Embrace the Desire (6 page)

Charon's scythe appeared in his hand as the books on the isle called to him once more. “Oh, I think you're the one who wants something Damon. What will you give me to get what you want?”

Damon's smile slithered across his lips as he leaned back and crossed his legs. “I want Chanta Timbers to fall back in love with me.”

“I cannot give that to you. Emotions are off limits.” Charon laughed. “But you knew that already.”

“Yes.” Damon held out his hand and a long silver chain appeared. “Allow Bastilla, my wife, to travel through one of your portals. Let her believe she has escaped the Underworld and escaped me.”

“Why would you release her?” Charon knew he was asking too many questions yet he was curious. “Especially seeing as how you have no idea just what it is that I'll want in return.”

“Because, she'll bring me what I want.” Damon's eyes swirled from red to black to red. “I knew one day, she would be of use to me. You see, Charon, I own her soul. And if you do this, I'll give it to you.”

The books summoning grew louder, creating tiny pinpricks of pain in Charon's mind. They wanted the soul that Damon was offering. He didn't understand why, but knew he could not deny their demands.

And they wanted, demanded more than just her soul, they wanted others. Souls, he would need to collect as he collected the remaining books.

A trickle of sadness crept down his spine. He, of course, had no free will and had to do as the books commanded, that was his calling. It had been that way since Jaiden had been slaughtered over two thousand years ago. And yet, in the heartbeat of time that the thoughts had manifested themselves, he yearned for the free will to do as he pleased.

Charon bowed slightly to Damon as his emotions played havoc with his mind. “So it shall be, another bargain between us.”

Isten grunted loudly as Gyth, in his dragon form, landed on his black marble terrace. Gods were notorious for hiding their true forms. And that was a pity in itself. The dragon form was one of many forms, but it was Isten's favorite and Gyth's as well. Dragons, were amazing, powerful, and majestic creatures.

Already awoken from slumber by Terror Sky and the Algea, Isten was in no mood for Gyth. Rolling his silver eyes, he twisted his heavily muscled neck, his bones popping and cracking.

He knew the reason for Gyth's visit after speaking to Akhos. Disgust rippled through his body. Gyth had used Payne when the Destroyer had been at his weakest, and all because of the hatred he had for Damon.

A layer of dust stirred as he moved slowly across the empty chamber leading out to the terrace. His mind opened, seeking, searching, and seeing. Lightning flashed as he stretched his six foot eight inch frame, his heartbeat growing stronger with each passing second.

As Gyth transformed from dragon into human form, Isten stopped time with a slight wave of his hand. He gritted his teeth as he circled Gyth and touched his temple. He threw his head back letting the eons of knowledge flow from Gyth into himself. All the while, disgust and fury dug at his soul. And in the center of all the knowledge, he felt chaos. Chaos in the world he and the other seven gods had created.

Digging deeper in Gyth's mind, he found that Gyth had no knowledge of who or what had trapped him on the isle or that he was even trapped here.

The very air surrounding the Isle trembled, time warped and bled with the sorrow and pain manifesting itself in his mind. Blood red tears fell from Gyth's eyes as he dug deeper into Gyth's mind. Isten found the sacrifices, misery, and longing that filled Gyth's heart, but did not find any treachery.

Isten stood, the dust disappearing, the blackness creeping out of the corners. His dingy and tattered robes replaced with a black one that fell to his feet. The folds of the robe gave way revealing the silver and black armor beneath them. His gray, sharp eyes went to Gyth and he grunted in annoyance as time once again resumed normally.

It was, for the lack of a better way of putting it, time to get back into the game. He had stood-he glanced over his shoulder at the throne-he had sat for an eternity too long being silent and sightless.

As Gyth blinked, Isten announced loudly. “Gyth. I sent Terror Sky to aid you in taking the throne over two thousand years ago and it seems you have failed to do as I commanded. Chanta was to mate with Damon, those orders were specific.” Isten gave him a chilling look. “This war with Damon has placed you on the borderline of treason.”

“She is my daughter.”

With a roar, Isten slammed Gyth into the wall, watched him fall to his knees. “It was a direct command! And with Jaiden dead, it was imperative that those orders were to be followed through.”

“At the time, I wasn't aware she would be connected to me, I didn't know she was going to be my daughter. She doesn't deserve to be mated to that abomination!”

“Abomination? What right do you have to call him such? His presence in this world was predetermined, his destiny intertwined with Chanta's.” Isten turned on his heel, his fists at his sides. “It is with great reserve that I don't blast you into oblivion.”

“As you said, Jaiden is dead. How was I to know? I did what had to be done or he would have killed her out of his hatred for me.” Gyth bowed his head. “I come only to consult with you.”

“A hatred that you created.” Isten slammed his fist into the wall, the stones cracking under the force. “He never would have harmed her. His destiny was to father a child with her and that child would keep the balance. If that balance isn't maintained, the world will fall.”

“Damon is true evil, he doesn't know the meaning of being a father. Look what he did to Payne!” Gyth stood, dusted off his robes. “I refuse to allow my daughter to go through a living hell with that demon.”

“This is an act of betrayal. My own blood-born descendant defying orders.” Isten whirled around, his eyes meeting Gyth's with more rage than he intended. “You would give me more pleasure being staked to my mantle than pissing in the wind on my terrace.”

Gyth's lips formed a thin hard line across his face. “I cannot undo what has been done, nor would I if I could. Treason or not, I won't condemn my daughter to the confines of the Underworld, nor will I let that bastard ruin her.”

Isten laughed. Gyth was a fool. “That bastard, as you so lovingly refer to him, was to father the angel that was to take Elena's place. And now, look at what you have done—meddled with fate and led Chanta straight into Payne's arms. The odds of Payne fathering an angel are slim to none. If he gets Chanta pregnant during her Burning, the consequences could be disastrous.”

The grimace on Gyth's face didn't go unnoticed. “I took precautions. Payne is no longer a god, I stripped him of his powers long ago. There's no chance of Damon's evil taking over his soul.” Isten watched the tight smile form on Gyth's face. “He's nothing, but one of my Destroyers.”

“Really? Your Destroyers? You, of course, realize that Varick's godhood has been returned and his destiny was to be leader of the Destroyers. You no longer control them or harness the powers you took from them. They are in Varick's hands now.” Isten leaned onto the bannister surrounding the terrace. “If Payne wants his god powers back, do you honestly think that Varick won't return them to him? And with Payne's destiny unwritten, I fear he'll destroy his father and the Underworld will lay claim to him.”

“Varick isn't a fool. Even if he figures out how to return Payne's powers to him, he won't do it, he'll realize just how evil his powers can be.”

“He damn well better.” Isten slammed his fists onto the black marble bannister sending debris flying across the dark sky. “I see two paths before Payne. If he chooses the wrong one, a war like nothing you've ever seen will come. A war with destruction of this universe at its end.”

• • •

Varick staggered and landed into the stonewall outside of Tortured Souls. His entire world was off-kilter and his new powers that be were throwing him for a loop. His white brows were knitted together as he tried to concentrate. A curse echoed around him as he looked down at his shaking hands.

Physically, he was in a lot of pain and mentally he was somewhere in fucksville. His six foot six frame, hard as steel and full of powers he still did not understand, was on a slow burn to exhaustion. His muscles ached, his face was bloody, and his lips cracked. He ran his hands through his long white hair, his index finger tangling in the red braid that now hung from his temple.

He turned, pressing his back to the cool stone wall. One deep breath after another, his body relaxed as he turned over the latest situation in his mind.

He had a sister and she was innocent. Gyth had agreed to release Payne, but now would only confirm that he was missing. And on top of that, his body was not tolerating his new powers very well. He could not control them very long at a time and damn sure didn't understand them. Every time he used them, he crashed hard.

It was as if they were rejecting him, as if they truly didn't belong to him.

Sweat beaded his forehead as visions swamped his mind. Images of Payne being tortured, broken, and bleeding flashed before his eyes. Payne being chained and humiliated and his most inner secrets revealed.

Something inside his mind popped, careened around his skull, and came to a skidding halt before his eyes. Payne's godhood, Payne's powers were inside him demanding to be set free, were punching his eyes out of his skull screaming in utter rage. The power was refusing to be controlled, refusing anyone's demands except for Payne's.

Varick's fangs punched out of his gums, his rage boiling his blood by degrees. A scream, a curse ripped out of his throat as he looked upward to the star filled sky. Gyth had taken Payne's powers as well as countless other Destroyers when he converted them. And they were all inside Varick now, all of them swirling faster and faster out of control.

All this power, all this rage and he could do nothing!

Black smoke misted from nowhere, surrounding Varick. He crouched as the smoke grew darker and the smell of sandalwood and vanilla filled his lungs. From out of the obsidian depths, a female stepped forward. Her solid black eyes boring into his, she cocked her head to the side and pointed at him.

When she spoke, Varick wanted to shield his ears from the toxicity in her voice “I am Ania, an envoy from Lord Isten. If you want Payne, come with me.”

Turning her hand over, palm up, she offered her hand with an evil grin. “I must warn you Varick Ta Farg, my touch won't be pleasant, at least not for you.”

His guts twisted as he recognized her face from the visions he had of Payne. She was one of his torturers. One of the Algea, she was one of Gyth's hounds of misery.

Lunging forward, he grabbed her hand and a vicious roar left his mouth as his past slammed into his backbone. As she pulled him into the smoke, her unmistakable laughter brought a chill to his bones.

She was misery personified.

Even though seconds passed, it felt like an eternity in his mind as the years of his life whipped through his thoughts. He clung to her hand, refusing to give in to the over whelming emotions.

“Such strength,” she whispered on a sigh. “I would love to spend more time with you, but alas, we are here.”

Varick winced as her voice filled his mind. “You must learn how to control yourself Varick Ta Farg. There are so many lives dependent on you and so many enemies equally dependent on your not controlling yourself.”

Varick stepped from the smoke and swallowed hard. What did she mean? Things were already bad and what he was seeing before him could only mean it had gotten worse.

In the dark chamber, seated on a throne of black marble and silver, Isten stared straight at him. Gyth was to his left and Charon was to his right. Clenching his teeth, Varick listened in silence as they spoke unemotionally about the oncoming destruction if things weren't righted. They spoke of Payne and of Damon's rule of the Underworld. And they spoke of the books of knowledge and their power over the universe.

Their voices rattled his bones. Like dinosaurs feasting on the weaker ones, they spoke of sacrifice and the impending disasters ahead. All the while, Isten sat staring at Varick.

His patience was wearing thin, their chatter blurring into nonsense.

He stepped forward, his mouth open to insist on the subject of Payne's location.

“Tread carefully.” Isten warned. “I would take great offense if vampire god blood were dripping on my marble should you open your mouth and piss me off.”

His fangs slid from their sheaths as his eyes burned white. “Where. Is. Payne?”

Gyth turned to Varick. “Silence!”

Varick's shoulders rolled, his neck cracking. “Where is he?”

Isten stood, his armor catching a stream of light. “You cannot even control your god-born powers. Like a pup still suckling its mother, yet you would offend me in my own walls?”

Varick didn't stop until he stood toe to toe with the silver-eyed god. “Where is Payne?”

“Do you have a death wish? Do you wish Angelica to no longer have her mate by her side?” Isten grinned slightly as Varick growled and Gyth stepped forward. “You're in my domain Varick and you will play my game. Or have you forgotten who gave your powers back to you?” He looked at Gyth. “And who took them from you to begin with?”

“Varick is yet new to godhood, forgive him for his insolence.” Gyth gritted his teeth, his jaw flexing. “He does not know the protocol of the ancients.”

“He will learn protocol and he will abide by my rules and you will, too.” Isten nostrils flared. “Or you will have one less son.”

Gyth tightened his fists, but said nothing.

Turning to Varick, Isten stated loudly. “Payne, the son of Damon is here.”

“You'll find those books and they will be returned to me.” Isten stood, stepped down from the throne. “And I want to know who has them and how they are changing the future.”