Damian's Assassin

"Oh my god! Really?"

"You'll be held accountable if anything bad happens," he reminded him. "Clear the people, wipe out the town."

"Do I get minions?"

"I'll send a team to help you. They're not minions, Darian, they're Guardians. Treat them with respect and take care of them. You need to learn a few more things on your own. I'm entrusting you with this operation." Dusty gritted his teeth, feeling much like he was setting a child with a credit card free in a candy store.

"I can do it, Dusty!" Darian's eyes glowed. He straightened.

Dusty responded with a curt nod, hoping the Grey God was right. His gaze turned to the east, where yellow lined the horizon.

It's time, his sister said again.

"You remember what I told you about family?" he asked.

"I won't fail again, Dusty, I promise. I tried to make it right." Darian's face fell.

"I've gotta return to Florida. If you fail, I'll send Jonny here after you."

Darian glared at the confused young man and said, "I promise, Dusty, I'll take care of the girls even after the Black God kills you."

Jonny gasped, but Dusty nodded, aware his fate was sealed.

*****

Some strange poison ran through the Black God's body. It was familiar to her, but too much a part of him to heal. She glanced up, troubled. If she didn't know better, she'd say whatever the poison was, it felt like what lingered in Jonny's body. Talon was glaring at her, ready to attack, when the Black God launched them through the portal.

Raindrops splattered against her head. Startled, she looked up. The clouds far above were starting to swirl with hypnotic slowness, the rain beginning to fall again, and the sea beneath their feet rippling and shifting beneath the rubbery surface.

The Black God ignored Talon as the vamp snatched his arm to retain his balance, instead wrapping his free arm around her and clamping a hand around her forearm. His skin was colder than snow, the power radiating off him like an arctic breeze. His eyes turned black, fathomless, and she knew whatever creature possessed the human body was loosening its grip on its powers.

Despite her fear, she wrapped her arms around him. Thunder roared. Lightning exploded in the sky. Rain pelted her. The wind snapped free of its bonds, nearly tearing her from his grip with its first gust. The world exploded into life, sucking the air from her lungs and drenching her.

And then the sea swallowed them. She breathed in nothing but water and panicked, clawing at the arm wrapped around her.

He's going to kill me.