignore them most of the time. Phoebe was still adjusting. And when they were dying, they were louder and worse. Especially the strong ones.

  She was still getting used to all that.

  He’d considered going after a weaker human. But he just couldn’t make himself do it. His warrior’s code was too strong. It wasn’t in him to prey on someone weaker. There was no honor in that.

  He smiled at Davyn. “I’ll be more careful with her in the future.”

  “What if she goes trelos?”

  “She won’t. She’s part human.”

  “A human who almost killed you tonight!”

  Urian shook his head. “My stupidity almost killed me tonight, not Phoebe. I’ve got this.”

  Davyn scoffed as Urian headed off. And the last words he heard him say were ominous indeed. “Strange. Those were the last words Paris said.”

  It was just after midnight when Urian returned to the Muppet’s apartment to collect his wife. Phoebe smiled as he neared her.

  Wulf didn’t. In fact, the tension between the two of them was fierce.

  “What’s the matter, Dark-Hunter?” Urian couldn’t resist taunting as he draped his arm around Phoebe’s shoulders. “You were hoping I’d succumb?”

  “No, I was just wondering who you killed to reclaim your health.”

  Urian snorted. “I’m sure the cows you eat aren’t exactly thrilled by their slaughter either.”

  “They’re not people.”

  “In case you haven’t noticed, Dark-Hunter, there are a lot of people out there who aren’t human either.”

  Taking Phoebe’s hand, Urian led her toward the door. “C’mon, Phee, I don’t have much time before I have to return to Kalosis and I don’t want to spend it with my enemies.”

  He to
ok her back to their apartment.

  Phoebe watched him carefully. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “Other than hacked off? Yeah. I’m good.” Urian turned toward her. “What about you?”

  “I have a headache, but other than that, I’m fine.”

  A headache … that didn’t bode well. Urian tried not to let Davyn’s words infect his mind and panic him. Phoebe was fine.

  She was. She wasn’t going trelos. His father wasn’t going nuts and he wasn’t playing with fire.

  Everything would be fine.

  Yeah, he didn’t believe it either.

  March 19, 2004

  Since Urian was supposed to be the sponsor for this godforsaken event, he opened the door to collect his sister-in-law. At the request of his wife and Cassandra, he’d worn his long blond hair down around his shoulders and he was dressed in an elegant black silk tuxedo. He didn’t know what it was about women that they liked his hair down, but … whatever.

  If it made Phoebe happy and got him laid, he’d oblige her.

  “Are you ready?” he asked Cassandra.

  Standing in the bedroom, she was dressed in her wedding gown, with her long strawberry-blond hair down around her shoulders. She wore a silver crown intertwined with fresh flowers.

  She fidgeted with her hem. “Is Wulf ready?”

  He nodded. “He and Chris are waiting for you in the main complex.”

  Kat handed her the single white rose that was wrapped with red and white ribbons.

  Cassandra took the rose.

  Phoebe and Kat took their places in front and led the way. Urian came into the room to offer Cassandra his arm so that they could walk behind them.

  For some odd reason, Cass had wanted the wedding outside, but after much laughter and refusal, they’d finally rented the open merchant area. Shanus and several council members had gone out of their way to bring hydroponic plants and flowers to simulate a garden center. They’d even constructed a small fountain.

  Cassandra hesitated as they entered the complex. Urian arched a brow at that. Given how pregnant she was, he hoped she wasn’t getting cold feet.

  “I’ll take it from here.”

  Urian inclined his head to his father-in-law, whom he had yet to meet, but Phoebe had warned him he’d be here for the event.

  Cassandra gasped. “Daddy?”

  “You didn’t really think I’d miss my baby getting married, did you?”

  “But how?”

  He indicated Wulf with a nod. “Wulf came to the house last night and brought me here. He said it wouldn’t be a wedding for you unless I came, and he told me about Phoebe. I spent last night in her apartment with her so that we could catch up and then surprise you.” His eyes teared up as he stared at her stomach. “You look beautiful, baby.”

  She threw herself into his arms, or at least as close to that as she could given her distended belly, and held him tight. “Should we call the wedding off before you drown us in tears?” Kat asked.

  “No!” Cassandra pulled herself together with a sniff. “I’m fine. Really.”

  Her father kissed her cheek, tucked her hand into the crook of his arm, and led her to Wulf. Kat and Phoebe moved to stand behind Chris while Urian took his place by Phoebe’s side. The only other person present was Shanus, who stood back but watched them with a friendly expression that said he was more than happy to bear witness to the event.

  Urian kissed Phoebe’s hand as he remembered marrying her, and he hated that she hadn’t had her father present for their wedding. To her credit she didn’t say a word about it as her father wrapped the ribbons around Cassandra’s and Wulf’s hands.

  Once he was done, their father began speaking the words to bind them together. “It is through the night that we are—”

  “Light,” Urian whispered loudly, interrupting him.

  Her father’s face flushed a bit. “I’m sorry. I had to learn this rather hastily.” He cleared his throat and began again. “It is through the light that we are born and through … through …” Her father hesitated.

  Amused by the fact that their human father was completely clueless, Urian came forward to whisper in his ear.

  “Thank you,” Mr. Peters said. “This ceremony is nothing like ours.” Urian inclined his head and stepped back, but not before he gave Cassandra a wink to let her know he had her back.

  “It is through the light that we are born and through the night that we travel. The light is the love of our parents who greet us and welcome us into this world, and it is with the love of our partner that we leave it.

  “Wulf and Cassandra have chosen to be with each other, to ease their remaining journey and to comfort one another in the coming nights. And when the final night is upon them …” Her father stopped as he teared up again.

  Ah, good grief. If this kept up, Cassandra’s baby would be born and graduate before they got to the end of it.

  “I can’t,” he said quietly.

  “Daddy?”

  Her father stepped back as a tear fell down his cheek.

  Phoebe rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him.

  Cassandra started for him, but Phoebe stopped her. “Finish it, please, Uri.”

  Phoebe escorted their father off to the side.

  Great … he’d rather be denutted. Sighing, Urian moved to stand with them and marry his worst enemy to his wife’s sister. Someone kill me now. “When the final night is upon us, we vow to stand together and ease the one who travels first.

  “Soul to soul we have breathed. Flesh to flesh we have touched. And it is alone that we must leave this existence, until the night comes that the Fates decree we are reunited in Ouranlie.”

  Great, now Cassandra was starting to cry.

  Urian stepped to the pedestal that had the same gold cup he’d used to marry Phoebe. He brought it over to Cassandra. “Normally this would be the blood of both of you combined, but since neither one of you is particularly gung ho for that, it’s wine.”

  He handed the cup to Cassandra, who took a sip and then gave it to Wulf, who followed suit. Wulf handed the cup to Urian. As was the Apollite custom, Wulf bent down and kissed her so that the taste of wine was mingled with them.

  Urian returned the cup to the pedestal and finished the ceremony. “Here stands the bride, Cassandra. She is unique in this world. Her beauty, grace, and charms are the legacy of those who have come before her and will be gifted to those who are born through her.

  “This man, Wulf, on the other hand, stands before us a product of …” Frowning, Urian paused. “Well, he’s the product of a bitch who can’t stand the thought of Apollo’s children ruling the earth.”

  “Urian, behave!” Phoebe snapped.

  He bristled at her command. “Considering the fact that I just bound a member of my family to one of the people I have sworn to annihilate, I think I’m being remarkably good.”

  Phoebe cast him a glare that loudly proclaimed he’d be sleeping alone for at least a week.

  Maybe longer.

  Urian curled his lip at Wulf. You utter Muppet bastard. “Fine. I’m glad I didn’t say what I really thought,” he muttered under his breath.

  Louder, Urian returned to the ceremony. “It is your similarities that brought you together and your differences that add variety and spark to your life. May the gods bless and protect your union and may you be …” He paused again. “Well, you already are blessed with fertility so we’ll skip that.”

  Phoebe growled low in her throat.

  Urian cast another murderous glare at Wulf. “May the two of you enjoy every minute left to you.”

  Then Urian tied the ribbons into a double knot, although he would rather have knotted them around Muppet’s throat.

  Chris and Kat led the way back to the apartment.

  As soon as they could, Urian and Phoebe left with her father in tow.

  Which made for an awkward silence as her father treated him more like a bad lab experiment. It didn’t matter that
he’d saved both of Jefferson’s daughters. The man just continued to treat him like shit.

  “I don’t bite.”

  “Sorry. It’s just I’ve heard so much about Daimons from my wife and daughters. But you’re the first one I’ve ever met.”

  “It’s okay. I get it. Kind of like human kindness and compassion. I’ve heard of such mythical beasts, but I have yet to encounter them personally. Keep hoping to, though.”

  Urian decided to leave Phoebe alone with her father and let them catch up. But as he walked around the underground city, he kept having the strangest premonition.

  He saw himself in the past. Alone. And he heard someone weeping, but he didn’t know who.

  It was so strange. But not as strange as him being here tonight, the son of Stryker who had been tagged to annihilate Phoebe and her bloodline. Now being the very one who’d married Cassandra to Wulf, his enemy, so that they could safeguard that bloodline for all time.

  Apollymi was right. It was the ultimate betrayal. He was his father’s right hand. The only one Stryker trusted.

  And tonight, he’d just stabbed his father in the heart.

  May 24, 2004

  “Your father has lost his mind.”

  That was an understatement. Ever since Cassandra had birthed her son, Erik, his father had been spiraling out of control with an insane need to kill the two of them.

  Raking his hands through his hair, Urian was at a loss on how to deal with the man. In all these centuries past, he’d never seen him quite like this. “I don’t know, Dav … has he gone trelos?”

  “I was about to ask you that.”

  That would be his best guess. It would make the most sense. He was definitely acting like an utter lunatic.

  “Urian!”

  Davyn sighed. “I am so glad I’m not his son.”

  “Way to have my back.”

  “Yeah, well. I’d rather have your ass.”

  “Not funny.”

  Davyn held his hand up with his fingers pinched together. “I’m a little funny.”

  “Urian!”

  He teleported into his father’s office. “You rang down the temple?”

  His father gave him a cold, murderous glare. “Don’t even. Are you aware that the bastard Dante Pontis killed our informant?”