Devil May Cry (39 page)

“The seal has weakened,” she said in Sumerian. “The Dimme will be freed in six marks. Whoever holds this tool, you must reseal their tomb.…”

“Six marks?” Damien asked. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Two hours,” Kat and Sin said simultaneously.

Kat looked at Sin. “I thought we had a couple of weeks?”

“So did I,” he said gruffly. “Something else must have happened to accelerate the clock.”

Damien made a face of exaggerated happiness. “That's just beautiful. Zippity-doo-da! What a wonderful day.”

Kat sighed heavily. “So much for planning an attack, huh?”

Sin walked through the diagram as he went to retrieve his last sword that would easily kill the gallu. “We need to gather everyone we can.”

Damien scoffed. “Uh, boss, hate to be a pall, but I think everyone we can gather is currently here in this room.”

Sin paused to look at Simi, Xirena, Damien, Kat, Kish, and Xypher. It was a pitiful number of defenders. But it was all the world had. “In that case, we need to seriously arm ourselves.”

Damien crossed himself. “Hail Mary, full of grace—”

“What are you doing?” Kish asked. “You're not Catholic.”

“Yeah, but I'm feeling really religious all of a sudden and it seemed like a good idea.”

Sin rolled his eyes. He looked at Simi and Xirena. “You two are our tanks.” He glanced around to the others. “We'll have to guard them so that they don't get overwhelmed and brought down. If we lose them, we have no one who can help us.”

Kat frowned. “Wait. I have an idea.… You go ahead and arm everyone. I'll be right back.”

Sin opened his mouth to argue, but before he could speak, she was gone.

*   *   *

Kat
flashed herself to Olympus, onto her mother's balcony. Luckily, Acheron was still sitting on the terrace, looking incredibly bored.

He gave her a chilling look. “Are the Dimme out yet?”

She gaped at the unexpected question. “How did—”

“I felt the vibration. It's a sensation I've felt before the last time they almost went free. And to answer the question in your mind, you'll have to ask Artemis. I can't leave here until she dismisses me.”

That sucked. “You've got to be kidding.”

“Oh, I never kid about Artemis. I promised her I'd sit here and do nothing, so here I am doing nothing. Much like a really tall, bored guard dog. Personally, I'd rather be throwing myself onto an electric fence—be about the same, I think.”

Kat growled low. “Where is she?”

“Still with her father.”

She leaned her head back and cursed at the ceiling. She hated having to go up there. “All right. Sit tight and I'll go talk to her.”

He laughed. “Good luck.”

Kat quickly flashed herself outside the main hall of Zeus's temple where the gods gathered to party. She stayed in the shadows as she got the lay of the situation. Apollo was off to the right with Ares and Demeter while Athena sat with Aphrodite and Nike. Hades was in a corner with Persephone while Zeus laughed with Hermes.

Luckily, Artemis was alone, drinking from a two-handled goblet. Music filled the air as other gods frolicked, danced, and laughed.

Moving as carefully and silently as she could, Kat worked her way over to her mother, who jumped in surprise as she realized Kat was there.

“What are you doing here?” Artemis snapped.

“I need to talk to you.”

Artemis glanced about nervously. “This is a bad time.”

She had
no
idea. “I can't stress the importance of speaking to you. Now.”

“Katra…”

“Please.”

Artemis glowered at her before she pushed herself up from the table and walked her outside to the gardens. “What?”

“I need you to release Acheron.”

She laughed, then sobered. “No,” she said firmly.

“Matisera, please. The Dimme are about to break free and if I can get him out, he can help corral more Charontes and—”

“Are you insane?” she hissed. “Have you ever seen what happens when the Charonte are set loose? No, you haven't because you're still alive. It's like unleashing locusts with piranha teeth and there's no stopping them.”

“But Acheron could control them.”

“And he could get killed, which is one thing I will never allow.”

“What about me?”

“You'll be fine.”

Kat was completely appalled, but she was also determined. “I need his help.”

Artemis waved her hand. “Leave the humans alone and don't worry about them. We can always make more.” And with that, she turned and left.

Kat stood there with her mouth hanging open. She couldn't believe that was all her mother had to say.
We can always make more.

Why was she even surprised? What, honestly, had she expected? It wasn't like her mother was going to suddenly wake up and be Mother Teresa.

Disgusted, Kat flashed herself back to Sin's penthouse. He gave her an expectant look.

She held her hand up to stop him from speaking. “Don't even ask.”

“Typical Artemis response?”

“I said don't ask.” Her heart heavy, she walked over to the weapons he'd laid out on his bed and picked up a small crossbow, which at the moment, she'd have liked to shoot into her mother's evil heart.

She'd no more than lifted it when a bright flash illuminated the room. She turned, ready to fire at the source of it.

Until she saw Deimos … and fifteen other members of the Dolophoni.

She couldn't have been more stunned to find her grandmother there.

Sin stepped back, his face suspicious. “What is this?”

“Backup,” Deimos said sincerely. He pinned Kat with that dark, deadly stare of his. “I heard what you said to Artemis … and her response. We're not all so cold.”

One of the females smiled. “Besides, fighting is what we do best.”

Sin considered it for a second before he held his hand out to Deimos. “Welcome to the battle.”

Deimos inclined his head before he shook Sin's hand. “For the record, this doesn't mean I like you.”

“Ditto.”

As Sin started for Kat's map to show them the layout of the cavern, D'Alerian, M'Adoc and M'Ordant appeared.

Kat was even more stunned than she'd been with Deimos.

“You have room for three more?” M'Adoc asked Sin.

“Sure,” Sin said. “We can always use more fuel for the pyre.”

Kish snorted. “For the record, I don't burn well.”

Xirena ruffled his hair. “Trust me, human, all of you burn well.”

“That's right,” Simi added. “The Simi can ignite most folks and fry them up extra crispy.”

Kish sighed. “Lovely.”

Ignoring their exchange, Sin ran over the plans with everyone. “The good news is, they haven't had time to round up as many humans to sacrifice. I'm hoping that whatever they did to speed up the clock, they didn't know about.”

Damien grimaced. “What if they did it on purpose?”

“Let's be positive, shall we?” Kat said in the voice of a kindergarten teacher, “Let's pretend that we're all going to survive this.”

Kish grinned. “I'm with Kat. I like her plan. A lot.”

After glaring at him. Sin clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. “All right, kids. We're going to a party where they don't like us very much. Everyone know what they're doing?”

“Not a clue,” Kish chimed in happily. “But I think certain death and dismemberment is in my forecast, followed by a light rain of guts and flayed skin.”

“So much for being Mr. Positive, huh?” Damien laughed.

“Let's see how you're laughing when they toss your butt out in daylight.”

“I think I can handle it.” Damien stepped forward, but Sin stopped him.

“You need to sit this one out.”

Damien glared at him. “Bullshit.”

“No,” Sin said, his tone determined. “Kish is right. It's daylight and I'm not willing to take that chance.”

Still, Damien wasn't sold. “We'll be underground.”

“And we'll be blasting holes in the walls. If someone hits the right place, daylight and dead Damien.”

A tic started in Damien's jaw, but he ultimately conceded. “Fine. But remember when they kick your butt, I tried to save it.”

Sin clapped him on the back before he surveyed each member of their team. “I wish I could think of something inspirational to say to all of you. Some great speech to send you off to battle with, but as I look around—”

“All I see is people going to die,” Kish wailed.

Kat laughed. “Pretty much. But if we have to check out, let's take as many of them as we can.” She moved to Sin's side and took his hand in hers. “You're not alone, babe.”

He squeezed her hand. “Thank all of you for being here. Mankind may not know about you, but I know they're grateful. Now let's go kick demon ass.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

It
was one thing to plan an attack, but an entirely different matter to implement it.

Kat stopped them before they could fan out and start toward the chamber where the tomb was. “I'm going to do some quick recon. Let's see if they know the seal is breaking and are waiting for us.”

Sin held her hand for a full minute. He stared at her with every part of his heart in his eyes, shining there for her to see. “Don't you dare get hurt.”

Kat grinned playfully. “You keep talking like that and I'm going to think that you actually like me.”

“I love you, Katra, and I don't want to bury you.”

She knew exactly how hard it was for him to say those words. The fact that he said them before so many witnesses …

Nothing had ever touched her more. “Don't worry, I'll be back to torment you before you can even miss me.”

“You better be. Without you, I might actually manage to grow an ego—may the gods forbid.” He kissed her quickly, then sent her off.

Kat changed to her Shade form to float through the winding caverns unseen and unheard. Everywhere she went, there didn't seem to be much activity. The demons didn't appear to be gathering their forces at all.

“When should we start rounding up the humans?”

She froze at the sound of a sharp, feminine voice coming from a room just ahead of her.

She approached it carefully, then peeped around to find Kessar and a woman lounging before a fire.

“End of the week,” Kessar said. “No need to have them here any sooner. I hate listening to them whine and cry. Mewling, pathetic creatures.”

Kat felt a giddy rush. He had no idea the seal was broken.… Oh, this was good. Finally, some luck for all of them.

Smiling, she took a step back.

And bumped into something solid.

Kat's heart stopped beating as she reached around and touched an arm.
Please be one of us, please be one of us.…
She turned slowly, hoping to find Xypher or one of the others.

It wasn't.

It was a tall male demon who eyed her like the roasted turkey on a Thanksgiving Day buffet. He shouldn't have been able to see her, and yet somehow he did.

“Kessar! We have a spy in our midst.” He reached for her.

Kat vanished instantly and returned to Sin and the others. “Houston, we have a problem. A demon spotted me and is calling for help.”

Sin cursed.

“But,” she added quickly, “the good news is, they don't know about the timer speeding up.”

Deimos met Sin's gaze. “With any luck, they'll think Kat was alone.”

Sin nodded. “We need to split up to keep them from learning how many, or more to the point,
few
of us are here.” He turned toward his servant. “Kish, stay with Simi and Xirena and follow me and Kat. We're headed for the tomb to stop the clock.”

“We'll divert the demons,” Deimos said. “And raise all manner of hell.”

“Thank you.”

Deimos inclined his head to Sin. “Are we all ready?” He looked around at his brethren who all appeared to relish the coming fight. Letting out a blood-chilling war cry, he and the rest of the Dolophoni ran through the caverns.

Thank the gods they weren't on a snowy mountaintop with all that noise. There would be an avalanche for sure.

M'Adoc put one finger in his ear and waited until they'd vanished. “I hate their dramatics … and the decibel level.”

Then he and D'Alerian and M'Ordant headed after them at a much more subdued pace.

Kat looked around. “Where's Xypher?”

“He went to keep an eye on you.”

“I didn't see him.”

“That's because I was doing recon of my own.”

They turned to see him looking pale.

“Where did you go?” Sin asked.

“Zakar. I know why the clock is ticking and you're not going to like it in the least. They embedded the lock in his chest.”

Sin felt sick at the news. “You're kidding.”

He shook his head. “I assume that whatever spell makes the lock work—”

“Caused it to accelerate. Zakar is part demon and god. The combination must have been what caused it.”

Xypher nodded.

Kat squirmed at the thought of poor Zakar and the pain he must be in. “Can we get the lock out?”

“You can look, but I don't think so.”

Sin's face was harsh, cold, and furious. “Kessar's paying me back for his brother's death.”

“No,” Xypher said, his voice thick, “he's paying Zakar back for helping me. Bloody bastard.”

Kat put her hand on Sin's arm to comfort him even though she knew he was past that. How could a simple touch alleviate the pain he must be in?

“Take us to him,” he said raggedly.

Xypher did.

Sin felt his face go pale as he saw his brother on his knees next to the tomb that held the Dimme. Dressed only in a pair of jeans, Zakar was slumped against the stone with his hands chained apart.