Drop Dead Demons (33 page)

I jammed my hands over my ears, the
bang
ricocheting through the cave. Tristan threw us both behind Blake’s bulk. Logan readied to shoot his arrow, but Matthias knocked his arms down.

“Bloody perfect timing, Jenny!” Matthias slammed into the stranger with a back-slapping hug.

I peeked around. Rose was nowhere in sight.

“Don’t thank me yet, godson.” The man — Jenny? — stepped back, pulled out another automatic weapon and pointed both guns up. Six shots fired. Demons screeched, and the connections I’d had with them from the vision vanished. “Didn’t kill him. Just scared him into teleporting to safer waters for a spell.”

“Gone, even temporarily, is all we need,” Matthias said. “My mate’s down.”

Jenny, with an Irish brogue thick as Aunt M’s porridge, was tall and extra bulky. But that was due to his vest of death.

A custom-made affair of lethal.

It held eight guns holstered down the front of his torso in two columns. Another two guns hung below his armpits from shoulder holsters. Two more off his hips. His belt dripped with a variety of sheathed knives. Was that a grenade?! And either a very long knife or a short sword was strapped to one thigh. A sawed-off shotgun strapped to the other. The hilts of two more sharp items poked out from his back, criss-crossed behind his head.

“Jenny?” Tristan shrilled. “
Actual
rogue demon hunter Jenny? One of the Mandatum’s most wanted for treason, murder, larceny, extortion—”

“Shut up!” Jayden shoved Blake forward. “Get Ayden in the car!”

“Man down?” Jenny said as a demon slunk from the water behind him. He whirled, pulled the trigger once and turned back to us, not bothering to watch the hellion scatter into black dust and vortex into the ground. “Knife? Gunshot? ”

“Poison.”

“Hurry, Blake.” Jayden flicked a hand at Ayden lying on the ground, unconscious once again. “The most logical conclusion is that the tip of the spear was dipped in a Curare poison, but there are
several
Curare poisons which originate from South America, so in order to formulate an antidote I’ll have to use the lab to narrow it down to either tubocurare or—”

“
Or
…” Jenny pushed his way past Blake and dropped on one knee next to Ayden. From inside the depths of his frighteningly overstocked coat, he extracted a fat syringe with a needle the length of Texas. “We could just take care of it now.”

In one swift motion, he used his teeth to rip off the cap of the needle, stabbed the needle into Ayden’s chest, shoved the plunger down, and then pulled the whole thing out. Ayden convulsed once and was still.

“There.” Jenny stood, capped the needle, and replaced the empty syringe into his coat, “Should be right as rain.”

I hinged my jaw back on and slapped at Jenny’s feet. “What did you do?!”

Jayden looked ready to faint. “What was in that? We didn’t even make a diagnosis on the chemical compound!”

“Didn’t need to,” Jenny shrugged. “It’s my own concoction. Takes care of most everything.”

Jayden sputtered, “Mo-
most
everything?”

“Relax, aqua man. Shouldn’t take long.”

“Ahhhh!” Ayden screamed and jerked up into a sitting position, knocking me aside in the process. He leaned over, heaving deep breaths.

“See?” Jenny looked bored.

“Are you crazy?” I crawled back to Ayden, put my hand on his burning hot cheek.

Jayden kneeled next to his brother and shot Jenny a venomous look. “If you have caused any permanent damage, I will…I will…cause you an interminable amount of duress.”

Ayden caught my hand with his. He looked up. His eyes swirled bright orange.

“You’ll be fine,” I said.

Ayden threw me onto my back and jumped on top of me. His mouth attacked mine, his hands pinning my wrists against the sand. Whoa!

His weight lifted and I was left stunned.

“Um…” I touched my stinging — not in a bad way — lips.

“Sorry, lass.” Jenny was holding Ayden at bay with one hand gripping his jacket. “Forgot about that particular side effect.”

Ayden looked somewhat disoriented, but was settling down, his eyes returning to dark chocolate. Jenny shoved him aside and hauled me to my feet.

“So, Matty, this is your newest team member?”

“I never said that.”

“Didn’t have to.” With the squint of a scalawag, the man eyed me up and down in a clinical sort of way. “Donal Jensen. Call me Jenny.” He had my hand in the rugged boulder of his iron grip and he shook it vigorously, sandpaper skin chaffing my palm. “Quite the looker. But useless as a chocolate teapot unless you can fight. I hear you have some power issues.”

“I guess.” Hmmm…Didn’t Cacciatori mention “Donal Jensen” and “kill order” in the same sentence? I looked around for help, but other than Matthias, the rest seemed as stunned as I.

“I’ll take care of that.” Jenny turned to Matthias. “Your Dad know you’re rumbling with the Greeks?”

Jenny was in his fifties. Maybe. Hard to tell. Partly because of the scars shining in an ugly marriage across his face and throat along with a few fresh scratches down his cheek. He must have been handsome once. Until life’s masochistic amusement cut plenty into the weathered marble of his skin, and no doubt the tattered soul within. He put his hands on his hips, pushing back the coat. Metal glinted.

Was that a machete?

We’d moved onto the beach outside of the falls so Ayden could get some fresh air and recoup. His head lay in my lap, his eyes closed. Doing my best to ignore the dried blood on his shirt, I stroked my fingers through his soft hair while my other hand kept touching other parts. Shoulder, arm, hand, face. Anything to stay connected. Anything to assure myself he was here and alive.

“Jaysus. You young pups know nothing,” Jenny growled.

To be fair, he growled everything. His voice grounded out every syllable like a chainsaw on concrete.

He looked down his hawkish nose at the boys. “Not your fault, I suppose. Mandatum likes its secrets. Especially likes to keep mum about the gods.”

“So,” Matthias said, “when I called you about helping with her powers and mentioned Rose, you knew he was really Eros?”

Tristan’s fingers had combed his blond hair to a scattered mess. “We’ve been hanging out with the Greek God of Love?”

“And desire,” Jenny said. “Also goes by Cupid. But either way, Rose is one of his aliases. Thinks he’s clever mixing up the letters. Everything from their myths are true. And when you described him, Matty, it wasn’t a leap. You made my day.” He slapped the Aussie on the back. “I’ve been tracking the S.O.B. since he came out of the Paris portal, killed a few good hunters by the way, and headed for North America. It all fit. Now I’m just waiting for him to hook up with Aphrodite.”

“His mom.” Oh, yay, I knew something. Eros, Aphrodite. Mythos and real life were colliding. My head hurt.

“Yes, lass. Word is Aphrodite finally came out of hiding and was the one who got Eros out of hell a few weeks back. She needs him to help with some master plan to open portals and unleash a demon army of epic proportions in order to— ”

“Go all dominatrix on the world?” I said.

“Colorfully accurate, lass.” Jenny scratched his cheek, opening the fresh scratches and smearing blood. “But I only care about capturing Aphrodite to use her as bait to get to Artemis.” He fingered a knife on his belt.

“Bait?” Matthias said. “Why would Artemis come for Aphrodite?”

“Revenge.” I shrugged. “They hate each other. Something about being responsible for killing each other’s favorite guys. I think.”

“Both poetic and smart,” Jenny smiled. “You must be Irish.” 

Matthias scowled. I scowled back. 

“The trouble I’ve had tracking Artemis is that the Goddess of the Hunt is a diehard loner,” Jenny said as he paced across the sand. “She doesn’t need or want anyone or anything but to be left alone. She’s been hiding out, staying under the radar, but she hates Aphrodite with a passion born of centuries of malice, and if I offer her up, Artemis won’t miss the opportunity for revenge. I’m sure of it.” 

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Matthias looked wounded.

Jenny dropped a hand on Matthias’s shoulder. “Because, boyo, couldn’t risk you calling a Code Olympus before I could get here and take care of things myself.”

“Wait a minute.” My head was spinning. “Code Olympus?”

Ayden winced as he lifted his hand to rub his eyes. “Any time the gods show up, protocol dictates the Mandatum is notified. Teams — plural — of the highest level of Sicarius guards are dispatched to take care of them.”

I felt cold. Mandatum. Here. In abundance.

“Because going up against them, without backup, well…” Tristan chewed off a fingernail. “Gossamer Falls and everything in it could end up a pile of ash.”

“Worlds have been known to disappear,” Logan said with a dismal air. He’d taken out his pocket handkerchief and kept refolding it.

I swallowed. “So the gods really are gods?”

“No,” Jenny said with disgust. “They’re demons. Deadly and more dangerous because they’re the most powerful. And smart. Not sure where they came from, but with their charm and stunningly
human
good looks, the vile guttersnipes were able to convince people that they were the gods the humans
already
worshipped.”

“Wreaked havoc and took all kinds of advantage.” Tristan dropped to the sand like his knees just gave out.

“You know the stories, Madame Mythology,” Ayden said. “They’re a nasty group. The Mandatum took down most of them centuries ago. The few that are left, especially Aphrodite and Artemis, are on the Mandatum’s Most Wanted list. Eros got out a few weeks ago when we were at the Alfred Hitchcock marathon.” His brow creased deep furrows. “Why didn’t I make the connection?”

“None of us did, mate,” Matthias said. “It’s not like we have a current photo.”

Jayden nodded. “And his costumes functioned to distract us from his true form. Clever.”

“You said ‘Cassanova’ escaped.” I slapped my forehead. That was the night I had my Divinicus Nex vision of Rose, uh, Eros. “And opening the portal for Aphrodite’s army is why Eros wants that rock. There is no sister to save.”

Jenny snorted. “Just playing on your sympathies. They love to manipulate. Especially with family.” Jenny’s pale eyes glittered. “Walk away. Take your loved ones. I’ve got nothing left to lose. I’ll handle this. I’ll take them all down. ”

“Or die trying.” Matthias shook his head. “We’re not abandoning you.”

“That’s guilt talking, boyo.” The Irishman readjusted his hat. “Don’t trouble yourself with a corpse. Artemis killed me eight years ago.” Jenny bared his teeth and in a voice so cold he should’ve exhaled frost. “I’m just trying to return the favor.”

Matthias looked sad and shaken. They all did.

“Why do you want her dead?” I asked.

Jenny finished reloading his guns and took out a cloth to give them a buff. “Artemis had been hunted for centuries. But my team and I were the only ones who ever got close. So to distract us off her trail, she killed my wife and daughter.” His tone was frighteningly matter-of-fact as he sighted down the barrel of a weapon then replaced it in its holster.

I felt a chill. Then frowned. “Killed your daughter? That’s weird.”

“Weird?” Jenny gave me a dubious look. “Perhaps you don’t comprehend how demons operate, lass. They slaughter innocents.”

“I know.” I scratched my head. “But according to myth Artemis is the protector of young girls. It doesn’t make sense that she would kill one.”

Jenny laughed bitterly. “Demons make sense? You’ve got a lot to learn. Self-preservation.
That
makes sense.”

“I guess,” I said quietly. “And I’m sorry. About your family.”

“Don’t cry over me, lass.” He twisted an ugly smile. “This is good news. I’ve spent eight years and broken every Mandatum rule to hunt that butcher down and this is the closest I’ve ever got.” His hands went to the hilt of a short sword. “This time, I won’t miss.”

The ground shook underneath us. Waves splashed onto the shore. Jenny put his hands on his guns. I stood and helped Ayden to his feet as a massive demon burst from the water.

Jenny pulled his weapons, pointed, and fired.

At Fido.

“No!” I screamed and threw myself in front of her.

Muzzles flared. Light blasted. My hands raised. The bullet hit me. But not like a…a bullet. It was more like a freakin’
freight train!

The force lifted me off my feet and slammed me backwards through the air, stealing oxygen from my lungs, control from my limbs, and consciousness from my brain.

Lights out. 

My body felt heavy and thick as I thudded to the ground.

Squishy, lumpy, smelly ground. With a red sky and black clouds above.

“No, no, no!”

I jerked up into a sitting position. Dead bodies everywhere. Layers of them. Ranging from supple and fresh from the embalmer, to decomposing skeletons with flesh sliding off bone. They covered every inch of the ground.

Heck, they
were
the ground.

Welcome to the Waiting World. Population, me.

“There you are, sailor!”

And one perky angel.

She stood to my right in full costume, per usual. A classy, white sailor uniform dress, complete with a navy blue squared-off collar that tied in a bow at her chest, and a crisp white hat sporting a little golden anchor. Her sensible navy pumps hovered just above the oozing graveyard of human rot. Her eyes were the same tropical sea blue as her hair tucked in a neat bun at the nape of her neck.

Subtle was not in my guardian angel’s vocabulary.

“Where did you come from?” She did a little tap dance and ended with a twirl. “Not that I’m complaining. I love it when you visit.”

“Gloria,” I whispered her name, but my volume quickly rose. “Where have you been?!”

“Out and about.” She waved a dismissive hand before offering it to me. “But enough about me, how have
you
been?”

I grabbed her hand and yanked myself up. Globs of gunk stuck to my bare legs, sliming down my calves because I was in some flimsy dress, although this time I had ankle boots to keep the ooze from between my toes, but then the slime seeped down my legs
into
the boots and the ooze pooled around my feet and…
squish squish
.

I shivered.

“How have I been? You are the worse guardian angel
ever
!” I stormed about in my fury.

Squish squish
.

“Who do I talk to about this ridiculous choice of attire? Ankle boots in a knee-high swamp of
that!
” I jammed my hands toward the ground, then folded my arms in a huff. “Seriously. Worst
ever
!”

“That’s a bit dramatic. And unfair.” She put a hand on her waist and cocked one hip. “Because honestly, who do you have to compare me to?”

She had a point.

But I still managed to huff with indignation, “Well, if you’re the best there is—”

“I like to think so,” she beamed.

“Then why did I just get shot? Oh, jeez.” My hands frantically patted over my body searching for holes gushing blood. “Am I dead?”

“If you don’t want to get shot, then you shouldn’t go jumping in front of bullets.” Her tone was overly patient. “Aurora, I can save you from many things, but not from yourself. And you didn’t get shot, you were shot
at
. A significant difference. Besides, you didn’t need me. You handled it quite nicely.” Her smile was brilliant.

“Really?” I flopped my hands around at my surroundings. “Exactly how is ending up in this literal hell hole brilliant?”

Gloria pursed her lips. “Check your hand.”

I raised both of them. One was clamped in a rigid fist. It took some work to uncurl my fingers.

“Is this…?” I stared in awe at the small piece of metal cradled in my palm. “I stopped a
bullet
?”

Gloria walked — glided — over. “No silly. You’re not superman. Or woman. You activated your ability’s defense and bounced into the Waiting World before the bullet hit you. It came along for the ride but it has no power here. You’re safe.”

“Safe?” I went to tuck the bullet that I
stopped
— don’t care what she said — into my pants pocket but I wasn’t wearing any pants — stupid dress — so I stuffed it my bra instead. At least that was still there. “The Waiting World is not safe.”

Gloria made a snort-chuckle sound. “Compared to being shot by a bullet it is.”

Hungry howls carried over the rotting landscape. I saw several dark, hunched bodies in the distance creeping my way, their leathery skin stretched over skeletal forms.

“Sure. Until I get eaten by ghoulies.”

She shook her head sadly and sighed. “One day you’ll understand.” Then she leaned over to pick through the bodies.

Ew.

I gritted my teeth. “Why don’t you explain it to me now? Why didn’t you tell me I had a Greek god slash demon on my tail? Can’t you just go all ninja on Eros and get rid of him?”

“All
ninja
?” Gloria’s laugh tinkled like wind chimes. “Oh, I’ve missed our little chats. You’re very funny. No dear. Limitations, remember. I explained all that.”

“You didn’t explain diddly squat.” I slapped my hands to my sides because stomping my foot was just too…squishy. “Saying there
are
limitation doesn’t explain
what
those limitations are. Big difference.”

“Because that’s a limitation. Oh, there you are my beauty.” Her eyes glittered with pleasure. With her thumb and forefinger, she delicately grabbed the tip of a finger bone from the sea of corpses and pulled. The rest of the hand and an entire arm slithered out with some totally gross wet noises.

Double ew.

Gloria kept her eyes fixed on the limb that had tendons and muscles hanging in a stringy, gloppy mess. “All you need to know is that I’m keeping up my side of the bargain. You’re family’s safe. Eros.” She made a sound of disgust, like a hairball got stuck in her throat. “Thinking he could get past my work. The hubris. Now, you’d better get back to the Hex Boys before they have any more of a fit.”

“Finally.” The sooner I was out of here the better.

I waited. She ignored me. Too enraptured with the grossalicious hand. It started moving, dead fingers grasping open and closed. She giggled.

“Gloria?”

“My apologies.” She stood straight, shoulders back, and using the hand not holding the creepy, half-dead arm, she gave me a sharp salute. “Aye, aye, captain.” She relaxed. “Now off you go.” And she went back to studying the arm, lifting it high, flicking aside slimy, hanging parts to carefully inspect the area that had been ripped from a shoulder.

“Off I go? You need to fly me out of here!”

She looked confused. “I don’t fly you—” Her expression cleared. “Oh, I see the misperception. Sometimes you can be very…” she thought for a moment, “I believe ‘thick’ is the appropriate term. A metaphor which implies your brain matter is too dense for intelligent thought to —”

“I know what thick means!”

“Oh, good, I got it right.”

“Can you just vamoose me out of here!”

“Touchy, touchy. Okay, one last time, my dear. She tucked me under one arm and
whooshed
open her massive wings — white with nautical navy blue stripes. As we twirled into the blackened sky, I refused to think about the severed limb she still held in her other hand, which I swear was trying to latch onto me.

If I was thinking about it, that is. Which I wasn’t.

“But remember this.” Gloria continued in a grand voice. “Only when the mighty willingly fall into the depths of their fears can they truly be reborn to the freedom of their greatness.”

“Whatever.” My stomach was doing the queasy thing as we climbed higher. Don’t look down, don’t look down, don’t look… Heights.
So
not my thing. I swallowed down bile. “So is dressing-up a thing with demon gods too? Eros seems to like it.”

“Does he now?” she said slowly. “Well, I suppose imitation is the
sincerest
form of flattery.” She didn’t sound flattered. “I’ll have to find a way to show him my appreciation for his…tribute.”

Okay, now she just sounded creepy.

But I didn’t have time to ponder because she yelled, “Anchors aweigh!” and tossed me through the dark clouds and into a blinding, bright —

Uh oh.