The Dark-Hunters (550 page)

What would the child think when he grew older and Styxx and his father told him what Acheron had been? Would it matter to the child that all of it had been against Acheron’s will? That he would never have done it had there been any choice?

Or worse, would he be like Maia …

His gut tightened with the thought. Picking up the boy, Acheron held him against his chest as tightly as he could without hurting him. “Please don’t ever hate me, Appie. I couldn’t take that from you.”

Appie loves theo.

Acheron cherished every syllable.

“How touching.”

He opened his eyes to find Artemis standing in front of them. “Have you ever seen Apollodorus?”

She shrugged. “Not really. Apollo has bastards aplenty. But he is cute enough I suppose for a smelly small human.”

Acheron tried to hear her thoughts. But unlike the humans, it wasn’t easy. He had to strain for it and then he could only get pieces of them.

Put the child down. I wanted to be with you.
“Where’s its mother?”

“With Apollo.”

She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Doesn’t that thing have a keeper?”

“Yes and at the moment, the keeper would be me.”

She put her hands on her hips.

“Sit down, Artie, and meet your nephew. His bites don’t hurt.” Unlike hers.

Her entire demeanor showed her agitation as she sat down beside them. “Is it wet?”

“He’s not wet.”

Apollodorus held one hand in his mouth as he stared curiously at Artemis.
She’s not right, theo
 …

Acheron laughed at the thought.

Artemis glared at them. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” he said, wondering why she couldn’t hear the boy’s thoughts too. It made him curious how much the powers of the gods differed from each other—maybe there were a lot of things he could do that she couldn’t … “As a god, do you ever hear what other people are thinking?”

She rolled her eyes. “I do my best not to. They’re always boring. Either they’re scheming to hurt someone or begging for something. People are insects.”

Her rabid hostility caught him off guard. Although some of the people he’d known in his life were so low, he wouldn’t insult an insect by linking them to the cretins who’d abused him. “Including me?”

She brushed her hand through his hair. “No. You’re quiet to me. I never hear your thoughts. It’s why I like being with you.”

He found it disconcerting that he couldn’t hear what she was thinking.

Still, as a god, shouldn’t she know when she was sitting next to another one? How could she not know what had happened to him last night? “Do you sense anything different about me?”

“Other than the fact you’re cuddling a smelly boy, no.” She dropped her hand. “I know you humans put a lot of stock in the anniversaries of your birth, but really all it marks is one year closer to death. Who’d want to celebrate that?”

Acheron snorted at her answer. So she couldn’t sense his unlocked godhood. Fascinating. “I wasn’t talking about my age.”

“Then what? You haven’t cut your hair and I can tell by the way the small thing is climbing on you and you’re not wincing that you haven’t been beaten. What else has happened?”

The fact that she could be so cavalier about his beatings set his anger off. The bitch should have to suffer through the pain and humiliation of one to understand it wasn’t something to be taken so lightly. “Nothing.”

She waved his hostile answer away dismissively. “You’re such an odd man.”

Apollodorus crawled over to Artemis. They stared at each other for a full minute before he smiled and put his wet hand on her arm.

“Ow! Disgusting.” She wiped it away.

Acheron held his arms out and Apollodorus returned to him.

“How do you stand that?” Artemis shivered as he picked the boy up and Apollodorus gave him a wet kiss on his cheek.

“I love him, Artie. There’s nothing disgusting about him.”

She shivered even harder as if it were the most repulsive thing she could imagine. “You want your own child, don’t you?” Her accusatory tone amazed him. It was as if she thought him an imbecile for wanting something like that.

Acheron held his nephew close as he considered a question that had never crossed his mind. “Since I can’t have any, I’ve never thought about it really.”

“But if you could?”

He looked at his nephew and smiled. He’d give anything to be able to create something so precious. “I can think of no greater gift than to have my own child look at me the way Appie does.”

“Then we should find a baby for you.”

He scoffed at the thought before he changed the subject to one that really mattered and was a lot more feasible. “Tell me something, Artie. If I were a god, would you acknowledge our friendship to other people?”

She made a sound of utter disgust in the back of her throat. “You’re not a god, Acheron.”

“But if I were…”

“Why do you ponder such ridiculous thoughts?”

“Why do you avoid answering me?”

“Because it doesn’t matter. You’re not a god. I told you, your eyes are a deformity. Nothing more.”

How could a god be so blind as not to see another of its kind? Or was his mother really so powerful that she’d managed to shield him so completely from all gods? “And you’ve never known a god to have eyes like mine?”

“No.”

Maybe it wasn’t his godhood … maybe it was because they were from different pantheons. “Have you ever met an Atlantean god?”

Exasperated, she flicked her hands at him so hard that her nails actually made a popping sound. “Why are you so inquisitive today?”

“Why are you getting angry over such simple questions?”

“Because I want to spend time with you without that thing attached to you. Could we put him in a cage?”

Acheron was aghast. “Artemis!”

“What? He’d be safe there.”

“He’d cry and be scared.”

“Fine.” She pushed herself to her feet and glared at them. “I’ll come back when you’re free of him.” She vanished instantly.

Apollodorus stared up at him curiously. Acheron patted the boy on the back as he shook his head.

“Well, Appie, that was your Aunt Artemis in all her glory.”

Art-ee-miss.

He smiled at the boy’s attempt to pronounce it in his head. “Close enough. Not that it really matters. I don’t think she’s going to be around much for you.”

Ackee be with Appie.

His smile widened at the way Apollodorus pronounced his name. “Ackee will always be with you.”

Giggling, Apollodorus curled up in his lap and laid his head down. Acheron stroked his small back and before he knew it, the baby was asleep.

He picked him up and held him against his shoulder where the sound of the baby’s soft snore kept the rest of the world away from his head. He was at peace with the universe right now and wondered if his mother would have held him like this.

For the first time in his life, he thought that she might. At least his real mother.

Apollymi.

*   *   *

Apollymi continued to pace as Xiamara stood, watching her. “That Greek goddess keeps seeing my son. Do you think we could use her to protect him?”

Xiamara hesitated. Perhaps she shouldn’t have kept everything from her friend, but if Apollymi knew the full extent of Apostolos’s human life there was no telling what she might do. “I don’t know, akra. The Greeks aren’t like us and Artemis isn’t all that powerful within their pantheon. She would be afraid I think to protect him.”

Apollymi growled in frustration. “We have to do something.”

“I can bring him here, but the moment I do, Archon and the others will descend on us and attack.”

“I have no fear. Once I’m free, I can defeat them, plus we have your army. But with Apostolos … they would attack him and one of them might kill him while we’re occupied with others.”

That had been the only reason Apollymi had run from them while pregnant. Fear for the baby had kept her from battling. One stray strike and it could have ended her son’s life. It was a risk she’d never take.

“Should I summon a Chthonian?”

Apollymi paused at the question and her heart wrenched. Though the Chthonians were usually human in birth, they possessed the powers of the gods and functioned as a sort of police unit for the various pantheons. They kept order and prevented all-out war between the gods. Even so, they had their own agendas, which weren’t always in the best interest of the universe and definitely not in
her
best interest. “I don’t trust them. They’re as likely to kill Apostolos to keep peace as save him. I won’t take that chance.” Frustration welled inside her. So long as Apostolos was in human form, he was vulnerable. He could be killed so easily right now … How could she get her son to her without jeopardizing his life?

Jaden …

She turned to look at Xiamara.

“Akra,” she said in a chiding tone. “You’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking, are you?”

“Jaden could be bartered with to bring Apostolos here. But I would need a demon to summon him.” She gave Xiamara a knowing look.

Jaden was a broker who made deals between demons and the primary source of the universe. His power equaled if not excelled that of a god. If ever there was a being who could protect and return her son to her, he was it.

“You know there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Apollymi. But Jaden is unpredictable. Even if he takes the bargain, we’d have to offer him something supreme for this.”

Honestly, she didn’t care. She’d give anything for her son. “What would he take in exchange for his services?”

“There’s no telling.”

Apollymi stalked toward her pond where she could spy on the universe through its waters. She could have even used it to check in on Apostolos as he grew to manhood, but her fear for his safety had kept her from it. If Archon knew when she was watching her son, he’d have been able to use the pond to find Apostolos himself. Even now she didn’t dare use it to see her son. It was a risk she refused to take.

She raised the water from the pond to form an iridescent ball in the air. There in the center, she focused her powers to find Jaden and see what it was he wanted most.

Dark shadows swirled and twisted. Then they began to take form …

Just as it would have been recognizable, it dissolved. Apollymi cursed. The power that owned him wouldn’t allow her to see how to control him.

Damn it!

Anger and sorrow mixed inside her. Fine then. “Summon him and offer him my powers and life if he will give me five minutes alone with my son before I die. And if he promises to protect Apostolos for the rest of his life.”

Xiamara gaped as she let out a nervous laugh punctuated by disbelief. “Apollymi, you can’t.”

She met her friend’s gaze levelly. “If this were Xedrix, Xirena or Simi?”

Xiamara cursed as she realized she’d do the same exact thing to protect her children. “Are you sure?”

“He’s my son, Xi. The only part of me that’s worth living. Whatever it takes to save his life, make the bargain. I just want to hold him one time before I die.”

Xiamara pulled her into a hug and held her close. “You are the bravest woman I’ve ever known, akra. I will do as you ask even though I don’t want to.”

“And will you bond with him when I’m gone?”

“You know I will. After all we’ve been through together, I’d give my life for you and for your son.”

Apollymi choked on her tears. “Then you are the best friend anyone could ever have.”

Xiamara tightened her hug before she stepped back. “I will return as quickly as possible.”

Despondent and yet hopeful, Apollymi watched as Xiamara left her. She looked at the pond, desperate to check on her son, but she knew better than to try. The moment Xiamara had unlocked Apostolos’s powers, it had put the others on notice.

The day of reckoning was here. By all the gods of the universe, she would make them pay for what they’d done to her baby and for every day they’d made her live without him.

JUNE
24, 9527
BC

Acheron walked through the center of the city, feeling the power of life moving through his veins. It was as if he were now truly part of the universe. Colors were more vibrant, every sound … he could hear heartbeats and blood rushing through veins. Every person he passed, he knew their names instantly. Their past, their present and their futures.

Nothing was hidden from him. He could feel the power of the ages. He felt invincible …

Mmmm, I’d love to have a sample of that.

He turned toward the woman whose thoughts were in his mind. She immediately glanced away as if embarrassed by her wantonness.

Acheron stopped dead as he realized something.

With his powers unlocked, the others didn’t pounce on him the way they’d done before. Testing his theory since he now knew he could teleport himself away from them with nothing more than a thought, he lowered his cowl. The familiar tremor went through those who saw him, but for the first time in his life, they kept their distance. It was as if they could sense the powers within him and knew better than to approach.

Amazed, he jerked the cloak off and handed it to a beggar as he continued walking through the streets uncovered. Exposed. So this was what it felt like to be normal. It was incredible to live without fear. Without being mauled and hurt.

Wanting to laugh in relief and excitement, he headed toward Artemis’s temple and fearlessly strode inside.

The temple was empty this time of day. Emboldened by his powers, he approached her statue.

“What are you doing here?”

He saw Artemis in the shadows. “I wanted to see you.”

“You know better than to come here,” she growled in a low, fierce tone. “What if someone saw you?”

He tsked at her. “What’s the matter, Artie? Why can’t I make an offering to a goddess? Am I really that offensive to you?”

Artemis scowled. There was something different about Acheron today. An essence of power rippled … like the presence of a god, and yet she knew better. “Are you drunk?”

His grin was actually charming. “I can’t get drunk anymore.”