"Completely human. She's being held by my aunt Satara, who is unstable at best. Viciously brutal at worst." Since Satara was the daughter of Apollo, Styxx could well imagine her cruelty.
Don't do it. Acheron wouldn't do it for you....
"You're going in with him, aren't you?"
Urian nodded.
Grandson of Apollo. One of Apollymi's former chief Daimons. Acheron's right-hand. Styxx should hate the man in front of him with everything he had. But Urian had been kind to him and something about the boy brought out the protector in Styxx. It made no sense whatsoever. And no matter how hard he tried to fight it, he couldn't send Urian on a suicide mission alone.
Damn it.
Styxx sighed at the most obvious reason why Urian would be here. "You want me to pretend to be Acheron?"
"You did it once to help an enemy. Would you do it again to help a friend?"
Styxx laughed bitterly. "How would I know? I've only had two friends in my life and both were brutally murdered."
"You don't consider me a friend?"
"No, I consider you a hemorrhoid."
Urian grinned, flashing his fangs at Styxx. "Ah now, that's just mean."
"Yeah, yeah ... Fine. But I am doing this for you and the innocent woman, not Acheron."
"Well, on behalf of myself and Tory, I can't thank you enough. By the way, how are your battle skills?"
Styxx snorted. "According to my father, I never had any. I shoved my men out in front of me, and hid behind their fallen bodies for cover."
Scowling, Urian didn't comment as he teleported Styxx to a small room.
Styxx froze as he saw Acheron beside a huge Chthonian named Savitar. This had been the man who'd trained his brother after death on how to use his god powers. In short, Savitar was Acheron's Galen ... only Savitar was immortal and bloodthirsty.
Every bit as tall as they were, Savitar had dark hair and a perfect goatee. His eyes were an iridescent lavender and strangely reminded Styxx of something ...
He couldn't put his finger on it, but in the back of his mind was some hidden message his brain was trying to give him.
His jaw slack, Savitar looked back and forth between Acheron and Styxx. "Holy Were-shit. This messes with my head."
Acheron glared at Styxx. "What is he doing here?"
"You can't go in," Urian reminded him. "Styxx can."
"No." Acheron was emphatic.
"Stop," Savitar snapped. "The kid has a point. Think about it. You can get Tory out of there and not end the world. Win-win."
The hatred in Acheron's eyes was searing. "I'm not leaving him alone with Tory. I don't trust him with her."
Styxx was aghast. "What do you think I'm going to do?"
"Rape her, kill her ... with you there's no telling."
Now that infuriated him. He'd never done anything for Acheron to hold those suspicions about his character. "With me? Really?" He shoved Acheron.
Acheron ran at Styxx, but Savitar caught him and pushed him back a step. "Stop thinking with your emotions. Calm down." Then Savitar turned to glare at Styxx. "And you, punk, lay off him or I'll fry your greasy ass where it stands. I know I can kill you and not kill Acheron. So don't push me."
Styxx snorted in derision. "That is not the way to motivate me to leave him alone, Chthonian. But it's a hell of a one to make me attack." He met Acheron's swirling silver gaze. Gods, he wanted to bury a dagger right between his brother's traitorous eyes. He really, really did.
Instead, he snatched his sleeve back to show his brother his forearm. "I know what it's like to lose the only thing you love, and to be forced to live without her for eternity. As bad as I want to cut your throat and watch you bleed out at my feet for the insult you just dealt me, I won't see your woman dead for it. Unlike your fucking whore mother, I don't kill innocents."
Both Savitar and Acheron blasted him for that comment. Styxx hit the wall behind him so hard, he broke through part of it. The air left his lungs while pain temporarily paralyzed him. Blood ran from his lips, ears, and nose.
Before Styxx could breathe again, Urian was by his side. His face was a mask of rage as he glared at Acheron. "What are you doing? I asked him here to help you and you kill him? Good job. Both of you. Congrats, you stupid assholes."
"He insulted my mother," Acheron roared.
"No offense, boss, your mother killed his wife and his son. Instead of putting him through a wall, I want you both to take one second and imagine his loss. I have buried almost every member of my family. And the one thing that truly tore my heart out was losing Phoebe. You mourn your sister, Ash? So did I. Trust me, it ain't shit till you lose your wife, especially when you know you should have been at home protecting her, and not leaving her to die brutally by the hand of your enemies." He turned and helped Styxx extricate himself from the wall.
Styxx stumbled then caught himself. It was so hard to breathe. Every rib felt broken.
"I'm sorry," Urian said. "I shouldn't have asked you to come."
Styxx spat the blood in his mouth on the floor. "Trust me, they're pussies compared to the real Atlanteans I fought."
They went to blast him again.
Holding his arms out, Urian shielded Styxx with his body.
Styxx stepped around Urian then patted him on the shoulder. "I'm not afraid of them. Hits, I can take. After all, I was slapped on the ass the minute I was born, and not a damn thing has changed since."
Acheron curled his lip. "Don't listen to him, Urian. He's a liar and a thief. He was never married. He was only engaged, and he never had a son."
Bitterness choked Styxx as those words infuriated him all the more. "You know nothing about me, brother. After all, I'm just a liar and a thief to you."
Styxx paused as the harsh reality of Acheron's misconceptions slapped him hard. "By the way, tell Artie thanks for the memories. 'Cause now I not only know everything about what really happened to you, I know what you honestly think of me. I would say that one day I would love to return the favor, but truthfully the only person I hate that much is your putrid mother."
Still bleeding inside and out, Styxx wiped his hand across his face and spoke the words to his brother that he used to say to Apollo to drive the god into a murderous fury. "Now either use me, or send me home. I'm in no mood to play."
Savitar took a deep breath as he faced Acheron. "Urian's right. Styxx is the best shot we have at getting her out alive. We don't know what going into Kalosis will do to you, Ash. It could rip out your human soul and leave you nothing but your mother's tool for destruction. If that happens, you're as likely to kill Tory as they are."
Acheron shook his head. "It'll never work. His voice is hoarser than mine. And no one's going to believe I cut my hair off and bleached it blond."
Savitar snapped his fingers. Instantly, Styxx's hair was an exact copy of Acheron's. Long and black. He even had fangs and matching clothes. "I can't mess with his voice. But they can assume you've been screaming insults at them. It would account for the difference."
"That is creepy," Urian said, running his gaze up and down Styxx's body and then Acheron's. "Really creepy."
"He still doesn't move like me."
Styxx scoffed. "People aren't that observant. As you saw in New Orleans."
Savitar inclined his head to Urian and Styxx. "Let's do this, ladies. And Styxx ... for the record, you let anything happen to Tory and I will hand-deliver you to Apollymi for her eternal enjoyment."
Styxx laughed out loud at the impotent threat, which made both Acheron and Savitar scowl at him. "What's she going to do, Savitar? Drag me out into an arena butt-ass naked, make me fight elite Atlantean champions until I can barely stand, set her starving dogs or leopards on me, and then have me publicly fucked for her entertainment? Or better yet, gut me on the floor ... or how about this ... murder my wife and child, and make me live with that for eternity in a dark hole by myself? Sure ... threaten me. Go ahead and make me live in total fear and terror." Flipping Savitar off, he turned to Urian. "Get me out of here."
Urian scowled at him. "You're really not sane, are you?"
"No, Urian. I'm not. A sane man would have told you to go to hell and meant it."
Shaking his head, Urian opened something that appeared to be a giant swirling gold ball. "Walk this way." He stepped into it and vanished.
Without so much as glancing at Savitar or Acheron, Styxx followed. Then wished he hadn't as he fell and was twisted through a bright, pulsing light.
When he finally stopped falling, he was inside a main room that was filled with Daimons and demons.
Beautiful.
Styxx let out a severely annoyed groan. "Great location, Uri," he said under his breath. "Think one of them is willing to sell us a summer home here?"
Urian grinned at him. "You can always ask."
Every demon and Daimon was frozen into place by their sudden appearance in the middle of their hall. It probably wasn't often that dinner was delivered in such a high-handed manner.
Styxx cut a sideways glance to Urian. "What are they waiting for?"
Urian winked at him. "Armageddon."
Styxx narrowed his eyes on Stryker. He was the only Daimon who dyed his hair black. Even in height with Styxx, Stryker looked enough like Apollo that Styxx really wanted to punch him for it.
Stryker glared at his son with an expression that was best defined as pained hatred. "You dare to stand with my enemy?"
"Against you, Father, I'd stand with Mickey Mouse."
Styxx had no idea who this Mickey was, but it was obvious from Stryker's expression Mickey was a lowly person.
Stryker curled his lip. "You worthless son of a bitch. You should have never been anything more than a cum stain."
Urian scoffed. "I could definitely say the same thing about you. It would have saved the world and all of us a lot of misery now, wouldn't it?"
Styxx and Urian braced themselves to fight as the Daimons started forward, but they were thrown back by some unseen force.
Not sure what had happened, Styxx turned to Stryker and growled. "Enough of the family reunion bullshit. Where is Soteria?"
Out of nowhere, Apollymi appeared a few feet from him. There was no doubt about her identity. Her features were the same ones Styxx saw every time he looked in a mirror. And those swirling silver eyes haunted his nightmares.
This was the selfish whore who had killed his precious Bethany.
It took everything Styxx had not to attack her.
Think of Soteria ... She's innocent and wherever she is, she's terrified. Don't leave her to suffer.
Get her out first then beat the shit out of Apollymi.
That was his mission, and soldiers always followed orders. Even when they stunk to Mount Olympus.
Apollymi indicated a door behind him with an imperious jerk of her chin. "She's over there." Then Apollymi crossed the short distance to embrace him.
Styxx's breathing turned ragged at her touch. He clenched his fists tight to keep from lashing out at her and shoving her across the room. Something that would let everyone know he wasn't Acheron.
"At last, m'gios." Atlantean for my son. "You've come to set me free." She placed a kiss on his cheek and then whispered in his ear. "For my son's sake, you better embrace me, Greek whoreson. If I can touch something as vile and repugnant as you, you can touch divinity."
His lips quivered with fury as he forced himself to hug her close even though he wanted to spit in her face. What kind of pathetic dog am I that I embrace my son's and wife's killer for a man who hates me?
And still he did it.
Nodding to her, Styxx stepped back before he gave in to his need for vengeance.
He turned the angry sneer he wanted to give Apollymi to Stryker then headed for the door.
Before Styxx reached it, a tall, thin woman with brown hair and very pretty features came running out of the room. She wore a black jacket that was much too large for her and clutched it over her shirt, which had been torn open for only one thing Styxx could think of. His rage mounted even more.
All of a sudden, she threw herself into his arms and held him close. Too startled by the unexpected action, he gaped and she kissed the hell out of him. It took everything he had not to shove her away, but if he did, they'd know he wasn't his brother.
She stiffened and pulled back slowly to stare up at him suspiciously.
Swallowing hard, Styxx glanced past her to see an older Nick Gautier approaching them. Only now Nick had eyes that matched Acheron's and Apollymi's, and a bow-and-arrow mark on his left cheek that made it look like Artemis had bitch-slapped him when she marked him.
What all did I miss in captivity?
His eyes dark with rage and madness, Nick ran at Styxx as if he intended to kill him. But before he could reach him, Urian grabbed Nick and shoved him back into the room where they'd been.
Styxx pulled Tory in after them. He drew up short as he saw a woman's dead body on the floor.
"We have to go," Urian said to Styxx and Soteria. Then he looked at Nick. "And you need to come with us."
Nick curled his lip in obvious hatred. "I'm not going anywhere with him. I'd rather be dead."
Nice ... someone who hated Acheron as much as he did. What the hell did he do to you, kid? It must have been bad because Nick had loved Acheron dearly the last time they met.
But then so had Styxx once upon a time.
Urian forced Nick to look down at the woman's body. "I'm going to make the wildly founded assumption that Satara's dead by your hand and not Tory's."
Gripping Nick's chin, Urian forced him to meet his gaze. "Now, stay with me on this, Cajun. My father slit my throat and murdered my wife because he thought I'd betrayed him by getting married. Before that, he loved me more than his life and I was his last surviving child. His second-in-command. Now what do you think he's going to do to you once he sees her body? I can assure you, it won't be a fun-filled trip to Chuck E. Cheese. For all their animosity toward each other, Satara is his sister and she's served him well over the centuries. If you really want to stay here and have some fun with Stryker, I won't stop you. But I really wouldn't recommend it."
That seemed to get through to Nick. Sanity returned to his eyes. "Fine. I'll go with you."
While they argued, Styxx cracked open the door to check on their restless enemies. "Urian," he said between clenched teeth. "I think they're catching on."
"Catching on to what?" Nick asked.
Tory rolled her eyes at Nick. "That this isn't Ash."
The words had barely left her lips before they faded out of the room.
Zolan, Stryker's third-in-command and the leader of his personal Illuminati attack force, cleared his throat in the silent room. "Um ... boss, I don't mean this disrespectfully, but why are we still here? I mean, if Acheron has come to free Apollymi shouldn't there be an explosion or something?"
The Daimons and demons looked around as if waiting for an opening to the outer world to appear or for Apollymi to burst into song and dance, or for something else unnatural to happen.
Meanwhile, Apollymi just stood there completely stoic, appearing almost angelic and sweet, as she watched Stryker closely.
His second-in-command, Davyn, scratched the back of his neck nervously. "I agree, kyrios," he said to Stryker, using the Atlantean term for lord. "It doesn't feel like the end of the world."
Stryker turned a cold sneer to Apollymi. "No, it doesn't, does it?"
Apollymi arched a taunting brow. "How does the song go, 'it's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine'?"
In that moment, Stryker knew exactly what had happened. Launching himself from his throne, he ran to the room just as Urian, Tory, Nick, and what had to be Ash's twin brother Styxx vanished.
His anger over the obvious trick mounted until he saw Satara lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Fear washed away his rage as he ran to her to find her dead. Her eyes were glazed and her skin tinged with blue.
His heart shattered as he pulled her into his arms and held her close, fighting against the tears of grief and pain. "You stupid psychotic bitch," he growled against Satara's cold cheek. "What have you done now?"
Apollymi stood in the doorway, aching for Strykerius as he rocked his dead sister in his arms, reminding her of the day she'd found her son's body left dumped on the cliffs of Didymos. Sympathy and a newfound respect for Stryker tore through her.
The fact that he could love someone as broken as Satara had been said much for him. Yes, he could be cold-blooded, but he wasn't heartless. Closing her eyes, she remembered him the day they'd first met. Stryker had been young and bitter over his father's curse.
"I gave up everything I ever cared about for him and this is how he repays my loyalty? I'm to die in agony in only six years? My young children are now banished from the sun and are cursed to drink blood from each other instead of eating food, and to die in pain at only twenty-seven? For what? For the death of a Greek whore killed by soldiers I've never even seen? Where's the justice in that?"
Understanding his agony and wanting to exact her own revenge on Apollo, Apollymi had pulled Stryker into her ranks and taught him how to circumvent his father's curse by absorbing human souls into his body to elongate his life. She'd given him and his children shelter in a realm where the humans couldn't harm them and where there was no danger of his children accidentally dying by sunlight. Then she'd allowed him to convert others and bring them here to live.
In the beginning, she'd pitied him and she'd even loved him as a son.
But he wasn't her Apostolos, and the more he was around her, the more she wanted to have her own child with her no matter the cost. She admitted it was her own fault that she'd put a wall between her and Strykerius. And the two of them had used each other to get back at the people they hated.
Now it all had come to this....
The death of his beloved sister.
"I'm so sorry, Strykerius."
He looked up at her, his silver eyes swirling in pain. "Are you? Or are you gloating?"
"I never gloat over death. I may relish it, from time to time, when it's justified. But I never gloat."
"And I don't let challenges like this go unanswered. There will be payback."
"But you owe it to Styxx and Nick, not my Apostolos or his Soteria. Remember that."
Styxx caught himself against a wall as they reappeared in a large room he didn't recognize. One filled with a huge group of ex-Dark-Hunters and friends of his brother's. A couple he remembered from his brief time in New Orleans. Others he knew only from Acheron's memories.
Acheron launched himself at Soteria and gathered her into his arms. Ironically, it was identical to the way Styxx had once embraced Bethany. Like she was the air he needed to live, and if he loosened his hold even a little bit, he would breathe no more.
But he had foolishly let his Beth go....
Unable to stand the sight and the memories that butchered him, Styxx turned away from them.
"Are you all right?" Acheron asked her.
"I'm fine. Really."
"But we're not," Urian said drily from the other side of the room. "Nick killed Satara while they held Tory."
"He did it to protect me," Tory interjected.
Urian snorted. "We'll put that on the headstone for you. In the meantime Stryker's going to want blood for this. A lot of blood."
Nick scoffed at his dire tone. "No offense, your father doesn't scare me, especially given how bad I want a piece of his hide. Come get some."
Urian looked less than impressed. "I know you think you share powers with him, Nick, but trust me, he didn't give you anything but the leftovers. Not to mention one small thing. No one gets a piece of him until after I do."
Acheron let out a shrill whistle. "Down, children. We have more important things to focus on right now. Save your machismo."
Styxx had to bite back his sarcasm at Acheron's hypocrisy. Funny how his brother didn't see that when it was the two of them fighting.
But then it was always easier to see other people's sins than it was to see your own.
Acheron leveled his glare at Nick. "We have a battle to prepare for. I'm not letting Stryker take Nick."
Nick laughed bitterly. "I don't need your fucking help. I can fight on my own."
Acheron didn't flinch at the hatred in his tone. "I know why you hate me, Nick. I get it. But your mother wouldn't want you to kill yourself again. Hate me tomorrow. Tonight, tolerate me as a necessary evil." His brother slid his gaze to him to let Styxx know that that was all he was to Acheron, too.
A necessary evil he tolerated.
So be it.
Nick shoved Acheron away from him. "This doesn't make us friends."
Acheron held his hands up. "I know." He turned back to Tory and took her hand in a tight grip. Indecision hung there before he spoke and shocked Styxx to the core of his being. "Styxx, take her out of here. Keep her safe."
His jaw went slack. Who are you and where's my psychotic brother?
Tory gaped, too, as she skimmed Styxx with a horrified expression and her thoughts blasted him. You! You're the one I read about who tortured and castrated my Acheron. You're an animal. I hate you!
Styxx couldn't believe they still blamed him for that. Unlike Acheron, he'd die before he ever willingly touched another man's junk. Even to castrate him.
Damn you, Apollo!
But then why damn him for it? Styxx had told the god to do his worst. Apollo had only obliged him. While Estes had begun the hatred Acheron had for him, Apollo had cemented it.
Suddenly, a bright flash of light blinded them. And out of it stepped dozens of Daimons. All of them open for business as they fell into an ancient Greek phalanx.
Stryker came through and his gaze went straight to Urian. "You've betrayed me for the last time." Flicking his wrist, he sent a leaf-shaped dagger right at Urian's heart.
Before it could reach its target, Acheron caught it in his hand. "Take your girls, scream, and run away now, Stryker. It'll save you time later. Believe me, you don't want a taste of me in the mood I'm in."
Stryker took that the same way Styxx would have. With flippant disregard. He ran his tongue over his fangs as if he was savoring the idea of feeding on Acheron. "There's nothing I crave more than the taste of blood." He looked around at the men who stood with Acheron and laughed in derision. "Tonight we feast, Spathi. Attack!"
Urian pulled Tory behind their group as the Daimons swarmed them. Unlike the rest of the men in the room, Styxx was at a serious disadvantage as their enemies attacked with god bolts and psychic powers. His head splitting with pain from all of their thoughts hitting him at once, he shrugged off the heavy overcoat he wore and picked up the nearest blade.
"Stab them in the heart," Urian said to Styxx before he demonstrated how to kill the Daimons.
Another blast of light in the room left them with a huge group of enemy reinforcements. Styxx stabbed the first one to reach him. Only he didn't explode into dust like the Daimon had. "Urian? A little instruction please."
"Demons ... eyes." Urian stabbed a demon between the eyes before he turned and ducked the fangs of a Daimon. "And whatever you do, don't let the demons bite you or they can control you."
See Acheron, it's so much easier when you give me a few important guidelines.
Styxx disarmed a Daimon who held a sword then he spun around and caught him with his dagger. The Daimon exploded all over Styxx.
Stryker went for Nick, but Acheron caught him and the two of them went to the ground, punching with a fury Styxx knew all too well. Glad I'm not the only one you hate that much.
More men arrived. Since they were neither Daimons nor demons, Styxx pulled back until he could determine if they were friends or foes.
A demon launched itself at Soteria. She tried to kick him back, but failed epically. Just as it would have reached her, Julian of Macedon, a longtime friend of Acheron's, was there with a xiphos. He severed the demon's head with one well-placed swing.
Balancing the leaf-shaped blade on his shoulder, Julian turned to face her. "Can you handle a sword?"
"Yes."
"Kyrian!" Julian shouted to his best friend, another blond Greek. "My kingdom for a sword."
Kyrian tossed what appeared to be only a hilt. In one fluid move, Julian caught it and pressed a button on the cross hilt. The blade shot out to just under three feet in length. He handed it over to Soteria. "Daimons have to be stabbed through their hearts. Demons between their eyes, and if you cut the heads off any of us, we all die."
"How do I tell the difference?"
"Most of the Daimons are blond and they explode into dust when you pierce their hearts. Hit the heart and if that doesn't work, try the eyes. If you stab someone who whimpers then hits the ground, you attacked a good guy. Just FYI."
Styxx snorted. The girl gets a tutorial. The one who could actually fight them off was just fodder.
Lovely.
Styxx kept fighting, but the numbers against them were gruesome and the sound of swords clashing brought back horrific images in his mind. Even though they were indoors, he could feel the sticky ground that was saturated with blood. The blood-soaked mud caked in his toes.... The heat of the sun as it mercilessly beat down on his armor to the point that it burned his skin whenever he accidentally brushed against it.
Another flash of light heralded an even larger group of demons and Daimons.
Styxx sighed at the familiar sight. The Atlanteans would drop numbers on them like this. Just when you thought you were thinning them, a thousand more who weren't exhausted from the fight magically appeared.
All he could do was stay focused on the ones who were coming for him-both in front and behind-and make sure they didn't get away to attack someone else.
One of the demons made for Urian's back. Styxx pulled a smaller knife out of the demon body closest to him and used it to pin the new demon between his eyes.
Urian turned to fight as it fell to his feet. He met Styxx's gaze and inclined his head to him.
Styxx whirled and, forgetting he didn't have a hoplon, raised his arm to catch a sword down across it. Hissing, he stumbled back then lunged with the sword in his right hand. His opponent spun and came back immediately with another blow. Styxx narrowly jerked his head away in time. The blade came so close, he felt its breath over his Adam's apple.
He kicked the Daimon back then used his sword to pierce his heart. As he pulled away, he caught a glimpse of Stryker, and the expression on his face was one of controlled fury. He was locked on his target, and in his hand was the one weapon that could kill Acheron.
An Atlantean dagger imbued with the blood of Apollymi and with poisonous ypnsi sap from the darkest trees grown in the forests of Kalosis.
For a moment Styxx didn't react. If Stryker killed his brother, it was over. All of it.
He would finally have peace.
But then he made the fatal mistake of looking at Soteria who saw what he did.
Acheron's imminent death.
The horrified agony on her face and the tears in her eyes undid him. Love like that didn't deserve to be separated. There was no worse hell than being one half of an eternally separated whole.
Twice in his life, he'd been dealt that blow. He wouldn't let his hatred crush Soteria.
Damn me....
Styxx ran at Stryker. He caught the Daimon lord right before he reached Acheron who had stupidly closed his eyes while he fought.
Yeah, you didn't have Galen for an instructor.
Because Styxx still wore sunglasses, Stryker lost focus on Acheron and mistook him for his brother.
Stryker laughed in satisfaction as he buried the knife deep into Styxx's stomach. His vision dimmed while that familiar pain spread through him. It felt like Stryker had caught him in the same exact place Ryssa had.
Trying to catch his breath, Styxx stumbled back and fell into someone. His sunglasses went flying.
Time hung still as he realized he'd fallen against Acheron and his brother had stepped aside to let him go down hard on the floor. He laughed bitterly at that. Their father would have been proud.
Ryssa, too.
Growling at the fact he'd missed Acheron, Stryker reached for the dagger in Styxx's stomach. Styxx held it inside him with one hand while he tried to beat Stryker back with his other. But his blood made the hilt too slippery and the pain and scar weakened his grasp. Against his best effort, Stryker yanked the dagger out.
Styxx gasped as excruciating pain tore through him. "Acheron!" he shouted, warning his brother.
Turning in time, Acheron caught the Daimon overlord with the blunt end of his staff and shoved him back. "Flee or die," he snarled.
Stryker curled his lip. "Fuck you."
Narrowing his gaze on Stryker, Acheron shoved him back then slammed the staff to the ground. A wave of raw, unfettered power shot out from it to the demons and Daimons around them. Every one of them turned to dust.
Except for Stryker. He hovered above the ground in a dragon's form, snarling and flapping. Bellowing in rage, Stryker spewed fire at Acheron.
Acheron lifted his arm, barely in time to keep it from burning him. He shot another god bolt at Stryker who dodged it.
"This isn't over, Acheron. Next time you won't be able to use your powers." With another blast of fire, Stryker vanished.
Trembling with pain, Styxx laid his head on the ground and stared up at the ceiling. The others were talking, but his ears buzzed so loudly, he couldn't understand them.
Styxx laughed then groaned. It was just like the day before he died. He lay bleeding and no one even noticed. Rolling over, he tried to stand then slipped on blood and crashed back to the floor. There was no Galen here to render aid to him.
No friend whatsoever.
Yet Acheron was surrounded by people who were joking with him.
I've got to stop the bleeding. While he couldn't die from it, the last thing he needed was to be weak from blood loss. It would still make him sick, and there was no one to tend him at home.
His head pounded even more, blurring his vision. Unable to stand, Styxx rolled to his back and kept as much pressure on the wound as he could. He started shaking uncontrollably.
Great. I'm going into shock. He should have kept the coat on.
How was I to know I'd be gutted again?
He felt someone kneeling down beside him. Opening his eyes, he was stunned to see Acheron. There wasn't a bit of concern or compassion in his brother's cold expression.
Styxx panted in sheer agony. "You know, brother, you're never supposed to close your eyes in battle."
Ash laughed. "I wasn't the one training to be a general."
Good thing, too. You'd have sucked at it and caused everyone to die. But that was only part of being a leader and he knew it.
Styxx glanced around at the men surrounding them. He heard their thoughts and he knew their faces and histories from Acheron's memories. They loved his brother.
They'd never once mocked Acheron as Styxx's men had done him in the beginning. All of them looked to Acheron with respect and adoration.
None of them had ever paid to screw him.
Acheron's men knew nothing of his past.
A vengeful part of him wanted to tell them what Acheron had been. But then, that cruelty wouldn't hurt Acheron. Not really. Because these men cared about his brother and even if they knew everything, they wouldn't hold it against Acheron. His brother was stupid for even thinking that.
And Acheron had done something with them that Styxx had never done for his own men. Acheron had taken in these shattered creatures, such as Vane and Fang whose pack of werewolves had turned on them and tried to feed them to the Daimons-Kyrian whose wife had handed him over to his enemies to be tortured and crucified-Zarek who'd been a Roman whipping boy wrongfully tortured and executed-and Talon who'd watched his sister murdered before his eyes after his clan, his own blood, had betrayed him-and with a patience he'd never shown Styxx, Acheron had healed them.
All of them.
It was amazing, really. But then, Acheron didn't hate them the way he hated Styxx.
Styxx sighed. "Perhaps. But you do a much better job of leading than I ever did. I definitely think Father trained the wrong one of us."
Without a word, Acheron placed his hand over Styxx's wound. It stung like a hot brand against his skin. And he should know, since it was just like being in the Dionysion. He glared at Acheron. "Fine, then you're a stupid fucking asshole. Get your hands off me," he snarled through gritted teeth.
Ignoring his outburst, Acheron held him down until Styxx was ready to whimper. Only then did Acheron pull away.
"Am I dead yet?" Styxx asked sarcastically.
"Not yet. You still have a few years left to seriously piss me off."
Styxx snorted. "I look forward to it."
I'm sure you do, Acheron thought silently. He inclined his head to Styxx. "You did a good job for me. Thank you."
That must have choked you to say, brother.
"Yeah, well, next time you need someone to descend into a Daimon sanctuary, pick one of your other assholes to do it. I don't have the powers of a god when they come at me, and it puts me at a definite disadvantage."
Grinning, Acheron helped Styxx to his feet then left him and went to be with his men.
In one heartbeat, Acheron had put Styxx out of his mind and forgotten he was here.
For this I left my computer games? Styxx sighed wearily.
"You want me to take you home?"
Styxx nodded at Urian. "Thanks."
"No problem."
In the blink of an eye, Styxx was back in his condo. He'd started for the couch when his knees buckled.
Urian caught him against his side and helped him to his bed. "Are you still wounded?"
"It's the poison from the dagger Stryker used. Acheron healed the wound, but he didn't draw the poison out." Whether that was intentional or not, he had no idea.
"How do you get it out?"
"You draw it out before you stitch the wound closed." Styxx looked down at the sealed scar. "Oops, too late." He started shaking again as sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Do you want me to call Ash?"
"I'll be fine." Acheron wouldn't come anyway. And Styxx couldn't blame him. If he had Bethany with him, he wouldn't bother with his brother either. "Not like I can die. I just need to rest." Styxx had barely slurred those words before he passed out.
