Ash paused as he entered the house to find the three women lined up and . . . singing to . . . dear gods, anything but this.
"Fergilicious."
All he needed was for Simi to be here and off-key with them since it was her favorite song and he'd spent the better part of the last year cursing whoever was dumb enough to introduce that song to a hormonal teenaged demon. Worst part? Simi wanted him to call her Similicious.
Yeah, like that would ever happen. He'd sooner become a Calvin Klein underwear model.
"C'mon, Ash," Kim called. "Join us."
He looked at her with horror filling his soul. "Oh hell no. Not enough beer in the world to make me sing 'I'll put your boy on rock, rock.' "
The women laughed so hard, Kim collapsed on the couch while Pam and Tory roared.
"So did you find anything?" Tory asked after she finally sobered.
"A broken headlight on the car across the street and two street-lights that are out." Ash picked up Tory's cell phone and held it out to her. "I actually need you to call your people and ask them if they found another journal."
Tory gave him a droll stare. "Believe me, if they'd found something as monumental as that they would have told me immediately."
"Even if they'd done it right before they were taken into custody?"
"Then the government would have it."
"Tory, please, just humor me. I've got a bad feeling."
As she reached for the phone in his hand, it started ringing. By the tone and the look on her face, he could tell she knew who it was before she answered.
"Hey Bruce, what's . . ."Her voice trailed off as her face lost color.
Ash put his hand on her shoulder to steady her.
"Oh my God. No . . ."
He exchanged a confused look with Pam until he listened to the other end of the conversation.
"It was awful, Tory. We'd just been released maybe an hour when I got the call that he'd been mugged-just like Nikolas-on his way into his flat and was in surgery."
"What are the doctors saying?"
"They don't know. It's not looking good. But what's scariest is that the guys who ran him down, rifled through his bag and pockets . . . like they were looking for something in particular. They didn't take any money or his watch. Nothing . . . Harry said they were asking him questions as they beat on him, but since his Greek isn't fluent he couldn't understand what they wanted. They just kept beating the shit out of him until he lost consciousness."
Tory glanced up at Acheron, becoming suspicious about all of his "feelings." They were so unerringly accurate that she wondered if he might not be a part of them. "Did any of you happen to find another journal during the dig?"
"Earlier in the morning, just before the police arrived, we'd hit the mother lode of artifacts."
"But was there another journal?"
"It wasn't as well preserved as the one you have, but yeah, there was another book and get this . . . it wasn't wet. It'd been sealed in an airtight container that was inside a wood chest inlaid with gold. It looked like someone had stashed it there out of fear or something."
"Where is it now?"
"I don't know. Last I heard, Dimitri had it."
"I need you to find Dimitri and get that book to me."
"Why? It's not like anyone can read it."
"Yes, they can."
"Who?"
She looked up at Ash and wished that she could see the eyes he kept hidden from the world. "A man here in the States."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. He's the one who told me that there were probably more of them to be found and he's the one who got you guys out of jail. Now listen, my house was broken into and it appears they were looking for something, too. My friend says it's the journal. I don't know the truth, but until we do, you guys be really, really careful and keep me posted on Harry and Niko."
"Will do, Doc."
She turned off the phone and looked up at those dark sunglasses that she suspected hid a lot more than just his eye color. "What's going on, Ash?"
He rubbed his thumb over his bottom lip. "You've found a crucial piece of history and there are factions out there who are willing to kill for it."
No, it had to be more than that. It had to be. "Look, this isn't the Mummy. It's not like a teenaged girl's diary could resurrect the dead or anything. It's just the story of her innocuous life. What on earth could an ancient girl have known that would be worth killing someone over?"
He scoffed at her. "You're asking me that question? People kill each other over a pair of shoes or for wearing the same jacket."
Pam nodded. "He has a point there."
"I still don't understand it. I don't."
Ash shook his head. "There's a lot of things about this world, and people in particular, that I don't understand." And considering the fact he was an eleven-thousand-year-old god, that pretty much said it all.
He looked at Tory, wishing he could trust her enough to tell her why that book was so important, but for all he knew the reason he couldn't see her future was because she'd end up being the one to destroy him or the world.
I'm the Harbinger. Only I can bring about Telikos.
Or maybe not . . . His prophecy was to bring it about. By teaching her to translate his native language, he might have already set it in motion. If only he'd known about the second diary. It'd all seemed so harmless-a way to make amends for embarrassing the granddaughter of an old friend. Now it could be a disaster.
Feeling suddenly ill, he sat down on the arm of her couch. What had he done?
"Are you all right?" Tory asked. "You look really pale all of a sudden."
No, he wasn't all right. He was sick to his stomach at the thought of what he might have inadvertently done. Just like with Nick Gautier. In the heat of anger, he'd cursed his best friend to kill himself. Unfortunately, Artemis had then brought Nick back from the dead and created a nasty situation for Ash. Now his best friend was out to kill him in revenge.
Be careful what you say even in passing. Your word is law. His mother's warning rang in his ears and now that he thought about it, his mother had been eerily quiet for the past week.
Matera? he called out to her with his mind.
Apostolos? He was grateful for her quick response. By that he knew she wasn't hiding from him in fear of making him angry at her.
What is going on with the discovery of Atlantis?
Nothing. Stupid humans. Even when I tell them how to open the seal to my prison, they can't follow the simplest of directions. Where's an Atlantean when I need one?
Dead, courtesy of you, Mom.
Oh don't remind me . . . Did you need something, m'gios? You've been very quiet lately.
I've been busy and I have a problem. Someone's found one of Ryssa's diaries. Do you know where it is?
She paused before she answered hesitantly. Yes.
And?
She didn't answer.
Matera?
Yes? Her voice was sharp with impatience.
Don't play this game with me. I need to know where it is. Now.
I'm your mother, don't you dare take that tone with me.
He softened his voice before he spoke again. Please, Matera, where's the journal?
I can't tell you.
"Dammit to hell, Matera, answer me!" Ash shot off the couch in anger only to realize all three women were staring at him curiously.
Pam cleared her throat. "Any idea what he just said?"
Tory frowned. "Um . . . not really."
"Wow," Kim said with a light laugh, "some Greek the Greek princess can't understand. I'm impressed."
Pam arched one brow. "Must be the voices in his head that he was responding to. I just hope they're not telling him to kill us."
Ash felt heat scalding his cheeks.
"Ooo," Pam cooed. "That's nice. I like the way his cheeks mottle with red when we embarrass him."
"They do that when he's angry or sweating too," Tory said, eating a bite of cold pizza.
"Really?" Pam asked. "I have to say it makes him even hotter in my opinion."
Ash growled at them. "Women, please, could you not discuss this while I'm standing here?"
Pam cocked her other brow. "Are you back with us or still talking to the people in your head?" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a Bluetooth headset. "Tell ya what . . . Son of Sam. Why don't you put that on so that I have some peace of mind and can at least pretend that you're on the phone with someone else and not taking orders from dogs or something."
Ash laughed at her halfhearted truth. "It's okay, I was just thinking of how bad things could have gotten had Tory been here when the house was broken into."
The women exchanged nervous looks of doubt.
Pam glanced toward the door. "You know, Tory, he has a point. What with the others being mugged . . ."
"Maybe you shouldn't stay here," Kim added. "Why don't you come stay with us?"
Tory shook her head. "I can't put you guys at risk and I don't want to live in fear. I can load Henry and take care of myself."
"Henry?" Ash asked curiously.
Kim answered, "Her Baretta baby-sitter."
He was surprised that Tory would have a gun. She didn't seem the type. "Can you use that thing?"
Pam laughed as she gestured to Tory who appeared extremely unassuming as she ate more pizza. "Look at her. She looks so harmless and meek, but inside she's a lion. Tory is an adrenaline junkie the likes of which you've probably never seen . . . everything from deep sea diving to base jumping. Hell, she even jumps out of perfectly good airplanes for fun."
Ash was surprised and impressed by that. "Really?"
Tory shrugged. "I do like to live dangerously."
"No," Pam said, her voice filled with pride for her friend, "she lives fearlessly."
He inclined his head respectfully. "Fearless is a most desirable trait in any human being. Stupidity isn't. I'll stay with you until this blows over." The statement surprised him, but then again it made complete sense. Her team would get the journal to her and if he stayed close to her, he'd be the first one to find it. Then he could destroy it before anyone else had a chance to read it.
He hoped.
Pam hooked her arm into Tory's. "I'd go with his offer. You've been to our place before which means you know about Kim and her 'underwear on the floor' problem."
"That's not my underwear! That's yours."
Pam waved her ire away with one hand. "Let's not bicker over the small things in life such as who owns the underwear. Point being, I'd hang with the big guy. He's a lot more intimidating than us."
"He's cuter too," Kim grinned. "If she passes on his offer, can I beg protection? I think I have a neighbor who's been giving me the evil moti. He could hurt me, you know?"
Ash laughed. "I don't know . . . that underwear problem of yours . . ."
Pam burst out laughing.
Kim pouted. "Like you've never done it."
Actually he hadn't. He didn't wear underwear to drop on the floor. But the women didn't need to know that. "Switching topics again. Did you hear back from Dimitri about the journal?"
"Not yet."
"He's in Greece?" Ash asked.
Tory nodded.
"Okay." Ash swung his backpack up on his shoulder. "I hate to leave you guys, but I'm going to my place to grab some clothes. You have my cell phone number. If you so much as see a shadow out the window, call me and I'll be right back. I only live a few blocks away."
Tory smiled. "We'll be fine."
Ash hoped so. Heading for the door, he left them and went out to the street. As soon as he was sure no one could see him, he flashed himself to Greece outside the door of Augustus Tsigas's house.
Gus's father had been a Squire, one of the human servants who helped Dark-Hunters. As an adult, Gus had gone to work for the Greek government, thus helping not only Ash, but other Greek Dark-Hunters when they needed it.
He knocked lightly on the door so as not to scare Gus's wife Olympia who had no idea about the paranormal world her husband was involved with. Not to mention the fact it was two o'clock in the morning here.
He heard footsteps on the other side of the door before a light came on.
Gus opened the door with a scowl on his face. "This better be important, Acheron."
"Would I wake you for any other reason?"
"Yes."
Ash laughed at his surliness when they both knew he would never bother Gus needlessly. "This is important. Remember the group of people you helped out?"
"The archaeologists?"
"Yes. There was one named Dimitri. I need his address."
Gus looked extremely irritated. "I thought you were omniscient. Can't you get it yourself?"
"I come with some restrictions and unfortunately Dimitri is one of those exceptions."
Rubbing his eyes, Gus yawned. "Come in and I'll pull the record for you."
"Gus? Is something wrong?"
Ash closed the door as Olympia came into the room. Tiny and petite, she had long black hair and big brown eyes. "Sorry I woke you."
She smiled as she saw him. "It's all right, Acheron. I know you two probably need me to leave you alone. I'll go back to bed."
"Good night." He followed Gus into his office. "It's a boy, by the way."
Gus grinned proudly. "Thanks for letting me know."
"No problem." He waited quietly while Gus signed onto his work account on the computer.
After Gus jotted down the address, he handed it off to Ash. "I hope this helps."
"It does. Thanks."
Grateful that at least one person was being helpful to him, Ash flashed himself from Gus's house to Dimitri's apartment across town. He took a deep breath as he tried to think of the best way to handle this. He could either teleport into the house and search it while the man slept or he could wake him and ask him where it was . . .
Better to find it while he slept.
Ash entered the small, cluttered flat and paused. At first he thought Dimitri was asleep on the bed, but he didn't hear a heartbeat. Walking closer, he saw the man lying dead, face down in a pool of blood.
"Not good," he breathed, looking around at the chaos that had been left behind as someone tore the place apart during a search.
Ash took a deep breath and closed his eyes, hoping this time his powers worked. Just as it should have done at Tory's house, he saw everything in sudden crystal clarity.
Three large men dressed in black had barged in on Dimitri, wanting the book. Dimitri had fought and told them nothing, even while they tortured him.
His loyalty to Tory had ended with a silenced gunshot two hours ago.
Ash knelt down beside the body and closed the man's eyes. "Sleep in peace, little brother. The ones who did this will pay. I promise."
The men had left here in frustration after tearing the flat apart. But if they didn't have the journal, who did?
"Matera?"
Are you going to yell at me again, Apostolos?
I'm sorry. A wave of guilt sliced through him as he regretted being short with her. In all his life, his mother and Simi had been the only ones who'd really loved him. Because of that, he hated losing patience with them. I didn't mean to take my anger out on you, but will you please answer me one question?
The book isn't here, pratio. Dimitri gave it to someone else.
Who?
An image of his mother appeared before him. Her swirling silver eyes held sadness and regret. "I would give my life for you and you know that. But I can't answer that question. Its existence is tied too tightly to your own. You are a father yourself. You know that you can't always give your children what they want. I'm sorry, Apostolos."
He wanted so badly to take her hand in his. To feel her touch, just once in his life. "I understand. I don't like it, but I understand."
She took a deep breath before she spoke again in a voice that was filled with conviction. "I know what Savitar told you. But he was wrong about one of those outcomes. I won't let anyone kill you. Not again. If anyone comes near you, I will schism the realms and unleash my army for your protection. I am the goddess of destruction and I don't care what happens to this world of man. You are the only thing I love, and I will kill whatever and whoever I have to to save your life."
That wasn't overly comforting. Honestly, he'd rather be dead than suffer any more humiliation. But her love and devotion meant everything to him.
"I love you, Matera."
"Then release me."
He shook his head at the one request he could never fulfill. And it broke his heart. "You will destroy the world if I do."
To her credit, she didn't bother to lie to him. She would omit things and keep vital secrets such as the existence of his daughter from him and the fact that while Simi was the last of her line from Xiamara and the last of the Charontes in the human realm, she wasn't the last Charonte left alive, but his mother had never outright lied.
His mother swallowed. "In anger, I swore to kill Artemis and Apollo for what they did to you should I ever be free of Kalosis again. We both know that if I fail to keep my word, I would perish. So you're right. I would have no choice except to end the world on my release."
"And I have no choice except to keep you there."
She shook her head. "I'll never understand how you can bring me so much pride and pain at the same time. I don't agree with your loyalty to a race that betrayed you . . . no, they did worse than that-they tortured and abused you in a way that deserves no compassion or leniency. But I respect your convictions even when they violently collide with my own. No mother could be prouder of her son, Apostolos. Go find your book and know that I'm here to help you in any way I can."
He held his hand up to her so that she could place hers against his. It was the closest they could come to touching. Part of him wanted to release her at any cost.
But having suffered the way he had, he couldn't live knowing he'd hurt someone else like that. At least not unless they deserved it.
"Go with my love, Apostolos. Do us both proud."
Fading back to New Orleans, he stood on the balcony of his apartment at 622 Pirates Alley that overlooked the courtyard of the St. Louis Cathedral. It was dark, but he could hear the music drifting up from the Old Absinthe House below, as well as laughter and chattering from people on the street. There were Daimons in the alley stalking victims, but before he could even worry about it, Janice was there. He watched the Trini Dark-Hunter follow them toward Royal Street where he knew she'd dispose of them.
Tonight he had bigger concerns than the Daimons who trolled from victims. Someone had a journal Ryssa should never have written. He could go back in time and seize it, but he didn't know how that would disrupt the present. What changes it could incur. It could all work out well.
Or the earth could end.
He leaned against the railing, considering his options. Had he already sown his own destruction? He'd given Tory a key that had seemed harmless and now she was the greatest threat he could think of.
Protect the girl, Apostolos. Keep her safe . . .
He cocked his head at his mother's voice inside his head. "What are you saying, Matera?"
I shouldn't tell you this, but the survival of the world hinges on hers. Keep her safe.
Ash laughed as he was struck by a line from the TV show Heroes. Save the cheerleader. Save the world.
"Why are you telling me this?" he asked.
Because I love you. Now go.
Ash hesitated, but at the end of the day he knew the truth. His mother wouldn't have told him that unless it was truly important.
Fine, he'd protect Soteria.
And he would protect himself.
"What are you doing, Apollymi?"
Apollymi turned away from her fountain to find Savitar standing in her garden looking angry at her. "Get out, you bastard."
He refused to move. "You shouldn't have told him that."
She lifted her chin in defiance of the Chthonian. For all his power, he was no match for her and he knew it. "Who are you to lecture me on what should and shouldn't be done?"
His eyes flashed from lavender to silver and then turned a dark vibrant blue. "You are tampering with fate."
She snarled at him. "I am protecting my son. If that's a crime, then punish me. Oh wait, I'm already being punished for protecting him. So be it."
Savitar narrowed his eyes on her. "This isn't a game."
"No, it isn't. I don't play those. I never have." She started past him, but he caught her arm and stopped her.
"I didn't have to contain the powers of the gods you destroyed on Atlantis the way I did when you went wild on them. But for me, the other Chthonians would have torn you apart for that."
Apollymi refused to be intimidated by him or anyone else. "So what? You want me to thank you?" She snatched her arm free of his grip. "The only thanks I owe you is for helping Apostolos learn his powers. For that, I will always be grateful to you. But that's as far as my gratitude goes. If you really think I fear you or those other mortal gods you run with, think again. In this universe, only the primal source outpowers me. There is nothing I fear."
His expression turned cold, brutal. "Not true. You fear the loss of your son and so long as you fear that, you're as controllable as the rest of us."
She hated the fact he was right. "Don't push me, Savitar."
"And don't push me. You may be a goddess by birth, but I'm a lot more than just a Chthonian and you know that. I survived a hell you can't even imagine and its fires forged a core of steel within me. You want a battle, pick your sword. But remember the number of gods before you who sought to kill me and failed."
She raked him with a heated glower. "In turn, you'd do well to remember that I destroyed not only my entire pantheon, but my very family to protect my child. Don't get in my way, or we will find out once and for all which of us wields the most powerful sword."
Savitar wanted to choke her for her obstinacy. But then she'd always been this way. Stubborn to the core of her being. "Fine, but consider what happened the last time you tried to protect him. The suffering your tampering caused Apostolos. Is that really what you want?"
Her eyes teared up and he hated himself for giving her that pain. "Damn you."
He scoffed. "I was damned long before this. Let fate unfold as it should, Apollymi. I beg you to stay out of this. For all our sakes."
Her crystal tears glittered like diamonds on her dark blond lashes. "Keep him alive for me, Savitar. Otherwise you know what will happen."
He inclined his head. "I will do what I can but in the end we both know that only Apostolos can make the fate we want for him."
Because if Acheron screwed this up, he wouldn't be alone in his suffering.
The entire world would be destroyed.